Chapter 188. Behind the Smiling Façade

Eryndor’s POV

Frollo set the finely forged blade before me and ran a gloved finger along its polished hilt, where the letter V gleamed inlaid into the dark steel. He then revealed a matching leather sheath embossed with the same V, its seams stitched so neatly that it looked more like a work of art than a mere scabbard.

With a courteous nod, he handed both knife and sheath to me. I slid it behind my trousers at the small of my back, and it settled in place as if it had been custom-made for my waist. Drawing the blade was effortless—a smooth, silent motion—then returning it to its resting place was equally fluid, as though the sheath itself welcomed the metal into its embrace.

“That here isn’t just any ordinary knife,” Frollo declared with a vigorous flourish, his voice echoing through the smithy. He struck his hammer lightly on the anvil, sending a tiny shower of sparks skittering across the stone floor. “Despite all my efforts, it still feels somewhat inco