Furion's Trials (Book Two of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  Selecting wasn’t difficult and Gerieg didn’t comment one way or the other, for it was his student’s choice and Alex made the decision carefully. The mold was heavy and gave clues as to what it was made of. “Master, are all of the molds made from the same metal as the swords?”

  “More than just the molds,” He said with a smile. “The pail you used to collect the material, as well as all of the tools we’ll use, have all came from the same source. It is the only way we can make our weapons, the only way. Other tools wouldn’t be up to the task of fulfilling our needs or that of the weapon being created.” He emphasized.

  Conceding by placing the mold on the stone rack, Alex wiped his hands on his pants before sitting across the workbench of his master. Now it was time to relax before beginning the shaping and working of the weapon that would signify the completion of the Furion training. Stories always captivated Alex, either written or spoken, just as long as it was good. But Gerieg’s were the best yet. “So what is this story you have? I’m quite curious about it.”

  “This story was told to me by my father, and his father before him, all the way back to the first human Furions who spoke with the Ancients before they died off. This is the story that that has been passed down to every Furion descendant. I tell this to you so that your children will hear it, should I die before they reach adulthood.” He smiled as his eyes became distant, a story unknown to nearly everyone was being brought forth to be recounted.

  “Struggles have always been a way of life, this was even true for the Ancients as well. Like we Furions are different from any other people so too did the Ancients have their own two different kinds of people. Wholes and Hollows were how they were known and told to me. Hollows were the ancients who created objects to help fill the metaphoric hole that drove them to survive. They could create whatever they wished, but it was truly never enough for their craving of objects was impractical. They were selfish, narcissistic and prided themselves on immediate gratification.

  “Wholes on the other hand were different. They were revered and sometimes despised among the Hollows. Wholes were few in number, but they didn’t require much of anything nor did they want useless possessions. They liked helping others and keeping stability among their world. Like us, they could create a harmony between their race and that of animals.” This information held Alex’s rapt attention. Such a new way of looking at the revered Ancients was enthralling and unheard of to his knowledge. But why isn’t this known? “They didn’t seek land, wealth, revel in battle or anything else the other Ancients filled their lives and time with, but they did crave one thing, experiences. They could speak to animals and come to a new understanding of the world, find exotic places, learn new ways of living, teaching others what they learned and even helped some Hollows understand that creating couldn’t bring peace to themselves.

  “Conflicts arose from time to time, but the Hollows began to fear the Wholes. For like we Furions, were difficult to defeat in open combat. Hollows became more angry when they learned that the Wholes began teaching and guiding humanity in how to live on their own. What frightened them further was that some of their creations didn’t work on Wholes.” Then Gerieg’s tone changed and darkened, drawling the listener deeper into the story. “Then as time passed, like it always does, the Hollows learned of how their numbers began dwindling and fewer and fewer children were being birthed or living to adulthood.”

  Alex interrupted when he caught how his grandfather worded the story. “The Hollows numbers dwindled? What about the Wholes?”

  “That is why this story is being passed to you, Alex.” He said simply. “Hollows noticed they were having difficulties having children, but Wholes were exempt from what was happening. Their enemy, teacher, friend and most misunderstood companion were not having problems procreating, not even with Hollows. Apparently Wholes were safe from whatever ailed the downfall of our once all powerful predecessors.

  “Knowing that Wholes would survive them angered the Hollows and when they found humans to be worthy candidates of their power, they found a way to do two tasks at once. They’d infuse the gift to humanity and take their entire race to the grave with them.” Alex’s jaw dropped as he put all of it together, but Gerieg finished the story and reinforced the conclusion. “Hollows gave humanity the ability to be born with items while also finding a way in giving the power of Wholes over as well, thus making them just as hollow and impotent as the rest of their rapidly dwindling kind.

  “In giving the gift to humanity there was a tremendous repercussion. As the gift transferred into humans, some animals were affected, as you well know, and they became fiends. When Fiends were made it also limited the effects of the Gift bestowed to humanity, for once a child is born they do not have the ability to create a different item. Once the transfer of the Ancients ended it was also a mass suicide for without their power their lives couldn’t be sustained. With the losing of their lives, their created cities and miraculous objects disappeared; just like what happens to a person’s item at the time they pass to the next world. Most human’s gained tangible items, but a select few became Furion from Wholes.” Gerieg then pointed to himself and his grandson. “We are their descendants.”

  Both were silent for a minute and Alex was the first to wish “I just hope we do not share the same fate as the Ancients and their petty issues.”

  “We can be no more or less than ourselves. No two people are alike and that is the only thing we can hope for. If in time the cycle of creation happens again I just hope we learn from the Ancients mistakes and die with honor so that the next race won’t be as corrupted.” Gerieg said wisely.

  A strange bubbling sound came from within the forge. “Ah it is finally time to begin forging the blade.” The master said. Looking at the apprentice he stated “Burn this process into your memory, for your children will need to learn this as well.”

