A shower of white-hot sparks sprayed across the granite floor as four heavy bronze mallets hammered against the glowing seam of the star-iron gate.
Deep beneath the foundation of the Upper Earth-Fire Forge, the air choked with sulfur fumes, soot, and the blinding orange glare of molten stone.
Senior Disciple Vayne leaned heavily against a stone support pillar, his broken ribs bound tight in linen bandages. Even through the pain, a venomous sneer twisted his lips.
“Drive the wedges deeper!” Vayne rasped, pointing his good hand at the basalt groove. “Weld every joint with star-iron flux! I want that lower conduit sealed so tight not even a spirit louse can crawl through!”
Four disciples from House Morvane swung their mallets in unison.
Beside them, scions from House Chen and House Song stood with arms crossed, passing around an earthenware jug of spiced plum wine. They laughed in cruel amusement as the metal rang out through the tunnels.
“Let the third son of the Vance house shiver,” young Master Song said with a smirk, wiping wine from his chin. “He thinks he can seize an academy grotto and lie around reading tavern books. Let’s see how long he lasts without Earth-Fire.”
