Morning arrives, and what waited me downstairs was a table full of different types of food. Quite grand compared to the past.
"What's the occasion?" I asked Eve who was preparing the bowls in place.
"Ohh...nothing~" She replied with a grin.
I couldn't stop my left brow from raising.
"Ohh, don't look at me like that. Can't you tell? We're celebrating! Celebrating, you see.""
"And..for what exactly?" I asked, getting myself comfortable after placing my partner by the walls.
"For choosing your weapon...you see? The weapons on the storage aren't just ordinary weapons, you know? At first I thought none of those would pick you, but it seems I was wrong.."
"Ahhh..okay? Wait? IS THAT why your so insisted on it?"
"Hehe...." Eve posed.
"Don't act cute now!"
I sighed and rested my back on the chair.
"So....is that all?" I asked.
Eve might act like an innocent and caring mother, but she can sometimes be cunning and her head be full of other plans that I could not have any way of knowing.
"What...ever...do...you...mean~?"
Once again, she replied with a cutesy tone, not befitting of her age.
"I'm just curious if that's the only reason why you made me join the training?"
"Hmmmm...." She placed a finger on the side of her forehead, tapping it while looking at the ceiling. "....it's...a...secret."
'A secret, huh'
I sighed inwardly. I'll probably find out about it later. I didn't want to ask but atleast I know that there were more reasons why? I just have to wait.
But one thing made me curios. "Ohh, Ev-Umm. I mean, mother?"
"Yes?"
"What did you mean when you said that the weapons in the warehouse aren't normal?"
"Ohh, that? Well, it's just as I said. It's not normal. You see, all those weapons were made by the Five Pillars of the continent, you might've heard it already from one of the instructors that the weapons also chose their owners and that's the truth."
Though she faintly explained it, her hands never stopped moving from preparing the table.
"Each and every single one of those weapons only chose one owner. You can think of it that the weapons have a mind of their own, their also considered magical if you think about it."
"Magical...weapons...." I muttered, and thinking about it, I felt the tips of my lips rising.
"But that's not the only thing, when I said that the weapons only chose one owner, that also means that it also grows with you." Eve flicked her fingers and two different weapons immediately flew in the air.
It floated just on top of her shoulders.
"I, for one, am also chosen by these two."
Beside her was a pair of daggers, and the bow she used during the day of the siege.
"Wow....."
"Are you curious? These two have been with me since my childhood..and....." she flicked her fingers again and the weapons returned to where it came from. "..I wouldn't want to spoil you any further....if you want to know more...then you should find out for yourself...don't...you...think~?"
She was baiting me. I knew she was....but..even when I knew her intentions...why do I want to do it?
I was like a fish being baited by a delicious meal, knowing that it might be my last. It was the very same feeling I was having now.
Trying not to show my excitement, I replied. "Y-You don't have to tempt me, I never wanted to train...but....if you really want me to, then..."
I stopped talking at that point. My mind was already matured, but it seems that having a young body have made me more childish than I thought.
Eve smiled and patted my head. "Hehe.....How shy..."
"Pl-Please stop...."
"Okay, Okay...." Eve turned to the stairs and called for the rest of the a family, we waited, and before long, all of us ate breakfast together.
After the breakfast that is considered a feast, Aenar was the first one to leave, saying how he needed to go to the training grounds early.
Well, I was also going there but based on how aenar was in a rush, he would've left me in a blink of an eye if I suggested to go with him.
He left a few words before he exited the door. "Don't be late."
It must be for me, considering how he glared at my direction with a daggering gaze.
Next that left was Jack, ina happy and cheering tone, he kissed Eve's cheek and gave me a pat on the shoulder. "I'll see you later, do your best."
And before long, it was time for me to go.
I grabbed hold of my partner and a small bag containing a water pouch and a bit of bread.
"You're going already? That's a bummer, we could've went together."
"You don't have to...it's just a spar, that"s all."
"A spar?" Eve raised an eyebrow and burst laughing.
'Why is she laughing so hard?'
"Did Garry said that? Ohh, Garry...he still haven't change the slightest..."
"What's the matter? Is something supposed to happen today?" I asked in a curious tone.
"Ohh, you'll see. If Garry didn't tell you, he might have had a reason for it. Don't worry and just do your best, I'll be there shortly."
I was about to ask more, but seeing the clock on the wall, I probably have no time left to spare. And remembering what Aenar said before he left, he must be expecting for me to come on time.
"I'll be going now! See you later!" I said as I exited the house and walked towards the training grounds.
Once the grounds were on sight, for some reason, a lot of people was beginning to crowd the area, to the point that I thought a festival was happening at this day.
But it wasn't.
Along the way, people were glancing at my direction, whispering something to those beside them. Some of the other trainees my age were arriving with their family, whilst the others were having the same curious and nervous expression as I was having.
But that wasn't the only weird thing that was happening, once the training grounds were a few feet away, everything, and I mean everything was renovated.
The grounds covered with snow was replaced with a wide and spacious concrete floor, whilst the sides became a smooth and stair-like surface.
The previous training grounds now had a similar look as that of a colosseum.
My feet suddenly stopped moving. I was not the type of person who cusses at every single misfortune thrown upon them, and I already promised how I wont be going to be foul mouthed in this world, but it seems I won't be able to keep the promise. and I think this was the right time to say such things.
'That shitty bald instructor!!!!'
What was he thinking?
If I was a spectator, I would've been anticipating this sudden event, excited and ready to watch kids my age fighting to their hearts content with their magical prowess.
But I was not!!!
Not only was I not a spectator, I was not someone who should be here.
I was powerless, manaless and shitless right now!!!
If the kids my age were running already midway, I, on the other hand, wasn't even acknowledge on the starting line!!!
Who would let someone like me fight this monstrous kids!!!
I think that bald instructor's the only person in this world who'd let this kind of thing happen.
"No, no.no...maybe I'm just going to watch for today, yeah, there's no way I'm included, right?"
There's no telling whether I was going to participate or not. If last night I was excited about the spar, right now I'm scared to my wits and unable to move.
'I forgot that I had stage-fright in the first place. Should I just go home? I'm sure no one wiuld mind, and that bald instructor's probably not expecting me, is he?'
For some unknown reason, as if the gods of fate was watching me with grinning mouths and a fresh cooked bucket of popcorn on their hands, the bald instructor's eyes managed to find me amidst the crowd of people.
"What are you still doing there, Pyrrus! Let's go! The other's are waiting for you! You're the only one left!"
"Wh-What?" I replied, glaced left and right and saw that all the other trainees walking towards the grounds were already gone, and what was left was a large number of unknown people who whispered why I was still here and why I was standing in a daze.
'How long was I standing here?'
I glanced back to the bald instructor, who waited for me.
"Time's ticking, Pyrrus! Don't worry, it's not like you'll die."
'I think I will...Should I have written my will before I left?'
Without a choice, I stepped forward and forced not to twitch from how nervous I was.
With widened eyes, now I realize why Eve was laughing earlier.
It wasn't a spar, it's a fricking competition!!!
"Shit...."