Chapter 40: Forging the Future
The road back to Eldrin was long, but Jack's mind never rested. Every step of the journey was filled with calculations, ideas, and a burning desire to be **ready**. He had seen what lay beyond the ruins—**the Abyss stirred, and it was waiting.**
Shadow padded beside him, his golden-black flames dimmed, conserving his energy. Jack glanced down at his sword, watching the fire along the blade flicker between light and darkness. The fusion of energies within him had saved them, but it was raw, unstable. He needed control—**he needed more.**
The moment they passed through Eldrin's gates, Jack made his decision. He wouldn't just prepare for war. He would **forge** his own future.
Jack found himself deep within Eldrin's Keepers' Hall, surrounded by relics of the past. Ancient weapons lined the walls, tools of craftsmanship long abandoned. He ran his fingers over an anvil, feeling the remnants of energy still lingering in the metal. **This was where weapons of legend had been made. Now, it was his turn.**
The stranger entered, arms crossed. "You're planning something."
Jack nodded. "We can't win against the Abyss with what we have now. I need something stronger."
The stranger studied him. "You already wield a power no one has before."
Jack lifted his sword, watching the golden-black flames swirl along the blade. "This isn't enough. It's potential—but I need control. And I need to create weapons that can withstand what's coming."
Shadow huffed, stepping forward. Jack ran a hand through his fur. "That goes for both of us."
The stranger hesitated before finally speaking. "Then you'll need the lost forge."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Lost?"
"The last great forge of the Keepers," the stranger explained. "It's buried beneath the city. If you can awaken it, you might just get what you need."
Jack smirked. "Then let's wake it up."
The entrance to the forge was hidden beneath the ruins of an old armory, buried under centuries of dust and stone. Jack, the stranger, and Shadow moved carefully through the underground tunnels, their footsteps echoing off the ancient walls. The deeper they went, the more Jack could feel the heat intensifying—**the forge was close.**
They finally arrived at a massive stone door, covered in intricate runes glowing faintly with remnants of Eldrin's fire. Jack reached out, placing his hand against the surface. The moment his skin met the stone, a surge of energy pulsed through him, and the runes flared to life.
The door groaned as it slid open, revealing the lost forge.
Inside, the chamber was enormous, filled with anvils, workbenches, and smelters designed to craft weapons capable of wielding Eldrin's power. The forge itself sat in the center, a massive structure made of obsidian and gold, its core pulsing with faint embers. Jack could feel the energy waiting—**dormant, but not dead.**
Shadow sniffed the air, then let out a soft growl.
The stranger walked forward, brushing dust off an old blueprint laid across a stone table. "This place is intact," they muttered. "The tools are still here. You might actually be able to make this work."
Jack's eyes gleamed with determination. He walked to the forge, pressing his hands against its surface. Fire and shadow crackled between his fingers, responding to his presence. The embers inside the forge **stirred.**
Jack closed his eyes and let his energy flow. He wasn't just here to **use** the forge. He was here to **wake it up.**
The flames roared to life, golden and black, swirling together in a perfect dance. The lost forge of Eldrin had awakened, and now, Jack was ready to create weapons unlike any that had ever existed.
This was where he would forge the future.
**To be continued…**