Morning light streamed through the windows of Ariel's chambers, but he was already awake. Sleep had been fitful, his mind too active with anticipation and residual knowledge from days of intensive study. His enhanced body required less rest than before, another advantage of awakening that he'd come to appreciate.
He stood before his desk, looking at the now empty surface where mountains of books and scrolls had been stacked. All that knowledge lived in his mind now, organized and accessible, ready to be applied when circumstances demanded.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Three sharp raps, but different from Lyra's usual pattern. These carried more weight, more authority.
"Enter," Ariel called, already sensing through his mana perception that whoever stood outside possessed significant power.
The door opened, and Seraphina stepped through.
She wore formal robes this morning, white and silver that marked her status as matriarch. Her silver hair was pulled into an intricate arrangement that somehow managed to look both elegant and practical. Her expression was composed, but Ariel could see concern in her silver eyes despite her controlled demeanor.
"Grandmother," he said, bowing slightly in greeting.
"Ariel." She moved into the room, and the door closed behind her automatically, wards activating to ensure privacy. "I wanted to see you before your departure. To wish you well and to provide some items that may prove useful."
She raised her right hand, and Ariel noticed the ring on her middle finger pulse with soft light. A space ring, he realized. Dimensional storage bound to the wearer, allowing them to carry vast amounts of materials in an impossibly small container.
"Come here," she instructed, gesturing for him to approach.
Ariel crossed the distance between them, stopping a respectful two feet away. Seraphina studied his face for a long moment, her expression softening slightly.
"You look so much like your father. Especially now, standing ready to face the same trial he conquered." She reached up and touched his cheek briefly, a maternal gesture that made something in Ariel's chest tighten unexpectedly. "He was scared too, you know. The night before entering the Deep Forge. He tried to hide it, but I could see through his bravado. Fear is natural. It means you understand the danger."
"I'm not scared," Ariel said automatically, then reconsidered the reflexive denial. "Or rather, I am, but it's manageable. The knowledge helps. Understanding what I'm facing makes it less abstract, less overwhelming."
"Good. That's the right mindset." She lowered her hand and the space ring pulsed again. Light coalesced in her palm, solidifying into a small object.
A ring. Simple silver band, unadorned except for tiny runes etched along its inner surface that glowed faintly with formation work.
"First, this." She held it out. "A space ring. Not as large as mine, the storage capacity is limited to about ten cubic meters, but sufficient for a trainee's needs. It's already bonded to you, keyed to your bloodline signature. Simply channel mana into it and will items in or out."
Ariel took the ring carefully, feeling its weight. Lighter than it looked, the metal warm against his skin. He slipped it onto his right middle finger, the fit perfect as if it had been sized specifically for him. Probably had been.
He pushed a thread of mana into it as instructed and felt the connection establish. Suddenly he could sense the space inside, containing items already stored within. Food rations, water containers, medical supplies, bedrolls, tools. And something else, small vials that radiated concentrated energy. The sensation was strange but not unpleasant, like having an extra limb he'd never noticed before.
"Inside are basic supplies you'll need," Seraphina continued. "Food and water rations for two weeks. Basic medical supplies, bandages, salves, tools for wound treatment. A bedroll and travel kit. Fire starting materials, though you won't need those obviously. A set of backup clothing."
She paused, her expression growing more serious. "The ring also contains twenty four potions. Eight that accelerate natural healing. Eight that restore physical energy. Eight that replenish your reserves."
Ariel's eyes widened slightly. Potions were expensive, especially quality ones. Twenty four represented significant investment.
But Seraphina wasn't finished, and her next words carried warning weight. "You must understand something critical about potion usage. They're supplements, not solutions. Over time, over years of use, your body will develop tolerance to them. Not immediately, not after a few doses, but as a long term consequence of regular consumption."
She fixed him with an intense stare. "This is why cultivators must be cautious with potions throughout their entire lives. Use them when genuinely necessary, yes, but understand that every potion consumed contributes to building resistance that will affect you decades from now. A cultivator who relies heavily on potions in their youth may find them worthless in their old age when they're truly needed."
Ariel processed this, understanding the implications. The warning wasn't about immediate tolerance like alcohol or drugs. It was about lifetime accumulation. Each potion was an investment against his future effectiveness with such supplements.
"I understand," he said. "Use them wisely, thinking not just about now but about years ahead."
"Exactly. In the Deep Forge, you'll face situations that warrant their use. Life or death moments where a potion means survival. Don't hesitate in those circumstances. But also don't waste them on minor inconveniences or injuries you could heal naturally given time."
"Good." Seraphina's space ring pulsed again, and this time two books materialized in her hands. Not thick tomes but slim volumes, their covers marked with formation patterns that indicated they contained arts rather than simple text.
