Riley continued to heave as Ezekiel moved to stand in front of her. Using his body to block the Legendaries from viewing her for the moment. Even though he knew that they could sense her easily. Even as far away from them as they still were.
“How far away would you say they are?” Ezekiel quietly asked Shine. “That’s not quite the center, but I wouldn’t say that they’re particularly close to us.”
Ezekiel’s idle conversation was somewhat of a coping mechanism for himself. Since he knew that facing over a dozen Legendary Spirits was a death wish. Even if he was a fully healed and proper Legendary Hunter.
“They’re too far for me to sense, so I really don’t know.” Shine said back, using a similar tone to Ezekiel. Although, their voice seemed to crack, just a bit, when he spoke.
“Ezekiel?” Riley finally managed to climb to her feet. She noticed Ezekiel’s move but didn’t know what he was looking at. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. We just have an audience, that’s all.” Ezekiel didn’t turn from the Spirits in the distance. “I’m sure they’ve been watching us for a while. But it’s different when you can watch them back.”
“They’ve been watching us?” Riley seemed a bit confused. But Ezekiel figured that she was still woozy from the sudden rise to the top of the pillar’s plateau.
“Get here now!” A voice boomed across the top ground beneath Ezekiel and Riley. Shaking the earth and nearly throwing Riley back to her knees.
Ezekiel raised a brow in surprise. He could feel that this wasn’t simply a loud yell. This was similar to Shine’s telekinesis. Only it was pure Tempest manipulation. Shaking the wind in such a way as to send a vocal message across a great distance.
The only thing that would’ve made Ezekiel more impressed would be if the Spirit in question hadn’t been so loud. He wasn’t sure if it was on purpose for intimidation purposes or not. But a basic indoor voice would’ve shown a level of control that Ezekiel wouldn’t have seen before.
“... Sorry, but it looks like I’ll need to carry you for a bit longer.” Ezekiel stepped back, not taking his eyes off the Legendary Spirits in front of him. Instead, he reached for Riley and pulled her into the air. Placing her into a very basic princess carry.
“Wai-” Riley found her words swallowed by wind as Ezekiel dashed across the open plateau in front of him. In front of him, a transparent screen strained against the wind pressure as Shine anchored two of their Void Screens to ensure the wind pressure didn’t do any harm.
For her part, Riley just held on for dear life. But as this distance was much further, she and Ezekiel had more time to adjust than when Ezekiel had made his leap.
Instead, Riley took several deep breaths. Celia, who had crawled beneath Riley’s jacket for support, poked her head out. It seemed like both were now getting more settled with the situation. Neither was nearly as terrified as they were when they first questioned Invera.
Ezekiel couldn’t help but smirk as he saw the focus in Riley’s eyes. She couldn’t see the Spirits due to the distance, but she was keeping herself aware and ready for a fight. He knew it wouldn’t do much, but he liked this side of her more than the guilt and worry that she had when they were climbing.
It took several minutes for them to arrive. But beyond a slight tensing of Riley’s hands, where she was holding onto Ezekiel, there were no changes of note. Both were nervous regarding this situation.
Slowing down until they came to a halt, Ezekiel slid to a stop in front of the assembled Legendary Spirits. Each one looked at him like he was a piece of meat, or like he was a particularly annoying fly that wouldn’t leave the house.
“Greetings, Ezekiel, it’s nice to see you finally joined us. You certainly took your time.” Invera’s voice was somewhat light, but Ezekiel could tell that she was not happy. “Did anything hold you up?”
“I was just helping Riley with an Understanding. Nothing more.” Ezekiel said with an equally lighthearted tone. “One must take what opportunities are available, after all.”
The mention of an Understanding caused many of the Spirits to shift and share glances. It seemed like even Spirits were aware of the requirements of reaching Tier four. Though, he realized that that shouldn’t have surprised him. It wasn’t as if Spirits were as dumb as mundane beasts, after all.
It was just unfortunate that most Wild Spirits acted like the animals they appeared to be due to a lack of civilized cultures. Something that was distinctly human in this world. The Cruor as well, but they were all descended from humanity, so Ezekiel didn’t think that it really counted.
The Cruor were monsters of their own kind.
A deep thrumming rumble emanated from one of the Spirits. A large brown crab, of all things.
Ezekiel could tell that it was a Cavern Spirit from its coloration, but seeing it was still surprising. He had never seen a, traditionally, aquatic creature be a Spirit not of the Glacier Element before.
