Annalise couldn't help but feel overwhelmed as she clutched the rainbow-colored branch in her hand. Its surface shimmered with an ethereal light, and she could sense the ancient power contained within. Beside her, the massive bag of rare magical treasures sat like a daunting puzzle waiting to be solved. She hadn't expected her journey to obtain a weapon to be such a complex and taxing endeavor.
"The weapon isn't going to create itself for you. How about you stop sulking and start working?" came the very much unwelcomed voice of the King of Darkness, Esmeray. He had a knack for appearing at the most inconvenient moments, and his presence never failed to unnerve Annalise, especially in the current moment when he was the last person she wanted to talk to.
