The gates of the Sages' Mansion opened with a soft hum, ancient runes glowing faintly as a figure stepped through the veil of white mist. Larry walked forward with calm, measured steps, the air bending subtly around him. In his hands were four blades wrapped in white cloth, each one sealed with faint golden markings.
Eiden stood waiting on the stone path, arms relaxed at his sides, his expression unreadable. Larry stopped in front of him. "Here."
Eiden raised an eyebrow and stepped forward. He reached out and took the first blade from Larry's hands. The moment his fingers touched the hilt, a faint pulse of energy rippled through the air—a dormant echo of the demon who once wielded it.
Eiden's brow furrowed. "…Whose blade is this?"
Larry's voice remained steady. "These blades belong to Jarfa, the demon. The five kings disposed of him recently. Dyuke had these sent to us. He made them smaller in size to fit you perfectly."
Eiden strapped the first blade onto his back without hesitation. "He wanted you to wield these blades."
Eiden stared at the remaining weapons for a long moment, then grabbed another and strapped it onto his back in a smooth, practiced motion. The hilts crossed behind him, fitting perfectly against his frame. Then he took the other two blades into his hands.
"Thanks," Eiden said, adjusting the straps on his back. "I'll be giving Morvath these other two. It's about time he used new blades."
Larry gave a small nod, watching as Eiden walked toward the mansion doors. Eiden pushed them open and stepped inside. The air was warm, faintly scented with incense and polished wood. Soft golden light glowed from the lanterns lining the hall, casting gentle reflections across the marble floor. He walked down the corridor, boots tapping lightly, the two demon-forged blades in his hands humming faintly with dormant power.
He turned the corner toward the living room and stopped.
There, gathered around a low table, were Selyndra, Dravien, Vaelus, Seraphaine, Morvath, and Iris. All six of them were hunched forward, eyes narrowed, completely locked in concentration over a card game spread across the table. Not one of them noticed Eiden enter.
Selyndra's fingers hovered over her cards like she was handling a volatile spell. Dravien's ears twitched violently as he calculated something in his head. Vaelus leaned forward with a predatory grin, elbows on the table. Seraphaine twirled a strand of her hair, eyes narrowed in deep focus. Morvath's aura flickered in tight, excited pulses. Iris sat perfectly still, eyes sharp, analyzing the entire table like a battlefield.
Eiden stood there silently, holding two demon blades, watching six divine beings nearly sweating over a card game. He blinked once. "…Seriously?"
None of them heard him.
Morvath slammed a card down. "HA! Read it and weep!"
Selyndra immediately countered with her own. "Blocked."
Dravien groaned. Vaelus cursed under his breath. Seraphaine facepalmed. Iris muttered, "Predictable."
Morvath froze, staring at the card that had ruined his entire strategy. Eiden exhaled through his nose. "Morvath."
Morvath didn't look up. "Not now, Eiden. I'm in the middle of—" He finally glanced up, saw the two blades in Eiden's hands, and froze. "…Oh."
Eiden lifted the blades slightly. "These are yours."
Morvath shot up from his seat so fast the cards fluttered. "MY—?!"
He bolted toward Eiden, nearly knocking over the table. Dravien yelped; Vaelus swore. Iris leaned back just in time. Morvath skidded to a stop, grabbed one blade, and unsheathed it. The metal gleamed with divine-tempered brilliance.
Morvath's eyes sparkled. "OH—OH THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!" He unsheathed the second. "There's TWO?!"
Eiden nodded. "You use dual blades."
Morvath vibrated like a child on a sugar high. Iris raised an eyebrow. "What's the big deal about those swords? You act like they're… really popular or something."
Morvath blinked at her. "Well, I kind of expected you guys wouldn't really know, but the one who used to wield these was Jarfa."
Vaelus snapped his fingers. "Oh yeahhh, we sealed him like a few thousand years ago or something."
Morvath nodded vigorously. "Yeah. His blades were known among every demon as The Blades of Death. Kind of a lame name, but every demon wanted them. They were said to contain some kind of ability—the very ability that made Jarfa basically unstoppable."
Dravien leaned in. "And that was?"
Morvath tapped the blade. "The ability granted the wielder unimaginable raw physical strength… and an unbreakable body. When I say unbreakable, I mean tougher than dragon scales. Stronger, even. Basically, unless someone reaches a certain level of strength, they can't pierce your body at all."
Selyndra's eyes widened. "Ohhh, damn. I'd want those blades too if I knew they had that when we fought him."
Morvath nodded proudly, hugging both blades to his chest. "Exactly! These things are insane!"
Vaelus smirked. "Great. Now sit down. You still lost the round."
Morvath stared at him. Then at the cards. Then at the swords. "…You're all heartless."
He sat back down anyway, still holding both blades. Still vibrating. Still smiling like a child who had just been handed the universe.