"Their story, their powers," Morrigan explained. "Everything they showed you was a fabrication. You weren't ready to handle the truth."

His mind reeled. If they had lied about that, then what else had been a lie?

Morrigan sighed, her annoyance barely veiled. "You weren't supposed to be able to forge spirits of that level until you were far along the path of a Spirit Forger. You skipped steps. Important ones."

Vas's confusion deepened. "There's a path? What are you talking about?"

Morrigan fixed him with a penetrating stare. "Of course there's a path. What did you think the Unveilings were for? Every time you advance, you're supposed to deepen your understanding of creation, of forging spirits."

"I thought it was just to learn about myself," Vas muttered, feeling small, exposed.

Morrigan glanced at The Archivist, her lips twitching in what could have been a smirk. "Your half-forgotten state. Yes, that was part of it. But you're still a kid, Vas. You just turned seventeen. You're nowhere near ready for the kind of responsibility you've been given."

He felt a wave of indignation rise up inside him. "So... everything was for nothing?" His voice trembled with frustration, a hollow echo in the vastness of the void.

"No," Morrigan's voice cut through his turmoil like a blade. "If you had refused, she could have dragged you back by force."

The Archivist nodded. "Yes. But I made a mistake. I gave you all that power and left you alone. It's not about your past anymore. Right now, you need guidance."

"And that's where I come in," Morrigan said, stepping forward, her aura growing heavier.

"We've severed your connection to those spirits, but not forever. When you're strong enough, you'll get them back. Until then, it's for the best."

Vas looked down, his body feeling different—lighter, unburdened. "I... I do feel better."

Morrigan nodded. "Those spirits were draining you. Now, we start from the beginning."

Her eyes gleamed with an intensity that made Vas's breath catch. "I'm going to teach you what it really means to be a Spirit Forger."

Morrigan stood before Vas, her dark eyes piercing through him as though she could see straight into his soul. The room was still, the air heavy with anticipation. She didn't need to raise her voice to command the moment.

"Lesson one: the steps of a Spirit Forger," she began, her tone as calm as it was severe.

Vas's breath hitched slightly, knowing this was the start of something far bigger than he had ever imagined. Morrigan gestured with her hand, and as if responding to her will, the very air shimmered. Shapes and symbols appeared between them, floating in the dim light, glowing with an ethereal hum. The symbols took form, each one representing the stages of mastery she was about to reveal.

"This is your path," Morrigan said, her voice like a low rumble of thunder, vibrating in the air. She stepped forward, her figure haloed by the light of the glowing runes. "Each step builds on the one before it, a journey not only of power but of understanding. Listen carefully."

Vas nodded, the weight of the moment heavy on his shoulders.

Awakening of the Forge

Her voice deepened as she explained the first step. "You begin as an initiate. This is where you learn to perceive the essence that flows between all things—the spirit that binds objects, people, and the very world together. It's not just about shaping spirits. It's about understanding the interconnectivity of existence."

Vas could almost see it in his mind: objects and spirits woven together in some invisible thread.

"When you forge at this stage," Morrigan continued, "you create something simple, yet alive. A knife forged from the spirit of wind doesn't just cut—it hums with potential. Its blade whispers with the secrets of the air."

Harmonics of Essence

"You'll begin to see spirits as notes in the symphony of the universe," she said, her voice like a distant echo. "You will manipulate their vibrations, harmonizing them into creations that pulse with energy and purpose."

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A vision flickered in his mind—a weapon forged from fire and water spirits, not just coexisting, but reflecting the tension and unity between opposing forces.

"The objects you create will not only exist but influence the very energy of the space around them. A balance of heat and cold, fire and water, tension and resolution—all alive in your hands."

Symbiosis of Forms

"The forge is no longer about bending spirits to your will," Morrigan continued, her eyes narrowing. "It is about symbiosis. Spirit and object—each a reflection of the other."

Vas felt a shiver run through him as she spoke.

"You will learn to weave spirits together, forging objects that evolve with the user. Imagine a weapon that shifts between solid and ethereal depending on the wielder's intent. It will grow alongside them, changing as they change."

