Irwin's Journey - The Cardsmith

Irwin stood with the others on the prow, Ambraz on his shoulder.

They were flying between two lines of stone pillars carved out of the mountains. At the top of each was a semblance of a Ganvil, seemingly a natural continuation of the rocky pillar. Far at the end was a massive stone city carved out of a mountain, with a tower on each side that held two docks. Hundreds of ships were anchored along them, ranging from large merchant vessels to sleek escorts. Still, even with the chaotic hubbub of ships, the docks and city looked symmetrical and ordered.

Patrol ships were flying along outside the pillars, while the massive land around stretched for at least half a mile before reaching the Portal Gallery Barriers on each side. According to Ambraz and You'gyn, there were multiple exits to other, more distant parts of the central area.

"You could have told us what to expect," Irwin muttered.

"What? And lose the chance to see your stunned faces?" Ambraz said, snorting loudly. "You didn't think a Ganvil world would look anything like those puny harbors, did you?"

"Proadon One wasn't exactly small," Greldo muttered.

"Size isn't everything," Ambraz said. "Now, Kid, close your soulscape like I told you. Brazardan will likely want to see us, and You'gyn isn't allowed to be there."

'Bah, as if he has anything I haven't seen before,' You'gyn said.

Still, Irwin could sense his annoyance as he focused on his soulscape and changed the resonance as Ambraz had taught him. It cost him a tiny bit of his soulpower, but it was less than he was gaining. He just had to make sure to put it back after he woke each morning.

You'gyn let out a weary sigh. 'Fine, I'll just go and rest for… the next few weeks!'

Irwin blinked. He sensed a slight disturbance in his soulscape as You'gyn's presence warped, enlarged, and then seemed to go dormant.

"Give me a moment," he whispered before closing his eyes and stepping into his soulscape.

The sweltering breeze that circled around him was refreshing after the relatively cool one in the Portal Gallery. He sighed happily before looking at the mountain and focusing on the empty areas. He'd slowly started to realize just how barren those parts were, with the empty soullake not helping either.

I wonder if that's why the final card is a heartcard, he thought, recalling the beauty of the lake when it had been filled.

Scanning around, he didn't see You'gyn and had to use his soulscape senses to pinpoint him in a valley on the other side of the mountains. He had turned into a massive Anvil, easily the size Ambraz had been when he first saw him. There was barely a fluctuation of soulforce around him.

So he wasn't kidding when he said he was going to rest, Irwin thought.

He looked at him for a moment before stepping back out of his soulscape.

"What was wrong? Was that punk acting up?" Ambraz asked.

"No, he went to sleep or something," Irwin said.

"Seriously? Instead of taking this time to practice his own resonance, such a lazy brat," Ambraz muttered. "Whatever."

They were only a few hundred feet from the docks when a small shape flew towards them. It moved so fast it arrived within moments.

Irwin could finally see that it was a Ganvil as it stopped a short distance in front of him. The Ganvil was at least four times as large as Ambraz and made of gleaming pale copper that wasn't very unlike Irwin's own coloration.

"Welcome to Granvox Harbor. I am Gla'ring, the current Head of Harbor Management. Am I correct in my belief that you are Prodigy Am'braz?" the Ganvil asked.

"I'd say that much is evident," Ambraz said. "Are you implying you forgot about me, Gla'ring?"

"No, Prodigy Am'braz! However, it has been so long, and we had thought you long since dead," Gla'ring said. His lips still retained their upward curve, but they seemed strained now.

"Bah! I am Am'braz, Prodigy of Brazardian, second born of the triplets," Ambraz snapped.

As angry as he sounded, Irwin knew that if he'd been a human, Ambraz would have puffed out his chest. He quickly hid his grin with his hand, mimicking rubbing his slight stubble.

"Am'braz, please let me be the first to welcome you back! Monarch Brazardian has had your chambers readied, as well as a space for your servants," Gla'ring said. "Is this your smith?"

"I need to speak with Brazardian," Ambraz said, ignoring the question.

"Of course, Am'braz! Please take the left dock's closest anchor point!" Gla'ring said quickly.

Ambraz acts like one of those nobles back home, Irwin thought.

It shouldn't have surprised him with how arrogant Ambraz could be, but with how happy Ambraz had seemed to return, he'd not expected it. He looked at Greldo, who raised an eyebrow, probably thinking the same as he was.

"If you have any questions, please feel free to ask," Gla'ring said hurriedly. "With how long it has been since you were last here, I'm sure you wish to know many things!"

Ambraz snorted.

