—— ? ——

  Rays of sunlight dipped over the mountaintops. The beams fell and scattered on the freshly fallen snow covering the valley. The light reflected and sparkled, turning the landscape into a dazzling spectacle.

  Two figures interrupted the frozen portrait, trudging across the valley. Their crunching footsteps and voices echoed and broke the quiet morning.

  “I still don't understand what's so terrifying about Cyrus’s words.” Kaelalin protested, looking back at the man following her. “You act as if he wished to hex us.”

  Simon’s eyes continually swept the snow as he followed behind. The distance between them was increasingly uncomfortable.

  “Kaelalin, you just don't know what I've been through.” He muttered, head on a swivel, eyebrows furled. The conversation died as his full attention shifted to observing the world around him.

  Simon's nerves tightened with every step. Every misshapen snow pile, another potential horror.

  Universe, you will not get me this time. I know your tricks.

  He assured himself with ?growing bravado.

  Nothing will catch me off guard. Not now, not today. My focus is unmatched.

  He thought… and then slammed into Kaelalin.

  With an Oooof they bounced off each other. The thick map the Frost-kin had pulled from her pocket tumbled into the snow as she face-planted into a drift.

  Spitting and cursing, Kaelalin whirled on her companion.

  “In all the frozen hells, what is your problem, you damned moron?” She growled. Snow had tumbled into her clothing, and completely coated her. She resembled a pissed-off sugar cookie, Simon thought.

  “Sorry. My bad.” Simon held up both hands. “Didn’t see you stop.”

  Kaelalin blinked at him.

  “Didn’t see me stop?” She said through gritted teeth, her glare oozing disbelief.

  Simon decided the best course of action was to keep his mouth shut. Kaelalin wiped the snow off her cheeks.

  “Simon!” she snapped.

  “Yeah?” he peeped in response.

  “Care to explain yourself?” Kaelalin crossed her arms. “You’re acting like a frost demon’s about to burst from every drift.”

  Simon stared at the woman.

  “The hell is a frost demon?” He asked incredulously.

  Kaelalin just shook her head.

  Simon sighed. “Look, you don't get it. Ever since I got here, anytime–and I mean anytime–anyone has wished me good luck, it's always followed by the most messed-up thing happening to me. So, excuse me if I'm a TAD suspicious.”

  He held up his hands defensively. “I have been cursed, attacked, bitten, clawed and generally just had a horrible time since landing in this frozen valley. So yeah, sorry I knocked you into the snow. But at least try to see this from my perspective.”

  Simon mimicked her crossed arms and returned her icy stare. Kaelalin held it for a few moments and then snorted.

  “Fair enough. Just keep your distance.”

  She turned and retrieved the snow-dusted map.

  “At least Brian had the foresight to make these things durable,” she muttered. After a moment of studying, she gave a quick nod and started walking. Simon let her move ahead, then followed a few steps behind.

  They walked like this for roughly an hour. Kaelalin would occasionally pause and study the map; Simon continued his phrase-induced paranoia. In the distance, the first of the frozen hills came into view. Kaelalin stopped a dozen paces away from it, Simon tentatively moving up to her side. She pulled off her pack and rummaged through it, producing several magical implements. The Earth-born watched in silence as she infused each with magic. After several moments of fiddling, she gave a satisfied nod to her work and stored it away.

  “There's nothing horribly explosive...” she said, turning to Simon. “At least from what I can detect. Ready to see what lies beneath these mysterious hills?”

  Simon held up a mitten. “Just a second.” He reached for his skill and silently hoped for something impressive. With a pop, the summon appeared.

  Kaelalin’s eyebrows rose. “What is that?”

  Simon shrugged and gave her a sheepish grin, holding the guitar-shaped thing like a club. It looked older than his usual summons. Worn, wooden, no cool knobs or levers to play with.

  “Uhh… my weapon…” he mumbled.

  She stared at the wooden guitar with its rusty strings and weathered facade.

  “Are you going to serenade your enemies to sleep?” She said, no humor to be found in her voice.

  “Hey, I'm still working on the skill, alright?” He said defensively. “Just do what you need to. It'll work well enough.”

  With that, he took a ready stance and nodded at the frowning mage.

  “Whatever.” She scoffed. Kaelalin channeled her magic, snow spinning and whirling around her.

  Unintelligible words poured from her lips as she focused on the hill. With a final vocalization, a whoosh sounded out and snow bulldozed in an expanding cone in front of her. The area continued to clear itself until it reached the bottom of the hill. Simon held his breath as the snow flew away from the hill, exposing the ground beneath. Carved stone appeared, contrasted against the plain white landscape. Kaelalin and Simon watched with amazement as a rounded structure appeared before them. Intricate patterns stretched over its surface, weaving through the stone, until it condensed into a single spot. Kaelalin's magic faded, and they both studied it.

