Before leaving, the trio visited the Sanctum's forge, a cavern of molten heat and rune-etched anvils, its walls were lined with glowing ores, beast relics, and shelves of essence vials, the air thick with the scent of molten metal, burning essence, and polished leather.
The forge was filled with the final preparations of tamers, their hammers were ringing as they crafted gear, with their beasts resting nearby and their eyes were gleaming with anticipation.
Kelvin secured fire-resistant ores from the forge's stores, with their surfaces shimmering with ice essence which was vital for countering Valebreach's fire-wyrm, along with vials of wyrm essence to enhance his gauntlet's fire runes.
He spent hours hammering the ores into his gauntlet, their glow was cooling his fire lance's heat for precision, testing the runes with a small burst of flame, Xerion's scales flared in synchronization with Kelvin, his hiss was a quiet approval as the serpent coiled nearby.
