Lys and Sara had almost reached the main lane when Vesper's voice rang out behind them, sharp and a little winded. "Wait, hold up, you two."
She came jogging after them, rag in one hand and a long wrapped bundle tucked under her other arm. Dust kicked up around her boots on the dry road. She stopped a few feet away from them, caught her breath, and wiped her forehead. "Hah, almost forgot this one. Bought it last week from a fallen noble house up north. They called it a family heirloom they had to sell fast to save face or something. Don't know if that part's true, but I grabbed it before anyone else could eye it. I heard it's got some quirks, but I figured you might want first crack at it, Lys. I remember you seemed to have a nose for the good stuff. So, I had kept it out of anyone's sight till now, so that when I come here I can show it to you."
She unwrapped the bundle right there on the lane, the cloth falling away to reveal a black blade with an elegant crossguard and faint runes etched down the fuller. The metal caught the afternoon light in a way that made the edges look almost alive with glow.
Lys reached his hands toward it without thinking, fingers brushing the hilt. The second his skin touched the cool steel, the system slammed a bright red box straight into his vision so hard his eyes blurred for a second.
[Cursed Blade of the Fallen Witch
True Name: CorpseSlayer
Effect: Drains male fertility on contact, except for the Host who carries the Divine being's blessing.
Hidden Property (unlocked for Host only): Allows direct absorption of curse energy to fuel Host's personal growth and breeding potency of his partners.
Warning: One swing without any divine blessing and the user dies from the powerful curse of the Fallen Witch]
Seeing the text, his fingers locked tight around the hilt. There was a purple glow only he could see pulsed along the edge like a heartbeat, which seemed to attract him. Power hummed under his palm, cold at first, then warmed up slowly, sliding straight into his bones like it recognized him or something.
Vesper grinned widely, seeing him so absorbed in the sword, hands on her hips like she'd just handed over the find of the year. "It's pretty, right? I knew it would catch your eye."
Sara leaned in closer, shoulder brushing his, eyes bright with curiosity. "What do you think? Do you like it?"
Lys kept staring at the blade, the warning still burning behind his eyes like a brand, but his heart slammed against his ribs.
Absorb the curse energy? Boost his own growth and make the women he bred even more potent? His mind raced just thinking about these things. It felt like one wrong move, and he could end the entire mission right here on this dusty road. But also at the same time, if he played it right…
He forced his face to stay neutral, even though his grip on the hilt had gone white-knuckled. The sword felt lighter than it should, like it wanted to be held by him. The purple glow flared brighter for a split second, then settled, and he focused on the hidden property part once more.
Hidden Property (unlocked for Host only): Allows direct absorption of curse energy to fuel Host's personal growth and breeding potency of his partners.
Sweat prickled down his back under the borrowed tunic, thinking about its pros again and again. If it really was what he was thinking, then this would be a game-changer for him.
As he was deep in his thoughts, silent in the middle of the road, Sara was still watching him, waiting for his response. Madam Vesper rocked back on her heels, clearly enjoying how focused he was, how quiet he'd gone.
After thinking for a while, Lys swallowed hard and finally looked up at them, voice steady, even though his pulse roared in his ears. "Uhh….I'll take it?"
Vesper's grin sharpened, something sly flickering across her face.
Author note: Sorry for the chapter being so short, guys.