Until recently, Garet never had the opportunity to watch the Awakened fight up close. It always happened outside the city walls, where he could see the shadows of the Awakened and flashes of light.
However, his experience with Xir was not complete, as he killed the dark rhino with just one ability.
For this reason, Garet always thought about how he would like to have the same abilities as the Awakened, but never about weapons.
Catalysts - that's what helped the Awakened fight monsters.
It wasn't just a sharp sword or an elaborate artifact that Melisa used, it was a weapon available in its full power only to the Awakened.
"A forge? Will they create a Catalyst for me?" Garet asked, rushing after Xir.
As soon as he heard about the opportunity to get a Catalyst, he forgot about the pain and the missions.
"Nah." Xir shook his head. "Except for rare cases that are unavailable at your level, it is impossible to create a Catalyst."
"Hmm? Then how does every Awakened have a Catalyst?" Garet raised an eyebrow, stumped.
Xir shook two fingers:
"There are two main options. First: you can either find a Catalyst in the world, which sometimes happens, but those Awakened are really lucky."
"And the second?"
The corners of his lips curved.
"Grow it. Sure, not like a flower or a tree, but the point isn't as different as it might seem at first glance."
"Grow it? How can you grow a weapon…?" Garet scratched the back of his head.
Xir shrugged as the city streets rushed by in a blur, leading them to a bulky building at the foot of the first level of the Iron Gate. It was one of the few buildings connected to the Thornspire via suspension bridges and underground tunnels.
"Metals can't grow, but energy can. An apple seed can't sprout into a tree without the resources of soil and water. It's the same situation here, only instead of a seed, it's a form, and instead of water, it's energy."
"Wait... Doesn't that mean you can create a Catalyst from any weapon?"
Strangely enough, Xir shook his head.
"In theory, yes, but no one has done that in a long time. It's too inefficient and risky. To speed up the process and increase the chances of success, we, the Awakened, have what we call the Blanks. But someone else will tell you more about that."
Crack.
With a creak, Xir pushed open the heavy iron gates, letting them into the forge.
Several people were working at the furnaces, the fire blazing in the crucible, and large crystals peeking out of the boxes caught Garet's attention.
They walked on without stopping, moving toward the main furnace, next to which was an unusual vessel.
"What is that?" Garet looked up, his eyes wide with amazement.
A multitude of colorful blobs moved smoothly behind the glass edges, wandering through the air and leaving red, yellow, green, and many other trails exceeding the color spectrum.
Even at the Thornspire, there was nothing like this, and there were reasons for that.
Tap.
A heavy, rough hand fell on Garet's shoulder, causing him to turn around.
"What? Are you interested in my souls?" The man with a thick beard grinned. He was not a man, but a walking mountain of muscle and strength.
An awkward Garet stared at the man, noticing his dirty work outfit and the strong smell of smoke.
"My name is Torg. What about you, kiddo?"
"G-Garet!"
And then... Torg quickly patted Garet on his arms, sides, and legs, pressing on his muscles, putting Garet in an embarrassing situation he wasn't ready for.
"Hah, Xir! He has such a strong body. Where did you find him?" Torg exclaimed with a broad smile.
Xir smiled. "At the Pit. He is a Wild One."
"Hahaha, I can see that. I understand you came for a Blank for Garet?"
"Sure, he already passed the test and received the Bronze Tier. Now, he needs a weapon, without it, he can't go anywhere."
"Oh, the Bronze Tier? Not bad, not bad at all. So, Garet, you asked about my Soul Tank?"
Garet turned toward the colorful blobs.
"Soul Tank? Wait… Are those souls? Like, the real ones?"
Torg waved his hand as he stepped forward.
"Of course. How do you think I could create the Blanks for newbies like you? You know, I take my work very seriously."
Then, Garet noticed a shield emblem hanging on Torg's belt, with the same four-pointed star as his and Xir's.
"Wait, he is..."
"Yeah." Xir nodded. "Unlike Melisa and the other blacksmiths here, Torg is as Awakened as we are. It's too dangerous for humans to work with souls. Only if you're a master and have special equipment, but it's better to leave that work to someone like Torg."
Step. Step. Step.
Garet moved closer, observing the souls, which were essentially special clusters of energy, each with its own little story and properties.
"This... When was each of these souls a monster?"
Torg nodded deeply.
"Everything is as you said. I was as surprised as you, but it is the soul that allows a Blank to grow into a Catalyst fairly quickly. I think Xir has already told you that without a Blank, it is much more difficult to obtain a Catalyst."
"So, the monster's soul will determine what my future Catalyst will be like?" Garet asked what he thought was a logical question.
This was the first time he saw and heard about souls, but since they were an important part of the Blanks, they were also necessary for his future Catalyst.
"Not exactly. Look, a Blank and a Catalyst go through the same process as a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. They are one entity, but they are not alike at all. The soul of the monster will influence the initial appearance, ability, and power of your Blank, and by the time your Blank turns into a Catalyst, these qualities may either remain and intensify or be completely replaced by others."
Torg stepped forward, pointing to a large, gray hammer by the wall, devoid of any features — clearly a Blank.
"This hammer is capable of shaking the ground, causing stone spikes to erupt and crushing everything in its path. However, when this Blank becomes a Catalyst, it may change beyond recognition. It all depends on what an Awakened does during the growth of a Blank."
Garet smiled slightly.
"Got it. So I have control over the situation even after the start? That's good."
Torg grinned.
"Something like that. You'll understand much more when you get your Blank."
"Where do we start?" Garet asked and raised his head to the Soul Tank.
Torg waved his hand with a satisfied nod.
"It's time to choose a soul. Take whichever one you like."
Garet's gaze followed the blobs until it stopped on one, a crimson cluster that moved sharply and aggressively, like a dragon.