There exists a small hill; an insignificant bump in the stretch of frozen tundra.

The winds bellowed, far from the Hoarfrost pass; the colossal pair of glaciers parted the edge of the north to the Frozen Depths; a land entirely of ice, a sea frozen over, riddled with caverns far below his sensors managed to pierce.

"Auh--" His face met a giant snowflake. Forcing him to clean his snow goggles, but the blizzard didn't let up. The cold pressed against his senses; his armor stowed, bare but basic winter wear. He regretted testing the cold.

His resistance hadn't improved in the slightest!

He retrieved his phone-- forty unread messages plastered the screen. Shaky hands dissuaded the notifications, he was close enough; a couple more minutes... and a few codes later-- the ground shook.

By his side, a glass tube rose, enclosing a platform. He trudged to the handle, opening the door, reeling a breath absent of fog. Closing the space, his descent began.

A rim of lights appeared below and above, reflecting the ethereal blue. The ice slowly faded to stone, the sight of reinforced metal thereafter, until the metal groaned, and locked.

The shaft was sealed. The defensive protocols enabled. A warm light ignited the small room. Bare but a forgotten computer; it's screen small, the case taking the space of a car, thick wires haphazardly splayed the floor, connecting to the small Gate off to the side. It's ring old, the purple crystals lined the outer edge, nearing their end.

One, perhaps two passes left?

His hands were a flurry on the rugged keyboard. The sequence accepted.

The Spacial Gate hummed, the mana batteries depleted, the computer roared. Webbing dozens of formations upon each other. The rims spun, igniting ancient glyphs along the face; attuning to a matching frequency.

Adam grimaced, the portal groaned. Fluctuations danced on with the extremes, spiking and dropping from it's critical parameters.

Another mystery to history.

Without the runes of the Jui-Op bridging his knowledge, the Helios Gates would not have existed. But the maintenance alone was a nightmare for the Foreign Gates, without the Spacial Rubic, none of it would be possible.

A failure, even if it did solve the money problems.

The center of the ring stabilized, darkness manifesting, contained by the inner rim, sparks ignited within the ripples of space. A pulse birthed; brushing away the night for a blur of beyond.

Adam took a breath, his steps trudged more than he would have liked. He peered at the edge of space, looking back on instinct, shaking his head. And stepped beyond.

His body felt stretched, his senses straining as time began to twist... the feeling familiar... The Void--

He blinked. Wood supported his soles, feeling gravity again.

The sight of the lounge; filled with tables, chairs, and couches, echoed a memory of laughter. The bar was still in the corner. The lights were still warm. Adam a breath, everything was as he remembered it... if he discounted the five level 3 Androids raising the flag of Halo... a circle with a diamond within.

What was this?

Two waves of mana touched his senses; the residual mana of the collapsing portal, and the other, well, it was overblown.

The far doors burst open, a rush of metal came. Adam smiled, opening his arms, embracing Link. His one true miracle-- his boy.

The sound of muffled static came to his ear, a tinge of regret followed, but he was here. He was okay, well enough to face him again.

They parted.

Even after all these years he still wore the same clothes. A white shirt and khaki pants.

His eyes softened at the pixelated smile within the curved pane. A little shimmer of light shone off his body. He had obviously buffed it. There wasn't a common scratch, but his arms and neckline gave him away. The Phoenix Bronze had a fine shadow of red tint, and the bonded Zylon fiber gave a much more vibrant hue of gold than the yellow he remembered. Between the sparse pockets, Salu Platinum showed its faint radiance.

He was reminded of a wondrous time, a miracle he couldn't hope to recreate.

From the Cold-Titanium Alloy in his bones. To the Runret Silver of his circuit nerves. To the Trinity Winter Dew coolant in his blood. To the Nine Scale Engine of his Heart. And the Multi-Threaded Atlas Core processor of his Mind...

He remembered everything, but... he hadn't the words. What could he say, after so long?

"You took your time." Link quipped, a faint smile brushed Adam's lips.

