Entropy's Servant

Chapter 29 - Cursed Swords

Hello everyone, Astaroth here.
Although cursed weapons and other such items are often feared in fiction as devilish weapons which steal their user's soul, or take over their body, or instil an insatiable bloodlust in them, or another thing in this vein, realistically, there's no one who'd make such a weapon.
As such, actual cursed weapons are closer to weapons which drain the user's energy to use it for some purpose, or weapons with the smith's soul residing inside them, who disapprove of the way they're being used, or weapons which choose their own user and have negative effects on users they dislike. Of course, this goes for other cursed items, too.

"Cursed Arsenal?", Asami parrotted, tilting her head as she looked at the many items behind me.

"Then these are all cursed?", Nexu asked, trying to get a closer look at a sword that happened to be floating near him.

"So they are", I replied, nonchalantly brushing the sword away, "and they're also the equipment you two will be using. I'd tell you to take your pick, but I somehow doubt you'd be able to make apt choices, so I will be doing it in your stead."

"Milord", Charlotte spoke up, cautiously eyeing the equipment, "is there any particular reason you had chosen not to disclose the existence of this arsenal to any of us?"

"Don't take it personally, Charlotte", I said, "no one but Lady Entropy and I knew this was here. After all, if even one person knows, that will soon become everyone, and it'd be wasted effort to defend this from would-be thieves if I can simply conceal its existence entirely. Besides, it's not as if many people would particularly benefit from such a thing."

"I suppose that's logical", she admitted, nodding a few times. "Then, I suppose from this moment...?"

I sighed as I answered: "Yes, you can use a piece of equipment from here. I imagine equipment made from your own blood will feel more natural, though I think I might have a sword you'd like..." The dark chuckle that left my mouth seemed to catch her attention.

"Regardless", I said, clearing my throat, "for now, you two. Get a little closer."

The children obliged and took a few steps towards the equipment.

"Alright", I said, and I clapped my hands. "Every weapon larger than Nexu, forward!" For clarity's sake, I pointed to Nexu as I spoke.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the weapons that lined up were mostly polearms--pikes, halberds and the like--but there was no shortage of sinister-looking bows and massive black swords, either.

"Then...", I said, looking over the weapons. After some moments of consideration, I grabbed a single sword, a single pike and a single bow and placed them in front of Nexu. Of course, they remained floating in the air. "These will probably be the best fit for you", I said to him, "so pick one."

I willfully ignored the yelling of the weapons both chosen and unchosen.

"Ah, uh", he responded, "I've always wanted to be a swordsman, so I pick the sword, please!"

I grabbed the sword and pushed it into his hands. "From this moment forward", I said, "you are the wielder of Betrayal, Pledge of Treachery. Do not disappoint me, or the sword."

"Yes, sir." He admired every inch of the sword, and I myself had to admit it was quite beautiful. It was black--I presumed it was made out of Black Silver, since it was the most-used black metal--and, while its blade was thick, it had an indescribable, unexplainable sort of elegance to it. The jewels set in its hilt, rather than making it seem gaudy, simply served to make the sword look more sinister than it already did. I estimated it to be what would be called a 'greatsword' in fantasy, although its size was impractical for any world without magical enhancements.