Vincent storming out of the room shortened the duration of the meeting. Well also because they had nothing else to discuss except ponder on ways to better the village situation.
Nonetheless, Mikeal decided to blame it on Vincent so he could cover up for his shortcomings about not being able to provide a quick and easy solution to the matter on the ground.
"Are you okay". He asked, getting up from his seat to face Anna.
She stood behind him for the whole duration of the meeting and she did so without moving a muscle or even attracting his attention to her presence. She made herself near invincible.
Mikeal appreciates the show of loyalty, but her excessive display to the cause is turning out to be a burden to him. Mentally.
He freed the room by dispersing the chairs and tables he had conjured up using his vines. Now that the room was free, Mikeal drew the inscription with his blood and resummoned Siveth.
"You still haven't gotten the hang of summoning me without drawing the inscription on the floor first". So says Siveth, appearing at the centre of the inscription.
The necessity of the inscription can be done away with if Mikeal could assimilate the pattern in his mind. That way, if he wants to summon Siveth all he would have to do is draw the pattern in his mind and stroke his palm with his blood.
That was the easiest process for calling on a spirit summon.
In Mikeal's defence, the inscription is far too complicated for him to easily draw in his mind. He requires concentration that he can only get when he draws it physically.
"I will excuse you both, my lord". Anna exclaimed, about to make her way out of the room.
"You don't have to do that. I am reluctant about showing Siveth to the villagers, not to you".
They seemed pretty cool with Mikeal as a sorcerer, but what say having a wild animal around them?! Mikeal does not want to spring up one surprise after another.
Besides, there is no telling how they will take Siveth's appearance. Some might think it's a good thing and others?...
Let's just say Mikeal is still in the process of forming his reputation. He doesn't want to add to the already-done damage.
"Siveth, there is something else I forgot to tell you".
The wood beneath Mikeal's feet rose like a picked-up cane. It unpeeled itself and revealed a glistening katana before them.
Mikeal commanded the wood back to its position and picked up the katana before it fell on the floor.
"I fought?... Or rather I came across an opponent who was able to cut my vine, and they did it using this sword. Is there anything special about it".
Calling it a fight when it was one-sided gave too much credit to the bandit leader. He is underserving of such credit.
When Mikeal's vines clashed with Marcus's flame sword, it did nothing to the vines. Marcus had to resort to using a skill before he could cut his vine down.
Then there is this katana he is holding! This sword withstood several of his vines and even cut it down. Under normal circumstances, he would have assumed the bandit leader to be a mage, but that isn't it.
The bandit leader was too weak to be called a mage and Mikeal did not sense any mage-like energy coming from him.
On the other hand, there is this sword he is holding. He can't say precisely what, but he can feel a vague energy radiating off of the sword.
Mikeal is almost certain this isn't a normal sword.
"Where did you get that from". Siveth queried, getting closer to the sword.
"From a down-to-earth scummy guy. So tell me, is there anything special about it".
"special?! Special is that girl over there with an ability to slay three assassins while being ordinary herself. This is beyond special, this is... Mind-blowing".
'Did she just praise Anna or was that something else'. Mikeal mused, going back to the topic at hand.
"So it is special".
"Aren't you listening to me".
"I am. And your explanation is confusing. Is it different from a normal sword? Yes or no is the answer and if it's a yes, then explain why it is so. Don't just give me a confused rundown of praises that I don't get".
Siveth sighed after Mikeal had pointed out the suspenseful mood she was putting him in.
"I suppose you are right". She says.
"This is no ordinary sword. It is a weapon crafted using the rarest mineral on the planet, a mana stone".
"You mean like a stone with mana inside of it". Mikeal breaks it down.
"Something akin to that. Mana stones are one of the many wonders of nature that can only be found in places with ridiculous amounts of mana concentration".
"The mana stones can be harvested and refined to make all sorts of equipment, be it accessories, clothing, gems, and specifically weapons".
She stroked the bladed side of the katana with her paw before resuming her explanation.
"The result of a processed mana stone is what is known as enchantments. Objects with mana imbued in them". She added.
To her explanation, Mikeal hummed before asking.
"Why would mages go to such lengths to create an enchantment when they are a living embodiment of that". Mikeal queried.
She called the stone one of the rarest minerals, an object with great difficulty to find. Why would the mages waste their resources on that?
As mages, they are pretty much the phenomenon themselves and this sword isn't that fascinating of an item to warrant Mikeal spending every disposable resource in search of it.
"Because mages aren't the ones using the mineral, the ordinary folks are".