Kiah stared at the rows of shiny blades in awe. This wasn't just any weapon, they had a sentient edge to them. They pulsed faintly.
Eden grabbed a pair of sleek daggers from the wall. A click was heard as she pressed a small button at the bottom of the dagger, extending the blades until it doubled in length. In a blink, she was holding a short sword.
The dagger shrunk back with another soft click.
"These are advanced weapons designed to kill both humans and monsters efficiently. Since most of us have some degree of modification, normal blades don't do much. Degenerates are even tougher."
Kiah drifted toward a sword that caught her eye. Its hilt was carved with delicate, metallic etchings that shimmered when she tilted it.
"I can pick any of these?"
"Yeah. But your weapon has to compliment you. It's very important. Weapons are a part of you. You bond with them and they'll grow stronger as you do," Eden said. "You'll need to choose wisely."
Kiah's brow furrowed. "What do you mean grow stronger? Are they alive?"
"Not technically. It's more like… the more you train, the more effective they become. Every blade has an electromagnetic pulse which will be linked to you after registration. It's a lifetime companion."
Kiah nodded.
She wrapped her fingers around the hilt of the sword. It felt warm and incredibly light. She tried pressing the button at the hilt but it didn't budge.
She gave Eden a questioning look.
"It won't change because you're too weak."
Eden took the sword and and tapped the hilt. The blade snapped into segments, folding out and spinning into a flexible, whip-like shape with a hum. It slithered like a snake.
Another press, and it folded back into a solid sword.
"I'm not even strong enough to press a button." She said in self-pity, looking at her palms.
Just how powerful did she have to be to excel?
The sword was placed gently back on the wall.
"How strong are these degenerates?" she asked.
From what she had gathered, degenerates seemed similar to zombies. They had infectious bites that turned people, they rot, and they lose all rationality. They couldn't be any much alike.
And if that was the case, Kiah didn't think they posed much threat. Zombies were slow and stupid,at least the ones she'd seen in movies. Even the most intelligent ones were still considered dumb in some sense.
With enough protection, it shouldn't be that hard to beat them.
Eden shrugged.
"You'll see for yourself."
"What? You're just going to let me go in blind."
"I've already told you more than I'm allowed to. During my test, nobody told me anything."
"So you're gonna pass down the trauma?"
"Yes." Eden replied without missing a beat.
Kiah rolled her eyes and moved on to another wall of weapons, then frowned.
Where was the one weapon that altered combat tactics and shifted power dynamics in history? The weapon that revolutionized warfare and significantly impacted human events?
"At least answer this. Why aren't there any guns here? Wouldn't it be easier to kill those things with it? A bullet to the head solves most problems."
"After the fall, guns became rare," Eden said, leaning against the doorframe. "Ammo is hard to come by. Duskworn lacks the elements and mineral resources to make them. A bullet costs a fortune talkless of thousands. Plus, they are loud and draw too much attention. Shoot once and ten degenerates know exactly where you are. Out here, stealth is your best friend."
Kiah recalled the traffickers. Only one of them had a gun while the rest held knives.
'Why does this world keep getting harder? I don't have a system nor a cheat code, and now I can't even afford a damn gun? Ridiculous.'
Eden's voice rang, slightly impatient.
"Pick a weapon fast. There must be one calling out to you."
Kiah sighed and her eyes snapped to a beautifully crafted Labrys on the wall. It had caught her eyes the moment she stepped into the room.
She stepped forward and pulled it from the wall. Its handle was smooth and cold in her palm, and it was also light. Unnaturally so.
Its blades were exaggeratedly large. The blade on the right was smooth and sharp while the other had jagged edges like that of a saw. The blade had a few crown shaped holes. The body had gold vines wrapped around it all the way to the hilt. It was beautiful.
She felt the labrys hum softly on her palm. It was an odd sensation, but it was pleasant.
"I choose this one."
"Why the Labrys?" Eden asked, raising a brow.
Kiah shrugged.
"It feels like me. Plus, it's pretty."
Eden gave her a long look before snorting. "Suit yourself."
Eden came closer and in a blink of an eye, she cut Kiah's palm with a dagger before dropping a bit of the blood on the Labrys.
"You're bonded now. The registration is over. You're one step closer to survival."
"What the hell?" Kiah flinched at what just transpired. "Was that necessary?"
"It was."
"You could have warned me." She glared. Then she glanced down at the Labrys which seemed to hum faster now. "What happened?"
"It's connected to you now. You can always feel it wherever you are."
Kiah still had a frightened look on her face.
"Do I have to give it blood everytime?"
"No."
"What happens if I give another weapon my blood?"
"The bond only works once. Bonding with two weapons is unheard of. You can wield a weapon you're not bonded to too. But you won't get the special perks or connections."
"Alright." Kiah said.
Eden nodded.
"Good. We'll start basic training tomorrow. I'll see you then."
They left the room and the door snapped shut. Kiah held the Labrys weirdly.
Eden turned to leave but Kiah called out.
"Hey—do you guys have a library around here?"
Eden paused.
"We do have a place with a few books, but it's not exactly considered a library."
"I'll take it." Kiah said with a grin.
***
Kiah had one goal: learn everything she could about this world.
From the scattered bits Eden shared she'd picked together a rough outile. There had been a disaster, a catastrophic one. Then came more disasters. The overseer showed up and saved what was left of humanity with his tech, and built a wall to protect his chosen few because of so called revolts. Everyone else was left outside.
That was the basic story.
She needed to know the whys and hows. The tiny bits. She wanted to find a link or connection to why she ended up here and how she could get back out.
Earlier when she walked through the streets, she noticed things were similar to what was already one earth. Just… enhanced. There were cars with two massive wheels instead of four, trains that travelled on elevated tracks, and thin chips that looked like high-tech credit cards. Even a charging station that resembled a futuristic gas pump.
It was all too similar.
If she could learn a little bit about this tech, understand what made it tick, maybe she could find a way to uncover answers.
If the Overseer was a transmigrator, he could hold the answers. The thought of learning more made her excited.
When she reached the place Eden directed her to, her excitement immediately deflated.
It wasn't a library, not even close. It was a dusty old mechanic garage tucked inside the building.
In the middle of the room saf a bulky vehicle that looked like and SUV, it's hood propped open and a propeller engine half-exposed. Tools and wires were scattered everywhere. And off to the corner was a desk and a chair, and a tiny shelf holding—six books?
'Wait? That's it?'
"I don't get a lot of visitors these days. Did you lose your way, young lady?"
She turned to see a man drive towards her in an electric wheelchair. He had curly brown hair mixed with a few grey ones. He had some wrinkles but his brown eyes were sharp and curious.
"No. Uh… someone told me I could find some books here." She gestured to the sad little shelf.
The man's eyes swept over her for a second, and then, he beamed.
"A youngster thirsty for knowledge. Those are rare nowadays. You can make yourself at home dear." He gave a friendly smile. "What's your name?"
"Kiah," she replied, returning the smile.
"Ah, you're the new girl with memory loss." He said it casually, but the label stung. "I'm Killan."
'New girl with memory loss. Great. That's what people call me now.'
"Can I?" She gestured to the pathetic shelf.
"Sure, sure. Come in. Make yourself at home."
He gave her space to pass.
She nodded in gratitude. She walked over to the shelf, scanning the worn spines.
Picking up a book, she checked the titles;
"Summer in Novaris."
Skip.
"Life before the Fall."
Skip.
"Mark of Power."
Skip.
"Advanced technology."
Her eyes lingered. 'Finally.'