“When I’m strong enough…”

Set leaned against the outer wall of Akuoun’s den and stared into the light of the nebula-esque form that gave the Lozzai its greenish hue. In his right hand he held the sword that rondo had forged. Though it no longer completely eclipsed him in size, it was still too far too large for conventional use. Set had grown much larger in the time since he’d first learned of the various corruptions. He was not nearly as tall as Lakon, though he was on the leaner side, it would be a stretch to call him lithe. His horns were now starting to take the same shape as Akuoun’s although there were only 4 rather than the 12 that flanked the old man’s mane. And his own mane grew long enough to flow in a passing breeze.

Set glanced down at the sword and attempted to remove it from the scabbard to no avail. He took a deep breath, relaxed, then attempted again. This time exerting more than just physical effort by using some of the physical reinforcement magic he’d learned from Lakon over the past half a cycle. His arms began to glow with the runes he’d engraved into his arms as he fought against the blade’s will with sheer force, but even when multiplying his strength exponentially, he couldn’t get a glimpse of the blade that had accompanied him for nearly a cycle.

“So be it, I’ll use you as a bludgeon.” Set remarked begrudgingly as he hung the ‘club’ across his waist just above his tail.

The light in the Lozzai began to shift into a deep cyan as Set took off towards the Mezzai.

“A gathering… at the Mezzai? The elders must be up to something absurd this time.”

Flying over the Lozzai and Uulzai he nearly collided into a few buildings and plants along the way, despite the scarcity of both. Flight was Set had yet to accustom to as he rarely felt the need to do so. He made his way to the Mezzai before the shifting colors of the four districts fully set in, but not without ‘greeting’ a couple of the taller plants along the way.

When he arrived at the Mezzai, he saw Akuoun, Zan and Lakon together off on an ethereal platform, in the center of the isle that drew their attention was Haj who appeared to be practicing some of Zan’s time manipulation. Set looked at the three of them, then at Haj, then back again. As he was deciding on who he should greet first, a familiar voice accompanied by a smell that could only be described as ‘vaguely-familiar’ approached behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You’ve grown so much, I almost didn’t recognize you, Batisch.”

Set glanced over his shoulder at Vaunt. “Today must truly be something special if even you made your way out of the workshop. It's been, what, nearly half a cycle?”

Set had grown to be around half of Akuoun’s height, which is, notably, taller than approximately half of the Foeldhn’s Aesoterii. However, unlike his lithe mentor Set’s body was muscular due to Lakon’s constant insistence during their training. Aside from the ‘sword’ he’d gotten from Rondo, he carried another four objects he refers to as ‘treasures’ that he received from Zan, Lakon, Xiig and Akuoun respectively.

Vaunt chuckled as he began walking towards the three on the platform.

“I’m looking forward to this ‘special event’. According to Rondo it appears to be our time to shine.”

Set began walking towards Haj while he wondered what the event that was supposed to take place here in the Mezzai was. Most of the festivals and gatherings in the Foeldhn took place in the Uulzai unless there was a specific reason for it to take place elsewhere. With the event taking place in the Mezzai, Set could only assume that it would be combat focused, some sort of sparring or potentially a demonstration of newly created magics.

“Set! It’s been a while.” Haj spoke without opening his mouth or even moving, the sound simply appeared at Set.

“Displacement?” Set responded in kind, an application of both time and space magic that eliminated the distance sound would have to travel to reach its destination.

“It’s almost absurd that we came up with such a complex technique as hatchlings.”

“Yes, yes, very complex.” Zan’s voice interrupted the two of them, prompting both of them to turn and face him. Zan glanced over at the boys, smiling before he continued his conversation as if nothing had happened.

“I guess we should’ve seen that coming.” Haj stood upright and walked over to Set as if his master’s intervention was a signal to stop training.

“Do you know what this so-called ‘event’ is about?” Set asked, trying to distract himself from the idea that Zan might have heard every conversation the two of them ever had through displacement.

“I’m not sure what, but whatever it is, you’re the main attraction.”

Set was uncertain of how to respond. What about him could warrant gathering so many Aesoterii. The two of them began to converse on what the meeting could be about when Haj noticed a familiar glint in the distance. As they spoke he glanced at it again, a high-speed object curving in towards the two of them, or rather, more than likely homing in on Set. Haj moved a few steps to the side as the two of them continued speaking.

