*The Year is 102 ACC*

Human figures, their bodies adorned with intricate tribal markings, ride the raptors with preternatural grace. They wield spears tipped with some sort of crystalline material that seems to glow with inner fire.

Elizabeth's hands weave complex patterns as she runs, conjuring shimmering barriers behind them. The first raptor slams into the magical wall with a BAM! Bone-jarring impact momentarily stunned.

They break into a run, dodging twisted vines and leaping over pools of iridescent liquid. Salaun's breath comes in ragged gasps, but he keeps pace.

A clearing opens before them. At its center stands a massive structure—a temple. Its surface ripples like water and images flicker across its facade.

"In there," Elizabeth points. "It's our best chance."

As they approach, an archway shimmers into existence. Harith pushes Salaun through first, then follows. Elizabeth brings up the rear, her hands weaving a complex ward to seal the entrance.

For a moment, all is silent save for their ragged breathing. Then the ground shakes as raptors circle their sanctuary, their riders calling out in a language unlike anything Harith has ever heard. It's musical yet guttural, seeming to resonate on multiple levels at once.

Inside, the air is thick and still. Pale light pulses from no discernible source, revealing twisting corridors that seem to shift and rearrange with each blink.

"What is this place?" Salaun whispers, awe momentarily overriding his fear.

"No idea," Harith mutters. "But it beats being out there."

Elizabeth finishes her ward, sagging against the wall. "We should be safe for now. But we need to keep moving. We need to find somewhere to rest. Then, I will teleport us to the boat we left on the shore. Harith, make an illusion to hide us from the hunters outside.”

Harith nods, closing his eyes to concentrate. His fingers dance through the air, tracing intricate patterns as he weaves the illusion. Shimmering threads of magic flow from his fingertips, coalescing into a gossamer veil that envelops the three of them.

The air around them ripples and distorts. Their forms blur and then seem to melt into the surroundings. Harith's illusion transforms them into living reflections of the strange temple interior. Their skin takes on the fluid, mercurial quality of the walls.

They move deeper into the temple, their footsteps echoing strangely in the ever-shifting corridors. The walls pulse with an otherworldly light, images flickering across their surface like half-remembered dreams. Salaun reaches out to touch one, his fingers sinking into the liquid-like material.

"Don't," Harith warns, pulling his hand back gently. "We don't know what might happen."

"There," Elizabeth whispers, pointing to a small alcove that materializes as they round a corner. The space seems more stable than the rest of the temple, its walls pulsing with a soft, blue light.

They enter, and Harith immediately sets to work, reinforcing his illusion. His fingers weave intricate patterns in the air, leaving trails of shimmering magic. The entrance to the alcove blurs, then seems to vanish entirely, replaced by what appears to be a seamless continuation of the corridor wall.

Elizabeth kneels, tracing complex sigils on the floor. Each symbol flares to life as she completes it, forming an intricate web of protective magic. "This should mask our presence and muffle any sound," she murmurs.

Salaun sinks to the floor. He watches his captors with wary eyes. "What... what is this place?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

Harith shakes his head, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I've never seen anythin’ like this. I was a city boy who never left home,"

As if in response to his words, the walls of the alcove ripple. Ghostly images form and dissolve—a starry sky unlike any they've seen, creatures with too many limbs and eyes, vast cities of impossible architecture.

Elizabeth finishes her ward and sits back, her normally composed features showing signs of strain.

"How you‘re holdin’ up, kid?" Harith asks.

Salaun's jaw clenches, conflicting emotions warring across his face. "I'm fine," he says curtly, then hesitates. "Those... things out there. The riders. Who were they?"

"I don't know," Harith admits.

Elizabeth's eyes narrow. "This island... it's not like anywhere else in Atherton. The magic here is... wild. Primal."

As they speak, the blue light pulsing from the walls seems to intensify. Tiny motes of light begin to coalesce in the air around them, swirling in mesmerizing patterns. The motes brush against their skin, leaving trails of tingling warmth.

