Callisto and Stalin nodded. They understood that it was a requirement to learn and master a skill because nobody could defeat a demon without any special ability. They exchanged nervous glances as they stepped into the hall.
The hall was massive, with arched ceilings that seemed to stretch into infinity. The walls were lined with glowing runes that pulsed faintly, as if they were alive. In the center of the room, there was a group of trainees sparring under the guidance and observation of the guardians. Their weapons and magic were clashing.
"This is intense," Stalin remarked, looking at other trainees. "I’m not sure if I’m ready for this."
"You have to," Matthew replied. "The goddess chasing you is no ordinary demon. You've seen how she fought with me, right? So if you wish to survive, you have to train harder; hesitation will only weigh you down."
Liam led them toward a table laden with scrolls, gemstones, and weapons. "Each of these objects represents a potential path. Guardians are not all the same. Some of us master scroll magic, others wield enchanted weapons, and a few rely on innate gifts granted by the god of light. Your task is to find which path resonates with you."
"How will we know?" Callisto asked, staring at the array of items with uncertainty.
"You’ll feel it," Liam replied cryptically. "The object will call to you. You have to trust your instincts."
Stalin stepped closer to the table, her gaze locked on the silver dagger. The moment she touched it, the blade glowed with a soft, blue light, and an ethereal warmth spread through her body.
"I think... this is mine," Stalin said, marveling at the way the dagger seemed to hum in harmony with her.
Meanwhile, Callisto felt drawn to an ancient-looking grimoire bound in leather. When he opened it, the pages shimmered, revealing intricate symbols that rearranged themselves into words he could easily understand.
"This feels... right," Callisto murmured.
Matthew and Liam exchanged approving nods, knowing that these two novices were truly chosen by the god of light to become one of them, because only those who were chosen could find their weapons, and they made it.
"You’ve both made your choices," Matthew said. "But this is only the beginning. You must now undergo rigorous training to unlock the true potential of your tools."
"How long will the training take?" Stalin asked.
"That depends on you," Liam replied. "Some learn quickly, while others take years. But with the goddess hunting you, time is not on your side, so let's begin immediately."
"But first, let me take you to your rooms, because you look tired and hungry," Matthew said considerately.
Callisto and Stalin followed Matthew, while Liam went to entertain the other trainees. They decided to share a room together since they were actually a couple, and Matthew was surprised to know that.
"Thank you so much again, brother," Callisto said. "You've truly helped us. We'll do our best and train harder so that this opportunity won't be in vain."
"I'm glad to hear that," Matthew replied. "Anyway, you may go to the dining room if you feel hungry. Don't be shy to tell me if you need anything. Make yourself at home."
Stalin and Callisto watched Matthew step out of the room. After seeing him through, they inhaled deeply. They touched each other's faces just to know if they weren't dreaming; they even kissed, and that was so sweet.
Callisto lay down on the softly upholstered queen bed and looked at the chandelier hanging on the ceiling. It was like a fairy tale, he thought; his life changed so quickly. After losing his whole family, he thought he was going to lose himself too; he was hopeless; this must be a miracle.
"Are you alright?" Stalin asked, lying down beside her boyfriend, giving him a warm, affectionate hug, and listening to his fast heartbeats. "I know this must be quite surprising, that after being chased by the cruel goddess, we ended up entering a hidden paradise that doesn't seem to be real."
"That's not all; we were also offered this kind of luxury and treated well, unlike in our past lives. I hope we can stay in this peaceful place forever," Callisto replied.
"Yup, let's train harder so that we can stay here as long as we want," Stalin encouraged Callisto.
The next day, Callisto and Stalin woke up early. They went to the massive dining room where other trainees and guardians were having breakfast. There was a long table filled with delicious food, different dishes, fruits, and wines. Most of them were delicacies that originated from other nations.
Callisto wondered how these people built this hidden luxury. It must have taken them a long time building a peaceful and abundant place hidden from most, or maybe it was all created by what they called the god of light.
