The next morning, Quin and Peter sat together for breakfast, their trays piled with the standard cafeteria fare. Across the hall, Vorden had taken his own food to one of the higher-level students' tables. Even there, the space around him remained conspicuously empty—no one dared to sit beside him.
"Do me a favor, will you?" Quinn said quietly, leaning toward Peter. "Keep an eye on Vorden during your combat class today. If anything happens, let me know."
Peter frowned. "You realize I'm barely stronger than you, right? I'm not going to be able to stop anything—and neither will you."
"I'm not asking you to step in," Quinn replied. "Just watch, and tell me afterward."
Peter glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then gave a small nod.
Once breakfast was over, it was time to head to their first combat classes. Quin had thought about his options carefully and finally decided to join the Beast Weapons course. Being known as someone without an ability, it was one of the few choices that actually made sense for him.
The weapons class tended to attract students whose abilities could directly enhance their combat gear—those who could anticipate movements seconds ahead, manipulate weapons remotely, or bolster them with elemental energy. For Quinn, it was a way to fight on equal footing, even without the raw power that others wielded naturally.
Quin also wanted to find a weapon that would suit him and his fighting style.
The weapons hall stood apart from the main school complex, set off to the side in its own isolated structure. From the outside, it looked like something lifted straight from an ancient eastern palace—ornate eaves, sloping rooftops, and carved wooden beams that seemed to hum with age.
To enter, students had to scan their wristwatches against a sleek panel. Once cleared, the massive double doors slid open with a low, mechanical hiss, revealing a stark contrast inside.
Gone was the palace-like charm. The interior stretched into a cavernous space with a ceiling towering nearly twenty meters overhead. There were no ornate decorations, no banners—only endless racks of weapons covering the walls. Swords, spears, axes, and stranger, more exotic tools gleamed under the hall's lighting. At the center of the room stood a circular, raised platform—clearly a place for demonstrations or duels.
At the far end of the hall, a lone man stood motionless. He was bald, clad in worn leather armor, and at his hip rested a long katana unlike any Quinn had seen. Its hilt was jagged and uneven, almost as if carved from the bone of some great beast. The blade's spine shared that same raw, organic texture, hinting it might not have come from any forge on Earth.
The man's eyes remained closed, his stance unmoving and calm, yet radiating energy. Quinn was certain this had to be their instructor, the only one in the hall who carried the weight of real battle experience. Then a flicker of recognition struck him. He had seen this man before. The memory sharpened—this was the infamous blind swordsman, the one who had felled a Dalki in a single, fluid strike during the recruitment trials.
The weapons hall gradually filled, and by the time the doors shut, about thirty students were inside—fewer than the fifty-odd in other classes, but still more than Quinn had expected.
"I wonder what weapon I should pick," Quinn murmured, glancing at the racks lining the walls. Many students had brought their own gear, while Quinn and a few others stood empty-handed. He was still scanning the displays when a stir rippled through the room.
"What's she doing here?" someone whispered. "Isn't she an elemental user? Why would she bother with weapons?"
"Who cares—if I can spar with her and win, maybe I'll ask her out."
Quinn turned to see what all the fuss was about. His eyes landed on Erin Heley, the ice wielder whose name had been on everyone's lips since day one. Even in Quinn's small circle, word had spread fast—her rare ability and striking beauty made her impossible to ignore.
Why would she choose weapons class over elemental training? Quinn wondered.
Before he could dwell on it though, another figure stepped into the hall—and the air shifted. It was Vicky. Her appearance drew an even stronger reaction than Erin's; she was a level six ability user, infamous for being as dangerous as she was unpredictable. Since day one, those unfortunate enough to cross her path had been lucky to escape with more than just their lives intact.
"What's she doing here…" Quinn muttered, irritation creeping into his voice
the bald man at the back opened his eyes and barked in a commanding voice, "ATTENTION!"
The chatter died instantly.
"My name is Leo, and I'll be your instructor," he announced, drawing a katana from his side. The blade's hilt was jagged, and the steel looked like it had been forged from something… alive. "Your first task is simple: choose your weapon. Choose carefully—this will be your lifeline. When your ability fails, your weapon and your skill are all you have left. Now, spread out and pick from the walls."
Students fanned out, testing the weight of swords, axes, scythes, and other strange implements. Even those who owned beast weapons experimented with new options.
Quinn drifted along the racks, overwhelmed by the variety—spiked clubs, whips, short swords, and more. He'd always been a close-quarters fighter because of the relentless spar over a month with Vicky, so wielding something unfamiliar would be a challenge.
Then, tucked among the rest, he spotted a pair of black gauntlets. Small ridges like horns curved along the forearms, and the fingertips were sharpened into blade-like points, giving them the look of a dragon's claw, and immediately he was attracted to it, He chose them for two reasons: they offered solid protection, and their weight could add power and momentum to his punches. They were armor and weapon in one—and still left his hands free to grip something else if needed.
"A bold choice," Leo's voice came from behind him.
Quinn turned to see the instructor watching him with mild curiosity.
"Not many starts with those," Leo continued. "They demand courage—you have to get in close. But they're durable, and they double as defense."
Quinn simply nodded. He'd fought enough to know he could handle close combat.
"Mind if I give them a try?" he asked.
Leo gestured for him to proceed before moving on to check the others.