Yalun’s words send a wave of uneasiness through the surrounding flames. Each grand elder seems to find that timeline concerning, but this time they keep their outbursts between themselves. We have years, though? The way everyone is acting, you’d think the world will be destroyed tomorrow. With entire years before us, we have plenty of time to work with. Even if we can’t stop the encroaching water, it isn’t like we can’t move the tribes out of the dangerous areas.
Well, even with plenty of time ahead of us, we are facing a threat to the wasteland itself. If we were to lose our home, would the other nations stand to have us spreading into theirs? I’m friends with Tore, the leader of the ursu, but if he had to decide between what’s best for his kind, and helping me out, what would he choose? Would he accept the presence of such dangerous beings?
“Is it not possible the flow will slow to its normal rate after some time?” one of the pair with greater capacity than me asks. “It has been, what? A week since it accelerated? Aren’t we being hasty?”
“Considering the source, I believe it best not to assume things will improve by themselves,” Śuri declares.
“Source?” the other of the pair asks, tilting her head. “You have discovered the origin of these waters?”
“Yes. After the temporary disappearance of Charybdis, I could finally enter the island.” With his fire, Śuri creates an almost perfect replica of the island inside the ring of grand elders. I take interest in how he paints the picture with masterful variation in heat. “The most likely cause is a machine empowered by some being called an Anatla.”
“Not the Titan?”
“While that is still a possibility, it appears far more likely to be the island itself.”
Śuri displays our path through the island, revealing the massive inner sphere in its core. He animates a flame travelling down the inverted tower, representing the energy of the Anatla, and shows how the sphere rapidly accelerated its water production. He returns the flame to the outside of the island, showing the already rapid geysers of water burst with unprecedented pressure. Just as we saw upon our escape.
“So it is because of you we are in this mess, is it?” accuses the grand elder from the Agni mountains. Considering everyone is letting their flames show to the world within this inferno, there is no apparent difference anymore. But she didn’t control her form even before the ceremony began. “I shouldn’t be surprised. You’ll do anything to upset the balance, wouldn’t you, Śuri?”
“I would never intentionally bring danger upon my people, and you know it,” he snarls.
“Vesta, keep your baseless accusations to yourself.” The Agni grand elder freezes as Hraun’s glare turns on her. “If you have footing for your claims, then state them upon conclusion of all essential topics.” He returns his gaze over the gathered elders. “As Śuri has said, we believe the origin is the Anatla. Specifically, Monolith Anatla. We don’t have a clear idea of what they are, but of the old texts, some claim them to be the reason Eldest Ember left.”
“The old texts are filled with contradictory statements. What makes you so sure that it is these Anatla?”
“That,” Śuri says, “is where the áed on trial comes into things. Solvei has previous experience with both Anatla, and a being that has mentioned some concerning things about these creatures. First, I should preface this that she has been beyond the wasteland.”
“So she’s broken more than one taboo?” Vesta asks, incredulously. “And you took her with you to the island just for it to become a threat? I don’t need to state my suspicions, do I?”
None of the áed around us speak, but by the way they look between each other, it’s clear they are discussing silently. Do they really think it was my fault the Anatla started drowning out the wasteland?
“I understand your concerns, but I assure you she had very little choice in her leaving of the wasteland. We will discuss Solvei’s crimes later, but for now, the only thing of import is that because of her, we are certain that what we saw was an Anatla,” Śuri says. “The validity of the next piece of information is up for question, but I feel it important to share, regardless. The being that told Solvei of the Anatla — someone not relying on our records — spoke of the Anatla causing Armageddon. If anyone knows of relevant information, please speak.”
The room is quiet. Most turn to Grand Elder Hraun, but even he shakes his head.
“That’s it? Just that they might cause Armageddon?” an elder asks. “Do we have any clue how they do so? Otherwise, there’s not much point concerning ourselves over what someone we don’t even know has said.”
Śuri looks at me and, through the privacy of our connected flames, asks, “Can you answer, Solvei? Any of Kalma’s words or actions that might be relevant. Please don’t hesitate.”
He wants me to speak? In front of all these grand elders? No, what am I thinking? This is nothing compared to everything else I’ve faced. Just because my future relies heavily on the opinion these áed form about me doesn’t mean I need to be worried about them. Well, not totally. I’ve faced Kalma head on. None of these ancients come close to that two-tailed monster.
