《The Veil Forge Chronicles》


 A Mothers Love

    Some say you can''t put a price on love, but in the end everything is for sale.


    Deep in the woods that swaddled the village of Yorn, the clattering of stone and the gentle crackling of smoldering wood set a calming tone that contrasted with the happenings that would soon occur. A young woman was busy at work arranging a pile of smooth, marked stones atop the hide of an elk, occasionally checking a weathered book illuminated by the small bonfire nearby. This little tome took ages to find, and her dignity soon followed in order to actually get her hands on it. Honestly, the book scared her. For all the promises of what it can give, it felt like it didn''t belong here. The yellowed pages felt cold to the touch, letting out a sigh with each turn that barely registered in her ears. However, tonight it will be the key to granting her wish. At least she hoped.


    "There we go." She muttered to herself with a sense of accomplishment as she placed the final stone in the center of the arrangement. Not even a breath later did the stones start to shimmer faintly, jostling in place atop the elk hide. "What was I supposed to do next?" She muttered as she flipped the next page, checking the diagram and the translated parchment stuffed beside it. As her eyes poured over the instructions, a small gurgling, cooing sound found its way traveling into her ear. A sigh of exasperation and annoyance forced its way past her lips as she turned her head back to the bundle strapped to her shoulders, "Silence, you embarrassment." She ordered in a quiet voice, her eyes boring into the source of the sound.


    She knew the little abomination wouldn''t listen, or even understand what she was saying, but it made her feel better to at least focus her troubles on something. Time was of the essence, for both this ritual and her own schedule. Her husband may sleep like the dead, but he always woke up the same time every morning, and dawn was soon approaching. Looking back to her notes, she finally found what she was looking for. "Ah, yes, the heart." She exclaimed as she reached into the satchel at her side, producing a clothed parcel. Unfurling the cloth revealed a the large still heart of the very elk before her, but what was different was the many stitches sewn here and there along the large muscle. Threads of green, blues and reds weaved to create symbols of power unknown to the woman. All she knew was that it needed to be done. With a healthy amount of worry, she carefully placed the elk heart in the center of the arrangement, completing the ritual. As the vessel left her fingertips, an ethereal thrumming echoed in her surroundings. Sounds of drums beating and whispers of an unknown tongue bounced within her skull, threatening to turn her mind into mush as it grew louder and carried more purpose. As she staggered to and fro on unsteady feet, she saw the elk heart begin to beat. Slowly at first, before picking up to match the beat of the tune in her head.


    ''By the Gods..." She muttered as she steadied herself against a nearby tree, watching this sorcery unfold. Her eyes seemed to deceive her as she saw the once dry heart pumping out radiant blue blood from its arteries, splattering against the hide of the dear and the marked stones. As this unnatural blood made contact with the stones, the markings glowed fiercely while the very stones themselves began absorbing the blood. Pathways began to link between the stones, like enlarged veins as they circulated throughout the arrangement. The baby on the woman''s back began to cry, pulling the woman out of her stupor. "Shit!" She exclaimed as she pulled the bundled baby to her front and clamped a hand over its mouth to muffle the sound, She didn''t know if this little cretin''s wailing would ruin the spell, not even considering her own cursing in the equation.


    "I swear, if this child wasn''t useful I would have left it in the woods to get eaten by wolves." *She thought as she watched the linked stones and beating heart sink into the hide itself. In horror she saw the elk hide begin to rise in an unnatural manner, as if a hand plucked at each portion of the hide a bit at a time. First the back, then the left front leg followed by the back right until it all limbs found themselves moving. The headless hide began to flutter despite the lack of wind, floating just off the ground due to lack of hooves. The drums and voices in her head began to quiet as the...thing before her settled into its form, and all sound around them ceased to be as if a spell was cast, as it very will could have been.


    The woman shivered as she looked upon the thing before her, one of her hands clutching tightly to the book while the other nearly suffocating the baby to keep it from wailing. She knew she was supposed to speak to it, but everything she has witnessed screamed at her to run away, to cancel the ritual and just forget all this ever happened. As her eyes shivered and her feet shuffled to try and escape, the thing before her made all her thoughts of escaping vanish.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Speak" It ushered in a harsh whisper, its voice rough and dry like a parched field. Despite its lack of head and eyes, the woman could tell that it was looking right at her.


    "A-ah, yes, powerful and wise creature." She uttered, her eyes clouding over as she tried to comprehend the thing before her. What should have just been a hanging elk hide somehow had substance, and when she tried to look at the portion beneath the hide, all she could see was a void of shadow. What manner of monster had she summoned here?


    "I...summoned you to fulfill a wish. One that only you can make happen." She declares, loosening the grip upon the baby''s mouth, to which the baby began breathing once more.


    "Tell me your wish then, so that it may be granted." It wheezed with a hint of impatience, the hide rippling once before going still once more. "Know that a price must be paid, equal to the wish you desire."


    "Of course, great and wise creature." She replied, unfurling the blanket from around the baby. One look could tell that it was not hers. Her complexion was as white as snow, and her eyes an jade green, while the baby was tan with a peculiar pair of amethyst colored eyes. "My husband and I have been trying to have children, but no such luck has befallen us. All we have is this child from his late wife." She said with a hint of spite in her voice. Oh how she loathed how her husband doted on this child that wasn''t even hers. The sparkle in his eyes that seemed to look back upon his late wife through this child, like his current wife was merely a shallow replacement. "I desire for children of my own, fathered by my husband. I wish for his love to be directed towards those children! In exchange," She dangles the baby before the creature, "I give you his child, to do with as you desire. Eat him, flay him, whatever needs be done to grant my wish!"


    The creature remained silent for the briefest of moments, silent breaths causing the hide to rise and fall like the waves in the ocean. It slowly drifted towards the woman and the outstretched child, stopping just before touching the pair. It''s focus seemed to be on the child itself, possibly weighing the scale of both the wish and the payment. "I shall grant you your wish, but the child shall remain with you for now. I shall collect it at a later time."


