Chapter 10: Engagement Rings For The Future
The shopkeeper froze, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. The question was so absurd, so out of left field, that he seemed to question if he’d heard right.
"A...A human hand?" He squeaked, his eyes darting to Charlotte, as if hoping she’d clarify it as a joke. But she was distracted, wandering toward a nearby shelf of trinkets, humming softly as she admired a crystal pendant.
Mika’s expression didn’t change, his gaze steady and the shopkeeper swallowed hard, forcing a nervous laugh. "Well, these knives, you see, they’re antiques. Beautiful craftsmanship, yes, but...brittle. They’d slice meat fine, but bone? The force would likely shatter them." He hesitated, then brightened, as if seizing a lifeline. "But don’t worry! I’ve got something else, something special."
He dropped to one knee, rummaging under the counter with a clatter, and emerged with a cloth, wrapped object. He placed it on the glass with reverence, his hands trembling as he unraveled the fabric to reveal a knife unlike the others.
Its blade was broad and wickedly sharp, forged from a dark, almost iridescent metal that seemed to drink the light. The grip was carved from bone , smooth, pale, and faintly warm to the touch.
"This..." the shopkeeper said, his voice hushed with awe. "...is no ordinary knife. It belonged to a blessed, traded to me years ago. It’s a mana-infused equipment, or was, before it was damaged. It lost its magical properties, so I planned to sell it as a decorative piece."
"But make no mistake, it’s strong. It can slice through bone like butter, just as you asked. Is this...suitable?"
Mika didn’t answer right away. He reached for the knife, his fingers brushing the bone grip, and a faint jolt ran through him, like the blade recognized his touch.
He lifted it, testing its weight, then began to move it with a fluid grace that made the shopkeeper’s jaw drop.
The knife danced between his fingers, spinning and flipping in intricate patterns, as if he’d wielded it for years. He tested its balance, his movements precise, almost hypnotic, his dark eyes narrowing with focus.
The shopkeeper watched, dumbfounded, wondering how a teenager could handle a blade with such proficiency, but he didn’t dare ask.
Mika stopped, the knife resting lightly in his palm, and a slow smile spread across his face.