The King’s Path

Edward wiped sweat from his brow, the rhythmic clanging of his hammer against glowing metal echoing through the otherwise quiet forge.

It had become his favorite place in the academy—far from the noise of the classrooms and training fields, where he could lose himself in the steady, meditative process of creation.

The week had been grueling, filled with trials and errors, but it was also rewarding. Edward was slowly getting the hang of Ahnavat's abilities, though he still felt like he was scratching the surface of his heroic spirit's potential.

Today, though, he was determined to push his limits.

As Edward worked, his mind drifted back to his recent experiments.

Ahnavat's abilities were deceptively straightforward—he could analyze materials, memorize their structure, and craft weapons from them. But over the past few days, Edward had discovered something that had him both excited and unnerved: he could craft more than ordinary weapons.

At first, it had started with a simple thought. During one of his training sessions, Edward had imagined a weapon he'd read about in the academy's archives—a legendary sword wielded by a heroic spirit centuries ago. On a whim, he'd tried to craft it.

The result had been underwhelming.

What appeared in his hands was a crude, unstable replica of the weapon he'd envisioned, barely functional and prone to breaking under stress. But it was the act itself that fascinated him. If he could visualize a legendary weapon, even partially, and manifest it using his power, then Ahnavat's abilities weren't just about forging—they were about creation.

Edward had spent every spare moment since then experimenting. Most of his attempts ended in failure: shattered blades, misshapen spears, or weapons that disintegrated moments after being summoned.

But today, he was determined to succeed.

Edward closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as he focused on his latest vision.

He had chosen to attempt something simpler this time—a pair of twin swords, legendary in design but less intricate than some of the other weapons he'd failed to replicate. Kanshou and Byakuya, the Married Swords, a B-rank heroic weapon crafted by the tragic blacksmith Gan Jiang and his Wife , Mo Ye.

The swords were said to be inseparable, their power tied to their unity. Forged with a delicate balance of opposing forces, they symbolized yin and yang, harmony and duality.

"Visualize them," Edward thought, gripping the edges of his worktable. "See every detail. Feel their shape, their weight, their power."

The forge around him seemed to hum with energy as he activated Ahnavat's abilities. The mithril and steel on his table glowed faintly, responding to his thoughts as he poured his focus into shaping the raw materials into the vision in his mind.

At first, nothing happened. The metal resisted, refusing to take form, and Edward felt frustration bubbling to the surface.

"Come on," he muttered through gritted teeth, hammering at the stubborn materials. "Work with me here."

And then, finally, something clicked.

The glow intensified, and Edward felt a surge of power course through him. Slowly, the raw mithril began to reshape itself, elongating and refining into two elegant, curved blades.

The process was grueling, every strike of his hammer feeling like it was draining his energy, but he pushed through.

When the glow finally subsided, Edward found himself holding Kanshou and Byakuya.

The blades were breathtaking. Kanshou, the black sword, radiated an aura of quiet strength, while Byakuya, the white sword, gleamed with sharp precision. Intricate designs ran along their hilts and edges, reminiscent of a yin-yang symbol.

Edward's hands trembled as he held them. He could feel the faint hum of power within the blades, their connection to one another palpable.

"I actually did it," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "I made a B-rank heroic weapon."

Excited, Edward moved to the training field adjacent to the forge. He set up a series of targets—wooden dummies, enchanted shields, and metal plating designed to withstand high-impact strikes.

Gripping Kanshou and Byakuya, Edward took a deep breath and began testing the swords.

With a single slash, Kanshou cleaved through a wooden dummy as though it were paper. Edward followed up with Byakuya, striking a shield with precision that shattered its enchantment. The swords felt... alive in his hands, almost as if they were guiding his movements.

When he swung both blades in unison, a faint ripple of energy surged outward, knocking over several targets in a single blow.

"This is insane," Edward muttered, panting slightly. He could feel the toll the creation had taken on his body—manifesting legendary weapons was clearly no small feat—but the result was worth it.

For the first time, Edward felt like he was beginning to understand the true potential of Ahnavat's power.

After cleaning up the training field, Edward carefully wrapped Kanshou and Byakuya in cloth and made his way to the administrative wing of the academy, where his aunt Julia's office was located.

Julia worked as a liaison for the American Awakened Association, handling logistics and resource allocation for students and heroes alike. Edward knew she had access to materials and connections that could help him refine his craft.

When he entered her office, Julia looked up from her desk, her sharp blue eyes softening when she saw him.

"Edward," she said warmly, setting aside a stack of paperwork. "What brings you here?"

Edward hesitated for a moment before placing the wrapped swords on her desk. "I need your help, Aunt Julia."

She raised an eyebrow, unwrapping the blades with care. Her eyes widened slightly as she examined them.

"These... these are heroic weapons," she said, her tone a mix of surprise and admiration. "Did you make these?"

Edward nodded. "Yeah. It wasn't easy, but I managed. The problem is, I can't keep using low-grade materials for stuff like this. If I want to get better, I need access to higher-quality resources."

Julia studied him for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

"I have to be," Edward said firmly. "I don't just want to be some background blacksmith, Aunt Julia. I think there's more to Ahnavat's abilities than anyone realizes, and I need to figure out what that is."

Julia leaned back in her chair, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You remind me of your father when you talk like that."

Edward felt a pang of emotion at her words but pushed it aside.

"So... can you help me?"

Julia nodded. "I'll see what I can do. There are some rare materials we keep in reserve for high-priority projects, but I'll have to pull some strings to get them for you. In the meantime, keep practicing. If you're going to make a name for yourself, you'll need to show that these weapons are more than just pretty blades."

Edward grinned. "Thanks, Aunt Julia. I won't let you down."

As Edward left her office, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. Kanshou and Byakuya were just the beginning—a glimpse of what he could achieve if he pushed himself harder.

The dream of Gilgamesh still lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder that there were secrets buried in the world's history, secrets he was now a part of.

And if forging legendary weapons was the first step toward uncovering those secrets, then Edward was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.