NABC Chapter 60: Sword Bestowment Ceremony (3)
Chapter 60: Sword Bestowment Ceremony (3)
Chapter 60: Sword Bestowment Ceremony (3)
The Sword Bestowment Ceremony continued smoothly with no disruptions. With over eighty participants this year, accommodating all of them would be a long day. And since Leon and Amon were the final two to step onto the field, they lazily waited their turn while observing each participant's sword.
Firstly, not a single Fabled-grade had come out even though over ten participants had stood on the pedestal. While each Unique-grade they got was top of their class, it was still disappointing that none had pulled a Fabled-grade yet.
Some spectators were even wondering if this year's talent had dipped, and were mentally preparing themselves for a disappointing year.
But as the next participant walked up to the elevated platform, their eyes sparkled with added interest.
"Oh?! It's Adelia's turn!"
Leon exclaimed loud enough to drag Amon's wavering attention back to the centre of the stage. Like most participants, the young cadet got onto the platform with shifty eyes and shaky legs. The nervousness was palpable, and even though Amon was dozens of metres away, he could sense Adelia's anxiety.
However, Amon knew that the girl had no reason to worry. Unlike the weaklings before her, she was a major supporting character in [Bright]. Amon knew very well which sword she would get from the ceremony, which would easily make the other Knights jealous.
"You may begin!"
Alrock ordered this time with a little less forcefulness. After expressing himself over ten times, the Solaris Lord was tired of repeating himself. Especially since there hasn't been a single person who pulled a Fabled-grade sword or higher.
Fortunately, that was about to change...
Light spread out from the mana circle like a vast spiderweb as a golden pillar erupted from Adelia's soul. Swords from all over the Sword Garden vibrated wildly and resonated clearly with Adelia's mana. Ten rapiers flew right in front of the young woman in the blink of an eye and levitated clearly within her line of sight. The change in the spectators' expressions was visible as their fatigued and weary eyes burned brightly with joy and excitement.
As for the person in question... she was shellshocked.
"Ten swords?! And all of them are rapiers! She must have an affinity with that type of weapon!"
"Not just that, there's three Fabled-grades! Goodness, we haven't seen a single Fabled-grade so far, and she pulled three?! Who's that girl?!"
Noise from the crowd gave the audience a little information about the incredible feat Adelia just performed.
Many were questioning who was this hidden talent, and even those who knew Adelia didn't know how to react. Though, Leon quickly came to his senses, unveiling a dazzlingly bright smile.
"Amazing! Three Fabled-grades! I knew that Adelia could do it!"
"How envious... I wonder which one she would choose?"
Arya supplemented Leon's joy with her own query. Having more choices wasn't necessarily a good thing. If one had too many choices, they may second guess themselves and choose a sword that didn't suit them perfectly. Luckily for Adelia, she didn't have that problem.
Even though there were three Fabled-grades, only one stood out to the young cadet. A rapier made of pure silver with an ornate guard designed like a Sun. It was sleek and slender, yet it retained the properties of a sturdy blade, never breaking no matter how much one placed pressure on it.
It was perfect for her fighting style. Adaptive yet firm.
"This one."
Alrock didn't even need to prompt Adelia to make her choice. Without hesitation, she reached for the silver rapier and held it close to her chest. The Solaris Lord looked at the blade for a good minute before smiling warmly.
"Argent Sun, a rapier made into Fable by the Argent Dancer. A Solaris Knight who died thirty years ago, the Argent Dancer was one of the best female swordmasters of her time. It's a fine Fabled-grade sword that would serve you well."
"Thank you, Your Excellency!"
Adelia couldn't hide her happiness and blushed furiously with excitement. Unlike some of the other Fabled-grades in the Sword Garden, the Argent Sun was owned by a Knight who had lived in recent years. This meant the blade's achievements were still fresh in everyone's memory. In fact, the reason why Alrock could recall this sword off the top of his head was because he had once trained under the Argent Dancer.
Seeing it passed down to the next generation gave the Solaris Lord mixed emotions, but he couldn't be happier to see the rapier's radiance again.
"Next, Gale Solaris!"
Gale walked past his childhood friend, and they shared a knowing glance. Adelia's golden eyes sparkled as if challenging her friend to do better than her. Triggered by her newfound arrogance, the cadet puffed his chest out and rose to the pedestal with added vigour.
"You may begin!"
