It was rare for a relic to be made by its wielder. I’m not sure if that’s true for outside of the empire, but it was rare that a blacksmith of the highest quality was also a warrior, and permitted to make and wield their own.

  Some don’t even want to. Fenrick was a part of that group. He understands the need, and use but also understands that it would’ve been largely fantasy for him to desire a relic.

  The cost for him would outweigh the price.

  But he made one for me. Like he said — there were many reasons to say no, but he still said yes.

  I wasn’t sure of much but I knew I had to prepare myself for the formal.

  I put on a fresh uniform, and draped my long coat over it. I checked the mirror and I looked damn good.

  I went out to see what my parents thought, they both were intrigued.

  “Oh, that’s actually close to what I wore, do you remember that Kestria?” My father reminisced.

  “Yes, Vance.” My mom started. “That’s close, but his sleeves are better. Not to mention the embroidery is a nice touch.”

  They examined my jacket with a smile on their faces. Then a knock on the door broke through the conversation.

  My father went to the door.

  When the door opened my father’s face had more joy than I had seen in a long time.

  “FENRICK!”

  Before the door even fully opened my father basically jumped out of the house to give Fenrick a hug.

  “It’s good to see you too, old friend!”

  My mother rushed to the door as well and it was weird almost. I mean I knew they were old friends but what was happening.

  The door finally creaked fully open and I saw he had a piece of black cloth covering something attached to Fenrick’s side.

  Was that my relic?

  My mother pulled away. “Well, sorry that was so abrupt. What can we do for you Fenrick?”

  My father pulled away too.

  He held a soft smile. “Oh nothing. I just came to drop this off for Cade. Can I give him a private lesson on maintenance?”

  My dad nodded. “Certainly.”

  My father gestured Fenrick to me and I nodded to Fenrick and took him to my room.

  “So, my parents were happy to see you it seems.”

  Fenrick nodded. “Yup, I haven’t seen them in what’s gotta be thirteen or fourteen years by now.”

  What? Why that long?

  “Woah.” I started. “Why? If you’re such good friends, what happened that you couldn’t see each other?”

  Fenrick sighed. “It’s a long story, I’m a blacksmith, they’re high officers, we’re not adventurers anymore. Etcetera etcetera.”

  Hmm. Weird, but story tracks.

  He laid the covered object down on my bed, it was the only thing in the whole damn room that could let it rest on it. It was huge.

  Fenrick took the cloth off and revealed it was my blade. It was absurdly clean. Not a dent, nor a scratch. Perfect sharpening. Incredible tempering. Long grip. Intense hilt.

  “Now look, son. I can’t in good conscience just drop this and leave. This might be the most intense weapon I’ve ever crafted.”

  I raised an eyebrow in intrigue. “What do you mean?”

  He chanted a short spell and his right eye turned gold.

  “I can tell you a little about the blade. But this has multiple S-rank traits that exceed expectations.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  I nodded.

  “The weapon has ties to killing. I’m not sure what exactly, but I can see death, pain, and rebirth. But the root of it defines causality. I don’t say that lightly. I’m not sure what intent you poured into it, but I need you to confirm a theory for me.”

  I was shocked. “Yes, anything. What do you need me to do?”

  His eyes closely examined the blade. “Pick it up.”

  “What?” I said. “That’s all?”

  Fenrick nodded slowly.

  I went to put my hand on the blade’s grip and I felt intense drumming. I felt a closer connection to Nythris, and I felt something inside me go cold.

  My fingertips hadn’t even touched the weapon yet.

  When the skin of my finger finally touched the grip and my hand began to wrap around it, the blade itself woke up.

  In the blink of an eye the blade burned purple with runes. It was like the blade itself began to pulse alive. And when the runes completed it was a purple streak of incoherent symbols strutted across the blade.

  Normally I would’ve been utterly afraid. But the weapon in my hand both put fear in my heart and removed it simultaneously.

  Fenrick remained unchanged.

  His eyes hung on the glowing runes. “Son. You’ve done something irreversible here.”

  My eyebrow shot up. “What do you mean?”

  His eye stopped glowing gold. “The size, amount, and placement of these runes matter. Not what the runes say. Not even Cecilia can read whatever language imprints on a relic. What we do know is what the runes define.”

  I cocked my head. “What does that mean?”

  He explained what it all meant. The size determined what the blade would do. So the larger means the more power, either good or bad effects of the relic.

  The amount determined how many effects it did.

  The placement determined what the imprint of the user needed from the relic.

  So if a relic had one small rune on the hilt, it likely had something to do with blocking or parrying with a slight counter attack.

  Mine was the opposite. Many runes. Huge runes. Across the entire blade.

