"Something smells like my ma's cooking!" The Master said.

"So it smells good?" I said, walking into the main forging area.

"No. It smells like something crawled in here and died!" The Master replied.

"That's just Feathers, he totally got soaked in rat juices yesterday." Lyra said, holding back a laugh. I grumbled to myself. I scrubbed myself as hard as I could and the smell just wouldn't go away. This is what I get for going 'adventuring' with those guys I suppose.

The Master gave me a questioning look. "Rat juices? What were you two doing?"

I pulled out my mana crystal. "Collecting this! Isn't it great?"

The Master let out a whistle, "Impressive lad, so you've finally went out for an adventure eh?"

"More like dragged out on one, but he did alright." Lyra said. "What are you even planning on doing with it, Feathers?"

"Something I wanted to do for awhile!" I said with excitement.

"Awhile? You mean... nah couldn't be." Lyra shrugged and went back to her own work. Did she read my mind? Impossible! After all, I even forgot about this idea. Well, either way it didn't matter. I had my own work to do. I went to my area of the loft and sat down. I had a few items already gathered for my plans and did some research. First of all, the crystal.

I placed it down on my desk. According to my reading, using it in its raw form was extremely tough. I needed to break it down. I took a knife from my toolbelt and chipped away at it. Twisting and hacking, much like peeling and chopping a potato. I slowly took a large chunk of the shard in my hand and turned it into much smaller splinter-like fragments.

These fragments were quite small, but I needed to refine them further. So I took the fragments and placed them into a mortar. I crushed them into a fine powder. The end result was a sand like blue substance, that when I picked it up and let it drip between my talons they dripped and sparkled, akin to small stars. It was really something.

That aside, the first major part was done. Next was using my newly made enchantment dust for something useful. I grabbed my journal and flipped to the section I had outlined for this. I've documented a few runes that caught my eye that I wanted to use when I got the chance to try out enchantments. I had circled one rune in particular.

I took a sword I had laid out previously, It was just a simple iron one with a leather hilt but it should be perfect. I took my knife and began to engrave the rune into the hilt. It was difficult putting a 2D image onto a cylinder but it came out quite well in my opinion.

Next, I took a chisel and a hammer and linked the edges of the rune to the center of the sword on both sides of it. I carefully chiseled out small channels that led about one third up the sword. Straight lines proud and true.

The engraving was done, now to actually power it. I took handfuls of dust and placed it into the rune on the hilt. It was tough getting it to stay but it compacted well enough. I then took more leather and tightly wrapped and secured it around the hilt. This was to prevent the dust from hopefully dislodging.

And with that my creation was complete! I lean back in my chair... only to see the Master's face staring at me.

"Bwuk!" I let out a cry, and almost toppled over. "Master! I didn't notice you."

"Aye laddy. You didn't at all, you were quite engrossed in your work." The Master said.

I scratched the back of my head. "I was a bit focused..." I let out a nervous chuckle. "But anyway I finished my project! You wanna see it in action?"

"In action?" Lyra said approaching. "Looks like a normal sword to me."

"It's anything but normal!" I boasted, getting out of my chair and puffing out my chest with my sword in hand. "In fact just watch this!"

I took it and began to swing down, when The Master's hand caught my arm midway.

"Eh?" I let out a confused noise.

"Careful, normally I'm fine with some showing off but that would be dangerous to do so in here, especially with how it turned out." The Master took the sword away from me. "Here, you two follow me."

The Master walked out towards the entrance to the courtyard. Lyra and I both followed. The Master was standing by the center of the field, facing one of the dummies that we use for both practice and armor outfitting.

"See lad, your idea wasn't bad, I watched you carefully and there were a few things you did right. Such as your making of the enchanting dust and the engraving of the rune. I guess all that fancy drawing you do helps with something!" The Master said, I smiled at the compliment. "...But there were a couple of other issues."

The Master turned to me. "Lad, check your clothes." Huh? My clothes? I was confused but I looked down. Oh.

"I'm covered in dust." I said, the Master nodded.

"Indeed, look at this." The Master held out my sword and pointed at the hilt. "It's leaking like a dam! Improper sealing of your regents can lead to unforeseen results, such as this." The Master tossed the sword over his head. It landed near the feet of the dummy. What was he trying to-

The sword exploded. Shrapnel went flying in an electric blaze of glory. The dummy was shredded, bits of it of also now littering its area.

"My lightning sword!" I cried.

"So you were trying to make that dumb sword! I knew it!" Lyra said.

"Listen! It's not dumb it's cool. I wanted to make one since we were kids." I said.

"Should have made one that shot out fire, especially since you're so good at making them explode!" Lyra cackled.

"Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try to make one yourself, you have a few crystals around yet I haven't even seen you try to make one!"

"That's just because I wanted to refine my basics more before attempting!"

"Or because you're afraid?"

Lyra raised a fist, "Feathers I'm gonna-"

"You two always going at it!" The Master barked. "Am I gonna have to find two more civil apprentices?"

"No not at all! We're great right, Feathers?" Lyra put her arm around my neck.

"Yeah just great, you Harp- Ow!" Lyra cut me off, tightening her grip around me, this is a freakin headlock at this point!

The Master rolled his eyes. "In any case, The insulation was just one problem lad, there's also the contradicting quality of material you used. Your crystal was a bit too high of a grade for simple iron. Certain metals channel the magic energy contained in crystals better. Not only that but the enchantment you used would have electrocuted you! Next time dip the handle in pine resin, it acts as an insulator. Furthermore..."

