The forge of the Heaven's Fracture was shrouded in dim light, filled with smoke and the acrid scent of burning metal. On stone pedestals covered in black soot lay scattered ores, spirit crystals, and beast bones, each radiating its own distinct aura of LINH.
In the corner, the furnace flared, golden fire casting the tall, lean shadow of La Diep upon the wall. His hands glowed with a radiant brilliance of KIM, silver light like threads weaving around the ores, pressing them into precise forms. Each movement resembled brushstrokes drawn upon the air—graceful yet utterly exact.
In that glow, La Diep's eyes widened, gleaming with fascination, as though savoring the ecstasy of creation. A sizzling sound filled the workshop as KIM energy clashed with metal, the rhythm echoing like the steady beat of a heart—or the strike of a hammer upon steel.
His voice rang out evenly:
"Artifacts are not mere tools. They are will, the very spirit of their maker. To forge them demands absolute precision. A single mistake, and what you hold in your hands is nothing but a lifeless piece of scrap."
He lifted a pale-blue spirit crystal, enveloping it with KIM. The crystal flared, split cleanly into two, then fused into a luminous talisman, its surface etched with flowing patterns that seemed to breathe.
"But craftsmanship alone is not enough. The core of every artifact lies in its material. Materials carry their own story, tied to gods, demons, beasts, or souls."
Khanh, who had been silently observing, could no longer hold back his curiosity.
"Then… what is the strongest material?" he asked.
La Diep paused, his gaze sharp as a silver blade.
"There is no 'strongest.' Only what suits the wielder. One who binds with a GOD must seek what belongs to the divine. One bound to a DEMON requires material steeped in malice. A soul caller needs the ashes of spirits, while a beast master requires fangs, bones, and claws."
His voice lowered, almost to a whisper:
"But one truth remains. The rarest, most precious materials… come from BAC TU. That land is the treasure vault of this world."
Khanh shivered. At last, he understood why BAC TU sold weapons to Dai Long. Weapons were not the true aim—they were merely the result of endless resources found there. But why did Dai Long need so many weapons? The question gnawed at him, unanswered.
Suddenly, La Diep turned, eyes gleaming.
"You. Try."
Khanh stiffened but stepped forward. Before him lay a small piece of brass and an ordinary spirit shard.
"Use your KIM." – La Diep's voice was low and steady.
Khanh inhaled deeply, focused. A faint shimmer of KIM energy flickered from his fingertips, trembling as it wrapped around the brass. Sweat beaded on his brow. The glow shattered, and the brass clattered onto stone with a sharp clang.
"Again." – La Diep's arms were folded, his expression free of disappointment.
Khanh bit his lip, tried again. And again. Each attempt ended in failure—the energy either too weak, leaving cracks, or too forceful, breaking the shard apart. Anger welled within him, frustration with his own inadequacy.
On the fourth attempt, the glow of KIM, though fragile, managed to embrace the shard. It held, wavered, and sustained its shape for several breaths before vanishing.
Khanh collapsed to his knees, chest heaving, drenched in sweat.
La Diep narrowed his eyes, the corner of his lips curling faintly.
"Poor… but not worthless. Your willpower sustained KIM despite its weakness. Remember this—will is as important as material. With will, mastery will come in time."
Those words ignited a flame inside Khanh's chest. Not praise, nor scorn—but recognition.
---
He recalled the day before, right after receiving the uniform, when Bui To Nhu had given her instructions:
"Khanh, your body is still too frail. For now, you should study KIM to support THO, while simultaneously training your physical strength to meet the requirements of advancing your LINH.
As for Vy, she will accompany Ho Lam Uyen on missions to refine her perception and use of LINH."
At the time, Khanh had only nodded in silence. Yet now, he could not help but think of Vy. She was probably on a mission linked to the corruption they had encountered—dangerous, no doubt.
Stepping out into the empty courtyard, his eyes hardened with resolve. He broke into a run, every footfall pounding in rhythm with his heartbeat. He ran until his limbs screamed, until exhaustion clawed at him, until his body was drenched in sweat beneath the gray cloak embroidered with the crescent moon.
Above, the pale moonlight seemed to bear witness to his vow:
"No matter how many failures, I will keep moving forward. Until I am strong enough to protect."