    The woman was initially happy that her wish would be granted, but upon hearing that she would still have to hold onto the baby for now soured her mood. "Why must I still provide for this child, oh wise creature?" She asked as she brought the baby back into her arms to make herself comfortable. "If he stays too long, he might inherit my husband''s business, leaving my children with nothing. How long must I wait?"


    The creature sighed at the ramblings of the woman before him, of the worries that will happen far into the future. "It will be neither too long or too short, and then your desires will be fulfilled." It huffed, before a shadowy tendril reached out from beneath the hide, snaking its way to the baby. As the tendril landed upon the chest of the child, the creature entered a state of silence. The woman, scared to be even this close to the creature, quaked in place, fearing if she moved too much she might be consumed by the shadow creature that possessed the elk hide.


    "...13 years. 13 years you must care for the child, and only then I shall take him." He said as the tendril slightly dug into the child''s chest, yet the child did not cry out in pain. What remained after the creature removed its touch was a faint symbol, a tattoo of an eye surrounded by bramble. "I shall also be taking this tome from you, as it does not belong to you in the first place." It said as one of its tendrils snatched the book out of the woman''s hand, bringing it beneath the elk hide before it vanished into the shadows.


    "Lay with your husband once the sun rises, and you shall find yourself laden with children." It said as it backed away slowly, "Ensure the child in your arms is healthy and cared for, or you shall find your children sharing the fate you foisted upon this one."


    "O-of course, wise creature!" The woman bleated out in panic and terror, the thought of her future children being devoured by this beast. "You must want to fatten this child up for later! I''ll make sure he grows up healthy enough to be worthy of a king''s meal!" She assured as she turned tail and ran away from the woods, all the way back to her home and her sleeping husband. As the creature watched the woman escape it thought to itself while waiting for the first rays of sunlight pierce the forest''s canopy, "13 years should be long enough to settle what needs to be done."


    Once sunlight hit the elk hide it possessed, it slowly faded away as if the deal never happened.

 Happy Birthday

    Despite the most recent expansionist war that the Kingdom of Dolia was going through, the village of Yorn was far enough removed to be left to its of devices. Even if the kingdom was conscripting all the able bodied peasants, there would be little to be found here. All the young adults had already left some time ago, and all that was left behind are the infirm, elderly, and children.


    Fall had come a bit early this year, painting the landscape in different shades of brown and orange while the cool winds swept the fields and hugged the houses of the Yornians in a gentle embrace. Dawn was fast approaching, but the villagers were already busy as bees in hopes of accomplishing their tasks just a bit earlier. Woodsmen sauntering to their logging sites, bakers preparing their dough, and even the hunters stepping out of their homes hefting their sacks filled with supplies to last them the next few days as they hunted their game. What was unusual today though, was that the fires of the forge had been rekindled, billowing smoke out of the stone smokestack.


    The Home attached to the blacksmith''s forge was the second largest in the village, a two story building that sat wide and sturdy like a boulder decorated in various metal ornaments to display the prowess of the smith that resided there. The shutters were left open, letting the smell of blueberry pie tickle the senses of any passerby and leaving them wanting just a slice of that confectionery heaven. A beautiful and fair-skinned woman was busying herself in the kitchen while two children were hovering around her, their mouths salivating in anticipation for this rare kind of breakfast. Shooing them away with a smile upon her lips, she gave the children an order, "Go and wake your brother, otherwise your father will have to do all the work himself."


    "Yes, mother!" They replied in unison as they rushed up the stairs to the bedroom all three siblings shared. One of the pair, the brother, said to his sister, "Should we do the same old trick?" To which she replied, "It always works, so why not?" Giving a cheeky grin. Upon opening the door, the pair came across their brother sleeping halfway off of his bed, a leg and an arm touching the wood floor. Unlike the two with their paler skin and green eyes, the sleep sibling was tan-skinned like their father. He was a few hairs taller than they were, and even though he was still a child one could tell he would be quite a giant when he grew up. With a silent countdown, the two bunched their legs and jumped onto their brothers bed landing upon him and shouting, "Wake up, Logi!"


    That was all it took for Logi to jolt awake, losing the air from his lungs at from the weight of his two siblings. His amethyst eyes focused on the two as he let out a groan of slight pain, "I''m awake, I''m awake!" He replied, his voice cracking due to his body cursing him with growing pains. He then grabbed his siblings in a playful headlock before a wrestling match ensued, the sound of laughter traveling to the floor below followed by a collective "oof" as the trio fell off the bed.


    "Mother wants you to hurry up and help papa in the forge, lazy bones." The younger brother said when Logi released him from his grasp, before sending a playful jab into Logi''s chest. "Oh yeah, Mother also made Blueberry pie! If you don''t hurry up, Jenna and I will eat it all" The gleam in their sister, Jenna''s eyes was all the proof he needed. "Don''t you dare!" Logi gave them both a glare, before switching back into a smile, "I''ll be right down, so you better save me some. She made that pie for me, after all!"


    His two siblings scrambled from the floor with a fit of laughter, their feet slipping and sliding on the wood before taking their exit from the room. What followed after was their mother scolding them for causing a ruckus.


    With a exhale of breath Logi was on his feet once more, making his way over to the dresser cabinet the three siblings shared. Though their family was one of the more well off in the village, they weren''t wealthy enough to provide individual sets of clothes for the brothers. Hand-me downs from their father and simple tunics and hempen pants were in abundance, so it wasn''t difficult just slipping on a set of new clothes. As the sunlight spilled through the small window in the room it landed upon the tattoo he''d had for as long as he could remember. He''d ask his mother and father what it meant when he was younger, but they seemed to not notice even see it. Though his father laughed the whole thing off as a kid''s imagination, his mother scolded him and told him not to tell lies. In the end he just gave up thinking about it. Letting it stay hidden under a shirt and out of mind, he made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen.


