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

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  “I’ve finally completed my project.”

  Blue eyes quickly sharpened and he asked “If you believe it is, do you feel satisfied in your work?”

  Alex grinned slightly down to his mentor. “When you see it, you’ll be just as impressed.”

  With a simple gesture Gerieg followed him down the stairs, after retrieving his ornate sword, and at the bottom and in the center of the open and torch-lit room sat the perfectly spherical boulder that was officially completed, in his eyes.

  Carefully, Gerieg touched the stone, marveling at it in a new light. Seeing it every day he became blind to just how much progress had been made. With Alex’s permission he used the rounded guide and found every curve and angle to be perfect and even to the naked eye no flaws could be seen, let alone felt. Intense heat glossed the outer structure evenly and not even one place had a rough edge.

  “Remarkably done, my boy!” The master announced in obvious delight. “One of the best ever sculpted. Better than mine for sure.” Laying a hand on the surface he turned around, tossing his grey and blond mane behind his shoulders. “Pick it up and follow me.”

  “Why? What are we doing now?”

  Smiling proudly he stated “You are now going to add your name and pride to our ancestors. It is also time to finish your training with one final task to become a master in full as well.”

  “Me? A master?”

  “Who else am I speaking to? Of course I mean you!” He said with a perpetual smile. “Grab your prize and follow me so that we may finish that much quicker.” He then walked over to a wall and picked up a torch.

  Following behind his master, Alex could now easily carry the sculpture that had once been so difficult in the beginning.

  Fifteen minutes into the casual walk they came to the end of the spheres and stands. The hallway was long and easy to navigate, but the torch cast its light to push the enveloping darkness away. Only this time something was different beside his father’s, Sheul’s, sphere. A new stand had been placed and at the base held an engraved name ‘Alex Sheulson’ and the recess was awaiting its only eternal resident. Only one person could have snuck this in and he stood silently, holding the only available source of light.

  Knowing what to do Alex carefully placed his final product down and stood back to compare it to his father’s. Only subtle differences were seen between them, but Alex’s shone more, only because it was newly sculpted and not been forced into isolation for nearly twenty years without any care. It still paled in comparison to the feeling that he had officially joined the line of his Furion ancestors. That burden and sense of pride nearly brought tears to come forth, but the exhilaration of completing such a task was freeing.

  When enough time had passed he looked and saw his grandfather staring at the other side of the hall, gazing at the sphere he made nearly five-and-thirty years ago himself. Placing a hand on Gerieg’s broad shoulder Alex asked “What does this final task entail?”

  “We are going to face the deadliest force our world has to offer.”

  “Before I even begin to speculate what force you speak of, why would we attempt it if it is as deadly as you say it is?”

  With placid icy blue eyes, Gerieg said “Because we must to create a weapon fit only for a Furion and there is only one way to get the basic material.”

  “What kind of a weapon?” He asked skeptically.

  Gerieg grabbed the hilt of his sword and sang its arrival when drawn. Its high pitched ring filled the hallway, echoing even more dramatically. “Take my sword and tell me what you can identify.”

  Easily transferred over, Alex scrutinized the entirety of the blade. Both edges were razor sharp and held not one scratch or nick. It was heavier than other swords of equal size, but not by too much. It looked to be well maintained, but upon a closer observation he announced “It looks newly forged, but how can that be? Non-item weapons show marks after battle, but this isn’t even scratched.”

  “Try using your Fire Touch by holding only the hilt.” He hinted cryptically.

  With only a single hand over the silver and gold wrapped hilt, he increased the intensity of the heat in his right hand only. It became apparent why Gerieg said to do this. The blade seemed to heat up, but with the amount he focused in his hand should have made the metal turn red hot, but the entire body of the blade began showing a mirage-like haze around it. There was nothing to catch fire, but the heat it radiated was easily felt and hazed the air around it.

