The Riftforge loomed ahead, an ominous silhouette against the fractured horizon. Its jagged spires twisted upward as if clawing at the sky, faintly glowing with the remnants of ancient magic. As Kael, Lira, and Velis approached the outer gate, the air grew dense with energy, carrying a faint hum that set Kael's teeth on edge.
Lira stopped just short of the entrance, her sharp green eyes scanning the massive stone archway. "This is it," she said quietly. "The Outer Gate."
Kael raised an eyebrow, adjusting the earring that Velis had transformed into. "Looks solid enough. Where's the catch?"
"The wards," Lira replied, pointing to faint runes etched into the stone. "They're layered—meant to keep out anyone who doesn't know how to bypass them. You won't be able to brute force your way through."
Velis's voice chimed in Kael's mind. "She's right. These runes are crafted from Aeonic Order magic. I can help you deactivate them, but it will require precision."
Kael stepped closer to the gate, inspecting the runes. They glowed faintly, their patterns intricate and mesmerizing. "What's the plan?"
Velis hummed thoughtfully. "These runes respond to intent. You'll need to focus your magic and feed it into the sequence I guide you through. Too much, and the wards will react violently. Too little, and nothing will happen."
Kael turned to Lira. "Stay back. If this goes wrong, I don't want you caught in the backlash."
She frowned but nodded, retreating a safe distance. "Try not to blow us up."
Kael placed his hand against the cold stone, feeling the magic thrumming beneath his fingertips. "All right, Velis. Let's do this."
Velis guided Kael through the process, its instructions clear but unyielding. "Channel your magic into the first rune—just enough to activate it."
Kael focused, letting his magic flow through the rune-mark on his palm. The first symbol flared brightly, its lines shifting and reconfiguring. "Now what?" he asked silently.
"Good," Velis replied. "Now trace the pattern with your magic, connecting it to the next rune."
Kael's brow furrowed as he concentrated, the glowing lines of the rune extending toward its neighbor. The second symbol lit up, followed by a faint vibration in the stone.
"You're doing well," Velis said. "But the sequence will get more complex. Stay focused."
As Kael worked, sweat beaded on his forehead. The runes demanded precise control, and every slight misstep sent a jolt of resistance through his body. Lira watched from a distance, her expression unreadable, but her hands were clenched tightly at her sides.
Finally, the last rune flared to life. The ground rumbled as the massive gate began to shift, its stone panels grinding against each other. A soft light spilled from the opening, illuminating a narrow pathway beyond.
Kael exhaled, his shoulders sagging. "That wasn't so bad."
"Speak for yourself," Velis said. "That was the easy part."
The trio stepped through the gate, entering a vast corridor lined with crumbling stone pillars. Strange, faintly glowing symbols adorned the walls, casting eerie reflections onto the smooth, dark floor.
"This place is alive," Lira muttered, her voice hushed. "It feels like it's watching us."
"It probably is," Velis replied dryly, its voice sharp in Kael's mind. "The Forge was built to test anyone who dared enter. Don't let your guard down."
As they moved deeper, the corridor began to shift. Stone platforms slid silently into place, creating new paths while others collapsed into the abyss below. The air grew colder, and a faint, rhythmic pulse echoed through the chamber like a heartbeat.
Kael stopped at the edge of a newly formed platform, scanning the shifting pathways ahead. "How do we know which way to go?"
Lira pulled out the crude map she had sold him back in Falbridge, holding it up to the faint light. "The map isn't exact, but it suggests we need to follow the pulse. It'll lead us to the inner chambers."
Kael frowned. "That's reassuring."
"It's all we've got," Lira said, stepping onto the platform. "Just keep up."
They navigated the shifting pathways carefully, dodging collapsing platforms and avoiding glowing runes that looked suspiciously like traps. Kael's teleportation magic proved invaluable, allowing him to pull Lira to safety more than once when a section of the floor gave way beneath her.
Eventually, they came across a small alcove tucked into the side of the corridor. Inside, a pedestal stood, holding a small chest reinforced with faded golden bands.
"First find of the day," Lira said, approaching cautiously. "Could be a trap."
Kael gestured for her to stay back, stepping forward himself. "Let me handle it."
Velis's voice hummed in his mind. "The chest isn't warded, but it might be rigged. Open it slowly."
Kael knelt in front of the chest, inspecting its hinges and lock. Finding nothing suspicious, he eased it open. Inside was a modest pile of coins—shard coins, their surfaces shimmering faintly with embedded magic.
"Well?" Lira asked, leaning over his shoulder.
"Shard coins," Kael said, pulling one out. "About two hundred, maybe more."
"Not bad," Lira said with a nod. "Enough to buy supplies, maybe even a decent relic if we find the right merchant."
Velis added, "Shard coins are valuable because of their magical properties. A hundred coins can buy basic equipment, while a thousand could get you something powerful—assuming you find someone willing to trade."
Kael pocketed the coins, his mind already calculating their worth. "We're not here for money, but it'll come in handy."
As they continued deeper into the Riftforge, the air grew heavier, the pulse louder. The real challenges were still ahead, but for now, Kael allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. They were making progress, and the Forge had already begun to reveal its treasures.