Barmenash House

Silence fell over the room as the screen lost all pictures. Only the table with the presenters around it remains. The last image they saw was a strangely armoured figure standing next to a plinth on which an orb rested.

“Where is he? What is happening?” Sarah’s voice demanded. Nobody answered her; how could they? They were as clueless as she was. On-screen, the inset of the commentators became the entirety of the picture, the silent commentators finally shaking off their surprise.

Diini looked into the cameras, a smile on her face, but even those not of her race could see it was forced and her eyes held a sense of panic. “GreMNEN apologises for the break in transmission. Our best mages and manatech specialists are investigating the break!” How flustered she was could be seen in her usage of the informal name of the Greater Milee News and Entertainment Network, but what followed from the visiting monster expert is what got the broadcast cut completely. His voice broke, and a sob broke out.

“Was that a Progenitor? Are the Gate Wars back?”

All that followed was black.

The adults in the room looked at each other. None had gone to an advanced academy since their jobs did not require it. Mich was the sole person in the room, and they turned to look at her, their looks enquiring as to what she knew.

“Uncle Avrami, Aunty Sarah, I haven't learned anything about this. It may be mentioned in the future when we study the Greater Mileu history and factions, but I don’t think so.” She looked pointedly at the black screen and at the text that it now displayed “Please be patient we are attending to the problem.”

She grimaced, “I don’t think they would have cut the commentary for just a technical issue. For some reason, the presenters were terrified by what they had seen.”

“By the Progenitor and the Gate wars,” Simi’s voice rang out, him trying to sound wiser than his years, but he quickly shrank, hugging clumsy as everyone turned to face him. “But it's true! That warden man seemed terrified and that is what he said just before they stopped the picture.”

“Yes, Simi,” Misch confirmed, kneeling to ruffle the boy’s hair, “The Progenitor’s and the Gate War, but we don’t know what those are!”

Kalthek

Pandemonium reigned in the headquarters of the human branch of the Earth Mileu. The council room was packed with every councillor, as well as the General in charge of the military and his most senior aides. A recording of Mosh’s dungeon delve and the last few seconds before the video was cut was playing. Concerned looks could be seen around the room, but no one spoke.

Eventually, General Nickolaus broke the silence and looked around the room. “Does anyone have any knowledge of these Progenitors or the Gate Wars?”

The silence around the room was answer enough until one of the more junior assistants to a council member spoke member. “In the Academy I took an elective course in strategic communications and movements on the battlefield. It was a restricted course as it required a class such as mine, Strategy Guide, focussed on guiding and advising with a triple focus on Mana, body and Mind. I started the course but I was removed after two lessons for being from a lottery world and the information taught was restricted. All I picked up in those two lessons is that the Greater Mileu is not the unbeatable Behemoth they claim to be, and they have enemies, powerful enemies.” He stopped and continued as he received a nod from the General. “No specific wars were referenced that early in the course, but there was one reference to Forbidden Technology that I passed on to the High Command when I returned. It was not always forbidden, and the system's denial of it may not be as absolute as they portray.”

Davos, as one of the main council members nodded and thanked him. They needed more information, but at least they had some names they had not had before that could guide the Diviners and Seekers. They would find out who these Progenitors were, what the Gate Wars had been, or if they were still ongoing.

Mosh

Mosh stood before the doorpost of the large doors having carefully walked the path that avoided the runes. He examined the depression and the unknown rectangle, whose runes remained in motion, flowing in what looked like specified channels. He brought it closer to the depression and they slowed, aligning and coming to a stop as the same runes appeared within the depression. As the two sets of runes aligned, it was as if a massive magnet had activated and the rectangle shot out of his hand, smashing into his fingers as it flew away but did not even slow. It came to rest in the depression and Mosh heard something spark within. The doors slid silently open, a dark room beyond, and the rectangle floated back into his hand.

He stepped in, the room lighting up as he did so. A pedestal stood before him, another depression on it. It seemed out of place, the room was huge, his entire home back on earth could fit into this room ten times, and all that was within was this single pedestal which was only as thick as his leg and come to his waist. The rectangle began heating up, the symbols not just flowing across it as they had for the main door, bit glowing ever brighter, the changes so rapid he could no longer follow them. He was about to throw it down as it was close to getting too hot to handle even with his new Body stat, when a blade flicked out. A small one, but unbelievably sharp, which cut a thin slice into his finger and then retracted into the device, beads of his blood following behind. He cursed, but Blood Binding had already sealed the wound and the pain had faded.

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As with the door, the rectangle was ripped from his hand as its symbols came to a stop and matching symbols appeared on the pedestal. This time he had expected it and tried to grip the device, and stop it from flying off, but it was too strong and he failed. The room darkened and a face appeared, floating looking in his direction. Unknown to Mosh, there was once again panic in the GMNEN offices as the just restored connection flickered and died.

“Human, from Earth. So the Gamble failed.” The floating face regarded him and seemed to be consulting something. “Though I see they did manage to get a Paragon into the Crucible, something we always tried for but never succeeded in.”

“Who are you? What is this place?”

“Was it security or laxness that they did not teach you what you needed to know of us? They retained enough Lore for you to come here, but you don’t know who we are?”

