The room we were brought to was somewhat simple. Stone walls all around without a carpet or any decorations. There were a few tables placed along the walls with stacks of paper and inkwells ready for use. A larger table stood in the middle with more chairs around it. One Thaumonomicon laid discarded on one of the workstations. The Cleric that had brought us walked over to it with a huff and closed it.

After that, we sat down. There was some small talk but the man was clearly distracted by his thoughts. After half an hour, someone else came by to swap with him. This time it was a woman. She was much happier to talk about nonsense like the weather or food. We also learned a little more about the Crimson Heart. Apparently, it was the reason for the Church’s power. There was a massive workshop set up around it with over a hundred thaumaturges working to ‘save the world’. From what, she was unwilling to say.

We were brought some food and drink at some point. It was too late to be polite but early enough to be nice-to-have. The woman apologized. She had completely forgotten. Alongside everyone else permitted in this area. She ate most of it. The Clerics were often too busy to remember to eat, she explained.

It took about two hours before we were taken deeper into the building. I took Alex’s arm to ride on comfortably. Somehow, my metal form was not absorbing her. Probably because she was alive.

We were led down a confusing maze of tunnels, many doors lining the walls. Where they were open, I saw full storage places, minor and medium nodes producing vis crystals, and the occasional small workshop and bedrooms. It looked to be completely arbitrary which room was used for what but the Cleric explained everyone had the things they needed close to their bedroom. That way, they had a very short way in case of an epiphany. Somehow, I doubted that was necessary.

After what felt like half an hour, we came upon an especially large door blocking the tunnel in front of us. Three more Clerics stood ready, including the old man.

“This is it”, he said, “Behind this door is our most sacred place. The Crimson Heart. And the workshop, of course. Are you ready?”

I exchanged a glance with Alex before nodding.

“Let’s go”, she said.

“Very well. Follow me.”

He put his hand on the door and poured a little bit of vis into it. It was some of every primal aspect. After six seconds, the inscriptions lit up and the door swung open silently. A glaring light was on the other side. The walls and ceiling were bathed in colours, white, yellow and green. There was only a small walkway in front of us before the ground dropped. Small relative to the rest of the room. It was at least half a kilometre across and half that in height from where we stood. The walkway was nearly ten metres wide.

We walked inside and I spotted the alcoves all around. There were several infusion altars. I counted a dozen spaced equidistantly around the circumference. Between every workspace was a door much like the one we entered through. The tunnels really were a maze. There were another five layers above with more alcoves and more infusion altars. Stairs and ramps connected them.

I spotted a few Clerics working, usually one per alcove. One or two additional people assisted them. They wore much simpler robes and no masks. These were the thaumaturges, most likely. People that were training to become Clerics and only needed some deeper experience to join their ranks. They had already gone through the paladin and priest training, otherwise, they would not be allowed down here, or so the female Cleric had told us earlier.

The old man beckoned us forwards. He stood near the edge of the walkway, which did not have any bannister or rail to prevent a fall. Alex walked us to him. When the view below opened up, she gasped. I must have done the same as I realized my beak was open.

Below us were another ten layers of alcoves. That would have been an impressive sight, if not for what had to be the Crimson Heart. It was floating in the centre of the room surrounded by a metal construct. I quickly noticed it looked just like the Crimson Church’s cross. The three-dimensional version of it. There was an orb in the centre cut into triangular pieces by three rings. Metal spikes exuded from the points forming a sort of pipe separated into three segments. The metal bent outwards at the tips holding a crystal ball. Six points with six colours in the primal aspects.

The light came from inside the central orb. It was impossible to make out the details. Almost as if someone had taken a sun and stuck it inside. Only, it was the deep Crimson of the Church.

“How does the red light turn into the other colours?”, Alex asked.

The Cleric gaped, then blinked.

“I have no idea. I don’t think anyone ever asked that.”

“It’s the aspects”, I said, “The vis in the orbs changes the colour because the light from the centre is pure vis. It has all six primals and the orbs push what they don’t use into the metal to return to the centre.”

“… I really need to work on that Skill”, Alex said.

“How can you tell?”, one of the other Clerics asked.

“I can see it.”

