american god starters // accepting
Watching Keith approach him was one thing. For him to hold out the blade that didn’t belong to him out to Antok, it had surprised the larger man quite a bit. Had his mask been off, Keith would have seen his eyes widen, his ears perk. However, he only squared his shoulders and looked down at Keith — at the hand that was clasped around the hilt of the luxite blade that Antok had seen on his person what seemed like ages ago.
What was the Red Paladin’s reasoning? A peace offering? It was true that Antok would have preferred to take the blade from the boy and send him off with his companion, yet he’d been stubborn... and Kolivan allowed him to take the blade into their trials.
He’d earned something that recruits could only hope to earn in their years of training under the blade. Antok remembered his own — it took him several to earn the trust of the leader, his dedication, his energy, practically his life was poured into the Blade of Marmora and its cause. That an alien halfling came sauntering into the base with a blade that didn’t belong to him, only for him to take the trials spontaneously... it angered Antok more than anyone could possibly imagine, even Keith.
He didn’t earn it out of honor or years of training. It was purely dumb luck that he’d gotten it in the first place, and that it had awakened for him.
Antok eyes him quietly, wondering just exactly what he was trying to gain out of this exchange. Perhaps it was a peace offering. It wasn’t subtle that Antok hated Keith, so perhaps he wanted to end that. Or, he was simply discarding it, as he had his bayard instead. The latter option angered Antok, yet he kept silent.
“This does not belong to you.” He reiterates as he reaches out to take the blade away from Keith, albeit much less forceful than their first encounter. “Understand this, boy. This is something sacred, something earned by those that dedicate their lives to our cause. That someone had the gall to give it to you in the first place is inane. They practically threw away their life, and may as well be dead now.”
Antok holds the blade to his side, the pommel end facing Keith as it shone and reverted to its original, dormant state. “This does not make us friends, halfling. However, should you want it back, you will earn it like our recruits do with years of training. If you prove yourself to be dedicated, you may be allowed to take it again. You will not earn a free pass because you are a Paladin.”