The Starlight Lancer

Chapter Sixty: The Forge

"First thing you need to know is that is gets really fucking hot in here."

—Vylensus Forgemaster Huril Eandoren's first words to every apprentice he ever had

The door behind Zaina opened of its own accord, and she walked through without dwelling on it. Right before she passed through the threshold, Yla's voice called after her.

"Be warned, child! The ancient's designs are not yet known. Tread lightly, as its plans involve you still—willing or not."

Zaina nodded and turned to leave the High Scholars and their strangeness behind. The door shut behind her. She'd done all she could—something weird had happened, and she reported it.

The glyph twirled around her head, impatiently waiting. She gestured for it to go, and it did; she trotted along behind it as they made their way to one of the parked transports.

The trip was silent—but it was a more comfortable silence without her mentor. Zaina was able to stretch her legs out and take deep, relaxing breaths while the glyph smoothly flew their craft to one of the lower islands nearby—upon it was a tall, circular building with an open top. The bottom was wide, but it thinned out as it went higher. The island was otherwise empty, covered with grass and sparse patches of trees. A single, small river trickled off to either side of the hovering mass, forming two waterfalls that trickled down into the abyss.

More than anything, Zaina loved Kaado. It was such a strange place—old, but modern; mysterious, but practical; beautiful, but chaotic; simple, but complex. She stepped out of the transport. The glyph chirped as the door closed.

I guess it's going to wait in there.

The transport had other ideas. Its engines hummed and it took off, flying back to the Celestial Sanctuary below.

Zaina frowned. Those fucking dicks.

She'd probably have to ask whoever worked here for a ride. Hopefully they were friendly.

The outer wall of the forge was made of tan stone with patches of metal; the entrance was a full arch with no door. There weren't any visible lights from the outside, so Zaina cautiously took her first few steps into the building.

Suddenly a bright light flashed, and the room filled with hums, clicks, and the stirring of large machinery. There were no hallways or chambers—only one big workshop.

A high-pitched voice pierced the noise, "Hey, there! Welcome to the forge on Kaado. What can we do for you today?"

Zaina was looking around for the source of the voice, but nobody was there. Lights lining the interior walls flared to life, giving her a better look at the inside; the first flashing light came from a massive cylinder built into the center of the room, with holes on every side emitting a radiant glow. The walls were lined with machinery and shelves upon which raw and processed metals sat. The anvil was a series of robotic arms around a small, metal cylinder sitting with its flat face up, with several metal attachments hanging from the wall. The arms hung from a bar suspended from a railing system rigged into the interior's upper walls.

Two figures also came into sight; one, a short Potralian—a humanoid with extended ears, extra hair, and heightened senses—stepped forward. "My name's Eva, Eva Kiminaw." Her nose wrinkled. "Hm. You just came from the sanctuary, huh? Let me guess—here for your armor?"

"How did you—"

"Well, for one," Eva said, "you don't have any armor. That's usually why people come to the forge. They go to the armory for weapons and the forge for armor. Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?"