“Apologies. I will get to the point. Ezekiel Luminance!” Invera dipped her head in acknowledgement to the crab, before sharply turning towards Ezekiel. “There are three things that this council would ask of you in exchange for your packs’ presence in our haven. As short lived as it may be.”
Ezekiel didn’t know how a month could be considered short lived, but given the lifespan of most Spirits, especially Tier four ones, he figured that it wasn’t an incorrect description.
“First, you shall provide the memories of your encounters with the Mythical Hunter from your Empire. Callrond, due to his prior connection to you, will lead the efforts in extracting these memories.” Invera said, as if her words weren’t a shocking revelation.
Riley was clearly surprised by this request. Not ever having known that such a memory extraction was possible. While Ezekiel just figured it was yet another Radiant Magic trick. Though he wasn’t sure he liked the idea of anything besides Shine poking around his head. But he knew he didn’t have a choice.
“Second, you shall aid in the settling of some disputes to the south. Regarding territorial control. Specifically, you will aid Akland in retrieving a mystical herb from a less than pleasant Ruler. One that has long since been outcast from this gathering. Mostly for forsaking their sovereignty to gain power with the aid of several Hunters.” Invera glared, and if she had lips Ezekiel figured she would be sneering with a particularly nasty lip curl.
Ezekiel could practically feel the disgust that Invera had for this Spirit. Something that the increased pressure from the assembled Legendaries proved was a shared opinion. He placed a hand around Riley’s arm. Holding her up and relieving some of the pressure from her shoulders. She gave him a grateful look as the pressure slowly receded.
“Finally, you will take part in the extermination of several Hunters. The more, the better.” Ezekiel narrowed his eyes in uncertainty as Invera gave her final task. “Of course, these conditions are also contingent on the behavior of your pack within our haven.
“... While humans are not entirely united, simply killing off teams of Hunters would cause numerous problems for me. There is little doubt in my mind that many of them would come after me when the opportunity arrived.” Ezekiel said with a low and wary tone. “May I ask, what did these Hunters do?”
The Spirit shifted restlessly. While Ezekiel couldn’t understand them all, he could tell that they weren’t happy that Ezekiel didn’t automatically agree. But a wave of Invera’s wing calmed them all down. Except for a few of the Spirits further back. From what Ezekiel could tell, these ones were likely the peers of Invera. Being close to, or at, the edge of Tier five.
“These humans have been poaching Spirits of the lower Tiers. Using their stronger Hunters to ensure that the weaker Spirits are more easily captured. Stealing these spirits from their home, and forcibly making them form Bonds.” Invera’s voice grew gravely and louder as she spoke. “Also, you shouldn’t worry about these humans coming after you. From what you once told me, they are already trying to kill you.”
Ezekiel immediately tensed up. That description was already enough to tell him who these humans were.
“The Cult of Light.” Ezekiel growled with his own anger leaking into his mana. Little as it was. A faint pressure was released from him now. But he quickly reigned it in.
Invera just nodded in confirmation.
Beside Ezekiel, Riley just turned pale. Her eyes widened, and she gripped Ezekiel’s jacket even tighter. Ezekiel knew that this was going to be a difficult mission for her.
“... I understand, and I accept your condition. May I ask if there are any conditions for my companion here?” Ezekiel needed to know if Riley would have her own tasks. If she did, then it would make things more difficult for him.
“No. But we expect her to take part in your tasks.” Invera informed him. “Consider it a test. If she can aid you as she is, or even mages to somehow break through, then perhaps she too will be worthy of becoming allied with my flock.”
Riley looked up at Invera when she said this. The Flame Hunter and her Spirit grew even more determined to see this through. She knew that this was a chance for her to prove her worth to a powerful faction. One that had control of a fairly large region. Even if it was one that wasn’t under human control.
“I thank you for this opportunity. I shall prove my worth.” Riley bowed her head at Invera.
The Lightning Spirit just stared at her for a moment before nodding her head and looking at Ezekiel again.
“You may return to your pack. Inform them of your tasks. If others aid you, that is fine. But they will not receive the same opportunities as you.” Invera gently waved her wing at Ezekiel and Riley. Shooing them away. “Go. You must head out to fulfill your tasks within two days. Callrond will be with your pack. He will extract the memories tonight. The forest will also let you pass without issue. Just this once.”
“One more thing.” Ezekiel needed clarification on something. “How many cultists do I need to kill?”
