The Celestial Forge
By: Schin Ka’Tharos
CHAPTER 3
What a great fool I was, for there were many things I should have known.
~
When Thei’esolla turned her attention to me the oppressive spiritual pressure increased tenfold. My state of bewilderment deepend and my soul felt as if it was torn open and dissected. Memories filled my mind and I desperately clung to them as they began to be ripped from me.
I could do nothing. No movement or Forging would come. No thoughts, save overwhelming fear.
“Enough!” my grandfather bellowed and a surge of power pulsed out of him tearing through everything within eyesight in a flash.
My senses and strength significantly returned to me in an instant. I then immediately became aware that Thei’esolla now stood directly in front of me, her fingers cupping my chin with a delicate touch.
She blinked twice. Shock and rage fought for control on her face for a few breaths before she suddenly calmed, winked at me, and turned to my grandfather.
“Oh I'm so sorry my dear, I’m just so used to taking what I want.” Her hand moved from my chin and went to her hip with an air of nonchalance, her other hand began to absently trace the scales along her neck. I was all too aware that she had not moved from my proximity.
“I grow tired of this. I will suffer you but little longer. Your petty games end now. Either declare your purpose here or leave.” He stared directly at Thei’esolla his voice carried a new level of authority. “Now.”
As he spoke his eyes flared with the customary dark red fire a cultivator has when Forging the Arcane.
Laughter from the silver armored man sliced through the momentary silence, his high laugh feeding the growing tension.
“Jian I don’t think you are in any position to demand anything. Before your disappearance you may have been the greatest among us, but that no longer holds true. You clearly haven't soul-forged in over a millennia. You can't even fathom the magus advancements we’ve achieved over the ages. There were more heights to climb my old friend. You have wilted over the years, while we have blossomed!”
Though his demeanor had grown serious my grandfather remained calm.
“You say you are confident in your might, but your actions betray you Anvarek. Why have you brought such numbers? And why so many new faces? What business do I have with those who stand by your side, Moonseeker?”
The man in blue and yellow magus robes standing abreast Moonseeker responded, although he did not meet grandfathers’ gaze. Since his arrival with the other seven the magus had been staring at our fire in front of our house, the one we had been doing our morning routine next to. He kept staring into it as he spoke, transfixed by its flames.
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“It is my honor to meet you Oathspeaker to the Shadows Flame, my name is Urohl. My reasons for being here are twofold. One, my curiosity to meet and see an ancient legend in person. Second, I became indebted in the past to Moonseeker and she requested that I come here today.” His voice held an ethereal musical quality to it as if many voices were saying each word together in slight song.
He finally stole his eyes away from our fire and looked at my grandfather.
“Indeed I have no business with you here today. I hope someday I may get the pleasure to sit and discuss the way of things over tea, if fate allows.” He then turned to Moonseeker. “I’ve fulfilled what you have asked and broken you through his barrier. I have no quarrel here and my debt has been repaid. I shall linger no longer”
He turned his back to go and said in parting “May your flame never go out, Oathspeaker.” With that he disappeared into the distance in a ray of light.
Grandfather nodded slightly at the Magus’s afterimage and then turned his attention to the remaining figure standing mid air with Moonseeker.
The cloaked figure’s voice emerged in stark contrast to the previous Magus, each word came harsh and guttural. “I am here to observe, that is the desire of my Order and thus also my desire. Do continue, I shall not interfere here.”
“What Order and who are you? How shall I gain confidence in your words and place my trust there?”
“You may call me Kin’doh, I am a High Judge of the Order of the Arcane.” He paused, then sighed. “By my flame, may I burn if I act in any way beyond observation here today save in need to protect my own life.”
The entire space surrounding us dimmed, the light drew into Kin’doh like water to a sponge. A resounding low “THRUMMM” range out as the oath settled onto Kin’doh.
“Will that suffice?”
“I am satisfied with the oath. Your title is unknown to me even though your Order obviously is not.” Grandfather responded. Wasting no time he turned back to Thei’esolla.
“Now that we have that resolved, let us settle what is between us, my former companions. Thei’esolla it is unexpected that that you would bring your lineage here with you and deem their life to have such little value, I guess your regard for your race is much poorer than I had rumor of.”
“Oh please, my dear Jian.” Thei’esolla purred. “Each of my babies here have surpassed your heights from long ago, and in your state you are no threat to even my royal attendants back home. If I wished it, they could subdue you on their own easily at any time.”
My grandfather began rolling his shoulders and loosening his neck, the tension in the air coming to a crescendo.
“While I am not surprised you have come, I know not exactly why you are here. Nonetheless, whatever has brought you here, you would be wise to leave now and forget your schemes. You may have gained your power and might, but you seem to have lost what little hold of the way The Way you had. Be gone, go rediscover your Path. Leave before you regret your decisions.”
I suppose, in order to understand the events that follow you must come to know a few things.
First, while my grandfather told me many stories of his youth and taught me well on the history of his time, it was never truly clear how important he was or who he had been in his stories. I had no idea of his titles, rank or other.
Second, my grandfather never Forged the Arcane (nor Celestial or Impure Essence for that matter). Not once had I ever observed him forge any Arcane essence whether in cultivation through soul-forging or through spell-forging techniques. I had always known he was an Arcane Magus of somewhat notable power but he always dismissed it as if it was a old bad habit he had given up long ago and avoided speaking of it.
Lastly, keep in mind that I will recount what transpired through my understanding and eyes as they were then. Thus, you must know what my Magus advancement and general cultivation was at that time.
The day they came for my grandfather I had yet to eat of the Celestial Rain nor had I harnessed an Eternal Flame. Many in our modern age choose the easy path to power through harnessing a flame and consuming the heavenly ore, so you may not be aware of the Martial cultivators advancements and the abilities gained through its practice. Upon reaching 5th Martial Advancement a martial cultivator kindles the natural flame within themself thus allowing them to forge albeit at significantly diminished levels compared to an Eternal Flame.
Through my natural flame, I had been forging since I was the age of ten; however I had only attained the magus level of 2rd Apprentice due to my weak flame and only soul-forging essence gathered through the natural world and not through the Celestial Rain.
Even now I believe if grandfather had desired it he could have helped me achieve a high enough advancement by that day that I could have truly been of some use. However, Grandfather had deliberately chosen a slow and methodical pacing to my training focused on fundamentals and Martial advancement first.
Thus, I was merely a helpless witness as my life was destroyed around me.
Next Chapter...
CHAPTER 4: How Strange Death Is.