The cabinet doors swung open with a low rumble.
Rows upon rows of wooden weapons rested inside.
Each was carefully maintained.
Each showed the smooth polish of years of practice.
The students instinctively leaned forward.
Professor Edwin Hale smiled.
“Go ahead.” “Choose.” No one moved.
He chuckled.
“I assure you.” “They won’t bite.” That finally broke the hesitation.
Nearly two hundred students rose from their seats and approached the weapon racks.
— Kael walked slowly through the rows.
There were far more choices than he expected.
Longswords.
Short swords.
Curved sabers.
Spears of varying lengths.
Heavy axes.
Hammers.
Round shields.
Rectangular shields.
Even staffs.
Each weapon was labeled with a small bronze plaque describing its intended style.
He paused before the swords.
Marcus had taught him with one for nearly a month.
It felt…
Familiar.
Not comfortable.
Familiar.
There was a difference.
— Nearby, Rex stared at an enormous wooden war hammer.
His eyes widened.
“…It’s beautiful.” Mira, who happened to be walking past another group, overheard him.
“You know that weighs almost as much as you do.” Rex blinked.
“…Even better.” — Adrian examined several swords with practiced eyes.
After a moment, he selected a slender longsword.
Balanced.
Simple.
Elegant.
Professor Gareth Thorn, who had been silently observing the students, stopped beside him.
“You’ve trained before.” “Yes, Instructor.” “Who taught you?” “My father.” Gareth gave a single nod.
“I can tell.” Then he continued walking.
— Aria wandered past the heavier weapons.
She paused before a wooden staff.
Instead of picking it up immediately, she tested its weight first.
Then its balance.
Only after several moments did she nod to herself.
Professor Selene Mire noticed.
“You’ve handled one before.” “A little.” “My grandfather prefers staffs over swords.” “A wise man.” Selene smiled warmly.
“They’re often underestimated.” — Kael reached for a plain wooden longsword.
No decorations.
No unusual shape.
Its weight settled naturally into his hand.
The worn grip reminded him of Marcus’ practice sword.
Almost instinctively…
He assumed the basic stance Marcus had drilled into him countless times.
Left foot forward.
Shoulders relaxed.
Sword held neither too tightly nor too loosely.
Breathe.
He hadn’t realized someone was watching.
— Gareth Thorn stopped several steps away.
Without speaking…
He observed.
Kael maintained his stance.
After several seconds, Gareth finally spoke.
“You’ve been taught.” “Yes.” “By someone competent.” Kael gave a small nod.
“My father.” Gareth looked at the sword once more.
Then at Kael.
“Keep listening to him.” Without another word…
He moved on.
Kael slowly exhaled.
— Across the room…
Rex had successfully lifted the giant hammer.
Successfully…
For approximately three seconds.
“Whoa—” The hammer tipped forward.
Rex stumbled after it.
“I’m okay!” The hammer struck the floor with a loud thunk.
Several students turned.
Rex quickly stood up.
“…That was intentional.” Adrian sighed.
“No.” “It wasn’t.” — Professor Hale clapped his hands.
“Everyone.” The room gradually quieted.
“If you’ve chosen a weapon…” “Return to your seats.” Within a few minutes, nearly every student was holding something different.
Some swords.
Some spears.
Several shields.
One student somehow carried two axes.
Professor Hale looked around approvingly.
“Excellent.” “You’ve already made your first decision as Beastifiers.” A student raised his hand.
“But these are only practice weapons.” “They are.” Professor Hale smiled.
“So why do they matter?” The student hesitated.
“I…
don’t know.” “Exactly.” He rested one hand on a nearby spear.
“A weapon is simply a tool.” “It reflects nothing.” “What matters…” He looked across the room.
“…is how you choose to use it.” — He motioned toward Gareth Thorn.
“Our Combat Instructor will explain the rest.” Gareth stepped into the center of the arena.
His presence immediately quieted the room.
Unlike Professor Hale…
He didn’t smile.
He didn’t waste words.
“Listen carefully.” Every student straightened.
“Many of you believe your Beast Soul determines your fighting style.” He shook his head.
“It doesn’t.” Several surprised expressions appeared.
“A wolf can wield a spear.” “A bird can use a sword.” “A dragon can fight with empty hands.” He folded his arms.
“Your Beast Soul enhances your strengths.” “It does not replace your choices.” Kael found himself paying even closer attention.
— Gareth slowly walked around the arena.
“When people panic…” “They grip too tightly.” He picked up a wooden sword.
“Like this.” His knuckles turned white.
“You become slow.” He relaxed his grip.
“Too loosely…” The sword nearly slipped from his hand.
“You lose control.” He adjusted it naturally.
“This.” “Find this.” The sword looked effortless in his hand.
— Without warning…
He tossed it high into the air.
Gasps spread through the room.
The sword spun once.
Twice.
Before falling— Gareth caught it behind his back without even looking.
The arena fell silent.
Not because the movement was flashy.
Because it had been so…
effortless.
Years.
No.
Decades of practice.
— “Skill.” He lowered the sword.
“Looks simple.” “It isn’t.” “It is repetition.” He looked directly at the students.
“Again.” “And again.” “And again.” Kael immediately remembered Marcus saying almost the exact same thing.
— Gareth pointed toward the arena floor.
“Form pairs.” “We begin with movement.” “No striking.” “No Beastification.” “No competition.” “Simply…” He paused.
“…learn how your feet work.” Rex looked relieved.
“I can handle walking.” Adrian looked at him.
“Don’t celebrate too early.” — Students quickly searched for partners.
Without discussion…
Kael looked toward Adrian.
Adrian nodded once.
Neither of them needed to ask.
Across from them…
Aria partnered with another girl carrying a spear.
Rex looked around.
“…Anyone?” A cheerful boy carrying twin wooden axes raised his hand.
“I don’t know anyone either.” Rex smiled.
“Perfect.” — Gareth waited until everyone stood opposite their partners.
“First lesson.” He demonstrated a simple forward step.
Then backward.
Then sideways.
“No swords.” Everyone blinked.
Slowly…
The students lowered their weapons.
Several looked confused.
“Weapons come later.” Gareth’s voice remained calm.
“If your feet fail…” “So does everything else.” Kael couldn’t help smiling faintly.
Marcus would have approved of this lesson.
Very much.
Gareth looked around the arena one final time.
“Ready.” The students instinctively straightened.
“Move.” For the first time since entering New Haven Beast Academy…
The Royal Division began its first real lesson.
Not with strength.
Not with Beastification.
But with a single step.
«End of Chapter 20»