Gla'ring hovered nearby, seemingly ready to answer a myriad of questions, but as none came, his lips slowly became a flat line. His wings began flapping faster, though he remained hovering where he had been.

Irwin turned back to the incoming city. Ambraz really didn't like this Ganvil, and it seemed somewhat mutual. It was wondrous how he had learned to read Ganvil emotions from just their etched lips and slight bodily clues.

An uneasy quiet hung on the ship, even Zender seeming to catch on to the slightly awkward vibe.

Rindiri guided them towards the left dock, and Irwin glanced at Gla'ring before turning to Ambraz.

"Are we going to remain in the harbor or head to the planet?" he asked. He already knew the answer, seeing as that Brazardan was unable to leave, but Gla'ring's uncomfortable silence annoyed him.

"To Granvox," Ambraz said. "Gla'ring, you can head out before us. I know the way. Make sure to have the gates opened as we arrive!"

"Yes, Am'braz!" Gla'ring said before rushing forward.

"Ugh… that punk actually became rank five," Ambraz growled, making a choking sound. "He's going to be spreading a whole bunch of lies that I'm a failure! I'll show him!"

"He's rank five?" Irwin asked curiously. "So that means one more rank before he becomes a world anvil?"

"Bah! He's never going to get there, or if he does, it will take a thousand years!" Ambraz snorted.

"You don't like him?" Greldo asked, leaning on the railing and grinning up at Ambraz.

"Like him? He always was an annoying brat who thought he was better than the rest of us just because he managed to become rank three first!"

Irwin thought about the name, wondering which Monarch he could belong to. Ambraz had told him the names, but he was pretty sure none of them started with Ring.

"He isn't a Monarch's Prodigy?" he asked.

"Gla'ring? No! He was created during the 'ring' year from the collective soulforce," Ambraz said.

"How old is he?" Greldo asked.

"In merchant years? Nearly two hundred," Ambraz said.

"Doesn't that make him older than you?" Irwin asked in surprise.

"What is up with these questions?" Ambraz grumbled. "No, I'm at least a year and some months older than him."

"You are two hundred old?" Zender asked, moving beside Greldo, eyes wide in shock.

"Yes," Ambraz said. "But we don't age like you do. I'll explain some other time. Now, we need to focus!"

Irwin saw that he wasn't wrong as they had almost reached the dock. Lots of tiny soulforce ripples came from all across, so small that he hadn't noticed them before, while a soft hum seemed to emulate from all around. It was almost as if the entire metal and stone dock was humming and resonating.

Two heavyset dockworkers, both wearing identical leather tunics, were waiting for them.

Irwin's eyes widened in shock at the sight of a tall woman with pale copper skin and short hair that stood up like metal wire. She was half a head taller than the human beside her, and everything about her seemed familiar. As their eyes met, she blinked in surprise, then a look of intense hope flashed across her face. It lasted for only a fraction of a second, and Irwin almost thought he'd dreamed it as she made an odd double-handed gesture, looking calm again.

A Fiz'rin, Irwin thought as he looked at her in stunned wonder.

He immediately realized why Daubutim had said he should pretend to be one of them because she looked far more like him than the Loydin he had encountered. Less bulky and brutish, with a more refined face. Her hands and arms weren't as thick as those of Loydin, and something told him it wasn't just because she was a female. It felt more like they were both statues made by a more refined craftsman than the Loydin were. Even then, he did instantly notice a few tiny differences. The thin symbols on her exposed metallic flesh were of different patterns than the ones on his and more clearly visible, while her eyes were like orbs of molten metal, red with a white glowing pupil instead of a black one.

Having no idea how to respond, he tried to imitate her with a smile.

The Fiz'rin blinked in surprise, lowering her hands and narrowing her eyes.

Right, I guess that wasn't the proper response, Irwin thought.

"She looks a lot like you, and although I don't know anything about it," Greldo whispered. "I think that if you keep looking at her, she might think you are trying to charm her."

Irwin blinked and held the Fiz'rin gaze for a final moment before focusing on Ambraz.

"I didn't know there were Fiz'rin here," he whispered.

"Neither did I," Ambraz muttered. "It's either new or I just never saw them… which I find hard to believe."

Greldo and Zender threw the chains to the dockworkers, and a moment later, they were reeled in. When The Sonata lay snug against the dock, Irwin and the others lowered the plank. It had sustained slight damage during their fight, but as Irwin walked across it, it showed little trouble with his wait.

The Fiz'rin was waiting with the other dockworker, staring at him intently.

Might as well get this over with now, Irwin thought.

"Give me a moment," he said, waving Greldo to the other side of the dock where a few other people seemed to be waiting for them. Then he walked towards the Fiz'rin.

