Irwin stared at the chain and the massive gem that hung from it.

"So this isn't the Linchpin?" he said, pointing at the gem.

"Nope. It's the chain. Fools them every time," Ambraz said, sounding smug. "If you clear it, you'll be the first to do so since the start."

"And that was-"

"A little over eighty years ago, yes," Ambraz hummed. "Now, are you going to repeat everything I just told you or start cutting away the chain?"

Irwin blinked and looked at the chain again. It didn't look very special, just a leg-thick, rusty set of interlocking links. He slowly nodded, thinking about possibly getting a card, finishing this stupid test portal, and finally getting some food and rest, which all sounded perfect. A tiny voice warned him that Jonathan might not just let him stop after this.

"Good! Then get to it!"

"About that card?" Irwin said, looking at Ambraz.

"Yes, yes. You break the chain and pick me up before you get transported back out, and you will get a card!" Ambraz said.

"But, how can you even come with me?" Irwin muttered. "Doesn't everything, including my clothing, reset?"

"Ugh… yes! It does, but I'm special, alright?"

"And what do I do after I get you out? Do I keep you, or-"

"I'm not some pet dog!" Ambraz snapped, startling Irwin with the anger in his voice.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"Yes. You should be," Ambraz snapped. "No. You don't get to keep me. But I might stay around if you want to become a smith! If you do, we can talk later. If you don't, I'll leave to search for someone with potential that does."

"You can walk?" Irwin asked, gaping at the massive thing and imagining it with legs.

"Wa- What? No, of course not! I can fly!"

Irwin's mouth fell open as he pictured the massive thing with wings.

Didn't he say something about shrinking?

"We have less than an hour remaining. Unless you want to go through the trouble of coming here again?" Ambraz asked, sounding exasperated.

Irwin looked at the chain, then at his flame, and knew Ambraz was right. He stepped forward, still unsure if he could trust the Anvil but deciding it was worth the risk. If for nothing else than for an extra card!

Hoping he was doing it right, he pressed the tip of his flame against one of the links. Nothing happened, and he frowned.

"Wait for it to heat up. Don't you know anything about metal?" Ambraz said angrily.

"Only that it's hard and used to create loads of things," Irwin said.

"Oh. Really? You don't know more?" Ambraz asked, sounding confused. "What do they teach you in school?"

Unsure what that had to do with anything, Irwin's eyes widened as he saw the link turn red.

"How cards work, the basics of farming, building roads, and working with the different tools the crafters use," Irwin muttered, no longer paying attention to the Anvil but staring at the link that was turning a crimson red.

"No numbers? Languages? Reading?" Ambraz asked.

"What? No, that's for the nobles and the kids of the richer crafters," Irwin said, looking up in surprise. "Why would I need to learn that?"

"You…. can't read?" Ambraz whispered, making it sound like the most horrible thing in the world.

Irwin shook his head, then cocked it as he recalled something. "Well, I know the letters for my name. Mum taught me last year," he said.

"Your mother can read and write?" Ambraz snapped, sounding angry.

Before Irwin could reply, a hissing sound came, and he focused back on the chain. The link was a bright white where his flame touched it, yellow and orange around the edges, while other links attached to it were glowing. Drops of white, molten metal dripped down onto the ground.

"That is one interesting card you have there," Ambraz whispered. "I'd expected this to take hours, maybe even too long… but just like this? It must have a mutation..."

A mutation?

Irwin didn't know how to respond to that, and for a few minutes, they both looked in wonder as the link slowly dripped down until only a small bit remained.

"Oh! Right! Listen, as soon as that link breaks, this chain is going to roll down. I'll change to my small size, hover before you, and you need to grab me. Don't hold back, or I will just get reset like the rest of this infernal place!"

Irwin nodded, getting ready when he thought of something. "What will happen to Black Scale?" he asked.

"What? Who? Oh! The snake! It will remain here, I suppose," Ambraz said, sounding uninterested. "Now, pay attention! Here goes!"

