Thalia's Arc

Chapter 2 of 4

Thalia packed her leather satchel with supplies for the journey north. The scroll and ore sample went in first, wrapped carefully in cloth. She added dried food, a water flask, and rope. Her bow rested against her shoulder as she left the city gates behind. The forest path wound upward for three days before she found it. Vines draped across broken stone archways. Moss covered fallen pillars that had once held up great halls. The elven ruins stood silent among the trees, whispering of a time when her people had crafted wonders here. Thalia pushed aside thick curtains of leaves and stepped through a crumbling doorway. Inside, stone shelves lined the walls. Dust covered everything, but she could still make out rolled parchments and flat tablets with elvish writing. Her hands trembled as she lifted the first scroll. The paper cracked slightly under her touch. She unrolled it carefully and found a map showing mountain ranges and rivers. One location was marked with a symbol—the same anvil and flame from the archive scroll. She checked three more maps, each one adding details about the northern valleys. A stone tablet showed measurements and metal types. Everything pointed to the same place. She tucked the most detailed map into her satchel and traced the route with her finger one more time. The ancient forge was real, and now she knew exactly where to look. The sun began to set, painting the ruins in orange light. Thalia needed more time to search through the remaining documents. She found a tall wooden torch among the debris, its surface carved with vines and crowned with a small green gemstone. She held it up and touched the gem. Green flames burst to life, casting steady light across the stone shelves. She set the torch against a pillar and returned to her work. Three more scrolls revealed details about the forge's construction. One mentioned a waterfall that powered the bellows. Another described the specific tools the ancient smiths had used. She spread the documents across the floor and studied them together. The pieces fit like a puzzle. By the time the moon rose, she had copied the most important notes onto fresh parchment. She knew the path, the landmarks, and what to look for when she arrived. Her search through dusty archives and crumbling ruins had given her everything she needed. Tomorrow, she would begin the trek to find the forge itself.