Blades descended—one by one.
A wave of heat swept through the desert.
A red glowing blade shot downward straight to Leo.
Whispers exploded.
"The son of Magnus Ironheart… Leo Ironheart."
Leo grabbed the sword without hesitation.
Flames wrapped around him .
More blades descended.
Felix gasped as a green-aura blade spiraled into his hands.
"I got mine!"
Arthur waited, heart pounding.
But nothing came.
Felix touched his shoulder. "Maybe it's delayed. Let's wait a while longer."
Still nothing.
Arthur swallowed.
He raised his voice."Sir… I think my blade is stuck in the sky... vould you maybe hit your staff again?"
The hall went silent.
"That's not how it works," the old man said.
Felix stepped forward. "Then how?"
"Your friend was not chosen by any blade... that's all."
The words fell like stones.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Isn't he a noble?"
"A noble without a blade? How embarrassing."
Leo glanced at Arthur once, then walked away calmly.
Arthur lowered his head.
The voice kept coming.'Not chosen... not chosen.'
The words burned in his chest. "Why… why me?"
His thought spiraled." Everyone else got one..."
Felix grabbed his arm."Arthur. There's no reason to give up. Remember... we aim to be the strongest sword mages. That's our dream isn't it?"
Arthur looked at him. "Felix…"
The ceremony ended and the old man floated away.
The desert vanished. Marble returned.
The children dispersed.
Arthur walked out last.
——————
That night, sleep wouldn't come.
Arthur tossed and turned.
Something clawed at him from the inside.
Felix's voice came softly. "Hey… wanna take a walk?"
Arthur sat up." Yeah."
——————
Outside, the air was cold.
The academy grounds was quiet.
They walked past the lights, into the shadow.
Five silhouettes stepped forward. Eyes glinting in the dark.
"Well, well," the one in front smiled. "What do we have here?"
He tilted his head. "Children who want to become Sword Mages, huh?"
Arthur stepped back.
The man's smile widened."You both should've stayed asleep in your rooms."
Felix exhaled sharply."Arthur…they seem dangerous."
Arthur nodded. "Mm"
Felix drew his blade instantly—steel sliding from the sheath.
One of the men pointed at Arthur."That one is a noble."
The boss grinned."Oh? A noble and a commoner. Today must be our lucky day."
He pointed at Felix."Hand over the noble blood. Do that, and you can leave alive."
Felix hesitated.
He looked at Arthur, then at the goons whose smiles were wicked and sharp.
His arm came out in front of Arthur like a shield."I'm not letting you touch him."
" Is it really me they want. But why?" Arthur thought.
Felix continued."Besides, it's not like you'd let me leave after seeing all our faces."
The boss smiled."Good point."
Felix whispered without looking back."Step back."
The men laughed—mockingly.
The boss flicked his fingers."Go on, boys.. play with him. He wants to test his swordplay."
One man stepped forward, laughing.
He slashed upward.
Felix barely blocked it.
Sparks jumped in the air. "Arthur—go! Call someone! Now!"
But Arthur's feet didn't move. They felt glued to the ground.
The attacker pressed harder, forcing Felix down.
Felix groaned."He's strong… but I can't give up—!"
The man twisted his blade and knocked Felix's sword from his hand.
It spun once and landed uselessly on the ground.
Felix stared at his empty palms in disbelief, as if the world had betrayed him.
A kick slammed into his stomach.
He folded. Sound leaving his lungs. Saliva followed.
He fell to his knees.
The man grabbed his hair and punched him." You're just an amateur. Know your place."
Blow after blow landed. Blood dotted the ground.
Arthur could only watch, hands shaking.
The boss laughed."Why don't you use your blade and defend your friend?"
Arthur looked down at his empty hands."I wish I had one… I really do… but—"
The boss stepped closer, eyes glowing red."Don't tell me…"
He leaned down, staring into Arthur's soul like he was reading a script. "You weren't chosen… were you?"
Arthur didn't answer.
The boss burst into laughter."Thought so."
His men joined in."A noble without a blade? Useless."
"I heard the news, but I didn't think I'd meet the failure myself."
The man beating Felix dropped him."Nice to meet you… my lord," he mocked.
Felix sprinted for his fallen sword.
Another man slammed his blade into the ground.
Earth erupted, trapping Felix inside a stone cage.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Felix!" Arthur shouted.
The leader lifted a finger."Shh... you don't get to say his name."
Arthur froze.
"You couldn't help him," The leader sneered."No wonder no blade chose you... they saw what I see."
He smiled."A hopeless soul."
The laughter scraped against Arthur's nerves.