Irwin licked his lips just as the final bit of the link snapped. As soon as it did, a gong echoed from nowhere and everywhere simultaneously, and a humming sound permeated the entire cavern. The chain rattled down the Anvil, but before it could even hit the ground, there was a flash, and Ambraz was gone. In its place, a tiny Anvil with silvery wings hung in the air.

"Quick," a soft voice piped, and Irwin grabbed the Anvil.

Ambraz was barely the size of a coin, easily fitting in the palm of his hand. He pressed the small Anvil against his chest as the world shimmered and wobbled around him. A chime sounded, and then a portal appeared, together with a force, pulling him towards it. Mechanically, he dug his heels into the ground and leaned back.

"Hurry. Hide me and get in," Ambraz whispered.

Irwin blinked, then stuffed Ambraz and his hand into his shirt. He stopped resisting and stepped forward. The closer he got to the portal, the stronger the pull, and then he was sucked in. Darkness surrounded him, shadowy purple tentacles and enormous eyes everywhere. He felt something within inches of himself, and then there was a chime, like metal on metal, and the tentacles rushed away as if stung. He caught a flash of a star-filled blackness, then there was a white light, and he dropped to the ground on the tiles of the tower.

Jonathan and the others were standing a few steps, gaping at him. The repeated sound of a bell came from further down the hallway, seeming agitated.

The hand he'd put in his shirt was now beside his body, and he felt the tiny shape of Ambraz in his hand. He kept both hands clenched but still to hide that he was holding something. Putting the tiny Anvil away now would draw way too much suspicion. Instead, he lowered his balled fists and swallowed, glad to find that his clothes were restored.

"Hi," he muttered lamely.

"How… how, by all the cards, did you do that!" Jonathan shouted, his voice starting soft and ending in a shout as he pointed behind Irwin.

Irwin flinched and slowly turned, afraid that Ambraz had lied and that the portal had vanished. Luckily, the red swirling portal remained. What had changed was a tiny card with a flame and the name Irwin that had appeared in the stone next to the door frame together with the number one.

So much for pretending nothing had happened.

"I found the Linchpin," he said, noting something shimmering at the top of the portal. The symbol was blinking rapidly.

"Yes! I know! How did-" Jonathan roared.

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"Jonathan, enough!" a sharp voice cut him off, and Jonathan went from red-faced and angry to pale and gaping faster than Irwin had ever seen anyone go.

Lady Yrinta came pacing towards them, another pair of guards almost running to keep up. She glared at Jonathan, showing no sign of stopping as she walked toward him. Jonathan began backing up until he had his back against the wall.

"I only just warned you! You know the rules! The secrets of the training portals are not to be discussed except with the sorcerers. How dare you attempt to force someone who doesn't know better into giving you classified information," she snapped, stabbing him in the chest with her finger.

Jonathan had turned even paler than before, and he kept looking around as if searching for a way to escape.

"I told you only a few hours ago I'd keep an eye on you, and you didn't take me seriously? Fine! Report to the portal expedition room. Branner, guide him there and tell Grundig that Jonathan is to be reminded of what we do here. One year of clearing out the hardest uncommon portals will hopefully help with your foggy mind!"

"No, please," Jonathan whispered.

"No begging. Now get out of my sight before I decide to expel you!"

Jonathan shivered, but he didn't say anything. He stared at the ground and stepped around Lady Yrinta. One of the guards was waiting for him, white teeth flashing in a grin behind his beard before guiding him away.

"Oh, and Jonathan. Hand over their items," Lady Yrinta snapped.

Jonathan shuddered as if struck. He seemed to hesitate before pulling out the different things the group had left with him and dropping everything on the ground. Then he walked away.

Olban rushed forward, snatched up his amulet, and quickly placed it around his neck. The guard was frowning at him but said nothing as he picked up the other items and moved back.