    The smell of pie was the first thing that hit him when he stepped the kitchen, and his eyes traveled to the wooden plate and spoon on the table which contained that precious blueberry pie and a chunk of sausage. Salivating at the sight, he rushed over and practically jumped into his seat and reached for his spoon, before receiving a smack on the wrist with a spatula. "Prayers first, Logi! Otherwise-" His mother began  her usual lecture, but was cut off by the rushing and excited child, "I''ll be taken away by monsters and gobbled up. Sorry Mother."


    He had heard her say that every day, whether he did something bad or not. The more she said it, the less impact it had on him. What monster would go out of their way to try and eat a small son of a blacksmith. She never said it to his siblings, which made it even less sense. His father thought it nonsense as well, saying grown-ups had more meat on them to eat compared to kids. Unless the meat tasted different somehow, like veal and regular beef. Giving his thanks to the gods in whispered words, he scarfed down his breakfast and hopped out of his chair once more. As he slipped on the leather work shoes made for the forge he thanked his mom for the pie and stepped through the doorway into the workshop, leaving behind a mother that bored holes into the back of Logi''s head, a vicious smile on her lips.


    The smell of burning coal and the warmth of the fires greeted the child like a comforting embrace from another member of the family, for how long Logi had spent in this place. Ever since he could walk, there wasn''t a time he found himself exploring the foundry. The billows breathing life to smoldering embers, the sound of hammer drawing out the impurities from metal and shaping it into a desired form, the humming of his father as he worked with great focus. He felt more at home here than beyond the door he just passed. Uncle Brunn wasn''t here yet, meaning that it was just father and the excited heir to this family practice. As he stepped down the earthen steps and into the main work area, Logi ran his fingers along the various tools on the tables or hanging on hooks, recounting their uses and names by heart. One day he will be capable of wielding these tools of the trade, but right now he was still too inexperienced and small.


    "That you, little Logi?" A deep, welcoming voice entering the ears said. When Logi turned his head, the sight of his father came into view. He was a bear of a man. The biggest man in the village by far, who once carried and ox that broke its leg in the field, and despite his intimidating appearance he was the kindest person Logi knows. "Yes, Papa!" Logi replied "Sorry to keep ya waiting!"


    "Oh, you weren''t keeping me too long. ''sides, its your special day." He said as his right foot flattened the gut of the bellow, causing a surge of air to stoke the flames before him. Logi didn''t waste time though during their talk, as he was putting on his apron and gloves before standing beside his father. With a pat on the hip to his father to let him know he was ready, the father and son traded positions.


    "Are we finally making it, Papa?!" Logi asked as he used his whole body to depress the billow, hanging from the chain above for support.


    "You bet we are." His father said with a chuckle as he grabbed a pair of tongs and dove them into the coals, before pulling out a glowing chunk of metal which glowed a shifting range of colors like a crystal prism. "I got started a little bit ago to get the iron hot, but everything else is left up to you, my little Logi."


    Today was the day he would be making his own hammer, making him an official apprentice! Even though he had helped in the forge for quite some time, learning the ins and outs of the craft, but he wasn''t allowed to lead in forging anything until today. It is customary in his father''s homeland that once you turn 13, only then can you become an apprentice. His father normally would have forbid such learning in advance like what they were doing, but the kingdom had been causing trouble and Logi needed to grow up a bit faster in case something happened, at least that is what his father told him. Everything up until now was preparation for this day!


    "That ingot looks pretty, papa." Logi said as he laid his eyes upon the metal, "It doesn''t look like iron though." He said with a hint of confusion and a tilt of his head, his amethyst eyes full of wonder.


    "It''s just a special iron, for my special boy." He said with a laugh, "This hammer will be with you for a long time after all, through thick and thin." His tone though light-hearted, seemed to have a hint of reminiscence, "Shame I don''t have mine anymore." *He said as he dove the tongs into the forge once more and shifted something that lay hidden within.


    "I heard you hammering away on something when I came in, papa. Is it some special order, or is Mr. Thatcher asking for more horseshoes again?" Logi asked as he hopped from the billows and made his way over to the anvil not too far away, just like always.


    "Just a personal project of mine. Might just melt it back down later if it doesn''t turn out right." He said with a deflective tone, one which Logi knew right away meant this was a time to not ask. His father may be a relaxed and lovable person, but when he puts his foot down, it''s best not to push things. The large man then stepped away from the forge and walked over to a corner of the shop, "We won''t be using that anvil today, little Logi."


    The child looked confused for a moment before replying, "But we don''t have any other anvils...." Before watching his father hoist up something covered in a hempen tarp. Something extremely heavy. With lumbering steps his father brought it over and placed it beside the other anvil, before pulling the tarp free. The child let out a gasp of wonder at the sight before him. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Unlike the anvil that was a dull lump, this one was made of silver and gold. Etched along the surface were intricate symbols that seemed like they were alive, wrapping around embedded gems of that faintly flickered from the firelight. With his mouth still agape, he looked at the anvil and back to his father quite a few times in shock in a total loss for words.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    "Don''t just stand there trying to catch flies," He chuckled before clapping his hands, bringing Logi back into the present, "We''ve got a lot of work to do."


    Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, the new apprentice made his way over to the forge and used the tongs to grab that fancy bit of metal. He let out a grunt at the surprising weight, but managed to move the glowing ingot to the anvil, placing it in carefully in hopes of not dropping it. As he grabbed one of the nearby hammers and rested it on his shoulder, he noticed a peculiar circle of words on the flat of the anvil. "Waaiit a minute. I know these words. They are the ones you taught me."


    "Quick to catch it, my little Logi." He said with a proud smile, "Good to know all those lessons paid off." He continued, before knocking a knuckle on the top of his son''s head, "Now don''t worry about that and let''s get started. You remember how to do it, right?"


    "Of course, papa! I''ve been waiting for this day for a long time after all." Logi replied withj enthusiasm before reaching into his pocket and producing a small blade in a leather sheath. Pulling free the glinting blade, he brought it to one of his fingers and made a small cut. As the blood welled up, he he closed his eyes and began speaking in the tongue his father taught him, while his father began to hum a tune that resounded throughout the room.


