The sun peeks over the eastern mountains, fiery light gilding the clouds. The morning air is crisp, but the cold barely registers as my stats continue to grow.

Dew-drenched grass glitters in the clearing, catching the early light. It feels like the world is waking up, shaking off the night’s chill.

At some point while naming Tranquility, I pulled the sword free from its scabbard. Its blade rests peacefully in my outstretched hands, light blue metal gleaming softly. The hilt feels warm against my palm, familiar. Comforting.

A calmness settles over me, matching the serenity of the morning. Holding Tranquility, I feel... grounded. Like the fears of battle can’t reach me as long as I have this blade.

The air is crisp, cool against my face. I breathe it in, letting it clear my mind.

“Are you about to make out with your sword? Should I give you two some privacy?”

I jolt, nearly dropping Tranquility before awkwardly hiding it behind my back. My face heats up. “Not anymore, thanks to you.”

“Well then I’m glad Alex stopped you when he did.” Elise groans, rubbing the bleariness from her eyes.

I sigh, sheathing Tranquility, my fingers lingering on the hilt before I rest it against the stump I use as my seat. “Well I guess now that my romantic morning is ruined, is anyone up for a healthy deer meat breakfast?”

Nick groans and rolls to a sitting position. “We really need to diversify our diet. Isn’t there like berry’s or something we could find? I think a fruit parfait would be amazing right now.”

“Don’t those need yogurt?” Elise asked deadpan.

“Well maybe instead of killing the deer we milk them instead?” Alex adds sarcastic reaching out as I hand him a slab of pre-cooked meat.

That earns a chuckle from the group. “Look man, take it up with Mischief he’s the one feeding everyone.”

“Speaking of Mischief, it seems like he is already out and about.” Nick nods to where Mischief was laying last night.

I look over my shoulder, not really surprised. “Too bad–we could’ve asked him to bring back some deer milk for Nick to start churning into yogurt for his parfait.”

Nick laughs, tossing a small pebble my way. I duck just in time. “Deer meat is fine, but maybe we can start thinking about mixing it up a bit?”

He narrows his gaze. “Also don’t think we’ve forgotten about your little moment this morning when you thought no one was watching. What was that about?”

“It wasn’t that weird, alright? I was about to go practice my sword forms this morning, but then the system asked if I wanted to name my sword.”

Alex and Nick exchange a look. Alex’s lips twitch. “Oh yeah, totally normal. Every guy does that. But what’s that got to do with your weapon?”

Nick snorts, Elise groans.

“Haha, very mature.” I deadpan. “No, I mean when I looked at my sword this morning—” I catch Alex opening his mouth, eyes gleaming with another joke.

I grab Tranquility and hold it up, point-first. “THIS sword. The system asked if I wanted to name this sword.”

Alex’s smirk falters. “Oh. Right. That makes more sense.” Then he grabs his Battle Axe and holds it in front of his face scrunching up his nose. “Weird, I guess my axe isn’t quite as special. What about you nick? Is your bow special enough to get a name?”

Nick does the same mocking gesture with his bow really selling it. “Nothing. Maybe it’s just swords that get named? Or maybe you have to just REALLY care?”

“Ok, ok I get it. But this sword really is special.” Pulling Tranquility BACK out and letting them really scrutinize it for the first time.

Alex scootches closer to get a better look. “Let me have a look at this…” he trails off.

“What is with the strange light blue color? Some kind of special metal?”

Nick and Elise notice Alex’s genuine interest and they all close in.

“It is weird, at first glance I never really noticed.” Nick leans in really looking at the blade. “Was this a starting weapon? It’s not steel is it? I mean the color is subtle but it’s definitely blue.”

“Well, well..” I say in a tone of mock triumph. “Nobody's laughing now are they?”

“Alex, this doesn’t look like a starting weapon. Was this a system reward?”

“Why yes Elise, astute observation. It was rewarded after I completed the final stage of the trial. The system called it a spirit weapon. ” I bask in their awe as they stare in wonder at my sword.

“What!?” Nick and Alex say in near unison. They look at each other wide eyed before Alex barrels forward. “You got a new weapon after the trial? How is that fair? All I got was a stupid health potion!”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Nick nods confirming Alex’s complaints. It is a fair question. So far the system seems so random with how it distributes items. A lightbulb goes off.

Embarrassed, I study my feet a bit before hesitantly confessing. “Well…I think it might have something to do with…some of my early decisions in class selection.”

“Ok…?” Alex subtly urges me on.

“I might’ve–accidentally, of course–chosen to forgo a starting weapon before I entered the trial.” Alex, Nick, and Elise just stared. “I think the sword might’ve been part of my reward for starting the trial unarmed.”

I can’t meet the accusatory looks and immediately begin studying my feet again.

“Just so we're on the same page... In the tutorial, when the voice said, ‘Things are about to get wild—choose your weapon,’ you really went with, ‘Nah, I’m just gonna raw dog this,’ huh?”

My head snaps up. “No, Nick," I shoot back, a hint of attitude in my voice. "It wasn’t exactly like that...” I hesitate, then shrug. “Actually... yeah. Pretty much.”

