Solstice Scimitar

|Jude|

After resolving the matter with the royal family, I assured Galahad that I would give his request to become his disciple careful consideration and provide him with an answer at a later date. Although he seemed slightly disappointed, he respected my decision and allowed me to return to my family.

Upon arriving home, our lives settled back into a semblance of normalcy. One pressing matter was the selection of Arthur's adventurer mentor, and after thoughtful deliberation, we decided that Jasmine would be the best fit. Her maturity and exceptional talent within the Twin Horns made her the ideal candidate.

Once that was settled, we made our way back to the Auction House to retrieve our swords, as Vincent had promised. Lilia's parents had already arrived and were waiting for us there. My father and Vincent departed to meet with the guards, while Tabitha took our carriage back home to care for Lilia, leaving just the two of us to search for our swords.

The storage hall of the Auction House was a maze of crates and various goods, albeit somewhat haphazardly organized. Vincent explained that they stored a wide range of items, including those from merchants, adventurers, and even the Dwarven Kingdom.

Relations between elves and dwarves had improved over the years, but the wounds of the war over a neutral territory were still healing, leading to limited business transactions between the two races. Dwarven weapons and armor were renowned for their quality due to the dwarves' inherent mastery in the craft, while elves excelled in bows and conjurer wands and staffs.

As I surveyed the shelves and racks, my eyes scanning the array of available swords, I carefully selected a few to test. However, one after another, they failed to meet my expectations. The workmanship was shoddy, the balance between the blade and grip was off, and the overall craftsmanship lacked the finesse required for anything beyond simple swings or thrusts.

obtained when I opened the fifth door in my previous life, and subsequently, the third door in this life—the All-Seeing Eyes. It was an extraordinary power that allowed me to perceive the world with enhanced vision and insight. With a surge of mana, I activated my eyes, extending the reach of my ability to its fullest extent.

As I scanned the room, my vision expanded, encompassing every nook and cranny. However, to my disappointment, nothing truly caught my attention. Just as I was about to give up, a flicker of curiosity led my gaze towards a peculiar item. It was a seemingly ordinary stick, yet it emanated an energy that felt distinct from mana.

Intrigued, I made my way towards it and picked it up, feeling its unique aura. I attempted to unsheathe it, but to my surprise, I failed. Perplexed, I even opened the third door to tap into the full extent of my power, but still, the sword remained stubbornly sheathed. Determined to uncover the reason behind its resistance, I focused my All-Seeing Eyes on the sword.

Through my enhanced perception, I discerned an energy similar to Arthur's beast will. Could it be that the creator of this sword was also a beast tamer in the past? It piqued my interest even more, and I concluded that this sword would be a perfect fit for Arthur. With that in mind, I called him over.

"Arthur, I've found something interesting," I said, gesturing for him to join me in the miscellaneous section. Perplexed by my presence there, he approached with a quizzical expression. Without further ado, I tossed the sword to him and whispered, "Use your beast will."

Arthur's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly grasped the significance of my words. Nodding in understanding, he tightened his grip on the sword, ready to unlock its true potential with his innate connection to the beasts.

|Arthur|

I was surprised by the weight of the rod that looked much thinner now than it was in my hand. While it seemed to be made of some kind of polished wood, it weighed a lot more than just a simple walking stick. Holding it up, I took a closer look, inspecting the rod more carefully. The stick had a matte coat to it, not reflecting any light at all, while the whole rod was smooth to the touch. While unnoticeable at first, I could see intricate indentations that formed a design throughout the pole, but other than that, I couldn't' find anything special about it.

I activated Dragon Will. I didn't use its power but simply infused the Will into the sword. And, a light tug was all it took for the sword to glide out of its sheath. I couldn't help but swallow back a lump of air as I fell into a trance, staring at the weapon much too beautiful to be considered an ordinary weapon.

The narrow blade was straight and thin like a rapier's but had a double edge, making it fit for slashing as well as thrusting. As the keen edge of the blade curved smoothly into a sharp tip, I couldn't help but notice that there were no markings—that the blade had been sharpened. The weight and balance of the sword were a bit off in my opinion but it was still much better than the crude tools I had picked up before. However, even this flaw was overshadowed by the breathtaking quality and colour of the blade.

The translucent teal hue of the blade seemed to almost generate a lustre of its own, even inside the dim storage room. There was a stark contrast to the matte-black scabbard and handle, making the colour of the blade all the more radiant. Even though the blade was so narrow and thin, a few tests on a nearby iron container confirmed its durability and strength.

I could say with confidence that, even in my old world, there wasn't a blade as well-forged as this. Was this sword truly meant for beast tamers or were its criteria even more particular? I thought as I looked down at Sylvie.

