The morning after our first Rift mission, the Academy was buzzing with chatter. Students compared notes, shared horror stories, and bragged about how many monsters they personally "took down."
I strolled through the courtyard, sword still sheathed on my back—figuratively speaking. Okay, I didn't have a sword yet, but mentally, it felt like one.
A loud bell rang. The PA system crackled:
"All students must report to the armory for primary weapon selection. This is a mandatory step before advanced combat training."
Ah, that explained it. After surviving a Rift mission, we were now being officially equipped. Lucky for some, the Academy offered a few options: cold weapons—swords, axes, spears, staves. Some students would buy premium gear with family money. Others, like me, had to pay with earned credits.
I rubbed my eyes. Good thing I actually did those extra school assignments last week…
Walking into the Armory
The armory smelled of steel and oil. Racks of swords gleamed under the lights, axes looked menacing, staves were neatly lined, and spears towered like miniature forests.
The instructor overseeing the selection clapped his hands.
"Students, select one primary weapon. Your tier and credits determine what you can take. Choose wisely—your life may depend on it."
I peeked at the holo-display above the racks:
Spear — Common, range-focused, 12 credits
Axe — Heavy, powerful, 15 credits
Staff — Lightweight, magic-oriented, 10 credits
Sword — Balanced, adaptable, 14 credits
I counted my credits. 14 exactly. Perfect. Sword it is.
The Sword
I approached the sword rack. Nothing flashy—just standard steel, light but solid, perfectly balanced.
I swung it experimentally:
One-handed slash → manageable
Two-handed overhead → smooth
Quick horizontal swipe → effortless
[SYSTEM LOG]
Strength +1, Agility +1
Nice. Even practice increased stats gradually.
Behind me, I felt eyes on me. Derek was glaring, still recovering from yesterday's Rift humiliation.
"Cross," he muttered, hefting a massive axe, "you think that little sword is going to save you?"
I twirled the sword lazily.
"Tiny? This is efficiency incarnate. You just bought the lumberjack starter kit, right?"
He lunged. I sidestepped, sliding the blade between his legs and tapping the back of his shoulder. He stumbled into a table, papers flying.
[SYSTEM LOG]
Strength +1, Agility +1
Rina gasped, Felicity's eyes widened, and Derek's face contorted into disbelief.
Team and Class Reaction
Felicity quietly muttered, "How… how does he move like that with numbers barely above ours?"
Exactly. That was the point. Keep them guessing.
I slung the sword over my shoulder and grinned.
"Lesson one: visible stats are for show. Technique, timing, and… a little improvisation, that's what counts."
Some of the wealthier students rolled their eyes. Some whispered. Derek's jealousy was practically visible in heatwaves.
From the balcony, Lyselle Snow observed silently. Arms crossed, mechanical face, but the slightest narrowing of her violet eyes betrayed interest.
Interesting… he's progressing exactly on his own path.
Later, sitting alone in the courtyard, I checked my stats:
Strength: 36
Agility: 28
Stamina: 19
Spirit: 27
Perception: 22
Visible stats for others:
Strength: 22
Agility: 17
Stamina: 12
Spirit: 16
Perception: 13
I smirked. Let them think I'm only slightly ahead. The fun comes when they realize I'm leagues above.
And Lyselle watching? That was the best part. She'd notice, she'd be calculating. And that meant future training wouldn't be boring.