Understanding filled him as he reviewed his battle with Gaizeal, and the workings of the Ark Cradle only served to become even more mysterious. Any item that could stave off death was incredible indeed, and now he had a better understanding of where the limits of that artifact were.

He also grew a bit fearful of Syntinnial. The Guardian Apprentice was the grandmaster of an entire organization as well as a powerful entity that roamed the world in secret. He had watched over Cypher and his family for countless years knowing of Cypher and his various struggles all this time.

He knew that he had nothing to fear from Syntinnial. After all, if the old man wanted to he could smite Cypher before he could even understand what had happened. Still, he couldn't help but feel his guard raising against his will.

Syntinnial took notice of this and only offered an apologetic shrug as he continued, "I know that all this is somewhat of an earful, and I can understand if you view me differently now. I do not hold it against you and were I in your shoes I would probably feel the same way. Rest assured however that I mean you no harm if that is what troubles you."

He stood and turned to face the fireplace. He then pulled out his own tea kettle and began to prepare some tea. He returned to his seat and also pulled a pipe from within his grey robes, which he quickly lit using a spell. After a prolonged drag of the long stem, he exhaled and blew the smoke upwards toward the ceiling.

"Where was I? Ah yes, your ancestor," he said, as his memory caught up with him. "Anyway, I knew that he was special, as would be his descendants. So I resolved myself and watched over your bloodline, guiding its members to their respective destinies. Not all became members of the Radiant Corps, but quite a few did. As such, I have watched and guarded your family for thousands of years, and that is how I found you.

"When you appeared before me in that bright flash of light, it was not simply chance that led you to me. It was because I summoned you. I had been actively scrying you ever since Elaine told her leader that she was to instruct you in the ways of the Duality Shield. When I saw that Aylynah was about to deliver a finishing blow, I did the only thing I could think to do. I summoned you to save your life.

"You had just advanced in power because of an exploit you found that allowed you to become part of the energy link between the Great Balance Arks, but it was perilous and almost killed you. As such, I had to act fast, and in my haste, I worded the spell poorly. It is a mistake that confuses me, as I've had millennia to master such things, but that is why you became separated from your allies. I ask that you forgive me for that."

Syntinnial looked ashamed and lowered his head, but Cypher nodded and offered his forgiveness. The old man smiled weakly and continued, patting Cypher's hand with his own while he took another drag of his pipe, "Rest assured that as the leader of the Radiant Corps, I have my subordinates all over Demilnoxis searching for your friends or any news that they might have been captured."

Syntinnial tapped the end of the pipe, emptying the bowl of ashes, and then loaded it again from a small pouch around his neck. After a moment he took another drag and continued, smoke flowing from his mouth as he spoke, "If they had been, I would know as soon as my men did. Of that, you can be certain.

"So now Cypher, now you know the truth behind how you came to me and why I am so confident about the fate of your allies. Furthermore, that also explains where my fountain of knowledge concerning the Ark Cradles comes from. However, more complete knowledge of them is held by the human leaders of the Radiant Corps. I willingly chose to remain in the dark about the finer details of the Ark Cradles. It seemed only fair to keep things balanced that way."

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"Why didn't you tell me all of this from the start? You could have saved me a lot of trouble if you had chosen to share this with me sooner. I mean, after all, you came right out and told me that you were a Guardian Apprentice," Cypher said after a few moments of silence. He had been leaning back in his chair, balancing on two legs during the end of Syntinnial's tale.

Now, the old man simply studied him with a serious look. As the moments passed, Cypher began to feel self-conscious. He started fidgeting at his clothes and hair, checking to see if something was amiss. Without warning, he lost his balance and toppled over backward, hitting his head on the ground and breaking one of his chair legs.

Syntinnial let out a loud laugh as Cypher pulled himself back to his feet. Cypher rubbed the back of his head and pulled up another chair, tossing the broken one aside. Syntinnial smiled and said, There are a few reasons. Most of them don't really matter. The main one, however, is that I needed to know if you were trustworthy. The things I have told you are not commonplace, and it needs to remain that way. I had to know that I could trust your character, and so it is that I can."

Cypher raised an eyebrow and looked at him curiously, "For someone who's been watching me for as long as you claim, you don't seem to know as much as you should. If you had been paying attention, you would know that I can be trusted."

"True," replied Syntinnial, "however, I needed to know that you would trust my judgment with nothing to go on other than my word as a man. These days that's a quality that escapes most people. I also wouldn't presume that I had the right to invade your mind, no matter how long I've lived or what powers I wield. I find that kind of intrusion to be quite rude.

"Skills like that are indeed useful in certain situations, but in this matter, I chose to see for myself firsthand what kind of person you really are. I do apologize for my secrecy. I hope you can understand where I am coming from," he said with a shrug.

The sudden shrill whistle of the tea kettle went off, and Syntinnial moved it from above the fireplace and finished preparing two cups of tea. He dropped a few sugar cubes into each cup and offered one to Cypher, who took it and blew heavily on it before taking a small sip.

The liquid was obviously still boiling and his attempt to cool it with a single breath only made the sip slightly less painful than it would have been. However, Cypher wanted to clear his dry throat. Alcohol wasn't exactly refreshing after all and that was all he had consumed since the earlier celebration had begun. Syntinnial sat back down with his own cup and got comfortable once again.

"In the end," Syntinnial said, "I suppose my main reason for not telling you everything from the start is because of my own shame. I had only been actively scrying you for a short time, but I have been ever aware of you since the day your mother left you in the care of the Galvans."

At this, Syntinnial lowered his head again and Cypher could see the shame etched all over his face. "I have allowed you to grow up in that place being mistreated and hurt against your will. You have suffered much under a situation that I easily could have intervened in. In truth..."

Syntinnial paused then and gathered his thoughts, "In truth, I could have brought you to my own home and raised you up myself. I could have taught you much and you would have grown quite expertly as a Conductor under my watchful eye. However, I was under explicit instructions from your mother not to interfere."

"There were many times I was tempted to come and collect you from that place, but each time I resisted the call of obligation I felt towards you. I could have done much, but didn't and I find myself regretting my inaction. That is why I withheld this information from you at first. I was worried that if you knew you would hold it against me and shun me, which would be within your right to do so. If, however, it is within you to forgive me for this, I would be most grateful. Still, I will understand if you choose not to."

Cypher stared at the fireplace as the embers popped and crackled, showering the log above them with a fresh layer of burnt ash. The smoke wafted up into the chimney for the most part, but it still left the room smelling a bit like the moss that burned on the side of the newest log added to the flames. That though was preferable to the strange and pungent smell of the herb in Syntinnial's pipe.