Irwin's Journey - The Cardsmith

"Are you sure you don't want to come? I'm sure Lord Urdwellan will be willing to do yours too…"

Irwin shook his head, grinning as he gazed at Greldo, who was pacing around nervously, sometimes rubbing his hands.

Gadorley wouldn't be there for a while, but Greldo, knowing he was going to become a heartcard, wasn't able to stop himself from walking around.

"I can't believe you got him to reforge it to Ruby rank," Greldo muttered before turning to Irwin.

"Are you sure you shouldn't come?"

"I'll be fine," Irwin said. "If I can't do it three days before we have to leave, I'll ask Lord Urdwellan."

He saw Greldo's eyes narrow, the red glow dimming, before his friend snorted and continued pacing.

"Stubborn," Greldo muttered. "Just because you want to do it yourself! It's not like he wouldn't do it better!"

I wonder, Irwin thought, as he recalled Ambraz's opinion on the matter. Over the last year, and with all that happened, he'd found that he had begun trusting the Anvil more and more, and from the other's behavior, he had the feeling it was mutual. Besides, he still hadn't fully given up trying to get one of his cards to the legendary Ammolite rank.

Now, if only he would tell me what he's up to, Irwin thought.

The only hint was that it had something to do with the only secret he knew Ambraz was still keeping from him, which had to do with his weird rank-up. He still recalled the odd crown image. The other had told him repeatedly that it was best he didn't know yet, and he had the feeling he was telling the truth.

We will see tomorrow, he thought, recalling Ambraz's guarantee that he'd be ready the next day. Ambraz had been doing something in Irwin's private smithy which had something to do with the Purperion.

Irwin pondered it for a few more moments, then leaned back on the couch, drifting off as he recalled the last few weeks.

Sixteen days had passed since the attack and their safe return, but things had barely calmed down. As soon as the initial villagers of New Grianfál heard he was leaving in the imminent future, they began inviting him for parties and dinners. Initially, he had thought that they all wanted something from him, but he'd soon found out that most just wanted to thank him and talk to him. Those few that had asked usually had done so while providing him as many -admittedly low-rank cards as they could.

He'd quickly decided to help where he could, not in the least bit because of the cards. As low rank as those were, and as many as he was already stockpiling, he was sure he could hardly have enough of them. Partially because he had the sinking suspicion he'd need them in a few days when Ambraz finished whatever he was doing. They would attempt his heartcard, or, to quote Ambraz, 'show that rustbucket how it's done', which would likely require far more energy than he had available right now.

Greldo stopped walking, looking at the door hopefully, his ears visibly twitching. A moment later, there was a soft knock on the door, followed by a voice.

"Smith Irwin, Gadorley is here."

"Alright, let's do this!" Greldo exclaimed.

Irwin got up, watching his friend almost yank open the door and staring at the viridian who had come to get them. Greldo was almost jumping as he waited, and Irwin moved slower than he had to, grinning at his friend.

"Come now, calm down a bit," he said.

"Har. Har. Very funny," Greldo snapped before taking a deep breath and grinning at him. "I always thought you'd be the first."

Irwin shrugged as he walked out into the blistering sun. "It's no matter who gets there first. As long as we become strong enough to help, that's all that matters."

The viridian, a young woman just out of her teens, was looking at them intently.

"Thank you. Say hi to your grandma for me," Irwin said as he tried and failed to recall her name.

"Thanks!' she shouted, smiling brightly before turning and sprinting away, creating tiny puffs of dust.

Greldo almost pulled him along to the square, and when they reached it, Irwin was surprised to see Crithann was there. He'd not seen his teacher more than a few times since they returned.

"Smith Irwin, Greldo," Gadorley said as he nodded at them both before focusing on Irwin. "You are sure you don't wish for Lord Urdwellan's help? He told me he was more than happy to assist you."

Irwin smiled. Although he was grateful, he had the idea that Ambraz was planning something, and he wanted to try that first.