“Well”, the old man said, “That is the Crimson Heart. Our greatest treasure. It allows us to do all kinds of research without much issue. The vis it provides is completely free of flux and very malleable. If you look closely, we have brass inlaid on the walls. It absorbs the energy and stores it for later use in the workshops.”

I looked around. With the limestone, the brass nearly disappeared but a few opportune angles let me glimpse a reflection. I also noticed something else.

“Is the metal thing rotating?”

“Yes. That way, all workshops get all aspects once every two days. With how much we are storing, we never had a problem.”

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“This is very useful”, I said, “Where is it getting its power from?”

“The records claim it the Crimson Heart was made from the star shard. I am sure you will be able to find it in the Thaumonomicon.”

I blinked. Then I looked closer. It was simply too bright to make out any details but my magical senses could make out a slightly frazzled structure at the core of it all. At least I inferred that from the movement around it.

“Do you have any records on where the shard came from?”

The Cleric gave me a long look.

“I do not.”

Alex failed to suppress a giggle.

“I see. Then let me ask another question. You spoke about ‘saving the world’ earlier. What did you mean with that?”

His posture relaxed.

“Yes, that is what I wish to show you. Let us go.”

He led us to the nearest ramp leading down. Two layers deeper, we moved from the green terra-light into blue aqua-light. I felt a slight pressure on my body from the vis. It was far from enough to push my enrichment further but it would definitely let someone reach medium, if not high.

“It’s working like a node”, Alex whispered.

“Yes, somewhat”, the Cleric said, “It does not absorb, though. It only provides. You are familiar with the intricacies?”

“Of course. Though we did set out on our journey to learn more about the… rarer types.”

The old man’s head whipped around.

“Like what?”

“Hungry nodes, mostly. But tainted and sinister ones might give a deeper understanding of those as well.”

The Cleric tightened his fists.

“So… You know?”

I tilted my head.

“Know what?”

“About… the nearing end?”

I shared a look with Alex.

“Like, of the world? Not really, no.”

The Cleric shifted and stumbled. He held a hand to his forehead, trying to wipe off sweat but only rubbing his leather gauntlet over the gold.

“I… no. Forget about it. It is no matter. I did not expect you to know anything. Come, let me show you.”

As we rushed down after the almost-running man, Catori’s voice pushed into my head.

“Fio, Truth is being scary. Like, creepy scary.”

“How creepy?”, I asked.

“He’s fully here, right next to the nest and watching. And he’s mumbling things like: ‘I wonder what she’s gonna do about it’. I’m kinda freaking out.”

“Okay. Calm down, Catori. Let’s just focus on the present, okay? Do you want to take over?”

There was silence as we reached the bottom floor. This one was a little smaller and had only six alcoves and doors. One of the doors was our goal. Then, from the side, someone jumped in our way. He wore thaumaturge’s robes and had a familiar green face.

“Fio? Is that you?”

“Move!”, the Cleric spoke.

“Ugark?”, I asked.

That stopped the old man.

“You know him?”

“Uhm… Yes? I sent him over the mountains.”

“Hey, girl!”, he winked at Alex, “Are you that little golem? My, you’ve changed!”

The ‘little golem’ scoffed and ignored him.

“Aww, don’t be like that!”, the ork laughed, “I’m just messing with you.”

“Apprentice, we do not have the time for games.”

“No, your Honesty. We do. If I remember correctly you were the one that told me the schedule. We have at least 25 years. A few days won’t make a difference.”

“They MIGHT. And I am NOT willing to take that chance!”

“Uhm, I’d like to see the thing that’s threatening the world?”, Catori asked into my head.

I nodded.

“As nice as it is to see you, buddy, I’d like to know what’s going on.”

Ugark waved his hand.

“You’ll take like… six hours to walk down there? Something like that? It’s already afternoon. You’ll be unable to get back up before like… midnight.”

The Cleric slapped his forehead.

“Thank you, apprentice. I had forgotten.”

Alex glared at him then turned to Ugark.

“Is he always like that?”, she asked.

“All Clerics are a mess, mentally. That’s why we apprentices are here.”

He grinned at the man that was his direct superior.

“Yes”, the Cleric sighed, “There is good reason we station the sanest people down here.”

“So, your Honesty, would you like some tea? We were just taking a break.”

The old man nodded.

“You got tea?”, I asked, “I’m in!”

“FIO!”, Catori screamed in frustration.

I only laughed.