Great Sovereign And Master Blacksmith

A face unknown of gender, covered in a black limestone color, and huge eyes that glowed like the sun. Ripples appeared across the forehead and cracks of red like lava strung down from the eyes. Above it was a glowing orb of what seemed like the world they lived on, but not a completely accurate representation.

Ezra immediately went down to the ground with her nonexistent body as if she was bowing down to the thing in front of them.

Welpen: “Umm, excuse me, but how are you alive with only a neck and a face?”

It did not respond, but continued to look straight ahead like it appeared when they arrived.

Welpen: “I’m confused. It’s not attacking. Everyone ready your swords and other weapons you have. This must be the last part of this island before we move on.”

Ezra: “Welpen, Ryoko, Saikou! Get on your knees and bow down! This is not what you think this is. This is not another island or even a trial. In front of you is the Sovereign of the Infinite Library.”

Welpen: “Oh…OH! My apologies! I’m sorry miss, no mr, no, umm…Thing?”

Ryoko: “Not making this better, Welpen.”

It began to speak, only moving its eyes down on them. Even Ezra did not know its name, but she knew exactly what this place was from people that have died getting here and came to the Spirit Realm. She did not know what it was capable of, but the absolute knowledge of the world rested inside its head. It spoke in a somewhat mix of a man and a woman’s voice, but confidently.

???: “Do you know why I brought you here?”

Welpen: “Uh, do I have to answer that? Oh, okay. You see, to be honest, not really. We didn’t expect to make it here for another few hours or even a day, but thanks for helping us. There were supposed to be more islands, weren’t there?”

Ezra: “Welpen!”

Welpen: “Wh-What? Did I say something wrong?”

???: “In all my years, since the beginning of this world where I was placed here unbeknownst to me, I have never seen such trouble that will come. In all the many worlds that exist, you are the one unknown being to me that will bring destruction to even myself. Tell me child, what is your purpose?”

Welpen: “My purpose? Well, I guess I have to find Isara and then help her get what she wants to do, which is I believe find the master blacksmiths that Lihard was talking about, and then after that, I want to go say hi to Clara and then eat some ramen and see my friend Astro and then maybe learn how to control this sword a little more. That’s a pretty good sounding thing to me if I do say so myself.”

Saikou and Ryoko had stayed on the ground, but their heads were up in curiosity since they were still kids. They did not know how to show respect, but Ezra remained not even glancing at the sovereign of the Infinite Library in her orb state.

???: “Young Ryoko. Arise. Tell me, why do you cause destruction?”

Ryoko didn’t know how to respond to that. He could still only really converse with Welpen properly and was beginning to talk with Saikou more as well, but he reverted back to his original self when things like this happened with others.

Ryoko: “Processing, no answer. Unknown.”

???: “Young one. You may arise as well. I see time has still not taken a toll on you. The gift you were granted is a treasured one. What do they call you now? Do you cherish the name Saikou?”

Welpen: “That’s our Saikou. He’s our buddy. We love him.”

???: “I see. So that was your wish? I shall add that to my knowledge.”

Welpen: “Hey, how do you know all of our names? That’s a little creepy, don’t ya think?”

???: “Young Welpen, when you look at me, what do you see?”

Welpen: “Good question. I see a large face with glowing eyes and some holes you need patched up. How did that even happen to you and how are you not dead?”

???: “Tell me. Do you believe in fate?”

Welpen: “Hmm, I guess I never really thought about that. If I had to think about it, then I would say…Yes. Astro tried his best to protect his family, but in the end, they still died. He is the strongest person I know, so there has to be fate in this world if he could not save them. Maybe they were destined to die and change him into the person he is now. However, my answer is also no. I know it’s contradicting, but people can change themselves. They can help and they can hurt. I’ve learned that already in my short journey I have had outside of my home. It’s up to people to create their destiny and their fate. I’m creating mine as we speak and Isara is out there creating hers. I’m sure, no, I know there are many more people out there creating their own destiny.”

???: “Ezra, ruler of the Spirit Realm. Although I do not have many opinions in this life, I admire what you do.”

Ezra gasped with excitement when this was spoken to her and she thanked the Sovereign for everything it had just complimented her on. She was like a kid in a candy store that was told they could have whatever they wanted.

Everyone could tell just by her voice.

???: “The Reckoning is close. The tides are turning, the winds are howling, the fire is burning, and the moons are upon us.”