  “Is that… a door?” Simon asked, gesturing at the outline.

  “Looks like it.” Kaelalin replied. “Shall we see if it opens?”

  Simon hesitated.

  “It would have done something nasty by now, right?”

  She shrugged. “Probably. I couldn’t detect anything on the outside.” She tapped her lip thoughtfully. “What's strange is, not only is there no trap, it's lacking all magic. It’s completely inert. No energy. No magic. Nothing.”

  She stared at the doorway for a moment, then nodded to herself.

  “We have come this far. Might as well open it.” Kaelalin confidently stepped forward. “You,” she added without turning, “should probably be ready to run.”

  Simon took several steps back.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make a song dedicated to your bravery.” He said, strumming a few notes.

  The resulting screech made Kaelalin freeze mid-step. She looked back at him, confusion crossing her face.

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  Simon coughed. “Uh… maybe a silent tribute?”

  Kaelalin just shook her head and continued to the door.

  Each step was filled with tension as Simon watched her approach the unknown. Kaelalin's footsteps echoed off of the stone floor surrounding the mysterious door. After a moment of examination, she reached for the cold carved stone. Simon held his breath. He could barely hear the wind through ?his rapid heartbeat. Kaelalin’s hand touched the stone. Her muscles tensed, ready to pull away in an instant.

  DING.

  The chime was crystalline and clear. Startled, Kaelalin had instantly leapt away and was already in the middle of channeling mana.

  The carved markings on the doorway glowed with molten orange as energy coursed across the frame, flowing like lava across the surface. The glow grew as the energy peeled from the stone and formed a familiar prompt in the air.

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE—-

  > YOU HAVE DISCOVERED A SUB-REALM

  > Name: Shattered Space of the Forger

  > Status: Partially Stable

  This realm has not fully integrated. A step is required.

  As the first to discover this realm, you and those with you may attempt to stabilize this realm. If successful, you will gain a percentage of everything harvested.

  Harmony is offered. Growth is earned. Limits are unknown.

  ——————————

  The prompt hung in the air as the glow stabilized. Nothing moved or changed as the seconds ticked by.

  “Well, that’s unexpected.” Kaelalin muttered as she pulled the crackling magic back into herself.

  Simon stared at the prompt. It shimmered and painted the snow in tones of yellow and orange.

  “Any idea what this is?” he asked.

  “None. Just glad it didn’t blow me away.” Kaelalin replied. She set her pack down and dug out her magical tools once again. She grew frustrated as ?she quickly used each one.

  “This makes no sense. No magic. No energy. Nothing!” She gestured to the glowing prompt and doorway. “How does this work? What is the underlying principle?” She grunted and packed up her tools.

  Simon’s eyes flicked between her and the prompt.

  “I mean… It’s from the System,” Simon offered helpfully.

  Kaelalin glared at him.

  “Oh, really?” She said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Thank you, Simon. I hadn’t noticed the massive, glaring words hanging in the air.”

  “Just trying to contribute.”

  “Contribute less!” she snapped, turning back to the prompt.

  Kaelalin folded her arms. “Well, there goes one theory. These hills aren’t buried ruins from whatever world this valley came from.” She studied the prompt. “Shattered Space of the Forger? Interesting name.”

  Simon opened his mouth but closed it as she shot him a glare. The icy wind drifted by, filling the tense silence.

  With a sigh, Kaelalin turned to her companion. “So. What do you want to do?”

  Simon read the prompt again, looked in the direction of Varnholt, then back at the Frost-kin.

  “I mean, do we keep investigating?” He asked. “Or go get more people?”

  Kaelalin held his gaze for a moment, eyes calculating.

  “If we go back, the council will want to know what we discovered. The moment they hear a ‘percentage’ of materials… is the moment we stop being involved.” She looked down in thought. “I want every advantage I can get.”

  Her eyes flicked up to meet Simon’s.

  “Don’t you?”

  Simon gave a small smile and brandished his summoned instrument. “Wasn’t that the whole point of me coming?” He took a tentative step forward. “I'll take something like this over another night dealing with the horrible abomination stalking this valley.”

  Kaelalin nodded, then slung her pack over her shoulder. “Then it’s decided.”

  They walked nearly shoulder to shoulder as they approached the glowing prompt and the doorway beyond. The floating text shattered into tendrils of light flowing back into the door. As they stepped onto the carved stone, a glowing line split down the middle of the doorway. Each half swung silently into the hill. Beyond the threshold, a glowing swirl of energy radiated an intense light. Swirls of molten gold, brass and other metallic colors danced hypnotically.

