They were two dozen in number, all standing at the other end of the chamber in two staggered rows. The H'raal were large and very thickset, towering ten feet in height. Their bodies were covered in dense azure plumage, but they looked reptilian in nature, with large, heavy tails and emerald-green scaly skin visible on their clawed limbs and elongated snouts, where the plumage tapered off. Their orange-yellow slit-pupiled eyes gleamed coldly as they assessed the group before them.

One of the H'raal made a gesture, indicating for Airo and Veralla to take off their helmets. Airo checked the atmosphere readings. There was air and pressure, and both were within human standards. He retracted the power armor's helmet, while Veralla slid up the visor of her vacsuit. The interior was quite dark, even with light coming off from the energy surfaces, yet somehow everything was perfectly clear to see. Although Magus didn't do anything, Airo got the impression the old Knight removed some kind of barrier around himself.

As soon as Veralla revealed her face, several of the H'raal hissed sharply. One of them pointed an arm downward, and a spear of solidified energy flowed from the floor into its hand. The alien brandished the dangerous weapon, making a threatening step towards Veralla, who yelped in alarm and backed away. Airo shouted and instantly drew his crystal-bladed katana, moving between Veralla and the H'raal, ready for battle.

Magus Dei stood beside Airo with a halting gesture, and spoke to the aliens in an unknown, fierce language. Airo's power armor translated his words: "Wait. She is not a hydra."

The spear-carrying H'raal bared its sharp teeth and made to move closer, yet stopped when another H'raal raised its clawed hand to bar its way. "Magus Dei," the other H'raal intoned, the words uttered in Standard One. "So you have come again. Are you here to fulfill the promise you have given?"

Magus spoke again in that strange language. "I am honored to be welcomed into your sanctuary. Alas, I come for different reasons, in order to seek your aid in a matter of grave importance."

The H'raal narrowed its slit-pupiled eyes. "Do not waste the holy Æther to mimic our language," it said. "Only the juvenile Great One here would be able to properly learn it anyway. We understand your speech. Use it instead." The H'raal's voice was rumbling and faintly sibilant, closely resembling the same general tonality a dragon had. Airo wasn't sure, but judging on this comparison of his, he deemed the speaking H'raal to be female.

"As you wish, Te'ylna Ynrolshuoay," Magus nodded, and gestured for Airo to sheathe his katana. He did so reluctantly, while Veralla sidled closer to stand beside him.

"Shy. Call me Shy," the H'raal said, and motioned to her companion. The other H'raal dismissed the energy spear. "Otherwise it would be difficult for your warrior clan-kin to address me. Now, why have you come here, if it is not to fulfill your promise, Magus Dei?"

"One of our greatest warriors has fallen to the influence of the Starblaze," Magus began gravely. "He nearly unmade our guardian clan, and took control over the Terra Para Shard. Somehow, he attained the knowledge how to channel the Shard's power directly, and his madness has compelled him to use that knowledge to... to bring order to the universe. By destroying the entirety of all reality."

The H'raal named Shy was silent for a few moments. "That is a dire threat indeed," she agreed. "Especially given the connection between the Void and the Starblaze."

"We came here to ask you for your aid," Magus continued. "We implore you to support us in our fight against this all-encompassing menace. Please, Te'ylna Shy, help us defeat this enemy of the Great Cosmos itself."

The H'raal leader paused again before making her reply. "You say only one of your warriors was corrupted by the Starblaze, correct?"

"Yes, that is correct," Magus said.

"Which one of your clan-kin was that?" Shy asked.

Magus bowed his head, plainly wanting to avoid the answer. He lifted again his gaze and spoke quietly, "Tungust Ferrtau."

Heavy silence descended upon the energy-walled chamber. Airo felt a slight tightening of the power armor around his right leg, as Veralla wrapped him in an instinctive tail-hug. The host of H'raal all stood perfectly still, their unblinking orange-yellow eyes focused on Magus.

"The Lightbringer? He was corrupted by the Starblaze?" Shy asked.

"Yes," Magus confirmed.

"What about his soulkin, Kalessia the Firstborn?"

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"She is dead."

Shy raised and flexed her clawed hand, as if taking upon a decision. Airo tensed. The air in the energy chamber crackled.

"Will you help us defeat Ferrtau, Te'ylna Shy?" Magus asked.

"No," the H'raal leader said sharply, narrowing her reptilian eyes. "My clan and I will not help you."

Magus let his clasped hands fall to his sides, visibly taken aback. "What is your reason for refusing us, honored Te'ylna? This conflict affects your clan as much as it does us. It affects everything and everyone!"

"That is correct, Magus Dei," Shy rumbled. Her heavy tail thumped the energy floor once, creating a tide of magenta lightnings at the point of impact. "We refuse your request because the risk is too great. To fight would mean to face a chance of failure. And failure cannot be borne, when the destiny of the Great Cosmos is decided."

