How

Theron exhaled a heaving breath.

He had known from the start that he would be under a great disadvantage. When the battle started, he had two main goals. First, he definitely had to deal a severe injury to Ironvale from the very start. Second, he had to take the sword no matter what.

Others might not have noticed, but Theron most definitely had. He knew that Ironvale was a Soul Mancer from the beginning—what wasn't obvious was what his path was.

That was… until Theron saw him throw a sword in the air and ride it across over a kilometer of air. By then, the answer was obvious. Ironvale was a Soul Mancer that followed the bound treasure path. And the sword was anything but common.

If Theron was correct, it had been handed to him by the Patriarch almost certainly.