"Thank Lord Urdwellan for his kind offer, and tell him I might accept if my own plan fails," he said.

Gadorley merely nodded. "Then I will be off, as I have more things to do. You won't be the only ones leaving."

Not surprised by that, Irwin nodded before turning to Greldo.

"Make sure you don't do anything stupid, and stay away from people with masks!'

"Yeah, yeah! Well…. You be careful too, alright? Make sure you don't overdo it- wait, what am I saying? You always overdo it!" Greldo said, grinning at Irwin, who couldn't stop a snort from bubbling out. "Let's rephrase that. When you do something you shouldn't even try yet, make sure Scintilla is there!"

"I'll do that. Now, remember what Ambraz said. Focus on energy quantity!"

"I will," Greldo replied as he stepped beside a quietly waiting Gadorley. "Ready!"

Gadorley nodded at Irwin and Crithann before a green glow and a rapid burst of vegetation engulfed both him and Greldo. A moment later, it sank back to the ground, a slowly withering husk, no sight of the two.

Irwin gazed at the ground, suddenly recalling how he and Greldo had left Malorin years ago, both teens and with a single card. The next time he would see Greldo again, his friend would have a ruby-ranked heartcard.

A scuffle made him look at Crithann, who had stepped up beside him.

"When will you attempt it?"

"Tomorrow," Irwin said, not surprised Crithann knew what was going on even if he hadn't seen him that many times.

"Alright. After you have finished your heartcard, come to me before you do anything else," Crithann said. "I have something to give you."

Curious, Irwin was about to ask him what it was, only for Crithann to turn and walk away.

"Not now, tomorrow."

"I'll find you first," Irwin called after the other before looking around the now-empty square.

He remained on the square for a short while longer before walking to Scintilla's house. However, it was as much his by now. They had been sleeping there most of the time, mostly because of the solid fire and steam retardant furniture and to give Greldo and Balarn more space.

Knocking on the door, he walked in to see her in the far room, sword drawn, spinning and dashing around. Without speaking, Irwin stood to the side, leaning against the wall as he watched her move. Every move was fast and deadly, with barely any wasted effort. At the same time, he couldn't help a sliver of desire grow as he saw her lightly clothed and supple form.

Scintilla continued for about ten minutes before stopping and sheating her sword.

"Enjoy the show?" she asked as she turned and grinned at him.

"Definitely," Irwin said as he gave her a long kiss.

When he pulled back, he saw her look at him with a curious glint. She seemed ready to say something, then shook her head in a brusk shiver.

"What?" Irwin asked.

"Nothing, nothing. Let's go and check on the root system of the hearttree. We haven't seen it in a while, and I've heard that it's really beautiful!"

Irwin blinked in surprise but followed her. He had nothing else to do besides relaxing as much as he could for tomorrow.

The rest of the day was spent walking around the subterranean grove that was slowly being grown below the town. Fed by water bubbling up from the roots of the heartree, the ten-foot-high caverns were illuminated by a host of flowers that glowed in different colors.

"It's too bad there's so much water," Scintilla said as they finally walked up.

Irwin didn't know how to answer that and simply smiled at her. As they walked back home, he could see Scintilla was distracted. He knew it probably had to do with him leaving, and he felt slightly sad as he looked into the distance. If he could, he would bring her along, but he knew that even if he got her a card that somehow removed some of her weakness to cold, she would be unhappy.

He walked forward, lost in thoughts.

When they arrived home, Scintilla seemed happy again, creating a massive dinner and adding what remained of the different bits of fiery liquor she had bought over the months. That night, when they shared the bed, she was more aggressive, wrapping him in fire, drawing out his own in such a massive raging inferno that when they finished, the roof and walls were scorched, and Irwin was so tired he fell asleep instantly.

--

Irwin woke with a start, the soreness he had felt when falling asleep gone, and the memories of the previous wild night still on his mind. A quick look to the side showed Scintilla was gone, and he heard a soft rummaging from below.

Heartcard!

