Aetherblade

A sword that shapes and sharpens with aether

An aetherblade is a type of sword with a quartz core that causes the edge to be charged with aether when wielded. The aether controls the blade’s sharpness. When in use, the sword creates streaks of blue light and a humming noise in the air. Once the mark of a knight, it is now only used in ceremonies by the Armed Forces or in the sword dance.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

An aetherblade is defined by its quartz crystal core. On most types of sword, this can be found in the handle, but the expensive swords have a thin thread of quartz running the entire length of the blade. This allows the Magi user to customise the sword’s appearance depending on their fighting style. The aether energises the metal into the desired shape, be it broadsword, scimitar, or rapier.

For those who are not Magi, a button on the handle releases a burst of aether that sharpens the sword.

History

Aetherblades, particularly those with the appearance of broadswords, were an indicator of a knight in the medieval ages. Artwork of the swords would always show a streak of blue along the blade, indicating the presence of aether.

During the War of the Wolves, aether projectiles began to gain momentum, though the sword remained as a powerful symbol. By the Age of Enlightenment, projectiles were the primary weapon, and as they required less customisation to be attuned to a human user, the sword was reduced to ceremonial use only.

The Sword Dance

Saddened by this reduction, the Magi began performing a Sword Dance during the National Parade. This dance, which utilised the glow of the swords and the hum that they created, was also taken up by the human population. Today, sword dancing is a popular and very competitive sport.