The next day came.
A thin veil of early light crept through the transparent ceiling of the cabin, painting gold across the floorboards. Outside, birdsong echoed faintly through the high pines — peaceful, but beneath it was the unmistakable hum of time running thin.
Helion stirred as the door creaked open.
Zeyr stepped inside, arms crossed. His tone was calm but edged with urgency.
"Alright. It's been two days out here now."
Helion sat up, rubbing the back of his neck.
Zeyr continued, "We've got four days left until the Royal Draft. We're cutting it really close, you know."
Zeyr stood just outside the cabin, arms folded, his silhouette cast long by the rising sun. The wind tugged gently at his coat, and Linx circled high above like a blazing guardian of the sky.
Helion stepped beside him, adjusting the wrappings on the Lumiare shard strapped to his side.
Zeyr didn't look at him at first. Just stared into the horizon as if speaking to the land itself.
"We've got four days."
He held up a hand, fingers raising one by one with each step of the plan.
"Today, we head to the Forger. The blade you'll wield will be born from that stone — Lumiare. It's not a simple process. The Forger won't rush it. If we leave now, we won't return until dawn tomorrow. It'll take everything we've got just to shape it."
His second finger lifted.
"Day two, no rest. Once the blade is formed, we polish it — bring it to its first form. You and Luminox need to align completely. No hesitation, no resistance. That sword will test you. It will fight you, Helion. And you'll have to answer back until it listens."
Third finger.
"Day three, we head to the Royal City. We'll be cutting it close. There are things we still need — proper attire, functional armor. You'll stand on that stage representing something far greater than yourself. You have to look like you belong there."
Fourth and final finger.
"The last day… you rest. Focus. Hone your soulform. Think of everything you've learned, everyone you've faced — the fire, the light, the fear, the rise. Channel it all."
Zeyr finally turned to face him, his eyes hard as stone but full of quiet belief.
"This is it."
He let the words hang in the air.
"Consider everyone else you're up against. They've trained longer, fought harder, survived more. They're more experienced. Sharper. Stronger."
A pause.
"But for two weeks… you've grown faster than most do in two years."
Zeyr stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"You can do this, Helion. You just have to believe it."
Helion's gaze didn't waver.
"I do."
Zeyr cracked the faintest grin. "Good."
He turned, his coat catching the morning breeze. "Then we head out. Now."
He paused, a glint of mischief in his eye. "But this time… we use Linx."
A roar echoed from the sky above.
Linx came swooping down from the clouds like a streak of fire and light. His wings spread wide, burning gold and crimson. But this time, just before he landed—he let out a sharp cry.
A pulse of flame burst from his core, rippling outward in a spiral.
And then—he grew.
His form expanded, feathers flaring with light, his body stretching taller and longer until he stood massive—large enough to carry two full-grown warriors with room to spare.
Helion's jaw dropped.
"Whoa. I knew he got bigger through the day, but… not this big!"
Zeyr chuckled. "That's right, boy."
He patted Linx's glowing shoulder as the phoenix knelt down for them to mount.
"Linx doesn't just grow with the sun. He can use stored energy—mana he's gathered or siphoned over time—to amplify his size temporarily."
Zeyr climbed onto the phoenix's back in one smooth motion, the wind rippling through his coat.
"Which means," he added with a smirk, "we're riding straight to the Forge."
Helion stepped forward, still in awe.
Linx let out a low, melodic call—part song, part flame—and spread his wings wide. The heat rolled over the trees, warm but not scalding.
Helion climbed up behind Zeyr, gripping the handles built into the saddle carved between the phoenix's wings.
"Ready?" Zeyr called back.
Helion nodded. "Let's go forge a sword."
With a single beat of his wings, Linx launched into the sky—a comet streaking toward the horizon, carrying them toward the forge that would shape destiny itself
As they soared above the mountain peaks, the wind rushing past in roaring waves, Helion's eyes widened with wonder.
