Lancelot and Arkenvalle

Darkness...

As far as I could see, there was nothing but darkness...

It was the same no matter which direction I looked. It was pointless how far I walked...

It was all darkness...

Until I heard a voice...

"...Mine name is Lancelot. The Sword Hero of the Heroic Order. In my power as a Hero, I summon thee..."

Who?...

Summon?... Do you know my name?...

I don't remember...

However...

I shall accept whatever name you bestow...

Just get me out of this place...

"...Come Forth..."

Somehow...

Why does the voice...

Sound...

Lonely?...

"...Arkenvalle."

I see...So that's where the light was...

It was you...

Lancelot.

◇ Lancell's POV ◇

When I opened my eyes, I found two crystal clear blue eyes. It was staring back at me, and it just stared, as if trying to observe my very being. It was a few seconds of silence, till she spoke.

"Good morning, Lancelot."

'Lancelot? Why does she know of that name?' I thought as my wariness shot up, but for some reason, I couldn't bear to throw any hostility towards her.

"Who are you?" I asked. It was all I could manage.

Her slender hand than caressed my chest as she softly spoke. "...Contract...Eternal Vow..."

As she spoke, I somehow felt that her voice was familiar. But I was certain that I had never met her before. So exactly was she?

Her brows frowned as she clearly saw through my confusion, and then she spoke one word that enlightened me. "Arkenvalle."

That's right. It was the same voice I heard from Arkenvalle, and the one that I hadn't heard in a week, so I thought the voice was merely a hallucination.

"You're Arkenvalle?" I asked. The girl smiled, and nodded.

'I see. So that's why I couldn't throw any animosity towards her. A swordsman hates not the sword, but the wielder and the craftsman.' I thought.

However, even if I now understood why I couldn't bear to throw any animosity, the fact that Arkenvalle even had human form was mind boggling.

I looked at the commotion at the door and saw the children group looking at me in confusion. Siri especially, was making incomprehensible gestures, but from her eyes, I could tell that she was asking about what's going on.

"Lancelot. You're confused." Arkenvalle stated. She stated, and not asked. A strange feeling welled up in me as I asked.

"You can sense my emotions?"

Arkenvalle nodded again. 'I see. So it was like that. I can feel the connection between us had gotten stronger, is it because she's 'awake' now?' I thought in my mind. However, the moment I finished asking inwardly, Arkenvalle answered in my stead.

"Yes. As I am fully conscious, the connection between us had gotten stronger. Try feeling it, you should be able to feel my emotions too. Along with surface thoughts" She explained.

I was again surprised as she could also read my mind, but I did as she told, as I closed my eyes and search for the connection between us. The moment I found it, a powerful feeling of joy flooded in my mind as I could hear her thought.

"...We finally meet..."

"...Lancelot."

'Finally meet.' And 'Lancelot'. Those three words made my eyes widen as I realized.

"I see. So I wasn't truly alone, even after the annihilation of mankind, huh?" I thought, and it was conveyed by the connection between us.

"That's right...and I'm still here...And always be here..." she conveyed back.

I involuntarily smiled, and Arkenvalle smiled back as a warm and fuzzy feeling filled both our minds. The moment I realized that she was with me all along made me a but giddy, and it was probably similar to what she felt all along our journey, as I could vaguely feel it from her.

That's why...

"Thank you. Arkenvalle." I thanked her.

Arkenvalle just smiled. I notice just now but she was quite fond of smiling. And her smiles were always warm. As I saw her smile, I involuntarily smiled back.

It was a true companionship that we shared in both my past and present life. One with no betrayals, only trust, and mutual reliance.

However, as we basked in the feeling of reunion...

"Uhh...Lancell, I know were interrupting, but what exactly is happening here?" Siri asked, bringing us back to our senses.

Well, it seems that I owe my students some explanations.

◇◇◇

"So you're saying that this girl is the sword that would magically appear in your hands during every fight?" Siri asked. Seriously, she is basically the leader of their group now. Well, she wasn't a bad leader though.

"Yes." I affirmed.

