The silence in the hall was so dense one could hear the faint hum of the magical circles floating above the altar.
Five young people, summoned from Earth, stood waiting for their turn at the heart of the Lunar Temple. The white marble reflected the emblems of Mizuki engraved into the ceiling.
Everything was order. Everything was protocol.
The King was not present.
—His Majesty is currently attending diplomatic affairs —murmured a priest in blue robes—. The ceremony will proceed under ecclesiastical administration.
No one objected. It was expected.
—Chosen heroes, please step to the center of the altar to receive your lunar blessing —the cleric continued—. Each of you will be bound to a divine weapon, created by the Goddess Mizuki.
At the center of the chamber, the Altar of Lunar Blessing glowed softly.
Runes carved by the goddess herself channeled the altar's power, allowing weapons to be drawn in response to each hero's soul affinity.
—Miharu Takatsuki, step forward, please.
The red-haired girl approached. As she touched the altar, a burst of crimson light enveloped her. Two metallic gauntlets appeared, sparking with living energy.
—Affinity confirmed: Breaker Gauntlets —announced the floating panel above her head.
—Next: Hayato Aizawa.
The boy with the cold gaze repeated the gesture. A floating grimoire appeared, its pages covered in arcane invocations.
—Affinity confirmed: Chronoscroll Grimoire.
—Kouya Arisato.
A shadowy bow emerged in his hands. Light seemed to flee from it.
—Affinity confirmed: Shadowpiercer Bow.
Even Mio Tsukino, though younger and quiet, was recognized. Her staff was simple, with a golden bell at the tip, yet the energy surrounding her was pure.
—Affinity confirmed: Lunar Veil.
Then came his turn.
—Now, the final hero: Kaito Amakawa.
The dark-haired boy stepped forward in silence.
He took a deep breath.
Kaito placed his hand on the altar.
Nothing.
An awkward silence filled the chamber.
—Is something wrong? Did I do something outside the protocol? —he asked, looking at the cleric, confused.
—Just wait —the high priest replied, unfazed—. The altar must be searching for the weapon that best suits your aptitudes.
Kaito nodded, though his chest tightened.
Each passing second made him doubt more.
"Am I going to be rejected… even in this world?"
Then, finally, something began to materialize.
A shape slowly formed in his hand.
A sword.
Rusty. Cracked. Dull.
The blade was broken. The guard had no runes. The hilt, worn from time.
His status panel… didn't react.
No aura. No light.
—What is happening? —exclaimed the high priest, both irritated and perplexed—. What is that weapon? Is there any match in the Church's database?
The priests looked at one another. An acolyte checked the floating tablets.
—No… no matches found.
—What does that mean? —another whispered.
The lead priest approached. He observed the sword closely. For a moment, his brow furrowed.
—No such weapon has ever been seen. Not in this generation… nor any before it.
Kaito listened silently.
He didn't understand, but something inside him stirred.
—Is it a mistake? Or did it fail because the boy is unworthy? —an assistant murmured.
—Resonance failure, most likely —said a cleric with a neutral tone—. No detectable affinity. This weapon wasn't blessed by Mizuki.
The high priest nodded solemnly.
—I see… so this boy is not fit to be a hero.
The verdict dropped like a stone.
—Kaito Amakawa will be removed from the group of heroes —the high priest declared firmly—. Mizuki has not recognized him as one of the chosen. It would be best to report that… only four heroes were summoned.
No one spoke.
Not Hayato.
Not Miharu.
Not Kouya.
Only little Mio, still holding her staff, took a hesitant step forward, as if to say something… but stopped.
Kaito looked down at the sword in his hands.
There was no reaction. No response.
Only silence.
—I understand… —he said quietly—. But then… can you send me back to my world?
The priest sighed.
—I'm sorry, boy. We can't do that.
—Only the goddess Mizuki knows the ritual of return… and that will only happen once the army of Netheria, or one of its three kings, is defeated.
Kaito clenched his teeth.
—So what am I supposed to do? With this broken sword I won't even be able to defend myself… Can I try again?
The pontiff shook his head slowly.
—You can only use the Altar of Lunar Blessing once. And it's already clear… that you are not worthy.
An acolyte approached with a tray. On it, five pouches of coins.
—Compensation for your summoning —he said—. One hundred thousand gold Yue for each of you.
The high priest looked at Kaito with a mix of discomfort and authority.
—You have two options, boy: you may live freely and do as you please… or attend the Noble Academy in Aldoria as a regular student.
—But the others will go there as heroes… —Kaito muttered.
The cleric interrupted him.
—Yes, but you won't.
—And more importantly —he added, voice turning sharper as he placed a firm hand on Kaito's shoulder— you must not tell anyone that you were summoned as a hero.
—Much less… that you were a failure of the Church.
Silence fell over the hall once more.
—In three days, King Raiden will return… we will present the heroes of Estelaris to the kingdom.
—And please, Amakawa… do not show up.
The high priest gestured with one hand.
—You may leave now.
The four heroes nodded in silence. A priest led them toward the side door that connected to their quarters.
One by one, they left.
Hayato. Miharu. Kouya.
And Mio, who hesitated for just a moment… but said nothing.
Their footsteps echoed across the marble floor.
Kaito could not follow them.
He remained there, standing, the broken sword wrapped in a white cloth—offered by an acolyte—resting in his hands.
It didn't weigh much… But the emptiness in his chest did.
When the final door closed, the chamber was left in absolute silence.
No applause.
No divine light.
No words of comfort.
Only him… and a sword that was never meant to exist.