The cosmic storm, still echoing the clash between Scarta, Archangel Michael, and the transformed Lucius, now shifted its focus to another battleground—the Forge of Trials, where James pleaded with Vulcan in his relentless pursuit of justice for a new eye.
In the cosmic workshop, surrounded by the rhythmic clangor of celestial hammers, James beseeched Vulcan for the means to mend his shattered vision. Dialogue between mortal and deity resonated in the ethereal space.
Vulcan, a towering figure amid the cosmic anvil and forge, eyed James with skepticism and curiosity. "A new eye, mortal? Earn it in the crucible of my trials, and you shall have what you seek."
The challenge presented was no simple feat. Vulcan demanded James face a shadow of himself—an embodiment of his trials, fears, and aspirations. Five times, for five consecutive days, with only five hours of rest between each grueling encounter.
For the first week, James faced defeat at the hands of his shadowy counterpart. The cosmic jury leaned toward casting him back to the mortal realm, but in that pivotal moment, Moses intervened with a voice that resonated across realms. "I'll help him."
Vulcan, a friend to Moses in realms beyond mortal understanding, considered the proposition. Moses, not seeking to alter the trials but to guide James in strategy and wisdom, gained approval.
Thus began the second week of trials. Moses, standing at the cosmic sidelines, directed James with sage advice—when to strike, when to defend, and when to counter the shadows that sought to engulf him. The celestial forge echoed with each clash, the sparks of divine creativity dancing in the crucible of adversity.
Dialogue and camaraderie between mortal and guide shaped the trials. Vulcan observed, not just a mortal seeking a new eye, but a warrior whose valor paralleled that of King David, a lineage that resonated within the celestial gates.