Letting out a defeated sigh from my fruitless search for a sword, I mindlessly swung the plain short sword I had picked out earlier and barely deemed acceptable. I would have to settle for this sword if I couldn't find anything else.
Giving up on the search for a better sword, I made my way into the miscellaneous section where they held different types of weapons. I could see various unique, albeit inefficient, weapons that looked like they were designed by a child.
"Whew! Looks like a dead end, Ku." I walked over to the other artifacts aside from swords and weapons, as Ku walked with me.
Suddenly, I sensed a familiar energy calling me to turn towards the pile of broken weapons and stuff in the corner of that room.
Making my way towards the pile of broken weapons, a cloud of dust soon encompassed us as I knelt down and enforced mana towards my eyes, seeing the broken stuff one by one.
As I searched for a few seconds, "...it couldn't be?"
The handle of a sword, with the symbol of the dragon king in its rain-guard, the black grip that emitted faint traces of aura and a silver pommel that shined dull-bright with scratches. There is no way I couldn't know what it was.
"How is this...here?" I asked myself in major surprise.
It was none other than the handle of my past life's sword, Gladius Agroth's divine sword. The greatest weapon that had ever been created in my previous world, forged from the bone of my ancestor, the war god Agroth, and the souls of a thousand demons he had slain. Blessed by all the elements of nature and evolved with seven major gods, it was my sword, my sole companion until death.
The Divine blade of the seven deadly sins, Celeste.
But, I saw it break when I fought the demon king, and even if it has at least one piece intact, how is this here, in this world?
"Papa! I feel the energy from that handle is similar to you. Take that!" Ku said as he licked and analyzed the handle of Celeste.
I was still awe-struck on seeing the handle here, so with a smile towards Ku, I stood up, taking the handle in my hands.
No matter if it was in a bad or broken condition, it would still be my favorite and first friend as well as my first weapon, the best weapon.
"It's nice to see you, old friend!" I said as I held the handle and thought back to my days as Gladius Agroth.
Just as I was standing, suddenly my mana flow automatically willed towards my body, and just as I was curious, I released my aura to support the sudden flow of mana.
I didn't know why, but Celeste was reacting to my mana as it already knew that me from my aura. So, I allowed it and naturally followed its lead.
"Guess, even if Celeste isn't in one piece, it still tries to combine itself with me after recognizing my aura!" I said to myself in happiness.
As soon as I willed my aura into the handle, a searing pain abruptly shot out from where I was gripping the handle. It emitted a faint glow of seven colors that was not bright in the room and went inside my right palm.
"Rest well and gather your power, my friend. Wait for me to awaken you with your full potential soon!" I said as Celeste went inside my right hand's palm.
"Papa? Are you okay? Why did that handle go inside your right hand?" Ku asked with curiosity and worry.
"Don't worry, Ku. It's because it has to gather its energy from its wielder, and until it's fully awakened, we cannot summon it out or use it!" I explained it to Ku with a smile.
Now that I have Celeste with me, I know I can become strong enough to trespass even the domain of the gods of this world with Celeste's true forms and all the seven stages it has. I must get stronger and reforge Celeste's blade and awaken it with my power.
I realized how much time had passed as Mr. Adler's faint voice snapped me out of an infatuated trance. Quickly, I made my way back to where Mr. Adler was, Ku hitching a ride on top of my head.
On the way back, I made sure to pick up a short sword I saw earlier to convince Mr. Adler that I had chosen something I liked.
"Well? Did you see anything you liked?" Mr. Adler asked with a smile.
I 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?"
Seeing the sword I had in hands, he smiled, "Sure, young lad. It would make a fine first sword for you!" Mr. Adler answered, lightly squeezing my shoulder with a thumbs up.
"Oh, and the Vice-Director asked me to give you this present too, Ryan!" Mr. Adler continued by retrieving a bracelet from his pockets.
After Mr. Adler gave it to me, I willed my mana into my eyes, sensing the bracelet had a seal, which I asked him about when arriving in the Atlas city. But to present it to me like this is a bit weird.
"It looks nice. Thank you for bringing it to me, Sir Adler!" I replied as I dropped the bracelet into my spatial ring.
"Just call me Uncle, Ryan. I must say, just spending a little time with you today, I can see why the King and the Princess took a liking to you!" Mr. Adler said.
Hearing his heartfelt words and with respect as someone with a great attitude, I don't mind him calling Uncle.
"Uncle Adler it is then..." I replied with a chuckle.
Well, now that's settled, "Papa, you stole the handle from before! Your hand stole it inside!" Ku said as he was observing what was happening.
"It's okay, little guy. No one will ever know about that. Not in a million years!" I replied with a new found confidence.