Page 138 of The Blackened Blade

“Here.” Gadriel takes out a small black bundle, pulling me from my thoughts.

He hands it to me, a hesitant look in his eyes as he watches me open it.

“I thought it best if you had something with you…just in case.”

I unfold the small bundle; inside sits a black strap attached to a small black sheath, with a silver handle poking out.

I pull it out, my eyes going wide at the beautiful curved blade.

I grip its handle in my palm; it was so small and light but its blade looked razor sharp. On the blade itself sat small ornate and delicate carving…in Elvish.

My eyes go wide. This couldn’t be.

I shake my head, my eyes flickering back and forth between the blade and Gadriel.

“Is this…anElvenblade?”

The responding smile he gives me is breathtaking, a light humour bleeding into his gaze as he opens his mouth. “I had hoped you would like it.”

How could Inotlike it?

The smile I give him must answer any questions he has, because the slight tension in his shoulders instantly seeps from them when he sees it.

He points to the small black sheath and strap.

“You place this on your thigh, and make sure no-one sees it. It makes for a better surprise if anything were to happen. And should you need it, don’t be afraid to use it.”

My brows scrunch together, this wasn’t for sparring?

Then it hits me. He had asked about the dance.

He must take my expression for confusion over the sheath and how to put it on instead, because in the next moment, he's taking it from my hands and kneeling in front of me.

He opens the strap and places it loosely around my calf and starts to slide it up toward my thigh. His movements slow until they stiffen the further up my thigh he gets.

I’m wearing black leggings, so I can feel each touch and graze of his large fingers against my thigh, with a slight shiver making its way up my body with the small contact and a small heat creeping into my cheeks.

His eyes slowly look up, reaching mine as he tightens the strap, but whatever he sees has him freezing for a slight moment before quickly shaking his head. He pulls away from me and straightens himself, pausing for a brief moment before turning back toward me.

“Hopefully you won’t need to use it, but…it's better to have it with you anyway.” His expression becomes more serious, a slightly colder tone as he continues. “Don’t let anyone hurt you. I know it's a ball and not a battlefield but…” His eyes flicker toward my feet and then wrists, “You can never be too careful.”

Now I understand. He was worried that something like before might happen again.

I brush a hand gently across the sheath and blade’s handle, before looking back toward him. “I’ll use it well. Thank you.”

He gives me a small nod. “Hopefully you won't have a need to. And…make sure you have fun tomorrow, Micai. I’ll be around if you need me.”

His gaze lingers for another brief moment before he turns away and heads through the old forest trail. He had told me before that he had to leave and help the other faculty members to check the barriers around the academy for the Ball.

I unstrap my beautiful little Elven blade and tuck it under my hoodie after putting it back on. No need to explain what it is to the dorm's head or anyone else if they saw me.

I don't think they would be as impressed with it as I am. And if anyone tried to touch it or take it from me, I might have to take a note from Annex’s book and get all stabby.

After all, it was anElven blade.

I head over to the cafeteria, grabbing an apple and a cold ham and cheese baguette, having already missed dinner time.

I’m making my way out of the empty cafeteria, when I come to a sudden stop.

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