Everyone fell into uncomfortable silence after my bonding with Katarina.
The other candidates shifted nervously, avoiding eye contact with me as I stood there with the massive crimson greatsword in my hand.
Cedric cleared his throat. "The rest of you, continue. There are still blades waiting to be claimed."
The candidates dispersed reluctantly, moving through the rows of mounted weapons with less confidence than before. They'd just witnessed something unprecedented, and it clearly shook them to their core.
I watched as they wandered between the blades, placing hesitant hands on hilts, closing their eyes, waiting for some connection that never came.
Minutes passed, and the vault remained silent except for the soft scrape of boots on stone and the occasional frustrated sigh.
Then I heard it.
A roar of pure rage echoed through the chamber.
I turned to see Marius standing in front of a longsword mounted near the far wall. His face was twisted with fury, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles had gone white.
"I won't accept this!" He screamed at the blade. "I didn't come this far to fail! I didn't train my entire life to be rejected!"
The other candidates backed away nervously. Even Cedric took a cautious step forward, his hand moving toward his own blade.
Marius grabbed the longsword with both hands and yanked it from its bracket with such force that the iron mounting cracked.
"If you won't choose me," Marius snarled, pressing the blade against his palm hard enough to draw blood, "then I'll force you to accept me!"
The blade drank his blood greedily, and suddenly the air around Marius began to crackle with energy.
Blue light flickered across the weapon's surface. Arcs of electricity jumped between the blade and Marius's hands, growing stronger with each passing second.
"Yes!" Marius's voice was triumphant, almost manic. "I can feel it! I can feel your power!"
Lightning erupted from the blade in a brilliant flash that forced everyone to shield their eyes.
When the light faded, Marius stood there with the longsword crackling as he held his sword firmly.
His eyes were wide, almost fevered, and I could see his lips moving silently.
'Finally,' a voice hissed. It wasn't Marius's voice, but something darker. I could hear it faintly, like an echo of what Marius was experiencing. 'Finally, someone with enough hate to feed me properly.'
Marius's expression shifted from triumph to shock. He was hearing the blade's voice.
'I feed on hatred,' the voice continued, dripping with malicious satisfaction. 'The more hate you give me, the more power I give you in return. And you, boy, you have so much hate. So much delicious, burning rage. We're going to do wonderful things together.'
Marius's shock melted into a cruel smile. He looked directly at me, and the hatred in his eyes was palpable.
"Perfect," he whispered.
Cedric stepped forward cautiously. "Marius, you've bonded with a blade. Congratulations. But you need to calm down. Lightning manipulation is powerful, but dangerous if not controlled."
"I'm in perfect control," Marius said, though the electricity sparking off his blade suggested otherwise.
Kain approached as well, and I noticed something I hadn't seen before. His own blade, sheathed at his side, had faint blue crackling along its edge.
"Lightning," Kain said, his voice holding grudging approval. "Then it's the same as mine. I'll teach you how to wield that power properly."
Marius's eyes lit up. Training directly under the Vice Captain was a huge honor, and everyone knew it.
"Thank you, Vice Captain," Marius said, bowing his head respectfully. But when he straightened, his gaze found me again, and that hatred burned even brighter.
Movement caught my attention. Sarah, one of the other candidates, had approached a shortsword mounted on the opposite wall. She placed her hand on the hilt tentatively, and I saw her eyes widen.
"I hear it," she whispered. "I can hear it calling to me."
The moment her fingers wrapped around the grip, flames erupted along the blade's length. Not wild or uncontrolled, but it was steady and warm. It felt inviting.
Sarah pulled the blade free, and fire danced across the steel like it was alive. Her face broke into a genuine smile of wonder and relief.
"Fire manipulation," Cedric said, nodding with approval. "Well done, Sarah."
The girl swung the blade experimentally, and a wave of heat washed through the vault. She laughed, delighted and amazed by her new power.
After that, no other candidates managed to bond. They tried for another twenty minutes, moving from blade to blade with increasing desperation, but the weapons remained silent.
Finally, Cedric called an end to it. "That's enough. Those who bonded, congratulations. The rest of you, you're dismissed. You may try again next year if you wish."
The failed candidates filed out silently, their heads down, shoulders slumped with disappointment and shame.
A few shot envious glances at me, Sarah, and Marius as they left.
Once they were gone, Cedric turned to the three of us.
"Follow me. We're heading back to the courtyard. The crowd is waiting for the results."
We climbed the spiral stairway, the three of us carrying our new blades. Sarah's sword flickered with residual fire. Marius's crackled with electricity. And mine... Katarina pulsed with dark, quiet power as she whispered in my ear.
'You're doing well, darling,' Katarina purred in my mind. 'Just remember—don't show too much. Let them underestimate you. It'll make things easier later.'
When we emerged into the courtyard, the crowd was still there, hundreds of people waiting anxiously to see who had succeeded.
Cedric walked out first, his golden-accented armor gleaming in the torchlight. The seven candidates who hadn't bonded followed behind him, their faces showing various degrees of disappointment as they rejoined their families.
Cedric raised his hand for silence, and the crowd immediately quieted.
"We have three new executioners," he announced, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "Three candidates bonded with blades tonight."
Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Sarah Winters," Cedric called.
Sarah stepped forward, raising her flame-covered shortsword high. Fire danced along the blade, casting warm orange light across her face.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Her parents rushed forward, embracing her with tears of joy and pride.
"Fire manipulation," Cedric continued. "A strong and noble power. Welcome to the Order, Sarah."
More cheers. Sarah beamed, clearly overwhelmed by the positive reception.
"Marius Clay," Cedric called next.
Marius strode forward confidently, lightning crackling around his longsword. He swung it once, and blue arcs of electricity jumped from the blade, illuminating the courtyard in brilliant flashes.