“Cheers!” both Ciana and I said with a smile and made a toast using our drinks. We then happily gulped it in one go and exhaled after finishing.

“Old man, another two!” Ciana said to the owner.

“Coming!” the old man replied and gave two drinks to us once again.

Right now, both of us are celebrating in a bar for passing the entrance test for aspiring soldiers. With that, I can now participate in the [Soldier Challenge] to determine my rank.

“I am really thankful to you, Ciana. Without you, I wouldn’t pass that test so easily,” I thanked with a smile. “Not to mention this treat of yours just to celebrate. I promise that I will repay all of your help someday.”

“You don’t need to. I’m just indebted to you for saving me back in that alley. Now, we can call it an even, right?” she asked with a smile.

“Well, if that’s what you want,” I responded and continued drinking. As for Ciana, she just continued watching me with a gentle smile.

“I think it will be fun to travel with you...” Ciana whispered to herself.

“You said something?” I asked, not hearing her words.

“It’s nothing,” she replied and continued drinking.

“But anyway, what’s up with that attack earlier? That’s not an ordinary [critical hit]. After all, you managed to make a [weapon] the same level as you unable to battle with a single hit. It’s really amazing no matter how you look at it,” I said with shining eyes.

“Uhmm...that?” Ciana asked after slightly averting her gaze to the side and hiding the lower part of her face behind her drink.

“And what’s your [birth magic]?” I continued.

Each [beast weapon] has a respective [magic type] that it can solely use, depending on that individual’s [birth magic] and those are [lightning magic], [ice magic], [fire magic], [earth magic], [wind magic] and [darkness magic]. Those symbolize the natural disasters that we beasts conquered back in ancient times like thunderstorms, blizzard, forest fire, landslides, tornado and total darkness. But…there are others that can use different [magic] that is not included on those six. They are the [Constellation Deities], the immortal beings that are not classified as [Katzen] nor [Hund]. They have their own original [magic].

“But given the sudden [speed] I’ve gained...your [birth magic] is [lightning magic], right?” I asked, confident about my answer.

“Well...you’re somewhat right,” she responded with a forced smile.

“I knew it!” I reacted happily. “Even I couldn’t believe my speed in that battle after all.”

“Anyway, let’s continue our celebration, Raiki,” Ciana suggested.

“Yeah,” I replied and continued drinking.

After our celebration, we exited the bar and said goodbye to each other.

“Thank you very much for everything, Ciana,” I said with a bow.

“You’re welcome. Thanks too, Raiki,” Ciana followed with a gentle smile.

I then lifted my head and muttered, “I hope we meet again.”

“Yeah. I hope so too,” Ciana responded, still smiling. She then waved her hand and walked away.

“But be careful on picking a [weapon], Raiki. As a [wielder], you can only register up to four [weapons] in your party. After all, it is really inefficient to change partner [weapons] from time to time considering that you need to train and be familiar with those four to become stronger so it is ideal to stick to only four [weapons] until the end.”

As she walks away slowly with the moonlight lighting her path, I suddenly remembered those words from her, back when we first met.

“I...want her...as my [weapon]...” I whispered to myself and started chasing after her. Then, after lessening the distance between us, I grabbed her hand.

“Ciana...I...” I said, slightly panting.

“Raiki?” she asked after facing me, surprised.

“Can you...become my [weapon]?” I asked with seriousness.

Those words surprised her even more.

“I just think that it will be really fun to travel with you. And also, I think I developed a habit of relying on you,” I followed and forced a laugh. “But above all, even if you said that it’s fine, I really want to repay your kindness. I’m not sure if we can still meet next time so...I think this is the only way I could think of so I wouldn’t lose you.”

“Raiki...” she whispered. I couldn’t see her current expression now because her hood currently covers her eyes.

“Can you...join me?” I asked with serious eyes.

Then, she removed her hood, revealing her whole face to me for the first time.

She really has a blonde hair and green languid eyes. Her nose is slightly pointed and her lips are naturally pinkish red. There’s also a white flower below each of her white cat ears.

“You really are beautiful...” I commented unconsciously.

She then got surprised and averted her gaze with blushing cheeks.

“I mean...you really are beautiful but...I just...” I explained in a flustered expression.

Why did I even say that out loud?

She then made a sad face and looked at me straight into the eyes.

“Sorry Raiki but...I can’t join you as your [weapon]. I’m in a difficult situation right now so I can’t just decide on things even if I want to.”

“I see...” I muttered and my ears slightly dropped down together with my tail.

Ciana then looked down sadly.

Because of that I got surprised and forced a smile.

“I guess...it’s too bad. Okay, got it. See you around then,” I said and let go of her hand.

Then, she nodded with a sad smile and both of us parted ways there.

