Ellyrie twisted and turned in her sleep, the images in her mind would not grant her peace. Her sister Kyria, clad in the armour of Elthaine, the killing fields of castrum El Cynthia, the dead eyes of the lady in white.

"Captain, captain!" A pair of hands shook Ellyrie awake, she gasped and looked up into the face of Fiona. Her fellow Sky Knight took a step back and immediately turned to leave. "Sovereign Elias is on board, sister Aeneya tasked me to wake you 'ere a terrible fate befalls us."

The words of her comrade were laced with a worry that had the captain leap out of bed. She only grasped her cloak over her nightgown and hurried to the main deck.

The sun had barely risen above the horizon, yet the "Herald" was bustling with activity. Lower ranking knights hurried from room to room, all suited up for combat. On deck Ellyrie was greeted by a stiff breeze and the sight of her companions, battle ready and at their stations, as well as Elias. The towering Sovereign had donned his long purple mantle, signifying his status, over the simple priestly robes he insisted on. His uncertain look only made her squirm all the worse.

"It is good to see you El. But we have not much time. The council was murdered, and the vault broken into."

The captain froze mid-step, and tightened her grip around her cloak. "But how? They are Atal´s strongest mages, in the middle of the second largest city of the province! Did we at least catch the assassins?"

Elias shook his head, his gaze shifting westward. "No. By the time the guards were alerted they had already robbed the vault and fled. Magus Conrad who was on lift duty was found dead in a closet on the ground floor." The Sovereign clenched his hands to fists. "His face, it was missing. Ninia´s had been taken as well."

Aeneya was pacing up and down the railing of the ship, her fingers tracing across her bowstring. "But the face-stealers live north of Zana, and for all their predatory nature I would not take them for the type to attack Atal of all places."

"Yes, it confuses me as well, but I know of no other magic that leaves a person in such a state." Elias lowered his head. "The rest of the circle was brutalised as well, each died to a different form of attack. Either they were facing a small army, or."

"Or what, master?" Thaeus had sat down with his legs crossed, out of all of the Hope´s Guard he was the only one seeming calm. "Their assailant is capable of using multiple schools of magic at once?"

"Yes, it would require multiple lifespans or the mind of a genius to master two different forms." Elias sat down in the same manner as his student. Even while sitting he was taller than Ellyrie. "But that does not mean it is impossible. One could extend their lifespan, or possess such a great fountain of power that they can bypass much of the technical aspects to master more complicated spells."

His face darkened. "The council lost contact with the one who was supposed to keep the Heart of the Scholar safe, a crystal of sheer unlimited power. The Academies were supposed to receive a valuable artifact, but the caravan keeping it was lost. And now the council was murdered, and what did the assailants steal? Books pertaining to studies of the Heart, and the codex of Parsae."

Silence spread across the deck. Fiona was hanging upside-down from the rigging of the "Herald" and gazed down at Elias. "So a great foe has been plotting for this attack, is what you suppose? And to what end?"

"That I do not know. And while I worry for their motives, their actions are more important." Once more Elias´ face turned westward. "The capital was intent on sending the guardians into Atal solely to ensure these artifacts stay in their reach. Once they find out that they are lost and stolen there is no telling what they may do. El, your ship is the fastest that I can consider at my disposal, and in the upcoming months you are the only one I can count on."

He stood up and stepped off the ship. "You must apprehend these assailants. They are powerful, and I would not ask you to such a dangerous mission if I had a choice. They may be our only hope."

Ellyrie followed Elias to the edge of the ship, her head was still spinning from all the information thrown at her. "Of course, but, why are they our hope?"

Elias smiled down at the captain, though he could not hide his pain from her eyes. "The moment they grasped onto these artifacts they made themselves mortal enemies of Aeterna. And you have seen what her unchallenged will creates."

The captain took a step back, her eyes widening. "Viceroy, surely you cannot-"

"I cannot? El. The guardians are many things, but before all they are our Imperator´s most loyal human servants. I love my people, and I love my gods. I bow to Aeterna because none can stand before her and live in her realm. My entire life I have dedicated to safeguard Atal from her, and should I fail, then I weep for our people. You must go, they are coming."

Ellyrie followed Elias´ gaze westward, and her heart stopped for a moment. The horizon was dominated by a massive capitaline Sky Ship, dwarfing even the "Purity". It was sailing towards the Academies at full speed, with several smaller ships following in it´s wake.

"They will not let you leave, and should they find that girl you are hiding then they will certainly take her by force if needed." Elias stuck a hand into the pocket of his coat. "You cannot let either of those things happen. Here."

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He handed Ellyrie a gilded letter. "The people of Atal know you, I am certain they will help you out of their own self interest. But should they not, show them this. The assailants were seen fleeing north east before they disappeared into the night. Now go."

