First thing Reyn noted: the sword was very light. Under Metallic Touch, its weight was under ten pounds sterling. In hand, it felt nearly weightless, like a straw.
It looked like an antique, elegant one-handed sword. Soul Eye showed length under eighty centimeters—shorter than a standard longsword. Short hilt for one hand. Azure grip of unknown material, crossguard of dull gold inlaid with a blue gem.
The blade was broad, nearly four adult fingers wide—like a two-hander—but very thin. Tip a sharp rhombus. Fresh from earth, covered in dirt, it looked dull.
As Reyn gripped the hilt, massive magic energy surged. A caster's weapon—magical sword! Called witchblade or mage sword, popular among Empire casters. More convenient than staves, usable in close combat sometimes.
Reyn hadn't analyzed the enchantment when sudden alarm hit. He looked up: the Spiritual Demon Eye atop Mages Tower swiveled toward him. It had sensed the sword's aura.
"Damn!" Reyn cursed inwardly. "Buried, you ignored it; I dig it up, and you come to claim it!"
Hesitating a second, he retreated. No cover nearby. Instantly Charging, he hugged the Violet House wall, dashed into the street, veered, and Charged again into the store's main door.
The Spiritual Demon Eye's ray passed inches behind.
With a soft whoosh, Reyn appeared in the lobby, startling bystanders. Viola, in the next room, heard and rushed out.
"Reyn, when'd you come down?" she asked surprised.
"Upstairs, I'll explain," Reyn hid the sword behind his back. Too crowded; news could leak.
Viola noticed he held something, got the hint, and shielded him from eyes. They entered the elevator quickly. Inside, Reyn handed her the sword.
"Look," he said quietly.
Taking it, Viola's eyes widened. Examining closely, she whispered in awe:
"This sword's quality is incredibly high! At least superior magical sword, maybe better! Where'd you find it?"
Reyn was about to answer when he sensed something; annoyance crossed his face. Exiting the elevator, he pushed the office door and saw an elegant figure.
"Your Grace," Reyn approached and greeted, sighing inwardly. The Silver Star Duchess had arrived too fast! Hiding anything in Holy Soul Mage territory, so near Mages Tower, was near impossible.
Viola bowed too, puzzled: why had the duchess come to her office?
Today the Silver Star Duchess wore a black robe, aura fully concealed, seeming ordinary. But no one seeing this mysterious, stunningly beautiful woman would take her for mortal.
The Silver Star Duchess nodded, gaze sliding over Reyn and Viola. She scanned the room: sofa disheveled, faint but distinct scent on desk, floor, carpet, even panoramic window. Ordinary person might miss it, but to Holy Soul Mage, obvious as lice on a monk's head. Traces of Reyn and Viola's recent intimacy.
"Viola, you've finally grown up," the Silver Star Duchess noted with sly smile. That alone made Viola blush to her ears, nearly hiding her face.
Teasing her, the duchess grew serious.
"Give me the sword."
Viola froze, glanced at Reyn. Seeing no objection, she handed it over.
The Silver Star Duchess took the magical sword and flicked away dirt with energy stream. It shone in full glory. At first glance, ornate like decorative noble weapons—pretty but useless, unremarkable. But closer, its elegance, nobility, romantic air showed.
The duchess traced the blade with slender pale fingers; her eyes filled with admiration. Under her spiritual power, the magical sword rang melodiously, like otherworldly song cleansing soul and body.
"Where'd you find it?"
"Right below, in the ruins," Reyn answered honestly.
"You have a keen eye," the duchess said slowly. "I searched all night yesterday, didn't find it. Thought destroyed in battle or taken. Didn't expect you'd find it." Forestalling questions, she explained: "This sword is called Song of the Azure Sky. Epic magical sword. Once belonged to Tinos."
"Epic weapon!" Reyn blurted.
Viola was stunned too. She'd guessed high quality but hadn't appraised it, never expecting epic!
Every epic item unique. Creation life's work of master alchemist or mighty caster. Upon emergence, famed for power, desired by countless superhumans. Usually held by mighty warriors lifelong. Their stories—glorious or tragic—passed orally, in heroic legends, epic poems of great events. Hence "epic."
Legendaries one tier up. But not always stronger. "Legendary" means deep historical roots, event-rich, influential near-myth. Some epics match legendaries in power. Classified epic mainly for lacking gripping history, newer, less twisted path. Some legendaries famed only for age and renown, power not matching rep.
Of course, most legendaries far surpass epics in power. But both priceless.
Till today, neither Reyn nor Viola heard of Song of the Azure Sky. Clearly, epic not for history, but power.
"Your Grace, what's its story?" Viola asked curiously.
"No special history. Just exquisitely crafted magical sword," the Silver Star Duchess shook her head. "Song of the Azure Sky forged over four hundred years ago by legendary high-rank mage. Spent countless precious materials, rarest this Azure Gem. After his death, vanished long, resurfaced decades ago in Tinos's hands as his weapon. I knew that legendary mage who made Song of the Azure Sky; we got along well, or I wouldn't recognize it."
The duchess paused, gaze distant, recalling old friend. Sighing, she continued:
"Song of the Azure Sky not well-known, few aware, but enchantment incredibly powerful."
"What exactly?" Reyn asked impatiently.
The Silver Star Duchess looked at him, lips curving slightly in smile.
"Song of the Azure Sky has two properties. First: raises caster's spell circle by one. Second: ten percent chance spell casts twice."