She offered them both without explanation, letting Ariel take them and examine their covers. The first had a golden surface, the title inscribed in elegant script: 'Ethereal Guard'. The second was deep blue, labeled: 'Elemental Mimicry'.
"These are arts," Seraphina said simply. "To learn them, channel mana into the cover while focusing your intent on understanding. The knowledge will transfer directly to your mind. What they do, how they work, you'll discover through the learning process."
Ariel looked at both books, understanding she was deliberately not explaining their functions. This was standard protocol. Arts revealed themselves to the learner rather than being described secondhand.
"Learn them now," Seraphina instructed. "Before you depart. I want to see that you can activate them properly."
Ariel opened Ethereal Guard first, examining the formation patterns worked into the cover. He could sense the compressed knowledge waiting inside, ready to transfer. He took a breath, centered himself, and pushed mana into the book while focusing his intent on understanding the technique.
The world went white.
Information flooded his mind in a torrent that would have been overwhelming if his enhanced cognition hadn't adapted to handle it. The art's principles, execution methods, variations, and limitations all downloaded directly into his consciousness in the span of perhaps three seconds.
When his vision cleared, Ariel understood.
Ethereal Guard was a defensive art that manifested barriers using pure mana shaped by will. The technique drew from his reserves and transformed that energy into a tangible shield capable of blocking incoming attacks. The strength of the barrier depended entirely on how much power he invested, scalable from minor deflection to absolute defense.
But more than just understanding the mechanics, he felt the art's potential. The knowledge transfer had included something deeper, an awareness that this technique could grow with him indefinitely, evolving and strengthening as his own power increased all the way to the highest ranks.
His system screen flickered into existence, visible only to him.
[New Skill Acquired: Ethereal Guard]
[Potential: Transcendent]
This art harnesses the power of one's mana to form an impenetrable defensive barrier. It allows the user to block incoming threats, utilizing the strength and resilience of their mana to shield themselves from harm. The strength of the barrier is directly related to the amount that the user's mana source can provide.
Current Mastery: E (Low)
Ariel dismissed the notification and immediately tested his new knowledge. He drew mana from his core, shaping it according to the patterns now imprinted in his mind. He focused intent on protection, on creating barrier between himself and harm.
Golden light erupted around him, solidifying into a translucent dome approximately six feet in diameter. The shield shimmered with inner radiance, clearly visible but not quite solid, existing somewhere between physical matter and pure energy.
The sensation was remarkable. He could feel the shield's presence intimately, sense its strength, know instinctively how much punishment it could absorb before shattering. The drain on his reserves was steady but manageable.
He held it for several seconds, familiarizing himself with the sensation, then released the technique. The golden dome dissipated instantly, mana dispersing back into the environment.
"Well executed," Seraphina said, genuine approval in her voice. "Your control is excellent for someone who awakened less than a week ago. The shield manifested cleanly without fluctuation or weak points."
Ariel picked up the second book, Elemental Mimicry, and repeated the process. Mana channeled into the formation cover, intent focused on learning, mind opening to receive compressed knowledge.
This transfer was more complex than Ethereal Guard had been. Where the defensive art was relatively straightforward, Elemental Mimicry involved understanding fundamental principles of elemental manipulation at a deeper level.
The knowledge flooding his mind taught him something profound. The art allowed him to utilize the elements within his body, to become one with them at a cellular level. As he grew in elemental mastery and advanced through the stages, the art would evolve alongside him, revealing deeper applications and more powerful techniques.
It wasn't just about copying what others did. It was about understanding elemental truth so completely that manipulation became instinctive, natural, an extension of his very being rather than conscious technique usage.
The system screen appeared again.
[New Skill Acquired: Elemental Mimicry]
[Potential: Transcendent]
You utilize the elements in your body and become one with them. As you grow in the power of the elements and grow in mastery of the skill the better it becomes. Your potential is Transcendent and has the potential of an A rank skill. All young Crowcrest learn this skill, and all Crowcrest use it.
Current Mastery: E (Low)
When the transfer completed, Ariel opened his eyes and found Seraphina watching him intently. He felt different now, more aware of the fire element residing not just in his mana but in his actual physical form. The hydrogen and oxygen molecules that comprised his body, the potential for combustion that existed in every cell.
"Both learned," he confirmed. "I understand their functions."
"Good." She stepped closer and placed both hands on his shoulders, looking up at him seriously. "You have everything you need now. Knowledge, equipment, techniques, and most importantly, the will to survive. The Deep Forge will test you in ways I cannot fully prepare you for. But I believe you have the strength to endure."
"I won't fail," Ariel said, the words carrying absolute conviction. "I can't afford to."
