She sat quietly, her posture composed, as if she'd been waiting for something, or avoiding it.
To this day, I knew next to nothing about her. It wasn't that I didn't want to know; it was simply that I didn't have the time or energy to care.
I stole a glance at her, wondering again. She didn't interact much with the others.
No friends hanging around her desk, no circle pulling her into conversation. It looked like she was deliberately staying away from attention.
Almost like this corner of the classroom was her hiding spot.
But again… not my business.
I sighed, rubbing at the bridge of my nose as the faint throb of a headache stirred.
There were still five minutes before class officially began. Enough time to breathe. Maybe.
The clock ticked toward 8:25, and the noise in the room swelled until the door suddenly swung open.
The instructor walked in.
Instructor Gari.
Like a switch being flipped, the class quieted.
Even these arrogant brats knew when to shut up.
Gari moved to the front of the room, his expression unreadable, his steps heavy.
"Good morning, Instructor!" a blonde girl in the front row greeted cheerfully, her voice a little too high-pitched.
He paused, staring at her. The silence stretched just long enough to make her squirm before he finally spoke.
"I don't think a 'good morning' is actually necessary," he said flatly. "Because frankly, I don't see what's so good about the morning."
The girl let out a nervous laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and he went on without another glance at her.
"Well… anyways, good morning then," he added with a dry chuckle.
The girl quickly nodded, her smile stiff.
Gari turned his eyes to the rest of us, and his voice sharpened.
"I'm not someone who likes moving in circles, so I'll go straight to the point."
He let the silence weigh down for a moment before delivering the words that would shape our day.
"Get ready. What's scheduled for today won't take long." His lips curled, almost into a smirk. "It's the 'main weapon selection.' time."
The room rippled with tension.
Main weapon selection.
I felt my chest tighten. This was it, the step that determined the path of our combat training, the core of how we'd fight in the days to come.
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"Any weapon you can think of should be here."
Instructor Gari's voice carried across the wide, echoing hall.
The hall itself was unlike anything I had ever seen before, rows upon rows of weapons, neatly displayed as if each one were silently vying for our attention.
The polished floor reflected steel and iron, wood and leather, all gleaming faintly under the morning sun light.
Swords, daggers, spears, sabers, katanas, rapiers, bows, crossbows, gauntlets, even guns. Then there were the stranger ones, hammers, axes, and… shovels?
They were even many more. Honestly, it felt less like an academy's storage and more like the armory of some legendary hero who couldn't make up his mind.
A main weapon.
It sounded simple enough. It was exactly what it implied: the weapon that would define me, the one I'd spend countless hours training with, bleeding with, and maybe even surviving with. Or dying with.
Instructor Gari continued, his arms folded behind his back.
"Stand in front of the weapon you want. We'll supply you with the weapon itself and a training version. Choose carefully. Once you make a choice, you won't be able to change it for a long while. No room for regrets."
The air shifted immediately. My classmates, most of them the noble-born and privileged children of the elite, moved with confidence.
They already knew what they wanted, or perhaps, they were simply used to deciding without hesitation.
Swords, daggers, spears, and bows were the most popular. Students crowded around them as if drawn by instinct, their voices low, their movements precise. Some smiled with satisfaction, others smirked as if daring the rest of us to challenge their choice.
I, on the other hand, stood frozen. I needed to decide quickly, but my thoughts refused to settle.
Spear? I almost laughed. No, not happening. The spear was long, awkward, and complicated. The moment I imagined myself holding one, I could see myself tripping over it, stabbing the air instead of my opponent. Useless for me.
Sword? Hmm. Honestly, I didn't see any problem with a sword. It was simple, versatile, and dependable. Everyone from ancient warriors to fantasy protagonists and even heros seemed to rely on one. Still, just because it was popular didn't mean it would be easy.
Gun? Now that was tempting. Guns looked cool, clean, sharp, deadly. But then the reality slapped me across the face. Ammunition.
Bullets cost money, and I had neither wealth nor the luxury of wasting resources. Even if I managed to afford a few rounds, they'd be the regular kind, useless against the kind of opponents I'd likely face as I climbed higher. Guns weren't practical for someone like me.
Bow? Even worse. My aim was questionable at best, and bows were slow. Stringing an arrow, pulling back, aiming, what if my opponent was fast? What if it was something like that void kangaroo? By the time I'd pulled the string, I'd already be dead.
Daggers? Now that made me pause. Daggers were sleek, sharp, and direct. They required speed, pure speed. Fast strikes, quick steps, fluid movements. They were the kind of weapons that danced in the shadows. The downside? Using that much speed for both movement and attack would drain me faster than I'd like. Exhaustion could mean death.
So, it came down to dagger… or sword.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized why swords were always such a popular choice.
They were balanced, speed, strength, defense. Not the fastest, not the slowest, but reliable. I didn't know if I had any natural talent for it, but something about the sword felt… right.
Decision made, I exhaled and walked toward the section where the swords were displayed.
Most had already been claimed, but there were still many left. My eyes roamed over blades of every kind, short swords, greatswords, sabers, even a katana or two. Then, in the far corner, something caught my attention.
A sword.
It wasn't overly flashy, nor did it carry some strange aura of mystery. But it was long, straight, and sturdy.
The craftsmanship was clear even from a glance, even though I didn't have a good eye for swords, I knew it.
The blade gleamed faintly, and the hilt was wrapped in dark leather that looked durable yet comfortable to grip.
Most importantly, it looked expensive. And if something was expensive, that usually meant it was quality.
I stepped forward, my hand brushing against the hilt. The moment I lifted it, I felt its balance.
The weight was perfect, not too heavy, not too light. It rested in my hand like it belonged there, as though it had been waiting for me.
This one would do. I don't need to test another.
I tightened my grip, nodded to myself, and returned to stand among the others, the sword secure at my side.
Instructor Gari's gaze swept across the class. His lips curled faintly, though I couldn't tell if it was amusement or indifference.
"So now, you're free. Classes will start five days later. But before those five days end, the first-year class ranking will begin."
And like that, the main weapon selection ended.