Before the Doors of Fate

  The day the summoned heroes would bond with their weapons finally arrived.

  Ami stood outside a stone church with her arms crossed staring up at its big doors. Itsuki was beside her shifting restlessly from foot to foot. Sakura Minazuki stood a little behind them watching the two with curiosity. Sakura Minazuki tilted her head.

  "Hey guys why are you just standing there?" she asked.

  Itsuki let out a sigh.

  "I am trying to decide if a sword is better than a spear " he said.

  "I do not want to get stuck with something I want something cool."

  Ami glanced at him sideways.

  "Based on how you behave you are lucky if you do not get a needle " she said.

  Itsuki snapped towards her.

  "Hey do not say that that is luck " he said.

  "I hope you get something."

  Sakura Minazuki let out a laugh.

  "You are more worried about how cool it looks than how useful it's " she said.

  "Excuse me " Itsuki shot back.

  "How something looks is important."

  Ami smirked.

  "Sure it is " she said.

  Before things could get worse the church doors creaked open.

  Warm light spilled out. A faint hum of mana filled the air.

  Inside their classmates were already gathered.

  Some stood beside glowing weapons while others stared in shock at what they had received.

  A priest approached the trio his expression calm but sharp.

  "You three must be the summoned heroes come with me " he said.

  He led them to an altar its surface carved with symbols that changed when no one looked directly at them.

  "This is the altar " the priest said.

  "You will kneel before it pray and focus on your desire the weapon will respond."

  Itsuki frowned.

  "That is it just. Wish?" he asked.

  “Yes,” the priest replied.

  Sakura Minazukis eyes lit up.

  "Let me go first " she said.

  She rushed forward and dropped to her knees hands clasped tightly.

  Sakura Minazuki thought to herself I want to protect everyone I want us all to go home safely together.

  The air got thick mana gathered around the altar swirling violently before bursting

  An old weathered book rose from the altar it was called The Book of Dead.

  Sakura Minazukis breath caught.

  "A book?" she asked.

  The cover creaked open on its own floating into the air as the pages flipped rapidly.

  Itsuki squinted.

  "Why are the pages blank?" he asked.

  "They are not " Sakura Minazuki whispered.

  Only she could see the glowing words etched into the pages.

  The priest nodded slowly.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Next " he said.

  Itsuki. Knelt.

  "Whatever " he said.

  The moment his knees touched the floor the world slowed down.

  The light dimmed the sounds faded a chill crawled up his spine.

  When he opened his eyes he was no longer in the church everything was dark.

  A staff hovered in front of him faintly glowing.

  "Seriously?" Itsuki muttered.

  "Where am I, hello is anyone "

  His voice echoed endlessly minutes passed his chest got tight.

  "That is it " he snapped.

  "That glowing. Whatever."

  The instant he touched the staff the world shattered he was back.

  The staff floated above the altar.

  "What is happening?" Itsuki stumbled back.

  "Seriously " he said.

  Ami stepped forward.

  "Move aside loser " she said.

  She knelt calmly then something went wrong.

  Mana surged violently Ami gasped as her vision blurred she collapsed.

  A sword erupted from the altar glowing intensely then began to compress folding in on itself until it became an orb.

  The orb floated gently into Amis hand it snapped into a bracelet around her wrist.

  Itsuki stared.

  "Why does she get to have things?" he asked.

  Before anyone could respond, light engulfed Amis body she vanished, leaving her unconscious body behind.

  Ami lay laid on a bed voices echoed around her.

  A physician hovered over her checking her pulse.

  "She is fine likely exhausted or possibly forced into another realm " he said.

  "Another realm?" Itsuki asked sharply.

  "Yes " the physician replied.

  "A dimension layered over this one it sometimes happens during weapon bonding."

  Before Itsuki could respond a voice whispered inside his head, smooth and sweet.

  Yes it seems so she looks passed out cold.

  Itsuki froze he turned sharply to Sakura Minazuki.

  "You said something?" he asked.

  Sakura Minazuki blinked.

  "What no " she replied.

  Itsuki swallowed, his heart pounding.

  The voice chuckled softly in his mind how interesting.

  Itsuki clenched his fists.

  "Yeah this is totally fine I somehow have voices in my head " he muttered.

  Oh why do you not like my voice the voice purred.

  "What the fuck?" Itsuki whispered, glancing around.

  "Where is that sound coming from?" he asked.

  Oh so I am a sound to you you literally bonded with me a few moments ago.