“... At least three per day your pack is here. Though more would be preferable. You shall have ample opportunity to do this while you complete your second task. They are the ones helping the traitor.”
Ezekiel nodded. The fact that the cult was helping a Spirit that ruled its own territory betray its fellow Spirits wasn’t surprising to him. The number of Cultists that Invera wanted dead was, however. As that was just under a hundred lives.
“We shall be off then.” Ezekiel turned away this time. Gently picking Riley up, who seemed resigned to her fate as luggage. As she barely reacted this time. But held on tightly as Ezekiel dashed away.
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They had to get back as soon as possible. So that Ezekiel could convince his mother that he needed to go and fight the Cult again.
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Invera watched for a moment before turning to her fellow Spirits. Silently, many of them headed off as well. Either burrowing into the ground, running off like Ezekiel, or taking flight.
Only a small handful of Spirits remained after several minutes.
One of them was a large red drake. A much more viscous looking Celia. Its scales were much larger, and sharper. With a large beak in place of a fanged maw.
A silent conversation passed through these Spirits. But they ultimately turned to the Flame drake.
Raising one of its foreclaws, a dull red flame appeared above it. Cupped within its claws. The flame seemed to brighten for a moment. It turned orange, the heat noticeably rising, but then shifted to blue. The stone around it began to heat and soften, even several feet away.
Then the Flame turned white, and the Spirit slammed its claw into the ground beneath it. Heat traveled from its claw into the stone. It spread out in a ring around it. The other Spirits moving out of the way. The drake sank into the ground, now molten and glowing.
It raised its claws from the molten rock, examining it closely. Turning away from the scene it had just caused, it nodded at Invera. Agreeing to whatever it was that the Lightning bird had asked about. Then, it seemed to glow, before sinking into the ground as it turned to brightly glowing lava.
After the drake disappeared into the ground, the rest of the Spirits nodded at Invera as well. Before leaving right afterwards. Each in their own unique way.
For her part, Invera could only let out a sigh of relief. Her wings sagged as she allowed herself to relax. It hadn’t been easy for her to convince the other Legendaries that were overseeing this haven to allow a large group of humans to enter and try their luck at bonding with a Spirit.
Fortunately, Ezekiel had proved his worth to them with the time he had taken to aid Riley in Understanding her element.
Now she just had to figure out whether or not Ezekiel knew just as much about the other elements. To try and do the same for more Spirits. So that her peers wouldn’t’ hound her about it later.
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While it had taken Ezekiel and Riley a couple of hours to get to the top of the plateau pillar, getting down was significantly easier. All Ezekiel had to do was jump, and while he carried Riley in his arms, Shine would reverse their and Ezekiel’s gravity. Slowing them down once they got closer to the ground. For Riley, it wasn’t exactly a comfortable feeling, but not so much so that she complained.
Once they reached the ground, they saw that there was a single pathway leading away from the pillar. Having been assured that they would be alright, they headed off. The pathway opened up in front of them and closed behind them as they went through the forest.
Eventually, the stopped moving around them. The path became set, and after a few minutes of walking, the sounds of crackling campfires were heard.
Reaching the campsite, Ezekiel could see that the only ones still awake were his parents and a couple of sentries.
“You two are finally back.” Warren turned to face his son and Riley as they exited the forest. He had been looking over some of the equipment. Separating the damaged equipment from the battle the previous day. Evelyn was mostly keeping watch, using the shadows to expand her perception.
“Yeah. We’ll be heading out tomorrow though. There’s no restriction on who can come with us, by the way. Just that both of us need to go.” Ezekiel explained as he sat down.
“What was asked of you?” Warren placed down the last of the equipment he had next to him. “Callrond gave us a general outline. But nothing specific.”
Ezekiel nodded at that. He figured that one of the Legendary birds would’ve said something. Of the five, only Invera was at the meeting, after all.
The two explained, in detail, what had happened during the meeting with the Legendary Spirits.
Both Evelyn and Warren were happy and surprised to hear that Riley had had a moment of inspiration and enlightenment. But it was the fact that Ezekiel and Riley were both going to have to aid the Spirits that shocked them the most. Especially since there was the potential to have Riley become one of the Spirits’ official allies.
“... What’s your plan?” Warren finally asked after a moment of silence. Evelyn just looked sad, but she had been given time to accept this. She had also already chewed out, and been chewed out by, Warren when she found this out earlier today.
