As the sun rose over the academy, students gathered in the 5th wing the Hall of Weapons.
Owen stepped inside, his eyes widening at the vast hall lined with countless weapons.
At the center stood an old man with a long white beard and a single piercing eye and wooden walking stick with gold plated on it.
He cleared his throat. "Welcome, young students. I am Odin, the hall's administrator."
The students murmured among themselves.
Odin smirked. "You may choose your weapon partner—but only if the weapon chooses you back."
A boy from the crowd raised his hand. "Then what's the point? Why are we even here if we can't choose?"
Odin let out a deep laugh. "Foolish boy. Every weapon has an ego, a will of its own. Even if you wield it, if you cannot fulfill its desires, your power will be wasted."
Suddenly, his aura flared—a powerful, overwhelming presence.
The air trembled.
Weapons on the racks shook violently, some even floating off their stands.
Several students collapsed, unable to withstand the pressure. Others barely held their ground.
Owen, however, stood firm, locking eyes with Odin.
The old man smirked and his aura vanished.
"Now," Odin continued, "each of you may choose up to two weapons. Release your mana or aura, and let the weapons come to you."
Students focused, channeling their energy.
One by one, weapons floated towards their chosen wielders.
Leon received a massive spiked hammer.
Lucy obtained an elegant staff.
Connor grasped a sharp longsword.
Owen closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and whispered to himself:
"A cool weapon, come to me."
When he opened his eyes, his heart skipped a beat.
Every weapon in the hall was circling around him.
The room fell silent.
Odin burst into booming laughter. "Hah! Young lad, you have too many admirers!"
The students gaped in shock they had never seen anything like this.
Owen hesitated. Which one should I choose?
Then he felt something.
Amid the countless weapons, a dark, unreadable aura called to him.
He looked up and saw two ancient, black, unfinished swords.
They were worn and unpolished, unlike the gleaming weapons around him.
Yet… they felt right.
He pointed. "Sir, I'll take those black swords."
Odin asked in a suprise "Those?"
The old administrator had never noticed them before. They weren't on the racks.
"Where had they come from?"
Still, he nodded. "Very well."
The students gritted their teeth in jealousy as Owen took the mysterious blades.
Odin stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Take care of your partner. Weapons are more than tools—they are companions in battle."
With that, the students left the hall.
A Night Before Adventure
As the sun set, Owen and Leon walked back to their dorms.
Leon grinned. "Tomorrow, we can go to the city."
Owen blinked. "Wait, we can leave the academy?"
"Yeah," Leon shrugged. "I'll show you around."
Owen nodded. "Sounds good."
Back in his dorm, Owen sat on his bed, unsheathing one of the black swords.
Its blade was dull, its surface rough, yet… it felt strangely familiar.
He exhaled, then gently placed the sword back in its scabbard.
Headmaster's Office
Odin stood before the headmaster, recounting the day's events.
The headmaster listened carefully
"I want to see him grow… and achieve his destiny" odin said.
The headmaster gazed out the window, watching the moonlight bathe the academy.
"This just the beginning'