His vision blurred.
His hands trembled."This is another feeling… I've never felt before."
He stared up at the boss's glowing eyes."Is this… fear? Am I going to die again?"
Memories flooded him—his illness, the loneliness, the days that ended in silence.
"I just got a new life," he thought." I made goals... I have a family."
His throat tightened."I don't want to die here."
The leader stopped laughing."So? What now, bladeless boy?"
Arthur froze.
He looked at Felix, then stepped back—and ran.
The men laughed."He got scared!"
"Ran like a rat!"
The boss walked to Felix and squatted."This is what happens when you befriend a noble."
His voice was low and cruel." They abadon you. They're selfish piece of trash who care about nothing but themselves."
He leaned closer to the cage."You should have accepted our offer and left him behind."
Felix looked down."Arthur…"
The men went silent.
One spoke."Boss."
The leader turned.
Arthur stood there—holding a long stick, hands trembling.
Felix's eyes widened."Arthur… you came back."
The boss rose."So you didn't run."
Arthur raised the stick, though his stance shook.
His voice broke." I... I'll fight to survive.
The men laughed."A stick?!"
The leader smirked."I misjudged you. I thought you'd stay gone, but you returned... I respect that."
He drew his blade— eyes glowing .
Fire erupted wildly along the metal.
Arthur stared.The reflection of flame in his eyes.
Sweat beaded on his face.
Felix screamed from the cage."Arthur, run! You can't win! You're bladeless—remember!"
Silence fell.
Arthur spoke slowly."I finally felt it."
He swallowed."Family. A friend. Goals. Something worth protecting. My birthday was celebrated through the years I grew up and I felt loved."
Felix froze."Arthur... what are you talking about?"
Arthur smiled faintly."Actually, it crossed my mind to run, but I just couldn't leave you behind."
The men watched.
Felix yelled. "What kind of person risks their life for someone they just met? You're a noble!"
Arthur shouted back, voice cracking." You were ready to risk yours for me!"
He shook his head."I don't want to die—and I don't want you to die either."
His eyes burned with resolve."So I'll fight. Just sit there quietly."
Felix fell silent, stunned.
The men laughed."He really wants to die."
The leader pointed his flaming blade at Arthur.
"Come. Prove your resolve, noble trash."
Arthur charged, gripping the stick tightly.
The leader scoffed."Tch, you're useless after all."
He swung.
The stick was sliced in half—burning at the edges.
Arthur froze, staring at the useless half in his hand.
Before he could react, a kick struck his side.
He flew sideways, hitting the ground like a thrown rag.
The goons cheered."Yeah! Get him!"
The leader sheathed his sword.
The flames vanished.
Arthur coughed, lying on the ground.
He tried to stand, then a boot slammed onto his chest.
He screamed.
Felix shouted."Stop!"
The leader glanced at him coldly."You just sit silently and wait your turn."
Felix swallowed, sweat dripping down his face.
Arthur grabbed the boots, struggling to free himself.
The boot pressed harder.
He gasped for air, vision darkening.
"You know what I hate?" the leader said."People who cling to false hope. Who make friends believe in them, when they're useless."
Another stomp.
Arthur jerked.
"You're nothing without your noble blood... Die."
He lifted Arthur by the shirt and tossed him aside.
"Kill him."
The goons surrounded Arthur like vultures.
Kicks and blows rained down.
Blood splattered across the grass.
His vision began to fade, the world slipping at the edges.
"I wonder why I thought I could win." A weak breath left him." Stupid... thinking a stick meant anything."
Felix's voice echoed faintly in his mind.
"He asked me to walk with him… If I had refused… maybe none of this would've happened."
His thoughts cracked." I still wasn't able to save another good person."
His eyes shut slowly. "I'm sorry, Felix... I was weak."
Felix screamed."Arthur!"
Silence.
One of the men yelled."Stop!"
They paused.
He checked Arthur's body. " Almost gone. One more."
The boss shook his head. "Leave him. He'll die anyway."
He looked ahead. "To think a noble would befriend a commoner… and even risk his life.
He turned to look at Arthur's lifeless body."People like you don't last in this world."
"What about the other one?" One asked.
The boss glanced at Felix. "We take him."
Felix remained frozen in shock and disbelief.
The boss walked away, three goons followed.
The last one approached the cage."You should smile. The boss likes you and that's why you're not dead."
Felix said nothing.
Boom!
An unsettled aura exploded behind them.
They turned.
Arthur stood—blue energy swirling around him.
He raised his hand.
A wave of cold air erupted. Frost clung to their skin.
The man by the cage froze in shock."How… how is he still standing?"