"No, you can't." She pulled him into a brief embrace, surprising him with the gesture's intensity. When she released him, her eyes were slightly wet though no tears fell. "Your father said the same thing before he left. He promised to return stronger, and he kept that promise. I expect you to do the same."
She stepped back, composing herself, matriarch's mask sliding back into place. "Lyra is waiting outside with your travel arrangements. A carriage will take you to the Ashen Peaks, approximately six hours journey. You'll arrive at the Deep Forge entrance by mid afternoon."
"Once you cross the threshold, you're on your own. No communication with the outside world. No assistance beyond what you carry or create yourself. Five months of complete isolation. When you emerge, if you emerge, the tournament will be one month away."
She moved toward the door, then paused and looked back. "The Deep Forge will offer you opportunities to quit every single day. Your body will scream for mercy. Your mind will construct elaborate justifications for why giving up is rational. When those moments come, and they will come, remember why you chose this path."
"Remember that being powerless again is worse than any temporary suffering. Hold onto that refusal to yield, and use it as fuel when everything else fails."
With those words, she opened the door and left, her presence departing like the sun moving behind clouds.
Ariel stood alone in his chambers for a moment, processing everything. The space ring on his finger felt heavier now, weighted with supplies that would sustain him through the early days. The knowledge of two new arts sat in his mind, ready to be called upon when circumstances required.
He moved to his wardrobe, pulling out the practical travel clothing Lyra had prepared. Dark pants reinforced at the knees and seat. A long sleeved shirt in breathable material. A jacket that provided protection without restricting movement. Sturdy boots rated for rough terrain.
He dressed methodically, checking that everything fit properly, that he could move freely. This wasn't formal attire for political maneuvering. This was combat gear for survival situations.
When he finished, he took one last look around his chambers. The room that had been his prison during years of illness. The space where he'd awakened his core and integrated divine powers. The sanctuary where he'd absorbed knowledge that would keep him alive.
He wouldn't see this place again for five months. Assuming he survived to see it at all.
Ariel opened the door and stepped into the corridor. Lyra waited exactly where Seraphina had indicated, standing at attention with her characteristic discipline. Her golden eyes swept over him, checking his readiness with practiced efficiency.
"Young master," she said, bowing. "The carriage is prepared. Are you ready to depart?"
"I am."
"Then let's not delay. The journey is long, and the Deep Forge keeper expects arrivals before dusk."
They walked through the estate corridors one final time. Servants and family members they passed stared with various expressions. Some showed respect, others skepticism, a few outright hostility. Ariel ignored them all, maintaining his neutral expression, his focus already shifting toward what lay ahead rather than what he was leaving behind.
They exited through the main entrance and found a carriage waiting in the courtyard. Not ornate or decorated, but solid and practical, designed for rough terrain rather than aesthetic appeal. Two horses stood harnessed to it, both large and powerful looking, bred for endurance over speed.
A driver sat on the front bench, an older man wearing Crowcrest colors. He bowed when Ariel approached. "Crown Crow. Everything is prepared for departure."
Ariel climbed into the carriage, Lyra following. The interior was comfortable but not luxurious. Cushioned seats, storage compartments, windows that could be shuttered against weather.
The driver clicked his tongue and the horses began moving, pulling the carriage forward with smooth momentum. The estate fell away behind them as they passed through the massive gates that marked the boundary of Crowcrest territory.
Beyond the gates lay the wider world. Roads that connected kingdoms and territories. Forests and mountains that stretched to horizons.
Hours passed in comfortable silence. The landscape changed gradually, fields giving way to rougher terrain, hills rising in the distance. The road began climbing, winding through increasingly rocky geography.
Lyra sat across from him, silent but alert, her hand resting on her sword hilt out of habit. She'd been his attendant since birth, according to inherited memories. Had watched him grow, watched him suffer through illness, remained loyal when others abandoned him.
The sun climbed toward its zenith and began its descent. The terrain grew increasingly dramatic, hills becoming mountains, vegetation becoming sparse. Volcanic rock appeared more frequently, black and porous, evidence of ancient eruptions.
Then, in the distance, Ariel saw them. The Ashen Peaks.
A mountain range that dominated the horizon, dozens of peaks rising like jagged teeth. Several showed active volcanic activity, smoke and ash billowing from their summits. Even from miles away, the heat shimmer was visible, the air itself warping around the mountains.
The Deep Forge was somewhere in there. Hidden in the heart of one of those volcanoes, protected by formations that should have been impossible, waiting to test anyone foolish or desperate enough to enter.
The carriage continued its approach, the road winding higher into the foothills. The temperature increased noticeably, the cool air of lower elevations giving way to warmth that would have been uncomfortable for normal humans.
