Magic filled the room with a loud bang and an explosion of light. I felt the book pulling on me, as if on my very spirit. I tried to look away, but my eyes were locked onto the pages, darting side to side through the words like a leaf dancing in a hurricane.

The sensation was unlike anything I had ever experienced. The words on the pages seemed to leap out, each character and diagram pulsating with an energy that resonated deep within me. It was as if the book itself was alive, its ancient knowledge seeking to bond with my very essence.

The text, though complex and in a language I couldn't read and with layers of meaning, was surprisingly comprehensible. It was as if the book was communicating directly with my spirit, bypassing the usual barriers of language and comprehension. The symbols, once alien, now felt familiar, almost as if they were part of a language I had always known but never spoken.

As I read, the room around me seemed to fade away, leaving only the book and its profound revelations. The knowledge it imparted was vast and varied, covering not just the physical aspects of blacksmithing, but also delving into deeper, more mystical realms. Pulling fire and power out from the depths of the elements to create your own forge. Your own power to change metal to your will.

A fire raged in my mind, forming like a fireball in my very spirit. Starfire raged through my veins, making me feel almost as if I could ignite the entire continent in flame.

The experience was unlike anything I had ever known. The book's words weren't just text; they were alive, pulsing with an ancient energy that resonated deep within me. As I continued to read, the sensation of the Starfire coursing through me grew stronger, more intense. It was as if the book was awakening something dormant within me, a latent power I never knew I possessed. Images continued flashing before me, similar to when I held my magical hammer for the first time.

I saw many before me, from ages and ages ago. One sat in a cave, melting the walls to get just a few specks of a magical ore. Another, melting swords of a fallen army.

The concept of pulling fire and power from the elements to create a personal forge was both exhilarating and daunting. It suggested a level of mastery over the elements, a connection to the very essence of creation and transformation. The notion of bending metal to my will through this newfound power felt both empowering and overwhelming.

As the fireball of energy within me grew, I could almost visualize the forge I would create – a place of power and creation, where metal would yield to my command, shaped by the fiery essence of the stars themselves. It was a heady, almost intoxicating feeling, this sense of potential, of untapped power. I read as the extreme heat of the starfire forge molded special metals that couldn't be shaped by mere fire.

There were sections that described the harmonization of elements, the balancing of earthly materials with these energies, and methods to forge not just weapons and armor, but artifacts that could channel and amplify elemental forces.

Then, as my eyes darted through the book's last page, the spell ended.

With a whoosh, the book slammed shut and my head snapped back, hitting the hard oak floor as dust cascaded into the air. The book skittered away behind me and hit the wall, then lay there silently.

The abrupt end to the spell was disorienting, leaving me momentarily stunned. As I lay there on the floor, a cloud of dust swirling around me, it took a few seconds for me to regain my bearings. I groaned and rolled over, rubbing my head; the impact against the hard oak floor sent a dull ache through my skull, my mind also throbbing from absorbing that much information.

I sat up slowly and looked at the book lying innocently on the floor. It appeared as it had when I first opened it: old, worn, but now, to my eyes, clearly just a book. The energy that had emanated from it was now contained in my soul.

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Suddenly, my vision changed, and I was alerted to the changes within me.

New Class Path Unlocked!

Inferno Forgemaster (from the path of Starfire)

Description: This elite class of blacksmiths combines traditional blacksmithing with mastery over extremely high-temperature forging techniques learned from the depths of the hottest places in the realm. As an Inferno Forgemaster, you possess the unique ability to manipulate and withstand incredibly high heat, allowing you to craft items with properties and strengths unattainable by conventional methods.

Additional Abilities Gained:

Molten Manipulation: Control and shape molten metals with precision, creating alloys and items of extraordinary durability and sharpness.

Flameheart Endurance: Withstand and harness extreme temperatures in the forge, enabling the use of Starfire and Volcanic forging techniques. (Fire resistance unlocked)

Thermal Infusion: Imbue your creations with thermal energies, granting them heat-based properties or enhancements.

Pyroclastic Crafting: Master the art of combining elemental fire with metallurgy to create items that are both powerful and imbued with fiery essence without the need for runes.

Special Note: This path demands constant innovation and exploration of the limits of heat and metal. Your creations will not only showcase your extraordinary skill as a blacksmith but also your ability to harness the primal forces of fire and heat.

I read the words multiple times, soaking in the information about my new path. As the mental display dissipated, I took a deep breath. As an Inferno Forgemaster, it sounded like I would push the boundaries of blacksmithing into uncharted territories, creating works that defied conventional limits. I was eager to explore this new path, to see how far my skills and creativity could take me in mastering the art of the Inferno Forgemaster.

I thought back to the man who I would be meeting in the morning and wondered if he had this path as well. My thoughts darted to Lord Timekeeper, wondering if he knew of this outcome from our trip out here.

Master opened the door and saw the mess of dust everywhere with me sitting up against the room's far wall. Master Rogue's face crept into his knowing smirk as he surveyed the scene before him. "I see you've finished."

The dust still hung in the air, reflecting the moonlight that filtered into the dim room.

"Yes," I replied, managing a small smile despite the lingering disorientation. "It was... more intense than I anticipated. You could have warned me."

He shrugged. "And ruin the fun of your first pathway tome? I think not."

Master walked over to the book, picked it up, and flipped through the non-inanimate pages.

"Wait, it's just a book now?" I said, confused.

He nodded. "About birds, it would appear. There seem to be many out here in the desert."

The book flew through the air as he tossed it at me, and I caught it, quickly opening the pages and seeing for myself.

To my eyes, there were detailed descriptions of metalworking, what temperatures to heat various metals to, diagrams of various weapons, and much more. All were handwritten in various scripts. Yet, even though there were many entries in different languages, I could read them all.

"No, not birds," I started, but Master held his hand up.

I looked at him, still confused, then back down at the book. Master Rogue watched me for a moment, his expression unreadable. "What you've experienced tonight is a glimpse into a world few have the privilege to see. Tomes like this are extremely rare and valuable. Apparently, Lord Timekeeper has thought it just to allow you to have one. Why, I have no idea. Apparently, we will have a need for high-temperature forging if my knowledge of the desert blacksmiths serves me right. This book," he gestured towards it, "is a key, but only you can unlock its full potential. Your path as a blacksmith, as a wielder of the Starfire, is yours to discover."

He sat on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath, then kicked his shoes off onto the floor. "But it's late. You took longer to read it than I thought you would. So with that, I suggest you get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow. Better make our enormous expense worthwhile!"

I nodded, understanding the importance of learning whatever I could from the lesson tomorrow. "Thank you, Master," I replied, setting the book beside me with care. The mysterious tome, now just an ordinary-looking book about birds to any other eyes, beckoned, but I didn't pick it up. I was completely drained.

I watched as Master Rogue settled himself on the bed, settling into his strange sleeping position on his back with his arms crossed like the nightwalkers of legends. I settled onto the floor and closed my eyes, the Starfire Weaving and the impending day's activities swirling in my mind. The room was quiet, save for the gentle breathing of Master Rogue and the distant, soft sounds of the night in Oasis.

In a few moments, I drifted off to sleep.