Chapter 17: Ashes and Echoes

**Chapter 17: Ashes and Echoes**

The flames of Eldrin roared, licking at the air like a living beast, casting dancing shadows along the cavern's walls. Jack tightened his grip on the sword, the heat of its newly reforged blade humming in his hands. The weight of it felt natural, as if it had been waiting for him all along. 

Shadow stood beside him, ears flicking as he watched the flames with wary eyes. The spectral figure, ever silent, drifted closer, its gaze fixed on Jack. 

"The forge has chosen," it intoned. "But fire alone is not enough."

Jack exhaled sharply, adjusting his stance. "You're really into this whole cryptic guidance thing, huh?"

The figure didn't respond. Instead, it lifted a hand, and the flames behind Jack suddenly shifted. From within the inferno, forms began to take shape—humanoid, but blurred, as though they were echoes of something long gone.

Jack's grip tightened. "More trials?"

The figures stepped forward, emerging from the fire, their shapes solidifying into warriors clad in the armor of Eldrin. Their faces were hidden behind ornate helms, their weapons gleaming with the same runic light that now pulsed through Jack's sword.

The spectral figure's voice resonated through the cavern. "The Keepers before you fell in battle. Their will remains, but their bodies do not. If you are to wield Eldrin's fire, you must face its past."

Jack's pulse quickened. These weren't just enemies—**they were the warriors who had fought and lost.**

The first warrior moved. Faster than Jack expected.

Instinct took over. He raised his blade just in time to block a downward slash, the force of the impact rattling through his arms. Sparks flew as metal met metal. Jack twisted, sidestepping, and countered with a strike of his own. His blade cut through empty air as the warrior vanished—only to reappear behind him.

Shadow lunged, intercepting a second warrior before it could strike. Jack barely had time to react before a third came at him, forcing him to parry again. 

These warriors weren't mindless shades. **They were skilled.**

Jack gritted his teeth, adjusting his grip. He had spent years practicing Kendo, training his reflexes, his footwork—but this was different. This wasn't a controlled spar. This was a battlefield.

He shifted his stance, exhaling slowly. **Adapt. Think. Fight.**

The next attack came, but this time, Jack didn't just react. He moved with purpose, sidestepping at the last second and driving his blade upward. The strike connected, cutting through the spectral armor. The warrior staggered, flickering like a dying flame before dissipating into embers.

One down.

Shadow darted past him, narrowly avoiding another swing. Jack turned in time to see his companion lock onto a warrior's arm, dragging it down just enough for Jack to strike. His blade sliced cleanly through the opponent, reducing it to cinders.

Two down.

The last warrior hesitated. For the first time, Jack could see something behind its glowing helm—**recognition.**

Jack held his ground. "You're not just echoes, are you?"

The warrior didn't answer. Instead, it slowly lowered its weapon. The flames around them pulsed, and Jack felt something shift in the air—a sense of acknowledgment. 

Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the remaining warriors faded, their forms dissolving into embers that drifted toward the forge.

Silence settled over the cavern. Jack's breath came in short bursts, his muscles aching from the battle. He turned to the spectral figure. "Was that your idea of training?"

The figure inclined its head. "It was remembrance."

Jack frowned. "Remembrance?"

The flames shifted once more, revealing something hidden within the forge—**a gauntlet, crafted from the same metal as his sword, inscribed with glowing runes.**

The figure gestured toward it. "The Keepers of Eldrin did not fight alone. The fire must be carried, wielded, shielded. Take it."

Jack hesitated only a moment before stepping forward. The gauntlet was warm to the touch, its metal surprisingly light. As he slid it over his left hand, he felt a rush of energy surge through him. The runes ignited, and for a brief moment, he saw flickering images of the warriors who had come before him. 

Their legacy.

His responsibility.

Jack exhaled, flexing his fingers. The gauntlet fit perfectly.

The spectral figure's voice was softer now. "The fire remembers you, Keeper. Do not let it burn alone."

Jack nodded. He didn't have all the answers yet, but he knew one thing for certain—**he wasn't just surviving anymore. He was fighting for something bigger than himself.**

And he was ready.

**To be continued...**