The Winter Castle. There, Julie was looking at her sword in a cold room.

With a blank look, she examined the length of the blade and the hilt over and over. The fine metal was hardened to absorb mana, and the handle was smoothed from where her hand had gripped at it over the years.

This is my sword

Julie held the sword.

!

A chill ran down her spine, and her hair stood on end. It felt so natural she wasnt sure if she was holding the sword or the sword was holding her.

...