    "Today a smith is born.


    One who will stoke the flames in their soul,


    One who will breath life into their works,


    And one who will turn thoughts into reality."


    As the blood formed into a drop and fell onto the glowing ingot, a small flicker and vibration rippled though it, unbeknownst to Logi. Within a short breath it returned to its previous state, just as the apprentice opened his eyes once more.


    "Very good, little Logi." His father said as he ruffled his kid''s hair, "Now, strike true."


    "Yes, papa." The apprentice said as he gripped the hammer as he was taught and brought it down onto the metal of shifting colors.


    As Logi swung the hammer down, his father would whisper words that seemed to somehow be heard over the hammer blows, "Don''t forget, Logi. Put your thought into every strike. Shape the metal in your mind, just the way you want it to be. Make every breath you take dedicated to your craft, so that every part of your creation gets the love it deserves."


    The little apprentice was too focused to reply, putting his all into making his hammer. His surroundings no longer mattered. All that mattered was the hammer before him. Drawing out the impurities, scraping it away, and bathing the metal in flames. He repeated this over and over while his body rained sweat upon the earthen floor. He wanted this hammer to be the best hammer it could be. He wanted it to be capable of making his father proud, no, to be capable of making things even his father couldn''t! He wanted it to never lose its way from his hands, so that he won''t have that look of longing like his father did.


    All the while, his father coaxed him along during his son''s tense moment. Adjusting the angle of the metal just so, adding the right amount of binding agent, lightly tapping Logi''s elbows and shoulders for the perfect swing. The apprentice was in a trance like state, an important time that needed the guiding hand of a master to get the most out of this moment. After Logi had punctured the center of the hammer to make room for the handle, his father snapped his fingers, breaking the trance.


    "Well, would you look at that." His father cooed in admiration. "That''s some fine work you did there." He said as he examined the hammer head. It wasn''t anything fancy or flashy, but it gave off a sense of stability. A sturdy tool that could hammer into being just about anything and not even get a scratch. The only thing that stood out was a empty socket on its side, and the color of the metal itself shifting to different dull colors in a slow manner.


    Logi looked at his creation with awe and confusion, looking to his father, "You sure this is iron, papa? I don''t think its supposed to do that."


    "Never you mind, little Logi, everything turned out just fine." He said before he reached into his pocket and produced a clear gem and a dark colored handle, "Now for the finishing touches before we quench it." He said before handing over the two objects to Logi. "Insert the handle into that hole you made, and then tap the gem into the side. Don''t worry about the handle burning or the gem breaking. Just put as much confidence into it as you made the rest of it."


    "Okay, papa..." He said as he followed his instructions. The wooden handle hissed threateningly inch by inch as it found its way locking into the hammer, but like his father said it was completely fine. As for the gem, it practically jumped into the socket with the lightest of taps. Just as he finished his work, the beautiful anvil of silver and gold crumbled into dust, leaving the freshly made hammer to clatter against the floor with a thud.


    Logi looked at where the anvil once was, then to his father in hopes of getting an answer. He wasn''t going to give up questioning it this time.


    As his father picked up the hammer and dunked it into a shallow tub of oil, his father gave a shrug and said, "It served it''s purpose." He continued as he listed to the hiss of steam from the hammer, "It was never supposed to be here in the first place."


    "What do you mean, papa?" Logi asked as he walked over to the tub of oil where his hammer rested, "Did you steal it or something?"


    "Something like that." He said with a chuckle, before pulling out the hammer and drying it off with a clean cloth. Giving it a once over, he nodded to himself, handing it to his son. "You are now officially an apprentice, little Logi."


    When the hammer found itself in Logi''s grasp, the apprentice could have sworn he felt a connection to the hammer, but that could very well just be because he had an attachment to it from putting so much effort into making it. "I''ll make you proud one day, papa. I swear it!" He said while looking up into his father''s amber colored eyes.


    "You already have, but I''ll be making sure you keep up the good work." He said with a chuckle, a look of wistfulness in his gaze as he peers into those Amethyst eyes that look so much like the woman that left this world so long ago.


    As the two began joking and cleaning up their workspace, the heat of the forge vanished, replacing it with a deep chill. The jovial giant demeanor shifted to one of seriousness and determination as he looked at the double doors that led to the front of the forge. Just as Logi was going to ask a question, his father pointed to the tool closet and ushered with a stern tone. "Hide in there, and don''t you come out."


    "B-but, papa-" Logi tried to reply, confusion and fear of possible danger sinking into his core tripping up his words.


    "No words, just go!" He said as he nudge his child towards the closet, watching Logi close it behind him. With a sigh and rubbing his face with his hands, he turned to the double doors with a clinched jaw.


    A shadow soon appeared through the crack of the doors which bled into the depths of the forge, snuffing out the flames and bringing darkness to the interior, followed by a low, scraping knock that lasted 4 times. "It is time to collect what is owed~" Said a whispering, raspy voice much like a snake.


    "You are not welcome here, Wollen. Return to whence you came." Logi''s father replied, stepping slightly towards the forge of cooling embers.


    A grinding, grating sound much like rough pottery rubbing up against each other was given in response as the voice responded in a harsh tone, "You known how are contracts work, Rokkr!" It said before the doors rattled on their hinges violently, "You could have killed that woman, and all of this could have been avoided."


    "I have sworn an oath, Wollen!" Rokkr shouted back in a strained voice, tears falling down his cheeks, "You know that I cannot do that, even if I wished for her death every waking moment!"


    The double doors rattled even more erratically, before suddenly stopping. The voice at the door then filled the room, enveloping the darkness with its oppressiveness. "Now, here we are. An Oathbound and a Contractor, this time on opposing sides." It said, before 13 massive eyes lit up the room in red light, with a crooked wave of jagged teeth beneath them.


