Clay:
It was finally the dead of night. Most of the guards were gone from the castle and the halls were silent. Our footsteps echoed off of the walls, creating a creepy environment. There was one guard by the door to the hallway that had the armoury door in it. I glanced at Lynne, by the way he looked back I think he could tell I was panicked. However, his confidence and steady aura grounded me.
"When I get the guard to turn around, slip behind him," Lynne whispered. I gave him a small, hesitant nod, staying far enough down the hallway to remain unnoticed.
With all the confidence in the world, Lynne walked out from the shadows with a smile plastered across his face. "How are you doing my good sir!?" He exclaimed as if he and the guard were old friends.
"P-Prince Charlton!?" The guard stammered. "What are you doing here at this late hour?"
Lynne slung his arm around the guard and spun him around. I assumed this was what he was talking about. So I quickly but quietly slipped past them. As I did, I heard Lynne saying to the guard in a quiet-ish voice. "I'm wondering what you're doing here at this late hour. Do you get paid enough to work this overnight shift?"
I held back a scoff, only able to imagine the horrified look on the guard's face. "It's-It's just a pleasure to serve the royal family!"
Before I could hear the conversation, I slipped through the doors and walked down the long hallway. I came across strangely bright-looking doors, enormous gates made of a blue metallic colour. 'Woh… those doors are huge!' I thought to myself.
It took me a bit of strength to push them open as a dreary-looking stairwell opened up before me. I walked down the stairs, stepping into the huge pitch black, circular room with bright swords surrounding every inch.
'These… are all swords!?'
I looked around the room in awe for a moment. What was I even supposed to do? These swords looked like they were floating in midair… were they supposed to be magical or something? Well, I was probably overthinking it. All I had to do was grab one.
I walked towards the edge of the room and reached out my hand. They really were floating… In my attempt to grab a random one from the wall, I felt an electric shock zap by hand and repelled it backwards.
I winced at the feeling, withdrawing my arm back. Did my hand just get electrocuted? I almost couldn't believe it. It was like the sword repelled me away.
//Do not look so shocked fool. No sword wants to be corrupted by a commoner's touch!//
My eyes widened as I whipped my head back towards the stairs, but the room was still empty. Who said that…?
//Usually only one sword is able to balance their souls in harmony per user. Only one pair of spirit wavelengths could connect properly.//
The voice sounded different from the last, deeper and more mature.
//That sword belongs to the user because it would be nothing but metal in the hands of another. Do you understand now commoner?//
Another distinct voice. It was like I was surrounded, the voices having no real direction. As if they were echoing in my head.
"Hello!? Who's there?" I asked, my eyes still tracing along the room for an answer. There… was no way…
//Peasants really are idiots...//
The swords!? Was I hallucinating!?
/~Now now.~/
This voice differed from the others, I could tell that this voice came from directly behind me. It had a deep tone with an eerie sort of calmness.
/~This boy isn't so bad. He was able to make me manifest after all!~/
I turned my head to see a dark energy gathering right behind me, emerging from that dark energy was a demonic-looking man. He looked like he was made of smoke, his body evaporating into the air.
His skin was an unnatural dark colour, matching the pitch black around us. He also had jet black horns with dark red stripes. His hair was the most smoke-like, long and dark but whisked into the background. The whites in his eyes were glowing bright red, yellow pupils with dark red markings on his cheeks.
His outfit looked like a suit with a tailcoat, the inside of his cape was a bright red colour, again evaporating like smoke. The collar and the end of his sleeves were the same colour, similar to fire. The rest of the suit was a matted black. However, the most noticeable thing was his bright white teeth showing off that wide, mischievous smirk.
/~Congratulations!~/ The man purred. His voice and the way he looked made my blood run cold.
//He was able to manifest! They're a match!? Impossible!//
//But why does the manifestation look...?//
//Peasant! You do not want a noble sword! They are not meant for the likes of you!//
I didn't understand why the voices suddenly sounded panicked.
/~Enough!~/
The smokey figure said, an edge to his tone that came out of nowhere. From his previously calm, sing-song voice the sudden sharp tone came as quite a shock. The room fell silent.
/~He was able to manifest me. So it is only fair that he alone chooses to keep me or not.~/ That wide smirk plastered once again along his face.
Despite the tight feeling in my chest, I narrowed my eyes at the figure. "Will you make me stronger…?" I asked, pressing my lips together.
/~Beyond your wildest dreams~/
I balled my hands and lowered my head. Something about this didn't feel right. The panic in the sword's voices… the way this figure was smirking at me… But in the end, strength was the only thing that mattered.
"Then… I will accept you as rightfully mine!" I announced, looking up at him as I slammed the palm of my hand against my chest. "Be my blade! And make me stronger than anybody else!"
The figure's smirk seemed to darken. /~Heh… Good choice, boy.~/
I took a breath. I wanted to make it so I would never lose.
/~Hold out your hand.~/
I did as he told me, my face stiff as I waited for something to happen. As soon as I did, the figure started to fade away just as smoke did when a fire was extinguished.
/~I'm looking forward to working with you!~/ He stated once half of his body had already faded. That dark energy I saw before gathered in my hand as his figure dissipated.
The handle of the sword formed in my palm, that same bright red colour that was on the figure's clothing. /~I hope you don't grow to regret this decision~/
I held out the blade once it was done forming. The hilt was black; the sword formed into a double-ended point. Up the middle of the blade was a red stripe in the metal's shape. I stared at the sword, able to feel the power radiating through me. It was hard to explain what the feeling was, all I could describe it as was a surge of energy passing through me.
"Hmph… Why would I ever regret becoming stronger…?"