I lifted Nihil three fingers above the supports and discovered that I disliked its balance.
The point wanted to drop. Not sharply, and not because anything inside the sword was dragging it down. More of its weight sat forward than I was used to. My wrist tried to correct by stiffening.
"Lower the elbow," Veylan said.
I did. The strain eased enough to let me notice how tightly I held the grip.
I loosened that too.
Nothing glowed. No pressure climbed through the core. Holding the dormant blade was possible. Holding it well would take work I had not done.
The keeper guided the padded tip rest beneath the point. I lowered the sword onto it, keeping the hilt in my hand. Across from me, Veylan checked the empty direction of the blade. The healer watched the plate beside my forearm.