“I figure I’ll do some reconnaissance regarding the mystic herb. Once I know more details about this outcast ruler then I’ll move in. The bigger problem will be making sure I kill enough Cultists.” Ezekiel didn’t miss both his parents narrowing their eyes at the mention of the Cult. “The worst thing is that this will possibly put me back on the Cult’s hit list. I doubt I ever left it, but it’s obvious that they haven’t been prioritizing me and my death since they found out I was crippled.”
Ezekiel held a hand in front of him in the air and levitated a couple of stones in the air.
“Not that that will be true for too much longer.” Waving his hand, Ezekiel let the rocks fall back to the ground. Releasing his hold on the mana that held them up.
Warren gave a viscous grin at the thought of his son regaining his power. While Evelyn beamed brightly at the fact that her son was well on the road to recovery.
“Well, at least you’re not just jumping into this without thinking about it. No issues with Callrond digging through your head?” This was the thing that Warren was most worried about.
Given his age, and the experiences they had been through in fighting the Kindled Hounds, Ezekiel going into battle was less of a concern for Warren. Evelyn was still worried, but Warren had made her realize that she couldn’t let herself keep worrying about Ezekiel. She had two other children to worry about, who were both still growing into themselves.
However, that didn’t mean that Ezekiel’s parents were okay with having an unknown Spirit digging around in their son’s head.
“To be honest, I’m not worried. While I’m certainly weaker than I would be if my Spirit Paths were in top shape, I don’t think my soul is so weak as to be unable to defend itself against a Spirit of the same Tier.” Ezekiel knew that his soul was borderline Tier five due to age alone. The amount of time his soul had traveled through the void of space to get to this world was longer than the amount of time it had been since the Broods were sealed, after all.
His soul had existed longer than any Spirit currently alive. It was just a shame that time was the slowest method of growing the soul.
While Ezekiel’s parents looked confused for a moment, they thought about it for a second before they realized that Ezekiel’s soul had likely been strengthened by the Void Relics he had come into contact with over the course of his life.
“How about you, Riley? How do you intend to aid our son in these endeavors?” This time it was Evelyn who asked the question. Both she and Warren were confident that Ezekiel would be okay. But having someone so much weaker than him potentially holding him back wasn’t something they wanted.
“... To be honest, I was planning on following each and every one of Ezekiel’s words to the letter.” Riley looked somewhat downtrodden as she spoke. Her head tilted towards the ground. “I know that I’m no match for any Legendaries. But I need to do this. I need to prove that I am growing stronger, and that I’m not a lost cause or a charity case!”
Riley was white knuckled from how tightly she was clenching her hands.
Evelyn and Warren exchanged a look that Ezekiel couldn’t read. But he knew for a fact that his own expression was guilty. He had saved Riley because she was a friend. One who had been greatly wronged. Not because she was a charity case, or otherwise owed him anything.
“You both set out tomorrow, correct?” Ezekiel and Riley nodded in response to Warren’s question. “Well, as long as you head out at some point, I think you can afford to spend some time studying tonight.”
Warren then detached a Void Pouch from his belt, tossing it to Ezekiel.
Taking a look inside, Ezekiel saw that there were a large number of books inside. Most of them he recognized as copies from the Church of ten regarding studies into the different elements. As well as stacks of writing supplies and other tools for studying.
“I’m not sure how much it’ll help. But while you two were eating, prior to our leaving Trimble, Reya checked in on you.” Evelyn explained as Ezekiel looked at them in askance. “We managed to procure these supplies from the Church of Ten in the city. It ate most of our personal funds, but it should be helpful, right?”
Seeing his mother smiling so brightly, Ezekiel couldn’t feel angry at her for what she and his father had done. This was a great help, after all.
“Thank you.” Ezekiel quietly said. “This will give us a much better chance, even if Riley doesn’t break through.”
Standing up from his seat, Ezekiel went over to give both his parents a hug. Turning back to Riley, he could see that she was looking nervous. But as Riley eyed the Void Pouch before quickly looking away, Ezekiel realized that she just really didn’t want to study.
“Come one, Riley, let’s get you studying.” Ezekiel muttered as he walked past Riley, heading to the tent that Warren had said was Ezekiel’s not long ago. He grabbed Riley by the scruff of her coat, dragging her with him.
Ezekiel could hear his parents chuckling behind them. He could just tell that he was likely going to be heckled non-stop come morning.
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Ezekiel and Riley ended up staying awake the whole night studying. While it seemed like Riley was getting closer and closer to reaching the necessary Understanding of Flame to reach Tier four, she failed to enter into another state of enlightenment.