The next day, I started working in the construction of a certain building in the outskirts of [Genesisia Town]. The pay is 500EC per day so with 200EC for the Inn expense and 100EC for food expense, I still have 200EC to save per day. After all, I learned how important money is compared to the time where I was still living in my village. I need to save up first before continuing my journey. While at work, I got to know my co-workers. But among all of them, the one I became particularly close to is Keith, a [Katzen] who is the same age as me. Right now, Keith and I are eating lunch while sitting on a log as we talk to each other.

“I really wish I could become a soldier,” Keith said with a smile as he looks at the blue sky where the big crescent moon can be found together with the bright sun.

“Like I said, you should really try the test next month. I’m sure that you can pass it if you find a partner [weapon],” I said with a smile as encouragement and munched my bread.

“Well, I’m still having second thoughts about it because I already have a daughter. She’s still 2 years old so I still don’t want to work far from home,” he explained with a sad smile after looking at the bread on his hand. “How about you? Any luck in finding a [weapon]?”

“Well, I’m really busy here in the construction so I kinda lost the time to look for someone,” I said and forced a laugh.

“Jeez. You should at least take a day off once in a while to find one. I mean, that’s much important compared to saving money,” Keith lectured and started eating his bread.

“Right, right,” I replied and gulped some water.

“But a [weapon], huh,” Keith muttered with a smile and held his half-eaten bread like a sword and swung it around slowly. “I really want to at least experience that for myself. I really envy you in that.”

“I would like to become one just for you but unfortunately, I don’t really have the talent in transforming into one. I can’t even transform into a light you see,” I followed and finished eating my lunch.

“Well, they say that becoming a [weapon] is much harder than being a [wielder] after all,” Keith responded and started eating his bread once again.

“But I wonder what it’s like to wield a [Constellation Deity]. I’m sure that it will feel different compared to a [beast weapon], right?” Keith curiously asked to me.

“Like I’ll know. I haven’t wielded one anyway. But I think it would really be different in comparison because they are the only known ones who managed to reach level 100,” I said and looked to the sky,

“But only a high class soldier can experience that,” Keith continued with somewhat sad eyes.

“It’s not really impossible you know. If we work hard, I’m sure that even we can become one,” I said seriously.

“Yeah right, Mister Optimist,” Keith responded with a laugh. “It’s just that even if you managed to become a high class soldier, it’s still not a guarantee that you can wield a [Constellation Deity]. After all, after you completed the [soldier challenge], you still need to participate in the [Deity Tournament] where the strongest of the strong gather. You need to become one of the top five of that tournament and only then will you receive the right of wielding a [Constellation Deity]. No matter how you look at it, it’s really a difficult path to take,” he complained.

“That’s exactly the reason why it’s exciting to aim for the top, isn’t it?” I followed with shining eyes. “We just need to train more and more and someday, that might not be impossible to us anymore.”

“Right. I sure do,” Keith followed with a grin, not even serious about his reply.

“Jeez. But I wonder what happened to the Lost Deity, [Virgo]?” I asked.

“Yeah. She just disappeared for unknown reasons. [Katzen]’s [Constellation Deities] should originally be six but because one Goddess [Virgo] disappeared two generations ago, us [Katzens] couldn’t do anything but to wage war with only five [Constellation Deities] on our side. Because of that, we almost lost in the previous war. I wonder if she’ll show up in the upcoming war,” Keith said seriously and stood up. “Let’s go back to work?”

I then stood up too and replied, “Yeah. But can I ask a question?”

“What is it?” Keith asked.

“The [Constellation Deities] have different ears compared to us, right?”

“Well, yes. Unlike us, they have almost circular shaped ears found near their cheeks, far from the location of ours which is almost on top of our head.”

“I see,” I answered with a serious face.

“But why did you ask that all of a sudden?” Keith questioned me curiously.

“Well, I just almost believed that a girl I met was a [Constellation Deity]. I mean, she’s always hiding her head but before we part ways, she revealed her ears to me, making me realize that my hunch was really wrong all along,” I said with a forced smile.

“What? You think you find the [Lost Deity] or something?” he asked with a teasing smile.

“Jeez, let’s go back to work or we won’t get our pay for the day,” I said and started lifting a log.

After a while, sun down arrived, signalling the end of our work for the day. The head then gave us our pay for the day and Keith and I went separate ways.

“That makes 1,800EC,” I said with a smile as I count the coins in my pouch. I then placed it inside the pocket of my trousers as I walk towards the Inn. “I wonder where Ciana is right now.”

Suddenly. I saw someone wearing a familiar light brown robe running with three black robed guys chasing after her.

“Ciana?” I reacted and followed them.

