"The next item on the list is an Exalted Echo, obtained from slaying a creature of unknown origins. It surfaced during a research mission while excavating the monastery of a broken city."
A hush crept over the hall.
A short dagger took form in his hands, completely wrapped in a filthy cloth, its outline sharp and unmistakable despite the grime clinging to it.
"The creature was a troublesome kill, even for an exalted weaver, but the reward justified the risk. This Echo functions as a concealed weapon, and carries an auxiliary effect. It absorbs star essence, converts it, and uses it to heal its wielder."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, faint and uncertain.
He pulled the cloth away.
Nothing rested in his palm.
Before confusion could bloom, the announcer's arm snapped forward. The dagger sank into the desk before him with a dull thud, the wood cracking around the invisible blade. Only the torn surface marked its presence.
"So it's real."
