Magnolia turned in a slow circle as the room flared to life around her. Runes etched into the walls ignited one by one, casting a golden glow that pulsed like a heartbeat. Gears hidden in the floor and ceiling whirred to life, creating an intricate symphony of ancient mechanisms.

When the light settled and the air stilled, a hologram appeared before her—a man with sharp, angular features and shimmering scales along his jawline and arms. His eyes, slit-pupiled and glowing faintly, studied her with an intensity that made her instinctively straighten her posture. Large horns curled back from his head, leaving no doubt about his draconic nature.

“Who dares awaken the Forge of Aelyndar?” he asked, his deep voice reverberating like the rumble of an impending storm. His gaze swept over her, and his sharp expression twisted into one of disbelief. “You are… not what I expected.”

Magnolia tilted her head, meeting his scrutinizing glare with calm defiance. “I’m Magnolia. Who are you?”

The hologram stiffened, his golden scales glinting as he drew himself to his full height. “I am Aelyndar, Keeper of the Eternal Forge. Bound to its power and its legacy.” His voice darkened, his tone cutting. “But you are no dragon. You have no fire in your blood. What claim does a mortal like you have to a place meant for gods and dragons?”

Magnolia let her hand brush the edge of a console, feeling the warmth radiating through the metal. “I don’t know yet,” she admitted, her voice steady, “but the forge seems to think I belong here.”

Aelyndar’s glowing eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, his sharp features twisting with something between disdain and incredulity. “The forge responds to those of dragonkind—or their kin. It does not make mistakes. Which means...” He sneered, his claws twitching as if resisting the urge to strike, “...you are lying, or the forge has finally failed.”

She raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “Maybe it just doesn’t care about blood as much as you do.”

His nostrils flared, and his image flickered as though his frustration were destabilizing the hologram. “Do not test me, mortal. The Eternal Forge is not some bauble to be claimed by interlopers. Prove to me you have any right to stand here, or leave before you anger forces you cannot possibly understand.”

Magnolia held his piercing gaze and pulled off one of her gloves. With deliberate precision, she unsheathed the dagger at her side and sliced her palm. Aelyndar’s eyes widened as silver blood welled from the cut and dripped onto the metal floor.

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The forge shuddered, its humming growing louder as the blood pooled around her feet, glowing faintly. For a moment, the air itself seemed to hold its breath.

“What… is this?” Aelyndar demanded, his voice laced with suspicion. “Your blood is no ordinary mortal’s. It glimmers like starlight. But it is not dragonfire.” His eyes burned brighter as he scrutinized her every movement. “What are you?”

“I’m Tova,” Magnolia replied, her voice calm but firm. She stepped forward, letting her blood continue to seep into the floor. “We don’t need scales or wings to command forces like this. My blood is proof enough.”

“Tova,” Aelyndar repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. “A name I haven’t heard in an eon. A myth spoken of by dying stars, not beings who set foot in the realms of dragons. Do you expect me to believe that *you*—flesh and bone, untested and fragile—are worthy of what this forge holds?”

Magnolia didn’t flinch, even as his words cut like daggers. “The forge seems to think so. That’s why it woke for me, isn’t it?”

The hologram paced, his clawed hands clenched tightly. “You claim the forge accepts you, but I see no fire in your spirit. No proof you understand what it takes to control this place.” He stopped abruptly, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. “You speak as though this is your right. But all I see is hubris.”

Magnolia took another step closer, ignoring the growing heat radiating from the forge. “I don’t need to convince you, Aelyndar. The forge has already accepted me. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? Because it’s been waiting for someone like me.”

“You misunderstand.” Aelyndar’s tone turned cold, and his expression hardened. “I am here because the forge awakens only under the gravest of circumstances. Perhaps it summoned you out of desperation—a final act of a dying creation. But that does not make you worthy. Not yet.”

Her jaw tightened, but she kept her voice even. “Then tell me what it takes. If you think I’m unworthy, show me how to prove myself.”

He paused, his draconic eyes narrowing as he studied her. Slowly, a smirk tugged at his lips, though it was devoid of warmth. “Very well, Tova. If you truly believe you can command this place, the forge will test you. But do not mistake the forge’s acceptance for approval. It has no mind, no loyalty. It serves power, not purpose. If you falter, it will consume you.”

“Then it’s a good thing I don’t plan to falter,” Magnolia shot back, stepping closer to the central console. Her blood shimmered on the floor, pulsing in time with the forge’s growing hum.

Aelyndar tilted his head, the faintest flicker of approval in his eyes. “We shall see. But know this: I will not guide you kindly, nor will the forge. If you fail, there will be no second chances.”

Magnolia met his gaze, her expression unyielding. “I don’t need second chances.”

The forge roared to life, its glow intensifying as if responding to her words. Aelyndar’s hologram shimmered, his smirk fading into a grim expression. “Then let the trial begin, Tova. Prove yourself, or perish trying.”

Magnolia didn’t flinch as the walls began to shift, the air around her growing heavy with power. She had no intention of failing. Not here. Not now.