Luno sat opposite the Dragon and Haneem that called themselves Sagathon and Na’an.

The sky was grey and the air was cold. Far colder than that of any previous winter.

Countless knights stood in a circular formation in the grassy planes south of Middlen.

“So… who art thee exactly?” Luno asked.

[As I said, my name is Sagathon, and this is Na-Ahn. I am the Temporal Scribe and I served as advisor to the Dragon Royal family. Unfortunately, I was left behind in our home world after that oh-so-fateful collision.]

“I see and… thou spoke of an imminent end. Couldst thee detail it all for us?” Luno asked.

[Ah… you know of the Noladmet, right? Those beings who grant us the power to control the aspects?]

“Yes.”

[Yeah, well they are not of this universe.] Sagathon revealed making Luno frown slightly.

[They are beings from somewhere beyond the bounds of our cosmos and they are and have been, for the longest time, eating away at Loç- err… that’s what I call her. The one ultimate being within which we all exist. I’m sure you’ve seen glimpses of her. Naked as she is, floating in a place beyond our understanding.] Sagathon said prompting Luno to nod in understanding.

[Yes. They are eating away at her flesh, the very fabric of our cosmos.]

“Pardon my interruption but are they the cause of the collisions?” Luno asked, his frown slightly heavier.

[Yep. And-]

[The next one will be the last.] Na-Ahn said, cutting Sagathon off.

[Hey! I wanted to say that!] Sagathon cried but Na-Ahn ignored him while crossing her arms.

She sat on a chair opposite Luno and her fiery pink eyes dimmed a little as they looked Luno over.

[They will soon reach her heart and any damage done to it will result in the breaking down of all fundamental laws. That’s why you, hosts all, have to confront them. The Noladmet.]

“To what end?” Luno asked with a cautious tone.

[To conduct the Ritual of Eight.]

Luno’s eyes suddenly widened.

[Yes. Your father and the First Stone King saw the end and they prepared everything accordingly to give us, all of us, a chance to save ourselves.] Na-Ahn said but all Luno could do was clutch his hair as his eyes quaked.

“Your highness, are you alright?” Gregar asked but Luno dismissively waved his hand.

“What is needed to conduct the ritual?” He asked.

[The lives of all eight hosts. We will confront our benefactors and return that which they gave but not before joining them in form and…. Well, I think you know what comes after.] Sagathon said.

Luno nodded before leaning back into his chair.

“Is there nothing else that can be done to stop them?”

[No because not only do we have to kill them, we also need to transfer their energy into Loç to repair what was damaged.] Sagathon explained.

“I see. Oh- when will the next collision occur?”

[I honestly don’t know. They usually happen once every five hundred years, but the most recent one only took about two years. The next one could happen at any moment which is why I need you to help me find the others.] Sagathon said.

“Ah… five of us are already on Edenton-“

[It’s seven, actually.] Sagathon said making Luno frown in confusion.

[The collision brought the hosts of cold and life here. So, come on. Let’s go get ’em!] Sagathon said rather excitedly.

Luno nodded before standing up.

“Couldst thee give me a moment to prepare some things?”

[Of course! Just don’t take too long otherwise we’ll all be torn to shreds.]

Luno nodded before facing Astír.

“Gather everyone in the Lunar Hall.”

“And-“

“Yes. Him as well.”

Astír nodded before quickly teleporting back to Caligo’s palace where she rushed to his quarters where to find him hard at work.

She knocked on the door making him raise his head.

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“Yes?”

“The Moon King has summoned you to the Lunar Hall.”

“Oh? Alright, I will depart immediately.”

Astír nodded before teleporting all the way to Lornster where she entered the mayoral office wherein Kulea could be seen hard at work.

“Pardon the intrusion but you have been summoned to the Lunar Hall by the Moon King.”

“Am I in trouble?” A baggy-eyed Kulea asked but Astír shook her head before pouring some life into the High Priestess.

“No, it is something entirely different and far graver.”

“Oh- then why don’t I come with you?” Kulea asked as she stood up.

“Alright.”

Kulea stood next to Astír and the two rapidly made their way to the Golden Spire where they entered Lord Gera’s office.

Astír told him that he had been summoned and he too joined Astír and Kulea in making their way to Stonenger Keep where they fetched Ferraya.

The group then made their way to the Lunar Hall where Luno and Caligo awaited them.

The Grandmaster, High Lords and Priestess knelt before Luno who sat with his head rested on his arm.

“Thou hast all worked hard in the name of restoration and forward progress. It would be wrong of me to ignore this and so I ask that ye accept mine congratulations.” Luno said but no one spoke in response.

“Alas, a grim possibility has revealed itself true. Moments ago, I spoke with a dragon who claimed to be a Temporal Scribe. He spoke words I had last heard uttered by my father all those ages ago. Words that detailed the end of all worlds. Now, it would be foolish of me to completely trust his words but I cannot refute their authenticity. I speak with ye all now to prepare thee for a future without me.”

Everyone gasped.

Astír glanced at Caligo to find that although his jaws were clenched, he didn’t speak.