"Holy shit!" Reyn blurted.
Viola's eyes widened in shock; she was speechless long.
"What'd you say?" The duchess frowned, not understanding, and asked again.
"Uh…" Reyn rubbed his neck awkwardly. "I meant, incredibly powerful enchantment! Worthy of epic weapon!"
Pure awe. Song of the Azure Sky had only two properties, fewer than many superiors, but those two worth dozens others!
Especially the first one: heighten spell. In official enchantment terminology, it was called "Heighten Spell." This property was simple yet incredibly powerful, its astonishing effect obvious to anyone. For a spellcaster, heightening a spell's circle required immense effort and spiritual power expenditure. Normally, this was only possible with a professional level increase or after a soul transformation ritual. With each new circle, the spell's power multiplied exponentially. The power of a fourth-circle "Fireball" was at least three times greater than the same spell at the third circle! And "Song of the Azure Sky" heightened the circle of all spells, effectively boosting the caster's professional level by one tier. For example, a mid-rank mage capable of casting up to third-circle spells could use fourth-circle spells with this sword. It was equivalent to casting spells beyond one's level!
This property alone was enough to make "Song of the Azure Sky" one of the finest epic weapons. And it had a second property as well.
Twin Spell—this was an extraordinarily sophisticated metamagic technique. It allowed achieving the effect of two spells while expending resources for only one. Like a single fireball exploding with the force of two. A ten percent chance might seem low, but in battle, it was enormous. Some magical items also had twin spell effects, but the probability rarely exceeded three percent!
Of course, compared to heighten spell, twin spell seemed less impressive. Regardless, "Song of the Azure Sky" was a weapon any spellcaster dreamed of. It was hard to find anything better.
The Silver Star Duchess smirked, seeing their reaction.
"Don't overestimate 'Song of the Azure Sky,'" she said. "The heighten spell effect only works on spells up to the fifth circle inclusive. The maximum it can raise a spell to is the fifth circle. For spells above the fifth circle, it only provides empowered casting, and the higher the circle, the weaker the boost. On seventh-circle spells and above, 'Song of the Azure Sky' has almost no effect. If it could heighten high-level spells too, it wouldn't be epic—it would be legendary, perhaps even comparable to a divine artifact."
The duchess's explanation somewhat calmed Reyn and Viola.
"Even if it only works on spells up to the fifth circle, it's still incredibly powerful," Reyn said in admiration.
"Do you want it?" the Silver Star Duchess suddenly asked, looking at Reyn with a sly smile.
The atmosphere in the office grew tense. Viola discreetly squeezed Reyn's hand. She knew the duchess well: her thoughts were hard to predict, and a wrong answer could lead to unpleasant consequences.
Reyn, however, didn't hesitate long.
"Yes," he answered directly.
Lying and saying he didn't want such an amazing epic magical sword would be foolish. Still, he harbored no special hopes. The Silver Star Duchess had arrived at the Violet House so quickly—clearly, she valued "Song of the Azure Sky" greatly. Even as a Holy Soul Mage, she was unlikely to part with an epic weapon easily. Even if she didn't need it, she could trade or sell it for gold shields to offset some losses. Besides, "Song of the Azure Sky" was rightfully her trophy—she had killed Tinos. Taking the sword was her full right.
Yet the duchess's response stunned them both.
"If you want it, it's yours," she said casually, as if discussing not epic gear but an ordinary iron sword. "Yesterday's battle slightly damaged the enchantment runes, which is why the sword was emitting a magical aura. I'll help you repair it."
With that, the duchess grasped the sword's hilt, placed her other hand on the azure gem in the guard, and began whispering a spell. A powerful wave of spiritual power flooded the office. "Song of the Azure Sky" blazed with blinding blue light. In the glow, thousands of tiny runes emerged, arranged in strict order and forming enchantment patterns. After a few minutes, the blue radiance gradually faded, and the sword returned to its normal appearance.
Finished, the Silver Star Duchess tossed "Song of the Azure Sky" to Reyn.
"Here."
Reyn hastily caught the sword. Gripping the hilt, he felt a powerful surge of energy rush toward the World Tree in his mind. Now "Song of the Azure Sky" looked like an ordinary, though elegant, one-handed sword. No signs of energy, all runes hidden within the blade. At a glance—nothing special, extremely understated. Even the most experienced appraiser, without touching it, would hardly identify it as epic magical gear.
Reyn was overjoyed and stunned by the duchess's generosity.
"Your Grace…"
The duchess understood what he wanted to ask and cut him off with a gesture.
"I didn't find it yesterday, so it was unclaimed," she said calmly. "Since you found it first, you have at least half the rights to it. I won't argue. Besides, you've thwarted Shadow Blade's plans several times, spared Longsand from greater disasters, and saved the Tower of Mages. Consider 'Song of the Azure Sky' thanks for that. No epic magical sword, however valuable, compares to a whole city and the Tower of Mages, let alone Iolla's Core."
She turned her gaze to Viola, her eyes warming.
"Viola grew up under my watch. Take care of her."
Viola's eyes filled with gratitude, and she squeezed Reyn's hand tighter.
"I will," Reyn nodded seriously.
The Silver Star Duchess smiled in satisfaction. After a few seconds of silence, she added:
"Reyn, I see great potential in you, and your power grows very quickly. I hope you'll be on my side in the future."
With that loaded remark, she opened a portal and stepped through.