  Toning the heat back, it quickly cooled faster than normal metal. Handing it back, Gerieg slid it back in the leather sheathe. “The properties of this metal are the rarest you’ll ever come across, for only here, in this volcano is the only source of the material. No normal human will ever be able to mine or collect the metal, but we Furions can and only take what we need. When I made this sword, like my father before me it was then that I became a master in full. The metal, once forged, becomes indestructible, which is why Furions can use it for no other metallic weapon will survive for long with our strength. It never needs maintenance except to be cleaned every now and then. Once it is made and had time to properly cool, it will never be able to be re-forged for heat will not make it malleable ever again, save for throwing it back inside the volcano’s mouth.

  “If you’re wondering, Runkamon stole my father’s sword and claimed it as his own. It is truly unfortunate that it is used for such evil purposes…

  “Forgive an old man’s rattling… Now it is time we create your true weapon. A weapon worthy of a Furion Master!”

  Such conviction made Alex ready to complete the task immediately. With a nod, Gerieg led them deeper down the dark hall.

  It became increasingly warmer as they came to the end of the hall thirty silent minutes later. At the end stood a large steel door that sealed off the hall from whatever laid beyond. Even from twenty feet away the door’s heat was nearly unbearable and caused Alex to beginning sweating all over again.

  “Before we go any further I must know if you are ready for what we are about to attempt.” Alex said he was and balked as his grandfather began stripping until nothing covered him. “It is necessary, for the air’s heat alone will burn away any cloth. To survive, you must keep your body’s heat constantly high or else it will be too much to handle and you’ll become in even greater danger. Shoes would melt or burn away so try to keep your feet around the same temperature of the ground to keep them from burning. Follow me at all times and heed my council, the last thing we need is further complications for even our greatest Fire Touch is nothing to that of magma and we would have no chance.”

  Understanding the dangers to the best of his knowledge Alex stripped and said he was ready.

  Radiating an intense heat, heart pounding and restraining the mental image of the fire that controlled the increase of strength, both Furions opened the metal door and were instantly assaulted by an intense blast of air laced with sulfur. Shutting the door behind himself Alex needed to heat his left heel even more for even here the ground’s heat was already dangerous. A magma chamber had carved steps leading down further into the dark volcano. Just before they began to descend Gerieg pointed to a large soot covered pail and lid with matching metal chains laying within. “To draw the metal, we will need that.”

  Increasing his strength the smallest amount, Alex picked it up and held it in his left hand.

  Twenty minutes, or so it felt like, they found themselves deep within the winding and perpetually dark cave. Just as they exited the last manmade step the torch was no longer needed for a large magma chamber illuminated the cavity and flowed before them, giving off an ominous orange and red light of pure heat and energy. Black patches showed where lava had cooled, but it was deceiving for it could be solid two safe and firm feet down or only an inch that could give way under the softest weights. The air’s heat was intense and difficult to breathe, but their Furion abilities gave some protection. “This place would be a deathtrap for anyone else.” Alex noticed aloud.

/>   “That is agreed, now see the other side of the slowly flowing river of lava.” He pointed over the magma stream that cut off the channel they came through. “We must reach it.”

  “How? Neither of us can possibly jump that on our best day. Surely there is another way for it is too far to cross in a single bound.”

  “Follow my lead.”

  Alex watched in amazement as Gerieg began running as a Furion, leaping from one blackened magma place to the next without the slightest concern, moving just moments before his foot would have been swallowed into the molten rock. A few short bounds later he made it to the other side and waved.

  Not one to shy away from a challenge, the pail had to move so it could be gripped more securely and simultaneously made his strength explode just as he began running. Within one leap forward he crossed fifteen feet of molten magma, landing for a moment on the cooler black chunks before launching to the next one and the next.

  While running across the magma it all began to make perfect sense. The training that has taken such effort was all in preparation for this moment. Teaching by example how to run in a heightened state made the traveling over the stifling river easier. Running in the windy valley’s smooth, slippery and wet river stones made keeping balance effortless and altering strength at a split second made jumps more meaningful when some were longer or shorter.