"Had to make a stop, a family needed some help with their little Forte." Adam replied. Pixel brows appeared, and one raised.

"A Forte?-- Was it a Bloodline? A Fragment?--"

"A Constitution, to a young girl of five." Adam sighed.

"You have the worst luck in the world dad." Adam frowned, while Link's pixels laughed. "For a second there I thought something worse. I couldn't find any activity in the satellite feed."

"You think your old man has lost his tricks?!" Adam hurt, exaggerating offense. "Secret bases are secret for a reason."

Linked chuckled. A strained silence came about. "Are you okay?"

His smile eased, feeling the probing mana around him. "I think I'll be alright."

"Your Realm, it stabilized." Some unknown tension released from Link's shoulders. "And the Title?"

Adam sighed. Rare enough were titles-- the frustrating thing was but the second "undefined" he'd come across. Only one that had any effects.

[Abandon]

Force cancel an accepted World Quest, by any means necessary.

Effects:

* Locks [Quest] to Lvl 2

* Lock World Quests

* Reduced Rewards gained from Dungeon Completions

* Additional Conditions to Advancement Quests

* Inhibits access of Hidden Pieces

* Major Reduction on experience with the [Progress] Privilege

* Minor Reduction on Known Privileges

* Added Conditions to Conjoined Authorities

* Locks Unknown Privileges

* Locks all [Privileges] to Level 4 (Max)

* Takes a Title Spot

"No..." He hadn't spent any time finding a solution, but he couldn't tell Link that. "I haven't been able to come up with anything. Have you?"

"Sorry dad," Link slumped. "There hasn't been any new information."

Adam mirrored, "What about Convergence?" The Privilege he unlocked coming back from the Void.

[Convergence -- ⅩⅢ]

Through forces willed and unknown, the near impossible followed and gave birth to your existence.

'Treasure the Moments Young One, be Wary of the Life Ahead.'

Summary:

* Enables System Integration Network.

* Cannot be leveled through Dungeon Delves.

Privilege:

1. System Node Registration

Link couldn't meet his eyes. "Convergence is still the highest recorded rank."

He was still the only one then.

After decades they were no closer. But, that was alright-- he swung an arm around his boy. Shoulder to shoulder.

Link turned to face him, bearing a downcast of pixels.

He smiled. "Don't worry about it, Link. I can make do-- whatever happens, it's not world ending."

Link's form straightened, a small smile returning. "Glad to have you back, dad."

"Glad to be back, son." The mood returned, as they began a walk. Motioning behind as they left through the door. "But what's with the Andriods?"

Link's faltered, he paused in the middle of the hall. "I... thought you would be arriving earlier, so I had order a procession."

"Huh," he chortled. "I'm a little to old to be playing Royalty..."

"Perhaps a poor Count then?" Link jousted.

Adam chuckled as they continued.

Passing a fork in the hall, an elevator awaited, carrying them up to the peak, the ceiling opened to a small patch of grass. Rows of trees guide a pristine stone path, up to the end. A headstone of mundane marble stood before a dark tree without leaves, half of the plot dedicated to a meadow of colorful flowers... Fractaliens; an iridescent flower, famed for their color, and chaotic mana alignment. With each new day, their petals would change, and so too would their concentration of mana.

He took a breath. A mix of summer; the warm smell of a fresh air reached from the forest slope. A wave of left him free, he had relearned much, yet there was grand projects to be finished.

If only things were a little bit simpler the higher I go, he thought. His gaze landed on a great tree, it's bark; dark as night, branches bare of leaves.

Long ago, it had no true name-- it's only proof of existence was the cuttings sold on the black market. Months of searching through fields of misdirection lead to a discrete mountain cliff. Locked away in a courtyard by a Clan of Beast Tamers, guarded by those approaching the Core Realm. It stood a third it's size, weak, and clinging to life.

He felt little pity when their location got "leaked." When the fires came for their doors, well, he took his chance. He enjoyed snatching the prize. Brining it to the one place it could truly heal, grow, and taste the touch of Stars.

