Dawn came sharp and cool, the mountain air tasting like pine and distant smoke. The Bronze Drum Camp was alive before the sun peeked over the hills—clan members packing supplies, kids handing out dried fruit, Old Drum tapping his lotus-carved drumstick like he was counting the beats till they left.
Tan Kai slipped the small drum槌 into his pocket, next to Lina's diary and the token. The Lotus Spear leaned against his blanket, its green blade dim but alert, like it sensed the journey ahead.
"Mangoes packed! Emergency rations, snack rations, and 'just in case' rations!" Bright yelled, hauling a bulging sack over his shoulder. His hair was sticking up, and there was a smudge of mango juice on his cheek. "We're good for weeks. Maybe months. If we ration… okay, maybe not months. But definitely days!"
Nam rolled her eyes, tossing him a small clay jar of salt—then leaned in, swiping a finger across his mango-stained cheek. "And I rubbed your sack with mint herb. Keeps bugs off. Don't eat 'em all before the Forge—you'll get a stomachache, and I'm not wasting good salve on you."
Bright grinned, tucking the jar into his sack. "You care about my mangoes! Admit it."
Agus walked over, adjusting the map in his hand. "Path's clear till the Iron Gorge. After that, we'll stick to the trees—less chance of Court patrols. Old Drum says the Forge's glow is visible at night, so we won't miss it."
Old Drum clapped him on the back, his eyes serious. "Stick to the shadows. The Forge's guards patrol the gorge at dawn and dusk. And if you see black vines—cut 'em. Fast. They're corrupted, grown from the Forge's venom."
Lila grabbed Kip's hand, her fire herb glowing soft in her other palm. "You sure you can't come?" she asked, her voice small.
Kip nodded, shoving a smooth red stone into her hand. "For luck. Mom says it's from the star cave. And Old Drum's gotta protect the camp." He leaned in, whispering, "And if you find more mangoes? Bring one back for me."
Lila grinned, tucking the stone into her pocket. "Promise."
They said their goodbyes—handshakes, hugs, the clan cheering as they set off. Old Drum stood at the camp entrance, hitting the big drum once—thump—a deep, warm send-off that echoed through the hills.
The path wound west, steep at first, then flattening into a trail lined with pine trees. The sun climbed higher, warming the air, and Bright complained about his feet within an hour.
"My socks are still damp from the stream!" he groaned, kicking a pebble. "And these mangoes are heavy. Why'd I pack so many? Oh right—because they're mangoes."
Tong laughed, grabbing the sack from him—then tapped Lila's shoulder, making a quick "shush" gesture with his finger, followed by a thumbs-up. She nodded, mimicking the gesture back. They'd made a game of it on the trail: quiet signals so they wouldn't alert animals.
Bright huffed, but he slowed down, his eyes scanning the trees for more fruit. "Hey—do you think there are wild mangoes near the Forge? Probably not. Forge's probably all smoke and metal. No fun."
Yara walked beside Tan Kai, her fire herb flickering in the breeze. "You feeling okay?" she asked, nodding at his pocket—where the drumstick and token rested. "Nervous about the Forge?"
Tan Kai nodded, gripping the Lotus Spear. "Old Drum's story about the corrupted metal… it's scary. What if we can't stop it?"
Yara stopped, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "We have each other—the spear, the drumstick, your jade. And Lina's with us, too. We're not alone.
The token pulsed in his pocket, soft and warm. Like it was agreeing.
They stopped for lunch by a small stream, sitting on smooth rocks. Bright pulled out a mango, peeling it so fast juice dripped onto his wrist. "Best mango of the trip," he mumbled, mouth full. "Enjoy it while we can—Forge food's probably metal-flavored."
Nam pulled out a bundle of golden lotus leaves, tearing them into strips. "I'm making more fire traps. Old Drum says the Forge's guards hate this stuff—burns through their corrupted armor."
Lila sat beside her, helping tear leaves. "Kip's stone is pretty," she said, holding up the red rock. "It glows a little, see?" She held it to the sun, and sure enough, a faint orange light seeped through.
Tong leaned in, eyes wide. "Maybe it's not just luck. Old Drum said the star cave rocks are magic—maybe it can sense corruption."
As if on cue, the stone grew brighter, heating up in Lila's hand. She yelped, dropping it. "It's hot!"
The stone rolled toward the trees, glowing bright orange. They followed it, and there—twisted around a pine trunk—were black vines, their leaves oozing dark liquid that sizzled when it hit the dirt. The stone's light made the vines hiss, shrinking back like they were burned.
"Corrupted vines," Agus said, drawing his knife. "Old Drum warned us. They're connected to the Forge—venom runs through 'em."
Nam pulled out a fire herb, crushing it in her palm. "Burn 'em. Fast. If they touch you, the venom sticks."
Yara held up her fire herb, blowing on it till flames danced. She tossed it at the vines, and they erupted in orange fire, hissing and smoking. The dark liquid bubbled, burning away, and the vines crumbled to ash—leaving a faint stench of rot.
Lila picked up the stone, which had cooled down. "It knew," she said, wide-eyed. "It sensed the corruption."
Agus smiled, tapping the stone. "Lucky we've got it. Could save us from more surprises."
They packed up, moving faster now. The path grew rockier, and the air smelled faintly of smoke—sharp, metallic, like the Forge's breath.
