Chapter Text
the evening was cold and getting dark already, sword could see his own breath as he trained over sword fighting on the heights.
sword was in the middle of training, swiping and thrusting his sword through zombies, painting his blade in crimson. he stepped back, launching his sword at the undead and successfully killing it with the explosion. he picked up his sword and sliced another ones head off— panting as he got increasingly more exhausted.
sword stepped back slowly, sword facing the zombies as he backed off of the platform, clenching his jaw.
he silently panicked, realizing he was on deaths doorstep with how close he was to the edge.
he quickly lunged forward, piercing the zombies with his blade and sending himself and the bodies a few feet forward. he pushed them off of the heights, sighing as his tail lashed.
-
illumina and venomshank watched from a distance.
“Are you sure he is prepared? He is ready, yes, Venomshank?”
the deity nodded, watching the phighter as he downed his waterbottle in one quick moment.
“So be it. The ceremony shall take place at moonhigh. The affects should start shortly after— perhaps a few days. At most a month” he stated, glancing at his fellow sword and turning away and strolling back to the exit of sfoth.
-
sword stretched, exhaustedly letting out a sigh of relief when he was told his training was done for the day. “whens the next one again?? the uh, next training session. can i train with rocket? the zombies are getting boring.” he rambled, his guardian simply nodding. sword grinned.
“We are going to an event at moonhigh. You will be prepared, yes?” venomshank looked to the phighter, trudging to the exit. illumina was long gone by this point.
“how come? whats it for?” the demon tilted his head, glancing back as his tail twitched.
“For you. A ceremony, to celebrate how far you have come. Illumina is bringing a gift. You will be on your best behavior.”
swords eyes lit up, nodding eagerly. “rockets allowed to come, right?” he asked, fidgeting with his cape.
venomshank was silent for a bit. “Only the Swords are allowed to participate. You will not bring Rocket.” he said somberly.
sword frowned. “right, right!!” he was nervous— venomshank was nervous. it was a big day.
-
that night. moonhigh. sword was woken up after taking a quick nap. he groaned, getting ready quickly and rushing out of the apartment with venomshank.
they arrived at sfoth. illumina waiting in the middle, back faced to them.
he glanced back, turning fully. “Venomshank, Sword.” he didnt blink, his expression blank. it was unsettling.. to sword, at least. sword bowed his head in respect.
illumina began again. “Sword. Step forward.”
he called forth, sword immediately doing as told. his heart was racing in his chest.
illumina blinked, tilting his head upwards, whispering a prayer— or chant— or curse. sword couldnt tell.
he tilted his head back down, staring the phighter. his soulless white eyes staring into swords. “Sword.”
“..yes?”
“Give me your palm.” he called.
sword did as told. illumina immediately sliced it with his blade, sword wincing and going to pull away— yet illumina stopped him. he let it bleed, staring as sword clenched in jaw. the wound was deep, obviously going to scar.
illumina let go, the wound felt weird, festering almost within illuminas grasp. he held it tightly, trying to stop the bleeding. he stared back up.
“Don’t be surprised if you feel differences.” illumina said calmly. “You are dismissed.” sword immediately stepped back to venomshank.
“what was that for? i dont feel celebrated.” he mumbled to him.
“You will.” venomshank said, looking at him with an emotion sword couldnt quite place. regret or anxiety or pride, he couldnt tell.
sword, that night, could not sleep. his back was sunk into his bed as he laid there restless.
his shoulders felt more sore than usual.
he had a massive headache.
his eyes were sensitive to light— more than they usually are.
his eyes finally began to feel heavy. his body sinking into the warmth and comfort of the blankets surrounding him. his eyes closed as he drifted to sleep.