Elder Nuru, his long grey robes billowing in the gentle breeze, was standing atop the highest building of An Solidan when the sun rose that morning. With Elder Oneshi occupied with their inner disciples and figuring out what exactly had gone down in the inner city and Elder Yasmin on patrol to ensure no trace of House Redwood remained, it was now left to him to oversee the ongoing reconstruction and repair of the city.

Not that he minded. The devastation caused by Lady Saada and her kin had left its mark, but now, with the cultivators restored to full strength and the Core active, the city was already beginning to mend itself.

A noise returned his attention to his surroundings and below the Elder he spied his faithful companion and protector, bent over a particularly large piece of rubble. The metallic figure, the Ironsoul, shifted its form effortlessly, its limbs elongating and reshaping to better aid in the reconstruction efforts.

"Good job, Le'Kai," Elder Nuru called out, his voice carrying down to the stoic figure below. "Your hard work is truly appreciated."

Le'Kai straightened up with a nod, the metallic plates on its body clinking softly. Its rainbow eyes dimmed briefly as it processed Elder Nuru's words. "Thank you, Nuru," it responded in a voice that rumbled like thunder. "It is always an honour to serve you, my maker."

Elder Nuru smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, my friend. The people of this city owe you a great debt."

As they stood there, observing the progress being made, Elder Nuru couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed since he had first set foot on this planet. When he had first come here, people had taken one look at Le'Kai and generally run away screaming, which was always a wise decision. He could barely speak the common tongue back then and had unfortunately introduced a nasty flu that had nearly wiped out an entire town.

But now, look at him. A Core Elder of House Whiterose and people hardly blinking at the presence of his lumbering soul companion.

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Nuru hadn't expected his fourth visit to Vestige to last so long; the Usurper's attack had taken even him by surprise. He had been unaffected, of course, and as shameful as it was, he had forgotten all about it in the nearly three hundred years since then. Then he’d returned and been promptly struck down by the First Isle’s essence drain when he went to investigate what had become of his favourite House. It was a rookie mistake, but that was what happened sometimes when you got attached to people.

On the whole, though, his unplanned ten-year detour wasn't a complete waste. After all, he had run into two potential new recruits during his time here; three if he counted Ayo. And if he was being completely honest, Narai with her fascinatingly potent Void affinity and Luan, with his quiet determination and hidden strength, was shaping up to be interesting as well.

He watched as Le'Kai lifted another large piece of rubble effortlessly, its gears whirring in synchronisation with the movements and let his mind wander a little. Images of his disciples, scattered across the Apotheon, flashed through his thoughts. He couldn't help but wonder how they were faring in his absence. He hoped that they hadn't encountered too much trouble in his absence. The Third Accord had always been a tight-knit organisation, bound by their shared purpose and unwavering loyalty to the cause and it wasn't usual for them to have to operate so long without the guidance of their leader. So, it was a cause for concern to the Elder that no one had come looking for him in the years he had been offline.

Elder Nuru vividly remembered the Accord’s last meeting where he had met the albino boy that had displayed such remarkable potential. The boy's determination and natural abilities had left a lasting impression on him, and he had had great expectations for his future in Citadel before his unexpected detour. That not even he had managed to track Nuru down was more than a little troubling.

That was of little concern now, though. His current priority was to aid House Whiterose in reclaiming their former glory. They had taken in him and Le'Kai when no one else would, and he felt indebted to them. Plus, putting House Redwood in their place wouldn't be so bad.

As Elder Oneshi approached with all five of the inner disciples trailing behind him like baby ducks, Elder Nuru couldn't help but wonder what the Prodigal's next moves would be. When An Solidan had awakened and the Curse broken, the Fragment had immediately started signalling something in the planet's spirit region. Elder Nuru didn't know what that was exactly, but he had his suspicions. And if any of them were correct, well... He gracefully jumped down from his perch to join the group.

The days ahead were bound to be interesting, to say the least.