Peculiar choosing

Aldric became shocked from what Eldear said; many thoughts ran through his brain like horses. He looked towards Naiz, who was walking normally, when he heard another voice. "Do not worry, I used telepathy so he is unaware of this," the voice said, which was none other than the blacksmith.

Aldric got near to the blacksmith and asked, "How did you know?"

"Well, it is easier than you think. You are just releasing your darkness aura too much. So, if someone is a grandmaster rank, he can easily identify who you are," replied Eldear. "Oh, we are here. Let me take out the weapons for you," Eldear said.

Eldear then started rampaging through his shelves, chests, and other piles of swords that were lying around. He gathered every sword and put them on a table. "Let me tell you something first: I won't sell you these. Instead, they will choose you whether you are befitting for them or not," Eldear said.

"So, that's what Naiz meant by the peculiar choice," thought Aldric. "So, what do you want me to do?" Aldric asked. After Eldear began to explain the procedure, the only thing Aldric had to do was to pour his blood on the blade of the sword, and if any of them reacted, then that sword would be his.

"Do you understand?" Eldear asked Aldric to confirm whether he understood or not. In response, Aldric nodded his head. Then Aldric took his Voidreaper, the dagger he had created back then, and cut his finger. Blood started gushing out as Aldric held one sword after another in his hand. The swords' blades turned red from Aldric's blood pouring onto them. Time passed slowly, but nothing happened.

"Seems like you've got no luck," Eldear said. Listening to Eldear, Aldric got disappointed and said, "Well, what is done cannot be undone."

"Hmm, you are right, but don't lose hope. I still have something, but let me tell you something first," said Eldear in a serious tone. "And what might that be?" Aldric replied.

"Let me bring it first," said Eldear and ran towards a room that looked like a store. Aldric looked towards Naiz, possibly indicating his confusion about what Eldear was up to. In response, Naiz left both of his arms in the air.

Thud! Thud! Bang!

Loud noises started coming from the store room.

"Aha, here you are, my love!" shouted Eldear as if he had found a treasure. Eldear then came out of the store, holding an object covered in cloth.

Eldear started unrolling the cloth, revealing a wooden object. "Sir Eldear, I know that your swords think I am insignificant to them, and I respect that. But isn't it too much to give me a piece of wood?" Aldric said hesitantly.

"What did you say, brat!" shouted Eldear. "A piece of wood? You brat, even if you live a thousand lives, you will never encounter such a masterpiece. 'Masterpiece,' this, hahahaha, you must be joking," laughed Naiz, who had been silent until this point. "You'd better give it to me; at least it will be able to make a big fire in the stove," Naiz completed.

"You will know once you see it," Eldear said.

"See what, a piece of wood blossoming flowers?" Naiz said and started laughing again.

"Not a flower, but a sword will come out of it," said Eldear confidently. Both Aldric and Naiz felt uncomfortable for some reason. "Now, boy, grab the handle," Eldear said. "Handle?" said Aldric confused.

"Yeah, grab the handle," Eldear said. "But where is it?" said Aldric, even more confused. Naiz supported Aldric by saying the same thing. "You runts, can't you see the handle?" shouted Eldear. Both Aldric and Naiz were baffled by Eldear's words. "Just grab it from there," said Eldear.

Aldric did as he was told and grabbed the stick from one of its ends. The stick started glowing red, and Eldear shouted, "Yes, it is happening."

"What?" Just as Naiz was about to say something, Eldear shouted at him and told him not to say a word.

Tremble! Tremble!

The whole shop started shaking, and the stick started glowing as black smoke began to emanate from it. "What is happening?" the trio shouted in unison.

"What the hell, you are the owner for God's sake!" shouted Naiz.

