Kai told the others plainly that he'd have to stay with the knife-maker for now. The forging process needed oversight, and he could speed things along by helping with the growth of the moonstones. "You all go," he said, his tone final. "I'll get busy here."
As the group turned to leave, Quentin glanced at Julia. "Hey, Jules. There's something I want to check out. Want to come with?"
Kai's thoughts brushed against the idea immediately 'That should be Ember's temple… if I'm not mistaken. Or maybe a few talking animals instead.' Julia looked to Kai, and when he gave her a small nod, she moved to follow Quentin. Alice, after a beat, tagged along as well.
"I," Elliot declared dramatically, "am going to find a place to get a proper drink."
Josh brightened at once at that idea. "Oh, I definitely know a place. There's a magnificent talking bull dog named Bristlycoat swear to God, he's a good drinking partner."
Kai chuckled at that. "A drinking dog? That's either genius or tragedy waiting to happen."
Elliot laughed outright, clapping Josh on the shoulder. "I like him already."
Margo rolled her eyes. "Figures you'd bond with the mutt more than the plan."
Kai gave a quick glance at all their hands before they disappeared down the road. A little insurance never hurts, he thought, turning back to the knife-maker.
The man eyed him curiously. "And what exactly are you going to do?"
Kai shrugged. "That depends. Tell me how this forging process works." The smith folded his arms. "If we had enough pieces, we'd begin with the blessed running flame."
"A what?" Kai asked.
"A magical flame," the man explained. "It burns hotter than most fires. Hot enough to melt materials that resist all normal smithing ores that would laugh at common furnaces, charms, even sky-iron. It'll melt almost anything."
Kai nodded, filing it away. "And the other steps?"
"Simple," the smith said. "Fuse moonstone with core-iron, temper it with wellspring water, then hammer intent into the metal until it knows its purpose. That's how the Leo blade will be born."
Kai gave a small smile. "Good, and are all the materials are available?"
"Yes," the smith said confidently.
"Then I'll grow the stones with progression magic," Kai told him. "It's plant-based, usually but theoretically it should work here too."
——-
Meanwhile, the others were making their way through Fillory's paths. "So," Penny asked, "you know where the Beast is holding Victoria or not?" Quentin frowned. "I think the dungeon is in the Castle That Isn't There."
Penny stared. "That's the stupidest name I've ever heard."
Quentin shrugged. "Well… it's kind of phosphoromancy. Alice can explain it better."
Alice cleared her throat. "It's a place that exists between fixed points. Its presence shifts sometimes here, sometimes not. The name isn't entirely wrong, just… frustrating."
They continued on until Julia suddenly stopped. "Oh," she said softly, as a graveyard came into view. "Well, that's unexpected," Margo muttered. "Headstones and unmarked graves just lying around."
Quentin stepped closer, brushing dirt from one stone. His face went pale. "Oh no…" He read the name aloud. "Martin Chatwin."
Julia only nodded. Then, bluntly, she said, "Why are you shocked? He's not exactly dead, seeing as he's the fucking Beast now."
Every head snapped toward her. Elliot was the first to speak. "What the actual fuck?"
Julia bit her lip. "Oh. Kai didn't tell you guys, did he?" She cursed inwardly. 'Goddamn Kai.'
Back at the cabin, Kai sat cross-legged, two moonstones in front of him. Both steadily pulsed with light as he chanted.
"Crescite et florete, lapides lunae occultae,
Per tempus acceleratum, per voluntatem meam. Surgete, formate, ad plenitudinem vestrae naturae."
For over three hours he repeated the incantation, pouring magic into the stones. At last they had swelled to the size of golf balls, glowing faintly like captured moons.
"Incredible," Fen whispered in awe.
"Yes, indeed," her father agreed. "Most earth magicians are powerful, but only a few can master growth like this. That is why they often rise as high kings and queens of Fillory." He tilted his head, studying the stones.
"What's peculiar is how easily they respond to you. Normally moonstones resist outside magic." Kai exhaled heavily and moved back. The knife-maker inspected the stones closely and let out a low whistle. "Normally this would take more than a year and countless resources. But this… this is more than enough for the Leo blade."
"Whew," Kai said, stretching his hands. "Then let's get to it." They worked through the entire night. Kai poured more of his magic into the forge, substituting for rare components, accelerating each step. By morning, the rest of the group returned to find him sitting barefoot outside the cabin ground, eyes closed, hands glowing red as he laid them on the floor.
Alice spoke first. "Uh… what are you doing on the floor?"
His hands dimmed as he stood, brushing dirt from himself. "Used up a shit-ton of magic growing the stones," he explained. "Then used another shit-ton as a substitute for most of those greedy little hard pieces the forge needs." He sounded frustrated, but steady.
Elliot whistled. "Well aren't you the overachiever."
Margo smirked. "Honestly, kind of hot. Stupid, but hot." Josh nodded. "Seriously though, that's… impressive. Also a little terrifying but hey whatever works out for us."
Alice folded her arms. "You should've told us who he is." Quentin stepped forward with a sharp voice. "Yeah. Why didn't you?"
Kai blinked in confusion. His gaze shifted to Julia. She sighed and muttered, "Martin."
"Ah, shit," Kai said. Then, more seriously, "Would it have mattered though?"
"Yes, Kai," Quentin snapped. "Yes it would have!"
Kai tilted his head. "Oh yeah? How so, Q? Would it change the fact that he is the Beast? Or that he's killed you all thirty-nine times already?"
Quentin fell silent.
"It wouldn't have changed a thing," Kai said flatly. The silence stretched before Quentin finally lowered his gaze. "Sorry. I… shouldn't have snapped." Margo broke it with a laugh. "Well, it's twisted as hell. But also… kind of makes sense."
Kai shrugged. "What he went through shaped him. He lost his shade when the wellspring burned it off. Without a shade, he's nothing but hunger for power he wants to keep for himself alone."
"Jesus," Alice breathed.
"No, that's not who his shade is with" Kai corrected dryly. "It's with Hades now. But okay." Penny groaned. "Alright, are we done with the whole 'who's the Beast' reveal? Because what matters is do we actually have the knife ready now?"
"Calm your horses," Kai said with a smirk. "Yes. It's ready." The knife-maker stepped out then, carrying a polished box. He set it down and opened it slowly. Inside lay the Leo Blade.
"Well, shit," Margo whispered.
Kai's eyes glinted. "The Leo Blade."
"But first, the payment," the knife-maker said, closing the box again.
After he left, Kai turned to the group with that familiar dangerous grin. "Soooo… about that payment. Fillory has no ruler, and only earth-born can rule. Which means…"
Julia blinked. "Us. Well apart from the girl locked in the dungeon." Josh gasped. "Oh my God. We're going to be royalty!"
Quentin chuckled. "Yeah. We're the next wave."
"Right," Kai said. "But the ruler must also fulfill one particular requirement which is to marry a fillorian woman and the person he wants one of us to marry is his daughter, Fen."
Josh's eyes widened. "His hot daughter?"
Kai gave Julia a sideways look before answering. "Mnnnn."
Penny squinted. "Huh?" Then quickly added, "I mean… team player and all." Kai gave him a slow, knowing nod. "Uh huh. Sure. Anyway, the smith wants to conduct a test to decide who among you will be the next High King of Fillory and get a hot chick on the side."
He smirked, tossing in a joke that made Julia raise an eyebrow. Kai immediately raised his hands in mock defense. "Okay, okay that was a joke, dear."
"Pussy," Penny muttered under his breath.
Kai's head snapped toward him with a smirk. "I will knock your ass out."
———————————————
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