Welpen: “I’m not really sure what that means, but weren’t there supposed to be trials to this place? How big does this place go also? It’s supposed to be infinite, right? I don’t see any openings in this room though.”

Ezra: “Welpen!”

Welpen: “Sorry, I’ll shut up.”

???: “Many believe knowledge is a curse. But how can those who don’t obtain this knowledge know this? They remain in their own bounds of the mind and let emotion cloud their judgement. Many come to my place to see if they are worthy to ask me 1 question that they desire. Others choose to seek out books in the passages, but you all, you do not seem to be here for that.”

Welpen: “Right. We are just here to find Isara. I guess that’s my question. Do you know where she is? I get 1 question you said, right?”

???: “I will not reserve the right to a question for each of you, but instead I will instill your fates that you, young Welpen, waver in belief…Saikou, a promising figure will arise once again that you cherish. However, a painful choice will have to be made. Ryoko, you are binded to evil. The darkness lurks in front of you in an escapable way. If you do not abandon what you choose to fight for, then it will overwhelm you. Welpen, immortality will only feed on your devilry. However, you cannot avoid what is to come. If you truly believe you can fight against fate, then try your hardest to win yourself back from your new character in the trio that comes forth. Finally, Ezra, an approaching battle haunts the realms. Only the best companions can win the war.”

Ezra: “Thank you for your wisdom, Sovereign. I will not take it for granted.”

Welpen: “Woah, woah, woah. What does that gibberish mean? Who do you think you are? You don’t scare me.”

Welpen raised his sword to throw at the face in front of him in anger, but before he knew it, the room they were in was no longer there. They were smack in front of a huge wall that was unfamiliar to them, but guards with glowing rods quickly surrounded them and took them inside, while Ezra hid inside Welpen’s clothing.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Not too many hours earlier…

Isara: “No! We’re going back! We can’t leave him!”

Ezekiel: “We gotta go kid! We only got a few seconds left! Stop messing around!”

Isara and Ezekiel advanced onto the trials of the Infinite Library against her will of saving Okasaki who laid on the floor covered in blood. It was a place of illusion. Swirling pictures clouded their minds and the room became a haze of dizziness. Black and white spirals entranced them in a negative way. Without Isara realizing, Ezekiel had been screaming the whole time at whatever he saw. For Isara, knowledge rushed into her, but then quickly faded every 10 seconds. She learned and then she lost and could not remember what was going on.

Even her fairies could not do much.

They were not being affected by this trance, but they could not stop it from happening. Even when trying to use Spirit Assimilation, it did not stop the events from unfolding.

Isara and Ezekiel bled from their eyes, nose, and mouth uncontrollably. This was a test of mental fortitude and willpower. Ezekiel could not withstand it, and he collapsed on the floor while Isara was shifted to a dark wooden room with a face and bright yellow eyes, exactly with what Welpen and his crew had faced.

Isara was still recovering from what had happened and couldn’t even think of where Ezekiel or Okasaki had gone. She did not know if they had perished from the trials, nor did she know what this thing in front of her was.

???: “You may ask 1 question, young one. What will it be?”

Isara still gasped for air.

The circulation of blood had not fully caught up with her brain, but she asked the question that she was here for, completely disregarding the people that she cared about, and her fairies did not try to stop her.

Isara: “Can you bring me to the Master Blacksmiths?”

???: “Indeed, as you wish.”

Spiraled circles filled the area again before she blinked once and she was in a place that she had never been. She did not even think of Ezekiel and Okasaki, let alone Welpen or Ryoko. Her mind was overtaken by her goal and her promises made to help others.

She looked around for the first time, seeing water all above her, unable to see the surface. She was in an all glass area that extended onwards. No sunlight shown, nor any animals or fish swam. It was a complete abyss of darkness, but a small enough light showed the way for her to walk.

Her fairies said nothing, but were prepared just in case. They were scared of isara right now in a sense, but knew this is what she came here for, so they did not doubt her abilities.

She came to the end of the glass hallway where there was a small room. Small enough to fit maybe 20 people total if they were shoulder to shoulder. There was only room for a table and a chair, and in that chair was a creature that she had never seen.

If she had come here on her own, she would’ve pulled her sword out to battle whatever this was, but she knew what the title of this thing in front of her was.

