Chapter 4

Lilith and Varzoth were ordered to pack for the journey ahead, Azazel said he’d be fine and assist the people in governing themselves. Varzoth and Lilith reluctantly agreed. Varzoth packed his cuni knife, wand, cloak, and the sword of flame. Varzoth started packing his stuff into his backpack when somebody knocked at his door, Varzoth approached the door and opened it. It was Lilith.

She smiled, “Hey, um. We need to talk.” She said,

Varzoth nodded, “Ok, come in.” He stepped out of the way so she could get in, he closed the door and looked at her. She sat on his bed, and held herself swaying back and forth. “What’s wrong?”

“Maybe we shouldn’t do this.” She said,

Varzoth wondered what she was talking about, the mission, or something else? “Shouldn’t go on the mission?”

She nodded, then closed her eyes. “Azazel is getting worse and worse, and I don’t know what we can do to help.”

Varzoth sat next to her on his bed, but didn’t know how to comfort her. “It’s going to be ok, he’s been living on his own for years now. He now has a whole community, and us to look after him.”

Lilith nodded, “What if that’s not enough?” She asked.

Varzoth went quiet for a while, he didn’t know what to say to that. “Then we fulfill his asking, remake the guardians of the forge. He will be remembered as the creator.”

Lilith smiled, “You’ll make sure of that right?” She asked.

Varzoth nodded, “Every generation from now will know.” He smiled. 

She hugged him, “Thank you.” She said,

“He was one of the people who started this, we’ll help him finish it.” He said, he hugged her back.

Varzoth hadn’t been to many places, but where they were going not even Lilith had been to. The blade had given Varzoth a small idea of where the place they needed to go was, but wasn’t too sure if it was the right spot. They saw many posters of a sword on fire as they walked out of the village. They were just about to exit the village, when a group of villagers crowded them. They wanted to ask a lot of questions.

“Where are you going exactly?”

“What is the purpose of the journey?”

“What did Varzoth’s sword have to do with this?”

“When were there prophecies from the forge?”

“Were Varzoth and Lilith dating?”

The last one seemed crazy, both Varzoth and Lilith stayed away from that last question. Once they got out of the crowd, and the village. Varzoth stayed quiet for a long moment, but when they slowed down they started to talk again.

“So what was with all of the posters in the village?” Asked Varzoth.

Lilith shrugged, “You know what Azazel said about ‘The Legends of the New Emperor’ just myth, can’t be anything too big.”

“Yet.” Mumbled Varzoth, “Do you think the sword is right? About the whole fulfilling destiny thing?”

Lilith shrugged, “We can try and figure it out.” She suggested.

Varzoth thought, “The blade gave me a vision, it said the awakening wouldn’t happen unless the blade went through the ‘Stones Ritual’ Whatever that means. It said the souls of the past guardians were trapped by something,”

“The Emperor, he took the forge. He stopped the guardians from being created.” Said Lilith.

“So the souls of the guardians weren’t kept safe, they were trapped. They need to get out and choose the new ones.” Said Varzoth.

Lilith nodded, “Then we find the new guardians.” Lilith’s eyes widened, “Wait, what if we’re not chosen as the guardians.”

“Well that’s obvious isn’t it? The forge chose me already so it already found one guardian, and you're perfect for the role! Your Lilith, the protector of the unimportant!” Varzoth said, trying to sound important but funny.

Lilith laughed, “Even if I'm not chosen, you know I’ll stay.” She smiled a troublemaking smile.

“That’s all I’m hoping for.” Varzoth said smiling back, they smiled at each other for a long moment. They looked away from each other once they heard something hit stone. Varzoth looked forward, and saw a large entrance to what seemed to be an important operation. Varzoth hopped off his hopper and slowly walked toward the entrance. The last thing he heard was Lilith yelling his name.