As he thought of what he was going to attempt today, the rising desire that had sprung up from the memories faded as quickly as it had grown.

I hope Ambraz is finished, he thought.

A rushed shave and clean later, he saw Scintilla was absently picking at her food. She looked up when he entered, a dazzling smile on her face.

"You okay?" Irwin asked, the memories of the previous night playing through his mind like a bonfire.

"Definitely! You did great," she said, causing Irwin to feel his cheeks heat up.

He sat opposite her and grabbed a Flamingfruit, taking a bite out of the spicy flesh and enjoying how it burned his tongue slightly.

"You are going to start right away?" Scintilla asked.

"Yes," Irwin said, staring at the door and chewing faster.

"Alright. I've got to go to Cindergrove for a few days," she said.

Irwin looked up in surprise.

"I've decided that I'll be heading back home next week," she said, fiddling with the pommel of her always-present sword absently. "That means that I need to wrap up some things there, say goodbye and all that. I mean, if I ever return, everything here will have changed again."

Irwin nodded as he pictured returning here at some point. With the time dislocation, staying on the outside for even a year would mean hundreds or even thousands of years would have passed. Most people would have died, Crithann would have long since turned into a soultree, and this town might have become a mighty city. Would the entire world have turned into a grove by then?

I wonder how Crithann deals with the time dilation if he connects to the soulgrove, Irwin thought.

"Yeah… returning here would be weird," he muttered.

"Anyway, I'll be back in a day or two," Scintilla said. "Make sure when I return to show me your new heartcard!"

Irwin grinned as he felt his desire to begin rapidly outgrow a tiny spark of sadness at the thought of the changes that would happen to Scour after he left it.

He got up and returned Scintilla's hug before heading out.

When he reached his smithy, he saw Balarn working in the open area, sweat dripping from his bare upper torso, and every now and again, he took a drink from a large water jar. A shimmering card hovered before him, and Irwin's card picked up on its soft vibrating as they slowly began to join it. There was a simple pattern to it, and Irwin knew the card was Amethyst going toward Topaz.

Irwin was about to say hi when he realized a soft hum was cropping up in his head, slightly familiar. He stopped and watched, focusing on the hum and quickly recognizing parts of it. Some of the 'high notes', if he could call it that, were based on the song he'd learned for Crithann's card, while the rest was different. There were some glaring imperfections in the song, almost as if two instruments were playing in discord with each other.

Balarn struck the card, and the song became louder, part of it trying to form a crescendo and collapsing.

Is he trying to force it along a path? Irwin thought as he focused on the card.

Balarn grunted as he took a step back. "Any help is appreciated by now," he said as he gave Irwin a tired look. "I've been attempting to get a dual weapon card, but it just…"

He sniffed in disdain, glaring at the card that displayed a distorted dagger.

Irwin frowned as he closed in, examining the card. It had been struck three or four times by his estimates, and if not the first, at least from the second on, it had been going in the wrong direction. He couldn't sense the resonating and fluctuations in Balarn's guards, but he knew part of it was wrong.

"What song are you going with?" he asked.

Balarn looked up with a half-smirk. "I'm not that musical," he said. "I usually just try to go with the feeling and learn the exact timing and striking."

Irwin nodded, not surprised. It was what many smiths seemed to do. A form of what Lord Urdwellan did, using force and precision instead of flow and rhythm. He remembered when Tensor had told him about humming and singing. but in such a way that made it clear he didn't use it a lot either.

"Do you hear the song?" he asked, not sure what else to call the humming, resonating and vibrating sounds. It's how he thought of them in his head. The songs of his cards and the one he was forming.

"Not like you seem to be implying," Balarn said. "I've tried it, and I know of it, but to me, it just sounds like a distant, faint buzzing."

Irwin nodded, and after a moment's hesitation, he decided it couldn't hurt to attempt to help Balarn. As much as he wanted to start, Ambraz could wait for a few minutes, and this wouldn't cost too much time. Either he could fix the card, or it would shatter, but either would happen within a few strikes.