Irwin barely noticed as he gaped after Jonathan, not able to process what had just happened. He'd worried about how to get away from Jonathan, how to-

"And you!" Lady Yrinta snapped as she stomped towards him, staring at him with a frown. Irwin froze and knew it was now him that was turning white as a sheet. Even then, a tiny part of him was surprised that Yrinta wasn't that much taller than him.

"If I find you tell anyone that's not a Tower Master how you succeeded in clearing this training room, you will join Jonathan in his punishment. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Lady Yrinta," Irwin said, his voice barely a squeak.

"Good," she said, and slowly, a smile covered her face as her eyes glittered. "Though I will tell you that many people will be curious. This is one of the last of the older-generation training portals that remained unbeaten. There are some people who say it was made by Gelwin himself! As soon as I have time, I'll have you brought before Mouldir and me to recount how you finished it. Probably later tonight after supper or tomorrow morning."

Irwin's blood ran cold, but he nodded, about to lick his lips out of habit. Then, realizing they weren't all that dry, he stopped.

"Now, having beaten a training portal without any practice means you are among the top performers," she said, grinning broadly. "Who would have thought that someone your size would do this well."

Irwin forced himself to smile, not sure what else to do.

Lady Yrinta turned to the others. "That means that this group is going to be joining the others that will be trained by me, Mouldir and some of the other high rank sorcerers."

The others all seemed stunned, though Irwin saw Twintin was close to crying.

"I'll bring you all back to your room so you can rest. Then I'll bring you along to get your reward," Lady Yrinta said, pointing at Irwin.

A card! Irwin almost shouted as he thought about it. If he got a card now and one from Ambraz, that meant he'd only need to combine them, and he'd be a full-hand! He knew there was more to it, but he couldn't stop the wide grin from growing.

Lady Yrinta moved forward, beckoning them along, and Irwin quickly jumped after her. She seemed nice now, but from what he'd just seen with Jonathan, he had no interest in seeing her anger targeting him. Someone ran up next to him, and he looked up to see Greldo grinning at him.

"Thanks so much for finishing that. I don't think I could have gone in again… all that dying… I won't sleep another night without nightmares."

"Don't worry, boys," a deep whisper came, and both boys saw the guard step up on Irwin's other side. "As you get more cards, your mind becomes tougher. I've not had a restless night since I became a full-hand!"

Irwin sighed in relief, noting Greldo did the same. "Thank you," he said, getting a nod and a grin from the guard, who then dropped back.

Irwin heard him ask Daubutim about his age just as he turned back to Greldo. "What happened after I managed to run?" he whispered.

Greldo grimaced and got a far-off look. "I pushed Twintin into the molten rock, then jumped in after her. Daubutim and Olban did the same. Rachel..."

Irwin swallowed as Greldo shook his head softly.

He took a quick look over his shoulder and saw that Daubutim seemed his normal, stoic self, answering the guard's question with short, dull answers. Rachel was trailing at the back, staring at the ground with her arms wrapped around her.

I should have come back to help, Irwin thought as he clenched his fists closer, feeling Ambraz poke in his palm. Even if he couldn't have done a lot… he had left them to their own devices and-

"It's not your fault," Greldo hissed, and Irwin started as he felt the other's strong grip around his thin upper arm. "You couldn't even stand, let alone fight to help."

Irwin didn't respond, but as they continued after Lady Yrinta, he couldn't lose the feeling that he'd failed. Bronwyn had always told him heroic tales when they were younger, and this didn't match it at all.

The trip back seemed over before he knew it, and Lady Yrinta stopped before their door.

"You have the rest of the day to yourself. Before evening, the dinner bell will ring, and you are expected down. Just follow the stairs back to the main hall and find a table. Now, Irwin, follow me."

Irwin quickly walked after her, getting a final excited thumbs up from Greldo and a jealous one from Olban. The others had already entered their room, probably too tired to care.

"Irwin, I'm going to bring you to a place you will hopefully frequent more in the future. It's the card library, which holds our collection of common and uncommon cards. There, you will be allowed your choice of a predetermined set of cards that has been set aside for those finishing the training portals. I suggest you think carefully about your choice. I was told you have a common utility card involving fire. My suggestion would be to pick one of the body enhancement cards. You will need it, even if it takes a while before their effects set in," Lady Yrinta said.