"Hello," he said, stopping before them.

The other dockworker, a rugged human with brilliant green eyes and dark brown stubble, quickly bowed.

"Welcome, my lord!"

The Fiz'rin just frowned, ignoring her companion.

"You are a Fiz'rin?" Irwin said, causing her frown to deepen.

"Yes… and you look like you are one. Are you not?" she asked in a pleasant husky voice.

"I don't know," Irwin said, realizing that was probably the truth. He was a Galadin, or at least born as one. But what was he now? Should he lie? He could, but that might make things difficult in the future.

"My first soulcard… changed me," he finally said, deciding to leave the fact that it was his only soulcard up to interpretation.

The Fiz'rin looked at him, her eyes widening slightly. "That is… hard to believe," she finally said. "But I can't deny what I'm seeing."

"We have some differences, don't we?" Irwin asked, tapping beside his eyes, which were closer to burning orbs of flame.

"We don't all have lava eyes," she said. "I have a brother with eyes like yours."

"Okay…" Irwin said, not sure what he was even doing here. Perhaps he should have just ignored her?

"Are there more Fiz'rin here?" he asked, trying to gather his thoughts.

The Fiz'rin let out a sad laugh, shaking her head. "Alright, that proves it. You are definitely not a Fiz'rin, or at least not one from Igniz! No, and the only reason I am here is as an Ambassador. Not that the Ganvils see it that way."

"No offense," she added quickly as she glanced up at Ambraz, who had been quietly observing.

"None taken. You're pretty young for an Ambassador…" Ambraz said, sounding curious. "And your soulcard has an odd and slightly uncomfortable resonance."

The Fiz'rin sighed, nodding. "So I've been told. Apparently, that's the reason I'm not allowed in the world."

Curious, Irwin focused on the sounds around him, and suddenly, he heard the out-of-tune melody coming from the Fiz'rin. He had no idea how he'd missed it before, but now that he'd heard it, he almost wanted to walk away, out of range.

"Is there something wrong with your soulcard?" he asked, barely able to hold back a grimace as the melody seemed to become even more clear.

The Fiz'rin frowned. "That's not really something people ask each other."

"Right…" Irwin said, slightly uncomfortable. "Well, I've got to go. Perhaps we can talk again sometime."

He was about to turn away to leave when the Fiz'rin stepped forward.

"Wait… I didn't- Are you a smith?" she asked, looking at him with eyes filled with a sudden hope.

Irwin didn't respond, but he quickly glanced at the other dockworker who had been curiously watching the interaction.

"Right! Sorry for asking," the Fiz'rin suddenly said. "Listen, I'm Hind. Can you come and talk with me again sometime soon?"

"Irwin, we need to leave," Ambraz said, and Irwin nodded.

Hind glanced at Ambraz, then back at him. "Irwin? If you come and find me, I can tell you more about the Fiz'rin. Perhaps we can figure out what you are?"

"Sure," Irwin said hesitantly. He had the distinct idea that she wanted more than just tell him about the Fiz'rin.

"I need to head to the world first, and I'm not sure how long that will take," he said.

Hind nodded, her eyes narrowing as she seemed to try and come up with something to say.

"I think those people behind you are getting restless," the other dockworker said, looking behind Irwin.

He turned to see Greldo beckon him.

"Right. I'll see you again," Irwin said as he waved at them before turning and walking away.

When he was halfway to Greldo and the others, Ambraz sighed.

"Her heartcard was partially shattered during forging," the Ganvil whispered. "She must have hoped it would be fixed when she made it into a soulcard, but that's not how things work. Now, her soulscape is heavily damaged and flawed, and she is unable to slot any card. They would shatter if she tried to slot them."

Irwin felt a wave of sympathy, even though he didn't know her. The idea of having a shattered soulscape sounded painful.

"Do you think she came here to get it fixed?" he whispered.

"Probably. It's not unheard of," Ambraz said, sounding sad. "People hear legends about the World anvils, and they come here in hopes of many things. Fixing shattered heartcards, removing a heartcard or soulcard, and many other impossible things."

"So it's impossible to fix a soulcard?" Irwin asked as he slowed down a bit.

Ambraz was quiet.

"Ambraz?"

"There are legends that it used to be possible," Ambraz said softly. "Kid, if you had asked me before I met… all of you, I would have thought it impossible. Now? I don't know. Maybe?"

Irwin hummed as he continued ahead, walking up to the others. There were two humans and a female Onxyxian, as wide as Boohm, with long, black hair that looked like carved stone. They were all dressed in smithing attire while Gla'ring sat on the Onyxian's shoulder.