“This will do. After I get some rest, I’ll have enough energy to teleport to the boat, and then we can get off this weird island, " Elizabeth says softly, her eyes half-closed., her voice hushed.

Salaun's eyes narrow. "Great! Then, you drag me back to your Council?"

Elizabeth's eyes snap open. "We're trying to save your life," she says tiredly.

"By kidnapping me?" Salaun's voice rises. "You don't care about me. You just want to use me, like everyone else!"

"That's not–" Elizabeth starts, but Harith cuts her off.

"Kid's gotta point," he says quietly. "We ain't exactly playin' fair here."

Elizabeth whirls on him. "We discussed this, Harith. You understand what is at stake."

"Yeah, I do," Harith says. "Maybe. But don’t you think it's time to let Salaun in on it too?"

Elizabeth sighs with exhaustion. “Fine. Why can’t anyone just listen?” she complains. “Salaun, the Council has decided to go to war with the Guilds. And we cannot stop the war unless we bring you to my master.” Elizabeth states coldly.

Elizabeth turns to Harith, “Happy now?”

“Elizabeth! Why you’re like this? “Harith complains.

Salaun's eyes dilate, and his face is in a daze, but then it slowly turns into indignation. "War? You're lying. The Council wouldn't—"

"They would," Elizabeth cuts in, her voice freezing. "And they are. That is why we took you. To stop it. Straightforwardly. You are dangerous, so dangerous that the Council decided the most simple solution is to wipe you and all of Amir off the map if they can. But I do not think they can. The last time the Council tried, they failed, which led to a brutal war that lasted years. It is a foolish endeavor.”

“He ain’t dangerous.” Harith picks up. “He’s ‘potentially’ dangerous,” He says grimly.

“There is no difference to the Council,” Elizabeth says.

“Yep,” Harith confirms, his face mad.

Salaun's face follows Harith and contorts with rage. "You're all insane!" He barks. He backs away, fists clenched. "I'm not some weapon. I'm just... me."

"Kid, listen—" Harith starts, but Salaun cuts him off.

"No! You listen!" Salaun's voice cracks. "My whole life, people have been telling me who I am, what I'm meant to be. The Chosen One. The Savior. And now... what? A threat? I'm sick of it!"

Elizabeth steps forward, her face hard. “ People are going to die. Your friends, your family, and your home will be set ablaze. Airships will rain down Arcane Bombs on every corner of the vast island known as Amir. Thousands will die. And it will be your fault. Follow my orders. Do not attempt to escape if you want to save your people. It is that undemanding. That is your only option, do you understand?”

"My fault?! You're the ones threatening war!" Salaun takes another step back, his eyes darting between Harith and Elizabeth. "And now you expect me to just... what? Go along with your plan? Trust you?"

"We're trying to help you," Elizabeth says, her voice tight with frustration.

"Help me?" Salaun laughs bitterly. "By kidnapping me? Threatening everything I care about? That's not help, that's extortion!"

"Enough!" Harith snaps, stepping between them. "This ain't helpin' anyone."

The air snaps with tension. Salaun's eyes dart between his captors, fists clenched at his sides. Elizabeth's face is a mask of cold determination. Harith stands between them, hands raised placatingly.

"Look," Harith says, his voice low and urgent. "We're all tired. We're scared. And Salaun, yeah, we've made some right awful choices. But right now, we gotta focus on stayin' alive. Kay?"

As if to punctuate his words, a distant roar echoes through the temple. The walls ripple in response, images of teeth and claws flickering across their surface.

Salaun's shoulders slump. "Fine," he mutters. "But this isn't over."

Elizabeth nods curtly. "Agreed. For now, we rest. Then we find a way off this island."

They settle into an uneasy silence. The motes of light continue their lazy dance, gradually growing brighter. A warm lethargy seeps into their limbs.

Harith fights to keep his eyes open. "Anyone else feels... weird?"

