SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS - Chapter 1008: The Sword-in-Heart!

Chapter 1008: The Sword-in-Heart!

The moon hung like a silent sentinel over the quiet sect grounds. A gentle breeze passed through the lantern-lit corridors, rustling the paper banners and carrying with it a sweet, faint fragrance of blooming night lotuses.

In the stillness of the midnight hour, a cloaked figure moved with the grace of flowing water. Shadows embraced him like an old friend. Phillip.

He had come not as the prodigy of sword arts nor as the talk of the sect — but simply as a man, following a strange flutter in his chest.

In his heart, he called it curiosity.

In truth, it was her.

He stopped at the edge of a bamboo garden, glancing at the quiet chamber that belonged to Manuka Lan, the most graceful and enigmatic disciple of the inner court. Her windows were shut. A pale blue talisman glowed faintly on the door, sealing it with a mild formation — one meant to prevent casual entry, not to deter someone like him.

Phillip stood still for a moment, then flicked his fingers gently. A sliver of sword aura brushed across the seal like a whisper. The talisman dimmed, its light extinguished.

The door opened softly.

Inside, the fragrance of sandalwood and jasmine lingered in the warm air. A few sky crystals hovered near the ceiling, casting a soft luminescence over the room. She stood by the window, her hair let down, dressed in a long silken robe of midnight blue that shimmered with stars.

She turned slowly, her eyes widening in brief surprise.

“You came…”

He stepped in and shut the door quietly behind him.

“I couldn’t sleep,” he said with a smile, “and I thought maybe… neither could you.”

Manuka Lan didn’t reply at first. She simply gazed at him with that same unreadable expression — half a smile, half a sigh — and then walked to him without another word.

When their arms met, the world faded.

For a while, time melted like snow in the sun. Their embrace was soft, wordless. She rested her head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, while his fingers gently traced the strands of her hair.

They held each other for what felt like an eternity caught in a dream — no tournaments, no masters, no sword techniques. Just the quiet closeness of two souls daring to touch.

Eventually, as their breathing evened and the warmth between them settled into comfort, Phillip leaned slightly back, his gaze thoughtful.

“I brought something…” he murmured.

From within his cloak, he drew out the Heavenly Sword — its blade wrapped in linen, but the aura still pulsing faintly like a sleeping dragon.

Manuka Lan’s eyes widened as he slowly unwrapped it.

The silver blade gleamed beneath the faint light, whispering with a quiet resonance only true sword spirits could hear. The room seemed to shift subtly, as if bowing to the sword’s presence.

“This… this is not just a sword,” she whispered, stepping forward.

Her fingers reached out almost reverently and touched the hilt where his hand still rested.

“May I…?”

Phillip nodded. Their hands met, fingers entwined over the sacred hilt. She held the blade with him, her eyes glimmering like dew under moonlight.

“So cold, yet alive… it feels like it breathes,” she said softly, her lips curving into a dazed smile. “This sword… it belongs to the heavens. And somehow… it chose you.”

Phillip tilted his head.

“Really? I just… pulled it out. Felt natural.”

She laughed softly. “That’s exactly why it’s frightening.”

Their eyes met for a lingering second before Phillip exhaled.

“By the way…” he said casually, as if remembering something. “Do you know anything about a manual called Heart in Sword?”

She froze.

The air turned still.

Manuka slowly released the hilt and stepped back, her smile fading. Her gaze turned guarded, searching his face.

“Why do you ask about that?” she said, her voice a whisper now.

“Someone mentioned it,” Phillip said, still casual. “Said it’s a treasure. Like the Heavenly Sword… same level. I figured, if it’s another artifact, I might want to look for it.”

She stared at him. A storm of emotion flickered behind her eyes.

“You… think Heart in Sword is a treasure?”

“Isn’t it?”

She looked away. Her hands trembled ever so slightly. Phillip didn’t miss it.

“You’re serious?” she asked finally.

“Yeah. I mean, if it’s on the same level as this sword, it must be something incredible, right?” He chuckled lightly. “Maybe I’ll find it lying somewhere in a cave or guarded by some formation.”

She didn’t laugh. Her lips trembled.

“If you truly obtain the Heart in Sword… no world will be able to contain your sword. You’ll become the master of sword itself. It’s not something you can hold in your hand.”

“So… it’s not a treasure?”

“It is,” she said slowly. “But it’s not an object. It’s… something else.”

She turned back to him, her voice low and emotional.

“It’s the soul behind the sword. The heart that beats for the blade. The trust between sword and wielder. The Heart in Sword

Phillip blinked.

“You mean… someone gives it to you?”

“Yes.” Her voice cracked slightly. “If someone gives you their Heart in Sword, they’re offering their everything — soul, trust, sword, fate.”

Phillip scratched his head.

“So… it’s that serious? I was just curious. If it’s not something that can be handed over, maybe I’ll skip it.”

She stepped closer now. Her expression unreadable.

“Do you… want it?”

He shrugged.

“I’m really curious, that’s all. If it’s something worth as much as this sword, maybe I should try to get it. But if not, it’s fine. I’m not desperate.”

Manuka Lan stared at him as if seeing through his bones.

“I’ll give myself… if you want. My Heart in Sword. All of it,” she said, her voice trembling with vulnerability. “Come tomorrow. I’ll give it to you.”

Phillip looked confused.

There was no formation, no treasure chest, no ancient cave involved. Just her — standing there, looking at him with eyes that shimmered with unshed tears.

He didn’t fully understand.

But he did feel her heart.

Silently, he stepped forward and hugged her from behind. Her body tensed briefly, then melted into his warmth.

He bent his head and whispered near her ear.

“Thank you.”

And then placed a gentle kiss on the curve of her neck — soft, grateful, and quiet.

She closed her eyes. The sword stood forgotten in the corner.

–

Tq!