"I've never seen this view…" he murmured. "It's… amazing."
Zeyr, seated ahead, glanced back with a knowing grin. "Yeah. It's breathtaking, isn't it?"
Linx flew smooth and swift, wings outstretched as he dodged jagged cliffs and spiraled through low-hanging clouds. The golden light of morning danced along his feathers, casting shimmering trails in his wake.
For a brief moment, all was quiet—just the wind, the sky, and the endless sprawl of the world below.
Then Zeyr pulled a folded map from his coat, holding it steady against the wind.
"If I'm not mistaken…" he muttered, tracing a finger across the parchment, "that old geezer should still be hiding out behind the waterfall."
He circled a spot on the map and patted Linx's neck once. The phoenix gave a low rumble in response—almost like a growl of amusement.
Zeyr turned back toward Helion with a devilish smirk.
"Better hold on tight."
"Wait—what?"
Linx twisted mid-air, tucking his wings—
—and dropped.
A freefall. A sky dive through the clouds.
Helion let out a stunned yell as the ground rushed up toward them. The wind roared, his hair whipping wildly as Linx spiraled through the mountain pass, cutting between rock walls with impossible grace.
They plunged toward a narrow canyon veiled in mist.
And there—hidden between two stone spires—
A waterfall. Massive. Roaring. Ancient.
Linx stretched his wings wide at the last second, gliding straight toward it.
Zeyr leaned forward.
"There he is," he said over the rushing wind. "The Forgekeeper."
Helion blinked as the massive waterfall came into view, mist rising in great plumes like a breathing titan guarding the mountainside.
His eyes widened. "Wait… wait, Zeyr—Linx is fire. Wouldn't diving into that completely put him out?"
Zeyr didn't even flinch. "Who said Linx is going in there?"
He stood up smoothly on Linx's back, coat fluttering from the wind.
Helion's jaw dropped. "No. No no no no—don't you dare say it—"
Zeyr looked over his shoulder, smirking. "We jump."
Helion nearly fell off. "WHAT?! Are you insane?! That's like two hundred feet down! That's stone and water! You want me to leap off a flying firebird into a death curtain?!"
Zeyr crouched slightly, readying his launch.
"Listen, kid—it's just like the last time we jumped."
"You mean when I barely survived and almost puked?!"
Zeyr ignored him. "Use your mana. Hell—use that form of yours. All you need is a wee bit of power, and you'll land just fine."
Helion stared down at the waterfall roaring beneath them. "This isn't a jump, it's suicide dressed as a training exercise."
Zeyr winked. "Welcome to the fast track."
And then—he jumped.
No hesitation. Just a blur of dark cloth and confidence diving toward the falls.
Helion leaned forward, peering over the edge, heart hammering.
Linx tilted his head back and gave him a little push with one wing.
"Okay, okay!" Helion yelled. "I'm going! Just—don't look down. Focus. Focus…"
He took a breath.
Light ignited around him.
Mana surged—pure, radiant energy flooding his limbs, wrapping his frame in an aura of glowing white and gold.
Helion's voice rang out over the roaring wind:
"Luminox—lend me your power!"
His body reacted before his words even finished.
Flash.
A streak of brilliance tore through the sky—Helion vanished in a blink of light, accelerating like a falling star straight through the waterfall.
CRASH!
The water split around him as he pierced the cascade, roaring past the crashing torrent and into the dark veil beyond.
His heart slammed in his chest.
I'm going too fast—!
The inside of the waterfall blurred—then light burst through the mist.
He hit the ground with a rough roll—not crashing, but landing, barely.
His boots skidded across slick stone, sparks of mana trailing behind until—
He stopped.
Helion coughed once, blinking hard as mist danced through shafts of refracted sunlight.
His jaw dropped.
Before him stood a forge unlike anything he'd imagined—
A stone-built sanctuary, carved directly into the heart of the mountain, hidden behind a veil of falling water. Giant stone beams supported the cavern, with glowing runes spiraling along the walls. At the center burned a forgefire—blue and alive, as if it breathed.
