The egg-shaped device was a few dozen feet tall and half that wide. The ovoid’s thick end was in the air. It hummed to life while Triolux concentrated on the book. He hummed a little tune in the back of his throat that resonated around us.

“What’s the tune?”

Triolux looked at me and somehow waggled his eyebrows, but didn’t answer.

“Part of the work. The Shaper's Forge requires it."

He nodded and grinned back at the book. Triolux lifted one hand in the air and traced a pattern, then another. The big egg-shaped machine glowed, and the front split and opened. Tubes around the room lit up. Most of them disappeared into the floor, but I guessed they connected to the forge from underneath.

Light rippled like water inside the egg, twisting and bending into impossible shapes. Metal flowed through the air in ribbons, fed from below, weaving together in patterns I couldn't follow. The machine pulsed with each new addition, sending waves of color through the chamber.

"This is beyond… wow. Just wow." I stepped closer, drawn to the intricate dance of materials. This was the most impressive 3d printer I had ever seen. Ever thought could exist.

Triolux kept humming, his fingers moving in precise patterns. The metal streams changed direction, braiding themselves into thick cords and flat panels.

From the egg's opening, a large saddle slowly slid out, its surface gleaming. The leather parts looked supple, and the metal fixtures were solid and bright. It could easily seat four people, with room for supplies.

"Perfect." Triolux stepped back from his work. "The old machines never fail. Well, hardly ever."

“How in the world did it do that?”

Triolux looked up, spread his hands, and said, “Magic."

“Okay," I said with a laugh.

“We ferrokin mastered materials thousands of years before the sundering.”

“Okay, so you…” I thought out loud. “You control things at a molecular level. You can mold things to your will within.”

"I don't know what that mean." Triolux shrugged. "The leather you see. It was in—what did you call it? Suspended…”

“Animation.”

“Aye. The device reassembles it as needed by the blueprint. Tubes run to storage units. The units were full when we slept. We have huge stockpiles of materials, like the leather you see here."

"Incredible." I breathed, then said, "How are we supposed to move this thing?" I asked, eyeing the heavy saddle. "It must weigh hundreds of pounds."

"I can handle it."

"But wait—you said the ferrokin were ethereal now. How can you-"

"Ah." Triolux's gem-like eyes met mine. "I've decided to leave my ethereal form behind. To become physical again. It's time to rejoin the world above. I’ve been making the transition since I decided it was time to return to the surface world.”

“That is amazing, and you are a very strange creature, Triolux.”

“Oh? You’re one to talk. You’re not even of this world.” He paused and put his hands on his hips. “I suppose I also am not of the world. The one above. I wish to learn all about your world once we are beneath the sky. I suspect some of my kin will follow as they awaken. That could take dozens of your years."

"I hope you're not doing all this because of me."

Triolux's laugh echoed off the walls. "The moment I met you, I knew it was time to walk in the sun again. That was my choice.”

“Will you live long? I mean, up there?”

“I suppose that depends on the state of the world. Are there any wars or impending sunderings? Any confluences of world altering events about to occur?”

“You’re in luck. The most recent threat to the world was defeated. You saw him a few minutes ago when I helped power up the Earthheart. Dark Lord Morthisal was a necromancer of immense power. He led the green skinned races and tried to take over the world. Now, his body houses me. And I am a simple tavern owner.”

Triolux threw his head back and laughed. “There is nothing simple about you, friend Varix. Do you know what happened to this Morthisal once he was cast out of his body?"

"All I know is that he slid into mine on my world and sent me here. He's going to find it pretty difficult to get anything done from there. At least on Mythralon, I was able to assume a disguise and feign a head injury. Something very close to the truth, as I had no idea how any part of this world worked."

"You seem to have done alright for yourself. You're alive," Triolux said thoughtfully.

"That I am. Thank you."

The saddle finished printing. Before the forge's doors shut, Triolux returned to the book. “I must bring one more creation with me. Give me a moment.”