Matthew was putting plates and cutleries on the table when he saw Callisto and Stalin. He left the table and walked towards them. "Good morning, guys," he greeted. "So how was your sleep last night?"
"Great. We woke up early to help with anything since we knew we couldn't just stay here for free," Callisto said.
"Don't worry about that, man. Every task here was already assigned so that we can focus on our training. This place is made for everyone to be comfortable," Matthew replied with a warm, sun-like and gentle, pillow-like smile on his calm face.
Callisto and Stalin settled into the dining chairs and had their plates filled with delicious food. Matthew offered them glasses of fine red wine that only the wealthiest people on Earth could have tasted.
After having their breakfast, Callisto and Stalin followed Matthew inside the hall. It would be the first day of their training, and they'd have to start from the basics. Matthew introduced them to another guardian.
"This is Elena; she is the best when it comes to close combat, using swords and daggers, so she'll be the one to train Stalin," Matthew said.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," Stalin greeted, but the woman didn't reply and gave her a serious gaze, as if doubting if she would last here for long.
"Take this." Elena threw a dagger at Stalin.
Stalin struggled to catch the dagger that could almost pierce her face if Matthew didn't catch it. "Stop playing games, Elena. She's just a newbie," Matthew reprimanded.
"Here we go again with your gentleness towards the trainees. That might be the reason why most of them don't respect you because you don't teach them how to survive on their own," Elena replied as she walked away.
"Please don't mind her, guys. She's just like that," Matthew said, feeling sorry for Stalin's fate.
"It's okay, brother. I'll do my best." Stalin innocently followed Elena to the center of the hall.
Although Callisto was worried about what could happen to his girlfriend, he also knew that they had to go through rigorous training because it would be more difficult once they faced a real demon.
"Now it's your turn, Callisto, right?" Matthew asked.
"Yes," Callisto replied. "Are you going to introduce me to my mentor?"
"No. I'll be the one to train you since we have similar skills. But don't consider yourself lucky because I won't get easy on you as what Elena wanted to say," Matthew said. "Please prepare yourself, and we'll start from the basics."
Matthew brought Callisto inside the large library, full of books on the side and a wide empty space in between where other scroll magic users were practicing their skills. Matthew picked a grimoire from the shelves.
"Read this book and practice the incantations and spells in it. I'm sure you'll learn how to perform magic from it," Matthew said, handing the grimoire to Callisto.
Callisto accepted the grimoire and realized that it was so heavy, like half a sack of rice, and he had to carry it with both hands. He was about to put it on the floor when Matthew told him that he couldn't perform magic without holding it, so he had to carry it all day long. This way, he couldn't just learn magic but also tone his muscles.
"I thought it would be easier to practice scroll magic than use a sword," Callisto said regretfully.
"Nothing comes easy in this world, Callisto. You have to work for something you want. Don't worry, you'll get used to it if you stay consistent and don't give up. Every guardian has to go through what you are going through right now to become great," Matthew replied.
"Thanks for the motivation, brother," Callisto said, slowly turning the first page.
Callisto started reading the passage, but because of the heavy grimoire, he couldn't focus on chanting the spell. He failed again and again, but he kept going until he mastered one spell.
After a long day of training, Callisto felt like his flesh went numb and his bones were dislocated. He slowly went back to their room; every step he took felt like bringing him to his grave, but he reminded himself that he was just starting, and he'd be facing more challenges on the following days, so he wasn't in the position to give up, although he felt like he was punishing himself for things he didn't do.
Stalin, on the other hand, went through vigorous training with Elena. She got a lot of bruises, but they were not serious because Elena could also use healing magic. Stalin's face was so dirty, and she didn't even have the time to wash it before going to bed.
Callisto spent most of his time inside the library, while Stalin was in the hall, sparring with other trainees since she couldn't keep up with her mentor. Both of them were doing their best; they only had one goal in mind: to give justice to the death of their loved ones.