Strax did not take Zi Bai inside the mansion immediately. As soon as the two crossed part of the courtyard and reached the training area behind the property, he stopped, rolled his shoulders slightly, and extended his right hand to the side.
Mana condensed in the air in a dense and familiar flow. In the next instant, Zani appeared in his hand as though it had always been there, merely waiting to be called. The sword emerged wrapped in a heavy, steady, and ancient presence.
Zi Bai felt it immediately.
The new weapon in her hands reacted as well, releasing an almost imperceptible glow, as though it understood that this would not be merely a test of sharpness or balance. It would be a legitimate confrontation between two weapons with wills, histories, and identities of their own.
