Yeah, as a novice you'll die right quick with a blade to the heart without treatment, don't matter what kind of blade it is. You're still alive, after all. A vampire can shake something like that off—dread blades make it trickier, but if you can get 'em healed fast enough, they'll keep kicking.

[ Unfortunately, his patience for this line of questions is drawing short. He gives Harlock a Look. ]

This ain't Courtsheart 101, kid. Dread blades are exclusive to the Black Court. And I don't mean novices—no black blood, no black blade.