35

Dove

"Welcome to Forging," Elder Peter boomed at the front of the room. As the Elder, it was solely his job to watch the Forgefire and never let it extinguish. Every Elder viewed it as the highest duty for their temple.

I was still exempt from physical classes until the end of the week, but not academic ones. And as soon as I had unlocked my fox form, I could enter the Forge and had been enrolled in the class.

A dozen anvils had been set up in front of the Forge. A halfmoon of lava arced around the furnace behind Elder Peter. Heat sweltered from the front of the room, casting a deep red glow over the stone walls.

"The Forgefire, lit by the goddess herself a thousand years ago. With our vigilant care and protection, it has never gone out. The sacred flame is given to each new Forge at its founding, while demons have attempted to smother them. Forgefire is stronger and hotter than any other fire. That will be your only safety warning.

"Your weapons and armaments must be made and repaired within accredited Forge. While enrolled here at the academy, you may use this one for free. Metal, however, must be purchased by the student unless provided for projects in this class."

Elder Peter gestured to a table where a variety of metals were displayed. "Your choice of weapon is an extension of yourself, of your abilities. But choosing the right metal is just as important.

"Every metal possesses qualities that amplify your element in unique ways. Some metals react to certain emotions. Shadow adheres well to lead and quicksilver—uh, mercury—both contain facets of death, but quicksilver leans on the spiritual side.

"Silver exudes luck and expands dreams. Copper for love and protection. Iron pairs with aggression, anger. You can craft your weapon with pure metal or an alloy. Our magic strengthens malleable metals, but knowing the processes is important to create a good final product."

Elder Peter passed the metals around the room, telling us to feel each of them, find which one fit best with our personalities—and to make sure it was in our budget for our weapon, directing us to the pricing. He droned on, "If you are a Life, Mind, or Storm kitsune, I suggest you consider a staff to concentrate your power where you need it."

Once all the expensive metal was back safely in a cabinet near the Forge, the Elder continued. "At your stations, you'll notice a small amount of metal. That's high carbon steel. Today we're making your first weapon, a knife. This is mainly to guide you through the basic process of forging. All your creations in this class will be graded based on quality, durability, and understanding the usage of materials.

"The Forgefire heats metal rapidly, but for time's sake, I've already heated your metal in the Forge. Normally, you will do this yourselves. With your tongs, I want each of you to come up here—slowly!—and bring it back to your station. You will—carefully!—begin to shape your weapon with the provided hammers."

The students all did as they were told and soon the room was a clash of hammers. We shaped it, reheated it, and quenched the metal. Hammering out the basic shape and holding it in the hot forge to do it some more.

A couple hours later, I dipped my knife for the last time. My entire weakened arm shook as the water sizzled, holding onto the thin sliver of metal as I dropped it onto the anvil.

Sweat dripped around my eyes and I swiped it away with a soot-caked hand. The hard labor made the heat of the room unbearable.

Elder Peter started up the grinding wheels for us to sharpen the knives as he made his way around the room.

When he reached my station, I scrubbed the knife with the polishing cloth before extending it to him. He took it, examining it, pressing it into the hard metal of the anvil, touching its edge.

"A bit overworked." He set the knife in front of me and continued through the room.

After class, I practically skipped out of the room, straight for the dorm where the hum of my Fated emanated.

"Whoa," Kairos said when I entered the room. "Normally the Elder has you forge a knife on your first day, not roll around in soot."

I attempted to glare, scrunching up my nose, but my proud smile hurt my cheeks as I held out the little knife.

Seven zoomed over first, snatching the knife from my hands as he turned it over. "The edges are strained, too thin."

His weapons hung at his sides, and their properties were now revealed to me. I pointed to them. "Quicksilver?"

"Keeps me sane in the Shadow Vale," Seven remarked blandly as he passed the little knife over to Kairos' outstretched hand.

"Quicksilver, associated with death and the afterlife, leaning toward the spiritual side of the realm."

"Ooh, has our girl been studying? How sexy." Kairos retrieved his mace and held it out to me.

I grinned. "Yours is bronze. A copper and tin alloy. Users provide support, loyalty, and stability. It also has grounding abilities…for control of your Storm powers, like lightning?"

Kairos nodded, cringing as he took the weapon back from me and wiped at it with his t-shirt before securing it at his side. "You're getting smudges all over it."

Enko approached, passing over the sword hilt to me. I expected it to be lighter, but the metal weighed down in my hands.

"Iron, physical power, strength, protection. Emotionally, it feeds off of…" The words came out before I could stop them and I yanked my eyes up to Enko's. "Aggression."

"Very good," Kairos said, wrapping his arms around me from behind as Enko and I were locked in a stare. "A plus. I think she deserves a reward for getting them all right. What do you say, Dove?"

"Metal for my first real weapon? I don't have money to buy it…"

Kairos grinned. "That's not quite what I meant…but of course. Whatever you want."