Chapter 51 – The Hammer

They gathered what they could carry.

Ren slid the blueprint carefully into his pack, then secured the horned helmet beside it.

Sera pocketed the seven rings, the faint glow fading as they left her touch.

Ren took the keystone back from its groove, the mountain's entrance already sealing itself behind them.

"We'll mark this mountain," he said quietly.

Sera nodded.

"No one else will open it anyway. Not without this."

Ren glanced once at the solid rock, then turned away.

"Let's head back. There's work to do."

And with that, they made their way down the path. No fanfare, no farewell.

They would return. When the time was right.

***

They walked toward the wagon and Becca.

In the middle of their way back, Sera ask him.

"Try your hammer."

"What should I do?"

"I don't even know. Just… try anything."

Ren tilted his head.

"I've seen this in a movie before. Let's try it, but I don't know if it'll work."

"Movie?"

Ren took a few steps away from Sera.

He threw the hammer forward, thinking of receiving it back in his hand.

But as it spun closer and closer, his eyes widened.

Uh-oh.

He ducked.

The hammer whizzed past and slammed into a tree a few steps behind him.

Sera smirked. "Coward…"

Ren coughed. "Uhm. it's not like… let me try one more time."

This time, he set his stance, determination settling in his face.

He threw the hammer again. Focused, ready.

It returned cleanly, landing in his hand.

Sera clapped.

"Nice, that was cool."

Ren grinned

"I know. But I want to try the thunder too… like on the mural."

Sera folded her arms.

"Just try. If the hammer's meant for you, it'll listen. Imagine calling a big thunder from the sky. Close your eyes. It helps."

Ren closed his eyes.

He raised the hammer high, focusing. Not on fear or failure, but the mural. The figure beneath the storm, wielding lightning like breath.

If the hammer is meant to be me... it'll listen.

He whispered, "Come."

And then—

Silence.

A deep, terrible silence. The kind that made the world hold its breath.

Above, the skies didn't just darken, they split.

Clouds twisted into a titanic vortex. The sun vanished. A crown of black clouds rolled over the mountain.

CRAAAAAAAKK-THOOOOOOOM!!!

A bolt of lightning the size of a castle tore from the sky. Not a line. A pillar. A sky-shattering column of divine lightning.

It hit Ren's hammer like the wrath of a god, exploding upward again in a storm of light.

The shockwave was colossal.

Every city, town, and castle saw it. Even the capital itself.

On a distant balcony, nobles dropped their wine.

Fera, London, and the miners, waiting at what they thought was a safe distance. Shielded their eyes as blue fire bloomed on the horizon.

And at the top of the capital's magic tower, the ancient watchers whispered:

"It has begun…"

***

Back at the clearing, lightning spiraled around Ren. Crackling like divine chains.

The ground beneath him blackened, stone melted to glass.

The hammer glowed like a sun trapped in a storm.

Sera was on the ground, shielding her head.

She peeked up, breathless.

"Oh… lord…"

Ren offered his hand to her.

Sera took it, still shaking.

Her heart raced.

This... this was the right choice. The promise I made to him. This is why.

She couldn't speak. Goosebumps ran down her arms.

Ren glanced at her, concerned. "Sera, are you okay?"

Sera snapped, "OKAY?! You think that was okay?!"

"Relax..."

"RELAX?! Do you think I can, after seeing that closer than anyone in this land?!"

"You told me to try," Ren said, trying not to laugh. "And I'm not doing it again unless I have to."

Sera threw up her hands.

"Great choice. If I were your enemy… I don't think I could defend myself. I know I couldn't."

Ren exhaled.

"I'm not using this for rule. Or power. Or war. Maybe one day it'll help this land, but not now."

Sera groaned.

"Let's just get back. I can't say anything anymore."

They reached the wagon. Becca stood trembling, her eyes wide.

Ren moved to her side, pressing his head gently to hers, stroking her cheek.

"It's okay, good girl. It's okay…"

Slowly, she calmed.

And together, they headed down toward the village.

The path felt longer now. The storm's traces lingered, scorched branches, stones cracked by heat, the faint smell of smoke hanging in the air.

Becca's hooves clopped steadily against the dirt, each step slow but sure.

Ren kept a hand on her neck, feeling the tension in her muscles ease as they left the heart of the storm behind.

Sera walked beside him in silence, glancing up now and then at the sky.

The clouds had begun to break apart, streaks of blue returning like a promise that the world hadn't ended after all.

Ren exhaled, letting his shoulders drop as the last of the storm's charge faded from the air.

I can't let that happen again, not unless there's no other choice.

The wind shifted, carrying the sound of voices ahead. Faint at first, then clearer.

Sera stopped, squinting into the distance.

"There. I see them."

Ren followed her gaze.

After an hour and a half, Ren spotted them. Fera, London, and the miners, waiting where they'd agreed.

Fera's face was wet with tears. London tried to soothe her.

"That's him!" one miner shouted. "Mister Ren! He's safe!"

Fera cried harder, now… in relief.

Ren climbed down. "What happened, Fera?"

She wiped at her eyes.

"I was afraid you'd been struck by that lightning. It was like... like the power of a god. I'm just glad you're safe."

Ren gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder.

"Thank you for worrying. I'm safe. Sera's watching my back."

Later, Ren told a softened version of the story.

There were things no one needed to know. Not yet.

It's too wild. Too risky. Let it stay secret for now.

They continued on.

Our village.

Our home.

***

The road back was quiet. No bandits. No beasts. No sound but their own wheels.

When the village came into view, they saw everyone gathered. Waiting.

Tobren ran to meet them.

"Are you okay?"

Ren blinked.

"What happened?"

"We felt it, a gust of power from your direction. We were worried something happened to you."

This power... nonsense. It reached this far? Ren murmured.

Ren decided to keep the truth quiet.

They reached the tower.

"We're fine," Ren called out. "We don't know what that power was, or where it came from. But, we found the important thing we need, the stone. The drill will live again. We'll have water."

Cheers rose as relief washed over them.

Ren smiled inwardly.

Exactly as I hoped. The water's what matters to them, not the storm.

He continued toward the tower, Tobren following quietly behind.

When they arrived, Ren glanced at Tobren.

"Ask anyone who's free to help unload the stones from the cart. Get them inside the tower."

"Got it."

With many hands, the work went quickly. The heavy stones vanished into the tower's shadow, stacked and secured in no time.

Fera, London, and the miners left for their homes, weary but relieved.

Ren, Sera, and Tobren settled around the table inside.

Ren spoke first.

He told Tobren everything. The hammer, the stone, the workshop beneath the mountain.

When he finished, Tobren sat silent. His eyes fixed on nothing, as if trying to make sense of what he'd just heard.

It doesn't add up for him, Ren realized. None of it does.

At last, Ren broke the stillness.

"You have a report from while we were gone?"

Tobren shook himself from his thoughts, then nodded.

"We kept things moving. The houses is twenty-four, standing solid. Not perfect, but better than the sheds we started with. The builders say we can put up more, once we haul more timber."

He paused, voice lowering.

"There's a refugee, says he was kicked out of Central. But I feel like he's hiding something. Maybe a spy. Someone's been watching us. Could be nothing, but I thought you should know."

Ren's thoughts darkened.

Already? A spy?

I just came back… and already another problem begins.

The nobles. It's too soon. But here it comes.

Before more water. Before more refuge.

Trouble's come faster than hope.

The world saw the storm.

But the trouble still come.

The real problem begins quietly, in the shadows.