Chapter 16: Embers of the Past

**Chapter 16: Embers of the Past**

The Forge of Eldrin roared, its flames now a towering inferno that cast shadows against the cavern walls. Jack stood before it, the heat pressing against his skin, sweat dripping down his forehead. The power surging through the chamber made the air hum with energy. 

Shadow sat beside him, his golden eyes reflecting the flickering light, ears perked for any sign of danger. The spectral figure watched from a distance, its presence a silent acknowledgment of Jack's accomplishment.

Jack turned to face it, his heart still racing from the battle. "The forge is burning again. What now?"

The figure's voice echoed through the cavern, resonating with something deep inside Jack. "The forge was only the first step. Now, you must learn the cost of its fire."

Jack frowned. "The cost?"

The figure extended an ethereal hand, gesturing toward the flames. "Eldrin's power is not given freely. It demands a balance. You have rekindled the fire, but what was lost must be reclaimed."

Jack glanced at the flames, unease curling in his stomach. "And what exactly was lost?"

The forge flared, and suddenly, the fire twisted and coiled, forming shapes—visions flickering in the heat. Jack's breath caught in his throat as the images took shape.

He saw Eldrin as it once was—a city of gleaming spires, its streets filled with people clad in flowing robes of silver and blue. Towers stretched toward a sky filled with moving constellations, shifting in perfect harmony. The city pulsed with life, with energy, with knowledge.

Then came the fall.

A tear in the sky. Shadows pouring forth, devouring the light. Figures clad in darkness, their eyes voids of endless hunger. The Veilborn. 

Jack watched in horror as the city burned, its people screaming, their forms twisting as the darkness consumed them. The forge's flames guttered out, and the city collapsed into ruin. Then, only silence.

The vision faded, and Jack stumbled back, gasping. His hands shook as he turned to the spectral figure. "That… that was the cost?"

The figure nodded. "The flames of Eldrin were snuffed out, and with them, its people. Their knowledge, their power—lost. But now, the fire has returned."

Jack swallowed hard, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "So what does that mean for me?"

The figure's gaze bore into him. "It means their burden is now yours. The forge has chosen you, Keeper. And with its fire comes duty."

Jack exhaled, running a hand through his damp hair. **This was bigger than he'd ever imagined.** He thought back to all the times he had dreamed of being part of something greater, of wielding power beyond himself. But standing here, in the heart of a long-lost city, he realized power wasn't just something to take.

It was something to carry.

Shadow nudged his leg, grounding him. Jack nodded, steeling himself. "Alright," he said. "Tell me what I have to do."

The spectral figure gestured once more, and the forge's flames shifted, revealing something within its core. A weapon, still glowing hot, its surface lined with ancient runes. It was a sword unlike any Jack had ever seen—its blade appeared to be forged from pure light, its hilt carved from a material that seemed both metal and stone.

Jack hesitated, then reached forward. The moment his fingers brushed the hilt, a pulse of energy shot through him, and his vision blurred once more.

He stood at the edge of a battlefield, the echoes of war ringing in his ears. The ground beneath him was cracked, soaked in light and shadow. He looked down and found the same sword in his grip, its blade alight with roaring flames. Around him, figures fought desperately, pushing back against an unseen force.

A voice filled his mind. **"A Keeper is not chosen. A Keeper chooses."**

The vision shattered, and Jack gasped as he returned to the cavern. The sword pulsed in his hand, its warmth seeping into his skin. He met the spectral figure's gaze, determination solidifying in his chest.

"I choose," Jack said firmly.

The figure inclined its head. "Then your path is set."

The flames of Eldrin blazed higher, and somewhere, in the shadows beyond the forge, something stirred.

Jack tightened his grip on the sword. The past had chosen him. Now, he had to prove he was worthy of its future.

**To be continued...**