Years would pass without a name, in the end Link was the one who gave it. A little spot on, but it deserved every moment of awe.

When night would fall, the truth would be revealed. Leaves of faint stars would shimmer in the night, reaching for the sky. A cluster by it's own right.

And so it was named... Starlight.

The last piece of his mountain of wonders. Titan was finally whole, and set in motion.

The treasures that adorned it now-- he looked upon the nine petals, the chaos adorned. Reagents Alchemists and Wizards cursed for centuries, vexed by the teasing of the mystical "weed".

He grinned, yet it couldn't dissuade a muddled irritation.

Adam looked to the other half, a grave of weapons stood. Broken spears, swords, shields, daggers... and a handful of others, embedded the ground, drinking the ambient mana.

He couldn't feel it, but there was little doubt a heavy Intent lingered the broken metal. Enticing enough, young warriors might set out their own blades to meditate between the rust.

He squinted at the finer details.

They weren't his. Right? He couldn't remember, a chill trailed down his spine.

"The weapons...?" Adam pointed.

"A gift from Pierre, the flowers were from Sigurn." Link replied.

The shattering glass echoed. Time slowed. The world faded... Pierre... Sigurn... Strangers. Customers. Allies. Friends--

Like Hell!

It was because of them! Because they pushed, because they were allowed on the mountain, he followed the World Quest once more.

He should have kept it to himself; the impossible dream of Ascension. Yet they came. They tried to help--

"Never before has such a party been formed, Adam the rewards are well worth this chance..." Pierre's voice echoed.

The Girfel Bastard! After all he'd done! For all of them!

"--d! Dad! Wake up!" A faded voice came through the color.

"What?" The world shot back. He frowned. A cage of arrays sealed his space, the mountain funneled the brunt of the entwined power.

The faint lines of mana faded, a distant alarm blaring throughout the city.

"Sorry, I wasn't quick enough..." Adam felt a twist in his gut. The flow of mana recoiled from the sudden burst, the waves in the atmosphere echoing beyond the slopes.

His phone pinged with warnings.

He lost control, his heart beat the thunder of shame. If Link hadn't thrown in his hand-- the consequences... Titan would be--

A hand found his shoulder as they turned away, half here, half toiling with the rise of subtle shakes. The descent of the elevator was no longer pleasant, the silence was sickening.

He hated it-- this feeling, dammit all-- he couldn't control it. Gritting his teeth, forcing it down, long till an after thought. Later, that was the way; he would deal with it later.

# # #

"...Just moments ago Class 4 Alarm blared across the city. The direct result remains uncertain, but we've been given the following from Titan:

'At the time of 1:34 pm, today, a partial leak of the Cryalein Energy Reactor occurred from a cross section of errors resulting from new testing procedures. The leak has been averted and sealed, no damage physical or otherwise has occurred. Further measures have been put into place to alleviate future issues resulting thereof.'

We are joined by Professor, Francis Ferns in discussion..."

Link tuned out the crystal screen. The cafe was still, as all eyes were on the far wall. A subtle distraction, from their Ruic; their crystalline phones scrolling through 'Bulletin'; the social media app Link ran.

Though the feeds were a flurry. 'Doom's Day,' they called it. Any more posts and the tag might just hit the trending page.

Utter nonsense-- but it was better than what it was.

He had to mind himself not to stare at dad.

Both of them were concealed in an Illusion, a Technique, refined from the stores of their records. But for Adam, they had to stop by a personal vault, housing spare Cloaks; a simple band that went on the wrist, synchronizing with the user's mana to shroud them in a new form.

Dad had always been paranoid.

They wore different clothes, different appearances, but kept a subtle relation of being father and son.

It was the only good thing about it, the rest came as a burden. Having eyes, being unable to turn off his expressions, forced to connect his consciousness with his appearance... it was a chore, but today, it didn't matter.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

This would not be soiled. Today was a day of rest.

