"Glad this is all over with, Hiruki," Shizuki said, her voice tinged with relief. "One last student left."

Takahishi's heart sank as Hiruki's voice pierced the silence, "Yeah, only one left." He felt a shiver run down his spine as Hiruki's eyes narrowed on the book, his name being called out loud. The sound echoed through the room, making Takahishi's skin crawl.

But Takahishi remained frozen, his mind a blank slate. The second call shook him out of his trance, and he acted as if he had just awoken, "Are you calling out my name?" he asked, feigning confusion. His voice trembled slightly, betraying his true emotions.

Hiruki's snarl made Takahishi's heart race, "Yes, you're the last student here, and there's no other Takahishi besides you." Takahishi's legs trembled as he rose from his chair, his eyes fixed on the table with weapons. Fear crept in, its icy fingers wrapping around his heart like a vice.

As he approached the table, the scent of polished metal and leather wafted up, making his stomach twist with anxiety. What if he failed? What if he couldn't recall Shinro's lessons? The memories of his training seemed to slip further away with each step. Until his mind became like a blank sheet of paper untouched by pen. He had totally forgotten all of Shinro's training.

Panic set in, his breath coming in short gasps. His eyes darted wildly around the room, searching for an escape or a Lifeline. But there was none.

Takahishi's hand hovered above the weapons, his eyes wide with uncertainty. Time seemed to stretch, the seconds ticking by like hours. The room was silent, except for the sound of his own ragged breathing.

Hiruki's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he watched Takahishi's hand hover indecisively over the weapons. This kid is a lost cause. He's frozen with fear. There's no way he'll be able to form a bond with a weapon in this state. I've seen students struggle before, but this one... he's on a whole different level of ineptitude. I'm surprised he even made it this far.

Shizuki's patience snapped, her face reddening with frustration. "HEY, TAKAHISHI! HURRY UP ALREADY!" she yelled, her voice echoing off the walls like a thunderclap.

Takahishi jumped, his heart racing, as he suddenly lost balance and fell forward on the table. He quickly rose up, his mouth open, his eyes bug-eyed. He felt something hard on his hand, his hand closing around two silver daggers joined together by a chain on both hilts.

He had accidentally picked up two daggers, and he knew that he couldn't put them back. Takahishi's heart sank, but then something unexpected happened. He felt an inexplicable connection to the twin blades, as if they had chosen him.

With a deep breath, Takahishi closed his eyes, focusing on releasing his aura into the weapons. The air was heavy with tension as he stood there, his hands trembling slightly. He recalled Shinro's words, "Deep within your body lies a profound reservoir of power."

As he poured his aura into the daggers, a warm sensation spread through his fingers, and he opened his eyes to behold the daggers shining with a soft blue aura. A triumphant cry escaped his lips, "I did it!"

Hiruki's applause echoed through the room, "Well done, Takahishi! You pass!"

Takahishi's grin faltered for a moment before he regained his composure, "It was really easy, just a piece of cake. I would have chosen a divine weapon with my eyes closed."

Hiruki's expression remained neutral, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes, "Okay, Takahishi, now head to room one. You'll receive further instructions there." With a spring in his step, Takahishi exited the room, the daggers secure in his grasp. Curious about what was in room one, he felt a sense of excitement and trepidation.