Elizabeth's brow furrows. " Some kind of... stasis field, perhaps. We should..."

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Her words trail off as her eyes flutter closed. One by one, they succumb to the influence of the stasis field.

Salaun is the last to fall asleep.

***

“Salaun, There you are! Do you know how worried I was, mister?” Seventh Horn is sitting straight back on a long chair in their office. They are wearing a pair of glasses and looking tired.

“Am I—“ Salaun says, sitting in the chair facing Seventh, where Seventh usually scolds him.

“You aren’t dreaming, Sal. We are communing through a Spiral Conduct.”

“That temple was a Spiral Conduct. It didn’t look like one back home, but you never let me inside one, so.”

“It’s an older model. One build by Forth, meaning its functionality isn’t up to par. Focus, Sal, we do not have much time…”

“We don’t have much time? Wait, are you using the Helix? I told you not to. Ren it…”

“I know my limits better than you, boy. Will you cease your endless worrying?”

“But you are near the end of your..”

Sixth smiles, “And you are Kidnapped. Desperate times called for desperate measures. It will be okay, Sal. I will not kill myself trying to save you. Trust me, please,”

“I can’t,” Salaun says quickly. “ I can never trust you again. Remember, you are a pathological liar. I love you ren, but trust is a no-go.” Salaun jokes.

Seventh sighs. “We do not have time for this, Sal. There is a group of faithful on the island. They have already been instructed to move you to their village. The faithful have been ordered to kill your captors, but I do not think they will succeed. Even now, I can sense the female wards battling to wake her up. You need to be careful, especially around the male. He has psyche magic. He may be trying to alter your consciousness. I have communicated with Sir Drayton's fleet…”

“I thought you taught me that magical communication didn’t work in the Organons Sea.” Saluan blurts.

Seventh sighs again. “They have a Spiral Conduct on board on one of their ships. Spiral Conducts are one of the few exceptions. This is important, Sal; listen, the island you are on is treacherous, but the most treacherous part is it teleports magically randomly within the Organon Sea. With the Spiral Conduct on the island, I can predict when it is going to move. It will move in three days. Sir Drayton's fleet should arrive at a specific location on the third day. I will implant the location in your mind so you won’t forget. I need you to board the Taniwha once it arrives. I can delay the island teleportation, if necessary, but it will cost me to use Helical Magic…”

“No, Helix Sorcery. That is an order, remember. Ren, I will be on board the Taniwha. But there is something important for you to know, too. The council plans to attack the Guilds. They want to start a second war between us.”

Seventh's eyes narrow. "Luke. Of course. That pompous fool never could leave well enough alone."

"You know him?" Salaun asks, leaning forward.

"We have... history," Seventh says, their voice tight. "But that's not important now. What matters is getting you safely back to Amir."

Salaun hesitates. "If war is coming—"

Seventh's face hardens. "These are complicated matters. But we've weathered worse storms, Sal. We'll find a way through this one too."

"How?" Salaun asks, frustration edging his voice. "They think I'm some kind of weapon. A threat."

"You are neither," Seventh says firmly. "You are my son, and you are your own person. Never forget that."

Salaun's throat tightens. Despite everything, Seventh's words touch something profound within him. "I... I don't know what to do," he admits.

"For now, survive," Seventh says. "Get to the Taniwha. Once you're safe, we can plan our next move."

The air around them begins to shimmer and distort—Seventh's form flickers.

"Our connection is weakening," Seventh says urgently. "Remember, three days. The faithful will help you. Trust your instincts, Sal. And know that I—"

Seventh's image dissolves, leaving Salaun alone in the swirling void of the mental connection. He feels a tugging sensation, pulling him back to consciousness.

Salaun's eyes snap open. The alcove is bathed in a soft, pulsing light. Harith and Elizabeth are still unconscious beside him. Outside, he hears voices – low, musical tones, unlike any language he's heard before.