She spoke in a calm, commanding tone that reminded Irwin of Teacher Rhym when he was in front of the class.

"I was planning on that," he muttered.

"Speak clearly. You are to be a sorcerer. Start to act like one!"

"Yes," Irwin said, louder but with a shudder. "I was planning to get a card that strengthens my body."

"Good."

Lady Yrinta didn't say anything else as they crossed a few hallways and climbed up another stair. Halfway through, Irwin's legs were shaking, and he shivered.

Winter must be coming faster in the mountains, he thought, almost missing the warmth of the lava-filled cavern.

Eventually, they reached a spacious antechamber with a double door on one end. They swung open smoothly before they arrived, and a tall, slender man in a dark robe looked at them.

"Ah, Lady Yrinta. Is this the one that succeeded where so many failed?" the man spoke in an oily, oddly accented voice.

"Yes, Bellemui. This is Irwin, who only joined us today."

"Today, you say? My, my."

Bellemui's eyes widened, and Irwin barely suppressed a shiver as the light gray eyes pierced into his before dropping to his hand.

"And just one card? Surprising… Well. Only an hour to supper, so let us hurry this along then. Irwin, follow me."

Bellemui stepped back in while Lady Yrinta stopped at the door, merely taking a glance inside.

"Someone will be here to guide you back after your choice is made," she said. "We will see each other either tonight or tomorrow."

Lady Yrinta scanned his face for a moment, then turned and walked away, the guard following after her like a shadow.

"Yes, yes, she's gone. Come now, boy, I don't have all day," Bellemui called from inside.

Irwin stepped into the room, which was long, with dozens of small doors on each side, ending in a circular staircase leading up.

More doors, he thought, wondering if there were portals behind those.

In the center of the room was a round wooden construction, elevated and with a door on the side. Bellemui moved towards the left side of the room.

"Normally, someone else would be helping you, but we had already closed for the day," Bellemui said as he stopped before the third door. The doors had symbols on them, and the one before him had one of a flexed arm. "This is the room with common body enhancement cards. I suggest you pick one that suits you, either something with fire if one remains or a generic one. Those would more easily combine."

Bellemui pulled open the door, revealing a small room with walls lined with shelves. On the shelves stood metallic, gleaming pages with cards on them and text etched on the side. From a quick glance, Irwin counted at least a hundred. Bellemui stepped inside, then next to the door.

"Now, go and take a look. I don't think I need to mention this, but I'll just do so to be clear. If you attempt to steal anything, you won't live to reach this door. Thievery of cards is one of the few crimes we punish with death, and even that, sadly, hasn't helped abolish it entirely. My cards allow me to notice any card that is taken from its slot, so… leave them inside until you find the one you want. Then take it and see me at the main desk. Now, you have less than an hour."

Irwin shivered at the coldness in Bellemui's tone and watched as the tall man moved away, leaving the door open.

"Good, I'd thought he'd never leave," a soft whisper came from his clenched hand, startling Irwin. "Now, put me in your shirt already. Your hand is sweaty."

Irwin turned from the door, blocking what he was doing with his body, and quickly pushed the tiny Anvil inside his shirt.

"Good. One hour? Then you need to make a choice. If you want to become a smith, I can help you become the best in this world… well, maybe. If not, I'll help you reforge one into something better," Ambraz whispered.

Irwin thought about Randal and his sons, sweating away in their smithies, creating farm utensils and weaponry all day. He had no idea what he wanted for his life, but somehow, he couldn't imagine doing something like that.

"Don't decide now," Ambraz whispered, perhaps having noted his reluctance. "Go see what they have here, and hurry. You have an hour!"

At least on that, they could agree, Irwin thought as he moved towards the shelves. He took the metallic page from the shelf and stared at it in wonder.

So many cards, he thought.