"..." Vincent was silent, before sighing heavily and taking his phone out of his pocket.

My dear, that would take a bit of a lengthy explanation. he sent her.

How tired are you? he then asked.

Do you think you can stay awake to hear about what's happening?

Vincent was silent and still for a moment.

Pretty much. he then sent.

One side needs to assert dominance over the other. Neither side can ever truly be gone, but one side needs to become the dominant side over the other. he continued.

And, sadly, there's not much we can do about it to help you. he then told her further.

This situation is an extremely rare occurrence. To put it lightly.

Again, Vincent sighed, before he got closer towards her, and waited until she was looking at him.

"That blade has been considered a cursed blade." he told her.

"Everyone that has wielded that blade in the past has died in... well, various ways." he said. "Some horrific, some mysterious, some graphic, some brutal. But they all seemed to be drained of their energy." he went on.

"So we assumed that the blade would kill anyone who held it." he continued. "Because we didn't want to experiment, frankly." he then admitted.

"However, looking back on it, all the recorded deaths of those that held it were mages... and it wasn't their energy that was being drained, it was their mana, specifically." he went on.

"And now we know it's because that blade is enchanted with... well... mana, ironically, to absorb mana. You have hunter 'DNA' in you, so it's recognizing you as a proper wielder. So, you will not suffer the fatal mana drain."

Ash just shrugged.

"Do whatever you want." he said.

"Least now I have answers." he reasoned.

"...this has been very trying on you, hasn't it?" Vincent asked.

"No comment." Ash responded.

"I have responsibilities. I can't afford to have a breakdown."

"I will be." Vincent responded.

That's when Demi received a text.

Yeah, sure. it read.

Just gimme the details and such. As well as a schedule and stuff. the next one said.

"Well, at least we know." Ash commented.

"And you have a new sword." he told Desiree.

Vincent was silent, before gently placing a hand on Desiree's shoulder.

"Things will get better." he told her.

"I promise." he said, before stepping back and vanishing as well.

He then appeared in the Council building, and made his way to a closed door, which had a 'do not disturb' sign on it. He sighed when he saw it, before knocking on it anyway.

The one that was behind the door needed to know what he had to say.

Vincent just sighed, and knocked yet again.

"Hollie, please." he said.

"I need to speak with you. NOW." he told her.

"There are two VERY pressing issues that you need to know about." he went on.

"Please. I assure you these are of the utmost importance."

"A missing artefact?" Vincent asked.

"Hm." he said, closing the door behind him.

"Missing artefact, missing artefact..." he repeated, mumbling to himself and thinking about it, seeming to mull it over in his mind.

"Ah." he said.

"I assume you are referring to the cursed blade?" he asked her.

"If so, then all the information I have is regarding it." he told his sister.

"......." Vincent was silent, and blinked his eyes.

"Oh dear." he said.

"That's... troublesome." he muttered.

"Regardless, yes, well, the blade has been found." he told her.

"And it is, not, in fact, 'cursed'.' he reported. When she raised an eyebrow, he sighed.

"It's enchanted with some very potent Hunter runes." he informed her.

"Until now." Vincent replied.

"And to say how this was discovered is... a very mixed blessing." he told her.

"The blade would have drained Demitra to death. It would have done the same for Ashley, had he touched it." he went on, before pausing.

"But Desiree, his adoptive daughter... said the blade 'called to her'." he continued.

"When she picked it up, not only did the weapon not drain her, the hidden runes on it started to glow."