That was a surprising revelation, yet at the same time, Howard could believe it. Earth never had been kind to people and things that stood out too much.

“Have you noticed anything different about the way they live?” Sanders prompted, “Once given the opportunity they have more freedom than those who use Wisdom.”

“Like Azul talking to that prehistoric bird,” James noted.

Sanders nodded. “And Jonathan being able to save himself from poisons. He would have died several times from eating something strange if he didn’t have that ability.”

Howard could easily picture the scientist eating something he knew was poisonous just to test its exact effects.

“Then why is it visible?” Selina asked, “Why do they have red eyes and why can’t they interact with the Sacred Fountain?”

“I don’t know that yet,” Sanders admitted, “The Crimson Colony does not have a fountain.”

“I guess we are going to find out if we are going to bring Jonathan with us,” James muttered, “It could be good but it could also be catastrophic.”

“I have been wondering about something else,” Howard brought up, “Why does each colony only have one Sage when the work the Sage needs to do would be better done by multiple people with different skillsets?”

“That’s true,” Selina agreed, “Howard is really good at the purifying thing, but he can’t run the system at all. It gives him a headache. On the other hand, I find the system to be fun, but no matter how hard I try, I suck at purifying.”

“Then why don’t you try?” Sanders suggested, “I don’t think there is anything stopping there from being multiple Sages in one colony.”

“It’s worth a try,” Howard admitted, “but if we don’t do it right it could be disastrous.”

“We would have to be careful not to get in each other’s way,” Selina agreed while nodding, “but doesn’t the Sage also get help from apprentices? Veda told me that sometimes apprentices never leave.”

“I wonder how much skill is needed to help out in an apprentice position,” James mused, “I don’t have any Wisdom, though.”

“As far as I can tell, you should,” Sanders said, “Wisdom should be granted to those who have a certain amount of knowledge in something, regardless of what that something is. I think Veda withheld it from you on purpose. Jonathan told me that she tried to do the same for him but he took it for himself.”

“That might be why he has red eyes,” Selina realized, “I bet the red eyes are something given to those who go against the Sage’s wishes. That means there might be a way to get rid of the physical trait!”

“It also means that those with red eyes are using a power that is not reliant on the Sage,” James agreed, “I have always thought it odd that people three times our age don’t have enough knowledge to use Wisdom when someone like Howard does. No offense, Howard.”

“Their lifestyle is the closest to mine,” Howard agreed, understanding what James was getting at.

By this point in their conversation, the sun had risen, but the windows were shuttered closed. Sanders glanced at the tendrils of sunlight seeping in through the tiniest of cracks. “You guys should get some rest. Tomorrow is likely to be very busy,” he told them, “I only have one spare bed so one of you will have to sleep on the couch.”

“Where are you going to sleep?” James asked.

Sanders smiled. “I will be fine, as usual.”

James narrowed his eyes. “I’ll take the couch.”

The two beds were in rooms opposite each other with barely enough space for the beds themselves. Houses in the Colony of Veda automatically grew with hammocks and they were comfortable so Howard had never bothered to try and track one down, but it somehow felt nostalgic to sleep in a bed again.

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Once the sun had set again, Sanders came to wake everyone up. He was wearing different clothes that he definitely had not found there and was perfectly clean. After that, he fed everyone breakfast where the bread was not pink and there was a good amount of salt. After their stock had run out, salt had been nearly impossible to find on Feroz. What they did find was used for skin and was likely not edible.

“I thought you would enjoy a treat while no one was looking,” Sanders told them with a wink, “Don’t get too used to it, though. This is a secret, alright?”

“This is the first time I have ever considered a breakfast sandwich a secret,” Selina muttered after she finished her last bite, “but this is so good.”

James nodded in agreement. “The locals make great spicy food, but it is nice to have a flavor that doesn’t burn my throat.”

“Definitely,” Selina agreed, “and their food that isn’t spicy is so bland. They can’t understand someone who has no spice tolerance like me.”

Howard had been able to cook some fairly decent meals for himself when he had time, but when he did not have the time he found his options were incredibly limited.

Sanders chuckled with a smug expression. “Now, now. It is just an egg sandwich,” he said, “You guys were heading to Jonathan’s right?”

“We were. Did you let him know we are fine?”

“I did,” Sanders assured, “They should be waiting for you now.”