Helion's voice caught. "Woah…"
And just then—
A voice called from the shadows, deep and gravelly.
"Took you long enough, Zeyr."
From behind a pillar, a figure emerged — floating lazily in the air, cross-legged atop a massive glowing sword.
An old man.
With a wild grin and a cloak lined with tiny embers.
"Zeyr, Zeyr, Zeyr… still taking the scenic route after all these years?"
Zeyr didn't turn.
"You're as loud as ever, Zeku."
Helion squinted. The old man floated forward, dropping to the ground with a loud crack — his own spine.
He grunted and straightened, eyeing Helion.
"I'm the great Forge Master — Zeku. And you look strong… but unshaped. Fractured."
Helion sighed. "Okay, now they're just fighting over who gets to insult me."
Zeyr grinned. "Only I'm allowed to do that."
Zeku's eyes landed on the Lumiare shard.
His entire expression shifted.
"Well, well…"
He stepped forward, reverently approaching the stone's glow.
"Raw Lumiare. Haven't touched one in decades."
Then he turned toward the forge.
"Let's see if this old place remembers how to sing."
Helion blinked. "Wait, don't we need to prepare or—?"
Zeku raised a hand.
His massive sword whistled through the air, flew to him — then melted.
It shifted like liquid, flowing into his hand and forming a shallow basin.
"Second form… Water Basin Mirage."
Steam erupted from the blade, rolling across the floor like fog from a dream.
Zeku's shape vanished behind it.
"I've forged blades for kings, monsters, and things older than names," his voice echoed. "No introductions needed."
The Lumiare vanished into the mist — and the forge began to breathe.
Blue fire. Whispering metal. Rising heat.
Zeku's voice came once more. Low and final. "When the metal screams… then you step forward."
And with that, the forge began to breathe.
the rhythmic hum of the blue flames filled the cavern with a steady pulse. Helion and Zeyr stood a short distance away, the forge's glow casting their shadows long across the stone floor.
"Alright, Helion," Zeyr said, rolling his shoulders as he took a ready stance. "Your swordsmanship is coming along nicely, but we need to make sure you're just as deadly without a blade in hand. Let's see what you've got."
Helion nodded, dropping into a defensive posture. "I'm ready."
Zeyr didn't waste a second. He lunged forward, a blur of muscle and speed. Helion barely managed to sidestep, feeling the wind of the missed strike rush past his ear.
"Faster!" Zeyr barked, his voice echoing through the chamber. "You have to anticipate my moves. Hand-to-hand combat isn't just about strength—it's about reading your opponent."
Helion grit his teeth and surged forward, aiming a quick jab at Zeyr's torso. Zeyr deflected it effortlessly, countering with a knee strike that Helion barely managed to block.
"You're thinking too much," Zeyr chided. "Trust your instincts, but refine them. Move with purpose."
Zeyr leapt into the air, executing a front flip with a powerful kick aimed at Helion's shoulder. Helion raised his arms in a cross-block, absorbing the impact with a grunt. Seizing the moment, Helion grabbed Zeyr's foot and twisted, flinging him toward the ground.
But Zeyr rotated mid-air, landing lightly on his feet with a smirk. "I may be a big, muscular man, but that doesn't mean I'm not light on my feet, boy," he teased.
Then, in a blink, Zeyr vanished from Helion's sight. Helion spun around, trying to locate him, but Zeyr reappeared behind him, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Speed and awareness, Helion," Zeyr said, his voice now gentle but firm. "You're improving. But in the Royal Draft, you'll face opponents who won't give you a second chance. You have to be faster, stronger, and smarter."
Helion took a deep breath, nodding. "I understand. Let's go again."
As Helion and Zeyr prepared for their second round of sparring, Zeku interrupted them, yelling, "Alright, the time has come. Come forward, Helion!"
