Page 128

Her teeth clenched. “I’ve already explained, and it’s in my report.”

“Perhaps we turn to the issue of the double-forging?” the First asked with tense politeness.

That seemed to get the scholar’s attention.

“When we received word about the gods returning, it gave me an idea.” Scholar Alar tapped his chin. “Perhaps that was why you didn’t immediately die from the second forging. The presence of the gods.”

Iryana frowned; it wasn’t something she had considered.

“With Thelbiz walking the earth again, and nearby, we made a call for volunteers to test that. We had so many offers we couldn’t take them all.” The scholar spoke so casually that Iryana couldn’t anticipate how it went. “We accepted eight volunteers, all of similar magical strength and control, but of different first forgings.”

“And…?” Dread filled her.

“Results varied, but in an interesting way. The metal-forged couldn’t make the bond at all. The fire-forged died the quickest during the bonding tattoos. The earth-forged made it through the air tattoo, but died before they could start forging the magic,” he detailed clinically.

Iryana stared at him in horror. So many had died trying to replicate what she’d done—the second forging that was still killing her. Thelbiz had suggested it was possible to survive it if they made it through the forging. If someone was stronger than her.

“The water-forged did the best. They lasted longer than the others, and one still lives although he is bedridden, and we do not know if he will recover.” Then he smiled. “Do you know what that means? The elements are confirmed to matter. Metal might be forged with water. Water might be forged with air. Air thus might be forged with fire. And around it goes.”

The Grand Keepers listened, unaffected, likely knowing this already.

“But we still die,” Iryana uttered softly.

“Perhaps it will be entirely possible once all the gods have fully returned and regained their strength,” Scholar Alar offered. “How has your magic been? Have things gotten easier for you? Or does it continue to worsen?”

He was watching her so hopefully, as if she’d prove his theory. “No, it’s still getting worse.” The only time it had improved at all, was in the hot spring that had also poisoned her. She was afraid to tell him about it, though. Afraid he’d somehow use it to make his experiments even more dreadful.

The pool that had also poisoned her had temporarily relieved her pain from using her forgings. She had used them in the clearing with Thelbiz with little repercussions, but within a few days she felt the turmoil inside her return to its previous strength. She wouldn’t tell the conclave about the pool, though, sure they would just send more innocent people off to be poisoned to death. It was like the poppies; they had their benefits but would ultimately kill you, regardless.

“There goes that theory,” the scholar sighed.

“I believe the 18th is still working through the late general’s notes to discover where he was dual-forged,” she told them, trying not to sound defeated. “Things are busy now, but I’m still hoping they find something, and perhaps that will be the missing puzzle piece.”

“Perhaps.”

“But your research, did you find anything that might help?” the First asked.

The scholar sighed. “I have only found one possible solution so far, but I don’t like it.”

“What is it?” Iryana asked, leaning forward.

“Undoing a forging isn’t possible, but it might be different for a second forged magic. There was an account of an attempted dual-forging that was not going well, and it was reversed by ripping out the second magic in that temple. The person survived.”

“So if I go to the water temple, they can just undo the bond with Voordiza’s magic?” Iryana felt so relieved. She didn’t care about being dual-forged, she would happily give it up so that she could defend her clan without risk of the magic tearing her apart.

The scholar passed her a scroll. “I copied the reports from the Keeper who performed the reversal. But I warn you, it was done immediately. The two magics hadn’t had time to intertwine. Given how long it’s been for you, trying to rip out Voordiza’s magic might pull too hard on Noshtiz’s. It would likely kill you. And the longer you wait, the more I would expect your chances of surviving to drop.”

Iryana’s cup clattered against the armrest of her chair as her hand dropped. Warm tea spilled onto her hand. She didn’t care.

“So, I die either way?” she choked out.

He shrugged. “It’s impossible to know, but it’s probable. Though perhaps you will learn more from this other dual-forging. And don’t forget you handled the dual-forging better than others we tested, so clearly either your strength or control over your own magic helped. Perhaps that will help you survive a reversal.”

“Or it could make it worse,” she argued, voice monotone. But her mind started spinning.

Perhaps Karvek had figured something out that she hadn’t. Maybe he wasn’t forged in a combined well, merely found a way to merge the magic. If there was a way to figure that out… could she replicate it? The idea that Karvek had figured out something that she couldn’t chafed.

“I’m still looking. I will do more experiments. There might be a solution still,” was all the scholar offered. “Perhaps Voordiza has not returned yet, and if she does, maybe that magic will calm? There are too many unknowns. You’ll have to decide if the risk is worth it, or if you’d rather wait. But seek out Thelbiz first.”