Triolux moved to the book and flipped to the very front. His hum filled the chamber, deeper and more resonant than before. The sound pulled at something in my chest, like a prayer or plea carried on the notes. The machine's doors sealed with a hiss, and a shimmer danced across its surface.

The egg pulsed with light. Unlike the saddle, this creation took much longer.

Triolux stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Are you printing something larger?" I asked.

"No," he said. "Something much smaller, but more complex.”

I looked around the vast workshop again, taking in the soaring ceiling and countless machines. "How did you make this city underground? Do you have larger machines like the Shaper's Forge?"

"The city wasn't built here," Triolux said. "We brought it underground to protect it."

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"You brought an entire city underground? How?"

"We broke it down to its essence," he said. "Like sand through an hourglass, we pulled it apart piece by piece, grain by grain. The process drained our resources and consumed vast amounts of power. We sank it thousands of feet, deep into the earth's embrace, then rebuilt it all again from those countless grains."

"But I thought the dragon crashed here during the Sundering?"

Triolux looked down at his feet. "Time is a straight path, friend. When you look back, the road seems like it could not have taken so long to reach the end, yet the end stretches on and on. Yes, the city was brought here, and we lived as we could, but as the world above burned, we grew increasingly distraught that it might never end." He shook his head. "The Sundering stretched across centuries, reshaping everything in its wake. The world died and was reborn again and again. Somewhere in those long years, Frostfire fled the chaos above. She crashed into our city and became tangled in our fate."

The significance of his words settled over me. Centuries. Millennia. The few decades I had lived felt minuscule. They say you should live in the moment. What if a moment is filled with nothing but fire and destruction?

The machine finished humming, and the doors parted and opened without a sound. Triolux peered inside, reached into the forge, and pulled out a fist sized ovoid that was similar to the Shaper's Forge.

"That's it?"

Triolux nodded and placed it in a pocket. Then he grabbed the saddle by the front and dragged it out of the room as if it weighed as much as a barstool. It scraped along the floor, leaving furrows in the thin layer of dust. I moved behind to helpfully push, but truth be told, he didn't need it.

"How is this place so clean after all this time?" I couldn't help but ask.

"It is not all that clean. The failing of the Earthheart has allowed dust to settle."

"Oh," said. I turned to look at the furrows the sled was leaving, but they were already healing and the path flattening out again. "This is an amazing city, Triolux."

"Aye. But if you think this is impressive, wait until it is fully awake and the other ferrokin have awakened."

"Will it be brought back to the surface?"

Triolux shrugged. "No need." He lengthened his stride, and I had trouble keeping up with him as he yanked the saddle back to the dragon's location.

As we made our way back, Triolux dragging the saddle with ease, I caught sight of Elixander and Seraphina standing close. Their heads were bowed together, voices low amidst the quiet hum of the underground city.

"...and no matter where you came from or how you came to be here, you will always be my daughter, Seraphina," Elixander said.

I stopped short, not wanting to intrude. The tenderness in his voice was sincere. Triolux glanced at me but stayed silent. I took a step back, giving them space.

Seraphina lifted a hand to her cheek and wiped away a tear. When she glanced our way, a soft smile spread across her face.

"Is that the saddle?" she called out.

"It is," Triolux replied, stepping forward. "We'll need some assistance getting it fitted."

Frostfire, the massive dragon, turned her head toward us. "Perhaps I can make it easier," she said. "If I roll onto my side?"

Her size and beauty still took my breath away. I stood there like an idiot while Triolux bustled around like he had the ability to hang out with dragons every day.

"That would be most helpful," Triolux agreed.

The dragon lowered herself gracefully, the ground trembling slightly as she settled onto her side. Her scales caught the city's light, shimmering like a sea of sapphires. I hadn't noticed it before, but intricate tabs jutted out along the saddle's bottom. I pointed them out. "Will those-"

"Aye. They are designed to interlock seamlessly with Frostfire's scales."

