Demonic Red

6: Choosing a Weapon

As we walked through another hallway, I still couldn't get my mind off of the doctor's reaction. What did he know about me that made my magic levels understandable? All I could think of was that it had to do with my lost memories. If all of this madness could be explained by the memories, I wanted to remember as soon as possible. But if I could remember, I wouldn't be stuck in this rut for eight years.

Suddenly I felt piercing eyes gazing my way. And it wasn't just one pair of eyes, it was many, many sharp gazes.

I heard many whispers about my magic levels and the earlier incident, but the one word I heard the most was, "Demon." 

I pretended not to notice. After all, I myself didn't know if I was human or Demon. And at the moment, all hands were pointing to the latter. 

 "Ugh, you idiots! Just because she's violent and has insane magic levels does not make her a demon!" Someone yelled through the chatter, "Stop snitching on something you don't even know is true!"

I knew that voice: it was Shimamiya Hokori. She was defending me again, despite wanting to defeat me. I felt happy that someone cared even a little. 

The examiner at the front of the line clapped twice and yelled, "OK, that's enough chit-chat. We've made it to the Training Room. Here is where you will fight your fellow examinees to claim one of fifty spots in our program. We will divide you into groups of two for tag teams. I suppose we can have one group of three, but just divide yourselves up in twos for the time being. If you didn't bring your own weapon, you will be able to choose a weapon on the shelf, but they are limited. I would suggest you hurry to get one that is suited to you. Only come up when you have a partner. I'll leave the decisions up to you examinees. With that, get started."

Groups of two, huh? I went on ahead to the shelf since I knew I'd be the odd one out.

I was stopped by the examiner. "There should be four hundred ninety-two candidates, young lady. Who is your partner?"

"I don't have one." I stated blankly.

 "What? Then you're going to leave another person out? Go find someone!"

I started to feel something bubble up within me again. It wasn't rage, though. It was despair. 

"Do you think ANYONE would want to team up with someone who broke peoples' bones in rage and has the magical prowess of a demon?! I won't leave anyone out, since there are four hundred ninety-three candidates, not two." 

"What? How can that be...? Someone didn't get counted? That's impossible! Everyone here should have been accounted for! That stadium has four hundred and ninety-two seats and everyone should have been seated!"

"I stood in the back. If you want to count everyone here, be my guest. Just... don't force anyone to be with me. I have no doubt everyone here hates me already. But may I please get a weapon?"

"O-OK... I'll let you choose from the shelf." the Examiner finally gave up and marked me as the lone wolf. 

"I'll get a weapon now." I started walking to the shelf.

"Don't regret going alone..." She mumbled.

I stopped in my tracks and looked down.

 "I won't. Besides, I didn't have a choice in the matter." I admitted.

I started walking to the shelf again, but my eyes immediately gravitated towards a white katana sitting in a corner. It seemed familiar, but it was also radiating an ominous aura.

"May I have that white katana?" I asked.

"That one hasn't been used in years! Nobody can ever deal with the Blood Sword! Not after that tragedy eight years ago."

 "Blood sword? Tragedy?"

The examiner sighed, "The Blood Sword was used by the Iron Flower until she vanished eight years ago! Nobody else has been able to use it since!"

I reached out my hand to it as she was explaining. I didn't know why, but the sword seemed like it was calling me.

"DON'T TOUCH IT!" She screamed in panic.

But it was too late. I had already grabbed it.

"No way...! You're fine... after touching that cursed blade? Nobody can use that blade anymore... Who... who are you?"

 "I don't know who I am... I'm just an amnesiac, after all." I smiled sadly.

I feel like I'll be saying that a lot more today... I thought.

I walked from the shelf, the Blood Sword in hand, to the back of the room until everyone else was ready to battle.

Some things concerned me though. Why did this blade seem so familiar to me? What is the Iron Flower? And most importantly, what am I?