"Vas, you shall be known as Enoch, The Scribe of Secrets. In my absence, you will lead."

Vas inclined his head in silent acceptance, his face unreadable but his posture resolute.

Turning to Lily, Morrigan continued. "Lily, your mantle is The Wanderer, The Keeper of Paths. You will be our navigator, guiding us through realms unseen."

Lily's eyes sparkled with an understanding, a knowing smile curving her lips as she accepted the title.

"Zola," Morrigan said, "you will be The Grey Sage, Keeper of Balance. You are to mediate when we face conflict, to remind us of our purpose."

Zola simply nodded, a glint of resolve in her eyes.

Nyra leaned forward, anticipation evident in her expression, and Morrigan smiled knowingly. "Nyra, you are The Librarian, Keeper of the Codex. You shall guard our archives, preserving what we uncover."

Nyra's face lit up, a quiet satisfaction in her gaze as she acknowledged her role.

When it was Sarah's turn, Morrigan's voice softened. "Sarah, you will be the Pythia, The Oracle. Through you, we will see beyond sight, to glimpse what lies hidden."

Sarah's expression turned serious as she met Morrigan's gaze, a flicker of apprehension giving way to determination.

Axel looked up, his usual nonchalance tinged with a hint of nervousness. "Axel, your title is The Chimera, Master of Illusions. You will shroud our path, keeping our presence hidden."

Morgan and Lewis exchanged glances, the final titles left for them. Morrigan turned to Morgan, her tone thoughtful. "Morgan, you shall be The Hermit, Wisdom from Solitude. You will guide us with insight when all other options are clouded."

Morgan nodded, the weight of the title sinking into his expression.

Finally, Morrigan faced Lewis. "Lewis, you are The Shadow, Silent Protector. Ever watchful, ever silent. You will guard our secrets as fiercely as you guard us."

Each title resonated, deepening the group's unity, infusing a sense of purpose into their gathering. They were no longer simply a group—they had become something more, each a pillar of The Scriptorum Arcanum.

"Now," Morrigan intoned, "we will complete the Unveiling Ritual." She stretched her hands, drawing symbols in the air, which glowed and pulsed, taking form as an intricate lattice of light that wove between them. "This ritual binds your Archetypes to you, strengthening the roles you are to play."

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Morrigan moved from one to another, placing her hand on each person's shoulder and murmuring ancient words under her breath.

"Sarah, you are the Tuner. Once again, you will sense the frequencies that govern reality, seeing the connections between all things."

Sarah shivered as a warmth spread through her, the sensation of newfound awareness sharpening her senses.

Morrigan moved to Nyra. "Nyra, I grant you the power of the Tunneler. You will navigate hidden pathways, unlocking paths known to few."

Nyra's eyes sparkled as she felt a shift, a sense of attunement to unseen trails within her mind.

For Axel, Morrigan's hand lingered. "Axel, you are the Illusionist. With this, you may shape reality's appearance, crafting falsehoods that mislead even the keenest eye."

Axel grinned, feeling the familiar, twisting energy of deception coil within him.

Morrigan turned to Morgan, her tone thoughtful. "Morgan, you shall be the Empath, able to sense and channel emotions, a gift that allows you to know what words cannot express."

Morgan nodded, feeling the power settle like a gentle warmth around his heart.

Finally, Morrigan placed her hand on Lewis's shoulder. "Lewis, you are the Shadowbinder, one with the darkness. You shall blend with shadows, unseen and untouchable, guarding us with silent vigilance."

When the ritual ended, Morrigan lowered her hands, her eyes glinting with both pride and warning. "Each of you now carries a responsibility that stretches beyond the realm of ordinary understanding. The knowledge you guard, the power you wield, comes with a price."

The group exchanged glances, the reality of their transformation sinking in. They felt changed, bound not only to each other but to a purpose far greater than themselves.

Morrigan's gaze remained cold. "You have done well today. Take this knowledge, take your new powers, and rest. Our journey has only just begun, and the trials ahead will demand every ounce of strength you possess."

Vas watched as the others filed out, but before Nyra and Sarah could leave, he called them back.

"Nyra, Sarah—stay a moment." He crossed his arms and leaned back, giving them an appraising look. "How are you both holding up? Where have you been staying?"

Nyra hesitated, glancing at Sarah. They exchanged a quick, silent agreement. Nyra answered first. "If I'm being honest, since last night, we haven't had anywhere safe. We've been moving from place to place."

Sarah added, her voice heavy, "The man who offered his 'help' in capturing Elliot has put a price on our heads. Most of our contacts have turned on us... allies we thought we could trust."

Vas' expression darkened. "Who is this man?"

Nyra's face twisted in frustration. "He was well-kept, with spiky white hair. Always looked... unnaturally composed, like he knew he was untouchable."

Vas' eyes narrowed, realization dawning. "The same man giving orders to the Light Cavalry?"

Nyra nodded, catching his shift in demeanor. It seemed to catch his interest deeply, and Vas pressed her, his voice low. "Did you learn anything about him? His name, where he operates, anything?"

"He called himself Jord," Nyra said. "He didn't give any details, and we only met him through some of my former allies. They... reached out to him." Her words ended bitterly, but she kept her gaze steady.

Vas nodded, assessing her. "Think you could find out more about him?"

She sighed, brushing her hair back. "I'm not sure. Many of my people see me as weak now. I'd need to get back on solid ground first to do that."

"And what would it take for you to do that?" Vas asked, keeping his tone steady.

"I'd need a base, a place I could operate from safely." She looked him directly in the eye. "Somewhere that can't be easily breached."

Vas inclined his head thoughtfully. "Use Elliot's place for now. That'll keep you off the radar for a bit."

Nyra nodded slowly. "That helps, but… I'd still need to send a message, remind them of the cost of betrayal." She took a shaky breath. "I want to track down those who turned on me, make examples of them." Her voice was quieter now. "But I'm not strong enough. My powers are still adapting to this new Archetype, and the spirit I bonded with… it's not one of the gods. I don't even know its true nature yet."

Vas considered this. "Then tell me who they are. I'll go in your place."

Nyra's eyes widened. "Why would you do that?"

With a steady, unyielding gaze, he answered, "I won't allow anyone to wrong members of this group. Besides, if you reestablish your information network, it'll benefit all of us."

Nyra blinked, taken aback. No one besides Elliot had ever shown her this kind of loyalty. After a pause, she finally nodded, swallowing her surprise. "Fine. There are a few specific ones… they were my closest allies, or so I thought. If you're serious, I'll give you their names and where to find them."

Vas nodded as she listed off names and locations, storing each one in his mind. Turning toward the door, he paused to look back at them. "Feel free to stay here, but don't make any changes. And keep everything intact."

With that, he exited, leaving Nyra and Sarah exchanging a glance, a newfound resolve tempered by the unexpected warmth of his support.