Except Hraun.
Thankfully, this conference isn’t a battle, and he won’t attack me for speaking.
“Kalma had comparable strength with Grand Elder Hraun. She was terrified of the Anatla.”
It seems declaring a creature not amongst the áed is equal to our strongest is not the smartest of ideas. The surrounding elders glare with disbelieving, or insulted expressions, but I know firsthand just how strong Kalma was. Ignoring them all, I hold Grand Elder Hraun’s hard gaze.
“You feel my fire and still believe that?” Hraun asks in private.
It’s true that the burning flames are so far beyond my own, but I trust my senses. Unless he’s hiding more of his strength despite allowing me through his fire, I’m sure Kalma would have been a challenge for him.
Still holding his gaze, I nod. “Yes. It’s hard to say which of you would have been stronger, but I’m sure she wouldn’t have gone down easily.”
“I see.” He hums. “And she is dead now? Who killed her?”
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“An ursu. Tore Hund. He’s now the leader of New Vetus, the nation to our east.”
He nods, breaking our stare-down and addresses the áed not privy to our back and forth. “I believe her. Please continue.”
I take a moment to regain myself. It doesn’t matter if it’s Kalma, Tore, or now Hraun, just holding their eye is stressful.
“Someone as strong as Kalma was scared of the Anatla,” I announce to the room. “She was petrified of the future in which the Anatla broke through the barrier. What barrier she was talking about, I don’t know, but she said the Void Fog would regain its mind when it happened.” Um… what else am I missing? “Oh! She also mentioned Eldest Ember. Kalma said she is being imprisoned by Titans.”
That’s what she said, but it is obviously wrong. Eldest Ember reached the moon so she could look over us all; everyone knows that.
Strangely, Śuri and Yalun are staring at me. Are they mad I forgot to tell them about this? It doesn’t matter, does it? The story is obviously a fabrication Kalma made up to abuse my hatred of entrapment. It’s not like it was the first time she’d done such a thing.
“That couldn’t be, right?”
Suddenly, I realise it isn’t only my two temporary teachers that are discontent. Every elder in the room looks like they just swallowed rock. A particularly disgusting rock… filled with slag.
“What?” I ask, uncomprehending. They can’t think it’s true, right?
“Our old records contradict on a lot of things,” Odqan says. “But there is one thing they agree on, and that is the appearance of an otherwise unknown Titan at the same time as Eldest Ember left for the last time. They describe it as shearing air, and arriving from nothing. A being of uncountable limbs.”
I’m thankful to Odqan for explaining, but we can see her flames each night. Are the grand elders seriously considering Kalma’s explanation that was obviously intended to harass me seriously?
“Let us focus on the problem at hand.” Śuri turns back to the other grand elders, recreating the image of the island before us, before focusing on the bridge and the room control room above it. “As the Anatla is only amplifying the performance of the old machine, the encroaching ocean should stop if we destroy the island itself, or simply the water production module.”
Through his flames, a replay of the Anatla noticing us takes place, including the shattering of the cube and how it tried to corrupt anyone in contact. “Unfortunately, Charybdis has returned, so returning will be far more difficult. On top of that, we cannot simply combine our efforts, or rely on Hraun to destroy the island; the corruption spreads rapidly through our flames.”
“So you’re saying it’s impossible to attack it head on? Should we not at least make the attempt?” one of the high-capacity duo asks.
“We’ve been hesitant to approach because of the Titan. Now that threat is doubled? I don’t see how we could succeed.”
“The first thing we should be concerned about is the evacuation of all tribes in high-risk areas,” Odqan says. “Yalun, can you have your eagles spread the warning as soon as our conference is over?”
“There should already be a dozen watching the coast by now. They will spread the message whenever they can. I’ll be organising a more comprehensive operation in the next few days.”
Many elders nod in satisfaction at her work, already managing everything capably.
“That cube,” Elder Hraun says as he watches Śuri’s replication of the infected cube that shattered as soon as the Anatla made itself known. “I recognise it. It’s a key of sorts. Back when I was young, some of the ancient structures were still active. Removing the key deactivated the control interfaces we found. We were able to shut off the flow of water upon reinserting it.”