"Want me to try?" he asked as he looked up.

Balarn smiled tiredly as he stepped back, wiping the sweat from his brow. "By all means."

Irwin stepped forward and raised his hand, his smithing hammer appearing in a flash. Then he focused on the card, fully trying to find out what was going on. It took him little time to find the original path the card had wanted to find, a sort of distant song, simple and soft, that remained in the shivering card. The current melody that overlaid it, however, was disjointed. The idea was instantly obvious to Irwin. Balarn had tried to split the single rhythm into two, but the way he'd gone about it wouldn't work.

As he listened to the song, trying to find a way to save it and fill up the gaps to create some sort of rhythm that would make sense, he wished Ambraz was there. He almost stepped back to get him before deciding against it. He could do this himself. He was sure of it.

Taking a deep breath, he began humming softly, taking the loudest of the melodies until he had it down before adding parts that made it mesh with what was remaining. As he did, he made the cards in his left hand resonate with the main melody and beat.

It needs a….

He added an extra bit to his hum and then made his hammer card resonate with it. It was a partial bridge, somehow causing the sounds to clash less, but as he added a second, he knew what he had to do. One of the parts, one of the hits, had made a mistake he couldn't fix by just filling the gaps. It was as if the card's progress was one foot on the right track and another on a sidepath that would lead it to ruin.

Leaving only his Sweltering Heart card to do nothing, he focused on the problem, raised his hammer, and focused on the card that almost seemed in pain.

Something changed, something gone, Irwin thought as he struck down.

A loud boom rang out, which he ignored as he tried to force the card to resonate as he wanted it.

For a moment, it seemed to have failed, then the song became louder, and as he hummed, he felt the card seeming to latch onto the resonance of his cards. It wasn't perfect, and with only three strikes between success and failure, he focused his full attention on the second strike, then the third, forcing his Sweltering Heart to resonate with the last one before waiting and listening. The song, uncertain and hesitant, slowly strengthened before stabilizing. It wasn't perfect, but with the card stabilized, he could finish it and perhaps make something special.

--

Balarn watched in silent awe as the young man, young Smith, worked on the card, sometimes humming, sometimes singing meaningless words. Two years ago, Irwin had been his junior, gifted but without experience; now, in less than two years, he could barely believe what he was seeing. He'd known Irwin was better. He was an Emerald rank smith after all, but this? He had thought himself closing in….

He is not normal, Balarn thought as he watched the image rapidly become clearer, now showing two crossed daggers, each with a wicked curve.

The entire process took less time than he would need on the simple Quartz to Amethyst card, and when Irwin stepped back, all he could do was smile sadly.

"You fixed it," he said, suddenly feeling very old.

He was supposed to be Tensor's most talented Smith, but this? This was like those stories he'd never believed that Tensor told about. The things his charter master had seen that time he had visited a main branch charter with his own master.

Irwin was muttering something before looking at him, the pale copper-colored face split in a wide grin.

"You were really close to what you wanted, but… are you sure you can't learn how to listen to the song?"

Balarn felt a stab, which he ignored, forcing a stoic look on his face as he raised an eyebrow.

"Most smiths I know can't hear it that well," he said.

"Oh… well, perhaps we can try it sometime soon? Maybe if I make the sound really loud."

Irwin continued muttering as he walked away, and Balarn looked at the card, now left forgotten on his Anvil.

Yeah… maybe, he thought. If it wasn't for Tensor and Lord Urdwellan being ruby-rank smiths without Irwin's song, he might have lost motivation. Now, he just took a deep breath, walked to the table, and picked up another card. He tried to recall the exact strikes Irwin had done, the timing, the precision, and the power behind them before pocketing the finished yellow-bordered card and putting another one on it.

--

Irwin's gaze lingered on Balarn before he closed the door of his smithy. Had he been wrong to help? The way Balarn had looked at him had made him leave quickly. Perhaps the other had been trying something else, and he had ruined it. It didn't look like it, but who knew?