“I don’t recall doing anything that wou-” Set sense something approaching him from behind. It crossed the vast plains of the Uulzai and began weaving between the sporadic debris of the Mezzai, reaching him as he extended an open palm in the projectile’s direction. The resulting shockwave drew the attention of everyone present.

“Oh good, you caught it.” A soft, sensual voice mused higher pitched than what he can barely recall of Saendra’s voice and more ephemeral in nature.

“Sylln.” Set glared at Haj who looked away from him as a small pink-ish figure emerged from behind him.

“Don’t be mad at poor old Haj, he knows better than to get in my way.”

Set’s expression twisted from an accusing glare, to a pitying one.

“Don’t give me that look!” Haj yelled as he stormed off towards the elders, Xiig and Rondo were also present on the platform now, with Niviin and Kehll training in their own ways nearby.

“So… what is this… book?” The object that had flown towards Set with no intention of halting was a large, white book. Various colors shimmered across the cover as he rotated the scale-bound object… “…Scales?” Set thought to himself as he ran his hand across the book, an uncanny familiarity held his attention as was unable to rid himself of the feeling that they were his scales.

“Huh? Did they not tell you?” Sylln smirked as she began to dissipate into a pink, cloud-like form.

“Hmmm. What to do, what to do?” The clouds swirled around Set, who remained unbothered by the scene unfolding before him.

“If you won’t tell me, I’ll figure it out on my own.” Set reached for the cover with intent to open the mysterious book in his possession and was stopped by a corporeal hand protruding out of the cloud that encircled him.

“Patience big guy, there’s no need to rush.” Sylln dragged her hand, lightly touching Set’s scales up his arm and across his chest where it rested as Sylln’s arms began to materialize, wrapped around him from behind.

Set turned, glancing behind himself to see Sylln in her proper form, which turns out to be around the same size as Zan, latched onto his back.

“So, what is it?”

Set remained unamused by Sylln’s antics, his interests lied in the book in his hand and the uncanny feeling that he got from touching it.

Sylln sighed as she retreated to the ground in front of Set, flanked by swirling clouds of pink and gold.

”The mistress will explain when she arrives.”

She stated as she sauntered away, seemingly annoyed. She stopped a few steps away and turned back towards Set.

“I am serious though, don’t open it -” Before Set could protest she had disappeared, blown away in the breeze as if made of a fine powder.

“Not yet anyways~.” Syllns voice lingered where her physical form did not.

Set was dumbfounded. Sylln and her master Saendra were always a mystery to him and having not seen her in all this time, Sylln appeared to have picked up a few tricks of her own. The book in his hand though, was another story. Set had come into contact with all sorts of artifacts ranging from the divine, to the technologically insane, to objects of eldritch origin, and nothing had given him quite the same feeling as the book he now held in his hand. His sword, maybe, but that was different.

The sword Set held felt as if it was a missing limb, but not his. It has an owner and it is related to him, but that owner is not Set himself. The book, on the other hand, felt like looking into a mirror and seeing something other than yourself, not even a living being, but a book. As he ran his hand across the cover once more, it felt as though a massive hand ran along his back, mirroring his actions. He recoiled, ripping his hand away from the book’s cover, in his efforts to find suitable means to hold the book he noticed an elliptic jewel embedded in the center on the other side of the book. The smooth, black, egg-shaped jewel garnered Set’s undivided attention.

“Captivating, isn’t it?” A somewhat familiar voice infiltrated Set’s trance as some external entity forced him to return to reality.

“You were so small when I saw you last.” The voice was more so felt than heard. A subtle vibration that penetrated the very essence of his being.

“No entrancing my student, Saendra.” Akuoun's voice commanded jokingly as he, Zan and Lakon descended around him. Xiig and Rondo joined in soon after along with Nivin, Kehll, Hadj and Sylln. Over time the 35 others of the new generation also gathered in the Mezzai, some with their mentors, some without.

“Looks like everyone's here.” Rondo looked around for a moment and sighed, realizing that Vaunt had disappeared.

“All but one…”

He contemplated going to find his rogue pupil before deciding that Vaunt will come back when the event begins in earnest.

“We've gathered here and now for an important moment, ingrain everything that is about to happen into your very being. This is what it means to be an Aesoterii.”

