First Grip

Stiffness faded from my limbs. I tested the movement, slowly curling my fingers around the braided grip of the hilt. The balance was precise. From the mist, a small drifting violet ember drifted toward me. I angled the dark blade slightly, letting the spark brush against the steel guard before dispersing into the cool air. The weight in my hands was solid and responsive. Lowering the tip back toward the stone, I remained still, measuring the silence around me.