Far away, halfway around the world, Teros was in council with his newly acquired servants.

"Lord Teros, our efforts in Merricent seemed to have borne fruit." The disembodied voice spoke from the ether, before the dark-haired Haima'sa, Shade, materialised in the ancient demi-god's presence.

"So you say but I can still sense all four of Gaia's chosen." Teros shrugged. "Tell me marionette, what is it that you've accomplished with your so-called efforts."

Shade ground his teeth in annoyance but this time he managed to hold back his rage, masking his contempt for his new master before he continued.

"Our assaults on the last known location of the harlot and her spawn appears to have forced the guardians' hand. They've triggered a massive cataclysm, opening what appears to be another Gate." He explained, but once again his words only triggered Teros' amusement.

"The guardians have opened no 'gates'." He corrected his misguided charge. "The phenomenon in Merricent will not permit passage between the worlds but it may still work to our advantage."

"I do not understand." Shade replied with mounting confusion.

"Yes, that seems to be the case with you generally." Teros smirked. "When Dias banished me to the Annals, she fractured the Garden into mostly equal parts. While this separation of worlds served to delay my return to the corporeal world, it also served to limit the manifestations of our power."

"How so?" Shade pressed.

"The planet mother is made up of four distinct parts, each important on their own but unimaginably powerful when combined." Teros explained. "The Annals, to which I was banished, contains all of Gaea's knowledge – science, religion, past, present and future events, the secrets of channeling – it all resides there."

"It is like the mind of the planet." Shade reasoned, causing Teros to nod.

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"In simple terms, yes." He affirmed. "Everything there is to know exists there, but merely as uncatalogued, free floating information. Neither form nor function exist there, just information. The Font however exists only as function. It is a realm of unbridled power – energy immeasurable and force incalculable – but much like the Annals has limits, the Font is devoid of form and structure."

"The corporeal world then, is this Garden you speak of?" Shade inquired.

"Yes." He repled simply. "This is where the planet mother gives birth to structure – physical, tangible things."

"I see... but what does this have to do with the phenomenon in Merricent or these so-called guardians?" Shade pressed.

"Before the Garden was fractured, the link between Gaea's four components was pristine." Teros explained. "In banishing me, Dias broke those ties and her sisters are now attempting to undo that which she has done."

"But why?" Shade pressed further. "To what end are these guardians doing this?"

"You truly are naïve children, aren't you?" Teros shook his head. "You still haven't figured it out have you – the reason why, as the sons of man, you will never be able to catch up with Gaia's children?"

"Enlighten me, Lord Teros." Shade continued with mounting contempt.

"The very thing that you hate is that which separates you from us." Teros explained. "The 'soul' is merely a bridge between these planes, it allows us to simultaneously tap into Gaea's knowledge and her power before giving it form in this world."

By now disgust was slowly becoming visible on Shade's face, a fact that only seemed to fuel Teros' amusement.

"When Dias fractured the Garden she also disrupted the link between it the Font and the Annals." He explained further. "This is why power from the Font manifests only as Ki on Terra, and as your Magic in Oya – limiting channelers in each world."

"So these guardians are attempting to remove these limits, to make themselves stronger?" Shade's eyes widened at the thought.

"Indeed." Teros grinned. "As a son of Gaea, their own increases in power will be mirrored in my own – but as beings of magic, this puts your race at a severe disadvantage."

"Then we must act swiftly!" Shade exclaimed.

"That would be in your best interest, I suppose." Teros shrugged once again. "It's too late for the three in Merricent, but the Synchros host has not yet reached. He would likely be your best target."

"Agreed." Shade nodded. "I'll take my team and intercept him... if you can provide us with a location."

Teros' smug smirk broke into an extremely wide grin, one that unnerved the Haima'sa spectre considerably.

"I suppose I could." He replied deviously. "It's the least I could do for such loyal servants after all. Just do not disappoint me."