But it had been used. Cleaned often. Sharpened well. The edge bore a faint notch at the midpoint. The kind of flaw that came from striking something harder than bone or armor.
'Not for ceremony. Not for show. Just for finishing what someone else started.'
Elara joined him. Looked once. Looked again.
"You like it?"
"I respect it."
She tapped a finger gently near the base of the hilt.
"It's ugly."
"That's why it works."
Nathan reached their side, holding a sheathed dagger from another stand.
"Look what I found."
"It better not have a name."
He grinned. "It's called Starlacer."
"No."
He set it back without complaint.
The clerk returned a minute later. He offered no pitch. No price. Just a simple nod toward the exit when they were done.
Merlin looked back once, before the door shut behind them.
'Not everything sharp needs to be deadly. But everything deadly stays sharp.'
The weapon shop door closed behind them with a soft wooden click.
