Wizardness

Tobias awoke to a voice saying something. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes to see Commander Lee standing next to the table. He was talking to the fist, all of them still in their bunks.
“Good, I see you’ve all, finally, waken up,” he continued. “There has been a change of plans from your original orders. Today you will have a weapon choose you. Now, these weapons are not yours to keep, so you must care for them as if they are returning to their rightful owners, Fist Delta.”
Commander Lee turned towards the fire. Once seated he called, “You have 10 minutes to get some clothes on.”
Tobias tried to pop out of bed, but his body was sluggish. When he finally sat up, the room swam. Fuck, he thought, still hung over. He swung his legs out of bed and clumsily made his way to his trunk. He fumbled and nearly fell as he pulled on his trousers. The stiff leather didn’t respond to his commands very easily.
He glanced over at Giggles. He seemed to be managing this significantly better. Maybe he was an old pro at this. Maybe the Echos that had driven him to drink, were quieting.
Giggles glanced his way and immediately burst into laughter. “The hangovers don’t get any easier, Order Boy, you just learn how to work through them better.” He giggled to himself as he deftly pulled his shirt on while shifting his remaining leg about.
Tobias was the last member of Epsilon to fall in next to the table. He was disheveled and certainly would have sent the fist for a run if they were in the regular military.
Commander Lee stood, “Well, I’m glad your ‘Order boy’ could finally join us. Last in, first out for you today. Some day, you’ll figure out that for a true leader, you need to be first in, last out. For now, though, you get the pleasure of being chosen by your weapon.”
Commander Lee gestured towards the armory. The selection of weapons had expanded. There were some that were clearly for Plain. They were simply too massive for any of them to manage. The smallest of those, Tobias might have been able to wield now. The huge maul, Tobias doubted he’d ever be able to manage.
“These are special weapons, they can attune to your spark and your specific body type. This will not make them easier to wield. In fact, it might make them harder to use. You will have to learn the weapon first, then how to use it with your spark.”
Lee smiled, “Order boy, has a few sparks. The one you all are aware of, his Order spark, your Big Guy might call it, is one that he and I share. That spark rarely plays a role in a weapon.”
Tobias moved towards the smaller weapons, far from the giant maul. He raised his hand towards a set of daggers. He heard a voice cut through his hangover fog, “How dare you think of grasping me?! You are not nimble enough. You’d cut your fool fingers off. Now, your friend, the one you call Dar’kid, he’s interesting. Begone!”
Tobias staggered back. The rejection was visceral. He felt stung even though he didn’t think that sort of weapon suited him. It stung to hear his deficiencies called out by a set of daggers.
Behind him both Commander Lee and Giggles laughed. “Rejection is hard, isn’t it Order boy.” Lee called.
Tobias gave them both a quick scowl and moved down the weapons. “No!” “Definitely not!” “Well, if no one else looks better.” The rejections went on and on.
He touched a bow. It was a large bow with a beautifully recurved. It was warm to the touch. “I won’t be your primary weapon, but you and I, well, I think we’ll be a great pairing.” the bow purred. “Oh, your touch, it feels familiar. I understand now. Like father like son.”
Tobias picked up the bow and strapped it to his back. “Make sure you grab that quiver! It’s my best friend in the world.” Tobias dutifully grabbed the quiver and strapped it to his waist.
He continued moving down the racks of weapons. “Well, you’re good enough for some weapons.” “Some smith’s weapons, I cannot.” Tobias laughed. He looked back at the fist, “They all have such interesting personalities.”
“Yes, they will be a guide for you. You’ll be one in a long line of wielders. I knew the man that used that bow, very well.”
Tobias started. He fixed Lee a hard look. Lee simply gestured for Tobias to continue. Tobias shook his head. He glanced back at the wall. He was now in the group of weapons he’d assumed only Plain could use.
Tobias swallowed. The first sword was massive. It had a mean blade and emanated malice. “Ho hooo, you’d be fun, but no. Your personality isn’t quite right. If you’re more of a head crusher than a head remover. I suggest the big one at the end.”
Tobias’ eyes went wide. He looked at the sword, then the maul, then the sword. He staggered down towards the maul.
“I had my eye on Plain, but another set of weapons suits him better.”
“I cannot lift you, though.”
“Then grow stronger. Your sparks are pure strength. You will find me light enough.”
Tobias pulled the maul down with both hands. The head threatened to pull him backwards. He slid the handle through his hands so he could choke up on it.
“How am I supposed to carry this?” he whispered.
“There is a belt and shoulder holster right there. You should grab it. Silverthorn and I will figure out how to comfortably sit on your back.”
Silverthorn?
“Yes, me, the bow! Draganvil and I need to chat.”
Tobias staggered back to the fist, while his two weapons discussed how to situate themselves on his back.
“I figured that one to be for the Big Guy.” Dar’kid said.
“Me, too.” Tobias replied. “I was told I will grow stronger to wield Draganvil.”
“Oh, yes, clearly!” Dar’kid laughed.
“You might want to check on the daggers, on the left there. They were excited about you.”
“Huh? They, they really talk to you?”
“Oh yes. I’m sure if you start on the other end, you’ll be rejected much like I was.”
While they were talking Red was flinching as weapons were rejecting her. The malevolent looking weapon seemed to accept her, along with a fast crank crossbow.
Raven followed. She was selected by a fencing sword, dagger, and some sort of pole arm that Tobias wasn’t sure of the name. A third of its length was blade, the remainder was a stout staff.
Giggles went next. He walked straight to a set of throwing axes and a staff that could be pulled into thirds and used as a weapon. He quickly showed it off. He stuck his tongue out at a few other weapons.
Dar’kid went after, he walked to the daggers and they all but leapt into his hands. Dar’kid pointed towards a few other weapons, while muttering, presumebly to his new friends. He grabbed a few sets of throwing knives.
Plain was the last to go. He grabbed a sling along with a bag, then an rod.
Lee shook his head at some of the choices, but after a moment rubbing his chin he shrugged. He looked at the fist, “What are you standing their for? Go for your run.”
“With our weapons?” Dar’kid asked.
“Of course.” Lee sneered.
“Ok, come on Fist Epsilon. Work with your weapons to figure out the best way to stow them while running.” Tobias said.
Silverthron Draganvil, suggestions on how to hold you both while running?
“No. We didn’t come to an agreement.”
“Shit.” Tobias said under his breath. He walked to his bunk and took off both harnesses. He figured out that if he turned one inside out, it would fit across the opposite shoulder. He quickly did this and tossed them both on.
The maul was impossibly heavy. It weighed at least 40 pounds, maybe even more. He felt himself sag on that side. No amount of cross lashing would easy the significant weight on one side. Tobias swung the quiver to the opposite side, that seemed to help some. Those arrows were pretty damn heavy.
Tobias was the last out. The fist was looking around, confused. The Island looked like it had on that first day. Flat and even. Whatever was changing the island was taking it easier on them today.
“Epsilon, let’s move out!” Tobias cried.
Raven jumped next to him. She punched him in the arm. “Asshole! We’re all right here. No need to yell!”
Tobias tried to shrug, but only one shoulder raised. He sighed. Then started off down the trail. He each step was murder. He was already out of breath after just a few steps. From the ragged breaths behind him, he wasn’t the only one.