Alrock repeated the exact words, but this time, his vitality returned, and his voice boomed like a thunderbolt. Gale wasted no time and threw away all his anxiety, replacing it with determination and hearty pride.
Mana flowed out from his body and lit up the magic circle. The Sword Garden replied to his calls with multiple shaking swords, each eager to answer Gale's summons. However, they all backed out at the last minute. That sudden act confused Alrock for a brief moment, but as he witnessed the next scene, the Solaris Lord's questions were all answered.
A single sword.
A pillar of light shot to the sky, drawing in seven swords with a magnetic allure. For the first time today, none of the swords Arya summoned were Unique-grade, only Fabled. They were all shining with increasing intensity, each showing their unique allure. Like children trying to coddle up to their parents, the swords glimmered brightly as if appealing themselves to Arya, hoping that she would pick them over the rest.
"Seven Fabled-grades?! Who's that girl?!"
"Arya... She's Amon's sister and also one of the flowers of the Academy!"
"Hoh... I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"
The audience was buzzing, eternally grateful that they could witness the rise of a new talent. Arya's friends and family were equally stunned, but they cheered loudly for her. However, the one who was most surprised by the turn of events was none other than Amon himself.
'Arya... I don't remember her being a significant figure in [Bright]... Has her future changed because of my training?'
Amon has read [Bright] cover to cover multiple times, and nowhere in the book did it mention the character Arya. So, he'd naturally assumed that she was one of the many extras in the book and didn't think she would perform well in the Sword Bestowment Ceremony.
However, gaining the recognition of seven Fabled-grades was a testament to her soaring talents.
'Still, it isn't bad if she becomes stronger.'
While Amon was averse to deviations as it could make the future unpredictable, this deviation was one he welcomed with open arms. There would be many times in the future when he wouldn't be able to protect Arya or his family. So, making them stronger was of paramount importance.
Unlike the others, Arya wasn't certain about which sword to choose. There wasn't an instinctive magnetic draw to either of the swords, and her mind was still in shock. However, the young teen quickly regained her wits and carefully observed every Fabled-grade sword before her eyes.
All of them had their individual charms, and Arya was certain she wouldn't go wrong with either she chose.
But in the end, she remained undecided.
'Eh, what the hell!'
Unable to come to a decision, Arya opted to let the swords decide. She raised her hand and mustered all her mana onto her fingertips. With a subtle roar, Arya closed her eyes and willed for the swords to come to her.
As she opened her eyes five seconds later... a beautiful white-gold hilt with a silvery blade rested within her palm. It was an ornately designed estoc, seemingly used for ceremonial purposes rather than combat. But even so, its ferocity couldn't be denied. From the pressure it emits, anyone could tell it was blessed with a fable.
"Such a beautiful sword... It seems to be owned by one of our ancestors..."
While Alrock had seen all kinds of swords throughout his years as the Solaris Lord, it was impossible for him to know every blade in Sword Garden. Fortunately, in this ever-expanding vault, there was one entity that did.
"Lightbane."
The Custodian appeared from seemingly nowhere and stood next to the platform. Its fish eyes were sparkling with great interest as it carefully observed the gilded estoc.
"A sword from the first generation of heroes... Although it's only a Fabled-grade, it was wielded by a master swordsman with Idrytis during the Great Dragon War. It has been hibernating ever since. To think that it would make its appearance now... How fascinating..."
The ethereal creature monologued to itself while giving key information about the sword away.
"It was from the same generation as the Solaris Founder?! No wonder I didn't recognise it!"
Alrock was in utter shock. For a sword of this calibre to appear, it could either be an auspicious or ominous sign. Nevertheless, it didn't matter to Arya.
"It's a good sword, suited for a swordsman focusing on speed and agility. It will serve you well, child."
"T-Thank you!"
Arya couldn't get over the fact that a strange creature was the guardian of the vault and shivered when talking to it. Mellowly retreating from centre stage, Arya pivoted her heels and walked briskly back to safety, where her brother was.
Strangely enough, the Custodian remained standing right where Alrock was. Given that it was standing completely still with a serene expression, the Solaris Lord raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Is something wrong?"
"No," the Custodian shook its head. "This year's participants seem... unusually peculiar. I would like to witness the ceremony to the end if you don't mind."
"... sure."
While confused, there was no reason for Alrock to reject the Custodian's offer. Taking a split second to gather himself, he continued with the Sword Bestowment Ceremony.
"Next!"