  Simon looked at Kaelalin.

  “Ladies first?” he asked with a nervous grin.

  Kaelalin rolled her eyes upward. “Oh, how kind of you.” She held up her hands as she drew magic into them. “I could remind you who holds the title of ‘explorer’,” Kaelalin said, eyeing the portal. “But in this case… I think I really should go first.”

  She swallowed, staring into the swirling light. Then, she shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

  Inhale.

  Exhale.

  Her eyes snapped open, sharp and filled with resolve. As her foot touched the glowing portal, a disgusting slurp echoed out. Kaelalin vanished.

  Simon blinked. One moment she had been there, the next? Gone. Like she had blinked out of existence.

  He stared into the metallic swirls, took a shaky breath, and mimicked her movements.

  Breathe in.

  Breathe out.

  Inhale.

  Exhale.

  Slurp.

  —— ? ——

  Simon opened his eyes.

  Darkness surrounded him, but it wasn’t complete. Blue light illuminated towering walls of blackened steel splattered with sharp chunks of glistening metal. The air was laced with an acidic scent, and heat pressed in from every side.

  A prompt popped in.

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE—-

  > NEW QUEST!

  > Name: Metallurgic Mayhem

  > Objective: Stabilize the sub-realm.

  Investigate the Shattered Space of the Forger.

  A system anchor has been summoned nearby. Take the anchor to the point of convergence and allow it to stabilize this sub-realm.

  > Description: This shattered place was once a realm of fire, metal, and magic. Over countless ages, its mass condensed beyond its limit. The realm fractured, leaving behind molten chaos and a few remaining strongholds.

  Metallurgical material continues to seep into these spaces, repeating the cycle of destruction.

  > Reward: Upon successful stabilization, eighteen percent of all materials harvested from this sub-realm will be divided among the stabilizing party. The nearest System Hub will administer these rights.

  > Failure Condition: If the anchor is not secured to the convergence point within eight hours, the realm will collapse. Those who exit the sub-realm prematurely will forfeit their reward and be barred from reentry for one week.

  Harmony is offered. Growth is earned. Limits are unknown.

  ——————————

  Simon mentally dismissed the text and searched the room. He turned in place slowly, taking in his surroundings.

  The chamber was enormous. It looked like massive molten hands had taken a scoop out of a chunk of metal. In the distance, glowing veins of gold pulsed. Overhead, the darkness deepened until nothing was visible. No sign of the ceiling could be seen. The air was hot, dry, and stifling. The acidic tang of metal filled his lungs with every breath. He turned towards the source of the blue glow and saw a familiar Frost-kin examining a depression in the metal floor. Directly in front of her was a gleaming crystalline object. Its pattern tugged at his memory, until it clicked.

  Oh… the pattern from the hub.

  Simon took a step towards her as he continued to scan for threats.

  “Kaelalin?” he called out softly.

  She glanced over her shoulder, then immediately raised a finger to her lips. Simon nodded, his heart already beginning to race, and crept closer. Now within reach of her, she whispered to him.

  “We don’t know what’s in here.” She gestured to the palm-sized crystal in the depression. “But I’m pretty sure that is the ‘anchor’.”

  Simon nodded in response and was briefly mesmerized by the patterns. Shaking his head, he firmly gripped the rough neck of the guitar and took position to watch their surroundings.

  Behind him, he heard the soft sound of crystal before silence reigned. He focused his eyes on the world around him, looking for any movement. Heartbeats passed as the room remained still. The only movement came from the distant pulses of glowing light.

  A hand softly tapped his shoulder, and he swiveled his head to see Kaelalin holding the anchor. She held a cloth in her other hand and mimicked covering the crystal. Simon nodded at her.

  With quick motions, she covered it, and the room grew dark.

  Both of them stood quietly in the darkness, letting their eyes adjust to the gloom.

  As the long minutes passed, the instrument in Simon’s hand vanished. Simon peered into the gloom, straining and wishing his eyes to adjust faster.

  clang.

  The sound of metal-on-metal echoed from the distance.

  He willed his eyes to look deeper as he inched towards Kaelalin.

  Clang.

  The sound grew.

  His shoulder brushed into the Frost-kin's as he searched the darkness.

  CLANG.

  On the far side of the room, two glowing lights appeared from what had seemed to be a wall.

  They flickered as they moved from side to side, then froze.

  Bright orange lights focused on where he and Kaelalin stood.

  Simon’s breath caught.

  Silence.

  Then the chamber erupted as a bellow echoed out, followed by a rhythmic sound.

  CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.

  —— ? ——

  — AUTHOR NOTICE —

  ~TheBusyBard

  ——————————