The Oracle

Chapter 13: He's Never Been a Good Influence Anyway

SORA

"Well...that's certainly interesting," I sigh and scratch the back of my head as I stand outside the doors to Aptitude Training, my eyes focused on the note on the doors that says 'Class is canceled due to obligations that have been unfortunately and forcefully placed on your loving instructor, but you may continue to use the area if you are capable enough-- that means not you, Aisawa.'

I had just finished up with Herbal Medicine for the day and I was going to go to my next class, but I guess that won't be happening today.

"Are you going to just stand there, or?"

I turn around to find Kaito standing behind me with his arms crossed and one of his eyebrows raised, his red eyes certainly not amused.

"Uh," I start, "Gambit's gone, so..."

"Then move aside," Kaito sighs. "I dropped my phone in there earlier during advanced training."

"Fine," I raise my hands in defeat and step aside. "You do you, man."

"Yup," Kaito pops the 'p' and opens the door to the training grounds before he disappears inside, the door slamming shut behind him.

"I really hope he isn't looking for this silly thing," Merrick muses as he walks up to me and reaches into the pocket of his stonewashed ripped jeans to pull out a sleek black cell phone with a red phone case, a wry smile on his lips, "because he certainly won't find it in there."

Merrick flips the phone around before he slides it back into his pocket and adjusts the collar of his black button-up, which matches his all black fedora the black wire bracelets around his right wrist, as well as his black work boots.

"You're really something else," I shake my head and smile.

"Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment," Merrick grins before his eyes flicker over to the sign on the door. "You were planning on training, right?"

"Yeah, but Gambit's gone, so--" I start.

"I can do it," Merrick shrugs and my eyebrows raise in surprise. "I mean, if you want, that is. I've got nothing better to do right now anyway."

"Sure," I nod. "That'd be alright."

"Alright, let's go then," Merrick walks up to the door and pulls it open.

I follow Merrick down the stone pathway and I furrow my eyebrows whenever he takes us into the room where the weapons are stored for newcomers to choose.

"What're we doing back in here?" I ask.

"Isn't it obvious?" Merrick raises a brow and glances over his shoulder. "You can't train with your true weapon whenever Gambit's around, so I'm going to teach you how to use the longsword."

"What?" I splutter, my eyes widening. "But, isn't that--"

"Forbidden?" Merrick rolls his eyes and waves a hand. "Pish posh. If you don't learn how to use it now, you won't know how to use it when it truly matters."

"But won't it stay--"

I trail off whenever Merrick turns around and dumps water with golden specks throughout it into my hands from his that he picked up and I sigh.

"Okay, fine, this is all great but how are you planning to get it out of the glass untouched? Also, am I even allowed to have two different weapons choose me?" I ask. "I mean, I'd be able to summon them both then, wouldn't I?"

"Precisely," Merrick hums. "If you let the longsword choose you, you'll be able to summon it whenever your little heart desires and you won't have to keep breaking it out of the glass. It's a win-win. And sure, you can have two weapons. I mean, I don't see why not. After all, the longsword is rightfully yours and the Staff of Envy chose you."