  "Um Itsuki, who are you talking to?" Sakura Minazuki asked.

  "Excuse me " Itsuki said quickly.

  "I will take my leave I will be back shortly " he said.

  He walked away.

  He walked away in the palace garden the garden was quiet too quiet.

  Moonlight spilled over trimmed hedges. Cracked marble paths, silvering the statues of forgotten kings.

  Itsuki stood beneath a stone arch arms crossed, jaw tight.

  "So " he said, voice low.

  "You are going to keep pretending you are asleep or are we actually doing this?" he asked.

  Silence, a beat passed.

  Then a long exaggerated sigh echoed inside his head.

  You are really impatient you know that no manners all.

  Itsuki twitched.

  "There you are " he said.

  Obviously the voice replied.

  Did you think I just vanished please I am not that cheap.

  He clenched his teeth.

  "Alright start talking, who or what are you?" he asked.

  A glow shimmered beside him the staff appeared, hovering lazily in the air its surface etched with symbols that hurt to look at if he stared too long.

  First of all the voice said rude you bonded with me and did not even ask my name.

  "You literally hijacked my brain " Itsuki said.

  Details the voice replied.

  The glow pulsed brighter my name is Salina.

  Itsuki blinked.

  "Salami?" he asked.

  SALINA the air vibrated.

  Say it wrong again. I will start correcting your thoughts mid-sentence.

  "Okay, Salina got it " Itsuki said.

  Good she said, clearly pleased.

  Now since you are slow I will simplify things.

  The staff rotated slightly as if inspecting him.

  I was once the Spirit Queen Salina said.

  Itsuki froze.

  "Once " he repeated.

  Emphasis on "was" Salina replied flatly.

  I died, tragic very dramatic you would have cried.

  "Uh-huh " Itsuki said.

  Then I was revived Salina continued, tone sharpening by an entity you're absolutely not qualified to understand yet we will call her "Queen".

  "That is not ominous all " Itsuki muttered.

  "I have heard about her before Ami mentioned her " he said.

  Oh it is extremely ominous Salina scoffed.

  You just do not have the context.

  Itsuki rubbed his temples.

  "Okay Spirit Queen, died, revived why are you in my weapon?" he asked.

  Because I do not have a body anymore Salina snapped.

  Try to keep up.

  The staff tapped lightly against the air irritated.

  This staff, Aegis was created specifically to house me, a container, a cage, a throne.

  She paused, depends on my mood.

  Itsuki stared at it.

  "So you are a ghost?" he asked.

  Salinas voice went cold not I am a Superior Spirit of Knowledge.

  "Is that supposed to mean something to me?" Itsuki asked.

  It should Salina huffed.

  My knowledge is comparable, to the God of Knowledge himself.

  That made Itsukis breath hitch.

  "Comparable " he repeated.

  Yes Salina said.

  A smug lilt crept into her voice before you ask, no I do not have an Authority, that belongs to gods I simply know things.

  "Simply " Itsuki repeated weakly.

  History, magic systems, hidden truths worlds that should not exist Salina said.

  Her presence pressed against his mind.

  Including yours.

  Itsukis blood ran cold.

  He said "You know I am not from here."

  Salina scoffed at him. Please she said. You think I would not notice that you are not from here? Your soul structure is completely wrong she told him. It is sloppy too like it was shoved into this world without being put properly.

  Itsuki muttered "Great even my soul is bad at fitting in."

  Salina said "Oh stop whining." You are a protagonist she told him. You people always complain before things get interesting.

  Itsuki snapped his head up. Said "An isekai what?"

  Salina giggled and said "See you are adorable."

  Itsuki exhaled sharply and said "Alright if you know all this then tell me why me?"

  The staff went still.

  For the time Salina did not answer right away.

  She said slowly "Because you are useful."

  Itsuki said "That is it?"

  Salina said "For now."

  The glow got brighter it was playful but dangerous.

  Salina said ". Because whether you like it or not Itsuki you are standing at the edge of things that you should not be able to survive."

  There was a pause.

  Then Salina said So congratulations I will be teaching you."

  Itsuki said "Teaching me what?"

  Salina said smugly "Everything." She told him "Try not to die before the lesson, okay?"

  The staff moved closer, to Itsukis hand.

  Itsuki. Said "Yeah this is going to be a nightmare."

  Salina laughed softly. Said "It already is."

  And Itsuki is not merely a summoned hero.