Petor took off his helmet and stored it away, looking at the room.

“I, I thought that there wasn’t a connection, but I can feel the bond.”

“Most curious-“

“Answers, not questions Irshon.” Desari cut him off with a glare.

“Pfah, and take all the fun from the act. Very well, the product of knowledge instead of the creation.”

“Creation of it for me.”

Irshon raised a finger, releasing his spectacles as he sat back. “Fair.”

His spectacles disappeared into his pocket as he clapped his hands.

A table on wheels rolled out into the room near the seats, its silver top parted to reveal all kinds of food and drink.

“Please,” He waved to the cart, Petor and the others.

“Never turn down free food.”

Petor stored his gloves.

“When you died, your brother shattered your soul.”

Brother?

Petor picked up a plate and gathered food.

Desari grimaced. “I thought it might’ve been.”

“The elemental lords owed you a boon for freeing so many of our peoples. Still do. We requested their aid. Through another they offered us a trade. Using our bond we were able to draw your soul together and direct you in a way beyond the celestial path set forward to you. Nudge you towards the gods of old. The originators.”

“Originators?” Mya asked.

“The gods that rose not from beliefs of man, mana, creature and element. Gods that were born with the creation of the sentient realms,” Desari said.

“Life, Death, magic and balance. They are less seen as gods and widespread concepts that are entwined with the fabric of all realities,” Irshon said with a grin directed at Mya. He smelled the air. “The sea wraps you in its embrace.”

“Irshon,” Desari said.

He tapped his fingers on the arm rest. Peculiar, but Petor could feel the information turning in Irshon’s head. He’d been around few learned people. Those that took their time to pick their words carefully to pass on their information in the most linear and digestible way possible for their audience. He bit into something, it was flaky with a tangy fruity flavored jam and then a light cream.

His stomach reminded him that he’d been fighting and then wounded over the last couple of days.

“We used our bonds to pull your soul together and pull it from the stream that would guide you towards the Geraxi pantheon. Though, seeing you in the flesh is a surprise. Though that is no normal body you inhabit.”

He turned his head in question.

“An answer for an answer,” Desari said.

“Bah, okay, so binding your soul together took a cost and a toll from us. With your death we lost the measure of power that we shared with you and one another. Then with the fusion we burned out our very bonds. It took another tithe.” There was a depth, a loss to Irshon’s eyes.

Desari shuddered. “Irshon-“

“And I would have done it again in a heartbeat my friend.” Petor caught the look in his eyes. Resolute, and more than that, old.

“The elemental lords helped us. We lost much but we were assured it would give you a chance. Well, seeing you here is a surprise.” His face cracked into a genuine smile. “One most pleasant.”

“I made a trade of my own,” Desari said. She told him the deal they had all made with Limos.

“Well you were never one for rest or for stopping,” Irshon laughed. “And your teacher was always saying how you should head to other lands, to let your free adventuring spirit spread.”

She gave him a tight smile and leaned forward on her knees, drinking from her cup. “Irshon, where is Ilus?”

Irshon grimaced.

“I do not know. I do know that the Geraxi Pantheon-for lack of better words- knocked Ilus off course. I went with the others to look for where it should have been. Though there was naught there.”

“You have heard nothing?”

“No, I know that Geraxi was looking for it too,” Irshon steeled himself. “Vessali is heeded as champion and avatar of the pantheon.”

“All of them?”

“Indeed. They were greatly weakened in the fighting with the elementals. Though the lords were only able to materialize for a short period of time. It has been a year and a half.”

“Has Geraxi had any luck?”

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“Not yet, but they were the ones to disrupt the spell. I have heard that the god’s have a way to track the city. There is still speak of ending the Ilus scourge.” Irshon shook his head.

“Scared of what they do not understand.”

“Is that not the way of the many?”

Desari breathed in and sat back into her chair, sipping from her drink. “Well looks like we’re going to have to call on Limos. He knows where Ilus is.” She sunk into thought.

Petor pulled out Limos’ card, the crest drew apart and writing covered it.

“Irshon where is the nearest resonance point?”

“West of here the Hydralith waterrise.”

A cloud moved through the room and landed in Irshon’s hand, evaporating to reveal maps.

“These will help you.”

Mya rubbed her hand on her pant leg, clearing the crumbs, jams and other remainders of the food.

Desari took the maps and reached over to Mya. She balanced her snacks on the delicate and ornate saucer plate while opening the maps with one hand.

Petor looked to the other and then Irshon. She trusts him. It was the most he had seen Desari open up around anyone, the most relaxed he had ever seen her.

“The card,” He said, gathering their attention as he held it up. “It has new quests on it for the area and, it says we can’t contact him.”

“What?” Desari asked.

Petor flipped the card so she could see.

[Summon Limos]

>Unable, enemy moving in on location.

Irshon raised an eyebrow, sitting back in his chair, his movements becoming stiff while his eyes turned misty and distant.

“I might be weaker, but I’m not to be forgotten,” Irshon’s voice came through the room in a growl.

His body jerked and the mist cleared, thunderclouds in his expression.

“When you arrived you released a blast of ‘other’ energies, energies not normally from the water plane, they are chasing that. There are all manner of creatures headed this way. I will head to meet their strongest first. To throw them off of your trail. Head to the south, there are weaker creatures in that region that you can break through. I can dredge up one of the wrecks.”

