The Phoenix Knight

“Hey Adamant Blade, can you get the box that says ‘old toys’ out of the attic?” An elderly woman asked her grandson who was practicing some Naname Suburi swings with his Shinai.

“Sure thing grandma” Adamant replied before taking off his Bogu.

Underneath his Bogu was teal-colored sixteen year-old boy with shoulder-length coffee-colored hair that was tied up in a ponytail and violet eyes.

“Thank you, you can bring the box down to the living room” Adamant’s grandma explained before heading to the kitchen to make some tea.

Meanwhile Adamant Blade had just placed his Shinai next to the sliding glass door which led to the backyard before heading to the hall where the entrance to the attic was and opening it.

“Now then, where is that box?” Adamant Blade thought after climbing into the attic and searching for the box.

As he was searching for the box that his grandmother requested he saw a shine of light appear from out of the corner of his eye and went to investigate it, only to find a European Longsword that was hanging on a pillar.

The sword was in a scabbard that had a maple wood body, a gold locket and chape; from what Adamant Blade could tell, the sword looked to have a golden guard with two ruby-red parts on each side with an octagon-shaped emerald in the middle, the handle was wrapped in tawny-colored leather, the pummel gold colored as well but with the word phoenix carved into it along with a gold chain coming from one side of the pommel with an orange-crimson colored feather at the end.

“Whoa, I didn’t know grandma and grandpa had this in their attic...” Adamant Blade thought as he reached for the sword without a hint of hesitation and grabbed it off of its mount.

Adamant then began to unsheathe the sword from its scabbard, revealing a blade that was thirty-six inches long and looked to be made of silver, except for the first six inches of the blade which where flame-orange that ended in a v-shape.

“This...this sword is beautiful...and its so light as well!” Adamant continued as he examined the sword when a flame-orange magic circle started growing from Adamant’s feat before stooping about a yard out from where he was standing and lighting up before disappearing.

As the magic circle disappeared a mark in the shape of a crimson-red to flame-orange bird started forming on the back of Adamant’s right hand.

“What the?!” Adamant exclaimed before sheathing the sword and heading downstairs without the box but instead with the sword in his hands.

“Adamant what's wrong?” His grandmother asked after her grandson entered the living room with a concerned look on his face.

“Okay, so I found this sword mounted on one of the pillars in the attic, so I grabbed it and took a look which I know I shouldn’t have done without your permission sorry, but anyway I drew the sword from it’s scabbard which I think caused a magic circle to form as well as this to appear on my hand!” Adamant explained as he showed his grandmother the bird-shaped mark on the back of his hand.

“I see you found it” An elderly man exclaimed from the doorway before heading to one of the recliners.

“Wait...grandpa, what do you mean I see you found it?” Adamant asked as his grandfather sat down in one of the recliners.

“Well you see, that sword you’re holding is actually a family heirloom that we were gonna give to you on your eighteenth birthday, but since you found it already and that it has already chosen you as it’s owner I might as well tell you the tale of this sword; but first take a seat” Adamant’s grandfather explained before motioning to the couch. “You see it all started with your ancestor, Coal Sparks, a magic-less man who made his living being a blacksmith however, despite his lack of magic he managed to make weapons that were on the same level as Soul-weapons.”

“Really? That’s amazing!” Adamant exclaimed as his grandfather took a sip from a cup of tea.

“Yea well one day he found an ill phoenix which we all know can regenerate itself, however this one didn’t seem to be doing so good so Coal brought the bird to a medic who explained that it had been poisoned and would need to be kept in a hot place for a couple of weeks to heal it, so Coal Sparks did just that, he put the phoenix in his forge which of coarse meant that his production of items would slow down greatly” Adamant’s grandfather explained before taking another sip of his tea and continuing. “Several weeks passed before the phoenix was back to full health and was released into the wild around Coal’s house”

“Sorry but um...how does this relate to this sword?” Adamant asked.

“Don’t worry it will soon, so anyway each week the phoenix would come by to visit Coal until a couple of months later when the phoenix noticed Coal had gotten into a mental block and was failing to create a decent item so the phoenix decided to help by infusing it’s soul into a still red piece of metal that was on the anvil, turning to ash, leaving a sole feather on it’s remains and ultimately sacrificing itself for the very man who brought it back to health months before” Adamant’s grandfather explained before finishing his tea and continuing on with the story. “Coal up seeing the creature he had saved sacrifice itself broke into tears but didn’t he didn’t let it's sacrifice go in vein so he took the piece of metal with the phoenix’s ashes still on it and worked it until it became the very Soul-weapon that you are now bound to!”

“But I thought phoenixes were immortal?” Adamant replied in confusion.

“Technically yes, however it’s a little known fact that they can choose whether or not they want to die” His grandfather explained to him. “So you see that sword is Coal’s best and last creation he ever made”

“Wow...I had no idea something like this was in our family...” Adamant replied as he looked down at the sword. “But um...why was this sword doing in the attic?”

“I didn’t want anyone to steal it” Adamant’s grandfather deadpanned. “But since it has now chosen you as it’s new master, it is now bound to you!”

“Okay...but um this may sound weird but what should I expect now that a Soul-weapon is bound to me?” Adamant asked his grandfather.

“Well that’s something for you to discover but first, didn’t you have a box to bring down to your grandmother?” Adamant’s grandfather questioned.

“Oh right, sorry grandma!” Adamant exclaimed before jumping up and rushing back to the attic to search for the box his grandmother requested.

“Heh is there really a box up there called ‘old toys’ or did you just want him to find that sword?” Adamant’s grandfather asked his wife.

“Both!” She replied before giggling.

“Great, now I have more stuff to bring on my club days, but still I'm glad to be working with you!” Adamant thought before sighing and decided to make a detour to his bedroom to drop off his soul-weapon so when he finds the requested box it’ll be easier for him to carry it down the attic ladder.

After retrieving the box labeled ‘old toys’ Adamant went to his room to not only grab a some fresh clothes for him to change into after his bath but to also find a suitable place for his new sword.

“Now then, I think I’ll name you...Crimson Feather” Adamant Exclaimed as he set the weapon by his desk.