Introduction: A lonely, Backwater orphan with the dream of becoming the greatest blacksmith in the entire Realm. No guild can stop this street urchin! No, not even Mira Stormsong, a reluctant thief, can convince him that it's impossible to escape Backwater. In a world reminiscent of late antiquity, where humans are immortal after an ancient war against the gods, and where crafting guilds hold unimaginable power and wealth, Larkin is a gifted blacksmith with a mysterious, god-given hammer鈥攐ne that connects him to the fabled Eternal Forge. Driven by the desire to find the parents who had abandoned him when he was young, Larkin grinds to gain experience and skills so that he can rise above his orphan status. As he crafts weapons of extraordinary strength, he becomes the target of rival crafters, dangerous factions, and a dark cult bent on using his talents to reshape the world. Allies come in the form of Anara, a skilled enchanteress with a mysterious, cultish past, and Bram, a relentless warrior on a quest for redemption. Together, they fight to protect Larkin from those who would steal his creations鈥攐r worse, control him. But as Larkin鈥檚 power grows, so does the curse tied to the hammer, draining his life and threatening to consume him entirely.Haunted by visions of long-dead blacksmiths and desperate to escape the Forge鈥檚 grip, Larkin must face a deadly choice: continue forging and risk his life, or break free and stop the cult from unleashing a weapon that could bring the world to its knees.A tale of magic, betrayal, and sacrifice, The Eternal Forge explores the cost of creation and the price of power in a world on the brink of war. Will Larkin survive the final forge鈥攐r will the curse destroy everything he holds dear?...