    Rokkr then dove his hand into the cooling embers, dragging free a large bearded axe, covered in the tong of his homeland, "You shall not have my child, Snatcher of The Nine!" He said as he lunged forward, his axe cleaving downwards onto the many-eyed creature. His powerful build brought forth terrible strength from every strand of corded muscle, causing a deafening sound as it met the beast before it. The axe itself began to glow viciously, a ringing much like a tuning fork seeping into the bones of the three in the smithy. Wollen let out a pained groan as the blade of the axe sunk into the flesh shrouded in darkness, but soon recovered forced Rokkr back and tumbling over his smithing tools. Shortly after, that grand axe disintegrated into nothingness.


    Seeing his father hurt brought fear and panic into Logi''s heart, and he could not help but rush out of the closet to go his side, "Papa!" He cried out as his small gripped onto Rokkr under the gaze of the monstrous Wollen.


    "And there he is~" The creature spoke mockingly, a glowing red tongue licking the fresh wound upon his face. "I honestly expected more from your craftsmanship, Rokkr." He chuckled, "My, how the legendary Smith of The Ancients has fallen~" Wollen''s words teasing the ears, "I shall also correct you on my title. I am the Snatcher of Three, now." His dreadful appearance closes in on the father and son until his eyes almost touch them, "Much has changed since, deserter~"


    Rokkr then turned to his son, grabbing hold of him and looking into his eyes, "None of this is your fault, Logi. Know that." Before giving his son a hug that transferred all the love that he could muster. As the crying boy returned his embrace, he felt the warmth of his father wane, and the skin upon which he touched grow smooth and cold.


    As confusion set in, Wollen commented in a sadistic tone, "And there goes his oath, broken like the hearts that bound him~" he said, while Logi pulled away from his father to see what was wrong. What was once the living and breathing Rokkr, now rested a pristine amber statue, garbed in his clothes. "To think he could not even save his child, even after risking his life to do so! "It chuckled, "I could use a snack anyways."


    With those words, his toothy maw opened wide and clamped down upon the statue that was once Rokkr, chomping savagely away before the boy before him.


    "Papa!" He cried out as the scene before him unfolded, his heart tearing to shreds. Without care for himself, he rushed towards the creature with his hammer raised, trying to smack the beast as it feasted. However, all it took was a breath from Wollen to knock him over and reeling in pain.


    "A solid effort, child of Rokkr, but your strength is sorely lacking." Wollen commented as his eyes drifted to the door that led into the house, "Since her contract has been fulfilled, it might be best to tie up loose ends..." It said as its eyes and mouth drifted over in the darkness, "Wait here, while I fill my belly and prevent those pesky mortals from learning of us~" The sound of the door shattering and three people screaming were etched into Logi''s mind as he writhed on the floor, tears streaming his cheeks.


    Soon, Wollen returned to the smithy, looking down with a smile that nearly circled around his many eyes. As the world faded to black, Logi heard one last mocking phrase.


    "Happy Birthday"

 The City of Change

    A groggy Logi stirred from the most terrible nightmare one could have, letting out a pained groan before his eyes finally opened. This wasn''t his room? An expansive open chamber filled with sconces lining the stone walls, containing more than just himself. Many children from babies to those of his age littered the stone floor. Clambering up to his feet, he felt the weight of heavy chains slowing his movements and chafing his wrists, necks and ankles. Whomever brought us here truly did not want us to run away easily. It was then that he realized his nightmare was in truth memories of his last time awake.


    "Guh" He let out a huff of air as his eyes began to water and his heart tightened. His family...was murdered. That thing was responsible for bringing that nightmare into reality. What was he supposed to do now?


    His thoughts then sharpened as he recalled the name of that monster, with its many glowing eyes and strange mouth filled with jagged teeth. "Wollen..." He uttered with anger under his breath. "I''ll remember you, and find you. Snatcher of Three."


    As his visage clouded, he heard the wailing of a baby nearby, one which multiplied as the other babies awoke. Breaking out of his stupor, he swiveled his head before finding the nearest one and shuffled over. Scooping them up into his arms, he tried to make the little thing comfortable before shouting to the older children nearby, "Wake up, everyone!"


    As if the bubble had been burst, many of the other older children started waking up. Some crying in confusion, some shouting for their parents, some causing trouble by bickering with their neighbors. This wasn''t what he wanted. Looking about with uncertainty, he decided to pull the trick his father said would work in these kinds of situations. Taking a deep breath, he began to yell and berate the children around him, "H-hey you useless f-fuckers!" His voice seemed to carry far enough to reach the edges of the large room, and his words caused the others to turn their heads in his direction. "We may not know what''s going on, but don''t act like animals! Those who are older, care for the younger ones like the adults we all wish to be! He then passed the baby in his arms to the nearest kid, before picking up another nearby.


    His words and actions seemed to kick the other children in the right direction, giving them a purpose beyond themselves and an outlet to escape their own troubles. A few of the older children didn''t seem to want to follow the examples of others, and one particular kid yelled back at Logi, "Why should I?! None of these kids are my siblings, they are all filthy commoners!"


    Logi''s head snapped towards that voice, his heart beating quickly with unease and panic. A noble? Here of all places? As he paused, some of the other children near the noble began to utter complaints under their breath like a plague trying to infect the others. What can he do to stop this before it gets out of hand? I guess its time to play the part of the big brother this time, but without holding back. Scrunching his face as he struggled with the actions he was about to do, he stomped towards the noble child while passing the baby in his arms to one of the children without one.


    "Why should you?" Logi said as he gripped the chain of the noble child before him, a surprised feeling wafting through his chest at just how frail this kid was compared to him. Were all nobles this...scrawny? Looking into the eyes of this noble child who had a look of bewilderment in his eyes of being touched by a commoner. With a sharp breath Logi brought his head back and sent it slamming down upon the noble child''s own forehead. The impact was painful to say the least, causing his eyes to water and his tongue to twist as it threatened to let out a yell, but Logi held it in to prove a point. The noble child, however, was not as composed. Letting out a sharp pained shout, he fell on his back and held his forehead, twisting and turning in pain. Logi then looked around to the others, "Because right now, we are all the family we got!"


