CHAPTER 130: SANCTUM’S RETREAT 2

Before leaving, the trio visited the Sanctum’s forge, a cavern of molten heat and rune-etched anvils, its walls were lined with glowing ores, beast relics, and shelves of essence vials, the air thick with the scent of molten metal, burning essence, and polished leather.

The forge was filled with the final preparations of tamers, their hammers were ringing as they crafted gear, with their beasts resting nearby and their eyes were gleaming with anticipation.

Kelvin secured fire-resistant ores from the forge’s stores, with their surfaces shimmering with ice essence which was vital for countering Valebreach’s fire-wyrm, along with vials of wyrm essence to enhance his gauntlet’s fire runes.

He spent hours hammering the ores into his gauntlet, their glow was cooling his fire lance’s heat for precision, testing the runes with a small burst of flame, Xerion’s scales flared in synchronization with Kelvin, his hiss was a quiet approval as the serpent coiled nearby.

Lyra collected shadow crystals, with their dark glow pulsing with gloomstalker essence, and rogue-tamer traps that etched with psychic runes, designed to bind Duskfall’s shadow beasts raptors and wolves cloaked in gloom.

She wove the crystals into her gauntlet, their light sharpened her shadow cages, testing their strength by snapping a trap around a practice drone, Salaris’s screech guided her focus, with her talons gleaming in the forge’s light.

Darius gathered rift-sealing runes and ironholt gems, their glow was stabilizing his soulstone’s blasts, crucial for containing Ironholt’s spectral remnant.

He embedded the gems with precision, testing a blast that shattered a rune-etched target, Rhoam’s growl was a steady rhythm, his plates clinked as he prowled the forge.

They traded with classmates in the forge’s bustling chaos, their Veilbane Medals earning nods of respect and eager offers.

Kelvin swapped a spare fire rune for a detailed map of Valebreach’s mines, its parchment was marked with warnings of unstable tunnels and fire essence veins, a young tamer’s eyes was wide as he recounted Kelvin’s fire lance that pierced the Sovereign’s core, his voice was filled with awe.

Kelvin studied the map and memorized its paths, with his amulet that was warm as he planned, Xerion’s hiss was soft and slow but he remaind vigilant.

Lyra traded a shadow crystal for a beast lure, its psychic glow was designed to draw rogue tamers’ beasts, a classmate’s advice sharpening her strategy for Duskfall’s groves, her gauntlet flared as she tested the lure’s pulse, Salaris’s feathers was shimmering with approval.

Darius exchanged a rift gem for a rune scroll on spectral containment, its runes was glowing with sealing techniques, a rival tamer’s grudging respect that was clear as he spoke of Rhoam’s charge crushing titans, his words was filled with admiration.

Darius copied the scroll’s runes, his soulstone was steady, Rhoam’s growl was a quiet encouragement. The trio tested their gear in the training grounds, the scorched earth was trembling under their efforts, the rune-etched pillars was glowing as they worked.

Kelvin channeled a fire lance, its flames was tempered by ice runes, that scorched a target with precision, Xerion’s scales flared in perfect sync, their bond was unyielding.

Lyra wove shadow traps, with their tendrils snapping shut around a drone, Salaris’s talons rendered its surface with her gauntlet glowing with psychic strength.

Darius fired rift-sealing blasts, their accuracy shattered a rift-etched target, Rhoam’s charge was a blur of iron, the gems stabilized his shots.

The tests confirmed their gear’s strength, their beasts adaptation was seamlessly, while their bonds was a flame against the fear of facing their hometowns alone.

The trio gathered in the forge’s fading heat to discuss their materials to ensure each was fully equipped, their voices were steady but tempered by the weight of their tasks.

Kelvin checked Lyra’s traps, suggesting a psychic rune to counter Duskfall’s hidden traps, his tone was calm but supportive, his fear of Valebreach’s mines was a quiet undercurrent.

Lyra examined Darius’s gems, proposing a containment rune to bolster his soulstone against Ironholt’s remnant, her green eyes fierce but warm, her sister’s memory was a quiet motivator.

Darius tested Kelvin’s ores, recommending a water rune for extra protection against the wyrm’s flames, his grin was sharp but encouraging, Ironholt’s ruins was a distant shadow.

Their camaraderie was a shield, their Veilbane Medals was gleaming as they planned, while their beasts were reacting with hisses, screeches, and growls, their bonds was unyielding despite the looming separation.

