Chapter 3

Once they got Azazel to take a break from taking care of the retrieved, Varzoth and Lilith took control of housing, rations, and protection. They got multiple people to guard the village of any important’s, and multiple people bowed in front of Varzoth when he asked. In fact everyone was bowing, wherever Varzoth went in the village people bowed in front of him. Lilith kept nodding, but nobody seemed to notice. Varzoth copied Lilith, and multiple people thanked him for some reason.

“Why do they only pay attention to you?” Asked Lilith.

“They think I’m the next Emperor, and they treat me as one to make them noticeable in the future.” Said Varzoth. Lilith shrugged and kept walking through the village, they organized groups of guards, they created multiple food routes, and they created multiple sleeping grounds for those who had none. Him and Lilith had become the newest mayors of the town, and everyone expected it. They needed to tend the Azazel as well though, so they retreated into the caves to get away from everyone.

Lilith sighed as she sat next to Azazel as he slept, “Why is running a village so hard? You just tell people what to do, and they do it. So why am I so tired?” she asked.

Varzoth laughed, “Probably because you have to yell at everyone to get their jobs done.” Varzoth set tea next to Azazel for him to drink when he woke.

“Do you think he’s ok?” Lilith asked.

Varzoth nodded, “Ya, he’s a tough old forgekeeper. He’ll live to see the forge awake.”

“Awake?” Said Lilith, “What does that mean?”

Varzoth sighed, “Every few years the forge shreds away all the hardened metal it carries, and sends energy all throughout the land. That’s when everyone will gather the strength to have the ability to be resistant to fire again.” Varzoth explained.

“Why am I only hearing about this now?” Asked Lilith.

Azazel put his hand on her shoulder, “Because it is a hard thing to hear, I knew you wouldn’t trust me. So I told Varzoth to tell you when you asked him.” Azazel tried to sit up, but fell down.

“Sleep Azazel,” Said Lilith, “Rest.”

“The Guardians need training.” Moaned Azazel.

“Varzoth will train them.” Said Lilith, “You’ve said it before, the forge has never trusted someone like Varzoth before.”

Azazel nodded, “That is true, but we have no idea who the forge will choose. The forge’s awakening will tell us who the new guardians are, and if we can trust them or not. You must gather them for their purpose.”

Lilith nodded, “We know, rest now.” Azazel closed his eyes and went back to sleep peacefully, “You think this awakening can come any sooner?” asked Lilith.

Varzoth jolted up, and looked at her. “No, but we can read it.” Varzoth grabbed his blade, and studied it. He went over to Azazel's workstation, and looked over the blade.

“What do you mean?” asked Lilith.

“Maybe I can get the blade to tell us who the guardian’s are, and where to find them. It came from the forge, it has its knowledge.” Varzoth grabbed a cloth, and cleaned the blade slowly. Noting every dent and bump.

Varzoth opened his eyes to find himself in a dark room, no light could be seen. He tried to light a fire spirit, but nothing happened.

“Hello!” He yelled.

Nothing happened until a strange flaming figure appeared, and waved to him. ‘Hello, Varzoth Soulrender. The time is not now, you must listen to the blade. It knows the way, you must complete the stones ritual before the awakening. Send it into the stone of meaning, and set the souls of the past guardians free so they can find the souls of the new guardians. You have your hands full Varzoth, good luck.’

Varzoth opened his eyes to see Lilith shaking him, who was still on the table cleaning the blade.

“Varzoth! Are you ok?” she yelled.

Varzoth nodded, “Great.”

“What happened?” asked Lilith.

“The forge sent us on a mission.” Announced Varzoth.