Anatol smiled as she met Ackster's eyes.
"I don't mind. I'm very patient, what with having spent an eternity as a sword and all."
Ackster nodded
"That's a relief. It would suck to have to fight you as soon as I woke up."
"Can't admit you're afraid you'd lose?" Anatol smirked.
Ackster shook his head.
"Nope. It would be a shame to have to destroy such a good sword."
Anatol's face stiffened. That hadn't gone as well as she thought.
"Is that all? You don't want to lose your sword? You aren't afraid of losing or destroying the world?"
Ackster shrugged.
"Not really. I don't see a future where either of those two alternatives becomes reality."
"Damn."
Ackster spoke with such clarity and confidence in his voice that Anatol couldn't doubt him, even if his words sounded like something that might come from someone suffering from delusions of grandeur.