It had the features between an ant and a dragon, yet was smaller than her and all white in color. 3 curved horns stuck out of its head and spikes ran down its spine all along his thick tail. Black big eyes distinguished its bug-like persona while it held a strange looking staff with a glowing orb attached at the end.

???: “What have you ventured down here for, child?”

Isara: “Wh-What is your name?”

???: “You can call me Rugz. I assume you know what I am?”

Isara: “Y-Yes, sir.”

Rugz: “Do you know where you are, child?”

Isara: “I…I don’t think so.”

Rugz: “How did you get here then? You are bleeding.”

Isara: “Oh, yeah, umm…I got transported here.”

Rugz: “Ah, I see. Well, although it is not my duty, I must tell you that you are right below the first island that you had crossed only a few hours ago.”

Isara: “Is that so…”

Rugz: “Do not beat yourself down child. I am not so easy to reach. I do have a reputation to uphold and this is one of the harder spots that I stay at.”

Isara: “I-I…”

The devastating facts of the past began to seep into her. She questioned if what she was doing was right now. She remembered Okasaki sacrificing his body on the one for her and wondered if he was dead. She then thought of Ezekiel’s suffering next to her and didn’t think he made it either.

Tears filled her eyes more than ever. More than being abandoned by her parents, more than having to survive on rotten food for years, more than venturing from place to place without a goal in life. She did not know that this is what it took in order to accomplish her dreams.

She handed Rugz her mother’s sword that was now chipped and battered more than ever before. Lihard’s work on it was barely enough to get by. The blade was almost completely shattered and the handle was torn from its solid material. Rugz began to talk to the blade like it was his own.

Rugz: “I see. Don’t worry. You have been through enough. I will fix you now and make you brand new. You will never break again…Young child, is this what you desire? Not a new sword, but for me to fix this one?”

Isara: “Y-Yes, p-please.”

Rugz: “I see someone very gifted tried to fix this before. Give them my gratitude. However, Sulner will not work on a sword this damaged. Do you wish to add any chaplets to it? If so, please hand them to me now.”

Isara grabbed every chaplet she had. It wasn’t much, but it included a Rose Chaplet, Aqua Chaplet, Earth chaplet, Crystal chaplet, and Moon Chaplet. She used some on the way in her journey through the Infinite Library.

Rugz: “A Moon Chaplet? The only one in the world. This will do nicely. I will allow you to be able to use it over and over. It will still reset in the world, however you will have it for as long as you hold onto this sword. That goes for the other chaplets as well. Only you will have access to these. If another was to use your sword, then they will not activate. Do you mind if the design changes? I do not wish to anger you.”

Isara: “No, that’s fine. Do what you must.”

Rugz laid out the 5 chaplets across the small table in front of him. His hands glowed whiter than he was and his staff, the same. The chaplets lifted up into the air, hovering over the sword before breaking one by one and mana dissolved off of them and into the sword. His eyes closed as he focused on creating this sword that would be leagues above what Isara had before.

When it was all said and done, sparks ignited and a new sword was formed. An all white sword with many different designs encompassing it. The handle was almost like snake leather and the emblems that lined the blade were nothing like she had ever seen before. At the top was a red tassel that Rugz added for luck.

Rugz: “Forgive me for not adding chaplet slots, but I could not ruin the aesthetic appeal. It truly is a beautiful sword. Instead, you may insert chaplets inside, and pull them out when needed.”

Isara began to cry at the sight of her mother’s sword brand new. It gave her hope for the future, but also a sense of relief that she was able to hang on to something that connected her to her parents. Although she felt abandoned and mistreated, she still felt that there was love in giving birth to her and she wanted to preserve this sword more than anything in the world. Her dream was finally finished. She cried tears of sadness, but also tears of joy.

Isara: “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”

Rugz: “Do well now. Do not lose that sword. I remember all the swords that I have made or fixed and I will certainly not forget that one. Now, if you will excuse me, I do have to switch locations. Best of luck.”

Rugz snapped his fingers and Isara was teleported like before from the Infinite Library, except this time she ended up in Felopsten, which was still recovering from the previous attack, although Isara had never been here before, so she did not know what this place was.

She was happy at the moment, so her fairies congratulated her on this, but they knew that there were bigger problems than a sword that she had longed for. They had been with her long enough to know that when Isara made promises, she beat herself down to the ground to fix them and she was nowhere near fixing the promise she made to Kaibo. And even worse, she felt irresponsible now and wanted to make up with Welpen as well. Her journey was nowhere near the end.