Zan skipped forward, appearing in front of Set as if he'd been there from the beginning.

For the majority of the new generation, the amount of power possessed by their mentors was a mystery, Only Sylln, Vaunt, Set and Haj had been training with their mentors with any real intensity thus far. Zan's actions, to those who could recognize them, were astonishing. To begin with, using a sequence before its completion was unheard of for most of the young ones present.

“You haven't seen anything yet.”

Haj found the commotion over something he'd seen millions of times and that he himself had learned as a hatchling to be amusing.

Zan glanced around before calling several names to the forefront.

“Sylln, Nivin, Vaunt, Kehll, Haj, Set. The six of you, line up in front of me.”

One by one the six of them made their way on stage. Sylnn was the first to arrive, a pink cloud-like mass propagated from the ground, forming the small, pink dureivan.

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“Present!”

She called out, as she looked around for everyone else.

Next was Vaunt, who was apparently still present,as he simply appeared on stage. Rondo couldn't help but chuckle. Rondo had taught Vaunt a stealth technique that would allow him to work without being disturbed, what he didn't know until now is that Vaunt had mastered and even altered the technique to fit himself.

“Sir.”

Vaunt nodded towards Zan and then turned to scan the audience, stopping on Set, Kehll and Haj.

Kehll, a tall burly dureivan with a silhouette that nearly matched Lakon's, began to stride through the crowd. He walked with a brisk pace devoid of theatrics or spells, yet he somehow avoided everyone along his path, reaching the front where the others stood without being impeded even once. Nearby, a white dureivan, smaller in size and covered in iridescent, translucent crystals, casually walked through the crowd, passing through others as if the concept of physical contact was a suggestion one could simply choose to ignore.

“Here.”

Nivin's casual use of Lakon's signature magic made it clear whose disciple she was.

“Lord Zan.”

Kehll bowed slightly in Zan's direction and then back at the crowd as he lined up next to the others.

Haj jumped above the crowd and began walking on what seemed to be nothing on his way to the stage, his footprints floating in the air until he stopped next to Kehll, placing a claw on his shoulder in greeting as he turned back toward the crowd.

Set glanced up at Zan, then the line selected from his brood. Set smiled at them as he toppled backwards, prompting Kehll, Haj and Vaunt to glance behind themselves where space shuddered as Set appeared and silently lined up with the rest of his kin.

“These six represent a new age for the Aesoterii.” Lord Zan's voice contained a vigor that was rare for his stoic nature.

“These young ones have demonstrated their ability to uphold their Master’s legacies. As such, they will be permitted to pursue their own vision of the peak of power and what it means to each of them.”

Sylln whipped out a tome similar to the one she propelled at Set prior to the gathering and sat in front of it with her eyes closed. Set looked around and saw the others follow suit. Confused when everyone else got a similar book, he did the same and placed the tome on the ground in front of him.

When he closed his eyes, he could still see the tome on the ground in front of him, clear as starlight, however, it was only the tome. The suspicious nature of the recently acquired object was plain to him as he sat in a seemingly infinite void of pervading black, the book being the only thing present.

“hmm…” Set grumbled, contemplating his next course of action. He was uncertain of what he was intended to do so he decided there were three options, open the book while in this state, attempt to infuse the book with energy, or do nothing.

“I suppose it's now or never.” He thought to himself as he reached out towards the tome.

The moment he touched the gem in the center he lost all sense of self. All of the information that he'd ever processed was flowing through him and into the tome, his understandings and misunderstandings, facts and theories all compiled into one draining everything down to his memories within his egg. When nothing was left, Set reached out towards it. He felt the object in front of him was a part of him that had been missing for a long time. Like a fourth heart that he'd been without for as long as he could recall. He embraced the tome, hugging it tightly to his chest as it began to fuse with him.

Amidst the multitude of sensations he witnessed a scene. A being that seemed too similar to himself for it to be anything else, corrupted, blackened and covered in what look like the malfunctions that sometimes occur on the screens in Rondo’s tower.

“Find. The power. To stand. Against… Or. Lose… Everything.” It gestured behind it, the mutilated and disfigured bodies of creatures he’d never seen before lie strewn across a plane that Set failed to grasp. In the hand of the creature speaking, was the head of a creature that made his hearts ache. Golden horns and long ears, with a green glint in its hollow eyes. The being looked across the massive plane and ceased all movement, as if waiting for something when the darkness at the edges of Set's vision converged. dropping him into another scene.

