"Rise and shine, people!" Henri's voice, impossibly bright for this hour, boomed through the barracks, rattling the thin windows. "We have a long day ahead of us!"
A low, rumbling groan escaped my throat, a sound more akin to a dying animal than a human, before I pushed myself upright, stretching until my back popped in half a dozen places.
"Please start heading to the gym. I'll be waiting there," Henri added, his voice already fading as he presumably left.
I pulled open the wardrobe door, my gaze sweeping over the rows of fabric, a quiet hope that something decent might present itself. Inside, a kaleidoscope of colors and textures greeted me: rough canvas next to smooth silk, bold patterns clashing with muted solids. My fingers drifted over a simple grey shirt, black sweatpants, and a pair of slides.
I pulled them on, then hustled through the quiet barracks. The large double doors of the gym stood ajar, a rectangle of bright light spilling onto the floor. As I stepped inside, the echoing silence told its own story. The others were already lined up, their forms casting long shadows across the polished floor. Henri stood at the front, a smirk already playing on his lips as his gaze fixed on me.
"Oh, it seems you found the clothes," Henri drawled, a corner of his mouth curling upward, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Anyway, we're here to identify your race, your destined weapon, and the… *extent* of your training needs."
He gestured to a small table. On it rested four polished stone slabs, dark and smooth. "Touch them."
Kira stepped forward, her hand hesitating for a moment before resting flat against the cool surface of the first slab. The stone pulsed with a soft light, then solidified into a shimmering, ethereal image: a magnificent phoenix, its fiery wings unfurling as if about to take flight.
Henri's eyes widened, a slow nod of approval. "Wow. A phoenix. Truly a rare species."
Elizabeth followed, her movements fluid and unhurried. Her fingers grazed the next slab, and a growl seemed to rumble from the stone itself as a spectral black hound, its eyes glowing an ominous crimson, appeared.
"A dog directly from the lineage of Cerberus," Henri announced, his voice holding a hint of reverence. "No need to fret, no need to push yourselves too hard. With enough practice, you could evolve into a Cerberus." Elizabeth simply stood there, her shoulders relaxed, her expression as placid as still water, not a flicker of worry or a hint of needing reassurance in her dark eyes.
Suzie was next. As her hand met the third slab, the air shimmered, and a graceful, nine-tailed kitsune, its fur appearing as if spun from moonlight, solidified before them.
"Amazing!" Henri's voice cracked slightly, a wide, irrepressible grin stretching his face. He rocked on the balls of his feet, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "It's been years since we've seen a kitsune! Everyone else will be so jealous." His attempts to appear nonchalant were utterly ruined by the sheer delight radiating from him.
"Go on, Zero," Henri prompted, his grin still wide. "Maybe you'll get something even better."
I rolled my eyes, a familiar weariness settling over me, and reached for the last slab. My fingers brushed the cold stone.
A sudden, piercing chill swept through the gym, raising goosebumps along my arms. The air grew heavy, thick with an unseen power, making it difficult to breathe. A low hum vibrated in my teeth, and the light in the room seemed to dim as if a great shadow had passed over the sun. Then, before us, a vast, luminous hologram flickered into existence – a white dragon, scales gleaming like polished ice, its eyes ancient and unfathomable. Its presence alone seemed to command the very air we breathed.
"I… I can't believe it!" Henri stammered, his eyes wide and unfocused, twitching subtly at the corners. His perfectly composed facade shattered. "I thought only the descendants of the royal family carried the dragon bloodline!"
I crossed my arms, a slow, satisfied smirk spreading across my face. "Surprised, aren't you?"
Henri cleared his throat, regaining some semblance of composure, though his gaze kept darting back to the fading dragon image. "Um… well, it seems you all possess exceptionally strong blood. The changes to your… *natural* forms, should start manifesting within a week. Next, we select your weapons."
He led us to a smaller, brightly lit room adjacent to the main gym floor. Inside, racks and stands overflowed with an astonishing arsenal. Swords of every size, bows strung with shimmering cords, staffs tipped with glowing crystals, axes, spears, even what looked like strange, arcane instruments – the sheer variety was overwhelming.
Henri swept a hand dramatically toward the collection. "Choose the one that feels right."
I moved slowly, letting my fingers brush against cold steel, smooth wood, and rough-hewn leather. I even took a moment to heft a long staff, similar to one I'd wielded in another life. But as its familiar weight settled in my palm, a faint discord vibrated through me. It felt… foreign, like a stranger's hand in mine. I set it down, a sense of quiet disappointment blooming. I tried a few more, a heavy axe, a light rapier, but nothing sang. Just as I was about to resign myself to picking something at random, a faint, metallic gleam caught my eye from beneath a pile of discarded scabbards.