Mosh was sure the frustration showed in his voice as he replied. “I found this place by accident. Who was meant to tell me, educate me? The Greater Mileu tells us nothing and still plays with the fiction that the Lottery is for a Game and only those within it understand its true purpose.” His last words were shouted and the face frowned.

“You were not sent by the Inheritors. You are not the Prepared One. Yet you bear all the markings, you have the stigmata of a Paragon. Answer this, how long has it been since the Greater Mileu returned? Quickly now or I will take what action I must to maintain the seal until the Prepared One arrives!”

Mosh tried to back off, he wanted to make a dive for the door, escape what ever this was but found his legs would not work, He strained, attempting to at least lift one foot as a precursor to a step, but it just resulted in him clutching his head as pain exploded and he saw nothing but stars.

“There is no escaping. Answer the question!”

Mosh gritted his teeth, he could feel them grinding through the waves of pain assaulting his body but had to give up. Perhaps someone stronger-willed than he could have resisted, but he couldn’t. “Three centuries, it is 327 years since the Greater Mileu returned.”

The pain disappeared, and the face appeared to nod, even though the rest of the head was not visible. “It is too soon; we would not expect an active Paragon bloodline this early. This is both good and bad. Bad in that you are untrained and unprepared for the rigours of the Crucible and the greater War, good in that no one, including the enemy, would expect you so soon. In time they may have watched closely for the birth of a paragon.” Another nod and it continued. “We will prepare you for the battle against the enemy.” As if reading Mosh’s mind it continued, “Do not make the mistake of thinking the Greater Mileu is the enemy, they are but its tool, just as ourselves and the Progenitors are tools.”

“What are you talking about? I am not fighting in any war, the Greater Mileu are not my enemy!”

The laughter from the floating face was loud and sounded genuine. “Live with your illusions, you will learn better in time! We made use of humans in the past, though they were flawed and petty-minded humans which is perhaps why the gambit failed so soon, and we will make use of humans in the future. The Earth Gambit was always expected to fail, a Gambit requires a sacrifice, but we had expected more time. Our other forces still preparing, though that is good for you as it gives you more time to grow. We will provide gifts, you will grow, and in time you will learn of the true war and come of your volition to us. I have no fear you won't, those who learn of the True War always choose a side.”

The face faded away and the pedestal sank into the ground. The room changed around him and jewel-encrusted pillars in neat rows and columns studded the room which seemed far smaller than before. Shelves now lined the room, filled with ancient tomes that were rotted and covered in a layer of dust. At the back of the room, between an ornate and gilded coat of arms stood a long table upon which rested a few items. Mosh moved forward and examined them.

The first was a spear. Picking it up, he could feel a hum of mana and something else within. It felt like it had been designed just for him, its height and balance perfect. His grip felt completely natural, he did not even have to shift his hand at all to index it properly to his hand. As he moved it, it sang to him, the hum coming to a crescendo as he struck forwards. He examined its materials and the runes along both the shaft and the blade, but they were closed to him, a mystery. There was no comparison between it and his old spear, and he set his old spear to one side as he cradled the new one.

The next pile was armour. Leather, like his current armour, but a dark grey. It shimmered as he touched it, colours cascading across it as he stretched and bent it. On its chest, the coat of arms from the wall was embedded in the lines of glowing blue that made up the runes of the rectangular device, though no runes were within these lines. He felt its material, at once more supple and stronger. He could feel bands of some harder material within, reinforcing vulnerable areas, but avoiding stiffening it in places that would compromise mobility. He placed it on the table and struck down at it with his fist. It struck and his fist was thrown back, the area hardening as he struck at it. He marvelled at it, and took the time to change into it, returning his old armour to his second pack, the one that had been given to him as part of the reparations.

The last two items lay together on a silver tray. One was a small crystal, dull and dead black, with all sharp angles and edges. No light reflected from it, nothing was mirrored within. Next to it was a book. Mosh lifted the book, and as he did so an envelope fluttered out. He opened the envelope and a sheet of paper slipped out of its own volition and unfurled. Instead of being read, it spoke in a high-pitched and nasally, voice.

“If you are hearing this, you have been chosen by the Select. If you have been chosen as a Select, you are a Paragon. If you are a Paragon, if you are not already hunted, you will be! Take this gift and learn, though it requires trust from you to accept and do what is necessary. The crystal will form a new core within you, an Aether Core. It will be hidden and you must hide its power, but not only will it give you the power to surpass your rivals, but it will also hide that you are a paragon until you are ready for it to be revealed. You will be of the Select, the weapon and armour given to you this day will resonate and be more powerful for it, but you must trust. The book contains the instructions, you need the courage to carry them out.”

With that, the page disintegrated and Mosh was left holding the book and crystal. As if a switch had been flipped, he found himself standing in the large cavern, with the wall of mana before him and he thought he heard a small voice saying “Connection re-established.”

In the commentary room of the Greater Mileu News and Entertainment Network sighs of relief were heard and smiles returned to faces as the commentators went back on air to apologise for the break in transmission and to speculate what had happened and how Mosh was back at the entrance in the ravine. In the Bar Menash house, Sarah collapsed into the arms of Avrami in relief, who in return slumped into the arm chair. Mich was the only one to worry about and question what had happened, the rest were just happy to see Mosh alive and well.