Kaelen nodded. He felt no fear. He felt the weight of the dagger, and the weight of the words carved into it.
“No.” Theron reversed the blade and offered it back, hilt-first. “It is short so you cannot keep your distance. So you must step into your enemy’s reach. Into the certainty of being hurt. A champion is not one who never bleeds. A champion is one who bleeds and still moves forward.”
Theron pushed off his sword and walked closer. He held out a gnarled hand. “Let me feel its weight.” champions dagger deepwoken
“You didn’t buy a weapon,” Theron continued, turning back toward the shadows. “You bought a promise to yourself. A lie, maybe. But a useful one.”
He opened the door. His crewmate, Mira, stood there, her face pale. “They found a fresh Deepgate. Right beneath the docks. A Dread Serpent’s been seen circling the entrance.” Kaelen nodded
“I saw it parry a Mantra of Unmaking,” Kaelen shot back. “The Dagger didn’t break. The attunement did.”
“For close quarters. For the press of bodies.” Into the certainty of being hurt
Kaelen took the dagger. This time, it felt heavier.