“Do we still have it?” the female Elder besides Odqan asks, hopefully.
Grand Elder Hraun shakes his head with a sigh. “We were too busy scrapping every chunk of metal we could take. This was right after the Great Tragedy; we couldn’t afford to keep curiosities.”
“Then there’s none left?” She asks it as a question, but it’s pretty clear she already knows the answer. “I would have liked to look at one.”
Is there really none left? I know the ancient ships all along the coast have been torn apart for everything they have, but what of the cube in the middle of the wasteland?
“There is an untouched cube in the middle of the wasteland, you know?”
“Huh? Where?” she asks. Huh, I guess Yalun and Śuri haven’t told anyone about it yet.
“South of the Agni mountains?” I don’t know how else to describe where we found it.
“I believe it is in the barren lands,” Suri says. “That is the only place it would have gone unnoticed.”
“Then I definitely need you to show me. If it is a key, it might shut off the Anatla enhanced water production, too.”
“Ignatia, while that would be ideal, it doesn’t change the fact that we cannot safely enter the island,” Śuri says.
“Ah, but we could still go find it just in case it becomes important, right? If it really is operational, we might learn some way to counteract the island,” Ignatia says. “Surely, there are some parallels in their design.”
“We’ll organise it,” Śuri says. “But before that, does anyone have any propositions?”
The silence that follows is almost damning. Thankfully, after nobody says anything for a long moment, one of the high energy duo makes her voice heard.
“I hate to be the one to suggest it, for obvious reasons, but couldn’t we use the girl? You haven’t outright stated it, but she’s immune to this Anatla’s corruption, isn’t she?”
I’m surprised she could pick that up from Śuri’s memory of the events. Sure, I was touching the floors while the other two áed did their best to avoid them, but for her to notice that in Śuri’s flaming recreation is impressive. I doubt I would have.
“Solvei is, yes,” Śuri says. “But between the Titan and the increased pressure of the geysers, I can see no way to get her inside. The water mage that helped us could hardly handle the currents before the Anatla’s amplification, attempting entry the same way would be suicidal.”
Yalun twitches beside me. I send her a questioning message through our flames, but she brushes it off. “Say that entry isn’t a problem. How could we get past the Titan?” she asks the room.
“Historically, the Titan has followed the greatest source of energy expenditure. I see two methods. The first is to use a distraction; an áed with an impressive capacity could essentially call the Titan away and give another free room to approach the island. Unfortunately, whoever plays distraction has to play dodge with a mountain. For those that haven’t had the fortune to have experienced Charybdis in person, that being moves far faster than you would expect from such an enormous beast. Death is likely.”
Śuri’s eyes flicker between me and Yalun before continuing. “The other option is for an eagle to fly over. The lack of energy expenditure in your flight would probably go ignored by the Titan. I’m sure you already know the problem with that; no eagle could protect themselves from the sheer amount of water output by the island. Not even yourself, Yalun.”
Yalun nods, but seems distracted. “What is it?” I ask through our connection.
“Ah, nothing. Just a silly thought is all.” She shakes her head as if to clear the thoughts and lifts her head to the room of grand elders again.
“Ildri and Iri, can I ask you to watch the Titan and the island for any changes?” Śuri asks the high-capacity duo. “It is important that we keep updated.”
The male of the two groans. Iri, was it? “But that’s so far.”
Ildri, his female counterpart, slaps the back of his head with a chunk of solidified flames. “Of course we will.”
“Good. Thank you,” Śuri says. “As soon as we get word to some of the other grand elders residing on the Titan Alps, I’ll send them to assist you.”
“As this is an active threat, I expect all of you to be available to assist. Those who need to return to the Alps, please make your trips quick. In the worst-case scenario, and we can’t stop the encroaching ocean before it consumes the western desert, then I propose we attack it head on.” Grand Elder Hraun holds up his hand to stop any complaints before they can come. “We will discuss at a later time if it ever reaches that point. For now, let’s move on to the attacks in our south.”
Śuri’s flames churn through everyone. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that he has something to say.
“It is time to change our defensive policy. No longer should we hide ourselves away from the races that obviously know too much about us. We need to show them we won’t take their aggression without retaliation.” Śuri pauses.
“We need to declare war.”