+Now, I ask only this of you: fix your thoughts solely upon the sword you wield.
—Very well…but the blade I hold is nothing more than a simple wooden training sword. It holds no special power.
+Do as I have commanded. In your mind's depths, strive to behold it.
—Alright… I believe…I can see it. In the endless white expanse, a sword rests within my grasp.
+Excellent. Now, attempt to speak with it. Above all else, your sword is your sole, unwavering companion. Come to know it.
—To speak to my sword? What madness are you proposing?
(His voice grew cold, edged with authority that brooked no defiance)
+Do as I say—immediately!
I understood then that I had no choice. I steeled myself and tried to address the sword—and to my astonishment, it answered.
—Are…are you truly my sword?
+Indeed, Master Andre. I am your sword.
I could scarcely believe it—this plain piece of wood was speaking in my mind.
—But you are nothing more than timber. If you were broken…would you perish?
+No, Master Andre. Though I now take the form of a sword, in truth I am a Sword Spirit—a fragment of your own soul. No matter how many weapons you claim, even if they possess spirits of their own, I shall ever remain here, within your subconscious.
—Then…you are a part of my spirit itself—a part I had never known.
+Yes, Master Andre. That is so.
I withdrew from the white expanse of my inner world and turned to face my brother Cadeon:
—I…I spoke to it. To my sword! It is beyond belief!
+It is wondrous, is it not? This world brims with secrets. Even the soul we carry is a realm we scarcely comprehend. Tell me—what manner of spirit did you find?
—I did not converse with it for long. But it spoke with solemn courtesy, calling me "Master Andre," and it obeyed without hesitation.
+That alone proves your bloodline. You are truly of the Verblade. Among common men and lesser houses, the sword spirits are fierce and defiant, and many spend long years merely to subdue them. But we Verblades are not so hindered.
—And…what of the other spirits? Do all Verblades possess such obedient companions?
+Ah…that is where our line begins to diverge. For some among us, even their mana spirits yield in deference. For others, they remain untamed. In all things, mastery flows from the bond you forge with your spirit.
—Then…is it not wiser to befriend my sword spirit rather than build a bond born of fear?
+To coddle your sword spirit is perilous. You may attempt to treat it as a comrade, but know this well: should it seize upon your kindness as weakness, it may grow defiant. And should that happen…you would spend long, bitter years restoring it to obedience.