He sits up slowly, every muscle aching. The voices grow closer. Salaun tenses, ready to wake his captors if necessary. But something in him hesitates. These could be the faithful, his ticket home.

The wall of the alcove ripples, and a figure steps through. Tall, lithe, with skin that shimmers like mother-of-pearl. Eyes that seem to hold galaxies within them fix on Salaun.

"Come," Kai says, extending a hand. "It is time."

Salaun glances at Harith and Elizabeth, still lost in magical slumber. He thinks of Seventh's warning of the impending war. Of all the expectations placed upon him.

He takes a deep breath and reaches for the outstretched hand.

***

Harith's eyes snap open, his senses instantly alert. The alcove is empty, and Salaun is gone. Elizabeth stirs beside him, groaning as she pushes herself up.

"Where is he?" she demands, voice raspy.

Before Harith can answer, she closes her eyes slowly, slowly opens them, turns to the wall, points her finger, draws a glowing rune in the air, and then BAR-ROOM! The wall before them shatters like glass, revealing a vast chamber beyond. Crystalline structures jet from the floor and ceiling, pulsing with an inner light. At the center stands Salaun, flanked by a figure unlike any Harith has seen.

Kai – moves with liquid grace; one hand rests protectively on Salaun's shoulder.

"Step away from the boy," Elizabeth growls, fingers already weaving a spell.

Kai's voice is soft yet resonant. "He is not yours to command."

Harith's assessing. They're outnumbered in unfamiliar territory. But they can't lose Salaun. Not now.

Elizabeth strikes first. BAR-ROOM! A bolt of crackling energy lances toward Kai. He moves impossibly fast, deflecting it with a gesture. The bolt ricochets, shattering a nearby crystal. Shards explode outward in a deadly spray.

Harith dives, pulling Elizabeth down as crystal fragments whistle overhead. He rolls to his feet, his hands blurring as he casts. The air around Kai and Salaun distorts reality-bending. Phantom copies of the pair shimmer into existence, multiplying rapidly.

Kai's eyes narrow. He sweeps an arm wide, and a wave of force ripples outward. The illusions shatter like smoke, but Harith and Elizabeth are already moving.

BOOM! Elizabeth unleashes a barrage of arcane missiles, each one seeking Kai with unerring precision. He dances between them, his movements fluid and graceful. Where missiles strike, they leave scorch marks on his shimmering skin—painful but not incapacitating.

Harith focuses on Salaun, trying to catch the boy's eye. "Kid, we're tryin' to help ya!" he shouts over the din of battle.

Salaun flinches at Harith's voice. His eyes are wide, unfocused. He takes a halting step forward, then freezes. Phantom pain lances through him, memories of past trauma threatening to overwhelm him. He wants to help, to do something, but his body won't respond.

Kai whirls, placing himself between Salaun and his attackers. His hands weave intricate patterns in the air. The crystalline structures around them begin to resonate, emitting a piercing tone that sets Harith's teeth on edge.

The floor beneath them lurches. Gravity seems to hiccup, sending them all stumbling.

Harith curses, struggling to keep his footing as the world tilts. Elizabeth grabs his arm, steadying him. The crystal chamber warps, its geometry shifting in nauseating ways.

Kai's voice cuts through the chaos, chanting in an ancient tongue—the air thrums with power. Salaun's eyes widened in recognition—he'd heard these words before, in fevered dreams.

Harith lunges forward, desperate to reach Salaun. His fingers brush the boy's sleeve, but reality bends. Salaun seems to stretch, distorting like a reflection in rippling water.

"No!" Elizabeth's cry is raw and anguished. She unleashes a torrent of spellfire at Kai, fury fueling her magic—the air crackles with ozone.

Kai doesn't flinch. He raises a hand, and the spells dissipate harmlessly. His skin glows with an inner light, and his eyes blaze like twin stars. Elizabeth's fingers dance through the air, conjuring chains of searing light that lash out at Kai. Harith's illusions multiply, filling the space with mirror images of himself and Elizabeth, each one launching phantom spells that confuse and disorient. Harith and Elizabeth press their advantage, their combined magical assault driving Kai back.