Anima Infusion

Morrigan paused, her gaze locking onto Vas with intensity. "Here is where the forging becomes personal. You will infuse your own soul—your Anima—into your creations. These objects will no longer be mere tools. They will carry a piece of you, alive with your essence."

Vas's pulse quickened at the thought. The intimacy of such a process, the connection between forger and forge.

"They will remember," she said, her voice softening for a brief moment. "A sword will learn the fighting style of its wielder. A shield will understand its bearer's heart. Your creations will become living extensions of you."

Spirit Alchemy

"As your understanding deepens," Morrigan went on, "you will begin to see that spiritual energy—Amrita—flows through all things. You'll become an alchemist, able to manipulate this energy at will. Even the most mundane materials will hold untapped potential."

She made a slight gesture, and the symbols flickered like the flow of a river. "A simple ring might become a gateway to another dimension. A walking stick could tap into the memory of the forest from which it was carved, accessing ancient knowledge. You will turn the ordinary into the extraordinary."

Ethereal Architect

Morrigan's eyes gleamed as she spoke of the next stage. "Your craft will transcend mere objects. You will become an architect of realms, creating spaces where spirits dwell, sanctuaries that hold both power and purpose."

Vas blinked as visions of ethereal structures took shape in his mind. Places not bound by the laws of the physical world, but built from spiritual energy.

"These sanctuaries will be more than just hideaways. They will reflect the spirit of those who enter, growing and changing with the will of the forger."

Spirit Confluence

Her voice lowered, taking on a more mysterious tone. "You will come to understand that spirits are not singular entities but are part of a vast, interconnected web. You'll create objects that exist on multiple planes of reality, drawing power from beyond our world."The thought made Vas's skin prickle. "A blade forged in one dimension might strike in another. You will touch the fabric of the cosmos itself."

Essence Harmonizer

"At this stage," Morrigan continued, "you'll become a harmonizer of energy, merging the spirits of the living with your creations. You'll craft objects that connect deeply with their wielders, fusing spirit and matter."

Vas could almost feel the connection—a warrior gaining the strength of a lion by wielding a weapon forged from the beast's spirit. For a moment, the boundaries between spirit and user would blur.

Boundless Creator

"You'll realize the line between spirit and matter is an illusion," Morrigan said, her voice gaining momentum. "By shaping one, you shape the other. You'll create objects that ripple through both the physical and spiritual worlds."

Her eyes flickered with something deeper, something ancient. "A stone might become the seed of a new world. A broken weapon could contain the memories of a forgotten future. Creation itself will be at your fingertips."

Fateweaver

"And then," she said softly, "you'll learn to weave fate itself. You will see the threads of destiny and forge spirits into objects that alter the course of events."

Vas's heart pounded. Objects that held the power to shift the future, to change the fate of entire worlds, all crafted by his hand.

"Artifacts that seem mundane but carry the potential to influence the flow of history," she added. "Small ripples that turn into waves."

Celestial Forge

"You will reach the stars," Morrigan intoned, raising her hand as if to grasp the heavens.

"At this stage, you will forge spirits from celestial forces—stars, galaxies, cosmic entities. Your tools will embody the very laws of the universe."

The thought was overwhelming. "You will craft artifacts that bend time, space, and gravity. A blade might contain the essence of a star, burning with infinite energy."

Eternal Smith

Morrigan's voice now seemed to echo with eternity. "You will become a smith of infinity. Your creations will defy the concept of time, existing across countless eras and realms."Vas could hardly comprehend the idea of a single weapon appearing in multiple timelines, yet all of them connected by the same essence.

"They will change, yet remain the same. Timeless."

Transcendent Creator

"And finally," Morrigan said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "you will become one with creation itself. No longer just shaping spirits, but reality itself. You will wield the power of gods."

Her eyes locked onto his, burning with intensity. "Your tools will rewrite the fabric of existence. You will craft new worlds, destinies, possibilities. You will not simply create—you will define reality."

"Of course, nobody has ever reached steps twelve or thirteen," Morrigan said, her voice carrying the weight of history and impossible ambition. "And before you ask—the spirits she sent with you, the ones that overwhelmed you? They were at step eleven. You understand now why she screwed up so badly, right?"