    The sudden bout of violence cowed the others who complained, and they set about tending to those who couldn''t care for themselves. Just as he thought the crisis was averted, he heard the sound of a single person clapping, echoing around the room. Turning his head to the origin of the sound, his eyes squinted in hopes of figuring out who it was.


    "Splendid, splendid~." A melodic voice spoke before what was once hidden popped into existence. This person looked almost like a human, but their features were sharp. Too sharp. His jawline, his chin, even his eyes were at sharp angles like blades that could cut through diamonds with ease. Even his ears, which extended well beyond where they should be, were pointed and held a serrated edge along the lobes. "It seems like we at least have some quality stock for this quarter''s harvest~" The sharp man said as he walked into the center of the room, towards Logi. Each step the man took seemed to cause this man to grow taller and taller, until he was taller than even Logi''s father was. The man was not only tall, but he was truly skinny. Almost like a swaying branch caught in the wind. Even their joints seemed off now. Unnaturally long legs and arms, with multiple bending portions like the fawn-folds of an accordion. By the gods, what is this thing?


    The other children were probably thinking the same thing, as they backed away from this lanky sharp man with a salesman''s smile. The Sharp Man looked about unperturbed without a care in the world, before looking back at Logi. In particular his eyes. "You might just be the biggest catch this season, Meat~" He said as his hand darted out like a snake and snatched the chain that linked his bindings, causing Logi to fall forward from the surprising power that grip had. The Sharp Man then turned to portion of the wall behind him and called out, "Alright! Get the others in their pens!"


    As if on command, the wall slid down into the ground, bathing the room in bright light as the sun washed the room, silhouetting more strange people of different kinds. These however, were carrying weapons. As The Sharp Man dragged Logi behind him, he heard the screams of the children as the monsters struck them and pushed them into groups, placing necklaces with rectangular wooden plates on each one.


    "Let go of me!" Logi shouted at the sharp man as he struggled to get his feet under him, all too much in vane by the looks of things.


    "A feisty piece of meat you are, little one." The Sharp Man said with a smirk as he passed by another sharp man, reaching out and plucking a long, beautiful cane from their grasp before continuing on their way. "Lets see if you can keep it up after the mana starts sinking into that flesh of yours~"


    Mana? He had heard of that word before. It was a word his father taught him. It wasn''t until now that he realized he understood these monsters'' words. They were speaking in the language he learned while preparing to be a smith! Why could he understand him, and better yet, why could he understand Wollen back then? Did father come from the same place as these monsters...?


    "Let go of me, you lanky monster!" Logi shouted once more, but this time using what his father called Smith''s Tongue.


    The Sharp Man abruptly halted his stride at from surprise at hearing Logi speak to him, and his multi-jointed long neck swiveled back and stared at him. Lifting him off the ground as easily as one would a puppy, he was brought around until he was dangling before the sharp man. "How do you know our language, Meat!" He said before shaking Logi like a rag doll, "Who taught you?!"


    The force of the shaking was rattling Logi''s brain while his head whipped to and fro, leaving little to be said from the boy teetering on consciousness, and The Sharp Man soon realized as much. With his free hand, he grabbed Logi''s shirt and ripped it clean off from his body, revealing the tattoo on his chest. The eye with brambles surrounding it glowed faintly, unlike when he was at home. "Perhaps a cultivated sacrifice?" The Sharp Man muttered to himself, not giving the child any room to reply. "Looks like I''ll have to ask the Summoning Department later. Until then..." He said as he dropped Logi onto the ground, causing the boy to let out a pained groan. "We might as well sell you to the highest bidder, since you have already been taught our language."


    As Logi struggled to get up, he noticed The Sharp Man reach into a pouch hanging from his hip, producing a gold ring. Sliding it upon his thumb, he whispered a few words to the ring, causing it to glow. A metal chain darted out from the front of the ring and connected to the collar around Logi''s neck, and with a sharp tug from The Sharp Man he was dragged forward into a brisk walk. The two soon came to a room of ornate furniture and finery that screamed wealth into the skies, and The Sharp Man strode inside and opened a wardrobe. The Sharp Man was originally wearing a simple tunic and pants, but now he was throwing a flowing robe of greens and blues over himself, tightening it down with a belt that had a golden belt buckle. He then pulled out nine more rings, slipping them onto the remaining fingers and thumb, each one looking slightly different than the last.


    "What shall I do about you?" The Sharp Man said as he looked Logi''s way with a questioning gaze. His eyes landed upon the manacles around his ankles and wrists, before he uttered, "Those are much too obvious." It was then that he took out a key from within his hip pouch before leaning over and unlocking the manacles around his limbs, letting them clank to the ground.


    Logi looked at the sharp man through squinted eyes, wary of what kind of torture or punishment he will have to undergo, before his face was hit by a flying bunch of cloth. "Put that on over your rags, Meat. No one wants to see such dirty things where we are going."


    Pulling the cloth from his face, he saw it was a long purple jacket, one which was much too long for his size. Sliding his arms through the sleeves, he noticed his hands couldn''t even touch the hem at the end. Pulling the sleeves back until his fingers wiggled through, he buttoned up the front of the jacket and took the rest of his time to look around the room for any possible weapons he could stash in these deep sleeves or pockets. From the corner of his eye, he noticed what could be a fruit peeling knife, glistening on top of a plate. Trying to sneakily grab the knife while the sharp man wasn''t looking, he was met with a slap across the cheek from The Sharp Man''s backhand. It wasn''t one that showed off the man''s power, but it did instill the notion that he was being watched even when he thought otherwise.


    "Don''t try that again, Meat, Or I will peel you like a fruit and have the healers weave flesh anew." He scolded, but the threat could very well be true for all Logi knew.


    "My name is not Meat, you crooked stick bug." Logi said while rubbing his cheek.


    "That doesn''t matter to me, since you will just turn into coin for me soon." He said as he closed the wardrobe and walked back towards the door, dragging Logi behind him, "Now hurry along."