"Umm...Can we ask what exactly is that sword? And can we do it too?"

"Arkenvalle is a Divine Weapon, a weapon summoned and given physical form by Heroes. They take the form of a weapon that the Hero is most talented in."

"Then how did Ar...Arke... How did Valle turn into a girl?" Sally asked. It seems she's having trouble pronouncing Arkenvalle's name.

"I don't know. And what do you mean by Valle?" I answered, and asked about the weird name.

"Valle's her nickname from now on. My decision, of course." Or so she decided. I looked at the rest of the group, for some reason, they all nodded.

"Hey! Hey! That looks so cool! Can I do it too?!" Ray asked.

"It's not impossible, but you'd have to become a Hero first. And to do that, you'll have to Tread the Heroic Path, something that doesn't suit you, Rayle."

"Aww shucks! Well, it looks like I can just give up."

Everyone smiled wryly at Rayle's attitude. He was a complete muscle-brain now, and everyone was troubled about where he got such habit. However, despite the light mood, Lina was somewhat downcast. She then asked.

"Lancell, how did you have a...Divine Weapon, was it? How did you have one then? And where did you learn your skill with the sword?"

'I see. So that still troubled her, huh?'

However, I replied the same as ever. "Not telling."

Lina clenched her fists in frustration, but she didn't display her chagrin. Instead, she just lowered her head as she fell silent.

'How indecisive.' I thought. Even though she was a good person, she was weak-willed. Another trait I don't like.

All of a sudden, Arkenvalle suddenly stood as she then walked towards me. She then spoke. "...Sleepy..." she said with a yawn. She then disintegrated into countless white particles that entered my chest.

After a while, I spoke to everyone who was stunned by the spectacle. "Well, shall we start our lessons?"

And so our daily life continued.

◇◇◇

After I finished with my lessons, I then headed to the courtyard where I always go to train. I wanted to see if there was any changes to Arkenvalle now that she could assume human form.

'Come to think of it, what happened to the Black Dogs' corpses? And the cores? I'll be sure to ask later.' I thought. It was needed, not by me, but by their group. I had planned to use it to quickly increase their Levels.

Not long after, I reached the courtyard of the house I previously lived in, and sat cross legged on the ground. I then optimized my mind as Arkenvalle spoke in my mind.

"...Will you be practicing?" I was surprised at her sudden voice, but I composed myself and conveyed back.

"Yeah. I wanted to check if there was changes in your sword form. By the way, weren't you asleep?" I asked her.

"Not really. I just like it here. Inside you. It feels warm and comfy." She answered. I could only make a wry smile at her words.

"I-I see..."I said.

The conversation ended there, and I materialized Arkenvalle without further ado. The moment I did, a strong breeze blew from my outspread palm and white light exploded in densely in all directions as it then returned to form a sword. It was the Level 3 Arkenvalle.

"So...the materialization got flashier?"

"I thought you'd like it." She explained. And I couldn't deny her words. If I lie, she would immediately know due to our connection, so it would have been pointless.

"A-Ahaha...you got me.""I conveyed awkwardly.

Anyway, I then circulated the Severing Blade's practice method and felt a restrictive force around my body. I then slashed at the winds in practice, but what I felt amazed me.

As I slashed, I instinctively tapped into my connection with Arkenvalle. And as I did so, I felt like my senses had become one with what Arkenvalle perceived. I could hear what I could never hear before, I could see some floating lights in the surroundings, and I could sense all movements within 20 meter radius. And most of all...

"I can see the flaws in my swordsmanship..."

It was unbelievable. It was vague, but it was really there. The flaws in my execution of the Severing Blade, the flaws in my way of handling the sword, and the flaws in my stance, all of it.

"The Void Severing Blade is mysterious indeed. It was like it was created for our sake."Arkenvalle said even before I could say it.

And so, the entire time till sundown, I practiced the Severing Blade until it reached Level 6.

◇◇◇

The next day, during lessons, I noticed that my student's mana manipulation abilities had skyrocketed ever since I went unconscious. As such, it was time for them to start cultivating.

