Sergeant Smith's voice boomed through the hall.
"Alright recruits, listen up! Today marks the start of your next stage of training — Mythic Weapons Class. These are your tools, your partners, and in some cases, the only thing standing between you and death."
He stepped aside, gesturing to the woman beside him.
"This is Sergeant Cassie — she's here to evaluate your choices and teach you how to use your weapons effectively. Don't let the plant-life fool you — she can crush a man faster than you can salute."
Cassie gave a faint smirk, her voice sharp yet calm.
"Every weapon here has a ranking from one to five. First-years will only be given a rank one weapon after that you have to acquire your own or purchase one. These aren't toys — each one's been balanced, tested, and chosen for practicality. Your weapon says a lot about how you fight — and who you are."
Sergeant Marek added in his usual dry tone,
"Choose wisely. A poor choice now might cost you a fight or death."
The cadets stepped forward as the storage crates opened with a metallic hiss, revealing neat racks of weaponry — bows, blades, spears, and daggers glinting under the lights.
Scarlett was first to move, her eyes drawn immediately to a pair of sleek daggers, silver with a gold base. She tested their weight, spinning one then accidently dropping it on the floor, slipping between her fingers. she quickly picked it up, slightly embarrassed before nodding. "These'll do," she said, a cheeky smile forming.
Elena followed, drawn to a finely crafted bow of pale ash wood. It felt right in her hands — the curve smooth, the string taut but forgiving. "I'll take this one," she said with quiet confidence.
Billy, as always, said nothing. His gaze scanned the rack until he found a pair of dual swords. Black in colour. Balanced. Deadly. He lifted them, testing the weight before resting them across his back with a single stare to Sergeant Smith.
Then came Max. His smirk returned as he reached for a long sword that shimmered faintly under the lights. He lifted it — and his grin faltered slightly as the weight dragged his arm down. Still, he held on, jaw tight, refusing to let go. After a moment, he dropped it back down, making a loud crash, Max just smiled at his teachers, scratching the back of his head and then continued scanning the table for something else. His hand landed on a small leather pouch filled with thin metal needles.
He picked one up and flicked it lightly with his telekinesis, sending it snapping into a nearby training dummy's shoulder. The room gave a soft murmur of approval.
"Better," Sergeant Smith said simply. "Use what complements your ability — not your ego."
A few chuckles rippled through the group, though Max ignored them.
Cassie stepped forward, her vine whip shifting slightly, leaves unfurling as if reacting to her movement. "These weapons won't grow with you — you'll have to earn higher ranks through performance and evaluation. You want them — you train for them and you fight for them. Or you buy them from the loot you acquire from the hunts and bounty's"
Her gaze drifted over the recruits, pausing briefly on Billy before turning to Elena and Scarlett. "I expect results, not excuses."
With that, she cracked her whip once across the floor — the vines striking hard enough to leave a faint scorch mark in the wood.
"Dismissed!"
The recruits began to leave, each still gripping their new weapon. Scarlett twirled her daggers as they walked. "She's intense," she muttered, eyes wide.
Elena nodded, glancing toward Billy ahead of them. "Yeah… but she's right. We've got to get better — fast."
Scarlett followed her gaze. Billy was walking alone, blades on his back, calm as ever.
There was something about the way he moved — deliberate, quiet, controlled — that made even the other cadets step aside without realising.
Elena frowned slightly. "He's not the same," she whispered.
Scarlett sighed. "No one is. Not after what happened."
As they left the hall, Sergeant Smith and Cassie exchanged a look.
Smith muttered, "That boy's either going to be our greatest soldier… or our biggest problem."
Cassie smirked faintly. "Maybe both."