It was one of those entirely predictable yet somehow soothing mornings when birds called out, leaves rustled gently in the wind, and at a far distance, there was the soft hum of ripples of energy. Jun pushed open the door to find Riry already coming up to the forge, examining the work they''d put together the day before. Her Sleeping Leviathan drifted by her shoulder, casting faint rainbows across her face with its reflection of the sun.


    "Good morning," Jun called, stretching out his arms. Yogundr stirred lazily around his shoulders, watching with his usual quiet intensity.


    "Morning, shadow boy," Riry replied without looking up. Her hands flew over the tools, setting them in neat rows. "Did you actually sleep, or were you up all night writing in that journal of yours?"


    "Both," Jun said, getting up to walk over to her. "What''s with the organization spree?"


    Riry looked at him, hands planted on her hips. "We''re working with Ecliptium today. That stuff doesn''t forgive and your forge does. let''s just say it''s got room for improvement."


    Jun raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were an alchemist, not a smith."


    Riry shook her head and grinned. "I''m both, thank you very much, and lucky for you, I''ve got enough experience to keep us from blowing ourselves up.


    The day''s work started with preparation. Jun gathered the Ecliptium ore they had collected near the ripple weeks ago, its faintly glowing surface catching the light as he carried it to the forge. Riry inspected the ore, nodding approvingly.


    Good quality, she said. "But without proper bellows and tongs, we''re going to have a really hard time holding the temperature up."


    Jun frowns. "I … don''t have those."


    Riry sighed theatrically. "Of course you don''t. Why am I not surprised? Fine. We improvise."


    "You''re very opinionated for a guest," Jun muttered, but there was no bite in his words.


    "And you''re very under-prepared for a smith," Riry retorted with a grin. "Face it, Jun. You need me."


    Jun shook his head, concealing a smile as he put the ore down. "Let''s just get started."


    They worked side by side, Riry guiding Jun step-by-step toward creating a kind of bellows using thick leather and strong wooden frames that were putting out the maximum flow of air; the forge had to be heated no more than necessary.


    "This is how it goes," she instructed, tucking his hands atop hers as together they worked to pump the bellows. "Smooth, consistent pulse. Don''t hurry it up."


    "I''m not rushing," Jun protested, though the warmth of her hands on his made it hard to focus.


    "You are. Shadow boy, if you rush this, the Ecliptium will crack, and we''ll have to start all over."


    "Fine, fine," Jun muttered, adjusting his pace.


    Their banter continued as they heated the ore, hammering it into workable form. Sparks flew at each strike and the rhythmic clang of metal echoed through the clearing. Jun''s hammer had slipped at one point, shooting a small shard of Ecliptium skittering across the ground.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Watch it!" Riry scolded, grabbing the shard. "You nearly broke it there. Seriously, how do you survive out here without me?"


    Jun crossed his arms, his voice dry. "I manage just fine. Thanks."


    Riry leaned in closer, smirking. "Do you, though?"


    Their eyes met, and the teasing gave way to a moment of quiet tension. They both blushed, quickly turning back to their work as if the exchange hadn''t happened.


    By midday, the Ecliptium had been hammered and folded into two tiny ingots each with its surface glowing with a light from within. Jun held one of them up in marvel at how it seemed to pulsate faintly with mana


    "It''s unbelievable," he said. "As though it is alive."


    Riry nodded, swabbing at sweat droplets on her brow. "That''s what Ecliptium is. It''s not a metal; it''s a pathway. If we treat it right, it''ll amplify whatever we channal through it."


    Thank God you''re here to help me, Jun said seriously, "I didn''t know what in the world to do by myself."


    The smile thawed from Riry''s lips. "Thank you. And now, let it be said-you''re not half bad, for an amateur."


    Jun closed his eyes to that and wouldn''t smile through them, still couldn''t.


    After all, it was magic practice time and something both were eager to delve into more. They sat by the ripple, pulsating energy flowing steadily as they meditated, reaching out into its flow.


    "Space-time magic is about balance," Riry said softly. "You don''t force it; you align with it. Think of it like … riding a wave."


    Jun nodded, his eyes closing over. He listened to the ripple''s rhythm and attuned his mind to the tide and current. Very gradually, he started to feel threads of space and time gathering around him, so subtle that they waited only to be woven together.


    Good, Riry whispered. Now try to draw in just a little of it toward you. Not too much. Just enough to feel the connection.


    Jun stretched out his hand, and a faint shimmer appeared in the air before him. He opened his eyes, marveling at the way the distortion twisted and swirled.


    "It''s… beautiful," he murmured.


    Riry grinned. "It is, but don''t get too attached. Space-time doesn''t care about pretty. It''ll swallow you whole if you''re not careful."


    "You always know how to help me feel confident," Jun said dryly.


    "It''s a gift," Riry said with a grin back at him.


    Almost every hour he spent practicing made little advance with a slow start, but one was steady; Riry focused his efforts on creating stable structures-small, glowing platforms floating in the air. Jun has experimented on bent shadows through ripples; and with them was able to create only brief, flickering portals for different points at the clearing.


    And as the sun dipped below the horizon, the two looked at each other, exhaustion and satisfaction waning on their faces. Leah and Yogundr rested nearby, spent of energy yet sated.


    "This… this was a good day," Riry said quietly. "I think we''re onto something here."


    Jun nodded, eyes still on the ripple. "Yeah. And I think if we keep at it, there''s no telling how far we can go."


    They looked at each other, a shared determination passing between them.


    "Promise me we''ll keep doing this," Riry said. "The magic, the experiments, all of it."


    Jun held out his hand, and she took it without hesitation. "I promise."


    Jun''s Journal Excerpt :


    Today I helped shape Ecliptium with Riry. Unrivaled experience of having worked under a blacksmith and though she did tease me the whole day through, I wouldn''t have been able to do this without her. It''s pretty arduous in itself, but worthwhile and this is something nobody could even try to describe or even say something comparable to the texture


    Afternoon practice near the ripple in space-time magic. I am starting to get a feel for its flow and how to line up with it rather than trying to force it. Riry''s constructs are amazing, and her guidance really made all the difference. We both made tremendous progress today, and I feel stronger-more connected to this place and its magic.


    This work will continue together, and we will try to see up to what degree we can pursue a push on understanding. It doesn''t matter whose power or who has knowledge-it''s about the ability to produce something together; it''s the ability to generate something. That''s what makes me look forward to tomorrow