Boohm was eyeing her in what counted for him as a casual look. Irwin wondered if she was going to knock him in the head if he didn't stop.

"Have a nice chat?" Greldo asked, his eyes gleaming slightly.

"Something like that," Irwin said, looking at his friend.

"Alright, let's go," Ambraz grunted. "I thought I told you I knew the way?"

"Lord Brazardian told me to bring you to him immediately," Gla'ring said. "Also, this is-"

"Fine. Let's get going then!" Ambraz grunted, interrupting him. "I'm sure my progenitor hasn't gotten any more tolerant to waiting in the time I was gone."

Gla'ring made a strangled sound before snorting. "As you say. Let's go!"

The Onyxian looked at Irwin and rolled her eyes, causing Irwin to stifle a grin. She turned and began walking across the stone dock towards a massive door that led into the city. Tiny holes sat high in the wall, reminding Irwin of the ones Ambraz had asked him to make in Bronwyn's new house. As he looked around, he saw a few tiny soulforce ripples in some.

The large gate led them into a small square, surrounded by windowless buildings with large doors.

The Onyxian led them to a large road lined with more buildings. Tracks on the ground showed it was probably frequented by cards or wagons.

"This is the main storage area for the docks, "Ambraz said. "Anything not valuable, like food and clothes, are stored here. Metals, cards, crystals, runes, and card-crafted goods are brought straight to the world."

"Brazardian had this area cleared out so you would be able to hurry along unobstructed," Gla'ring said.

"Usually, this is a busy place?" Irwin asked, surprised at the lack of dust and debris. Had they cleaned before Ambraz got here?

"One of the busiest," Ambraz said. "Reforged cards are brought to their new owners, sometimes escorted by a squadron of guard class ships."

"That has been happening more recently," Gla'ring said, sounding weary. "With the Smith Guild having pulled nearly all smiths to their hidden worlds, we have become one of the few places people can still get their reforging done."

"I heard that the Smiths Guild has created a large presence here?" Ambraz said.

"They did," Gla'ring said, sounding even more annoyed now. "Act like they own the place! Just because they gave us this world doesn't mean they can come along and just… just… Bah!"

As they headed deeper into the city, Gla'ring continued complaining about the Smiths Guild representatives and their seemingly endless demands. When they finally arrived at a central building, Irwin guessed they had reached the world portal.

"Alright, you two head back to your posts," Gla'ring said.

Before Irwin could wonder who he meant, the two humans turned and walked away, seeming happy to leave.

"There should be a barge waiting for us on the other side," Gla'ring said as they headed into the building.

Inside, dozens of guards stood everywhere, and a few Ganvils in their large form stood on short pillars beside two metal-reinforced doors. Their sides were covered in unreadable runes, some glowing oddly, but as they approached, they opened immediately, leading to a room with a portal on a pedestal.

"At least he got that right," Ambraz said in a low whisper.

There were more guards inside the room and another two Ganvils beside the portal, and as they approached, Gla'ring flew forward.

“Gla’ring and smith Singara. We are here with Prodigy Am'braz, who-"

Ambraz flitted forward rapidly, hovering before the left Ganvil, which looked made out of steel with a blueish gleam.

"Hou'dor! Is that you? So you returned alive?!" Ambraz shouted happily.

The previously pursed lips of the Ganvil lowered into a surprised gape.

"Am'braz? Am! You are back! What happened? Also, what do you mean by coming back alive? How was there ever any doubt?!"

The massive Ganvil turned into a smaller shape, though still far larger than even Gla'ring. With wings that made sounds like hammers hitting metal so fast it was barely distinguishable, he circled Am'braz.

"You look great! Rank three? I'd expected more, but…"

"Bah! You would be stunned if you knew what happened," Ambraz said, flying forward and knocking into the other Ganvil, blowing him off course. "Meet me in my place after your shift!"

"I will!"

The Ganvil laughed happily before landing on the ground where he'd been, reverting to his massive shape.

Ambraz landed on Irwin's shoulder.

"Kid, that's a real Ganvil," he said, his lips curved up in a massive grin. "I'll be sure to introduce you later."

"Sounds good," Irwin said with a dry chuckle.

"Alright! Let's go!" Ambraz said, sounding far more excited than before.

Irwin walked forward, hearing a chuckle from the other large Ganvil.

"Welcome to Granvox," it said in a low, crackling voice. "The world of smithing!"

Irwin faintly heard Greldo suppress a laugh, but he didn't respond. Ambraz's sudden enthusiasm was rubbing off on him, and as he stepped into the portal, he wondered what the world beyond would be like.