  Alex followed his teacher over to the forge. It was time to make the blade that would save Ra’van from the reigning tyrant.

  “Grab the clamp with the leather handles.” Gerieg ordered and Alex chose the right one for the tool needed could fit around the pail inside the furnace. It would hold the contents safely enough to be transferred.

  Opening the furnace mouth, Gerieg allowed the heat to expel into the room. Red hot light added to the torches of the room and the heat stung the eyes. Having an idea of what was about to happen, Alex turned the heat of his body up just enough so that the leather grips wouldn’t catch. Tugging on the chain, Gerieg made the sliding bar screech and pull the soot covered metal pail out of the mouth. Thick bubbling sounds came from the molten metal. Alex memorized that the metal needed to be heated to the point of bubbling to be poured into the mold.

  As Gerieg stepped away from the contents, Alex stepped forward, gripping a handle in each hand and using the clamp to surround the lip of the container. Needing complete control over the weight, his strength increased to compensate. Lifting it off the hook, the chain clattered to the floor. Careful not to step on or near the hot chains, he glided carefully over to the mold that was chosen.

  Giving only simple instructions Gerieg said “Pour slowly up and down the mold’s length. Make sure its evenly poured for a blade’s balance is crucial in this process. The bubbling heat will remove any air bubbles you might create. The stream must be continuous and must not circle for pockets of air will be created as it cools, weakening the work of art.”

  Carefully tipping the filled bucket, a finger thick stream of blistering and silvery metal poured over the container’s lip and into the recess of the mold. With careful observation and alterations of the pail, the mold filled from tip to hilt without any mistakes that were voiced. “That’s enough, now it needs to cool slowly on its own.” Gerieg said and Alex stopped pouring.

  Feeling the weight that remained Alex said “But there is still much inside.”

  “Did you think that you’d only make a blade? What did you think my bracers were made from?” Gerieg then poin
ted to the forge. “Put it back in the furnace and add some more wood. We still have use of the remaining.”

  Alex quickly hooked the chain and pushed the bucket back. Before sealing the mouth again he added three armfuls of wood and tossed it inside. Then the billows were pumped a few times.

  Returning to the cooling mold and his master Alex admitted “I thought your protectors were made from silver. The metal is just as reflective, but the silver wrist protectors hold a darker shade of color.”

  With an appropriate pat to the shoulder Gerieg corrected the assessment. “You’re partly right, but my offensive and defensive tools all have the same basic material. What you’ve failed to grasp is that pure silver and gold is a soft metal compared to steel.” He then pulled his blade half out of its sheathe to show what needed to be understood. “When you used Fire Touch to heat the blade you didn’t realize the gold and silver would have warped from the heat you produced, but it didn’t. Why would that be?”

  Alex was silently contemplating until a glint caught his eye. Looking over his master’s shoulder the gold and silver saturated wall spoke to him. Realization struck. “You mixed gold and silver into the metal!”

  “Precisely,” Gerieg grinned and looked behind himself. Raising his arms to the metallic treasure he stated “All of this is nothing more than building materials to glorify our acceptance in becoming a master. Melting such useless treasures makes them have a purpose other than being a wall ornament.”

  They were then silent and watched the cooling metal form into a workable shape. At one point Gerieg and Alex worked in the next forge, beside the main one and got it working. Only about half the wood and coal were used, but that was all that was needed apparently. Slowly the bubbling ceased, began congealing and solidifying into a silvery object.

  Half an hour later Gerieg said “Grab the tongs, a hammer and bucket of water and bring it over to the anvil.” Alex did and gave over only the tongs. The bucket had also been filled with frigid water that could only have come from the underground river he trained in weeks ago.

  With a firm grasp on the tongs Gerieg grabbed the still hot hilt and lifted the newly formed object from the mold and it came away without any difficulty. He then brought the remarkably flat object to the anvil and laid the flat of the blade on its smooth surface. “What you need to do is beat it with an even strength strike each time so that no one part is more worked than the next. I’ll talk you through it so do not fear making a mistake, but do not let it cool completely quite yet.”

  Reassured, Alex assaulted the metal blade with the wide-faced hammer, close to the edge. Small silver sparks shot from the strike and the jolt stung. Needing even more control of strength he increased it slightly and hit it over again and again.

  Ten minutes of work later they had to place the blade back inside the other forge that had been prepped. The only way to work the metal was to keep it hot for if it had a chance to cool it would become useless. Pumping the other set of billows Alex watched both his work and Gerieg for the signs that it was ready. When there was the sudden change of expression, Alex stopped pumping. Gerieg smiled and took the reheated object out and brought it back to the anvil to be worked.

  Together they forged the entire day by hammering the metal. When it came time for nightfall they kept the slowly forming blade inside the second forge to stay hot for the night. Alex added enough wood to the two of three forges to stay burning throughout the entire night.

