Merak stepped through unreality, his true form smoothly passing from his hidden abode and into physical space.

Firmly into the star system, he observed the surroundings. Everything was quiet, for now. He was keeping his presence quiet at the moment, that was why the World Spirits of this system didn't immediately take notice of him. Although one other being did notice him, but he wasn't worried about that. Those truly powerful knew when to stay out of issues that didn't concern them.

He stepped through space again, instantly appearing above a temple. This one was dedicated to the Celestial of Life, which was located on the moon city of Zanderst.

He allowed his tightly shut presence to leak a little bit, and then used his intent to direct it down toward a single being below.

Instantly, he felt the invisible barrier layered around the temple come down, and he stepped through.

He could have crossed through the Spirit King level defenses without anyone being aware, but no matter the rank of the cultists present, this was still a Grand cult. Respect was needed.

Appearing into a spatially expanded space, a vast land, more than half the size of the planets below, filled with an ocean of trees so large that they grew far taller than some of the mountains on those planets. They were continuously nourished by the abundant life energy saturating the atmosphere.

He took a deep breath, even if he didn't need it. Some habits were still needed to keep people like him grounded on where they started from. The energy, which could fully heal beings up to the fifth domain tier, did absolutely nothing to him other than to give him a refreshing air.

"I greet the Sapphire Master." A voice said from behind.

Merak turned, nonplussed. He was fully aware of the location of every being in this star system even before he'd stepped into it.

The Divine King of this temple was a wiry framed man with the features that most nature affinity cultists took — a characteristic of their essence. However, his was different—taking on a grand white-gold appearance— since he'd already graduated from wielding the specialized Nature affinity to the all-encompassing life affinity, finally joining the elites in the life Cult.

The man's facial and bodily features were nothing special. His age would have been impossible to place because of his indeterminable facial features, but that wasn't a problem for Merak. He could simply read his origin.

A black robe clothed his body, ordinary in appearance as it gently lapped the flowing air.

"Divine King." Merak nodded at the bowing man.

Taking the acknowledgment as permission, the high priest raised his head, an inquisitive look in his eyes. "Forgive my prying, Ascendant, but may I know the reason for your visit?"

Merak, though, was already leaving. "No, you may not."

The Divine King took the curt response in stride, not at all surprised at the strangeness of his abrupt disappearance as soon as his presence was made known.

Next, Merak made his way to the center of the planetary circle, a distance from the sun.

This system wasn't large compared to most he'd visited, being occupied with just three planets that slowly revolved around the sun, alongside six moons that likewise revolved around the outer circle of the planets, forming a two-layer circle with the sun in the middle.

It didn't take more than a few seconds after he'd made his appearance that he felt space part as a new being appeared.

"Leceia." He nodded in greeting to his fellow Ascendant.

"Merak." She nodded back, a greeting of equals. "It's been long; Your presence has been missed."

An amused smile graced his lips. "Is that so?"

"Ohh, I assure you that this isn't a false compliment." The woman took graceful steps towards him, her heels clicking down on space like solid matter. "Where have you been?"

"On assignment." He didn't explain further. "I assume you're aware of why you're here?"

As soon as the words came out, her expression took a swift turn, going from the earlier playfulness into one of extreme seriousness. "So it is true then?"

Merak gave a simple nod.

"When the Emerald lord informed me of my task here, I at first thought it was a joke, a very expensive joke. You are not stupid, Merak, far from it, so I hope you know the repercussions should any of this go sideways?"

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"Trust me, Leceia, you don't know the full of it." Merak snorted in amusement, a rare expression on someone like him who was usually all composure and no-nonsense.

"If this goes sideways, it could easily start a war with the primals, and I bet you that the repercussions will be far beyond our imagination." Her head nodded toward a direction. "Will it interfere?"

"No," Merak said with surety. "Even something as powerful as it knows to stay far away from Cult business."

Leceia nodded, her belief in his certainty unruffled. "Before we start, is there anything else I should know? Something beyond the original assignment?"

Merak smiled, glad for her sharp thinking. If she hadn't asked him this question, he'd have immediately sent her away. He didn't want someone who lacked the skills to cover their tracks.

"First of all, I assume you know for whom we're here for?"

He sensed it when she began reading through the origin of the planets, her will subtly encompassing all of them without them being the wiser.

She nodded. "Only what I was permitted to know, but yes."

"Good, this should make it easier then. We are to sever all negative karma. It would be unproductive for him to have to worry about his past negative acquaintances, especially ones from this backwater star system."

"Okay," Leceia nodded. "But I sense an and there..."

Merak, again, smiled. This was a novel experience; him smiling.