“Don’t worry we have a ship,” Mya said. Her focus on the maps. “Could you point out where you sense the creatures coming from?”

Drops of water hit the map turning into ink and spreading out in a circle showing each beast heading for them.

“Thank yee.”

Petor grabbed more snacks and put away the card. New quests could wait till they were safe.

“I’ve put you in danger old friend,” Desari said.

“Nothing new there, ah the excitement and thrill of it all. As you said to an old librarian, it makes one feel alive.” Irshon chuckled.

“I can do little for you, but know that I will repay you as I am possible,” Desari tentatively held out her hand.

“I ask you Irshon the learned librarian. Will you bond with me once again, as friends and equals?”

“There are no debts between friends. I accept your pledge, as equals Desari Haker, Ilus’ Librarian Guardian.” Irshon took her hand in his.

Power converged between their hands and spread out to one another.

He felt Desari’s familiar power a mingling of elements reach out as she had when making the contract between all of them.

Comparing the two was like comparing an ember to the sun. Her power had become a physical thing.

Their power united, mixed and spread into one anothers bodies. Purple flared within Irshon’s eyes as Green and blue swirled in Desari’s.

The room shuddered.

“Looks like you have been busy,” Irshon smirked.

“Well, looks like others have been underestimating you. Us librarians have to teach others to respect knowledge.” Desari’s look was predatory.

“I have missed you my friend,” Irshon patted her hand before releasing it and standing.

“We will meet again shortly I am sure.” He moved to his library and an alcove.

Desari grabbed a less touched platter and dumped it into her storage and followed.

Petor, and the others stilled, looking at one another, eyeing the others.

They burst into motion grabbing the platters and pouring them into their storage devices.

“Grubby little thieves! Hey that’s my pastry!”

Petor thumped a tray out of Valter’s grasp and stored it all, pulling out the platter and putting it back down as Valter tilted the other platter in his hand to the side, catching it.

Mya kicked a platter towards herself and grabbed another with her hand. Petor reached out, ‘catching’ half of the treats flying through the air, Mya snatching the others.

“Well played.” She narrowed her eyes at him while catching the empty platter, stacking it with the other and putting it on the empty cart. A grin pulling at her mouth as she turned her gaze onto Valter.

“I need more fuel than you.”

Petor pulled out a pastry with meat stuffed inside and ate it, chewing it slowly.

Mya snorted.

Desari let out a suffering sigh.

Petor stood and pulled on his gloves, he and the two others following Desari.

He replaced spent potions, checked his plant based ammunition. Touching and tuggin on his gear, telling their state by touch.

The others went through the same process as he turned around a shelf to face the alcove. A bookshelf had been parted to show a door.

“I’ll remind them that I’m not without my ways. Make your way quickly.” Irshon pushed the door open, showing a forest and beach beyond.

Petor donned his helment, before drawing his shield and securing it.

“Thank you Irshon,” Desari said.

“I’ve done little for you.” Though, he pulled out a book.

“Advanced methods of soul trapping,” He held out to Mya.

“You know how to bribe a girl.” Mya batted her eyelashes. “Though might you have anything on the differences between scrying within a plane scrying on other planes?”

Irshon’s eyebrows raised he flipped his hand, a book with an eye in red foil appearing instead.

“Thank you,” Mya received the book with both hands.

Irshon tilted his head slighty and looking at Valter, drawing another book. “Insights into smithing Mythical gear.”

“You honor me,” Valter bowed his head. Irshon returned the gesture and turned to Desari withdrawing a new tome.

“Theories and stories on killing gods.” The book was black and grey, bound with bleeding chains that left no stain upon his hand.

“Thank you Irshon.” Desari took the book and hugged him.

“Bah,” He said, patting her back. Desari whispered something before they released.

Irshon held his chin, putting his hand under his elbow, against his side where he tapped his fingers in a wave against his ribs.

He patted his side twice and nodded, his hand against his side coming back with a red leather book.

“Information on leech demons.”

Petor’s eyes moved to Desari and back to Irshon.

“Thank you.”

“A most interesting subject.” Irshon said, studying him. He clapped his hands.

“Well then I must bid you goodbye.”

Petor drew his spear, shifting his shoulders, his body ached from the fighting of the last day. His eyes gritty and throat coarse.

He pushed it to the back of his mind, the others drawing their weapons as well.

Petor nodded to Irshon and stepped through the doorway and onto the beach.

It was a different part of the forest and beach than the one they’d arrived.

Mya and Valter stepped out with him.

He glanced back at the door, Desari stepped through, the door built into a section of rock like the one they’d gained entry through.

“If you find the lord of the water plane, they will aid you.” Irshon said.

He turned as the door closed.

“Time these old bones got a good stretch.”

Petor faced forward again.

“We’re facing south, come on,” Mya said.

“You said we had a ship?” Petor asked, following her.

“Yeah, Mesurial wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t let her hull taste the seas of a water plane.” Mya cackled.

“I’d like a straight answer just once.”

Mya laughed and pulled out an old glass bottle with water in it.

Even as she move it around the water adhered to one side, moving like waves.

She reached the edge of the beach and threw the bottle out into the sea. The water frothed and boiled. A flying jib-boom pierced the surface.