By late afternoon, they reached the Iron Gorge. It was a narrow pass, walls of black rock rising high above them, and the trail was littered with small metal scraps—corrupted, glinting darkly in the sun, some still oozing faint black sludge.
"Stay close," Agus said, his voice low. "No talking. Patrols could be anywhere."
They walked quietly, their boots scraping softly on the rock. Tong kept one hand near Lila's elbow, and she held the red stone tight, its glow dim but steady. Bright's mouth was closed for once, his cheeks puffed out as he held his breath—mango sack pressed tight to his chest.
Halfway through the gorge, Tan Kai heard it: distant clanging. Metal hitting metal, loud and rhythmic, like a hammer pounding anvil.
"The Forge," Yara whispered, her lips barely moving. "That's the sound of them melting stuff."
The clanging grew louder as they walked, mixing with the wind. The air grew warmer, and the smoke smell stronger—stinging their noses.
Then they rounded a bend, and there it was.
The Bone Forge.
It sat in a valley below, a huge stone building with smokestacks belching black smoke that blotted out the evening sun. Fires burned outside, casting orange light on the rocks, and guards in corrupted armor patrolled the perimeter—big, slow, their swords glinting dark, veins of black corruption snaking up their arms. Vines twisted around the building's walls, black and oozing, just like the ones they'd burned earlier.
And above it all, a faint red glow—pulsing from the center of the Forge, like a rotten heart.
Cages lined the outer walls, too. Small, glowing spirits huddled inside, their light dimmed by the corruption, whimpering softly. One pressed its tiny hand to the cage bars, and the metal sizzled, leaving a black mark.
Tan Kai's chest hurt. This was what Lina had fought against. What they were here to stop.
"We're here," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
Agus nodded, his eyes fixed on the Forge. "Guards are posted at the gates. We'll wait till dark—sneak in when they're tired."
Bright leaned against the rock, staring at the Forge. "No mangoes here," he muttered. "Just smoke and metal. Disappointing." But his hand tightened around his sack, like the mangoes were his courage.
Nam pulled out her fire traps, arranging them in her pouch. "I'll set these by the gates. When we sneak in, they'll distract the guards."
Tong made a "signal" gesture to Lila—thumbs-up, then a finger to his lips. She nodded, gripping the red stone. "I can sense corruption," she whispered. "I'll warn you if they're close."
The sun set, painting the sky purple. The Forge's fires grew brighter, and the clanging continued—steady, relentless. Guards patrolled, their boots thudding on the rock, and one stopped to kick a cage, making the spirit inside whimper louder.
Tan Kai pulled out the small drumstick, running his finger over the lotus carving. Lina's drumstick. Her spear. Her diary.
She was with them.
"Dark's falling," Agus said, standing up. "Let's move."
They crept down the hill, staying low to the ground. The air was hot now, and the smoke stung their eyes. Lila's stone glowed faintly, guiding them away from hidden vines that snaked across the dirt.
When they reached the Forge's outer wall, they found a gap—small, hidden by overgrown black vines. Nam pulled out a fire herb, but Yara shook her head, blowing on her own herb till it made a tiny flame. She held it to the vines, and they hissed, shrinking back—just enough to make space. But a spark flew, landing on a guard's armor with a faint ting.
The guard froze, turning toward them. "Who's there?"
They dropped to the dirt, holding their breath. The guard stared for a long moment, then grunted. "Stupid firefly." He walked away, his boots thudding.
Bright exhaled quietly, his shoulders shaking. "Too close," he whispered. "Remind me to bring fewer mangoes next time. Quieter."
Everyone stifled a laugh—small, relieved.
Then Lila gasped, her stone glowing bright. "The gap—there's a vine behind it! It's moving!"
Tong pulled his knife, slashing at the vine before it could wrap around Lila's ankle. It hissed, oozing venom, and he jumped back, wiping his blade on the dirt.
"Let's go," Agus whispered.
They squeezed through the gap, one by one. Inside, the clanging was deafening. Fires burned in big stone pits, and workers in ragged clothes stirred molten metal—dark, bubbling, reeking of corruption that made Tan Kai's throat burn. More cages lined the walls, filled with small spirits, their whimpers lost in the noise.
They snuck past the workers, staying in the shadows. Bright's sack rustled, and he quickly pressed it against his chest—no more surprises. Nam slipped a fire trap behind a pile of metal scraps, just in case.
At the back of the Forge, there was a huge stone chamber. Inside, a pit of molten metal glowed red, and above it—chained to the ceiling—a big spirit, its light dimmed to a faint yellow, corruption oozing from the chains into its body. Guards stood around it, their swords drawn, and a man in black robes stood by the pit, muttering words that made the metal bubble faster.
"The core," Agus whispered.
Tan Kai gripped the Lotus Spear, his jade glowing bright enough to cast green light on the walls. The token pulsed, warm and steady.
It was time.
They stepped into the chamber, and the nearest guard spun around. His eyes widened, and he yelled, "Intruders!"
The clanging stopped. All heads turned to them. The robed man smiled, cold and sharp. "Finally. We've been waiting for Lina's little group."
The guards roared, charging. One swung his sword at Tan Kai, who blocked with the Lotus Spear—green light crashing against corrupted metal, making a Shrill sizzle that hurt their ears.
Bright yelped, grabbing a mango from his sack and throwing it—hitting the guard square in the helmet. The guard stumbled, and Tong tackled him to the ground.
"Mango power!" Bright yelled, grinning.
And the fight for the Bone Forge began.