Kai moves with preternatural grace, but he's on the defensive. His pearlescent skin dulls, marred by scorch marks and cuts. Sweat beads on his brow as he deflects another barrage of Elizabeth's arcane missiles.

Harith seizes the moment. He drops to one knee, pressing his palm to the crystalline floor. Magic pulses through him, and the ground beneath Kai's feet turns to quicksand. Kai stumbles, his usual fluid movements suddenly clumsy.

Elizabeth doesn't hesitate. BAM! She unleashes a shit ton of force that sends Kai flying backward. CRACK! He slams into one of the towering crystal structures. Shards of crystal rain down around him as he slumps to the ground.

Salaun cries out, finally shaking off his paralysis. He rushes to Kai's side, eyes wide with panic.

Kai struggles to his feet, one arm hanging limp at his side. His eyes, still holding galaxies within them, flicker with desperation. He reaches for something at his belt—a small, spiraling shell that glows with an inner light.

"No!" Elizabeth shouts, realizing that it is a moment too late.

Kai brings the shell to his lips and blows. No sound emerges, but the air itself seems to ripple. The crystalline structures around them begin to resonate, emitting a keening wail that sets Harith's teeth on edge.

"An alarm," Harith gasps, hands clamped over his ears.

The floor beneath them lurches violently. Gravity hiccups, sending them all stumbling. The very walls of the chamber seem to ripple and flow like water.

Kai seizes Salaun's arm with his good hand. "We must go," he says urgently, his melodic voice strained with pain.

They turn and flee deeper into the Spiral Conduct. The passageway before them shifts and changes with each step, reality-bending in impossible ways. Ghostly images flicker across the walls—star-filled voids, alien landscapes, faces both human and utterly foreign.

Harith and Elizabeth give chase, but the twisting corridors seem to work against them actively. Paths that should lead forward suddenly curve back on themselves. Doorways appear and disappear in the blink of an eye.

"We're losing them!" Harith shouts, frustration evident in his voice.

***

To Seventh Horn;

Guildmaster of the Helical Guild

Scholars Spiral, City of Rask

I write this letter with trembling hands, not from fear but from the rage that burns within me. The past nine months have been a living nightmare, watching helplessly as you twisted ancient magics to shape my unborn child into your vessel. Each night, I heard Cassandra's screams as your "treatments" wracked her body. Each morning, I was forced to smile and maintain the facade that all was well within House Lancaster.

And now, with the echoes of war still fresh—our city bearing the scars of the Council's invasion—I find myself in the most contemptible position imaginable. I am forced to harbor the very creature who has violated the sanctity of my bloodline. Make no mistake; if I possessed even a fraction of your magical might, I would cast you and your accursed guild from Amir's shores without hesitation.

But we both know the truth of my situation. The Council's defeat has left us weakened, and your monsters remain our strongest deterrent against future invasions. The other guilds look to you with a mixture of fear and reverence. I am, as you have no doubt calculated, powerless to act against you.

So, let us be clear about our arrangement moving forward. You will have your vessel—my son, Salaun. But know that every time I look upon your face, I see the architect of my family's defilement. Every time I hear your voice in my halls, I remember how you manipulated both Cassandra and me, playing upon our separate ambitions until we had no choice but to acquiesce to your demands.

You have won, Horn. The bargain is sealed, paid for with my firstborn and my dignity. But pray we never live to see the day when the balance of power shifts. For if that day comes, I will remember every moment of these nine months. Every. Single. One.

With all the contempt I can muster,

Count Abner Lancaster

Lord of Amir Island

Ketsa, 8th, Year 88 ACC

P.S. - Also, I trust you will keep your word about maintaining discretion regarding the circumstances of Salaun's birth. The people of Amir need not know how your machinations have brought their ruling house to heel.