“Please… Please… Please…” A voice echoed, pleading and sobbing. The creature was massive, and it's head, the very same that was in the black thing's hand. Through a tear in space, It watched as a the very same black being tore a creature bearing a striking resemblance to it apart, piece by piece. The sobbing creature held the heart of it's kin in it's hands as it drifted off into space.

"I'll kill you... I'll tear you to shreds." It mumbled repeatedly as the darkness took his sight once more and the creature spoke one last word. "Father!"

“Fix. Everything. I… We. Failed…” The scene returned with the figure in a seemingly normal state. He was on his knees grasping the same head and flanked by another dureivan whose face was unintelligible. As if looking into the abyss where one cannot make heads or tails of even the most simple aspects. The one on the ground was screaming, roaring into the sky, if you could call it that. The man looked directly into Set’s eyes and Set knew for certain that he was looking at himself, but in the future, tormented and twisted by rage and grief. He snarled at Set, grasping the head in his arms even tighter as a viscous black substance slowly dripped out of its detached neck.

“FIND HIM!” The man yelled, “FIND Ḱ̷̡̡̳̤̪͇̮͓̙͙̪̹̳̺̮̞̪̞̝̺̯̿̈́̀̓̍͆̈́̒͜͠͝ͅỨ̸̧̧̢̨̤̼̟͖̩̖͍̣̼̤̻̥͇̻̺͕̻̞̯̲͚̯̗̦̪̼͉̳̒̈́̈̎̉̂́̋̌̅̓̒̔̀̌͆̽̓̀̈́͂̎͋̍́͛̑̈́͆́̓͂͘̚͘͝͠I̴̢̢̛̛̘̪͍̱̣̘̗̠̳̜͚̹̖̺̱̹̦͍̞̪̬̫̪̭̬̬͎̙̪̻̱͙̹̻̟̳̞̦̒̒̚͜͜͠Ţ̷̨͉̟̤̩̙̹̬͓͍̙̤͎̟̝̭͙̣̱̖̱̠̲͙͕͓̤̻̭̥̫̪̀̃̿̓̍̍̌͗̃́͐͌̑̅̓̿͆̀͋̓͗̓́̍̀̎͋̍̕͘̕̚͠͝͝! FIX IT, FIX IT ALL!”

The voice began to dissipate as the scene faded to black and returned once more, this time the figure stood tall, alone and entranced. He stared into the white void mumbling to himself.

"Another failure... Isolation is Key... Isolation... Isolation..."