◇◇◇

"Congratulations, your basics of the mana manipulation and theoretical knowledge is now at the minimum of the required for cultivation. I'll be teaching all of you—aside from Ludivine as she already has one— Guidance Tomes that is suited for all of you. Just to be informed, you don't get to choose so don't complain." I told everyone.

All seven of them clenched their fists in pride as their eyes could help but tear up as it lip up in excitement.

I then started giving each one of them their respective Guidance Tomes. I started with the leader of the group.

"Siri." I called out. Siri came forward as she clenched her fist even tighter as I could see nervousness in her face. I then pointed a finger at her forehead and tapped it. She went in a daze as her mind processed the Guidance Tome I had imparted her. I then informed.

"From now on, as the leader of your group, you will be guiding and leading everyone else as the one they chose. I gave you the Wind Seeker Manual. It is a Cultivation Method that belongs to the Ranger's Path. You will be everyone's eyes, as you will perceive danger even before it arrives. You will be their compass as you guide them when they are lost, you will be the core of this group and you will bear the heaviest burden among the rest. You have no rights to decline this role. Now what is your answer."

"Yes! I'll accept the role with pride!" Siri answered with a shout. It looks like she's still nervous. Everyone was looking at her with a smirk as she then turned bright red in shame. I then proceeded with the next.

"Rayle." I called out. Rayle came forward, and I tapped his forehead with my finger as I imparted a Guidance Tome.

"You are an idiot who charges at every opportunity, so I gave you the Thunder-Flame Elemental Transformation Manual. It is of the Martial Path and it will bestow you with powerful offensive abilities along with a body that would repel ordinary attacks. It suits you, so accept it already! How many times do I have to tell you?! You're not suited to being a Hero!" I toll Rayle whose eyes were shining in anticipation. When he heard my words, he slumped and muttered.

"Ugh!...so close..."

"To what exactly?!...Just go already." I was really irritated with this guy who pestered me all night to make him a Hero. Everyone laughed at our exchange, but I cleared my throat as I called the next.

"Sally." I called out. She came forward, and I tapped her forehead and imparted a Guidance tome.

"Sally, you will be in charge of supporting your group. Remember, your role is very crucial as there will be times where a single support spell from you would decide whether someone lives, or dies. Thus I gave you the War Nymph Arcane Manual. It is of the War Path, and once cultivated to its peak, a single spell from you can allow a hundred normal soldiers triumph over a thousand. Help your allies well."

"Yep! Got it!" Sally replied with a grin.

"Shin."

"Y-Yes." Shin stuttered as he walked forward. I then imparted a Guidance Tome.

"Shin. Honestly, I doubted at first what to give you, but after a long deliberation, I decided it would be you to carry this. It was the same Tome that a certain Hero once cultivated, and it had brought him to humanity's peak. I hope you grow well." I said as I gave him the same Guidance Tome I once cultivated.

"...The Heroic Path...can I really do it?"

"It doesn't matter if you can or not. However, just do what you want to do, and the result will dictate whether you are worthy." Shin went silent at my words, but I ignored him and called out the next.

"Argos." I called out and he came forward. I then imparted him a Guidance Tome.

"Argos, I gave you the Adamant Light Guardian Manual. As for what I want to tell you, I want you to take care of your group. I wasted time in teaching you all, and I don't want all of you to die quick. Understand?"

"Yes! Lancell!"

I then proceeded with the last.

"And finally, Lina." I called and she came forward. I gave her a Guidance Tome and told her.

"Lina, I want to say this first. You are absolutely unsuited for combat."

She went silent in acknowledgement. I then continued.

"That's why, it's up to you to save your group. I gave you the Evergreen Restoration Manual. It is an extremely rare Tome that heals instead of hurting. Can I trust you, Lina? Will you take the role as the final lifeline of the group?"

Her eyes widened at my questions as her brows then sank in resolve. "I will. Please let me do this." She answered.

And so, along with Ludivine's cultivation in the Magic Path, they finally graduated and became a group of Warriors and Mages.