There was some confusion, as Riley had managed to get a mostly blue fire created in one hand. Hot enough to nearly burn her, even further away than it had been previously. But it just wasn’t clicking properly.
Shine, who had fallen asleep with Celia while their humans studied, suggested that it might be something that needs to be consolidated in her soul, much like how Ezekiel consolidated his own Understandings while meditating.
Unfortunately, when morning came, Callrond showed up, and that meant that it was time for Ezekiel’s mind to be dug into. Warren and Evelyn stood not too far away. Riley, Ellen, and Wendy stood next to them. Though the guards were well away from the area. Having finally started trying to interact with the Spirits to form bonds.
Are you ready?” Callrond stood perched on a large stump. He was shrunken down to roughly the same height as Ezekiel. “I will be as gentle as I can, but the passive and instinctual defenses of your own mind and soul will likely cause a reaction that could be painful.”
“I’m ready. I’ve done something like this before.” Ezekiel’s thoughts went back to the various times he’d directly interacted with Shine. The time he’d purged the Light from Riley’s soul. Plus, the two Void Remnants he’d spoken to previously.
“Then let’s begin.” Callrond gently nudged his head against Ezekiel’s, and the world quickly faded to black.
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A vast void filled with stars and cracked glass filled Ezekiel’s vision. His mindscape, the area of consciousness within his soul, was laid out before him. Small and misshapen pipes led to different areas. But as mana slowly flowed through them, the bulbous amalgamation of the broken pieces of his Spirit Paths slowly evened out. His soul once more became a singular whole.
“Amazing!” Callrond’s voice called out to him. “Your soul is so grand. Even more so than my own! I don’t think it’s actually possible for me to accidentally harm you here.”
Turning around, Ezekiel saw the soul form of Callrond. A golden bird that only came up to the top of his chest. Around the collar bones.
“The sheer vastness of this mindscape... How old are you?” Callrond suddenly asked.
“... I have been alive in this world for almost two decades... But circumstances involving the Ancient Void have aged me well beyond that.” Ezekiel cautiously replied. Somewhat off balance at having another soul interacting with his own. Especially since he couldn’t properly feel Callrond’s presence like he once could feel Shine’s.
“I see. So that is why your soul is so pure. Enough to be so close to one hundred percent. The time that your soul has had to be tainted is so small as to be inconsequential...” Callrond seemed to have become lost in thought. Though Ezekiel could still hear his words just fine.
Ezekiel had to admit, Callrond’s explanation did make sense. If the pool that was used to judge the purity of his soul based it off experiences, then the number of experiences he had were barely a speck of dust in a football field when compared to just how old his soul was.
“I believe we are getting off topic. How do I show you, my memories?” Ezekiel’s question pulled Callrond from his wonder.
“Right! My apologies. Here is what you need to do.” Callrond then began explaining the exact steps that Ezekiel had to take to provide his memories.
Given the amount of time that had passed since he had seen Exalt Harras fight, it wasn’t too hard to recall the memories. They were also quite significant. So, it was barely a few minutes after they had started that Callrond informed Ezekiel that he had done enough.
With one last look around Ezekiel’s mindscape, Callrond disappeared. No flash, no glowing display, no anything. He simply disappeared.
And Ezekiel opened his eyes.
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Coming back to the land of the living, Ezekiel couldn’t help but feel like he had been in his mindscape for less time than he had thought.
“Thank you for this, Ezekiel. Spina will be here soon to guide you to the territory where you will find the herb that you will need to obtain.” Callrond took flight, hovering in the air for a moment. “Good luck, and good hunting.”
Disappearing once more from Ezekiel’s view, this time in a flash of light, Callrond was off. Likely in the direction of the plateau pillar Ezekiel and Riley had visited the previous day.
Turning to the side, he saw that Riley was the only one still standing in the clearing. Warren and Evelyn had left with Ellen and Wendy when Ezekiel was in his mindscape.
The two didn’t have long to wait before Spina appeared.
“Come. It is time to go. I will tell you as much as I can about the current situation. As well as answer any questions that I can.” The red bird said before heading off into the distance. At a slow enough pace for Ezekiel and Riley to follow at a run.
Chasing after the Legendary Flame Spirit, Ezekiel couldn’t help but hope that things didn’t go too badly once they faced the cult. He wasn’t getting any bad feelings at the moment, but he knew full well that that could change at the drop of a hat.