No matter how much he wanted to help his father. He would not ask. He would not meddle, because this was their time-- the world could wait a day.

Link sighed, grimacing. Flesh was complicated.

"You alright there Lane?" Dad called him by his false name. How long has it been? Perhaps well over a century now? A smile came to Link's illusion.

"I'm alright dad," he lied.

"But you're thinking of something," Adam replied. Hoping for more, distant of the hallowed look in his eyes. "Otherwise why are we here?" The iced coffee touched his lips, a smile relieved some strain.

Vic's Cafe did close down decades ago, but had also moved shop to the outskirts of the city. Alexander had taken over his mother's business after her passing, and changed it to accommodate a more serene location. Fields of green and gold painted the wall windows up till the edges of the forest. The brief sight of the main road filled with wayward travelers with their eyes full of wonder, staring at the sprinkling of skyscrapers and pristine beauty of metal merged with nature.

Sometimes he would stop by, under invisibility, and catch a moment.

"I don't know where to start." He spoke wistfully, another lie. He knew where not to.

"Then, the little things?" Thank goodness.

"You know there is rather interesting development that I've been monitoring," Adam leaned in. "A new specie of duck has come to the southern pond."

Father groined, "Too small. Come on, Lane."

He chuckled, a bit unsure of himself. "If we're going for a bit big... business has been on the upside since the Continental Drift."

Adam's brows furrowed. "The what?"

"Ah, that's right. You've been gone for so long I guess you wouldn't have know." Adam's eye's rolled. He needed just enough to sate dad's curiosity. "A new Punishment has been attached to some of the latter Rank Dungeons; failure means that you just find yourself on a whole new continent."

"It doesn't just kick you out? What about the Keystones?"

"Some do, as for the Keystones; there are ranks to them now." He sipped his drink, a pleasant taste of vanilla. "If it doesn't match or exceed the rank, then they only have a rough chance of putting on the same continent?"

Adam frowned, much less pleasant. "And trade?"

"A... much more sensitive matter since you left. New resources for the lower realms, even though Avatars have been lagging behind."

"Tier 6 Dungeons?" Link shook his head; their was no such thing, the completion of the World Quest brought nothing this time.

"Shit-- it might not have enough..." A weariness took hold.

"Of what?" Link paused.

"Nothing, uh-- don't worry." Adam replied, unbothered by Link's leer.

The silence was deep but mild. Link received a notification through his internalized system. He held back clenching his teeth. Dad turned over his phone, unaware. Long since he had moved the information pipeline from it's standard course. He wished some weren't so petty in their complaints.

Just one day, I would like nothing to happen. Link thought.

"You have anything else planned?"

"Not really, though there are some documents that need to be finalized." If he didn't raise the tariffs of iron for this.

Adam scoffed. "Paperwork? Come on, don't you have better things to do?"

"I guess so," Link stood. "This'll only take but an hour."

"Don't worry about it." Adam waved him off, leaving with him. "I have to go make another stop anyway."

"Where will you go?"

"Where else? To the Guardians."

Link faltered a step, as a flurry of messages were sent in an instant.

# # #

On the east side's slopes of Titan, a small path graced it's way by a trail of moss and cobble. The gentle wind tickled with the scent of fresh grasses, brimming mana, easing his steps.

Still, they dug into the earth. Adam could push back the storm with his mind... Only his worries expected this day to be filled with more scorn, demanded it in some ways.

In many was he had been a poor leader, and a worse father.

What would his father say at a time like this? What would his mother?

The time was shrouded by joyless thought, the faint memory of the family forge keeping the madness from ruining the day.

Adam paused to probe. A leyline coursed beneath. Nothing was amiss. The Guardians were fine.

He continued, his eyes lingering on the thick vegetation and refined trees. Company in the brush. Farther into the shade and the darkness of the canopy predators stalked. Gauging their prey, mana probes were sent, silently along his steps, trying to catch a moment. Finding nothing-- a surge recoiled their connection.

