Chapter 133

[ 1,272 words ]

It was my fault

133: 133.

It was my fault Aria

The forge is already blazing when I walk in, heat rolling across my skin in shimmering waves.

It is a comfort to have the fire caress my skin.

The banging of Ransom’s hammers is a steady background rhythm.

I barely notice it as I zero in on Hazel and Felix, who are sitting at a long steel table covered with tools, runes, and pieces of unfinished weapons.

The front of his short curly hair is tied back, his sleeves rolled to his elbows.

Hazel is kneeling on the floor beside a circle painted in silver powder and ash.

The fourth circle this week.

I can’t say the first three attempts built up our confidence, and I know they’re feeling the weight of this.

Without a successful trace of power, it prolongs the time until the weapons get into the hands of the warriors.

It means less time to train and a lower chance of being ready when the assembly attacks.

I cross my arms and look down at the metal claw jackets resting in the center of the rune circle.

This has to work this time.

“I think I’ve figured out why our past attempts haven’t worked,” Hazel says.

“What were you thinking about when you were trying to push your fire inside it?”

“Just trying ot get it in, why?”

“Embuing powers is n international process, it’s not just about the magic, it’s about what you want it to do, the emotion or action you want the weapon to embody.”

“So it was my fault,” I say.

“Not entirely. You just don’t know what you were doing, so you unintentionally blocked it,” Felix says.

“Okay, so I need to focus on what I want it to do?” I ask to be sure.

“Yes.

Think about their purpose and let your fire build a connection to the material so it can perform it.

I’ve been studying the energy flow and connection between thoughts and emotions of syphers— ”

“Translation: she stayed awake for three nights and nearly drove herself insane,” Felix says.

She rolls her eyes at him but continues.

“I found that the stronger the emotion, the stronger the weapon.

So I want you to thin bout the outcome you want to see for this war and how you want these weapons to help the person who is wearing them.”

“Okay.” I nod, but inside my head is swimming.

“Just try not to crack another one, aye,” Ransom calls out.

“I make no promises,” I tease.

I fight a smile.

The first time we tried to do this, the claws ended up with thick vein-like cracks all along the fingers.

“Aright lets get to it, girls, we don’t have all day,” Felix waves his hands in a move-along gesture.

I walk to the center of the circle and sit beside the weapon in a familiar movement.

The ruins in the ground are elemental pathways used to create a spiritual opening with the item.

The silver symbols surrounding the weapons begin to glow, one by one, like stars awakening.

Magic fills the forge.

Shutting my eyes, I reach down to the well of power.

My fire responds, warming my body.

Reaching for the ground, I empty my mind and connect to the earth, to water and to the air around me, to all the molecules that make up the world around us.

I can feel the ruins vibrate as I open up a path.

Then I think about the weapon in my mind’s eye, I reach for it, feel the smoothness of the metal, the strength of the compound bonds, and the heat of the forge that crafted it.

I let out a breath and draw on my emotions about the assembly.

In my anger, my need to defend and preserve our people.

On my desire for something new.

These emotions swirl, creating a magical reservoir.

The path is open.

Clear.

I start to feed my fire down it, a controlled spark, a seed pished into the heart of the metal.

Once it is planted, I water it with my emotions, my intentions, my need to fiercely protect.

My path remains steady, and my confidence and hope start to grow as the metal accepts my fire.

Shocked gasps sound all around me.

I keep going, keep my focus, and give it more, give it my anger and need for retribution.

It’s like a battery, I can feel it filling, reaching the maximum limit it can hold.

“Aria,” Hazel calls.

“Pull back now. I think that’s enough.”

My heartbeat quickens, and I call my power back, severing the connection.

I open my eyes and look at the claws.

A faint red glow beneath the metal.

Hazel jumps to her feet.

“It worked!”

Felix lets out a relieved laugh.

Hazel picks up the claws.

“We need to test it. Give me your hand, Fe.”

Felix puts on the claws.

Ransom comes from the forge to watch.

Felix flexes his hand.

“How does it feel?” Hazel says.

“Feels different, warmer.” He tries to swipe out.

At first, nothing happens.

The deadly claws slash at nothing, but the glowing tips don’t spark.

Hazel frowns, studying the claws for a moment.

“Let’s try actually attacking something.”

She looks at Ransom, and he goes to pick up a log of wood and holds it up for Felix.

Felix levels a fluid attack on the log, and a small burst of fire appears along the edge.

Singing the deep groves, the claws cut through.

I laugh.

Ransom smiles.

“The Assembly won’t know what hit them.”

***

Two hours later, the training field is packed with warriors being fitted for their claws.

We had gained confidence from the first pair and started to batch imbue the weapons, making the process much quicker.

Rick even volunteered to imbue some with his power as well.

It will be a great advantage for our defensive team and for the warriors remaining back to protect our vulnerable pack members.

The active claws have already been distributed to a select group for Liam and Barric to begin training.

Only the most senior warriors with enough combat experience will work in this first round to test them safely.

I’m standing on the side watching with Rick.

Ronan is in the center of the warriors and explains how they will partner up to start attack sequences.

This success has brought a new life to the mountain.

Warriors are filled with renewed anticipation, seeing the same hope I feel.

“They’ll get the hang of it,” Rick says confidently.

“Why are you so sure?”

“Look at their faces.” I look out into the crowd, really look at the flood of males and females in the battle arena.

They are all laced with determination.

“Those are the faces of people who have something to lose.

This is more than a battle for them; this is their families, their life, their future.”

“They will refuse to lose,” I guess.

“Won’t you,” he says, looking at me.

I nod, watching as the training begins and sparks start to fly as the warriors battle.

It’s an out-of-body experience to watch my fire in action, controlled by someone who is not me.

It’s fascinating, seeing how it bonds with each person and becomes so attuned with them that it starts to move as they do.

Flames crawl along the tips of the claw blade.

It cuts down targets, pushes fire into openings cut by metal, and leaves scorch marks on their wake.

There are a few mishaps, singed hair, struggles to call flames and extinguish them, but we’re making great strides.

Theo’s scent fills my nostrils, and I turn to face him.

“Are you ready to do this?”

“Yeah.” I tap Rock on the shoulder.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Rick nods, but looks five minutes away from going down to the arena to help the warriors.

I head out of the arena with Theo.

He’s been working on putting Barric’s plan into action and spreading the word of our “infiltration plans” for retaliation for the poisoning.

My wolf relaxes her claws, ready to rip apart the traitor.

“Has Ben already been informed of our recon mission?”

“He has.”

“So who are we on our way to see?”

“Hazam.”

“Wonderful,” I grunt.

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