Ellyrie took the letter into her shaking hand and stepped back. "I will not disappoint you, Elias. I promise."

The smile that spread across his bearded face came from the heart as he waved them farewell.

The "Herald" was quick to take off, with full sails they left the academies behind with heavy hearts and an even weightier purpose.

The sovereign remained at the top of the tower, facing the arriving ships. Watched as the great Capitaline vessel docked a mere hour later. The remaining plattforms were occupied by the smaller vessels, each unloading several dozen black coated guardians. Elias stayed in place, his eyes pinned on the gangway of the great golden ship.

Two figures walked across it toward him. A great and burly man in his late forties, dressed in a pure white uniform, and a small girl at his side with flowing red hair. The skirt of her dress ran all the way to the ground, obscuring her legs. She seemed to be almost gliding across the ground.

"So this is where you've been holed up, Elias." The man spoke in a rough and grizzled tone as he took a cigar from the pocket of his uniform, lighting it with a flame appearing around his thumb.

"I had urgent business of great importance here, Menthiades." Elias did not rise up to his feet, remaining sitting on the ground so their heads were on the same level.

"Busy arguing with your subordinates to finally submit to imperial decree? You're running an imperial province, not a debating circle." Menthiades blew a small ring of smoke into the air while looking across the city. "You better bring some good news after what happened at El Cynthia."

"I am afraid I cannot, Legate." Elias had taken out an armlet of prayer beads and was running them past his thumb as they talked. "The circle was murdered by unknown assailants, and the vault robbed of the selfsame items you had demanded."

The girl at the Legate´s side hissed at Elias, a noise that seemed to not solely come from her mouth. "You mean to tell me that not only can you not protect the borders of your province, but not even your largest cities? Just what good are you to beloved mother Aeterna?"

Elias stared down the girl, which only had her hiss all the louder.

"I do not believe that it is proper for a little girl to be speaking in such a rude manner, neither to myself or our benevolent Imperator."

Menthiades shook his head. "This 'little girl' has you outranked and outmatched, Elias. You are speaking to her imperial majesty´s second divine blade of redemption, Benevolence. I wouldn't take my chances."

Elias turned his gaze back to Menthiades and got back on his feet. "Very well. What does the capital bid that it sends her most trusted general to my province?"

The legate scoffed and pulled out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Elias. "The capital has sent me to beat some order into the mess you have left her, Elias. After consultation with the Guardians the conclusion was reached that your way of governing has done nothing but invite danger and harm to the empire and it´s interests. And since you always endeavoured to be the face of your 'reforms', this compromises your subordinates as well."

His cigar was spent, he threw it on the ground and stomped on it. "The guardians have been given highest authority over Atal, and as repentance your province will be put under redemptive conscription for the expedition that Sovereigns Marion and Zinoven have mustered."

"It is the middle of summer, Menthiades." Elias lowered his voice and took a step forward.

Before his foot reached the ground Benevolence had slid between him and Menthiades. The blade hissed and bared a sharp set of fangs. "That is quite close enough."

The strained muscles across his body showed through Elias´s robes. "If you take the people from the fields now, you will doom tens of thousands."

The legate crossed his arms. "No, they are on you. But Atal has no surplus legionaires to deploy, does it? Because it was what, 'unneeded aggressive posturing toward a possible ally?'" He spat on the ground and shook his head. "You drove this province into ruin yourself, had it not been for Steward Medias defending you at every step I'd have you executed years ago."

Elias´s body was trembling as he stared down Menthiades, who met his burning eyes without flinching. "Try it." The legate smiled and reached for another cigar. "You would make my work a lot easier."

"I, submit to the will of our imperator." Elias gritted his teeth and stepped back.

"Good. And now you are going to tell me where the artifacts went off to. I was ordered from highest authority to have them returned to the capital within the week."

Elias turned his head east. The "Herald" had already disappeared from sight, he relaxed. "I will have my subordinates compile everything we know, Legate. But you can rest assured that Atal is doing it´s best to have them returned."

"I hope that for your sake, Elias." Menthiades blew another smoke ring and gazed across the city. "And where is Medias´ girl. The traitor of El Cynthia."

"I do not know where Ellyrie is, Legate." Elias did not turn to face Menthiades, not giving him the reaction the legate was looking for.

"Still stubborn huh? No matter. The capital knows who is on board with her, Elias." Menthiades turned to the gangway to his ship. "And if they tell me to burn Atal to the ground to find her, I will. You're an idol worshipper, Elias. So why don't you do the only thing you're good at and pray while I do the work you were too weak to do."

Legate and Blade returned to their ship, leaving Elias on his own. Below him he saw guardians roam the streets, hear the first screams. They had begun their work.