A yelp muffled roar shocked the forest. The predators dispersed, leaving only the small eyes to follow along.

The path continued to a clearing of circling stones, his pace slowed.

Evergreen Moss coated their surfaces; a faint shimmer of green pulsed a steady beat of Nature mana from the natural anchor. Underneath, hidden under tens of Obscuring Arrays, formations and machines went with the beat of the Node.

Though it didn't seem to stop the Diviners-- the cursed profession.

It was peaceful. Quiet, but compared to the heart of the Sicurac Forest, it lacked power. Perhaps a few could grow to Foundation Establishment on pure sustenance. But more; be it beings or realm?

This clearing could only support a single being at a time.

He humored the image of opening up the mountain. Imagining the lines reaching he to the Outer rim.

A shiver went up his spine. Making a reminder to double check the Obscuring Arrays. There were few things greater than the sanctity of his home. The Guardians secondary assignment, first being managing their designated Nodes.

His shoulders dropped.

That was if the rascals could even pay attention.

A green chipmunk lay basking under the sun. Sleeping in the center, by the brightest Evergreen Moss.

Some Guardian...

Adam grumbled. "Reggie," But the chipmunk slept. "Reggie... Reginald!"

The rodent squeaked and jumped a dozen feet in the air. A little blur shot at his face-- Adam caught the terrified chipmunk.

"Sleeping on the job?" He turned off his illusion. Terror turned to shock, as Reggie's eyes went wide.

"Ch-- Chief?!" Reggie squeaked, like he couldn't believe it. Had they not known he was back?

"Who else would it be?" Settling down the Guardian on his resting spot. Silently standing on his hind legs, staring. A wave of unease nudged, "What?"

"Is... it really you?" A worry settled.

Adam blinked, "Is everything alright Reggie?"

The chipmunk looked downcast. "We didn't think you would return after everything that happened."

He shifted, the memories weren't coming to him. "Were you there?"

"We weren't-- Batu came the first week, and we saw a recording. Then, Link came around for some time, saying that you left." Reggie supplied, feeling the mana of the little chipmunk poke and prod.

"Did he not say the time?"

"We didn't know more."

He sighed. Maybe it was for the best.

"It's not like it was before..." Reggie exclaimed, his Beastal senses were more attuned to a change in nature than emotion. A person's stability, in heart and mind. "Colder, I think... but, fire... Change is still continuing."

There was a pause, a deep breath taking in the crisp air. Adam recalled-- tried to recall brighter days, happier times. He frowned at the muddled emotions.

[Parallel Processing]

The Skill oozed a wave of pressure, gorging at his mana; a testament to his incompetence within offerings of the System. A crutch.

His mind split in two, his view of the world stretched until he was helpless. Leaving but one central focus-- himself. His life at world's mercy, who knows what his enemies made of themselves in his absence.

The risk of his incompetence.

Together both minds worked, one imagined the future, another the past. Waging through the highs; the birth of his son, the first day of flight... and the lows; failing to save Colette, wasting years to an explosion... the memories came forth, and yet dulled. The future came with silence and ruin, neither was his desire.

He pushed the skill deeper.

His mind ached, color seemed to twist and fragment, a glimpse into the nightmare. He saw-- the Void stared back.

The Skill broke.

He gasped. Falling to his knees, sweat beat down his brow. Reggie's chirps were secondary to the pounding beat within his ears. His stomach churned, groaning-- his nose clogged, failing to contain the warm trickle. He touched his lips, tasting iron, finding a faint red upon his fingertips. He snorted the blood.

How long has it been? He could not remember the last time he pushed the skill this hard. What's worse-- he felt jarred, alien; the muddled swirl of emotions, into the burst of shattered glass...

Adam's mind teetered on the edge-- the little squeaks overpowered any reprieve.

"It's alright Reggie. I'm fine." He patted chipmunk scurrying on the grass, staring up at him with concern. He tightened his grip over his mana, resolved to not a single trace being left. "How was I...?"

