Felmer looked at the man and the new realm that stood in front of him. His mouth and eyes were open.
"Damn!" He said in amazement.
"The way it opened was cool," Melfer added.
"Yeah…"
The others joined them and looked at the gate in awe. The old man stood straight and looked at them. He was smiling and waiting for them to enter the realm. Felmer walked forward and got near the man.
"Your next destination is right ahead," The man said, gesturing ahead.
Felmer nodded and entered the new world. Others followed him, and they were inside the realm.
It wasn't a white or endless void. It was a different world. Huge trees surrounded them, and numerous animals and birds of unique kinds moved and flew around. Lush green hills and humongous mountains were visible in the distance. They looked and slowly walked into the new world. They were speechless at the beauty of this world. For them, it was an alien world.
When all of them were inside the realm, the door began to close behind them. They looked at the door close, and saw Wetiska disappear. The door closed, and they moved into the new world.
Deris was shocked at what he saw. Deris was about to signal his men to rush and enter the realm. But the Falvarian stopped him.
"We know nothing about that realm. They have total control over it, so we will lose."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"I will use my magic and generate a fake forest on the path to Hormis. That is the only way for them to go back. There, you will ambush them."
The Falvarian said and moved his horse away from the riders. He stood still, gathered magic in his sword and pushed it into the ground. The blade glowed with green light, and the ground began to shake. Tree roots began to emerge from the ground, and soon they were surrounded by a vast artificial forest. It felt real.
"I didn't know you had such powers," Deris said to him.
"The king won't send pesky soldiers for a mission like this." He replied and sheathed his sword. "My work here is done. We will be waiting for your report. Don't fail the king." He said, rode his horse and left for Falvaria.
The old man led the squad to the Alore clan's tribe. There wasn't any big city or town. It was a tribe, people living in huts. They walked into the tribe and were then led to the hut of the fifth sky. His hut was the biggest in the tribe and was the most prominent. They entered, and the fifth sky sat in front of them on his throne.
"Welcome…Master Felmer…I am Wallace Alore, the fifth sky."
"Nice to meet you…" Felmer replied.
"Please sit." He said, gesturing for them to sit.
They sat on the wool cushions and looked at the fifth sky. Wallace left his throne and also sat on a wool cushion in front of them.
"I am delighted that you passed the trials. And here you are for the badge. You have earned the right to obtain it."
Felmer said nothing. He had nothing to say.
"I am sure that you have the 'rocks' which you obtained from the four trials."
"Yes…" Felmer said and pulled them out. "Why were they given to me?"
"To forge the badge…"
"Wait? Forge?"
"Yes, master Felmer. They aren't just rocks. They are the finest metals in the world. Wrought Iron, Steel, Bronze, and Titanium."
"So we have to remake the badge ourselves?" Melfer asked.
"Make it. The badge was never formed." Wallace declared.
"But the book said…" Elna was about to speak.
"I know that you got your info from an old history book written in Algerim. The history is wrong there. The badge was never formed. Now, you will forge it." He said and got up. "Come…Follow me."
The squad looked at each other in shock and then followed Wallace outside the hut.
"When the king stole the jewels…" Wallace began to explain as they walked outside the tribe and into the forest. "Lord Emairis inherited the control from Lord Emayla. He didn't have enough magical prowess to control the jewels, so he sealed the control. Lord Emayla saw his death and a man from Gorbin continuing his legacy. Lord Emairis knew he wasn't the one."
"If Lord Emayla never used the badge, then why was it made later?" Felmer asked.
"The Alcapraz only answers to Lord Emayla and the men chosen by him. If the man from Gorbin appears, and he couldn't control the Alcapraz, then it would be a problem."
As they walked, they stopped. In the midst of the vast forest, they stood in front of a huge temple. They walked inside, and in front of them was a four-slab stone door.
"A man before you was thought to be the man of Gorbin, Lord Emayla dreamed about. But, he could only pass up to the third trial and died due to an illness. You are the first to reach here. I believe that you are the man of the vision."
Felmer felt his heart race from those words. He felt honoured and special. Not that he really cared.
Wallace used his magic, and a lid opened on the wall at their right.
"Place the four rocks there in the order you obtained them."
Felmer went near the lid and placed the rocks in the four empty slots in the order of Wrought Iron, Bronze, Titanium, and Steel. Wallace came near him and gave him a pin.
"A drop of blood in the centre."
'Why do they love my blood so much?' Felmer thought and took the pin.
He picked his thumb with the pin and dropped a drop of blood in the central slot. The mechanism reacted, and the rocks went down the slot. He turned and looked at the four-slab door move. He walked towards it and stood in front of it. The rest of the squad looked at him, and the show unfolded.
The slabs moved, and the door opened. In front was a slot of the shape of the same badge they saw in the sky. Molten metal came from four sides and went into the slot. The viscous liquid mixed and took the shape of the badge. Soon, the badge was in front of them in the slot.
Wallace came forward and spoke. "Use your magic and pick it up. If it cools down and feels light, this means you are the man."
Felmer felt chills run down his spine when he heard that. He felt fear.
'What if I am not?' He thought.
He gulped and gathered magic in his right hand. He moved his shaking hand ahead and touched the badge.
'Please don't be hot and heavy.' He thought.
Others looked at him in tension and curiosity. As he slowly touched the badge, steam rose. A signal that the metal was cooling down. Felmer felt some happiness. He slowly picked it up and looked at it. It took him a minute to realise that the badge wasn't heavy.
"Is it heavy?" Melfer asked, wiping the sweat on his forehead.
Felmer let out a breath and sighed. Then he looked at his squad.
"Guys…It is light!"
"Yes!" Melfer said in happiness and slapped palms with Felmer.
Felmer had succeeded. The badge had found its master.