“A̷̪͇͖̲͇͚͈̘̗̥̗̩̍̍͛̑̀̾̚͜n̶̨̢̘̲̗̖͖͇̺͈̥͕̫̘̠̐́̿͆̾͘ö̴̢̱̪̭͉́̄͒t̷̡̛̺̪͛̔̔̊̽̒͂̓̐̉̈́͐̏͠͠͠ḫ̵͉͉̻̺̫̮̼̞͉̯̮̼̋́́̐͐̚͜ͅe̶̢͚̥̥̤̘͇̎͗͗͛̃̓̄̈́̐̚͝r̸̡̧̡̯͔̲̲͎̠͈̱̻̣̦͐͆̐͛͋̽̇ ̵͚͙̦͇͚̉̋̍̔͌͑̚͝f̶̧̧̧̡͇̙̟̭̙̞̥̳͔͔̦̂͌̒̇̒̏̓̎́̒́̕ͅą̶͍̯̞̜̇̑͑̓͋͌́̽̊̓̿̑̓͗̅̚͜ͅi̶̛̘̞̮̜͓̙̱̓̊́̈́̄̀̐̌̍͆͆̀̈́̕l̶̢̯̖̲̩̖̦͚̭̹͓̳͖̠͍͔͗͌̕͘ų̸̢̹͖̦̣̣̳̪̲͈̝̭̠̯͖̏̀ṛ̷͎͙̝̗̼͎̦̲͇͍̫̞̹̘̀̑̌̿̂e̶̟̥̐̒̃̔͂̑̈́͋.̷̛̤̲̪̪̜̠̰͙̣̜̻̺̦̘̏̈́̀͋̈́̿͑͐̓͆̈́͆̒͘͜͜.̷̢̱̣̩̜̅̊̍̓́̃͆̽̿̓̓̏̉͛.̶̨̨̗͇̠̮̣͕̰̠̹͖̬̫͇͓̝̊̇̾̈́C̵̨͚̯̗̺̱̪̼̒̆̂͆͗͌̈́̀̍͘ͅö̸̢͈̙̱̟͓̝̤̮́̌̌͘a̸̢̝̩̟͉̝͎͌̉̿͋́̄́̕͝͝ͅl̵̡̢̢̯̳̜̦̹̰̝͔̮͚̠̭̒͗̅͗̈͂̋̄͂͆̈́͘͝͝͝͝ͅẻ̵̡̛̟̳̖̰̯̠̠̏͆̇̌͆̊̋̂͋̂͘̕̚͜͝ͅs̵̢̧̡̧͕̯̱̤̘͐͒͗͋̆͝c̷̢͖̻̞̠̠̠̀̌͛͑̅̿͊̐̀̔̊̀͘ē̵̛̙̜̙̭̰̽͛̂̔͐͛́̕͝n̵̖̺̒̄̅͊̅̏̍͗c̷̲̥̲̐ë̵̟̩͐͌̒́̈́̀̉̾̾̑̕͠ ̶̡̩̺̈̋̒̎͌͛̀̉̊͋͊̎̎̇͒͜į̶͚̘̹͒͐̈́́͜͝s̸̨͈̟̬̠̲̱̣̘̔̚ ̸̻͎̙̺͉̳͕̪̙͈̮̋́̈̒̍ḱ̷͎̈́̎̂̀̀͒̐̇̋̏̊ę̷̧̤͙̼͕̜͍̤̗͓͚͓̲̉̊͛͆͊̀̽̊̄͘͠ͅy̶͈̲̠͈͑̆̎̌̀̀͊͝.̸̪̫͂̈́̍̒̓̌͒̂̓͋͒́̉͒͗̕͜.̶̢̖̤̩̙̳̩̪̥̣̫̳͑͒ͅ.̶̨̛͔̠̻̪͎̫́͆̂̒̏̚̚͠ͅ ̵͚͉̬̝̗̲̯̭̊͜C̶̢̢̲̼̤͈͚̜͉͒̒͆͘͜͝ỡ̴̡͕͕̟̹̳̍̒̀̏͌̓̒́͋̾̎̑̉̏͘͜͜ͅa̵̦̞͓͉̎̍́͌͛͌̍́̃͝ͅl̴̰͕͎͚̒͑̌͑̓͋̊̃ȅ̵̛͖̜̯̙͍͖̯̘̦͔̣̫̟̍͒͜͠ͅs̶͓̩̯̲̋̾̊͊̄͑̆͝c̸̡̥̺̙͕̝̥̞͒̂̾̈́̓̆̄͑̐̀̍͌͐̉͂͠͝e̸̛͎̍̓͑͆͘͝͝n̴̡̛̦̩̱̘̙͚̥̜͙̦̙̏̐̿̂̑̏͋́́́̾̀͝ͅć̷̛̩̝͎͖̈́͆̈́̋͌͋̏̓̌̋̍͗̈́͠ͅè̶͓̌͌̃̌.̵̢̛̠̠̯̑̅̏̑͑̄̄̀.̶̥̏̾́̍̈̊͒̈́̎̆̍̕̕ͅ.̸̨͈͈̦̟͉̟͙̘͖͎̰̝͒͒͑͊̅͊̉̔̓́̍̌͑͊͒̚ ̵͖̝̱͍̫͔̩̠̐̀̓̊́̀̈͑̕͜͠C̸̨͇̗̪̟̯̪̼̝͇͔͚̭͚̀͒̈́͗́̅͛̈̑͆͜͜͠ǫ̸̧̛̝̅̃͂́̾̒̐͒̆̌̈́̀̚͘͘͜͠ầ̴̧͖̰͙͙͉͖̹̺̱̻͉͉̣̭̘͎̑̚l̸̟̍͌̑̒̽̃͊͊͒͊͘̕͘͜è̸̡͖̙̼̯͕̩͎̘̩̈́̌̾̈̈̿̕͝͝ş̸̡͕̲͔͙̭̭͝ͅç̴͎̦̘̙̻͎͈̬̂͐̂̍̑́̐͒͒̂͛̉̈̕͜͝ę̵̧̢̮̖̦̹͍̟̒̌̓̎̈̾͊̎́͝ṉ̵̨̯̻͍̮̠͉̜͚̪̽̈̔̈́̓̈̐̿͘͠͝͝c̷̨̩̠͉̲̫̺̞̤̮̅́̅̒́͋̔̿̄͝͠ę̸̡̡͓͙̖̪̮͐͂̃̽͑̌̆͗͋̿̕͝.̷̨̲̮͙̲̯̞̹̙̙͔̾͛̓͛̔͘͝.̶̡̺̬̃͋̊̄͊̃̾͗̈̽́̉͋̉͌̓̕͜.̸̨̛̣͖͇̭̹̝̯̿͛͊̾͜