"Breaking-- Breaking!" Reggie squeaked, his voice strained, blaring instincts. Petering out by a time long past, but his eyes did not waver.

He rarely saw such intensity. Reggie jumped to his shoulder.

Little hands hugged his neck as he felt soft fur. A whisper, quiet and scared, "Feeling danger; like prey."

Emotions would not have drowned him so easily if he regained control. The beat of his heart picked up. Resigning to sit on the grass, his back to Reggie's rock, staring at the sky, the clouds passing by, he thought of nothing but the moment.

Reggie made no move to separate, nestling himself by the crevasse of his neck. A balm for his his aches.

He really needed to get out of these clothes. The pain lessened.

A reminder that coaxed out past days, traveling under a hooded cloak and a little chipmunk that beat the odds; stealing priceless seeds under the nose of Beasts twice as strong.

Simpler days... Adam thought, his hand reached across to Reggie.

He felt a shudder, as Reggie's paws clamped down on the leather, a strain of his mana flared in defense.

But thats all there was. Gentle strokes and soft fur calmed, purring for the time. A gentle smile relieved some of the turbulence as they cared for nothing else.

Lost in a moment. Thinking of nothing, as the world sought nothing of them.

When Adam relieved his hand, he turned to wide eyes commanding his attention.

Reggie tried to speak, stuttering with no words; his body pushed and pulled for meaning. But the chipmunk relented, casting a less intense gaze.

"Are you meeting with the others?"

"I am." Adam replied, wanting to catch up with them after so long.

"It might be hard." Reggie meeked, "Only Abe, Lar, and Bane are on the mountain."

Adam blinked, "Have the rest left?"

They were not bound, the Guardians, but they had to do their part; manage their node, and defend the mountain. Should they wish to leave, they were free, with some conditions-- though what Beast would? Even Reggie defended his rock with ferocity, having not the will to leave, it was in their blood, and Mana Beasts would rather die than relinquish their territory.

People they were, human they were not.

But sometimes things tended to blur, if they truly left... Titan and his hope, would be a bit less whole...

"No?" Reggie's voice waned. Concerning. "They're here but... went away for a bit."

Relieved. He didn't have the time to find another Guardian. "Do you know where they are?"

"Kraith left to go exploring, but she should be back in a few days. Iskis and Vagha have left north for the Kelch Mountain range to do battle." Reggie replied. Fair enough, holding those three was a fools errand anyway. But he couldn't help but count, there was still another missing.

"And Grace?" Reggie's expression faltered. Adam frowned. "What?"

"Grace hasn't touched the mountain for a few years now." His brows shot up, his heart sunk. If she wasn't at the Metal Node, who was? "But she is still around, in the city... I think?"

"You think? Why? What happened?" Grace was strong, her presence stood at the peak of the Refinement Realm when he left. By now she should be well into Foundation Establishment.

Why was she in the city? A man-sized bat would've surely caused a panic.

"She attained her Human form," Reggie whispered, so quiet he barely heard it over the distant song birds.

Adam's mouth went ajar, all the dread evaporate-- "What?!"

He shot to his feet, taking Reggie in his palm to see the lie... but there was none to speak of.

"She... chose to be Human?" She chose to abandon the power of Beasts.

"Yes..." Reggie's voice petered, looking torn. A heavy thought on his mind.

In all his years he never met a Beast that chose the Human path-- he heard rumors, whispers in legend.

He focused on Reggie's weary expression-- but there was a price that stood against everything a lesser Beast could hope for...

"We'll go for a visit," Adam said. Settling Reggie on his shoulder, "Maybe bring the others on a little trip?"

Reggie chipped, not really here.

He sighed. The little one would be alright. Reggie has always pulled through whatever stood before him. Tenacious as a Dragon... One way or another, he'll get his answer.

# # #

The Oaks wound their ways upon each other, reaching for the little bit of light that had not yet been claimed. But the day could not be snuffed by their presence, as the grasses, bushes, moss, and ferns reached in their own efforts.