"About time you showed up! And didn't I tell you not to do any card forging for a while?"

Irwin looked up to see Ambraz sitting on the table, leaning against a tiny purple… Anvil?

"What's that!" he whispered as he ran forward, leaning his elbows on the table and lowering his head to be level with the tiny Anvil. Ambraz, in his tiny form, was the size of a large butterfly, and this thing was even smaller. The intricate detail almost made it look like-

"Is that another Ganvil?" Irwin whispered, eyes wide. "Did you-"

"Get your bloody mind out of the gutter, you brat!"

Ambraz rushed forward, nearly striking him in the face before circling back.

"First off, that is not how Ganvils-... Gah! You made me say it! That's NOT how Anvils of the Gods are made! And no, I won't tell you how we do that. Second, how does that look anywhere remotely like me?"

"It's an Anvil," Irwin muttered.

"It's tiny, has no wings, and isn't black or gray," Ambraz shouted before landing beside the smaller purple Anvil. "It's a smithing focus that I made to help us create your heartcard! It can, if we do it right, hold enough energy so we can create your heartcard in the way we should."

Irwin blinked, frowning. "What do you mean by that?"

"Simple. What you saw before, as impressive as it was, was like a child with too much power trying to use a hammer to cut an apple."

"..."

Irwin stared at Ambraz, not sure he understood what the other meant.

"Are you talking about Lord Urdwellan?" he finally asked, barely believing it. "But he is-"

"A ruby rank smith, close to being a diamond rank smith," Ambraz said with a snort. "Yes, I know. And I wouldn't let him reforge your cards to a heartcard if it was the last option."

Irwin leaned back, staring at Ambraz and trying to understand what was going on.

"Oh, don't look at me like that," Ambraz grunted. "For someone who can't properly hear the cards, he is doing better than most. But do you really think he could decide to reforge two hand cards into a teleport card that takes ten people across one world or five across two? He would hit it hard and end up with either by luck."

Irwin wanted to reject that, then recalled the immense power Lord Urdwellan had used, forcing the melodies into their different places. Even then, he'd seen there was little finesse.

"Perhaps…" he said carefully. "But I don't think I have enough finesse to compensate for the lack of energy."

"No, you don't. Which is where me and this thing come in," Ambraz said.

Irwin nodded, staring at the Anvil before deciding it wasn't worth it to discuss the skills of Lord Urdwellan right now.

"So, do you have any idea how I can turn one of my cards into Ammolite?" he asked. He mostly expected an instant no, and when Ambraz didn't respond but remained quiet for a while, he felt his anticipation grow.

"There might be a way… but I'm not sure how much you will enjoy it," Ambraz finally said.

"Explain?" Irwin asked, equal parts worried and intrigued.

"We are going to try and use your own card to reforge the heartcard. It will create a lot of stress that will push it from ruby to diamond to… well, as far as it can go," Ambraz said.

"Is that even possible?" Irwin hissed, trying to imagine both wielding his card while reforging it.

"Normally? No… but you must have realized by now that you are far more sensitive to the resonating of cards than most. Add to this a piece of Purperion larger than any I've ever seen, and, well, me. And this isn't a normal situation," Ambraz said as he flitted across the table, seemingly anxious. "But there's a slight downside."

Irwin swallowed back a rapidly rising fear, recalling perfectly well the last few times Ambraz had called something a slight problem, a little pain, and all other things like that.

"And what's the downside?" he asked, ignoring how his voice rose.

"Well… it's going to hurt. A lot."

Irwin felt his mouth go dry.

"A lot?"

"If you didn't have the Sweltering Heart card, I wouldn't even suggest this," Ambraz said, landing on the table.

"How big is the chance of success?" Irwin asked, trying to suppress the panic he sensed bubbling up.

"Over seventy percent," Ambraz said.

"And if we fail?"

"..."

"Ambraz?"

"Your cards will blow up, and you have to start again…"