Page 37 of Frostforge: Passage Two

Thalia moved to the workbench and examined a row of small ingots.Each had been stamped with a different mark, likely denoting their composition."They've been methodically developing this.Testing different combinations to see which ones would pass the instructors’ inspection but fail under pressure."

She picked up a notebook, flipping through pages of densely written notes.The handwriting was precise and clinical.Whoever had been working here documented everything with meticulous care: mixture ratios, heat treatments, and stabilizing agents.

"It's deliberate," Thalia said, the realization making her voice hard."It’s Senna.She’s replacing quality metals with these compromised alloys."She paused on a page showing a diagram of a golem's core component — the very piece that had failed in the recent accidents."Luna, this isn't like her sabotage last year.This is more calculated.It’s systematic."

"But why?"Luna ran her fingers over a set of small labeled vials containing metal filings."What's the purpose?How does Senna benefit from students creating defective golems?"

Thalia's mind raced through possibilities."It could be about eliminating certain students — making them fail their projects.Or maybe it's more sinister."She remembered the violent way the golems had malfunctioned and the potential for serious injuries.

"Or maybe she’s testing something," Luna suggested, examining a chart pinned to the wall that tracked alloy performance."These notes are meticulous.Like she’s trying to perfect the formula for something specific."

"This is where it's happening,” Thalia realized.“Where they're creating the compromised metals that have been causing problems in the forge."

“Do you think it has to do with the thefts?”Luna asked.“Someone working for the Isle Wardens?”

A thought struck her with sudden force."Roran," she whispered, the name slipping out before she could stop it.

Luna raised an eyebrow."You think he's involved?"

Thalia shook her head.As she traced the techniques described in the notes, relief flooded through her."No.In fact, this all but proves he’s innocent.These methods require advanced metallurgical knowledge.Years of experience."She gestured at the complex diagrams."Roran barely passed basic forging last year.He couldn't do this — not alone, at least."

Luna watched her with knowing eyes."You're sure that's not just what you want to believe?"

Thalia met her gaze steadily."I'm sure of what the evidence tells me."

Her thoughts turned back to Senna.The Northern student's strange behavior suddenly made more sense — her distraction, her furtiveness.And Luna had seen her here.

"It’s not Roran.But Senna’s been coming here secretly.And I saw her gathering fragments of the inferior metal after Einar’s golem exploded."

Luna nodded slowly."She has the skills.Advanced metallurgy training from her tribe.And we know she's not above sabotage."

"It fits," Thalia agreed, piecing it together."She could have been the one replacing the materials in the classrooms.No one would question her presence there."

But Luna's brow furrowed."Something doesn't add up.Senna's always targeted Southerners before.The students affected by these faulty metals — they're mostly Northerners."

Thalia paused, considering this."You're right.Why would she sabotage her own people?"

"And why take such risks coming here?"Luna continued, gesturing around the hidden forge."If she wanted to sabotage students, there are simpler ways.Less traceable ways."

They stood in silence for a moment, the blue crystals overhead casting ghostly shadows across their faces.

"We need proof," Thalia finally said, reaching for a small canvas pouch at her belt.She carefully collected samples — pieces of slag, metal filings, a small unmarked ingot."If we can compare these to the fragments from the failed golems, we might be able to confirm they're the same material."

Luna nodded, then began methodically copying key information from the notebook onto a small scroll she produced from her sleeve.

They gathered their evidence in silence, each lost in thought.Before leaving, Thalia took one last look around the hidden forge.The cold ashes, the abandoned tools, the mysterious notes — all pieces of a puzzle she couldn't yet assemble.

"We should go," Luna murmured, already slipping toward the passage."Dinner will be ending soon.People will notice we're missing."

Thalia nodded, following her friend back into the narrow tunnel.As Luna carefully resealed the hidden entrance, Thalia clutched the pouch of metal samples tightly.

"Luna," she said as they began retracing their steps through the dark corridors, "whoever's behind this — they're inside Frostforge.They have access, knowledge, skills."

"I know," Luna replied, her usually scattered demeanor completely absent now."The question is: what are they trying to accomplish?"

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Thalia emerged from the cryomancy classroom with frost still clinging to her fingertips, tiny crystals that caught the light from the wall sconces and sparkled like diamond dust.The cold lingered in her bones, a familiar ache that she'd grown accustomed to over the past months at Frostforge.Unlike her classmates, who hurried to warm their hands by the corridor's heat vents, she let the chill remain, a reminder of what she'd accomplished today — a perfect ice pattern, delicate as lace and strong as steel.Instructor Virek had actually nodded at her work.Not smiled, of course — Frostforge instructors rarely did — but a nod was practically effusive praise in the frigid halls of the academy.

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