GUARDIAN OF THE FIFTH REALM

CHAPTER 15

As the blinding light receded, Jace and Aila stepped into the forge’s chamber. The heat was stifling, radiating from a massive pit of molten energy at the center. Around the pit, jagged obsidian spires jutted up like the ribs of some long-dead beast, and runic patterns glowed faintly on every surface. The forge itself, is an enormous anvil suspended over the pit by chains of shimmering metal, hummed with an ancient, ominous energy.

Jace clenched his fist, the shard pulsating in his hand as if in anticipation. Aila moved closer to him, her green eyes scanning the room for threats. She could feel the oppressive power of the Phantom King lingering in the air, heavier now than ever.

“This is it,” Aila said, her voice low. “The forge. If we destroy the shard here, we sever his connection to our realm.”

“And what happens to me?” Jace asked quietly, his gaze fixed on the shard.

Aila hesitated. “I… don’t know.”

Before either of them could say more, the chamber trembled violently. The air grew