The H'raal leader stepped forward, her giant, feathered form looming ominously. "That is why we will take no chance. We will gather the entire might of our armada, and we will destroy Terra Para."

"Such action will bear terrible consequences!" Magus said, raising his voice. "The Shard is a point in the space-time continuum with immense power. Destroying it will annihilate the whole star system, and can set a chain reaction which will devastate the entire Sector!"

"A weeping price indeed," Shy agreed with a growl. "The blood of my clan and my sisters, and the blood of many others shall dry forever, and numerous stars shall cease their songs of roaring fire. Even so, it is a worthy sacrifice in the name of all those who shall come after, to live and hunt beneath the watchful gaze of the Ever-Blazing-Heat-Radiance."

"I–" Magus began.

"Listen–" Airo started angrily.

"Our decision is made," Shy hissed. "Leave now, and make your final meditations. Hunt your truth with grace."

With those parting words, the H'raal leader turned around. A large aperture opened behind the gathered aliens. They started to depart, when Veralla suddenly let go of Airo, and leapt forward.

"Wait!" she cried. "Please, do not leave! Do not destroy the planet!"

The H'raal stopped, and turned to face her, silent and dour.

"Please, reconsider you decision!" Veralla continued. She sobbed, tears glistening in her purple eyes. "All of my friends are down on that world! Millions of innocent people are down there! They all need help! I do not want to see them die! Please, do not hurt them!"

Shy spoke quietly, "We already made our choice, Great One. We regret going against your will, yet the path which can be taken without error is the one that begets obliteration. It is the only way to make sure Tungust Ferrtau will not unmake All."

"This is the same way Ferrtau chose!" Veralla shouted defiantly, scowling to squeeze away the tears. "A way that hurt and killed a great many of people and that will bring enormous destruction upon the universe! Choosing this way will mean to walk the same path as him!" She sniffled, yet her voice remained loud and clear. "It is an easy way, yes. Yet there is a difference between an easy way and a right way. An easy way merely gives. A right way shines. To walk a right way means to be everything you want to be, and act that way. You want to protect the universe? Then the right way to do so is to save the people of Terra Para and help us stop Ferrtau!"

"And what if we fail?" Shy asked calmly. "What if we give aid to your clan, and Tungust Ferrtau still prevails over our combined might?"

"We will not fail!" Veralla said. "We will fight to save the Great Cosmos itself, yes? That means we will fight for everyone who has ever lived or shall live! We will fight for the planets and the stars, and for the very future. We will fight for light and love, and we will do it with light and love!" Veralla rose on her hindlegs, and her wings flared. "That is why we will not fail no matter what – because we will fight with out hearts, not to hurt and kill, but to heal and redeem!"

The H'raal mantled their azure feathers, awed by her words. The illumination in the muted energy chamber seemed to become brighter. Magus Dei clasped his hands, his expression one of fierce approval. Airo stood silent, at once amazed and proud of Veralla. He felt in his mind the familiar tickling sensation, which by now he had realized signified somehow the connection between him and her.

"What is your name, Great One?" Shy asked in a surprisingly mellow, almost musical voice. Her plumage fluffed, and her expression softened, making her predatory appearance much less forbidding.

"I am Veralla," Veralla said dutifully. "Airo gave me my name."

"Veralla," Shy repeated, pensive. Evidently, the name had no meaning to the aliens. "Who are your clan progenitors, Veralla? Your..." the H'raal leader fumbled for the word, "parents?"

"I do not know my father," she said. "My mother is Kalessia. She was soulkin to Ferrtau."

"Yes, I recognize your aura now," Shy said. "You carry much of your mother's essence, Veralla. And you have the same ardor both she and her soulkin had. Your words have great power for one so young, Great One."

"I follow my heart," Veralla said simply. "And I want to become a Radiant Knight. To make people happy, and to make the world happier too. That is what I feel is right."

"Happiness. Such an elusive grace..." Shy murmured. "It escapes even the greatest hunters. Only when one calls off the hunt and drinks from the crystal waters does it come..."

The H'raal leader seemed to ponder for a few moments. Then her gaze turned to Airo and Magus. "We have altered our decision," she announced. "Our clan shall aid yours in whatever way you request, to prevent this dire threat from coming to pass. I give you my word as te'ylna of the Yssyy clan."

"Yay!" Veralla cheered, swishing her tail. "Thank you, Te'ylna Ynrolshuoay!"

"I thank you, Veralla," Shy said, mildly surprised. "You reminded us why we made peace between our clans in the first place, and why we should stand united against the Void."

"So, when your armada can be on the move?" Airo finally asked the question which interested him the most.

"We shall need a day to inform the rest of our clan and to mobilize," Shy said. "Then, it will be up to you to guide all of us to triumph. Hunt your truth with grace, fellow clan-kin."

And with that, the diplomatic mission was concluded.