The bell's echo faded, leaving the weapon hall in silence. Deva stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the array of weapons before him. Swords, spears, and axes gleamed in the rising sunlight—but none of them called to him.
Then his gaze fell on something unusual: a golden bracelet resting on a pedestal. It shimmered, almost as if it were alive.
At the same time, Karan stopped near the place where a bow and a quiver full of many arrows were placed. When he looked at it, Karan's eyes went wider. He felt like that weapon was made only for him.
"You get an eye on pretty good things you know," Hari said quietly.
"Do these weapons have any master before?" Karan asked.
"No it doesn't have any master yet," Hari replied.
"Why not?" Karan asked.
"It's simple because this weapon does not give any kind of power or ability to the user. If the user has their own ability and skills then he can use it, but I think this weapon hasn't found a skillful guardian yet. If you have skill then this weapon is very useful to people like you," Hari replied and also questioned Karan's skills.
"Very useful to people like me and why
You think so," Karan asked.
"Well if I properly remember then you told us that you are a student of master KyRo," Hari stopped saying.
"Go on," Karan said.
Hari continued, "Then he must have seen something in you because he barely teaches anyone." Hari took a pose. "An interesting part about this weapon is not the bow, it's that quiver."
"What is interesting about the quiver?" Karan asked.
Hari replied gently, "That bow is ordinary but that quiver is a divine weapon that gives the user endless arrows. The arrow inside it never ends."
"That's it?" Karan asked.
"Well no one knows anything more than this because it is from ancient times. Since then no one has used it or rather I say it has chosen no one, but it seems that now he found a master so what's your call," Hari asked.
"If he has chosen me then I will choose it," Karan replied.
Meanwhile in the center of the room, when Deva reached that golden bracelet, tiny sparks of energy were dancing along its surface.
"What is this a gold bracelet? Is this weapon?" Deva whispered.
Master Hari's calm voice answered, "Yes. That is no ordinary weapon. It is the Golden Bracelet, a divine relic. It has unachievable power."
I haven't seen it acting like this before but why now? Is the relic choosing his master? No there is no way it chooses a master from the guardians present in the room because many stronger guardians have come here to take it but the relic doesn't react to anyone so what is happening, Hari thought in his mind.
The other guardians murmured in surprise. That broke Hari's concentration.
"But it seems to me like a normal bracelet?" Indra asked, confused.
Maya stepped closer, eyes wide. "It's not just a bracelet. It can shape-shift into any weapon you need. Sword, spear, bow—whatever your heart and skill demand."
Deva reached for it. The moment his fingers brushed the metal, the bracelet glowed softly, then gently tightened around his wrist. A strange warmth spread through his arm.
Everyone was surprised. No one could believe it.
Master Hari spoke again, "This weapon only has two owners. One was a guardian from a hundred years ago and the other was a woman 15 years ago."
Deva's eyes widened. A blurry memory of the relic's last owner recalled in Deva: a mother running with her newborn child. He was not able to see her clear face but her calm smile, saying to her baby, you are safe. Many Ashura were chasing her.
A dark mysterious portal opened in front of her and a very powerful Ashura came out from it. Her eyes went wider. The aura of that Ashura trembled her soul with fear. The Ashura said in a deep dark voice, finally I found you. He looked in her eyes. Give me your child and I will let you leave.
She spread snow with her leg and tried to run but a mountain lava chain grabbed her leg. She fell down to the ground with her child. The Ashura spoke, try to escape from me is waste of time. Hand over your baby if you want to live in this world.
She said, oh really but I have better idea instead of giving you my child why don't I kill you. She summoned her golden rod and pointed at him.
Ashura said, try and you will die.
She spoke again, if you want my child then you have to kill me.
The Ashura said, very well I will kill both of you. He swung his sword to kill her and baby. Boom. The Ashura's attack was blocked in mid air with a trident. She saw a guardian standing in front of her. That guardian whispered, run with your child reach the temple until I stop him.
She tried to stand but her legs were injured. It seemed that she had fought many Ashura and the guardian who came to save her was also injured. At last she barely managed to stand and run but that Ashura smiled and said, you really think you can stop me. In an instant he cut off that guardian's right hand and slowly walked towards her.
She turned back looking at that guardian kneeling down on the ground struggling with his trident in one hand. She whispered, master, but that man said don't stop run. He tried to attack once more from behind but that Ashura pulled his sword into his left arm. That guardian collapsed on the ground.
After seeing this that woman said, oh master, but that master said once more in a low voice run you can't fight him. She started to run but that portal opened once more in front of her and that Ashura came out. After seeing this she put her baby on a stone and said that line once again, you are safe here I will come back until then wait here.
She stood, raised her hand and closed her palm. That relic converted into a golden rod once again. She swung it and charged towards that Ashura but that Ashura countered her attack with one hand. Because she had given birth to a child recently and she was injured, that Ashura grabbed her from her neck. Without any hesitation he pulled his sword into her chest, direct hit to heart, and said to her now die you pathetic guardian. She collapsed to the ground.
Seeing the Ashura slowly reaching toward her child she grabbed her golden rod looked at it and said, my friend you have supported me in every part of life with loyalty but it seems that now it's time to be separate. I am glad to work with you but now I have one last request please protect my child this is my last desire to you. And she passed away.
She accidentally put a magical spell on that relic. Deva saw the same tiny sparks of energy when he came close to that golden bracelet. That golden rod floated in air on its own and changed towards that Ashura. The Ashura widened his eyes. He slightly moved his head and that golden rod passed touching his hair and that rod started in front of that child. Tension showed in his eyes like he already knew what was going to happen next.
Suddenly Deva came out from the memories of the relic. He was sweating, taking long breaths and with widened eyes.
"The bracelet will not give you its full power immediately," Hari continued. "You must bond with it, train with it, and prove your worth. Only then will it reveal its true strength."
Deva nodded, determination blazing in his eyes. He could feel something ancient within the bracelet, a connection to a power gifted to him by gods, a power that set him apart even from other guardians.
In an instant Karan's silence was broken by some unnatural power. "This isn't just a weapon it has some special connection to him," he thought in his mind.
As Deva was confused about why this relic showed him its old owner's memories, did he share some connection with this relic and that woman and who was that Ashura. Anyhow I have to find out about it because this relic wants me to find out about it. When he said this in his mind the golden bracelet shimmered again, transforming into a short sword in his hand. Then a long spear, then a pair of daggers—moving with his will.
He grinned, heart racing. "So… this is what I'm meant to be."
Far above the temple, the clouds parted. Lord First's eyes shone faintly with pride. Somewhere deep in the shadows, GaYo's presence lingered, watching, waiting…
And in that moment, Deva took his first step toward becoming the guardian he was meant to be.