Meanwhile, back at the forest where Darius had taken Victoria, the two of them remained standing silently, their gazes fixed on the array of weapons displayed before them. The forest air was thick with tension, broken only by the distant cries of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
"Are we going to stand here forever?" Victoria finally asked, releasing a heavy sigh of frustration that carried the weight of her impatience. Her eyes flicked briefly toward Darius, silently demanding an explanation.
"I thought you were enjoying the view," Darius replied at once, his lips curling into a faint scoff. His tone was teasing, though edged with command, which only deepened the look of disbelief spreading across Victoria's face. "If you are ready, then choose. Pick a weapon....one that will belong to you for life. Consider it your signature weapon."