Dawn's Ballad W.K. IV

As soon as those words left my lips, a searing pain abruptly shot out from where I was gripping the sword, making me drop the weapon. There was a gash that had already been cauterized across my palm. I was hesitant to pick the sword back up again, but when I did, I could see the faint remains of my blood getting absorbed into the handle of the blade.

"Kuu!" Are you okay, Papa? Sylvie trotted next to me, pawing my leg, concerned.

I'm fine, Sylv. After scratching the underside of my bond's chin, I gave the sword another swing. This time, the point of balance of the sword aligned perfectly to match my undeveloped body. Even the handle of the blade seemed to have grown smaller to fit in my hand as if it was made for me.

There were some extraordinarily valuable staffs and wands that had the ability to bond with a single user, allowing better manipulation of mana between the weapon and master, but I'd never heard of a sword doing something like this. Picking up the sword, I pondered over the man, whose initial was "W.K. IV." Who was this person and how was he capable of forging such a sword?

|Jude|

As I lamented my inability to obtain the previous sword, another blade caught my attention. Intrigued, I swiftly made my way towards it and picked it up, feeling a surge of heat emanating from its core. The flames danced along the blade, defying my attempts to extinguish them with my ice magic. It was as if the flames possessed a power of their own, unfazed by my icy efforts.

Determined not to be discouraged, I shifted my focus to my own fire magic. Drawing upon the depths of my power, I allowed the flames to churn within me, blending their intensity with my own fiery essence. With a surge of determination, I unsheathed the sword from its worn and tattered brown sheath, gasping as the brilliance of the blade overwhelmed my senses.

The blade glowed with a vibrant orange-red hue, radiating a luminosity akin to the sun itself. Its edge was adorned with a deep scarlet hue, adorned with dashes of yellow, as if mirroring the very essence of flames. Mesmerized by its beauty and raw power, I turned my attention to the hilt, hoping to uncover the identity of its creator or past wielder.

Carefully, I examined the inscription etched into the hilt, tracing my fingers along the engraved letters. The name revealed itself, a testament to the sword's storied history and the prowess of its previous owner.

Solstice Scimitar M. A.

I whispered the name of the sword, feeling the fiery energy surging through my body. The intense heat radiated from the blade, seeping into my very core. I took a deep breath, feeling the foreign mana merging with my own, amplifying my already exceptional physique to unprecedented levels. It was as if my entire being became a conduit for mana, each particle intertwining with my essence.

This process reminded me of my childhood days, when I first discovered the power of mana and used it to strengthen my body. But this... this was on a whole new level. The sheer intensity of the connection, the seamless integration of mana within me, was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. It was as if I had become a vessel of boundless potential, ready to unleash the true extent of my power.

After I was done admiring the sword, I picked up an empty platinum sheathed that suited the grandeur of this sword before unsheathing the blade and making my way towards the exit with Arthur.

"Well? Did you see anything you liked?" Vincent, who had been talking with my dad, asked.

Arthur nodded, holding up the short sword to him, "I found this sword and, after a few swings, I've grown to like it. Is it okay for me to take this one?"

Vincent took the weapon from Arthur's hand, drawing the sword from its scabbard. "Hmmm, not the best quality sword but it is solid and won't break easily. Rey, what do you think?"

My father accepted the sword, studying its blade, grip and guard before taking several swings and thrusts. "The balance isn't the best but I think it'll be good as a first sword. What's that stick you're holding onto, though?"

Trying not to make a big deal out of it, Arthur gave a casual shrug. "I tripped over this really sturdy stick on my way back here. Do you mind if I take this back home to practice with, Uncle Vincent?"

"Ah, that old thing! I remember one of my merchants telling me how some senile old man just handed it to him, mumbling something about finding a worthy master. We had a few of our inspectors check if there was anything special about it, but for all they were able to find out, it was just a sturdy, hard cane. It's been gathering dust here so if you think it'll do you some good, go ahead and take it," Vincent answered, lightly squeezing his shoulder.

"I am rather fond of this sword," I remarked, drawing the blade from its scabbard, eliciting gasps of astonishment from both my father and Vincent.

"You... You've managed to tame the Solstice Scimitar?!" Vincent exclaimed, disbelief evident in his voice. "Even the most powerful fire mage at the silver stage couldn't accomplish that feat. What kind of extraordinary anomaly are you?"

"Just a humble genius," I responded with a touch of pride seeping into my words. "The world's greatest, perhaps. May I assume that I have your approval to keep this magnificent sword?"

"By all means," Vincent acquiesced with a sigh. "No mage, save for you, has ever succeeded in taming it. It seems only fitting that the sword finds its rightful owner in your hands."