As Set began to regain consciousness he could hear a final message, it was the same voice, of that he was certain. However, this time the tone was content or happy rather.

“Remember, Rowe, isolation and coalescence are two sides of the same coin.”

Set opened his eyes with a jolt as he attempted to comprehend the scene he’d witnessed when he touched the book. A quick glance around revealed while the rest were still sitting with their eyes closed only he and Vaunt had awoken from their ‘meditation’. A black claw came from behind him, reaching over his shoulder and tapping on the jewel embedded in his chest.

“The heart… How romantic.” Vaunt paused and corrected himself

“Ironic, rather.”

Set turned to glance at Vaunt, He noticed a blackish green jewel embedded in his head right above his eyes that resembled his own jewel.

“It's… In your head? Does that not hurt?”

“Not any more than yours.”

Set's concern faded as he thought about how having something embedded into you on such short notice didn't seem to cause any pain. When he concentrated on it, images and words began to float around him, though Vaunt didn't appear to be able to see them he responded as though the same happened to him.

“It's your tome.” He stated, tapping on the jewel in Set's chest that was emitting a faint glow.

“If you concentrate enough you can even do this.” Vaunt outstretched his had as if he was holding an open book as a sinister power formed in his hand creating a tome of black scales, the jewel that was in his forehead was back on the cover of the tome as well.

“So, what are these, exactly?” Set felt an uncanny familiarity with the book. It resonated on a level much stronger than when he ran his hand against it earlier. The surreal feeling of looking at one's hands and not seeing another’s.

“The Ekryton tomes… are the origin of catastrophe and salvation. They are an affront to order and an atrocity.”

Saendra, who was nowhere to be seen prior, was in front of the line of chosen. Vaunt's lack of visible reaction led Set to believe she'd been present all along.

“That… Didn’t quite answer my question.” Rather than being surprised by her sudden appearance, Set was more concerned about her hyperbolic and vague claims regarding the tomes.

“What I can tell you now, is that the tomes are an abstract manifestation of all that you are, and they will grow as you do. Beyond that, is a story for another time”

Saendra’s eyes didn’t open nor did she move a muscle for even a moment during their brief interaction, however, Set could feel her focus shift from the chosen group, to him and then back to the group as Lakon, Xiig, and Zan stepped forward preparing for combat. Set watched in silent curiosity as the reason behind their actions became clear. Behind Haj, Nivin and Kehll Set and Vaunt watched as the fabric of reality began to tear, and shackles that they could feel were there but could not see or hear clasped around the necks, arms and legs of Haj, then Nivin, and eventually Kehll as well. Zan, Xiig and Lakon stood between the entity and their respective pupils, fighting off the being that had infiltrated the Foeldhn.

Every movement the entity made was met with a swift and powerful retaliation and the resulting clash rocked the Foeldhn to its core. Though looking at the three of them, it wasn’t intense enough to be called a ‘battle’. The three of them looked as if they were fending off pebbles thrown by hatchlings, with every pebble deflected causing the space to shake enough that it would be wonder if the Goldspire didn’t directly enter to Foeldhn to investigate later. For Set and Vaunt, who knew of the enemies but could not perceive them. It seemed as though the three elders were swatting away insects.