As Helion slowly walked toward the mist, he noticed his mana pouring out of him, concentrating into a single point. "It feels like my mana is pouring out of me," he remarked.
Zeku nodded. "Yes. The Water Basin Mirage will now start to concentrate your mana into one point. This will help with the true bonding of your spirit."
"Third Form: Act of Promising Will, Water's Well!" Zeku proclaimed.
Suddenly, mana gathered from the waterfall itself, turning the cascading water into a deep, glowing blue as if it were creating a portal. Zeku explained to Helion, "This waterfall is now acting as a portal between the spirit world and this world. This will allow your spirit to present itself in its full form for just a short moment—enough for you two to create and finalize your bond, if it's possible.
Zeku continued, "Alright, now typically it takes a couple of minutes before a—" but as he was about to finish his sentence, a bright light burst forth from the well itself. A portal opened, and a humanoid figure stepped out. As they emerged, mana began to wrap around the figure, forming its full, radiant body.
Helion's eyes widened in awe. "Luminox! It's you again! I can't believe it!" Luminox's body fully manifested, a brilliant aura filling the room. His presence was divine and majestic, with a white, misty aura radiating from him. He wore a golden tunic and platinum armor that shimmered with light
Zeyr marveled at Luminox's appearance. "Helion, your spirit is truly magnificent. It's powerful, rare, and a sight to behold."
Zeku, with a mixed expression, added, "A light spirit… this is indeed rare. I don't know what you've done to achieve this, but it's no random occurrence."
Zeyr responded to Zeku, "I don't know if any light spirit has manifested like this in my lifetime."
As Luminox approached Helion, he remarked, "Helion, you look strong. I'm truly amazed by what you've accomplished in such a short time. It seems the moment has come for us to continue our journey together. I will stand by your side." Luminox bowed slightly, his radiant presence filling the chamber. "It is my greatest honor and humble pleasure to serve you, Helion."
Zeyr and Zeku nodded at each other in confirmation. Zeku extended his hand toward the waterfall, and a spear of water formed, grasping the sword. The watery hand slowly brought the sword toward Luminox and Helion. As the sword approached, their auras intertwined, radiating brilliant light and mana.
"The pressure…" Zeyr murmured, a smirk forming on his face. "I haven't felt mana this intense in a very long time. It reminds me of that moment…" A flash of memory crossed his mind, recalling his first encounter with Helion, when the young warrior could barely withstand his mana pressure. "Look at how the tables have turned," Zeyr noted, clenching his fist slightly, both impressed and proud.
As Helion reached out to grasp the sword, Luminox did the same. Luminox mana condensed into a brilliant, majestic orb of light, shimmering with countless colors. "This, Helion, is my mana core," Luminox said. "I will imbue this into your very soul and your sword. Together, we will become one in true soul form."
As Helion and Luminox reached for the sword, Luminox mana formed a brilliant orb of light, hovering between them. The orb levitated, splitting as it fused into both the sword and Helion, binding them together. A beam of radiant light enveloped Helion and Luminox, sealing their connection.
As Luminox began to dissipate, he spoke, "Helion, our bond is now complete. We are in true soul form. My spirit's power will grow with your experience, and you will unlock more as you progress. My spirit skill is something you should focus on as it will help you prevail in many battles. It appears you have a grasp on our first form. Use it wisely. Until next time." With those words, Luminox vanished into a cascade of mana, leaving Helion standing stronger than ever.
Zeku walked over, placing a firm hand on Helion's shoulder. "That was powerful, Helion. I know you'll achieve great things. Keep honing this power."
Helion gazed at his sword, feeling the surge of energy coursing through it. "Zeyr, I feel immensely stronger now."
Zeyr approached, nodding approvingly. "Of course you do. You've unlocked your true soul form. Now you can truly tap into Luminox's power. Before, you were only using a fraction. Now, you wield the full flame of his strength."
Helion took a deep breath, ready for the journey ahead, feeling more powerful and determined than ever.