The nine stood frozen as the forge roared to life, flames bursting from dead furnaces, chains rattling as though the forge itself had awakened with its master’s words.
“I am Deldrien… the Eternal Forger.”
The name rolled like thunder, and with it came realization. The voice that had whispered in their darkest moments, the one that had guided them through trial after trial—was his.
“You…” Ragna’s eyes widened, flames crackling faintly around his fists. “It was you all along?”
Deldrien’s burning gaze passed over them, unyielding, unreadable. Sparks danced from his molten frame, falling like fireflies to the blackened floor.
The nine stiffened as Deldrien slowly raised his hand. No chant, no great movement — just a single deliberate sweep of his molten fingers across the air.
At once, t