“The end has not only been seen, it can be stopped but it will come at the cost of we hosts.” Luno’s words echoed loudly in the silence of the hall.

“I… tell me each of thine thoughts. Caligo, mine son.”

“I… if it has to be done, then we will have to do it. For our people. Although I harbour suspicions about this dragon. A part of me thinks he was sent by the dragons in the north.” Caligo said with narrowed eyes.

“That is a reasonable suspicion. It would make sense for the dragons to eliminate all hosts before making their move but… no, it is a reasonable doubt. Which is why we will make no definite decisions until Sagathon proves that all he says is true.” Luno said before turning his eyes to Gera.

“And thee, Gera?”

“The dragons have never been a conniving sort. If this really is a trap, then it is an… interesting one. However, no one can deny the fact that the most recent collision was devastating. Reports say thousands have gone missing and thousands more have appeared from earth. People from earth are being escorted to shelters but some speak different tongues from others and this has led to conflict and misunderstandings are abundant. We are at our weakest in this moment and losing you, your highness would only make us more so.” Gera said.

“True. And with Caligo and I gone, there would be no one to rule. A thought that comes to mind is letting the Yilon and Helma rule alongside thee as a council but that would only birth confusion and possibly even discontent in the hearts of the people. The kingdom would need a single vision to carry it forward and the candidate I had in mind is unfortunately missing.”

Everyone let out hums of agreement.

Luno sighed before turning to Kulea.

“And thee. Share thine thoughts.”

“Yes, your majesty. What about young Adia? Could we not mold him into the ideal ruler?” Kulea asked but Caligo groaned.

“I would not be so sure about that. He has never made his desire to return home a secret. If he were to one day become king, he would rule over Lanceberg lovelessly.” Caligo said.

Luno nodded before stroking his beard.

“Ferraya?”

“Mmm… I am more drawn to your earlier idea, your majesty. We could form a council consisting of everyone here. We would then lead the kingdom using the expertise and wisdom shared by everyone.”

“That sounds practical enough but how do we decide who is a part of this council?” Luno asked.

“Contributions made to the kingdom,” Ferraya said firmly.

“Wait. Does that not mean that a man of common birth could attain a seat on the council if they worked hard enough?” Gera asked.

“Yes, but I do not think that a person’s birth should dictate whether or not they are a capable leader,” Ferraya said but this only made Gera frown.

“Mmm… I think that this council you suggest would be the spawning ground for corruption and division.”

“Oh? So, the old system wasn’t? Was it not you and your fellow Lords who allowed the kingdom to stagnate and rot from within? Also, I think you forget just how many of us knights were born from low-born mothers.” Ferraya said with eyes that glowed slightly white.

Gera's eyes lowered slightly.

“It seems as though change was desperately needed either way. Gregar, please share thine thoughts.”

Gregar stepped forward from behind Luno and knelt by the king’s side.

“I think that a council could work. My suggestion would be that we knights be made a separate entity that watches over both the people and the council.”

“And who would watch over thee?” Luno asked with a raised brow making Gregar lower his head further.

“Two separate councils would be tedious and, like Gera said, this would only lead to division.”

Everyone let out understanding hums.

“It seems as though this matter requires much thought. But I am glad I got to discuss it thee at this early stage. Now return to thine posts and create drafts for what system thee thinks would work best. We will meet again in three days to discuss everything.”

Everyone nodded before standing to leave.

Astír remained along with Caligo who walked up to his father's side.

He opened his mouth to speak but Luno raised his hand before standing.

“It would be better if thee heard it all from Sagathon himself.”

Caligo nodded and it wasn’t long before they were back in front of Sagathon who read his book while Na-Ahn sat idly in front of him.

Luno took his seat once more before letting out a fake cough.

He opened his mouth to ask Sagathon to explain everything to Caligo but Sagathon did it before the words left Luno’s mouth.

[Now that you’re caught up. Come on, we have to go get two of our other friends.] Sagathon said prompting everyone to stand around Luno.

[Take us to the middle of the ocean far to the east.]

Luno nodded and like that, everyone was in a different location only instead of an endless ocean of water, they were greeted by bone-chilling wings and a gigantic mass of ice.

Seated at its center was a man only he was covered in snow.

Luno lowered the platform atop which everyone stood so that they could get a better look at the man.

He looked very similar to a normal human man only his hair was long and translucent.

The man looked up and waved at Luno and company prompting them to all wave back.

The platform got lower enough for everyone to see the man’s face clearly. He looked fairly young and had a fit physique which everyone could see because he was naked.

The man said something that Astír couldn’t understand although he looked excited.

[He says his name is Tybo and that it’s a pleasure. Everyone say “Hello, Tybo!”!] Sagathon instructed and everyone complied, some more enthusiastic than others.

Tybo’s face lit up with joy and he grew even happier as Gregar offered him a hand.

He took it and joined everyone on the platform before saying something.

[Hehe, don’t worry my friend. As a fellow host, I can guarantee that your powers won’t freeze this world over… maybe.]