    The two then walked past as large set of iron doors and into a bustling city, filled with monsters of all kinds. Sharp Men, Short people as wide as barrels sporting bushy beards, dark green people packed with muscle and large tucks jutting from their mouths, and even what looks to be animals walking on two legs, but their body shapes share similar qualities to humans. Logi had never traveled outside of his village, and now he was surrounded by so many dangerous people, with no way of knowing what they want from him. The cobblestone beneath his feet were rough and painful even though his shoes, and the strange lights that whizzed by or hung over shops was magical to say the least. He had already seen works of magic from The Sharp Man in front of him, so perhaps such things were normal in this strange place? It was then that his head began to feel clogged, and his chest surged with pain, as if someone was digging their hand inside and twisting about. His legs soon buckled underneath him and his knees slammed into the coarse path beneath him, tenderizing the muscles and grinding against bone.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The sharp man noticed the change in Logi and smirked, "This shows that humans are truly the dregs of all, only meant to be used as cattle while hoping for their petty wishes to be granted." He commented condescendingly, the sign of weakness coming from this originally fiery child a welcome improvement. "It is a rarity that you have persevered as long as you have in that flimsy shell of yours, so your value will surely increase." He continued, before yanking on the chain and forcing Logi back onto his feet. "Best put you on display before you pass out though, so let us make this quick."


    As The Sharp Man dragged along Logi and into an enormous building, the child noticed the children from the room loaded onto carts like lifeless corpses; to which he hoped they were merely unconscious. As the doors closed behind him, the last he saw was them rounding a corner to some other street. Being led through a bustling common room, through winding halls, and finally into a sweeping circular room, Logi and The Sharp Man found their destination at the center of the room. It was like one of the ancient theatres his father showed him once in a drawing, a place for telling stories or letting the people know of a coming crisis like a war or the death of their leaders. But it would seem this time it would be used to sell Logi off to the waiting patrons.


    Through bleary eyes and a hazy mind, Logi took in the people that were seated in the risers that bordered this circular room. It looked like the people here were seated in respective groups, perhaps they belonged to certain clans kingdoms? There were three such groups. On the left side were the short bearded people and their non-bearded counterparts that had larger heads and eyes. In the center were the Sharp Men, and on the right side were the animal people; with a smaller number that looked similar to the depictions of dragons that seemed to hold higher importance by their seats being closer to the front. The Sharp Man with Logi took a brief moment to adjust his clothes before addressing the people before him.


    "Great kingdoms of Corxen, our humble neutral city brings to you today an item that will surely make a great addition to your households!" The Sharp Man said as he reached a hand out and gripped the hair on top of Logi''s drooping head and straightened him up properly, "A human of quality stock and hardy nature!" He said as he shook the child lightly from side to side. "He even showed a glimpse of leadership qualities the moment he awoke, quelling dissent amongst his ilk and even asserting his dominance!" To which a light murmuring could be heard amongst the members of each group. The Sharp Man speaking took in the sight with a voracious glint of greed in his eyes, salivating at the profits the future tidbits of information he would divulge to make this deal a legendary one. "I am sure the war was taxing upon all kingdoms, leaving your ranks missing a capable hand in which to wield a blade or shield yourself with their lives. All of that takes time, and the freshly summoned chaff outside would take far too long to train up to be of any use immediately. Unlike this one!" The Sharp Man said excitedly, "He is fluent in our tongue, enough so to even insult me, albeit lacking in creativity!"


    At the mention of Logi knowing their language, the murmuring grew into a fervor as words of shock and curiosity spread like a plague. Wanting to capitalize on the excitement, The Sharp Man spoke to the groups, "Let us start off with 200 gold coins, with a minimum of 50 in increments!" That number then brought focus and no short amount of pressure to fall upon the waning Logi.


    "250." Spoke one of the short bearded men as he raised a small flag up to bring notice to himself. Just as the seller was about to point towards him, another broke the short silence.


    "350. You must be short of coin, much like your stature Dwarf." Said one of the sharp men as he lobbed an insult, mockery laid bare in his tone.


    "I''d fold you, but you would probably like it, you pompous bladed pansy." The dwarf replied in kind, stroking his beard before raising his flag again, "400."


    The insults and prices grew, and soon the two groups began lobbing insults more than focusing on Logi. As the price hovered around 1,000 and the seller was about to confirm the sale, a voice from the third group rang out, "1,500 gold coins."


    The owner of that voice was one of the dragon like people. She had scales of bronze and wore a flowing deep green dress. "I grow tired of all the bickering and fighting, when that is all we have done for the past 30 years." She said as she looked towards Logi, her blue draconic eyes seeming to see something more than what lay on the surface, one with a hint of melancholy.


    "Oh I''m sure you have, Your Majesty." Replied one of the Sharp Men at the front of his group. He had a crown of Iron, with rivets seemingly bolted into his very skull. His tone not at all respectful of the other leader of a rival kingdom. "While both you and the stunted ground lovers lost people, we came out unscathed." He said with a crooked, sharp smile. "2,000."


    The dragon queen managed to hide a pained look behind a folding fan before replying, "You call losing 200,000 Orcoll coming out unscathed?" She asked, "Your farms and labor force will surely suffer from your choices."


    "I''d love to see that," Said one of the dwarves, this one nearly a head taller than the others in his group. He had a braided bear that had golden trinkets lashes to each braid, and golden studs along his right brow. "You twiggy folk will waste away more than you already are!" He said with a hearty laugh, which his people echoed in kind. He then raised a flag once more, "3,000."


    By this point the amount of gold they were willing to spend was out of spite, and a for the respective factions to win over another. The Sharp Man beside Logi wasn''t going to stop the gold from landing in front of him though, and thoughts of buying a mansion and a harem of beautiful women was all that was in the forefront of his mind.