  On the third day of the process Gerieg laughed “The hammering is finished, now it is time to file the edge to be even sharper.”

  Alex grabbed the different abrasive files while his sword was being heated again. By the time he returned to the anvil the blade was already back and waiting. Alex used the three foot length files in long even strokes. The blade was finally looking more like one should, but soot covered much of its hidden beauty.

  Throughout the day the blade was turned over and over by Gerieg, under the command and observations of his student. Alex quickly became adept at working with the metal and it showed because even Gerieg noticed the work at the same time, but allowed his student to give the orders.

  That night the blade was razor sharp from the base of the blade to the deadly sharp tip.

  Gerieg then had the entire blade plunged into the bucket of water. “The outside needs to be tempered.” The water sizzled and bubbled violently. After only fifteen seconds he quickly said “Hurry we must put it back in the forge.” In a matter of seconds they pulled the steaming blade from the bucket and laid it back in the forge’s heated rack.

  Closing the mouth of the second forge Alex asked “Why did we quench the blade and put it back in the forge?”

  “The outside of the blade need to be tempered. Tempering makes the metal exponentially harder, but also makes it more brittle. To rectify the problem of chipping and shattering we must heat it again and allow it to cool slowly and naturally. The softer metal on the inside will allow the blade to flex without risking it snapping under an extreme force.”

  It made sense. Alex had read something like that before, but to work metal was oddly gratifying.

  The very next morning they pulled the reheated sword off the rack and attached a chain from the half rounded hilt and allowed it to dangle while it cooled slowly. As it did so Gerieg said “As a royal prince you must show worth in your blade so that when others see it they will understand who they speak with. It is not wise to be ostentatious with everything you wear for people will feel threatened. It helps to be humble in appearance, but to show your station you must find that balance. Choose from the treasures that you wish, to make the crafted blade more than just a tool for killing.”

  “Can I ask for your advice in such matters?”

  “Certainly.” He replied.

  Together they made their way around the large circular room. With guidance Alex chose from several gold and silver coins in slightly different shades to which would be melted in with the volcanic metal to alter its appearance. It wasn’t an exact match of colors, but there needed to be personal symbols built into the blade. He wanted the gold to match Shade’s golden eyes, the silver to match the tips of Ava’s wings, but that wasn’t all. Over on the wall which held all of the precious stones Alex found uncut amethysts, for his pommel would be set with the stone of his love. The light purple stone was larger than an eyeball.

  While the sword continued to cool, Gerieg brought over three metal containers. He sat them down on the bench, along with the gold and silver coins. One looked to be completely sealed, the next looked as a mixing bowl and the last had a spiraling tube that became thinner the further the tube wound from the funnel. “With the sword you chose,” He began and placed one of the containers before Alex. “this guard mold is the only one that will be capable of being used for your sword.” Alex opened it and saw that the guard mold wasn’t round, but a straight bar that curved upwards into sharp tips. “This one we’ll use to mix the gold and silver into the metal. The last mold will make the thin wire we need to wrap the hilt.”

  Getting right to work Alex grabbed the bubbling contents of the volcano’s metal and poured precisely the amount Gerieg specified before putting it back in the forge. Adding three coins into the metal, they quickly sparked off the dust, dirt and melted the metal coins. Using a metal stirring rod Alex mixed the metals together and soon it blended all one color, light gold; nearly the exact color of Shade’s.

  Using the tongs Alex poured the golden mixture into the sealed mold, slowly so that no air would be trapped. Once the contents were emptied he sat the mold off to the side to cool.

  Repeating the process, Alex poured much more into metal in the bowl, nearly filling it three quarters and added silver pieces to brighten the metal by a few tones. Ava’s feather tips color was matched. Soon it was poured into the funnel and hooked up high so gravity could pull the hot metal down. It didn’t take long for a hair’s thick strand to exit the thin end. The thin filament quickly cooled as it reached t
he ground and coiled on its own. This process took no more than five minutes to finish and soon the cool wire was collected and placed upon the table.

  By the time the wire was put down they used the tongs to retrieve the cooled guard from the mold. Completely solid, except for a sharp hole in the center where the blade will slip through, it came out without any persuasion. Soon it was shaped without any rough edges, fired one more time to seal off any crevices that had been made from the smoothest metal files and was finally sat out to cool as well.

  “There is nothing more to do today. Tomorrow we’ll use the remaining to make you your own bracers.”

  The next morning they did just that, even before checking the sword. Using another mold, Alex found the correct one that would fit his wrist and protect over half of his forearm. Only eight inches in total length, the meal would only be of little protection, but the simple design and a Furions speed were more than adequate as a legitimate defense.

  Once the first came from the mold Gerieg had Alex engrave it in how he saw fit. He decided to get a thin, but sharp, chisel out and engraved a curved tooth into the top of the protector. There was a thin line that separated the underside of the guard so Alex could open and equip it.