There is only one way out of Bridgegarde, The Blackbridge. Before I left the city, I’d only seen it from afar. But when I was finally on it, the sheer grandeur of it astonished me. It provided the much-needed mental distraction I needed during that time. The gates of Bridgegarde were equally grand and breathtaking. But when I reached the Moltengates of the main continent, I couldn’t move.
I had seen many artists and their art at Bridgegarde but the work before my eyes was above art. I’ve heard before that this divine piece was made by a “god” but laying my eyes upon it overwhelmed my senses. For a moment, I had forgotten that a ruby had taken my parents' life. When I came back to my senses and realized the irony, my anger paralyzed me. But I didn’t have the luxury to be angry, I suppressed my anger and passed the crimson gates.
I needed to know more about gemcraft and how it affects Gemsoil. Deep inside I knew that I only wanted to reinforce my anger but what was left of my mother inside me didn’t want me to give in to that anger. During my time in the scorched part of the main continent, I decided that getting a job was the best way to get that knowledge.
Construction of roads and tunnels was the main focus of most companies in the scorched lands. Ruby, the Eji’derr that charred half of the continent, was a master builder and architect. Naturally, rubies tried to follow their smug god’s way. Gemcraft of rubies wasn’t just spewing flames of doom, some of them could terraform and shape stones, even mountains. But because using the red gemstone took a heavy toll, those who were adept with such gemcraft started companies. They would leave unskilled labor parts of the job to their workers while they would use their gemcraft only when it was necessary.
The company I joined was named Hotroad. It was a company that specialized in short-distance roadways. Though working there allowed me to learn more about gemcraft and to see how gemcraft improved our lives, those became minor experiences when I met the Ruby.
The Eji’derr visited me while I was alone during my shift. The endlessly long serpentine body slithered around the construction site. In just a few seconds it covered the site like a dark red dome. The obsidian-scaled body then turned into solid pitch-black stone and a figure dripped down in front of me like magma. It molded itself to a feminine body with hair of flowing lava. Golden jewelry covered its body, reflecting the smoldering red light coming from her hair. It still had a tail, covered with igneous rocks. It spoke to me in a high-pitched, humiliating voice.
“Pretty eyes, diamond. Though sloppy work.”
My inner conflicts got so loud that I barely understood its words. But my curiosity and desire for answers stood against my anger. I took a deep breath to calm down and tried to get the most out of this opportunity.
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“Dad always said that I took my mother’s eyes… I’m here for research not craft.”
Ruby gave me a look that still haunts me to this moment after my answer. All of my being wanted to run but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t. I just needed to know. It followed up the stare with smug words.
“Took them indeed, diamond. I know why you are here… and what happened in Bridgegarde. As transparent as you are reflective Aine. My condolences to you. To show that I mean what I just said, I will answer a single question of yours.”
Rage washed over me. I shouted only to be cut off by the divine being.
“I don’t need your pity, you arrogant lizard. If you think such thing will win me over-”
The rocks on its tail melted to reveal flaming hot spikes covered in magma. It swung its tail towards me but the spikes stopped just before my throat. The humanoid form of Ruby crossed its arms and looked at me with passionate eyes.
“You can try to deceive me all you want diamond but at least don’t lie to yourself. I can see everything behind those eyes. Loss, sadness, grief… there is not even a trace of them inside you. You are boiling with desire, power, and anger. Once you understand something, you can dominate it. And that is what you really want… Oh and, call me a lizard again and I will show you what real gemcraft looks like.”
I knew its words were just baiting me into what I’d been trying to get away from. I was still a young man back then but even I had enough self-control to not get myself killed for my arrogance. I didn’t flinch and replied with stillness it didn’t want me to have.
“Then show me. My question is: What exactly is gemcraft?”
My reply was confident. But in reality, I was moments away from passing out from fear. Ruby was definitely humored by it because instead of ending me right there, it burst into laughter. The tail also pulled back, laying still behind the creature.
“I expected nothing less, diamond! Very well… I shall give you a glimpse of what gemcraft really is.”
Ruby extended its hand towards me with the palm facing upwards. It created a flame as big as its hand. This simple speck of fire was much different than the gemcraft I saw before. I always saw a wave inside gemcraft but this didn’t have any movement at all. It was pure. As if my vision was foggy and blurry before, I could now see clearly. Ruby’s condescending words barely reached me.
“Now that you see it, you can understand it. I’m looking forward to seeing you dominate it… diamond. Don’t disappoint me.”
The Eji’derr left while my eyes were doing their best to adjust to this new layer of reality. I still do not know why that selfish lizard decided to grant me a wish, not that I expect these gods to be reasonable beings. Back then I didn’t even question its motives in the slightest because I was too busy playing around with my new sight. However this new perspective didn’t help me understand, it only created more questions and confusion.
I left the company soon after my encounter with Ruby. Threadseeker, a massive gemcraft-powered ship that transports people all around Gemsoil, was stationed at the scorched lands. The next stop was Miragepalace, but it was the ship itself that interested me. I bought a ticket in the hopes of finding some answers.