Shadow Being System

Gavin was already unzipping his bag, pulling out a pair of daggers. The blades were slender and curved, forged from a shimmering alloy that seemed to ripple like liquid under the dim dormitory light. The hilts were wrapped in black leather, studded with small, glowing runes that pulsed faintly with every movement. He twirled one dagger effortlessly between his fingers, the blade cutting through the air with a barely audible "whissssh".

"Behold," Gavin said, his voice dripping with theatrical flair. "The finest daggers in the armory. Lightweight, deadly, and "fast"—perfect for someone with my "skills"."

William raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. "Not bad," he admitted. "But how does it pair with your speed?"

Gavin smirked, flipping the dagger into the air and catching it by the tip. "These blades are designed for precision strikes. The alloy reduces air resistance, so I can swing faster without losing control. And the runes?" He tapped one glowing symbol. "They amplify kinetic energy. The quicker I move, the harder they hit. Perfect for slipping past armor or hitting weak spots."

Liam snorted, pushing himself off his bed. "Daggers? Really? Let me show you what a real weapon looks like." He reached into his own bag and pulled out a massive longsword. The blade was nearly as tall as Liam himself, forged from dark, volcanic steel that shimmered with veins of crimson. The crossguard was shaped like roaring flames, and the pommel glowed faintly, as if embers smoldered within it.

He hefted the sword with surprising ease, the blade humming as it sliced through the air. "Now this," Liam said, grinning, "is a weapon. Forged in the same furnaces that melt beast cores. The edge stays hot enough to sear flesh on contact. And the weight?" He swung it downward in a controlled arc, stopping just short of the floor. "It's balanced for wide, sweeping strikes—perfect for channeling my fire."

William leaned forward, intrigued. "How does it work with your ability?"

Liam's grin widened. "The blade absorbs heat. When I activate my fire, it superheats the metal. One swing, and I can send a wave of flames ahead of the strike. The heavier the blow, the bigger the explosion." He patted the flat of the blade affectionately. "It's not just a sword—it's a conduit."

Gavin rolled his eyes. "Show-off."

"Says the guy with glow-in-the-dark butter knives," Liam shot back.

William chuckled, shaking his head. "You guys really went all out, huh? I'm almost scared to ask how long you spent choosing."

Gavin shrugged. "Long enough. The armory master kept pushing spears on me, but I told him speed beats reach any day."

"And I had to argue with three instructors to let me take this," Liam added, nodding at his sword. "They said first-years aren't 'mentally prepared' for flame-channeling weapons. Idiots."

---

"What about you?" Gavin asked, gesturing to William's empty hands. "Don't tell me you chickened out and got nothing."

William smirked. "Not exactly." With a subtle flick of his wrist, he summoned the bow from his system inventory. The air around his hands shimmered faintly, and in an instant, the sleek black weapon materialized, its string taut and humming. The quiver appeared seconds later, slung across his back with arrows that glinted wickedly in the dim light.

Liam blinked. "Wait—how did you…?"

"Bought a special artifact," William lied smoothly. "For ease of storing objects."

Gavin squinted at the quiver. "And the arrows? How many do you have?"

William plucked one from the quiver, rolling it between his fingers. The fletching glowed faintly, and as he slotted it back into place, another identical arrow shimmered into existence to replace it. "Unlimited supply. The quiver's enchanted."

Liam whistled. "Okay, that's useful. But why a "bow"? Shouldn't you be using something that works with your wind ability? Like those throwing blades you used last year?"

William's chest tightened. "Because the system told me so, and I can use my shadow ability with it", he wanted to say. Instead, he forced a grin. "This "does" work with it. Long-range precision, silent shots… perfect for controlling the battlefield."

Gavin frowned. "But you always said close combat was better for wind users. You could manipulate the air around your blades to make it sharper, right?"

"Plans change," William said flatly, dismissing the bow back into his inventory with a flick of his hand. "This is more efficient."

Liam crossed his arms. "You're acting weird. Since when do you care about 'efficiency'?"

"Since the instructors started grading us on survival rates instead of style points," William snapped, sharper than he intended.

The room fell silent. Gavin and Liam exchanged a glance but said nothing.

---

As night deepened, the trio fell into their usual routines—Gavin obsessively polishing his daggers, Liam doing push-ups with his sword balanced on his back, and William sharpening arrows that endlessly replenished in his quiver. The camaraderie was comfortable, familiar, but beneath it thrummed a shared understanding: tomorrow would test them in ways they couldn't yet imagine.

When the lights finally flickered off, signaling curfew, William lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Somewhere beyond the academy walls, beasts stirred in the dark, waiting. And somewhere closer, much closer, enemies might be waiting too.

His fingers twitched. He hadn't tested the bow. Not properly. What if the arrows misfired? What if the draw weight failed under pressure? The system had given him no manual, no guarantees. And without his wind ability to steady his shots or cloak his movements, he'd be relying on raw skill alone.

He rolled onto his side, listening to Liam's snores and Gavin's restless muttering. The bow's absence gnawed at him. With a silent command, he summoned it into his hands beneath the covers, running his thumb along the grip. It hummed faintly, almost reassuringly.

"One shot", he thought. "Just one test".

But he couldn't risk it. Not here.

He dismissed the bow back into the inventory and closed his eyes, focusing on the steady rhythm of his breathing.

"One way or another", he thought, "tomorrow will change everything".
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(Author's Note: I haven't been uploading lately so I can stockpile for next month mgs, so be expecting daily upload next month.)

Thank you @rogie75 for the support.