The Master went on. Pointing out the various things I did and improvements for next time. I took it all into heart and by the looks of Lyra's somewhat intense look on her face so did she. We both learned a lot from my little experiment.

"Did you two get all of that?"

"Yes!" I nodded, I had already taken my journal out and scribbled it down for future reference.

"Good! Now I'm going to get back to my project!" The Master said, walking out of the courtyard.

"That was informative, say Feathers, there's still some time in the day, wanna spar?" Lyra asked.

"Aren't you still hurt from yesterday?" I pointed out.

"Me? Hurt? Ha! It barely got me!" Lyra said, hopping left and right on her feet, she stumbled a bit, a look of pain on her face. "Barely."

"Yeah sure.... I have something I need to do, so I'm gonna have to pass."

"Oh? What's more important than your best friend?"

I tried to hide the excitement on my face. Amelia! "Nothing! I'm just busy is all."

Lyra rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Feathers." Lyra exited the courtyard and I followed suit soon after.

I left the forge and made my way down the crowded streets. I went with almost a skip in my step. Hehehe! Soon I'll see Amelia~ Does this count as a date? Yeah! It must otherwise she wouldn't have-

My musing was stopped by me crashing into someone. Ouch! I really need to pay more attention. In fact, the other day it almost got me killed.

"Are you alright?" The man I bumped into asked. Right, time to stop spacing out.

"Yes, thank you for asking." I said.

"Don't thank me young soul, thank the gods above for blessing you one last streak of good luck! After all the end is near!"

Oh boy. It's a crazy. "That's nice... I'm gonna just-" I attempt to walk away when he grabs me by the arm.

"Be careful! The Tower is opening up today! It is a bad omen, death and despair are in our futures. Your future!"

"M-my future?" I said. The man nodded his head and handed me a piece of parchment.

"Spread the word and warn others of the end, The god above gods is hungry... for Fallen!" The man said. Didn't he just tell me to thank the gods? I shook his grip off of me.

"Thanks will do." I said before quickly making distance between us. What a nutcase.

I continued my adventure closer towards the Tower. It was dense with Fallen. I suppose the combination of the sale and the upper levels of the Tower opening up really attracted people. I scanned the area, I couldn't see Amelia working. Maybe see was in the back? I wonder if-

"Boo!"

"Wah!" I turned to see Lyra smugly looking at me. "Lyra you jerk!"

"Got ya! Ha! So scared your tail is literally between your legs."

I grumbled and put my tail right where it belongs. Stupid Lyra.

"How'd you even find me?" I asked.

"I heard there was a sale today at this cafe. Plus with that dumb grin you had on your face I figured you went to go see your cruuush~" Lyra crooned.

"I-I don't have a crush!" I said, my flusteredness barely being contained.

"Uh huh, honestly Feathers I don't see what you see in her. How long have you known her?"

"A while! Since we've moved here!"

"So like a year?"

"That's long enough."

"Not to me, I'd only go after someone I've known for like, a decade tops."

So annoying. "You're crazy. Have fun being alone."

Lyra looked a bit taken aback. "Hey birdbrain I can find someone easy! I have tons of guys looking to date me I'll have you know."

"Name one." My eyes go back into the crowds near the cafe. Where is she?

"Er... Gruce! Yeah he's totally into me."

"Sure didn't sound like it from his flaunting of 'How amazing and dashing the girls find him' yesterday." I see the usual servers, and a new face as well but no Ameila

"He's been reeling ever since I rejected him. I had my eyes on someone else after all." Lyra said matter of factly.

I raised an eye at that. "Oh really? Who may that be?"

"Its.. um..." Lyra went quiet. Before I could press further a deafening boom rang out from above.

I looked up. The top portion of the Tower had been obliterated, pieces going in all directions, much like my sword had this morning. Screams from the Fallen that were present could be heard as they scattered around the area.

"We gotta go!" I said. Lyra nodded and began to retreat with me. Debris fell. Striking those unlucky enough to be hit. Several were crushed under rubble. Blood poured from behind the piles. My heart began to race even more. I picked up my pace and turn to Lyra.

Lyra? I looked around me, she had disappeared from my side.

"Lyra!" I called out.

"Over here help me out!" I turned to her voice. She was helping out a kid, pinned in some rubble. I rushed over.

"Help! Please!" The girl underneath said. She didn't seem to be too hurt, just stuck under the slab of rock, really she was lucky to just be stuck.

"We're gonna get you out okay?" Lyra said. "Feathers get on the other side and help me lift this." I did as told and went to it.

"On the count of three." Lyra began. "One... Two... Three!" We strained to lift it, even The Master would have had trouble with it, we, however managed enough for the girl to crawl out. She ran into Lyra's arms.

"See? You're safe everything is-" Another deafening boom. This time a lower section being destroyed. One of the pieces coming straight for us!

I barely thought as I went towards Lyra and the girl and pushed them out of the way.

Slam. The rock landed square into my body.

It hurt.

It hurt it hurt it hurt it hurt it hurt It hurt it hurt it hurt it hurt it hurt!

"Feathers!" I heard Lyra call out. I could feel my body's blood being crushed out of me. I couldn’t breathe at all, my lungs failing to expand. My vision began to darken. ...Am I going to die? I didn't want to die. There was too much to do...

A blue light is the last thing I see before the darkness fully consumed me.