Kurt had his weekly sparring session with Master Trenton.

"You haven't practiced much this week," said Master Trenton, as their swords clashed.

"I had things to do."

"Like get drunk and forget?"

"What did Layla tell you?" Kurt said as Master Trenton found an opening and struck Kurt's stomach.

Their session continued from there, eventually Kurt let a swipe go of the crescent wave, and had to stop.

"Yes, you are starting to combine your stance," said Master Trenton. "I will have to get armor for our next session."

"Are you sure," said Kurt.

"We will check first," said Master Trenton, "set it up and have you hit, it really is time for you to figure out a good way to use it, and there is another thing."

"What's that?"

"Your sword is ready, the Chief has invited you to our home to honor your gift from the elves, it is somewhat an act of treaty between you and elves, I suggest not declining the invitation, I think the elves would see it as a sign of disrespect."

"Ohh no definitely not, I thought you wanted everyone out, that's why I never came to see it, I'm very curious," said Kurt.

"Then we are ready for you arrival, in the elven custom is to you, the welcome we wait on."

"You don't have to wait…"

"No it's fine, anytime, it's not like it's going to be every time you enter, but the elves welcome their guests upon their arrival, by tradition. This is not a normal custom among this world but it's one of ours, we you are ready we will receive you and give a gift of peace, your sword, and there will be a short celebration, and an offering of food and aid."

"So it's right to the point."

"Very much, many of our stories involve travelers who are in desperate need of aid, and the tradition of our people in ways revolve around that, the welcoming of a hero is be done when they arrive not later destiny comes, one clan rising among others through a welcoming of a new member, and gifts being bestowed upon them at the gates. That type of thing, talking about it seems silly sometimes, but I've seen the traditional welcome save lives as well, with everyone there our welcome can immediately help, so many are traditional it also allows our people to organize quickly, and you can't schedule everything, a lost war party, the remaining member of a squad that told us of a threat. Of course yours will be more formal. But we will not take much time."

"Well at least that is good, I wouldn't want to disrespect you guys, am I supposed to do much?"

"Not exactly, mostly just take the gift respectfully, if you did want to give a speech after receiving it would be the time, but a loud 'Thank you for the treasured gift' would be enough.' to be respectful."

"Would you guide me?"

"Of course, Lord Kurt, it would be an honor, and place of privilege in the ceremony for our people."

"Then let's go get my new sword, I don't like the idea of all these people I never met waiting on me anyway."

Their settlement was near the starting of a smaller wooded area behind the pillar, as they seemed to want to be as far from where they came from as safely possible, as for now retreating to the pillar would be the best option if anything came, like those Giant Spider Lizards.

As they approached Kurt saw how the eleven architecture was truly part of the environment, they seemed to be able to make trees grow into houses. Their main gate started having a gathering of elves.

Lord Victor had the speed in an elegant cloth, and waiting for them to finally reach their settlement.

"Lord Kurt, we welcome you and offer rest on your long journey, we have a gift for you," handing the bade to Kurt with two hands.

"Thank you for your honored gift, I must thank you as well for Master Trenton has been a great teacher to me."

The crowd cheered for a moment and there was an offering of food. Trenton was right; it was a quick ceremony, and was done upon arrival, their traditional way. Kurt kind of liked the no fuss, it was some long drawn out ceremony…he may have waited.

The blade itself was exquisitely made, it had a strange shine making it seem purple, and blue as well as silver of the steel. There was a strange carving of lettering on it, some eleven scripts Kurt had never seen before, flourishing across the blade. It had a simple guard, and a comfortable grip of wrapped leathers; the pommel seemed to have a mana stone in it. Perfectly balanced, and had a heft but heavy, enough to give a good strike. The double edge blade had a groove in the center, and near the tip there was a large dimple, this would be a spot Kurt could hold water along and more at the top. The sheath was wooden and simple, and had a complicated knotting of strips of blue linen. He had also been provided a simple belt that it could attach to. Kurt couldn't wait to use it, but felt it wasn't the proper moment.

He was actually more curious about the lettering, as he knew nothing of eleven magic.

"Can you explain how it works?"

"Usually the pointy end is towards the opponent," said Trenton.

"No I mean, this lettering I assume it's not just for show."

"I know, lighten up. It is fairly simple there is a magic countering spell here that is passive, it allows you to split a magic attack, and I must stress this, within reason, and we are pretty sure some of this part will activate on the slashes you do, I may have to help on that. The mana stone has a sonic boom that will shock anything not within a meter of you, so get people close to you before you use it, that's sort of all else fails, make everyone else grab their ears and run like hell, it will be charging as you use it so you can't repeat quickly but it will get really loud when fully charged. The rest is mostly just sharpening and durability enhancing. The counterspell makes any physical enhancements hard so we didn't, but you're fairly strong and fast already, but I thought you would find the most use from disabling the enemy than enhancing yourself. You already have an attack naturally as well so we didn't need that."

"Fascinating, I heard eleven magic is more about enchanting objects," said Kurt.

"Yes very much so, our magic still needs the user's own skill."

"I have the mind that all magic is like that."

"To more or less of an extent, but if you don't know how to use a sword this won't help you, if you can cast a lightning bolt like one of the goblins, that takes considerably less skill to be useful, in my mind. It is different though, I can use the sword effortlessly, while they wouldn't be able to do that forever. We have firebolt arrows that are similar but not as effective as a fireball. I actually don't know much about goblin magic, just witnessed it a few times, but it's more a lot of power at once, which you can't ignore, but leaves openings."

"Yeah, I saw something, I wouldn't want to be on the other end of, ever," said Kurt, thinking back to High Shaman Simon's blast that just made a Giant Lizard Monster disintegrate in an instant.

"I wouldn't suggest trying to slice that with the sword then. But a simple fireball should split, depending on the caster. It was actually more to turn off spells on their swords, I didn't think you needed anything flashy, but if they have a strength, or speed spell active they are going to be surprised when it turns off quickly, their elements as well will shut off, it will at minimum be weaker. You'd have to ask the smiths for more details."

"So any advice?"

"The design is to just use it like a sword and do your thing, and it will act as needed, you know you have six hundred strikes to make tomorrow, so from now on use this."

"Would it be traditional to give a name?"

"Yes."

"Is there a way that is done?"

"When it happens, you will know, a sword is empty without a journey, and this sword, no matter how good it is, is very empty. Until now." said Master Trenton.

"So I can't just name it now."

"Not in the elven way afraid."

"It is an eleven sword, so one day I hope it will tell me."

"I hope not," said Master Trenton.

"Why?" said Kurt.

"It will have to draw blood to do so I'm afraid, you will have to go through pain, and suffering, and the blade must bring you through it."

"What do you mean?"

Trenton thought for a moment, "I think I misunderstood you, you meant it would tell its name as a metaphor, I meant it will tell you its name when it's ready, if ever, and you will know. The naming of a sword is a magical event, and you don't get to choose the name."

"Event?"

"One that would make the blade more powerful, and you would need that power for it to happen, say the legends, but many dead lay with silent blades."

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