After running around, the three robed guys managed to corner Ciana in a dead end part of the town. Because the time is now late, almost no one can be found around the area. Most [Katzens] are now inside their houses.

“You have nowhere to run now. Just come with us quietly,” one guy said.

“And why would she do that?” I asked with a serious face as I walk towards them.

“Raiki?” Ciana reacted in a surprised manner.

“The three then faced me and asked, “Who are you?”

“I’m Raiki, a friend of that girl. If you don’t leave her alone, I’ll be the one who will fight you three.”

“You arrogant kid!” one guy shouted and ran towards me.

I then drew out my sword and made a fighting stance.

“Raiki, don’t! He’s a [wielder]! He’s using a [beast weapon]!” Ciana yelled.

Suddenly, my sword’s blade got cut in half so easily.

“What?” I reacted, surprised.

“Raiki, let’s go!” Ciana said with serious eyes.

“That, huh,” I reacted with a smile. I then opened my hand and shouted, “Ciana!”

Then, she transformed into a light and went towards my open palm. In just awhile, she is now a sickle being held by my left hand.

“Oh no—” the guy who destroyed my sword reacted and immediately jumped away.

“You’re slow!” I said and slashed his sword but he managed to block it successfully.

(His weapon is a level 10 just like me. He won’t be defeated with a single slash.)

“Then, how about ‘that’?”

(You mean the [Heaven Strike]?)

“So that’s what that attack is called. Is it just me or it doesn’t sound like a [lightning magic]?” I asked.

(That’s... Anyway, I didn’t tell you before but that attack only has a 50 percent chance of working. Basically, it depends on your luck.)

“What?” I reacted and the guy from earlier slashed my sickle, now being my turn to block.

(But if it worked, the [weapon] that you attacked will lose his or her [stamina] to fight, making it unable to maintain a [weapon form] anymore. Should we use it?)

“Yeah!” I replied.

(Let’s go!)

“[Heaven Strike]!” I shouted and pounded his sword as hard as I can.

“What?” the guy reacted in a surprised face.

But for some reason, it felt like an ordinary slash after I delivered it to the [weapon] of the enemy before me.

(Sorry, it didn’t activate. It looks like we’re out of luck. Now, we can’t use it for 24 hours.)

I then jumped away and asked, “Then, what other [attacks] can you use?”

(That’s...)

The three then ran towards me, prepared to attack.

(Shout the words [White Out]!)

“White out!” I repeated and suddenly, a very bright light lit the area, coming from [Ciana]. It was so bright, enough for the three to cover their eyes. When the light disappeared, the three can no longer find us.

“That is without a doubt [Light Magic]. That girl...is really Goddess [Virgo],” one of the robed guys said.

“We must report it immediately to him,” the other followed.

After successfully running away, we hid inside an abandoned house. We then sat down on the ground out of exhaustion.

“That earlier...is a [light magic]...” I whispered with a surprised face and looked at Ciana.

“Sorry...for hiding it but the truth is...” Ciana said with a sad expression while looking down and after awhile, looked at me with sudden seriousness. “I’m the [Constellation Deity], [Virgo].”

“I have my suspicions before but to think that it was really true...” I whispered, still surprised. “Then, how about your ears? Why isn’t it different compared to ours?”

She then removed her hood and stood up. Then, she removed her cat ears like some accessory and the smell coming from her that indicates that she’s a [Katzen] disappeared completely.

“This thing is called [Concealing Ears], an item that hides my presence as a [Constellation Deity]. With this, even a fellow Deity can’t recognize me,” she explained with a serious face. “The reason why I can’t come with you is because I’m being chased by those guys. If I tag along in your journey, you will just get involved in my problem,” she explained with a worried face as she looks at the item on her hands.

I then stood up and gave her a gentle smile.

“Ciana... I will protect you, I promise,” I said with serious eyes.

With those words, she got surprised as she looks at me.

“I won’t force you to tell me your problems. But at least let me become your strength. I want to help you. Can you...trust me?” I asked and placed both of my hands lightly on her shoulders.

She then nodded and gave me a smile.

“Please become my [wileder], Raiki,” Ciana said.

Without us knowing, the three robed guys returned before their master, kneeling as the master sits in a big chair.

“So she really is alive after all,” the master whispered with a grin.

“What should we do?” one asked, with his head still bowed.

“It’s been so long and she hadn’t done anything. Maybe she really did lose her memories. But just in case, I’ll give you your next mission. You three just need to watch the actions of this so-called Raiki. If what you’re saying is true, I’m sure that Vii will join that kid in his journey,” their master said. “You can now leave.”

“Understood!” the three responded and left the dark room.

“If you really lost your memories...why did you suddenly disappear...Vii,” the master muttered in a serious tone.