"This craftsmanship is incredible," I said. "It's like it was made just for her."

Triolux chuckled. "In a way, it was."

Together, we maneuvered the saddle into position. The tabs clicked into place between the dragon's scales, each one fitting perfectly. Frostfire watched us with patient eyes.

"All secure?" she asked.

"Think so," I replied, giving the saddle a final pat.

She rolled back onto her stomach and flexed her wings slightly. "Ah. This feels snug. Not irritating."

Elixander swayed ever so slightly as he took a step toward Frostfire. The strain from his earlier magic obviously still lingered. I moved beside him.

"Let me help you up," I offered.

He met my gaze, hesitating for a moment before he nodded. "Thank you, Varix. I… I don't know what to say to you. Today has been most… well… unusual." He stammered as if trying to find the right words. "I should very much like to speak privately with you at some point. I may have some ideas to assist you with your problem."

"Thank you, Elixander. I would like that."

Frostfire lowered her head to the ground, her neck forming a gentle slope. I steadied Elixander as he climbed, his grip firm but showing the slightest tremble. Once he was settled, Seraphina followed, her movements light and fluid.

"Where should we sit?" I asked.

"I'll guide from the front," Triolux said, climbing nimbly into position. "The rest of you can arrange yourselves as you see fit."

"I'll sit between you two," Seraphina said, taking a spot between her father and me.

I climbed up last, settling in behind her. The saddle was spacious and designed for comfort and stability. Seraphina glanced back at me, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the subterranean light. She took my hand in hers while the other gripped the guard.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Ready."

Triolux stood tall at the front, turning back toward the city. He raised a hand and spoke in a flowing language, the words a melodic blend of sounds I couldn't place. The air seemed to tremble with each syllable.

Elixander tilted his head and quietly said, "I've studied many tongues, but that one eludes me."

Triolux finished his farewell, his gemstone eyes shining. "Farewell for now, city of our ancestors."

Frostfire stretched her wings, the vast membranes unfurling. "Hold on," she advised.

With a powerful leap, she lifted off the ground. I gulped as we tookoff. It was one thing to sit in a plane in my old world, secured in a giant tube, the only moving air coming from the sad little fans that sat overhead. Now, I was subjected to a sudden rush of wind that pressed against us as we soared upward. Below, the ancient city began to shrink, its grand structures bathed in ethereal light.

We ascended through enormous caverns, the walls adorned with gleaming crystals and strange rock formations. Frostfire navigated with ease, tilting her wings to catch hidden currents. In wider spaces, she spread her wings fully, gliding effortlessly. When passages narrowed, she folded them close, her body weaving through tight gaps.

At one point, the ceiling dipped low, the rocky archway barely accommodating her wingspan. We all hunched instinctively, holding our breath as she squeezed through.

"Well done," Triolux praised.

"Old habits," Frostfire replied.

A glow appeared ahead, growing brighter with each beat of her wings. The sea's crisp scent mingled with the caverns' damp air. Suddenly, we burst into the open. I raised a hand to shield my eyes as the dawn painted the sky in hues of gold and rose.

Below us, towering cliffs met the roaring ocean, waves crashing against jagged rocks. The vast expanse of the sea stretched out, and a few specks dotted the ocean that were probably ships.

Elixander leaned forward. His voice carried away by the wind as he spoke to Frostfire. She dipped her head in understanding and adjusted her flight path.

"Look down there," Seraphina said, pointing.

Along the coastline sat a charming city, its busy docks even at this early hour. White sails billowed in the harbor, and narrow streets wound up from the shore.

"That's Stormcrest Bay," she told me.

"It's beautiful," I replied.

She reached over, her fingers finding mine. Our hands intertwined, and she offered a smile that warmed me more than the rising sun. "We should visit it and stay for a few days. I think you'll like it."

"Anytime, Seraphina."

Frostfire caught some wind and ascended higher. With open skies above, she picked up speed, her wings cutting through the air as we sped toward Everspring.

THE END OF PART ONE