The forge’s glow was dimmed as they completed their preparations, their packs were heavy with mission gear ores, crystals, runes, maps, and scrolls. Their resolve was hardened for the trials ahead with their scars a constant reminder of the strength they had forged together.

Kelvin traveled to Master Mealin’s home, a rustic lodge nestled in a forested valley an hour from the Sanctum, its wooden walls were weathered but sturdy, their surfaces were lined with beast skulls, rune tablets, and drake relics that glowed faintly in the firelight of a central hearth.

The valley was alive with the rustle of leaves, the distant roars of wild beasts, and the scent of pine and earth, a stark contrast to the Sanctum’s bustling stone halls.

Mealin welcomed him warmly, his grizzled face was softened into a smile, with his robes etched with faded drake runes, their patterns were worn but proud, his voice was thick with pride as he tapped Kelvin on his shoulder, though he was mindful of his scars.

"You are stronger than the boy I found in Valebreach, all fire and doubt," he said, his eyes were gleaming with warmth. "You have ended the Veil, Kelvin. Now face Valebreach with that same fire."

He offered Kelvin a room with a view of the valley, its window was framing rolling hills where Cinder, his retired drake, roamed, his molten scales was gleaming despite his age and his wings were folded but majestic, his low rumble was a quiet echo of past battles.

Xerion coiled in the lodge’s courtyard, his crimson and gold scales shining in the evening light, his hiss was soft as he eyed Cinder, their bond was one of mutual respect and their honor runes glowed faintly.

Kelvin trained with Mealin in the valley, the grass scorched from past spars, the ground was marked with rune-etched stones that glowed with drake essence, the air was heavy with the scent of earth and fire.

Mealin taught him advanced fire rune techniques, demonstrating how to channel Xerion’s flames with precision, etching runes into Kelvin’s gauntlet that amplified his fire lance’s focus, countering the wyrm’s ferocity with controlled bursts.

"Sync with Xerion’s heart, not just his flames," Mealin said, his hands were steady as he carved a rune that pulsed with drake essence, its glow steadied Kelvin’s aim.

They sparred, Xerion’s fiery vortex clashing with Cinder’s molten bursts, the drake’s roars echoed across the valley as Kelvin wove fire lances, their flames were tempered by ice runes, his scars were tingling but his movements was fluid, his bond with Xerion was a steady pulse.

Mealin shared stories of his battles, recounting his clashes with rogue wyrms in the Iron Fens, shadow beasts in the Verdant Hollow, and a riftborn titan in the Abyssal Caldera, his voice was loud but warm, each tale was a lesson for Valebreach’s wyrm.

He described a wyrm he had tamed, its flames were rivaling the sun, teaching Kelvin to exploit weaknesses in its scales, to use water runes to douse its fury, his words were shaping Kelvin’s strategy.

Mealin gifted him a fire-sealed tome, its leather cover were etched with wyrm lore tactics for taming their fury, weaknesses in their molten armor, strategies for navigating unstable mines and its weight was a lifeline for his mission, its runes were glowing faintly in the lodge’s firelight.

Emotional moments deepened their bond, the lodge’s hearth was casting long shadows as they spoke late into the night, the firelight was glinting off beast skulls and rune tablets.

Mealin recounted Kelvin’s enrollment, a boy from Valebreach with fire in his eyes but filled with doubt in his heart, his hands were trembling as he first synchronizeded with Xerion.

"I saw potential in you," Mealin said, his eyes were soft but firm, "and you have surpassed it, while ending the Veil and facing the Sovereign.

Your father would be proud of you, Kelvin, but you are carving your own path. Face that wyrm, reclaim Valebreach, and honor his legacy."

Kelvin’s throat became tightened, tears welling as he clutched his amulet, its drake essence was warm, Xerion’s warmth pulsed through their bond while easing the trauma of his father’s death and the visions of his burning form faded under Mealin’s words.

He bonded with Cinder, stroking the drake’s molten scales, their heat was a mirror of Xerion’s scales, the drake’s low rumble was a comfort as Kelvin faced his fear of Valebreach’s mines.

He spent the evenings with Cinder, feeding him with wyrm essence, the drake’s eyes gleamed with recognition, their connection was a bridge to Kelvin’s past and fortified his resolve.