A calming sight of green.

Adam felt it, the pulse of Nature mana channeling through the metaphysical pipelines. Bound to travel to the farthest ends of the mountain, and back again, but it would never be the same. The mana born here would have long since departed, gone, as the channel brought another wayward. Spurring on the artificial cycle as all beings knew... as he knew, but couldn't wholly muster.

Cultivation.

Centuries, an empire's worth of insights, and experiments, poured the channels.

It helped the foundation was strong; the life here measuring their time by hundreds, if not thousands of years, eased the strain that he would have otherwise been forced to carve. Sustaining a theory long since he stepped foot these slopes.

A Cultivating Mountain.

"Close," Reggie nudged his neck.

Adam couldn't help but smile, reminded by the gushing creeks breaking into gentle streams. Sourced by a single cascade, and the torrent of the waterfall.

Fresh dew and subtle sweet florals tickled his senses. Adam took a breath-- breaching the forest to a muddled shore. Water lilies sprinkled the surface of crystal water, some taking their time to bloom as the white petals caught the light of the sun for their briefest days.

His gaze rose to catch the cliff face holding a minored awe. A waterfall crashed to a mist blanketing a corner of the small lake.

A high rumble shadowed them all-- a blur of green skipped the lily pads. The water underneath soared like a rock dropped from the cliff.

But the little singer did not care.

A frog cried, staring up at him with big blue eyes.

"How have you been Lar?" He asked... and the little green bellowed incoherently. Ah crap--

Reggie jumped from his shoulder, spinning in a whistling wind. A foot peaked out his descent...

"Gahg--" Lar belched, his head planting in the muck.

"We don't have all day Lar!" Reggie squeaked, cast a hard gaze at the stumbling frog.

Lar... had strange troubles for a Beast. Stranger for an amphibian, he was a very emotional frog. His spurts sometimes lasted for days; days of happiness, days of sadness, but they had a pattern; the more striking the emotional seizure, the more time it took for Lar to settle himself.

And... well... he hadn't thought the frog cared for his presence all too much in the years he'd made him Guardian of the Water Node.

Lar looked up, trying to compose himself. "Adam...? Chief?"

He only heard Reggie call him Chief. His smile brightened. "Yes Lar, I'm back."

There were no words. Lar jumped to his shoulder, looking deep into his eyes as Reggie once had. Lar's mouth ballooned, and a piercing cry sang his song of a hundred frogs. Bellows high and low, tuning one another, his heart on display.

It was minutes until he calmed, settling to an eerie silence on his shoulder.

Reggie jumped to his other, staring curiously at Lar.

"We'll go see if Abe's awake." Adam said, leaving Lar to muse his troubles.

Reggie squeaked, and they bid off.

The path to Abe's abode was much shorter-- part of the difficulty in managing the channels of this mountain was the mana sources weren't perfect. The defining mechanisms were illusive, but what stayed the same were the physical properties reflect the metaphysical space. At least most of the time... The Celestial Elements never did play by the rules.

Nature mana dwindled as more outcrops of rocks took the space of trees. Stone mana coursed through another set of channels. All the way to the shattered cliff, boulders ascended, stacked on top of one another, nestling a set of stairs leading to the forest above.

He ignored them, walking off to the far side where boulders nestled the unbroken cliff. He did not paused, shrouding himself and his Guardians with a thin coat of mana. The illusion did not ripple, nor break, finding himself in a darkened room of soft lights. Winding its way around till they were right under the set of stairs. Before a giant tortoise three times his size.

Abe slept in soft breaths. His form was coated with a thin layer of dust and powder. Large dome spikes protruded from his shell, the natural shades of grey of his armor, and the dull white of his skin made him seem part of the stone itself.

Always the sentinel. Less adventurous than the rest, content on sleeping or reading in passing days.

"You awake Abe?" Adam asked.

The tortoise opened his eyes of ash, raising his neck high beading down at him. Uncaring to hide his power.