The room was now completely filled with black smoke. "I don't know," Eldear was about to complete his sentence when the stick suddenly left Aldric's hand and started floating in the air. If this wasn't shocking enough, the stick began sucking the black smoke into it. Everyone in the room couldn't move an inch as if they were petrified. The reason was the stick; it was releasing an immense murderous aura to the point that Naiz and Eldear fell on their knees. "What is happening?" Eldear managed to say, barely audible.

As of now, Aldric was the only person standing, managing to maintain his balance. "Approach... it!" said Eldear from behind, barely managing to say the words. Aldric couldn't hear him properly but got a hint. Aldric slowly started moving and thought, "How can a stick possibly start releasing this much murderous aura out of nowhere?"

It took Aldric around 17 minutes to reach the stick. By now, Naiz and Eldear were down, their bodies lying on the floor. Aldric tried to lift his hand, but it was as if someone had put a ton of weight on it. He used every bit of strength and managed to grip the stick.

Crackle! Crackle!

As Aldric touched the stick, the outer layer started to peel off, revealing a blade beneath it.

Seeing this occurrence, Aldric was shocked to find that a stick was actually a blade. The black smoke that once filled the room was completely sucked up by the blade.

Sprint! Sprint!

It was late at night, and a boy was running through the rain. It was raining heavily, as if the sky were moaning.

"Stop, you bastard!" shouted a man who was running behind the boy.

Thud! Crash!

The boy's foot slipped, and he fell to the ground, rolling. "Huh, huh! What do I do? I must escape. I can't let their deaths be in vain," thought the boy to himself.

"You finally stopped, you brat," said the man who was chasing. "Now give it here, unless you don't want to die," the man said, licking his dagger's blade with his tongue.

The boy tried to stand up, but the fall had injured his leg. "I can't run in this state," thought the boy.

The boy mustered his courage and began to run. "Don't think of running," the man in front of him said.

The boy didn't pay heed to him and continued running. "Don't tell me I didn't warn you," the man said.

The man then grabbed his dagger and threw it towards the boy.

Swoosh! Stab!

The dagger pierced the flesh, but not the boy's—it pierced the heart of a man who appeared right before the dagger could reach the boy.

"Sephr," shouted the boy, tears streaming down his face. "Are you okay?" the boy said, crying. "I am okay. Sir, please don't cry," Sephr replied. "B-but," the boy couldn't speak a word as the dagger had pierced Sephr's heart.

Gasp!

On the other side, another blade pierced a body, but this time it was the body of the man who was chasing the boy. A person appeared behind the man.

"Sephr," the person cried and ran towards Sephr, who was barely standing. "Sephr, are you—" the person said, removing the mask from their face. This person was a girl.

"Sophia, take Sir Eldear somewhere safe," said Sephr. The kid whom Sephr referred to as "Sir" and the one who had been running the whole time was none other than the young Eldear.

"No, I can't leave you in this state," said Sophia.

"This isn't the time for arguing. Dark Moon may send more of their men after Sir Eldear," said Sephr.

"But..." tried Sophia to say something but was cut off by Sephr. "I said take him away. It is an order," shouted Sephr. "Yes, Sir," replied Sophia, taking Eldear. "No, I can't leave him like this," shouted Eldear. "Listen, Eldear, our clan sacrificed themselves to protect you and this sword. You must protect it and find the person of that bloodline. This is your task, no, this is our task, and it will not end until you find its rightful owner," said Sephr. "Eldear, listen to your brother, okay?" said Sophia.

Struck!

Eldear was hit behind his neck and slowly began to lose consciousness. "No... Brothe... r," said Eldear and finally fainted.

"Emmm... who is calling me? Is it you, Sophia? No, it is the voice of a man," mumbled Eldear. "Eldear, wake up. Are you okay?" a voice reached Eldear. Eldear slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry. He could see a boy calling out to him as the blurriness started fading away. "Ahh! My head, what hap..." Eldear was about to say something, but he stopped and looked in shock as his eyes fell on what Aldric had in his right hand.

"Impossible!" shouted Eldear.