Chapter 45: Weapon Binding (1/2)
”Are you a survivor?” Nikolai furrowed his brows and got his answer from the archer's expression. Her eyes turned wide as she made several gestures. ”Yeah, I know sign language.”
'How did you know I am a survivor?' The archer gestured.
”In our age group, most mute people are survivors of that Dungeon Break.” Nikolai massaged his forehead. Memories of someone he knew from the orphanage resurfaced. ”Anyway, why were you watching me?”
'Interest.' The girl gestured. 'You defeated me in the battle.'
”I can report you to the academy for privacy breach.” Nikolai couldn't believe this girl would admit it so readily. ”Forget it.” Nikolai sighed. ”Just leave.” He shooed her and walked away.
It wasn't a secret to hide, even if she saw him. Nikolai gained Fate by changing things, but he couldn't change many things while keeping everything a secret. Even in the midterms, he didn't go lowkey because he needed Fate Points to grow stronger.
He didn't press the matter because of the resemblance this girl held to his friend from the orphanage. He hasn't thought about him for a long time, but the resurge of memories ruined his mood.
'I hope you are in a better place now.' Nikolai thought to himself as he walked beside the fence. He looked at the poppy fields with eyes tinted with grief. 'The world was too cruel for you.'
Nikolai shook the sadness away and went back to his room. He found the room to be empty. It seems that his roommates either went out hunting or simply went out to eat.
He took out his Darkmoon Longbow and initiated his system. A panel appeared in front of him, detailing the activation process.
[The System will begin its analysis of the Fate Fragment.]
[Fate Fragment: Darkmoon Longbow!]
[Activation: 5 Fate Points!]
[Activation Rewards: the longbow has a 30% chance of granting special magical effect to the arrows it fires. Activation through Fate Points binds the bow to the user.]
'Activate.' Nikolai commanded, and the weapon consumed Fate from his body. The longbow's black wood began shining as its shape began to change. It grew bigger, and all the protrusions and inconsistencies disappeared.
[Activation successful!]
[Darkmoon Longbow (Tier 1): An ancient being created this weapon as a gift for his son, using the essence of the Darkmoon Tree. Heavens were wrathful and sealed the longbow until a fateful owner awakens it.]
'Fateful?' Nikolai was stunned. 'Does that mean that Fate Points aren't only about probability but can substitute fate itself?'
This theory means that Nikolai wasn't the one supposed to awaken this item, but it was fated to be the possession of someone else. However, Nikolai stole it from that person and substituted it using Fate Points.
'That's why the system always says 'Fate has been stolen' when I use Fate Points to change probability.' Nikolai pondered.
[The weapons will bind to the user now.]
Suddenly, the longbow began shaking. Nikolai let go of it and watched the longbow float into the air before turning into a stream of dark matter and going inside of Nikolai's body.
”It itches.” Nikolai grimaced as the bow appeared in his Inner World. ”Okay, it hurts now!” Nikolai grabbed his head and fell on his knee.