  Reaching safety on the other side Gerieg congratulated “Excellent! Not much further until we reach where we need to go.”

  Traveling alongside the river of molten rock they came upon a dead end, or so Alex thought. Pointing upwards the elder master said “You know what to do.” Before them was another nearly vertical rock-face, illuminated by the magma. A waterfall of liquid land flowed down its side, but far enough out of the way to not cause harm. For a few minutes Alex needed to study the two hundred foot wall for every advantage there was.

  Together they practically ran up the wall, without using their hands. Toeholds were the only source of safety on the wall, but thanks to working so hard in the many trials it was safe enough to climb without any deadly complications or fatal accidents.

  Up on the top was a pool of lava feeding the waterfall they’ve paralleled since the first crossing. Without another word they skirted the large pool and entered another lava tube that went down, almost spiraling in some places. Once they exited, it became an open chamber once again, but this time in an irregular dome that led nowhere else it seemed. The pool and destination was fifteen or twenty feet below where they stood, but the lighting of the dome was different.

  This pool of molten heat wasn’t giving off the red-orange glow of molten rock, this pool was moving like bubbling quicksilver and also gave off a warm, silvery light. “This is what we need. Take the pail and toss it in the metal, but do not let go of the chain or we’ll never be able to collect any more. When the pail is filled we will leave this place quickly.”

  Knowing it was his task alone, Alex lowered the large volume bucket into the rare metal in its liquid state. The chain was slick, but wrapping the links around one arm solved the problem. Once enough flowed into the container it was pulled back up. Gerieg quickly put the cap over the pail carefully and they had to wait until enough of the chain cooled to hold the blistering heat that emanated from the molten contents inside the pail.

  Soon they turned around and went back up the channel.

  No other choice but to jump down the two hundred foot wall, they did. The landing was frightening for the contents of the bucket nearly came out. But the drop remained a success nonetheless.

  Wanting to leave the sure death of remaining in this place for an extended period of time in such unfavorable conditions, they immediately began running. Soon they ran back across the molten river without incident again, and back up the stairs, using the torch left behind to light the way.

  Reaching the steel door Gerieg opened it and allowed his grandson through with the main material needed.

  Sealing the heat away again behind the thick door Gerieg scooped up all the clothes and his sword from where they had been left. “Follow me quickly, we cannot let the metal have a chance to cool.”

  Both ran stark naked down the hall. Reaching the main entrance, Alex followed his master all the way up the stairs without question.

  Reaching the top Gerieg said “Now it is time to show you what’s lays behind the metal door.” He then turned and pushed it open.

  Total darkness was the only initial sight of the room until the torch revealed what lay within.

  The room was facing north and was cut into the mountainous volcano and allowed no light into the room. The inside was enormous for it was just as, if not larger, than the initial entrance to the castle-tower. Round like what lay below, only the room was far from empty. First to catch the eye was a large stone forge and to either side rested stacked wood and to the other held a large mound of coal. The forge seemed to have three open mouths and the smokestacks reached up into the ten foot high ceiling. Leather billows had poles sticking out for them to be pumped at any needed time. Tools, molds, empty buckets, an anvil and a large bench were nearby to make the lifelong weapon of a Furion.

  Then Alex’s jaw dropped as his eyes swept around and along the walls of the round room. A treasure room fit for ten kingdoms was contained here. Hanging on nearly half of the walls was pure and refined gold and silver and the remaining was of precious stones that could support many families and their descendants for a minimum of two hundred years. Valuable stones riddled the other curve of the wall. Opals, rubies, jade, diamond, topaz and thousands more jewels resided here. Some of the precious stones were set in holes carved into the wall itself and reflected a multitude of colors. Some were shaped and polished to perfection, but most of the jewels remained uncut for an awaiting artist to sculpt them.

