Chapter 331 - Reclamation of the Returning (I) (1/2)

*Eldovian Era 1722, 1st day of the 12th month*

The blades were perhaps the most beautiful Aegin had ever made. Twin blades, each the length of a man's arm, with single edge that was curved so that it was wider about a hand's length from the hilt before it curved to a point at the end. The silver, glass-like blade caught the light magnificently, shining like ornamental crystal, yet with a deadly spark that made even Aegin feel a chill when he'd first witnessed it.

Sitting in the cave he'd called home for these long years in the Hava Rastellan, Aegin could not help but stare at them. Admire them. He honestly could not believe he'd managed to pull it off. He'd barely been able to believe it when he'd forged his daggers.

The 'Daggers of Truth'. Rima had dubbed them. Six daggers made from the same composition of Evanine and Anthrite, melted and bonded together in the river of fire below. A river of fire, Aegin had found after he'd grown curious, that originated from the maw of a Dragon's skeleton.

The fire burning there had been doing so for who knew how long, but it had been enough for Aegin to work with.

When he'd managed to forge the daggers, he'd been stumped at first at what rune to draw on them. He only knew a few. He'd tried Clarity against Yashi, and while it had been affective for a moment, it had always felt incomplete to Aegin. Like it didn't quite fit.

It had taken him many nights before Aegin finally settled on Truth. It was a promise as much as it was a resolution. The belief in that rune when he carved it made the daggers so much more powerful and effective.

Even Yashi, for once, had been impressed.

It had been several years since then, and Aegin hadn't attempted to forge any more of the Named Blades. He'd seen how powerful and affective his own were, he was not just going to give that power to anyone who asked.

But there was one person whom Aegin knew deserved such blades. And who, more than anyone else, Aegin wanted to give such power to.

Aegin was sure he'd never need them. He was also sure that as runes went, there were likely better ones that the creator himself could come up with. But Aegin had forged the blades anyway, and now he sat with his own Light Element Tool in hand, ready to carve the two runes he'd settled on.

He'd sat like this many times for the last year.

Was he truly ready? Was he truly deserving? Would they take him back and welcome him after he'd been gone for so long? He'd always questioned himself out of it. Had always ended up putting down the tool, closing the boxes he'd hand carved for the swords, and going off to find something to distract himself.

But this time would be different, he was sure. Unlike every other time, Aegin hadn't purposely pushed himself to sit down and finish the task. This time, it had happened quite organically. Aegin hadn't felt forced at all.

He recalled the conversation now that he'd had with Rima after she, Tigin and Sevis had come to pay him a visit on their way back to their respective Tribes after they'd been travelling south.

”So, have you finished them yet?”

”I haven't”.

”It's been over a year, Aegin, surely you've settled on a Rune by now, there are only so many,” said Rima.