Selina frowned. “Waiting, huh. I still need to ask Miranda a few questions.”

“We should get going,” James announced after he finished his breakfast, “Are you coming, Sanders?”

“I am,” Sanders told, “Jonathan warned me that it would not be wise for me to skip out. I am sure everyone wants an explanation.”

“Definitely. Leon especially might come hunting you down,” James agreed.

They quickly cleaned up and set out. Howard noticed that Sanders’ base was surprisingly close to the crash site, but he still wasn’t sure they would have made it before sunrise. Selina stomped right up to Miranda and demanded answers as planned as soon as they arrived.

“I was surprised about the flying gondola thing too,” Leon muttered after hearing pieces of the conversation, then paused, “How does she know?”

“I told her to spy on you with magic,” James admitted, “I wanted to make sure neither of you would stab us in the back at the first opportunity. I am still not completely convinced that you won’t once Howard is no longer useful.”

“The likelihood of Howard ever becoming useless to us here is slim,” Natalie pointed out, “It is more likely for him to be killed by something here.”

“There is always that too,” James agreed.

“So, are you going to give us a proper explanation?” Natalie demanded, “Sanders too, but you first.” She was staring daggers into James.

“We were taken by the Sage’s sister,” James explained, “She wanted to ask us a favor but she couldn’t meet us inside the colony. At least that is what I think her reasoning was.”

“What kind of favor?” Natalie asked.

“She wants us to bring Dorian with us,” Howard answered instead, “He is the Sage’s other apprentice as well as an outsider like us. I say like us, but he does not seem to be from Earth.”

“Did you agree?” Leon asked.

“Conditionally,” James replied, “Azul has to convince him to come herself. She also has to retrieve our things since she is the one who dragged us out without them.”

“Speaking of Azul, she’s coming,” Selina suddenly spoke up, having finished her interrogation of Miranda.

Riding on the back of a wyvern were Azul and Dorian, and two more wyverns followed carrying large packages the size of crates. The first wyvern landed while the other two carefully set down their packages before landing themselves.

{I fulfilled my end,} Azul announced as she dismounted her wyvern, {but I have one more request. Take me along as well.}

The air was charged with a sudden discomfort.

{You didn’t seem interested before,} James said finally, {Why now?}

{Actually, it was my sister’s request. You don’t have to let me inside the colony. I can just live nearby.}

It was Sanders who answered this time. {I am sure we can bring you along,} he promised, {In exchange I want to hear whatever legends your people have about the Bloodcry.}

Azul was surprised. {You are that one, aren’t you? The one with the dangerous powers. Why would you want to hear about that?}

{I have my reasons,} Sanders replied.

She was definitely still suspicious but complied. {Most of the legends involving the Bloodcry stem from the war. Not the most recent war, the first recorded war. That war was also the first recorded time that Wisdom existed. That said, most of the legend doesn’t make much sense. I can try to repeat it to the best of my ability.}

Sanders gestured for Azul to continue.

{Long ago evil reigned the darkness and agony ruled the light. During this time our ancestors were helpless against evil until a great hero befriended Feroz and was granted power. Feroz warned him that this power came at great cost. If it was ever used wrongly he would be cursed by the Bloodcry. Feroz would consume that which would cause it harm. However, if he used the power correctly, Feroz would consume evil instead and our ancestors would be free to rule the night. The war against evil was victorious, but the hero vanished, his eyes tainted red never to be seen again,} Azul recited.

{That is rather vague,} Sanders hummed, {I assume the Feroz in the story refers to the world, not a person, right?}

{I believe so,} Azul answered.

{Do you have any idea what the evil in that story referred to?} James asked.

Azul shook her head. {I do not. The record may be a telepathic inscription like the rest of them but it is damaged from time and most of the details were lost. They say that the Sages see a vision of Feroz, but my sister never saw anything like that. It is treated as little more than a story until someone with red eyes like mine appears.}

{It never says that red eyes are the Bloodcry,} Sanders mused, {I wonder why the hero vanished.}

Dorian had been staring at Sanders for a long time. “Are you-”

{Nice to meet you, Dorian,} Sanders projected loudly, cutting off whatever Dorian had been about to say.

Howard had never experienced telepathy he would describe as loud before, and he never wanted to again. It was very forceful and now he had a headache. However, from what just happened it was very possible that Dorian did come from the same world as Sanders.