The abandoned storage building fell silent.
Kael and Lyra stood only a few meters apart, neither willing to break eye contact.
A gentle breeze slipped through the cracked windows, carrying the scent of old wood and dust.
Lyra tilted her head.
“You’re hiding something,” she repeated.
“The mana in this room… it’s strange.
I’ve never felt anything like it.”
Kael remained calm.
“If I told you I was looking for a quiet place to think, would you believe me?”
She folded her arms.
“Not even a little.”
For a brief moment, the tension hung in the air before Lyra unexpectedly sighed.
“Forget it.
Everyone has secrets.”
She turned to leave but paused at the doorway.
“There’s something odd about you, Kael Ardyn.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.” She frowned.
“When I saw you at the Awakening Ceremony… I felt like I had met you before.”
Her words sent a chill down Kael’s spine.
Impossible.
In his previous life, Lyra had never regained memories after death.
Yet the uncertainty in her voice seemed genuine.
Before he could ask another question, she shook her head and walked away.
“Maybe it’s just my imagination.”
That evening, Kael returned to his small dormitory room.
Compared to the luxurious suites occupied by noble students, his room was almost empty—a narrow bed, a wooden desk, and a single bookshelf.
He locked the door behind him.
“All right,” he whispered.
“Come out.”
A flash of silver light appeared.
Astra materialized before him—not as a weapon, but as the translucent image of a young woman dressed in elegant white armor.
Long silver hair flowed behind her, and brilliant blue eyes regarded him with quiet amusement.
“You finally summoned my spirit form.”
Kael stared.
“So this is what you look like?”
She gave a graceful bow.
“I am Astra, First Blade of the Infinite Sword Archive and Guardian of the Eternal Forge.”
Then she glanced around the room.
“…Your living conditions are disappointing.”
Kael laughed.
“I’m a scholarship student.”
“You possess weapons capable of splitting continents, yet you cannot afford decent furniture.”
“When you put it that way, it does sound unfortunate.”
Without warning, dozens of voices erupted inside Kael’s mind.
“Wake us already!”
“I’m tired of sleeping!”
“That old silver sword always gets chosen first!”
“She’s the teacher’s pet!”
Kael blinked.
“What was that?”
Astra closed her eyes in visible annoyance.
“The other swords.”
“They can talk too?”
“Unfortunately.”
The voices grew louder.
“Master!
Pick me next!”
“No, choose me!
I breathe dragon fire!”
“I literally erase mountains!”
Another voice interrupted with dramatic flair.
“I once cut a meteor in half while upside down!”
Kael rubbed his temples.
“This is going to give me a headache.”
Astra smiled innocently.
“You’ll get used to it.”
The next morning, the academy announced its annual First-Year Combat Evaluation.
Every newly awakened student would participate.
The winners would receive rare resources, access to elite instructors, and invitations from powerful guilds.
The campus instantly descended into chaos.
Students rushed to train.
Merchants sold potions at outrageous prices.
Betting pools formed around expected victors.
The overwhelming favorite was Lyra Valen.
No one even mentioned Kael.
To them, he was merely a C-Rank Sword Summoner.
Exactly as he preferred.
As Kael walked toward the training grounds, a cheerful voice called out.
“There you are!”
He turned to see a petite girl sprinting across the courtyard, nearly tripping over her own feet.
She wore oversized round glasses, carried far too many books, and smiled with infectious enthusiasm.
“I’m Mira,” she said, catching her breath.
“We’re assigned to the same practical class!”
Before Kael could respond, she looked at the practice sword strapped to his waist.
“So you really awakened as a Sword Summoner?
That’s amazing!”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Most people think it’s weak.”
Mira shrugged.
“My grandfather always said that the strength of a weapon depends on the person holding it.”
Astra whispered inside his mind.
“I like this one.”
“The sword has opinions now?”
“Of course.”
Kael almost smiled.
For the first time since returning to the past, he found himself speaking with someone who judged him without prejudice.
Perhaps history didn’t have to repeat itself.
High above the academy, hidden behind layers of illusion magic, an elderly man observed the courtyard from a floating platform.
He wore a black robe embroidered with golden runes.
At his side stood several senior professors.
One of them frowned.
“Headmaster, why are you watching that scholarship student?”
The old man’s eyes never left Kael.
“Because the crystal lied.”
The professors froze.
“The Awakening Crystal measured him as C-Rank,” one protested.
The Headmaster slowly shook his head.
“No.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“It failed to measure him at all.”
Far below, completely unaware that he was being watched, Kael stepped onto the combat arena.
The first round of the tournament was about to begin.
And hidden deep within the Infinite Sword Archive, a second legendary blade finally opened its eyes.