Foundation Establishment, Third Stage.

"You've returned." Abe spoke, an ancient voice rumbled. "I can only assume things have settled for your mind and realm?"

"Yes," he strained. The tortoise's eyes dilated, a stubble shift in his expression-- he was getting a lot of those today.

"I assume you're well, and Link has found no complications with your arrival?" Abe asked, waning out of his hole to stand. He frowned but the Guardian paid no mind.

"I am well enough to keep my head."

Abe smirked, "Then we can only hope for brighter days in the coming challenges your presence shall bring."

Adam huffed, exasperated. Looking off to the cavern wall, reinforced with dozens of formations, and heavy illusion... A passage, leading deeper into the mountain, to a room with far more protections than even the Ascendant Library.

Titan's Archive of Knowledge; the Memorium. Unbound by definitions of good and evil, the library contained everything not of his own works. From the mundane to vile and sacred works-- nothing was without reach, if it was knowledge, it was kept safe regardless of its history or make.

Abe's tertiary duty. He loved the library.

The tortoise stood steadfast at works that would render lesser souls twisted and cursed. His eyes bore a deep gaze, and his spirit the essence of the mountain. Alone he learned, and bore on to the next challenge to sort.

"Are the Guardians to gather?" Abe's form shrinking to reach his knees.

"If you want? I'm going to swing by Bane, and see if I can find where Grace went?" Adam replied.

"She hasn't returned to the mountain?" A flash of concern dotted his features.

"No," he sighed.

Abe bellowed out a hum, contemplating, settling deeper into concentration. A brush of mana further compressed his form until he was the size of Adam's palm.

Mana swirled around the tortoise as Abe began to rise, before settling on Adam's head.

"Why do you always go for the high perch? Are you a bird?" Adam quipped.

"No more than your head becoming daft." Adam snorted.

"Alright, then." He made way out of the cave. Catching the sun's rays. A subtle prompt in his mind invoked the [Arsenal]. Metallic gloves, boots, and greaves, came forth in their shine of black, brass, and subtle violet. "Hang on, I don't really want to walk around the mountain today."

Mana drew from his core, empowering the armor. Delving to call the limited memory of his Array programs. Circles of countless symbols shown from his hands and feet. A flex of his channels, a tweak of the illusionary shroud for his passengers, and they were off...

A gentle course, taking it slow. Feeling the warmth of the summer's day. He took a breath, brushing up the Laws of reality, feeling the stability, and the cradle of his home. Casting a gaze from the mountain to the city, and beyond. All within his sights was the work of his achievements.

It was nice to be back.

Leaving to the gentle descent before a mound of dulled earth, crowning a large fern. How many could guess that the stalk was just the end of a very large carrot? A Balyan Carrot, but still.

The earth shook. A cloud of dust and black carapace rose the length of two men. The beetle stood undaunted, ready for a fight.

Foundation Establishment, Fifth Stage.

His brows rose. "At ease Bane."

Bane replied; closing his wings and lowering his rear.

"Everything alright?" There was a click from his mandibles. "Then do you need anything?" Two clicks responded, before Bane returned to bury himself underneath the ground. Leaving everything as it once was.

"Couldn't even wait for even a second." He grumbled. Nothing had changed about the beetle.

At least he remembered how to answer back.

Adam didn't know if insects could develop higher level intelligence. Most were just hungry, constantly looking for a feast. Emotions and duty were absent in their living, no matter their Realm, the only thing that seemed to come was Instinct.

The grueling hours of training brought simple commands. A fortress that cared for nothing but his little patch of dirt, and the Node he was instructed to guard.

"Guess that's it..." He thought aloud, feeling the awaiting anticipation of his companions. "Let me just check in with Link first before we go on the hunt."

He pulled out his phone and sent a message, expecting little, it would probably be a dead end. Though their might be something on the Servers, who knows? Maybe there was a record?

The response came near instant-- an address, sure. But a poster?

Adam looked up, and for the first time in a decades he knew a headache was coming.