  “This was why I said you were forbidden from looking until now.” Gerieg said, quickly walking around Alex and the ever present heat dangling from the end of the chain. “If you would have seen the Furion treasury your focus would have been broken and the training would have taken longer. Come now, we must keep the contents in its liquid form.”

  Pulling his thoughts from the most value he’s ever seen, let alone imagined, Alex followed behind quickly, keeping his right arm outstretched so that the bucket of metal was as far from him as possible.

  Grabbing a shovel Gerieg quickly scooped coal into the first open mouth of the furnace. Once he was satisfied with the quantity he added armfuls of chopped wood into the forge. Tossing the burning torch inside, the mouth quickly brightened. Sounds of screeching metal occurred as Gerieg pulled a hidden bar from the inside forward.

  “Come, hook one of the links onto this bar.”

  Enough said. Alex thought so he could get away from the bucket even if it was for just a short time. Quickly crossing the cool ground he raised the chain just high enough so that the bottom of the container could pass over the bottom end of the stone lip. Using a pair of tongs, Gerieg quickly removed the lid, heat billowed out from being uncapped. With a firm push the metal screeched again as it brought the pail inside the rapidly growing flames. Wanting to end it even faster, Alex shut the metal opening, sealing the bulk of the heat inside the first open forged.

  In total relief Alex canceled his heat and slid down to put his bare bottom on the cooler stone floor. Sighing, Gerieg joined him.

  Within a few minutes of personal silence, Alex eventually asked “What is this place exactly?”

  “We’ve had enough excitement for one night. Let us go relax in the hot springs so that we can be rejuvenated. We will then need some sleep and tomorrow I will explain our biggest and most physically valued secret.”

  Reaching the outside, it was cooler than they’ve been for the past hour or so. Making it to the warm springs both felt the ever relaxing water pull the stress and exhaustion from the body. Just sitting in the neck deep water, both relaxed in blissful silence. No insects bothered them because of the nearby toxic air is too deadly fo
r small creatures. The silence calmed the nerves for the earlier danger was rattling.

  When they exited they both went to bed for a few hours, allowing the forge to heat properly and the flames inside to settle and spread.

  Alex slept, finally allowing his dreams to accept just how dangerous gathering metal from an active volcano really was.

  With only a few hours of sleep, Alex had become accustomed to it and quickly dressed in his own clothes, now that his training was nearing its end it couldn’t hurt. Just as he exited his room Gerieg stood nearby the newly opened treasure room, but now it was completely brighter for all of the wall torches were lit. The master was the first to speak happily. “Do not worry, all is well and has gone without problems. Though you will forge your own blade I checked earlier and made sure the metal was still in its molten state. All is in order, but we still have about three hours until we can begin pouring your metal into a molding you will choose. Come, while you decide the outline of your new sword I will tell you a story told to me long ago.”

  Inside the well lit room again, the treasures reflected their wealth in short glitters and in vibrant colors with the lapping of the torches. Gerieg led Alex over to a shelved stand that held five-and-thirty tiers of different sword molds. “Go ahead and choose the one you think would be best suited for your needs.”

  As Alex slid out the first and lowest mold his first comment was “Where the hilt meets the blade, why isn’t there a guard?”

  “Because all of the blades are like that, the guard will be added later, as will the pommel and wire wrapping.”

  With a nod he slid the mold back in for it was far too long and bulky. A long-sword would be disadvantaged in close quarters combat and in a cramped environment. The next one up was several inches shorter and the blade curved slightly, but relying on slashing strikes would only hinder a person’s variety of attacks. The ideal sword would need to be straight, double edged and sharply tipped. Alex found eleven swords that met those qualifications, but in further debating found a single empty mold that was exactly the length of his arm, from its tip and his outstretched middle finger to reach his shoulder with the pommel. The hilt would be a hand and a half so that two hands could be used if needed, but it would be primarily made for single armed combat for the other arm could carry a shield; if needed that is. The width of the blade was three thumbs thick, a half inch wider than Gerieg’s.