Today is the day of the sword choosing ceremony.
The maids dressed me very nicely. Their gentle hands, soft clothes, and careful actions…
I didn't know this feeling.
In my past life, I was an orphan.
No one ever dressed me like this.
We headed toward the Main Palace, and behind it stood a huge structure, almost like a coliseum. When we entered, the center ground was filled with many swords, arranged in circles and rows, each one different in shape and aura.
Then the announcer shouted loudly:
"Patriarch Aldric Ravencourt is arriving!"
All the elders and everyone else immediately stood up.
I tried to look at the Patriarch, but I couldn't see his face clearly.
His aura alone was enough to make every part of my small body tremble.
Cold… sharp… overwhelming.
Everything seemed normal, but I couldn't understand one thing:
Why were all the elders looking at me like that?
Their gazes felt heavy, curious, even nervous.
The maid carried me to the very center of the coliseum.
Then the ritual began.
A sudden silence spread, and then—
Cling… clang… clatter…
Every sword in the coliseum started shaking.
Slowly at first, then more violently.
Even swords that had already chosen masters in the past—the sealed swords—began trembling.
People gasped.
"What is happening?"
"All the swords are reacting!"
"This never happens!"
Then everyone noticed it.
The Founder's Sword, resting on its ancient pedestal, started shaking as well.
Something that shouldn't be possible.
And then—
From among the collection of old swords, a mysterious pure black and silver sword slowly floated into the air.
Silent.
Dark.
Glowing faintly.
The crowd erupted in confusion.
"Isn't that the useless sword from the Founder Patriarch's time?"
"That sword never chose anyone!"
"Why would it choose the seventh heir?"
"Ravencourt's heir chosen by a useless sword? Impossible!"
Whispers and disbelief spread everywhere.
---
Explanation: Why the Sword Floated
In the Ravencourt family, every sacred sword has a sealed monster, spirit, or ancient being within it.
Because of this, each sword has its own will and mana.
A sword doesn't get chosen by humans.
The sword chooses its wielder.
The black and silver sword floated because the being sealed inside it had awakened—
And it recognized me.
---
The noise in the arena grew louder—until a single voice cut through everything.
"SILENCE!"
The Patriarch's command shook the entire coliseum.
Everyone instantly fell silent.
His voice was calm and absolute:
"This is the end of the sword choosing ceremony."
With that, he turned and began leaving the arena.
Just before he walked out, he paused—only for a moment.
A small smile appeared on his face.
His thoughts were clear, even without speaking:
No one knows what that sword is hiding.
Something interesting is going to happen.
I'm looking forward to it.
And then he left.
Leaving behind a shocked crowd—
And me.
The heir chosen by a forgotten sword with a hidden secret.