The next morning, Roy arrived at the weapon training grounds with Leo, Jenny, Jay, and Jones.
The training area was much larger than the normal combat field. Wooden weapons, training swords, spears, shields, and other equipment were arranged along the walls.
Roy looked around.
"So we're finally doing weapon training?"
Leo stretched his arms. "Yep. And before you ask, no, you can't just use Lightning and call it weapon training."
Roy glanced at him.
"I wasn't going to."
"You were definitely going to."
Jay laughed quietly.
Their instructor walked into the center of the field.
"Today, you'll learn how to combine Nexis with a weapon."
The students immediately became more attentive.
"A weapon isn't simply something you hold. Your Nexis can flow through it, strengthening your attacks and allowing you to use techniques that would normally be impossible."
The instructor pointed toward the racks.
"Choose a weapon."
Everyone moved.
Roy walked toward the swords.
He picked up a normal training sword and held it for a moment.
It felt strange.
He had used his fists many times, but a sword required completely different movements.
The instructor noticed him.
"You've never trained with a sword?"
"Not properly."
"Then start with the basics."
Roy nodded.
He moved to an empty section of the field.
The instructor demonstrated a simple forward slash.
"Don't use strength. Control your movement first."
Roy copied him.
His first swing was awkward.
Again.
He tried another.
Better.
Again.
His movements gradually became smoother.
Leo watched from nearby.
"Not bad."
Roy stopped.
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
Roy smiled.
Leo shook his head.
"You're annoying."
The instructor continued teaching the class.
"Now, add Nexis."
Roy focused.
Lightning moved through his body.
He guided a small amount toward his hand and into the training sword.
The blade sparked.
Roy looked at it.
The Lightning didn't feel as stable as it did when he used his hands.
It moved unevenly through the weapon.
The instructor immediately noticed.
"Stop."
Roy stopped.
"You're forcing the Nexis."
"I'm forcing it?"
"Yes. A weapon isn't another part of your body. You have to let the Nexis flow through it naturally."
Roy looked at the sword.
That made sense.
He tried again.
This time, instead of pushing Lightning into the blade, he imagined the weapon as an extension of his movement.
The sparks became steadier.
The instructor raised an eyebrow.
"Better."
Roy swung.
A small arc of Lightning followed the blade.
The students nearby turned to look.
Leo grinned.
"There he goes again."
Roy ignored him.
The instructor walked over.
"Interesting. Your control has improved considerably since yesterday."
Roy looked at his hand.
He could feel it.
His Lightning was becoming easier to control.
Not stronger.
Just smoother.
That was different.
The instructor pointed toward the advanced section of the field.
"Try again, but this time focus on maintaining the Lightning after the swing."
Roy nodded.
He raised the sword.
Lightning gathered around the blade.
Slash.
A thin electric arc flew forward and struck the training target.
The target shook.
Roy stared at it.
He hadn't expected that.
The instructor nodded.
"You're adapting quickly."
Before Roy could answer, something suddenly appeared in his mind.
A sword.
Black and silver.
Lightning surrounding its blade.
Raijin.
Roy's expression changed.
The training sword in his hand suddenly felt completely different.
He remembered the mysterious vision.
One day, this blade will return to you.
Roy tightened his grip.
"Raijin."
Leo looked over.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Roy placed the training sword back on the rack.
The instructor frowned.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to test something."
Roy walked toward an empty part of the field.
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Lightning gathered around his hand.
The air changed.
A familiar pressure appeared.
Roy opened his eyes.
"Raijin."
Lightning flashed.
A sword appeared in his hand.
The blade was dark, with silver lines running along its surface. Small sparks moved across it like they were alive.
The entire training ground became quiet.
Leo's mouth dropped open.
Jay stared.
Jenny stopped moving.
Even the instructor looked surprised.
"That's not a training weapon."
Roy looked at Raijin.
"I know."
The sword felt natural in his hand.
Almost too natural.
He moved it slightly.
Lightning followed the blade.
Not forced.
Not controlled.
It simply moved with him.
The instructor slowly approached.
"Where did you get that sword?"
Roy hesitated.
"It's mine."
"That wasn't my question."
Roy looked at him.
"I don't know."
The instructor studied the sword.
For a few seconds, he didn't say anything.
Then he stepped back.
"Put it away."
Roy frowned.
"Why?"
"Because this class is not the place to experiment with an unknown weapon."
Roy looked at Raijin again.
He understood.
With the hunters appearing around the academy, revealing too much about the sword could create problems.
Raijin disappeared into Lightning.
Leo immediately walked over.
"Okay."
Roy looked at him.
"Okay what?"
"What was that?"
"A sword."
"I can see that."
Leo lowered his voice.
"That wasn't normal."
Roy smiled.
"Maybe I'm just talented."
Leo stared at him.
"Your confidence is getting worse."
Roy laughed.
Before they could continue, the instructor called everyone back.
"Pair up!"
The students quickly formed groups.
Roy ended up facing Jay.
Jay raised a training sword.
"You're going to use Lightning again?"
Roy picked up another training sword.
"No Raijin."
"Good."
Jay took his stance.
"Then let's see how good you actually are."
The instructor gave the signal.
Jay moved first.
His sword came toward Roy.
Roy blocked.
The impact pushed him backward.
Jay attacked again.
Roy stepped aside.
Another strike.
Roy blocked.
He was starting to understand the rhythm.
Sword fighting wasn't about attacking constantly.
It was about reading movement.
Finding openings.
Controlling distance.
Jay swung again.
Roy ducked.
He stepped forward and tapped Jay's shoulder with the flat side of his sword.
"Point."
Jay froze.
Roy stepped back.
Jay smiled.
"Again."
This time Jay was faster.
Roy blocked one strike.
Then another.
Jay suddenly changed direction.
Roy reacted a moment too late.
The training sword stopped inches from his shoulder.
"Point," Jay said.
Roy nodded.
"Fair."
They continued.
Neither dominated the other.
But Roy was improving with every exchange.
The instructor watched closely.
Roy's swordsmanship wasn't polished, but his instincts were excellent.
He adapted quickly.
That was becoming one of his biggest strengths.
After several rounds, the instructor called for a break.
Roy sat down beside Leo.
Leo handed him a bottle of water.
"You know, for someone who barely trained with a sword, you're pretty good."
Roy looked at his hands.
"I just learn quickly."
"That's exactly what worries me."
Roy looked at him.
"What?"
Leo shrugged.
"Nothing."
For a moment, they were quiet.
Then Roy felt something.
A faint vibration.
He looked toward the far side of the training ground.
The silver-haired student from yesterday was standing there.
Blue eyes.
Calm expression.
He wasn't training.
He was watching Roy.
Roy stared back.
The student slowly turned away.
Roy stood.
Leo noticed.
"What's wrong?"
"That guy."
"Who?"
"The silver-haired one."
Leo looked over.
"He's been watching you since yesterday."
Roy frowned.
"Do you know him?"
"No."
Roy watched the student leave the training ground.
Something about him felt familiar.
Not like Leo.
Not like the academy.
Something else.
Roy couldn't explain it.
His hand moved toward the place where Raijin had disappeared.
For a brief moment, Lightning sparked around his fingers.
Then it stopped.
Roy looked at the door.
Who are you?
And more importantly—
Why do I feel like you've seen Raijin before?
The bell rang.
The students began leaving.
Roy remained seated for another few seconds.
He didn't know it yet, but the weapon training had given him more than swordsmanship.
It had shown him something important.
Raijin wasn't simply a weapon.
It was connected to his past.
And someone else at the academy seemed to know exactly what that connection was.