The hall was quiet again. Dust floated through the air where Duke had stood moments ago. The floor was cracked from the force of his blow. Everyone still stared at Thomas as if he had turned into something else entirely.Thomas looked down at his hands, still trembling. The blue glow was gone, but he could almost feel it under his skin, like something alive was still there, waiting.Jerry touched his shoulder gently. “Thomas… you scared me, man. What was that light? What did you do?”Thomas opened his mouth but no words came out. He didn’t know. He just remembered the screen, the words from the system, and how the blade had formed like it had always belonged to him.“I don’t know,” he said finally, his voice low. “It just… happened.”Master Iverson stood by the door, his eyes unreadable. For a moment, Thomas thought he saw pride — but also worry. Deep worry. “Go home and rest,” Master Iverson said. “Tomorrow night, we talk. Alone.”Thomas nodded. The way his master said alone made his