Possible insight...

[Ramodeus]

Next bit. Rhue's sword is one of the illuminati. The people who gave it to him wanted to get rid of the burden of having such a powerful item of virtue in their old age, and gave it to Rhue, because he is young and could use it for good.

You sure his sword is that of the Illuminati? The two people
that gave it to him were all shadowy. Is'nt it that people who
hold the Shadow swords can become as black as a shadow.
Just wondering....

Edit:Then again it's obvious that Lun shadowed them out
so we would'nt know who they were.

[Christophomicus]

For some reason, I have always been of the firm opinion that the "blacked out people" were Gaius and Traziun. I know it doesn't tie in, but it's just been niggling at the back of my mind for a while.

._.

[Flibbo]

Im considering the idea that the blacked out figures are Rhue and another character completing the loop of the way (which is a fairly popular theory). Although i guess its quite stupid as i don't know if rhue would give himself something that is going to royally screw up his life.

[Cyberian]

Unless something really good with that blade happens later in the series.

[Terra]

Although i guess its quite stupid as i don't know if rhue would give himself something that is going to royally screw up his life.

Maybe because without the sword he would be killed? Rhue states in Episode 2 that there were many instances that he could have been killed if he didn't have the sword. Then again, I don't exactly believe in the whole "time travel" theory that you have going here.

[Winnipeg]

I think it could be an Illuminati. The actual word "Illuminati" refers to two very different groups of people. It refers to both a specific religious following (the word translates directly to "the enlightened") and also, it refers to a person or group of people that control the entire world's monetary affairs. This double meaning may suggest the dual nature of the Illuminati, and could further prove the link between them and the Shadow Swords in some way.