Chapter 8

“So what are the outskirts?” Asked Varzoth, Lilith said the last place they could really go was the outskirts. Whatever those were.

“Well it’s a faraway place that unimportant’s went to to get away from the Emperor.” Explained Lilith, “I’ve been there myself, but they aren’t really there anymore.”

Varzoth’s eyes widened, “What do you mean they aren’t there anymore?”

“The last time I went there it was in ruins, nobody for miles. The emperor's symbol was written everywhere.” Lilith said.

“The Emperor made his troops kill an entire village?” Asked Varzoth,

Lilith shook her head, “An entire city.”

Varzoth was surprised, the emperor had wiped out an entire city? That would mean he wiped out multiple other towns and villages! Wait, how did he not know this? “Now that I think of it I’ve never heard of any other city, other than Roma.”

“Are you so surprised that the emperor restricted your knowledge? He wiped out all unimportants on this side of Romania, best bet it was their plan to come over here when everyone was gone. Now with that, we might have a chance.” Lilith pointed towards the forge.

“So, where are we going to hide the forge then?” Varzoth asked.

“The outskirts have many different places to hide things, we’ll find a place for the forge.” Lilith said.

Now that was a plan, they’d go to the outskirts. Where the Emperor has less control, and hide the forge! They’ll never find it.

“I guess I have to get used to the outskirts.” Varzoth said,

On their way to the outskirts they took many different paths so the army didn’t follow them, but now with them guarding the wall there was no going back. All Varzoth could think was how much of his life was controlled by the Emperor, his education was built around knowing everything about him, him and his family were given monthly check in’s, they weren’t allowed to talk ill of the emperor, guards would patrol their towns and cities, everything that the emperor stood for was a lie and it was all right in front of him the entire time.

“Ok, now that you’ve been ‘enlightened’ by your new found discoveries can we please focus on getting to the outskirts.” Lilith asked,

Varzoth nodded his head, “Yes.” they’d been traveling for about a week, and were finally exiting the mountains. “So when are we going to be at the outskirts?

“Right about now.” Lilith waved her hand to a small town that definitely looked abandoned and forgotten.

“You think we can hide the forge here?” asked Varzoth,

“Well there are many caves under the outskirts, that should do it right?” asked Lilith,

“That would be perfect, but would the soldiers expect it?”

Lilith shrugged, “Nobody’s been here in years, I wouldn’t expect it.”

They entered the town, Lilith was right it was completely deserted. He couldn’t see anyone living here at all. The walls had pictures of the emperor, and x’s on the emperor's symbols.

“They say this was the place where the forge was created, and where it was stolen.” Lilith said,

Varzoth smiled, “Then it’s good it’s back.” He looked at Lilith, to see her smile. “What’s the smile for?” He asked,

“I’m smiling, because for the last thousand years we’ve been ruled by a tyrant and a molder who only wanted good for themselves. Now there’s a new keeper, and a new age for Romania.” Lilith continued looking around, sometimes frowning, but bringing back a smile every now and then. For some reason that made him feel a little good.

“I don’t know if that’s what I should be called. I’ve been on the run for months now, and I’m not as smart with forges as the original forgekeeper.”

“But you know you're better.” Lilith said.

“I guess I can be, I just have to work hard.” Said Varzoth, “But right now I have to hide this thing from the Emperor at all costs.” He turned to Lilith.

“I think we have.” Lilith pointed to a mineshaft entrance, and nodded.

Varzoth and Lilith tied up the hoppers, and ventured into the cave. It was really dark, and the only light they had was Varzoth’s fire spells.

“Do you see a torch anywhere?” asked Lilith,

Varzoth looked to the walls and found a torch, he set it on fire and destroyed his fire. “Is this really where the forge was made?” asked Varzoth,

“To what I’ve heard, yes, it was created about a thousand years ago by the first forge keepers. They called themselves the Guardians of the forge, and they protected it well. This is where they made and hid it, everyone living in the town knew. Nobody dared tell outsiders, until the emperor came from the capital.”

“Roma.” Varzoth said,

“Yes, he came from Roma in search of a way to enforce his power. He wasn’t really emperor at that point, but that’s what people called him. He wouldn’t tell anyone his real name, so he kept it a secret. He stole the forge, and then when he gained power with it. He separated the regions, and killed everyone on this side he could.”

“Delightful.” Varzoth looked at carvings on the wall, showing multiple people creating some kind of weapon.

“Nobody knows if anyone really does still live on this side or not, but time will tell. Once he stole the forge he immediately created a worse version of the forges veins, he took the heart and brought it directly there. Under the castle.”

“So the emperor was actually the first forgekeeper?”

“To date at least, but nobody knows who the first one was.” Lilith said, they heard something behind them. Like dust or walking. Varzoth walked closer to where the sound was, and saw a small switch of some kind. It was on. Suddenly the whole cave shuddered, and one side of it opened. It was a room that actually had light in it, in the middle was a device of some kind. In it were multiple biological tubes, and seemed to be dead.

“These are the heart’s veins.” Said Varzoth, studying the tubes, “It’s been here before.”

“Yes it has.” Said a voice from behind them, they turned around to see a small outline of a person in the shadows. “You are the new forgekeeper, yes?” Asked the person

Varzoth looked at Lilith, she shrugged. Varzoth nodded, “Yes, I guess I am.”

The person stepped out of the shadows, “I’ve been here a long time, and I always knew the forge would come back to me. I didn’t expect it to choose somebody new though.” He was a short man, and was very old. He wore glasses, and had a cane.

“What do you mean chose? Like the forge can think for itself?” Asked Varzoth,

The man nodded, “Yes the forge has many capabilities, one being that it’s alive.” The man shook his head, “Ow my, where are my manners?” He held out a hand, “My name is Azazel, I was the last true keeper of the forge. Now that you are, I believe you should be the one to put it back.” The man gestured toward the forge.

“What do you mean?” Varzoth asked.

“Put the heart back into the original forge. If you do, it will no longer plague this world.” Said the man, “You know that the forge is telling you to as well.”

Varzoth took the box out of his backpack, and activated the mechanism. Slowly the box opened and showed the forge, slowly Varzoth pushed it to the new old forge. The heart didn’t hesitate, it snapped back into its original position easily. It filled the room with heat, and the veins flowed with energy, and the lights exploded with fire.

“Welcome back the forge!” Said Azazel

Whatever Varzoth just did, may have just changed the world.