    What snapped him out of that daze was a bolt of lightning streaking across the room towards the large dwarf, coming from the king of the Sharp Men. The lightning failed to connect as the large dwarf swatted it to the side with the back of his gauntlet-clad hand, to which it struck the ceiling and sent scorched pieces of wood and plaster to rain upon the people below.


    "We. Are. Eldu Voga." The king of Eldu Voga replied, his tone as cold as the frigid north, his words laced with the most potent of venom. "We are the chosen people of this realm, and you are merely cattle we let get fat enough to feast upon!" The king of the Eldu Voga continued, his jagged teeth exposed through a savage smile.


    "The only thing you will be feasting on is iron if you try." Replied the large Dwarf, supposedly the king of his people given his standing. As he plucked free the pieces of plaster from his beard, he raised the flag in his hand casually, "3,500."


    The crowd grew silent for a moment as the price was beginning to feel heavy to even the leaders of these kingdoms. Logi was merely a human child that knew their common tongue. That amount of money could be spent elsewhere with greater results. As the Eldu Voga at Logi''s side was about to declare the winner, a bronze scaled hand was raised.


    "What is your name, child?" The dragon queen asked, her regal gaze seeming to drag Logi in like a vortex to which there was no escape.


    Brought out of his stupor, the child groggily blinked his heavy eyes, fighting through the pain in his mind and body as the question acted like a port in a storm. Focusing on those blue eyes of hers, "Logi." He replied weakly, meekly. He wasn''t going to last much longer in his current state, and soon he would join the ranks of those children he saw in the carts.


    The dragon queen listened to Logi''s reply, her draconic eyes blinking slowly as she contemplated her next step. After a brief pause, she straightened her back and stood tall, letting her voice carry amongst those within the room. "5,000 gold coins."


    The price slammed down upon the heads of the rival lords as well as their followers, and looks of shock and disbelief were landing upon the dragon queen. This was no longer a petty squabble with loose change being tossed around. This was pure lunacy. She was willing to pay more than most would ever see in their lives, on a somewhat unique human child.


    "Are you mad, Mythia?!" The dwarf king exclaimed as he gripped his flag with ever whitening knuckles, "You could buy a fully equipped skyship, or a Grandus-level suit of armor with such a sum!"


    "Let her spend her money as she sees fit, Lodd." The Eldu Vogan king said as he smiled at the thought of a rival kingdom wasting such a sum in a single day. He even felt like splurging a bit and dining on a dryad or two in celebration.


    "This is from my own personal funds, so I shall spend it as I please." Mythia said as she looked to the seller, awaiting his respopnse.


    The seller, finding Mythia''s impatient gaze upon him, jumped into action, "Are there no further bids? ....Alright then. The winner of this human child goes to Queen Mythia, of the Kingdom of Solun Caza." Which was echoed with light customary clapping from those around.


    The proceedings happened swiftly, and Logi soon found himself following along with those belonging to Solun Caza, his body which was nearly a shell at this point being ferried along by a guard wearing a full set of plate armor. The maze like streets and the haze within made caused the trip to their next destination seem to take an eternity and yet happen so quickly, and the entourage whittled down to the queen herself and her personal guard. Where they were now looked to be some sort of temple, one which overlooked the entire city below them much like the gods do their worshipers.


    No one stopped Mythia as she strolled into the temple, lightly pulling Logi along by the hand. The clergy with their finery matching their respective gods casted curious glances, until the doors leading to the inner chamber opened. The mounding pressure from this deific presence was a heavy weight upon all shoulders, threatening to bring all present to their knees. Even Mythia and her guard were not spared from the change as they staggered, while the dragon queen kept the Logi on his feet with a firm grip. Closing the door behind them, the queen and her guards looked inwards.


    What greeted them was a massive square pool of swirling, glowing, purple liquid. On each corner were statues, symbols of the four gods. A shield with a waxing moon emblazoned upon it, held by 4 clawed hands. A bleeding sun, ran through by a spear emitting frost. An eye perched atop a tree, with broken wings stretched out wide like a warm embrace waiting to happen, and a mountain fissure running down the middle, with a glow of golden liquid falling into a basin beneath it.


    Mythia gazed upon the pool and the symbols, before turning back to Logi. He looked so small to her, so frail. The light in his Amethyst eyes were growing dimmer by the moment, one which she knew when snuffed out would spell the end of Logi as a person, which Mythia did not want to happen. Lifting up his chin, Mythia whispered, "Maybe you can help me mend what is broken, Logi." She said as she gently ran a clawed hand along Logi''s cheek, before leading him to the swirling pool. The dragon queen looked into the glowing waters for a moment, before digging a few of her clawed fingers into her palm, drawing blood which fell in rivulets. As her blood made contact with the contents of the pool, the waters began to roil and bubble softly, emanating a more intense light than before. Wasting no more time, Mythia removed Logi''s garb and placed him within the pool. The child then slowly sank into the depths and followed the current into the center, letting it run its course.


    As the waters enveloped Logi, his body began to react. Slowly, his form melted. His skin. His muscle. His organs. His bones. All of it was turning into a soup, a primordial dish simmered by the flames of creation and watched over by the gods of this realm. It should have been a painful experience, yet Logi felt nothing but warmth. Even when his brain joined the soup, he was still capable of thought, and the haze which assaulted him earlier was gone. What was happening now seemed to be nothing but natural, despite how unnatural he should have believed it to be. This sense of calm gave Logi time to think, which he used to finally grieve.


    His family was gone. His father. His siblings. The woman whom he believed to be his mother. All of it was so fresh, so volatile, that if it weren''t for the ''now'' he was experiencing he would think it to be a nightmare. Was it a nightmare? Sadly not. Though he couldn''t cry, the sensation of it still bled through. He let those emotions run freely, allowing both the waters and time pass through him and wash it all away. The primordial soup that was Logi clumped up together, congealing into a cluster as the old body made way for the new. Logi''s consciousness soon reached a calm once more, and he was lulled into a peaceful slumber. The swirling waters flowed into Logi, drinking deeply like parched earth meeting rain until all that was left behind was a large wavy-patterned egg.