Alex stares at me, his mouth hanging open before he bursts out laughing. “Wow... Maybe the system thought you were special and needed the extra help?”

I roll my eyes, but a smile tugs at my lips. “Glad my survival instincts are so entertaining for you.”

“So aside from being blue, what else can it do?” Elise asks, bringing us back on point.

I smile happy to change the subject. “It grows as I do, adapting to my abilities. It even boosts my shield spells and cuts the mana cost. It’s like the sword’s learning alongside me.”

“So, let me get this straight—you went full idiot mode, and your reward is an overpowered sword that grows with you? I officially hate you.”

She crosses her arms, scowling. “I guess the big question–what did you name it?”

The name that felt so perfect a moment ago now sounds cheesy and stupid. I sheathe Tranquility, heat creeping up my neck. Why did I have to get so sentimental?

“That’s private information.” I snap, a little too quickly. Their teasing laughter follows me as I stand.

Nick stands with me and grabs my shoulder. “Oh come on. You can tell us, it can’t be that bad?”

I shrug off his hand and start walking to where I usually practice my forms. When I get an idea to change the subject.

“Are you guys up for a little practice this morning?” I smile hoping they don’t see through my plan to avoid answering their question. “I want to do a little testing on my shields to see how they’ve grown.”

Alex shoots up like a rocket from where he was sitting, Nick eyes me and Elise just shrugs.

“Hell yeah I want to practice!” Alex doesn’t even wait, he just starts walking to my usual spot.

Nick starts walking too but eyes me as he goes before mouthing “I will hear that name.”

Elise and I trail behind the others, the dew clinging to the grass and seeping into my jeans, chilling my ankles as we high-step through the clearing.

Nick and Alex are waiting in the roughly twenty foot space that has been packed flat from my constant drilling.

“So, how do you want to do this? Just pop on one of those barrier spells and let me start taking swings at you?” Alex asks, hefting his axe and rolling his shoulders.

“As tempting as getting hacked at by an oversized child with a massive Axe sounds I have a slightly better idea.” I’m already casting the spell while I speak. Moving to the center of the clearing.

I focus like I did during the trial, feeling the shimmering mana enveloping my body. Just like before, I step out of my shield, leaving a faint ripple in the air where the spell lingers.

I check my MP and grin. Only two points. Not bad.

“Alright, can you see where the barrier is? It’s faint.”

Alex eyes me. “Oh yeah I can see it. Should you be able to do that?”

“I wondered the same thing when I first tried this out. But it’s actually pretty easy, the mechanics don’t really follow video game logic.” Shrugging.

“I figure it’s safer than you pounding away on my shield while I am still inside.” I wave my hand toward the shimmer. “Well? Hack away.”

Without another word Alex steps forward, lifts his Axe high above his head and brings it down with a massive heave right where I’m assuming my head would’ve been.

Wham!

The impact echoes through the clearing. Alex stumbles back, his arms flailing as he barely keeps his grip on the axe. With eighty-one points in strength, that blow should’ve shattered anything in its path.

We all stare, holding our breath. The barrier doesn’t budge.

“Well, damn,” Alex huffs, catching his breath.

“Yeah.” I scratch my head, fighting a grin. “Still standing, though. Shouldn’t we see how far it can go?”

Alex shoots me a look, then glances back at the shimmering shield. He sucks in a deep breath adjusting his grip.

Wham!

Wham! wham!

Three more massive swings. The barrier ripples and surges, but it doesn’t budge. The shimmer dances, then settles back into place, defiant as ever.

Nick whistles, shaking his head. “Wow. Seriously, Alex? I thought you were supposed to be the Axe man.”

Alex hits Nick with a flat stare, resting his axe on his shoulder. “Dude. It sucks hitting this thing. It’s like smacking a brick wall.”

“You seem pretty confident Nick, maybe you should give it a try?” Elise is smirking at Nick with her arms crossed.

He pulls his bow from his back and draws an arrow. “I mean I’m no Axe man but sure, it’s not like I could do any worse.”

Nick moves to stand near the edge of the flattened grass and we follow suit. In a smooth easy motion he draws back on the string pulling the arrow to his cheek. The air around the arrow begins to swirl just slightly. He’s going to shoot my barrier using a skill.

The movement takes barely more then a second before Nick releases the shot. The arrow shoots forward like a bullet sending a small concussion of wind.

Pwing.

The arrow rebounds off of the barrier shooting off far into the distance and out of sight.

I blink. “Well... at least it didn’t explode.”

Nick scratches his chin. “I used one of my skills. Concussive Shot. It’s supposed to cause knockback and maybe stun a target. I figured it might disrupt your shield.”

We all stand there, arms crossed, watching the shimmering barrier. Nick is still holding his bow, his eyes narrowed.

Without warning, he lifts his bow and fires off another shot.

The arrow flies straight and true, impacting the barrier point-blank. This time, the shield buzzes, vibrating with a strange hum. The arrow quivers, then shoots through, piercing the other side. We stare in stunned silence.

I open my mouth, then close it. Finally, I manage, “Well...there you have it. Not bad right?”