It was a small, ornate wooden box. My fingers traced the intricate carvings on its lid before I lifted it. Nestled within, on a bed of dark velvet, lay two daggers. Their blades, a terrifying fusion of blood-red and abyssal black, seemed to drink the light, radiating an unsettling chill that prickled my skin and whispered of secrets best left buried.
I reached for them. The moment my fingers closed around their hilt, a jolt of energy shot up my arm, settling deep in my bones. They fit perfectly, as if sculpted for my grip, their balance flawless. For the first time, a weapon felt like an extension of myself, utterly right, utterly mine.
"Are you done?" Henri's voice cut through my absorption.
I stepped back into the main gym. Kira was already there, meticulously wiping down a long sword, its hilt wrapped in red and blue patterns that snaked up the blade. Elizabeth flexed her fingers, the sleek, black gloves she wore seeming to hum with contained power. Suzie, ever practical, tested the edge of a katana, its grey patterns stark against the polished steel.
"Interesting choices, indeed," Henri mused, his gaze sweeping over our weapons. "Now, a quick show of hands: has anyone actually *used* these before?"
A unified "No!" echoed through the room.
Henri let out a long, slow sigh, his shoulders slumping just a fraction. "Right. This is going to be… challenging." He straightened, then waved a hand towards a padded sparring ring at the far end of the gym. "We'll have a small duel. A demonstration of your raw fighting instincts." As always, we simply followed his lead.
He stepped into the center of the ring, a predatory glint in his eye as he beckoned us forward. "So, show me what you can do."
Kira, ever the tactician, entered first. She dropped into a low crouch, her sword held loosely, her gaze fixed on Henri, patiently waiting for him to make the first move. She feinted, then launched a precise right hook with surprising speed. But Henri was faster. Before her fist could connect, his hand shot out, catching her wrist with effortless ease. She stumbled, off-balance, and he simply twisted, sending her sprawling onto the padded floor, a silent testament to her careful observation lacking the follow-through of honed technique.
Elizabeth, by contrast, barreled forward, a whirlwind of fists and kicks. Her new gloves flashed, but her movements were wild, leaving her wide open. Henri sidestepped her first two attacks, then ducked under a third, his hand lightly tapping her exposed ribs. Elizabeth gasped, stopping dead, her short-lived aggression fizzling out.
Suzie, however, moved with a controlled ferocity I recognized from her self-defense lessons back when she'd been my maid. She rushed Henri, a blur of motion, her leg snapping out in a swift kick aimed for his midsection. He swayed back, avoiding it, but she was already repositioning, her body twisting into a follow-up kick. Henri's easy smile faltered. His eyes narrowed, and a flicker of something new—respect, perhaps, or a renewed focus—entered his expression. Suzie wound up for another punch. This time, Henri moved with a sudden burst of speed, his hand closing around her clenched fist like the talons of a hawk seizing a chick. With a swift, fluid motion, he pivoted, pulling her close and locking her in a headlock, her struggles useless.
Henri released Suzie with a final pat, a wide, triumphant grin splitting his face. He puffed out his chest, his eyes gleaming. "Whew," he announced, the word laced with a touch of theatrical exhaustion, "that was… *challenging*." His gaze landed on me. "Zero, do you honestly think you can do better?"
A flicker of annoyance stirred, a low thrum beneath my skin. I knew he was trying to bait me, to prod me into a reckless rush. But a colder, more calculating part of me asserted control. My breath evened out, my shoulders relaxed, letting my posture speak of an easy confidence. I stepped into the ring, my gaze never leaving his face.
I watched him. Not his eyes, but the subtle shift in his weight, the micro-tensing of muscles along his jaw, the tiny clench of his hands. I even started counting the slow, deliberate blinks of his eyes. When his eyelids finally drifted shut for a fraction of a second longer than the others, I moved.
My rush was a whisper, a shadow. My foot snapped out, connecting with a sharp thud against his stomach. He grunted, his body instantly tensing, preparing for my next obvious move. But I was already behind him, my arm wrapping around his waist, pinning him against me. The surprise on his face was clear, his muscles momentarily paralyzed. For the first time, Henri found himself held, not holding.
"You got too arrogant," I murmured, my voice low, before I released him.
He straightened, rubbing his stomach, a soft chuckle escaping him. His eyes, though still holding a flicker of surprise, now held a new, intense curiosity. "You really surprised me, Zero."
"Tell me… you're a half-demon, aren't you?"
His gaze bore into mine, unwavering. "When? No, *how* did you find out?"