rlin walked toward the tree with slow, steady steps.
'What the hell is this?'
A door was carved into the bark, almost entirely blended in as if moss had grown over it.
'No way—'
He wiped the surface with his hand… and imdiately regretted it.
"Ugh, that's disgusting."
Shaking his head, he pressed against the door. The mont he did, a blinding white light burst from inside.
'Oh, co on—'
Before he could even finish his thought, the light pulled him in. It was a familiar sensation—space itself seed to twist and tear around him. Then, suddenly, he was sowhere else.
A white void.
Everything around him was pure, endless white. It felt like… heaven?
'What just happened?! This wasn't in the novel!'
His thoughts raced as he recalled the scene—Nathan had just walked in and picked up the sword.
Simple. Quick. No bullshit.
This? This was bullshit.
"Hello?"
He called out, hoping for a response. Nothing. Not even an echo.
'Fantastic.'
Then—
|| Hm… So, you're the one who wants to wield the weapon? ||
A voice bood through the void. No form, no figure—just a deep, masculine voice vibrating through his bones.
"W-Who are you?"
rlin's voice shook as he dropped to his knees. His heartbeat pounded against his ribs like it wanted to get the hell out of his body.
|| Who am I? Who are YOU to ask questions, rlin Everhart? ||
The voice was cold, almost amused. rlin wasn't even surprised it knew his na. If just the voice alone made him feel like this, then this thing was sothing he absolutely should not piss off.
"I-I apologize for asking."
Silence.
Then—
|| HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ||
It started laughing. Loudly.
'…Is this bastard laughing at ?'
rlin clenched his teeth as he stared into the whiteness.
|| I am $#%$# ||
Searing pain.
rlin's head throbbed violently as he coughed up blood, splattering the pristine white ground.
'WHAT THE HELL—'
His body overheated, every cell screaming as if it were about to explode.
|| Ah… looks like it's too early for you to hear my na. Oh well, doesn't change much, kid. ||
The voice sounded amused.
'Great. I'm getting roasted by so eldritch entity.'
rlin barely managed to support himself on his hands, sweating bullets as he listened to the voice's casual tone.
|| You're here for the sword, aren't you? ||
His thoughts snapped back to reality.
'The sword… right. I nearly forgot about it.'
The voice read his mind like an open book. Figures.
"Yes."
He kept his response short. No need to get another migraine.
|| It's about #%#% ti soone $#%$%* ||
'Oh, co ON!'
rlin clutched his skull as another sharp pain shot through his brain. The static in the words made his entire body tremble.
|| Hmm… it seems even my voice is starting to beco too much for your current self. ||
'No shit, Sherlock.'
rlin wheezed on the ground, feeling like he just went through a washing machine set to maximum tornt mode.
|| Well, whatever. Here it is—Keryx. But you'll only be able to wield it if it chooses you. ||
A floating ore appeared in front of him, glowing white and gold.
'Wait, this is the sword?'
The ore drifted toward him.
|| Your hand. ||
rlin hesitated.
Should he really listen to a literal disembodied voice? Then again, if this thing wanted him dead, it would've happened already.
'Screw it.'
He reached out. With a little hesitation in his movent.
|| We will et again, #%€&'s chosen. ||
The voice glitched at the last part, but rlin wasn't able to hear the entity anyways, his hand touched the ore—
And everything went black.
—
The chirping of birds slowly pulled rlin back to consciousness. Mild scent of flowers lingered everywhere as he blinked.
He was back. Finally.
The tree was there. The forest was there. And—
'Wait… it's already nearly morning?!'
Panic set in. Too much ti has passed.
'The Academy…they are going to fucking kill if I'm late.'
Just as he pushed himself up, sothing heavy pressed against his stomach.
He looked down.
A white rapier with a golden hilt rested on his torso.
"…"
rlin grabbed the sword. The mont his fingers wrapped around the hilt—
It felt perfect.
The weight, the balance, the grip—as if it was made just for him.
'Holy shit—'
BEEP!
A notification flashed in his vision.
[Keryx, Herald's Sword, is resonating with you.]
The rapier trembled slightly in his grasp.
'Wait. What? Resonating? Herald's Sword?!'
rlin barely knew anything about Keryx. In the novel, Nathan never used it—it just collected dust for the entire story.
He gave the rapier a few swings.
Swoosh!
It cut through the air effortlessly, making rlin feel faster, sharper, lighter.
'This thing is amazing.'
A grin crept onto his face as he slashed again. And again.
Then—
'Wait. I have to get back!'
rlin bolted out of the forest, sprinting through the quiet village. A few people gave him weird looks—probably wondering why he looked like he just stole sothing.
Which… wasn't technically wrong he did steal so kind of god blessed weapon.
Finally, he reached the road and yanked out his phone.
'TAXI. I NEED A TAXI. RIGHT NOW.'
He called for a ride. Fast.
A few minutes later, one showed up.
'Thank God, my luck is insane today.'
He hopped in and directed the driver to the academy.
—
After what felt like an eternity, rlin arrived at the academy gates. He shoved a wad of cash into the driver's hand.
"Keep the change."
The driver glanced down, counted the money, then frowned.
"Sir, this isn't enough."
rlin froze. His smile twitched.
'Oh… oh shit.'
He frantically searched his pockets and his wallet for any amount of money.
'Please, PLEASE—'
Then, footsteps approached.
A woman's voice.
"Here you go, sir."
A hand offered the missing amount to the driver.
Long brown hair swayed in the wind, and piercing blue eyes looked down at him like a calm ocean.
'Liliana…'
She smiled slightly.
"Now we're even. Also, nice sword."
She glanced at the rapier strapped to his side before casually walking into the academy.
"Even?"
rlin stared, confused—then it finally hit him.
'Oh… the taxi ride from before.'
"…Right."
Shaking his head, he checked his schedule.
[Applied Combat Magic]
'Great. Just what I needed.'
He headed toward Training Facility Three, where familiar faces were already gathered.
Adrien leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Liliana and Seraph were chatting—with Nathan.
'Oh? He finally finished his first training, it seems.'
Then rlin rembered sothing.
'And I forgot to do my training…'
Elara sat on the floor, watching everyone like a spy in a thriller movie.
Then—
The doors swung open.
A familiar blonde woman walked in, her long hair flowing dramatically despite there being no wind indoors.
Her brown eyes sparkled as she smiled.
"Alright, let's begin today's lesson!"
'Vivienne…'
rlin sighed. This was going to be a long day.
Vivienne's gaze swept over the students one by one, briefly pausing on rlin—who looked like he had just crawled out of a cave. Dusty, slightly disheveled… borderline tragic.
Her smile twitched, but rlin acted as if he didn't notice. Or maybe he just didn't care.
"Pair up! Today, we'll be working on affinities through sparring!"
'Fantastic.'
rlin's eyes t Nathan's, and for a mont, they both understood what had to be done. Nathan grinned, already making his way over—
Until soone abruptly cut in front of rlin.
'Elara.'
Her voice was quiet but carried a cold finality as she looked up at him.
"We're partners."
It wasn't a question. It was a declaration. A done deal.
rlin blinked and glanced at Nathan, who simply gave him a thumbs-up before backing away, looking way too pleased with himself.
'Do not get the wrong idea…I don't have a choice.'
rlin sighed but took his position across from Elara, who had already turned her head away as if dismissing his very existence.
Vivienne's voice echoed across the room.
"Begin!"
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