The spirit hovered silently in front of Vas, its form flickering with the last remnants of storm energy. Its jagged, crystalline body pulsed in rhythm with the low hum of electricity that filled the air around them. Vas took a deep breath, feeling the familiar sensation wash over him—the tug of the Forge calling, beckoning him to take the spirit and merge its essence with his Anima. He nodded, understanding that the time had come.
Vas summoned his Forge.
In an instant, the world shifted. The eerie maze of the ruined building faded, and he was transported into the ethereal space of his Forge—a vast, cosmic workshop filled with swirling lights and shifting forms. Floating above the obsidian floor was the faint outline of his Forge, a place shaped by his mind and soul. His tools appeared before him, glowing faintly, ready for the task ahead.
The Geospirit floated in the center, waiting. Its energy felt different now—no longer wild and aggressive, but more focused, as if it had accepted Vas as its forger.
Vas closed his eyes and concentrated, calling forth the image in his mind. He let the spirit's essence flow into him, allowing the vision to materialize. A pair of earrings—sharp and jagged, formed from translucent quartz—began to take shape in his thoughts. Lightning danced along their edges, small but powerful, etching intricate patterns into the crystal surfaces. Each earring pulsed with faint electric energy, resonating with the wearer's internal rhythm, like a storm forever lingering just beneath the surface.
The earrings glowed faintly, reflecting the delicate balance between earth and sky—the essence of the Geospirit. They weren't overly ornate or large, but their sharpness, their precision, spoke to the power they held. As Vas focused, he could feel the energy flowing through him, connecting him to the spirit's nature. The earth, solid and grounding, mixed with the volatile, unpredictable nature of the sky, fused into one.
Suddenly, a name echoed in his mind.
Thundershard.
The name reverberated through his very being, as if the spirit itself had whispered it to him. He could feel its weakened state—still formidable, but not yet at its full strength. In time, perhaps, its potential would grow, but for now, it was honed for precision over raw power, able to slice through the air with bursts of controlled lightning. Thundershard was a spirit that wielded storms like a blade, striking with sharp bursts of energy rather than the overwhelming destruction it might one day command.
Vas could sense its connection to conductive materials, drawn to the places where the forces of earth and sky mingled—where metal and minerals interacted with the natural world, like veins of charged crystal or circuits buzzing with energy. In the right hands, Thundershard could manipulate those elements, turning the environment itself into a weapon.
He smiled faintly as the image of the earrings solidified in his mind. With a deep breath, he began the forging process.
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The spirit's energy swirled around him, crackling and pulsing as he directed it into the earrings. The translucent quartz began to materialize in the Forge, glowing faintly with the lightning patterns he had envisioned. Every etch, every detail was brought to life with precision. The earrings pulsed softly with the spirit's essence, resonating with the flow of energy around them.
But the process was draining. Vas could feel the toll it was taking on his body. His Anima burned brightly, but sustaining it for so long, channeling such focused power, was exhausting. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hands trembled slightly as he shaped the final details. The forging process was always demanding, but this time, with Thundershard's unique storm energy, it felt even more intense.
Finally, with a final pulse of energy, the forging was complete. The earrings floated before him, radiating a soft glow, their jagged edges gleaming faintly with lightning.
Vas collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath. His muscles ached, and his mind felt heavy with fatigue. The Forge began to fade around him, and he knew it was time to return. With a thought, he released the connection, and the ethereal space of the Forge vanished.
When he opened his eyes, he was back in the ruined building. The air was still heavy with the remnants of the storm, but the Geospirit was gone. Instead, in his hand, he held the earrings—beautiful, precise, and powerful. Thundershard, now bound to him, pulsed gently within them.
Sarah stood in front of him, wide-eyed and silent. She had watched the entire process, but the intensity of what had just transpired left her speechless.
Vas struggled to his feet, the exhaustion weighing heavily on him. His entire body felt drained, as if he had run a marathon, but there was a quiet satisfaction in knowing that he had succeeded.
"Are you okay?" Sarah finally asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Yeah," Vas replied, his voice hoarse. "Just… tired."
Sarah nodded, still processing what she had seen. She had heard stories about Spirit Forging, but witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely.
"Guess we're done for the day," she said, trying to break the tension with a faint smile.
"Yeah," Vas agreed, too tired to think about finding another spirit. Thundershard had been a challenge, and he wasn't sure if he could handle another one so soon. "Let's head back."
With that, they left the crumbling building behind. Vas's steps were heavy, his mind still buzzing with the energy of the Forge. The Undercity seemed even darker and more foreboding as they made their way through its streets, but Vas was too exhausted to care. Thundershard's quiet pulse in his pocket was the only reminder of the intense trial he had just undergone.
As they walked, Sarah glanced at him, her curiosity still burning. She had witnessed something incredible, and though she hadn't said much, Vas knew she had questions. But for now, she let him rest, her mind racing with thoughts about what it meant to wield such power—and what Vas might do with it.
As they were leaving the eerie ruins of the Undercity, Sarah's voice broke the silence.
"Hey, I just got a text from Master. He says he wants to meet you, tomorrow at the same café we met today."
Vas nodded, though exhaustion weighed on him. "No problem. Tell him I'll be there at 3 p.m."
Sarah gave him a curious glance but didn't push further. She was still processing everything that had just happened—Vas's control over the storm, the forging of the Geospirit, and his ability to handle the chaotic forces that would leave most people trembling. But Vas was too tired to pick up on her thoughts, and when they emerged from the Undercity, they went their separate ways.
Vas made his way back to the Hek family mansion, the familiar stillness greeting him as he crossed the threshold. The grand hallways were empty, just as they always were, and the silence felt oddly comforting after the trials in the Undercity. No one was around to ask questions or demand his attention.