Following the minor incident, Aamon rose from the floor, his heart still racing from both occurrences.
Taking a steady breath, he regulated his heart rate, transforming the irregular rhythm into a calm and controlled beat.
Rose, who already recovered from her previous embarrassment, walked towards her father who received her with open arms.
Callisto smiled broadly as he stated with pride.
"You made me so proud Rose, why don't you give a hug??"
He was gleaming with joy but Rose instantly shushed him.
"Shh Dad. It's not the right time for that, Aamon's about to awaken."
Callisto's shoulders slumped dramatically. He let out a theatrical sigh, wearing the wounded expression of a man whose heart had just been broken by his own daughter.
Aamon stepped forward and looked at the translucent barrier which shimmered with a light in a way that seems not to be of this world.
"Looks like it's my turn now."
His eyes swept across the infinite number of weapon across from him, one-handed and two-handed swords, spears, ranged weapons, even wands and staffs were among them.
'I wonder what I will get, a sword would be good.'
He lifted his hand, closed his eyes, and let his fingertips brush against the barrier, an electric sensation coursed through his body as he pressed his palm against the barrier.
He focused on that sensation, trying to find a connection with what is meant for him, a new part of his soul and being.
after a couple of minutes, the tension inside of the room rose to a high level as nothing occurred, the spectators started to become impatient and some comments began to flow around, a few voices whispered doubts, discreet at first but the murmurs started to grow noisier, breaking the quiet inside the room.
"Why is nothing happening?!"
"Don't tell me he won't awaken?"
One question after the other echoed through the room, each voice betraying the growing unease, that was until a deep voice resounded across the room silencing everyone, it carried authority without the need to be loud.
"Silence. Everyone should keep quiet and let Aamon focus."
Then in a quieter voice, he said.
"Even though it looks like nothing can break his trance. And it's normal for it to take a bit of time, any ordinary weapon wouldn't be enough for how talented he is."
After hearing their ruler's words, every single person who voiced their doubts calmed down.
Meanwhile, outside the mansion, the night sky presented itself as a vast canvas of obsidian and amethyst.
The colors were blending into each other so perfectly, like a masterpiece created by the world to celebrate the moment. The heavens were illuminated by the twin moons and the profuse number of stars that flickered periodically.
Then slowly, as if summoned by some unknown power, ghostly mist started to form, slowly condensing into onyx grey clouds.
What was once an infinite expanse of light and darkness was quickly overtaken by heavy, charcoal-colored clouds that roll in like a rising tide.
People across the world started to notice the strange phenomenon, some pointing at the sky, others trying to find cover, fearing any possible outcome.
As the dense, charcoal clouds fully claimed the sky, the atmosphere began to vibrate with a restless, invisible energy. The air, which had been so still and silent, thickened with a static charge that made the hairs on the back of the neck stand up.
A deep orange glow started pulsing deep inside the heart of the clouds, then as if unleashed like a ferocious beast. Orange lightning cracked, forming web like currents across the sky.
Meanwhile, Aamon felt his consciousness seep out of his body yet he didn't resist the sensation, after a few moments, his soul completely left his body, he looked at his corporeal body who still remained breathing and unmoving.
Afterwards, he looked at his parents and the other members who were still looking mortified, that earned a small smile from him. Finally, his gaze settled on Rose, lingering noticeably longer than it had on the others.
'Looks like they are worried about me huh.'
He turned and the looked at the weapons, he was in the domain inside the barrier.
'Time to complete what I'm here for, but I don't how I'm supposed to look for it, they never talked about it in books, and apparently every person has a slightly different experience from the other. Some say they chose their soul weapon, others say their weapons chose them instead.'
Clearly confused and oblivious to what he should do, he started wandering around, looking at the variety of weapons in front of him and checking whether or not they were suitable for him.
He could feel the weapons trying to pull him towards them, but he resisted the temptation, in other words, the pull the weapons were emitting was too insignificant for him to fall for it, so he just he ignored them. Rather, he chose to focus and try to feel the strongest pull, he closed his eyes, if he could do that in his soul form and remained focused, filtering through the thousands of weapons wanting him to choose them.
After a couple of minutes, he noticed a tug different from the precedent ones, it was unique in many ways instead of being stronger, it was the most enticing one, he didn't know in what way it was more alluring, but it pulled at his instincts like a whisper in the dark, tugging not just at his mind, but at something deeper—his being, his longing, his need.
He began to walk in the direction of the pull, and soon he observed that all the ordinary weapons had been left behind, with only exquisite-looking ones remaining.
Then, he stopped in front of a massive, dark-steeled Greatsword characterized by its broad, tapering silhouette and a signature circular oculus forged directly into the base of the blade. Shimmering white runes are etched into its weathered surface, pulsing with an ancient, celestial energy that contrasts against the weapon's heavy, charcoal-grey metal. Its elongated hilt was designed for a powerful two-handed grip.
'if it wasn't you, then that means....'
He looked at it for a moment thoughtfully, then as if felling the previous tug then looked right past the greatsword and smiled.
"Looks like I finally found you. My soul weapon."