Ariel's fire affinity made the heat manageable, almost pleasant. His body recognized the element, welcomed it, adapted instinctively to the elevated temperatures.
Finally, as afternoon light began shifting toward evening, the carriage stopped. The driver called down, "Deep Forge entrance, Crown Crow. This is as far as the carriage goes."
Ariel opened the door and stepped out, Lyra following. They'd stopped in a small cleared area surrounded by volcanic rock formations. Ahead, carved into the mountainside itself, was an entrance. Not natural cave but deliberate construction, an archway perhaps twenty feet tall and ten wide, inscribed with formations so complex they hurt to look at directly.
Beside the entrance stood a small building, simple stone construction that looked ancient despite being well maintained. Smoke rose from a chimney, indicating occupancy.
As Ariel approached, the building's door opened and a figure emerged.
An old woman, possibly even older than Jeffkin, with gray hair pulled into a severe bun and wearing robes marked with formation patterns. Her face was weathered, deeply lined, the face of someone who'd spent decades in harsh conditions. But her eyes were sharp, clear brown that assessed Ariel with unsettling intensity.
"Crown Crow Ariel Crowcrest," she said, her voice surprisingly strong. "I am Keeper Morna. I maintain the Deep Forge entrance and provide final orientation to trainees. Come inside. We have matters to discuss before you enter."
She turned and walked back into the building without waiting for response, clearly expecting to be followed.
Ariel glanced at Lyra, who nodded encouragement. He walked forward, stepping through the doorway into a space that was somehow larger inside than outside suggested. Formation work distorting spatial dimensions, probably.
The interior was sparse but functional. A simple desk, several chairs, shelves containing what looked like training equipment and emergency supplies. Formations covered every surface, maintaining temperature control and presumably other protections.
Keeper Morna gestured to a chair. "Sit. This won't take long, but it's important."
Ariel sat, Lyra remaining standing behind him. The old woman moved to her desk and pulled out a sheet of paper covered in dense text.
"Standard orientation," she began. "First, understand that once you pass through that entrance, you're entirely on your own. No rescue attempts except in response to beacon activation, and as you've likely been told, rescue success rate is abysmal. Plan on surviving without help."
"Second, the Deep Forge is not a single unified space. It's a network of volcanic chambers and tunnels spanning roughly fifty square miles. You'll enter through the outer chamber, the safest area. From there, you can venture deeper or remain near the entrance. Progression deeper increases both danger and advancement opportunity."
"Third, beasts in the Deep Forge are territorial but not suicidal. If you're badly wounded, most will leave you alone, recognizing you're no longer a threat or viable prey. Use this fact strategically. Sometimes appearing weaker than you are provides survival advantage."
"Fourth, there are safe zones scattered throughout the facility. Spaces where formations prevent beast intrusion and regulate environmental conditions. These are marked by blue crystals embedded in the walls. Finding them is crucial for rest periods. Maps don't exist because the volcanic activity constantly changes tunnel configurations."
She looked up from the paper, fixing him with those sharp brown eyes. "Questions?"
"How do I know when five months have passed?" Ariel asked. "Underground, without sun or external reference."
"Good question." She pulled a metal bracer from a drawer, marked with formations and a small crystal set into its face. "This beacon contains a timer function. It counts days automatically. At five months exactly, the entrance will open for you regardless of your location in the facility. Follow the pull you'll feel toward the exit. As long as you're mobile, you can leave."
She handed him the bracer. He strapped it to his left wrist, feeling the formations activate and bond to his bloodline signature.
"Anything else?"
Ariel shook his head. "I'm ready."
"Then good luck, Crown Crow. Try not to become another corpse I have to retrieve."
The bluntness was almost refreshing.
Ariel stood, bowed slightly to acknowledge the keeper's assistance, and walked back outside. Lyra followed, her expression tense now that the moment of departure had arrived.
They stood together before the massive entrance, looking at the archway that led into volcanic hell.
"This is it," Ariel said quietly.
"This is it," Lyra agreed. "Five months. Come back stronger."
"I will." He turned to face her fully. "When I return, things are going to change. Be ready."
"Always, young master. I'll be here when you emerge."
Ariel nodded once, then turned toward the entrance. He took a breath, centered himself, and began walking forward.
The formations responded to his approach, recognizing his bloodline signature. The archway began glowing, patterns lighting up in sequence, creating a barrier of pure energy that would allow him through but nothing else.
He reached the threshold and paused for just a moment, looking back at the world he was leaving. The Ashen Peaks. The clear sky. Lyra standing straight and proud, one hand over her heart in formal salute.
Then Ariel Crowcrest, Crown Crow of the family, stepped through the entrance and into the Deep Forge.
The barrier closed behind him with a sound like thunder.
BOOM!
There was no going back now.
Only forward.