  “I don’t even know what this does.” Fenrick began. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  I nodded. “I understand. I’ll use it—cautiously.”

  He stood up. “I appreciate that. Oh and remember, hide the runes when you can. I don’t want the empire knowing there’s a new relic out there.”

  Fenrick told me how to hide the runes temporarily and I did.

  He went to the door of my room. Before he opened it he added one last thing.

  “Oh and the name of it?” He started. “Call it Gravewake.”

  That name was terrifying. But also perfect.

  I wrapped the blade up. “Got it. Gravewake.”

  He opened the door. “Let me and your parents talk a sec kiddo, if you wouldn’t mind.”

  Fenrick left to talk to my parents.

  After wrapping the blade I tilted it against a wall in the corner of my room. I wanted to maybe give it a test run but the formal was still tonight.

  I couldn’t miss this.

  After waiting a few minutes I left to go out and head to the formal.

  When I entered the hall towards the living room where they were located and also near where the door outside was. I saw a disapproving look on all three of their faces.]

  When I came into the scene they picked their mouths up with smiles.

  “Hey kiddo!” Fenrick started. “Off to the formal now?”

  I nodded.

  He let out a laugh. “Awesome! You look great, little guy. Go make us proud.”

  I smiled and nodded at my parents. “I’ll be back right after.”

  They smiled back and I left. I couldn’t see their faces but I could tell they were still talking and it didn’t seem like good news.

  Wanting to think about it my forehead scrunched but I trusted Fenrick had no reason to tell my parents I was just made a relic, it’d likely lose him his license so I didn’t care to keep thinking about it.

  My thoughts shifted to Mariel and Jerek.

  I made my way to the school. For an event hosted by Veran this was much more pleasant than one may be led to believe. There was drinks, food, lights, magic constructed in spectacular twists and curls.

  Truly a wonderful sight to see.

  I met with Jerek early on and we stuck close as we dined and partied. Mariel showed up shortly after and she was absolutely stunning.

  The men wore long coats draped over their school uniform, the ladies wore a short formal coat over their school uniform.

  Mariel’s coat was perfect. I could tell it was handmade, not bought. It was too unique for it to have been bought.

  It was the opposite of mine. It was white with gold embroidery. It looked far too pure for me to stand next to her.

  That very opposition created a gravitational pull in the room between me and her.

  Neither of us knew the other was making our coats instead of buying. Let alone opposite color coordination.

  It felt inevitable though.

  I approached her and let my hand out for her to take. I could tell she was nervous. Not to be around me, just nervous because this was the first time people would see me and Mariel actually be close to one another.

  Her face was red but she took my hand and I drew her in close. I didn’t want to rush anything too fast, not only did she not know how to dance properly neither did I.

  Shit. Probably should’ve asked my parents what to do here.

  We did what we thought was our best attempt at a dance, it probably didn’t come out right.

  I was enjoying my time with her, but my heart felt heavier and heavier since I touched Gravewake.

  I tried not to dwell on the blade but my thoughts sometimes intruded and reminded me I’m enjoying my time with the girl I’m dating at an event with my best friend.

  In the meantime people are getting burned, raped, killed.

  Why did I have the luxury of this event but others had to suffer?

  My thoughts drifted so far away from the event I hardly noticed I was dazed out.

  “CADE GRIMMHOLT!”

  A voice shouted from a distance.

  I looked around who was yelling my name to disrupt the event.

  When my eyes drifted to the noise it was Veran.

  Veran gestured to the band to stop playing.

  He held himself high, but looked almost drunk. “Cade, you’re gonna have a chat with me.”

  Veran uttered that through various hiccups and burps, clearly was at least tipsy.

  I took a step in front of Mariel. “Can Jerek and Mariel come?”

  He took a deep breath, and from the depth of his lungs he roared. “NOOOOOOOOOPE. There will be NO nobles at this discussion, Mariel can come if you want though.” He grinned.

  I shrugged. “Whatever,” and turned to Mariel. “Let’s go.”

  She nodded.

  We walked towards Veran and as we left the formal he gestured to the band to play again.

  When he had us away from everything else and in a private room he sat us down and then sat himself down.

  He was grinning like a moron.

  “So, Cade.”

  I tilted my head.

  He interlocked his fingers. “Tell me about your parents.”

  I scrunched my forehead.

  Veran relaxed in his chair. “It appears you weren’t adopted. Which means you and your parents have been a felon since your very birth. What do you have to say about that?”

  I was completely still, I had no idea what he was talking about. However, my face was beet red. I had no idea what he was talking about but I was nervous because this was out of nowhere, completely random, and most of all highly untrue.

  I mean I had adoption papers and everything.

  Unless.

  I was lied to.