After a few moments, Nivin’s tome began to turn to ash that dispersed, trailing towards the underside of her jaw where a gem appeared. As if in reaction, the entity made an attempt to drag her away only to be halted by Lakon’s grasp. He stepped forward, towards the distortion that the entity came from and crushed the chains linked to his disciple with a single, decisive motion. The entity violently shook the Foeldhn, most of the elders present covered their ears while others projected a variety of sound disruption magic. Lakon’s long mane was flowing straight back, as if a massive gust of wind was passing by him as he took one step and threw a singular punch that made it feel as if the entirety of the Mezzai hit a wall.

Nivin winced and blinked as she opened her eyes. The first thing she did was place a claw under her chin and rub the jewel that was now in place there. Set and Vaunt grabbed her by an arm each and moved her away from the ongoing combat as they tried their best to explain the situation to her.

Haj followed soon after, the ashes parted, flowing around him like a post in a riverbed. They gathered together and swirled into the center of his back where a light blue jewel formed. Zan wasted no time, he straightened his hand and performed a swift downward cut in front of Haj, followed by a horizontal one in the direction of the distortion. Unlike how Lakon handled it, Zan caused very little disturbance outside of the immediate area, which shuddered as the entity dispersed. He dusted himself off and glanced over an Haj.

“The things I put myself through.” He sighed as he moved back to the area where Akuoun and Rondo stood, dragging Lakon with him.

Xiig’s ‘battle’, if you could call it that, was much more puzzling to watch as he simply stood there with his arms crossed as he mumbled unintelligible gibberish. The entity attempting to bypass him to reach Xiig’s pupil, Kehll, was blocked multiple times as small distortions in space clashed with it. It was as though the entity was attempting to dive underwater and Xiig was perfectly holding small sheets of metal against the water’s surface, preventing entry. Once Kehll’s tome formed a crystal on the base of his tongue Xiig’s eyes, which were more often than not closed or covered, opened. An intangible sense of weight converged on one point, Xiig. He turned away from his opponent and focused on the source of the disturbance, the initial distortion that allowed the intruder passage.

Xiig spoke one word,

“Meitvoth”

There was a deafening silence, the being and the distortion that stood against Xiig had simply ceased to be.

“Well, that was a first.”

Kehll was Xiig’s first disciple, and though he’d been through similar events during his own pursuit of power, it was his first time fighting off an otherworldly presence to defend something he truly cared about. Xiig chuckled to himself as he moved towards the other elders, everyone waiting and watching intensely as Sylnn, the only remaining chosen, sat unmoved and unbothered by the events taking place around her.

“She’s taking her sweet time, isn’t she?” Haj said as he leaned up against Set’s back.

Set was perplexed over the delay as well. “I would have expected her to be the first to finish this… communion?”

Saendra, who had fallen silent, chuckled. “Communion, yes we’ll call it that, communion.”

Haj and Set could feel Saendra’s focus shift towards them, “The Ekryt tomes are… difficult to prepare. My child would have long awoken if she wasn’t so adamant in refusing my assistance.”

“Your assistance?” Set and Haj nearly asked in unison.

“The realm of dreams functions on a different set of rules than the Foeldhn. There, things take the shape of the mind, so unlike you all out here, she can see what she’s up against and is bright-bent on fighting it.” Saendra’s expression soured as she jumped to her feet and ripped a hole in the Foeldhn with her bare hands. She stepped through the hole and within moments the Foeldhn began to shake more violently than ever before.

“Akuoun, if she destroys my workshop so help me.”

“Alright, alright.” Akuoun walked through the portal after her and the shaking stopped as he walked back out carrying a tiny Saendra by the scruff of her neck. Nobody had noticed that Sylln was awake and standing beside Haj and Set until Saendra had calmed down.

“So, how was it?” Haj nearly jumped out of his skin while Set calmly turned around.

“How was what?”

“How was what~?” She mocked,

“The tome you fool, how did your ‘communion’ go?”

“Communion? How did you?” Haj was perplexed how she had heard something said during her own communion.

“Unlike the rest of you, I spend most of my time traveling the realm of dreams. So I have my ways to listen to my surroundings even while unconscious, honestly, it’s more of a necessity.”

“These six have received, and attuned to, Ekryton Tomes. Their potential now far outclasses their own masters and we expect them to return the favor by bringing to the Foeldhn boundless knowledge and power. Going forward, they will complete the final preparations for each of their individual pursuits of power.”

Zan turned toward the six of them.

“It’s time you all truly became archons.”