Divine Attention

"Now," Luna said, her voice echoing in the twilight as she regarded Kurt with a strange mixture of awe and concern, "you have grabbed the attention of all Seven War Gods. How do you feel about that, mortal?"

Kurt, still processing the sheer absurdity of summoning a goddess and her weapon, managed a weak smile. "I feel… uncomfortable," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "The thought of seven gods watching my every move… it's a bit overwhelming."

Luna's expression softened slightly, though her eyes still held a hint of ancient worry. "We have little choice in the matter, young one," she said, her voice like the whisper of the wind through celestial chimes. "Your power… it is a disruption, a deviation from the natural order. We must understand it."

With that, she began to shimmer, her form dissolving into motes of moonlight, much like Terra before her. "For now," she said, her voice fading, "we will be watching you, Kurt. Tread carefully."

And then she was gone, leaving Kurt alone once more, the weight of divine attention pressing down on him.

He stood in the empty field for a long moment, the Claws of Luna dissipating from his hands, the echoes of Luna's words ringing in his ears. Seven war gods watching him? What did that even mean? What was he supposed to do now?

A sudden, reckless thought took hold of him. If he could summon the weapons of three gods, why not… all of them? It was a crazy idea, a dangerous experiment, but he felt compelled to push the boundaries of his power, to understand the full extent of his abilities.

He returned to the city, his earlier unease replaced by a strange sense of purpose. He sought out the places where Astra weapons were displayed, where nobles trained, where the history of the gods and their weapons was preserved. He observed, he memorized, he absorbed.

He managed to replicate nearly all the divine weapons: Sol's blazing sword, Mareus's crushing trident, Ignis's fiery gauntlets, and Silvanus's verdant bow. Each manifestation was a testament to his growing power, a confirmation of his unique connection to the divine.

But one weapon eluded him: Aether's Sword, the weapon of the wind god. He remembered seeing it only once, briefly, in the hands of the retired teacher who had unlocked his core. The image was fleeting, incomplete. He didn't have a clear picture of the sword, nor a complete understanding of its enchantment.

A realization struck him. The retired teacher. He was the only person Kurt knew who possessed Aether's Sword. And perhaps, just perhaps, he might also possess the answers to the mysteries that plagued him.

Kurt knew it was a long shot, a desperate gamble. The retired teacher was reclusive and secretive. But he had nowhere else to turn. He decided to seek him out, hoping that the old man, who had already played such a pivotal role in his life, might finally shed some light on his origins and his extraordinary powers.