"You know how to cover your tracks from deep level scrutiny, yes?"

The emerald haired woman turned to him, her bright jade eyes quirking in amusement. "Isn't that why you are here? I'm the dagger and you're the cloak, mhm?"

Merak snorted. "More like I'm both and you're just an extra."

----------------------------------------

When Damien finally stepped through the purplish-black place, the first thing that greeted him was the sound of water lapping on a rock. And then the sounds of strange animals, ones he hadn't heard before, came into hearing one by one.

The day was bright and sunny, and there was... Are those pink clouds? Damien looked around the sky, his eyes seeing more and more of the strange pink clouds. He was just about to confirm with Keilan whether he too was seeing the same when an abrupt sound nearby jolted his gaze downwards.

The first thing he realized was that, yes, he was one a planet, a planet with a strange, dense, pinkish sea of fog.

The second thing he took notice of was that, no, his brother was not with him, neither was Gray. Damien couldn't even sense the little figuring in his head anymore. He could still feel their connection, though. However, it was just... muted. Distant.

The third thing that he finally understood was that he wasn't alone.

"Finally done taking in the sights, eh?" The stranger said the moment Damien's eyes finally landed on him?

The man?— Damien decided to go with man— was a strange person. Damien couldn't seem to press down on his age as his features seemed ageless. Yet, both his body postures and the little whisps of white hair on his head pegged him as an old person, ancient, in Damien's opinion. But he also knew how looks could be deceiving.

Counting the walking stick he seemed to lean on, or the way his back was all hunched, like a person nearing his death moment.

Yeaaaah, he's definitely an old man.

"Where am I?" Was the first thing Damien said.

The man stepped forward from the rock his other hand rested on, a curious gaze on his face as he seemed to scrutinize Damien.

"Damien," the man said in a way that made it seem like he was tasting it.

Seriously, could a name be tasted?

"That, is a name I never thought I'd hear from someone with such unique descent."

Hearing his name from the mouth of a stranger in a stranger place was one thing, but hearing the way the man spoke about his descent like he was familiar with it woke something up in Damien. "Who are you?"

The man tilted his head to the side, his lips tugging to the side as he kept looking at Damien.

Ok, this is getting creepy.

"Where is my brother?" Damien looked around, now hoping for hope that he'd maybe catch a glimpse of Keilan lying down somewhere.

"Relax," the man's hand came up in a calming gesture. "I mean you no harm."

"Then who are you?" Damien repeated. His curiosity was beginning to turn to fear. However his fragile features, Damien didn't delude himself into thinking he could do anything to the man. He felt it deep within himself. The old man was extremely powerful.

"Names have powers, extremely so. Do you still want to know mine?"

Getting the unworded hint, Damien immediately shook his head.

"As for where your brother is, I assure you that In no time at all, you will be by his side... Along with your... Minder construct." The man's eyes shifted outwards, gazing into the thin air like he could see something Damien couldn't. Whatever that was, Damien had no idea.

About his assurance, Damien was not assured, like at all. He'd become powerful enough to understand that when powerful people said something vague that sounded positive, it was definitely not positive.

"I see you still do not believe me," the man shook his head. "No worries, the only reason I brought you here was to get a personal feeling for you, one I could not get if I had simply watched from a distance."

Damien had no words to say to that, so he simply kept his mouth shut. It was already clear as day to him that this man was definitely not ordinary. And anyone who could seemingly snatch him from space without even Gray being aware was not the kind of person he wanted to offend.

"Do not worry, you are safe. But I do not know for how long."

Damien's eyes widened, which made the man chuckle. "Like I said, I mean you no harm. I won't assure you the same about others, though. Your father made quite a great deal of enemies, and I'm sure they will not be happy when they learn of your existence."

This time Damien couldn't stop himself. He opened his mouth to immediately ask what the man knew, when a raised hand held his tongue.

"For your safety, I will not tell you anything more than has been said. What I will warn you is not to pull that stunt of yours ever again." Seeing Damien's shocked look, the man smiled. "Yes, I know about that, and I'm pretty sure your father's enemies are already aware. Now, the question is, how long do you have before they figure out the smell tickling their noses?"

This time, Damien powered true his self imposed restraint, his desperation for answers giving him all the courage needed. That was when he noticed that he was beginning to fade, his body turning incorporeal.

Just before he disappeared, the man chuckled as he saw Damien's look. "Grow strong, Damien, Grow strong and live up to your name. The fun has just started. Quick word of advice: don't hesitate to take advantage of any opportunity given, no matter how risky it made seem. You never know, it might save your life one day. Now go, I look forward to seeing more of what you can accomplish." He then winked. "Because I will be watching."

And then Damien was gone.