Blade

"Adrain possesses the Verdancey!" Drake exclaimed, his voice barely above a whisper.

For a few seconds, we stood frozen, the only sound the soft rustle of Adrain's branch-like hair. Then, I broke the silence, my voice tinged with disbelief.

"WHAAAAT? You mean his elemental nature is V-verdancy?" I gasped, eyes wide with excitement.

Drake's lips curled into a smile, his eyes dancing with awe. "I never imagined Adrain would have a legendary nature. But it seems he hasn't gained control over his mana arcane yet," he said, his voice brimming with wonder.

I grinned, thoughts racing. "So, he has a legendary nature—just like my Thunder Nature?" I mused, glancing at Adrain with newfound interest.

"Okay, let's do it!" I exclaimed, bouncing on my heels. "Let's teach him already! He's got to master his powers."

Drake's smile faded, replaced by a look of seriousness. "First, we need to focus on what we came here for," he said, voice steady but firm.

I pouted, disappointment tugging at me. "Oh, come on, Gramps," I whined.

Drake shook his head. "First, we go to the bladesmith store. Then we can talk about powers."

I folded my arms, giving him my best puppy eyes. "But Gramps, teaching him about his powers is crucial! We can do the swords after—"

Adrain interrupted, his tone calm. "Okay, first let's get the blades."

I turned to him, mock betrayal in my eyes. "YOU TRAITOR!" I cried dramatically.

Drake chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "It's settled then. Since Adrain agreed, you can't argue."

Adrain gave me a sly grin. "What about you, brother?"

I turned away, feigning seriousness. "Shut up, don't talk to me."

The massive bladesmith store loomed ahead. Its imposing structure made it clear this was no ordinary shop.

"This the one, Gramps?" I asked, eyeing the grand building.

Drake nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yep, this is it."

Adrain scanned the store's facade, his expression unreadable. "It's big, I'll give you that," he said, sounding unimpressed.

Drake pushed the door open, and a warm glow spilled out, along with the scent of hot metal and leather. The hammering of steel filled the air, heightening the sense of anticipation.

Inside, the owner—a stout man with a bushy beard—appeared from behind the counter. He wiped his hands on a leather apron and grinned when he saw Drake.

"Greetings, Sir Drake!" he boomed. "It's been a while! How's business?"

"Busy, but good," Drake replied with a relaxed smile.

The owner, Nolan, turned to us with an interested gleam in his eye. "And who are these young ones?"

Drake gestured to us. "I need blades for these two."

Nolan's eyes twinkled as he turned to us. "Nice to meet you, young ones! I'm Nolan, the owner of this place."

"It's a pleasure, Mr. Nolan. I'm Aries," I said, shaking his hand with a grin.

Adrain gave a shy smile, his voice barely above a whisper. "I-I'm Adrain. Nice to meet you."

Nolan's warmth made us feel at ease. With a grand flourish, he swept his arm across the room, revealing a dazzling array of swords, each one more breathtaking than the last.

"So, what do you think? Any of these catch your eye?" Nolan asked, excitement in his voice.

I scanned the collection, my gaze landing on a sword with a deep blue blade, its hilt adorned with glittering sapphires. Another caught my eye—a slender blade with a crystal-tipped tip that shimmered like moonlight.

Adrain stepped forward, his hand hovering over the blue-bladed sword, his eyes reflecting the pulsing light from the gems.

"I like this one," he murmured, almost to himself.

I shook my head, a little disappointed. "None of these really speak to me, Gramps. I'm not feeling any of them."

Nolan chuckled, not phased. "No worries, young Aries. Follow me—there are plenty more."

He led us deeper into the store, passing row after row of beautifully crafted blades. The air was thick with the scent of metal, and the sound of clanging steel reverberated in the distance.

Eventually, we arrived at a large, dimly lit room, where more swords stood in silent rows, their blades shimmering with silent promise.

"This is where the real treasure is," Nolan said, his voice gleaming with pride.

I couldn't help but be in awe of the sheer number of swords, each one unique. But still, none of them seemed right.

Just then, Nolan's voice called out to me. "I'll be right back. You're welcome to look around."

I nodded, watching him hurry off. Left alone in the dimly lit room, I was surrounded by countless blades, their silent beauty almost oppressive.

I walked through the aisles, the air thick with potential energy. Each blade seemed to pulse with its own unique essence, as if waiting for its wielder.

"There are so many... but none of them feel right," I muttered to myself, a sense of dissatisfaction creeping over me.

But then, something shifted. A shadow—dark and foreboding—crept across the room, and I turned instinctively, my heart pounding.

"Huh? What was that?" I whispered, eyes scanning the shadows.

A voice—low and menacing—whispered back, sending a chill down my spine. "I am here, my lord."