After half an hour's walk, he found a secluded clearing surrounded by towering oaks and thick brush. The only sounds were the chirping of birds and the sigh of the wind. A perfect theatre for things meant to remain unseen.
There is no people in sight, only a few animals such as deer or birds flew around the trees.
Greywind stopped in the center of the clearing and took a deep breath. He looked at his hand, then closed his eyes. "Jannis," he called out, his voice low but clear in the quiet air. "I am in private. Now... how do I summon it? And what form suits me?"
Jannis manifested in a faint, shimmering silhouette before him a tall figure with drifting white hair and glowing, pale eyes. She smiled with deep satisfaction.
"A fine question, my love," she answered, her voice echoing both in his mind and the surrounding air. "Summoning the Pact weapon is simple: you must visualize it clearly, feel the tether between us, and reach out. But before that... you must choose its shape."
She drifted closer, her transparent fingers tracing the air before his chest. "A Pact weapon is no mere tool. It is a mirror of your soul, and of our union. It can change its form in time, but your first choice will define its nature."
She paused, then began to describe the options as if showcasing a catalog of infernal armaments. "First, there is the Longsword classic, elegant, versatile. Perfect if you wish to retain your fencing style but with added bite. Then there is the Battleaxe brutal, direct, for those who wish to crush with little regard for art. There is also the Spear for reach, for throwing, good for one who likes to keep the distance before unleashing an Eldritch Blast."
She leaned her face close to his ear, her breath felt like a warm draft. "But... there is a form rarely chosen, for it demands more of the bearer. A Chain-Weapon, like the devil's barbed whip last night, but finer, more controlled. It can reach out, bind, pull an enemy close... perfect for one who loves to play with distance, as you do."
Jannis pulled back, her eyes twinkling. "The choice is yours, Greywind. But remember: whatever you choose, it will grow with you. And... it will always be bound to me as well."
Longsword? That's a neat option. He can slash enemis and keep the distance as well. Great axe? He can take down many enemies with a few slasjhes targeting not only 1 targer but maybe 2 or even 3 as weel. But he thinks it is too big form him and he will lose the acceleration that he usually use in combat.
Spear? He can keep some distances, stab some enemies but he has to learn the weapon from the start. He had no experiences nor profficiencies in Spear as martial weapon.
Greywind stood silent for a moment, weighing her words. In the end, he chose what was most familiar to his hand. "I shall stick with the Rapier," he said firmly. "It is what I have mastered."
Jannis smiled widely, her pale eyes narrowing in approval. "Very well, darling. Let our bond forge it."
Greywind extended his right hand, palm up. He focused his mind on the image of a rapier slender, elegant, lethal. He felt the tether to Jannis, the flow of dark energy surging from his soul, through his arm, and coalescing in the air above his palm.
First, a purple-black fire appeared a flame that seemed to swallow the light rather than emit it. It swirled, condensed, and began to elongate. The shape sharpened at one end, the hilt forming from coils of solidified energy. Within seconds, the fire died away, leaving a jet-black rapier floating above his hand.
The weapon appeared to be crafted from pure obsidian, yet it held a faint violet sheen across its surface. The hilt was wrapped in black leather that felt cold yet comfortable in his grip. There was no ornate guard, only a slender, lethal blade and a simple hilt. Greywind closed his fingers around it. The rapier felt... perfect. An extension of his own arm.
"Wahhh," Jannis hissed, her voice full of awe. "It suits you perfectly. Black, elegant, piercing straight to the heart... shall we call it the Onyx Rapier? Test its strength."
Greywind turned toward an old tree at the clearing's edge. With a swift, accurate movement, he slashed at the trunk.
Swish CRACK!
The black blade cut through the wood with ease, like a hot knife through butter. Greywind felt the weapon was lighter than his old iron blade, yet every swing felt more powerful, as if the weapon were amplifying the strength from within him. A subtle magical vibration flowed from the hilt into his hand, connecting him to the flow of Jannis's power.
He swung it a few more times, performing the basic drills he had mastered. The weapon was responsive, balanced, and lethal. But he knew he needed to feel it in true combat before he could fully understand it.
"Wait, Grey," Jannis whispered suddenly, her voice turning sharp. "There are others here... not human. Small, cunning... and carrying something."
Greywind dropped into a low stance, the Onyx Rapier ready. He followed Jannis's "senses," slipping through the brush toward the sound of rustling in the distance.
Through the trees, he saw them: three or four wild Kobolds small, grimy brown reptilian creatures moving restlessly. They carried a small sack that appeared heavy, with glints of jewelry and coin peeking from the top. They seemed to be returning from a "foray," heading toward a small cave hidden beneath the roots of a massive tree.
"Hmm," Jannis murmured, her tone suddenly rich with greedy, sadistic interest. "A perfect set of targets. Look at the plunder they carry... spoils from some passing merchant, no doubt. Let us cull them. Test your Onyx Rapier... and give me a little snack."
The kobolds remained oblivious to his presence, arguing in high-pitched, yapping tones about the division of the loot.