We go past what was once the portcullis of light.

There is a staircase leading further downwards, but it doesn't go on long. It soon erupts into a vaulted chamber that makes me instantly feel a chill upon entering.

I shiver involuntarily. I then realise Seria was looking over her shoulder at me in that moment. She grins.

"Fufufufu... this may have more use than I first anticipated."

I wonder what she means?

This chamber is vaulted, with pillars creeping along the walls and advancing up a curved ceiling to meet in the centre. It is entirely different sort of design to the rest of the place and envisages the interior of a turtle shell or exoskeleton. It almost feels organic rather than architectural.

And below us, highlighting the entire place in an eerie, sickly green light, is perhaps the most elaborate magical formation I have ever seen.

It covers every inch of the main floor, which we are raised from on some kind of catwalk.

It is so complex and chaotic that it actually makes my eyes swim and ache, trying to take it all in. I actually give up trying because of the vertigo it induces.

"Eh wot... wot is this?" Kiku asks for me.

"Big fat magic!" Kali giggles.

Seria looks smug.

"Quite. This is a circle of unravelling. It decodes all of the spiritual influences in the area perfectly and ensures a 100% efficient conversion of power for spells. One of these is also in the base of my tower, but this one is far larger and encompasses all of the spirit types, rather than just Thunder Spirits."

"I have no idea what you just said, but it means it’s important, right?" Aria looks confused.

"Indeed. The first sage was mad, but he was truly a genius. This thing was thought lost by many of us Sages. It just adds to the mysteries, though. This place has been fine, maintained even, for centuries. So why was it hidden away from us, deliberately concealed, like this?" Seria ponders.

"And who exactly ~IS~ maintaining it, Seria-sama?" Rishya questions.

Seria shrugs, and there is a moments silence.

"More importantly though, I dared to hope to find this maintained as well." She turns to grin at me again. "The boy reacted to it. And that is fantastic!" She claps her hands together delightedly.

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"Uh... ok, I'll bite. Why is it fantastic?" I ask.

"Mmmm... well boy, if you can walk the circle of unravelling, your entire magical being will be rewritten, and made stronger. I don't doubt it will grant Aeris strength as well." She closes her eyes, and nods sagely.

"There is a catch, yes?" Kaede looks wary.

"Fufufu... when is there not?" Seria sighs. "It is not called 'unravelling' for no reason. Remaking your magical sources is intense, painful, and if you're not prepared, ultimately fatal."

So; it’s a Zelazny Pattern. Ultimate power of order (or chaos?) behind a gate of potential death.

The other girls all look serious and worried at this, and I can't help but gulp slightly myself.

"Nevertheless, an opportunity like this is just what you were after, isn't it, boy?" She smiles, sweetly this time.

I ruffle her head instinctively, as she really has started to take my needs to heart, hasn't she?

She makes a good point, for sure. It makes alot of sense.

"Ok. I'll do it." I nod.

"Mmmm... I am of mind to do it myself as well. My own powers are currently at a hard limit. And this may be the only way for an old bat like myself to progress." She cackles.

"What about me and Arry, Seria-sama? And the others?"

"You may plausibly try. Though I wouldn't recommend it. You and the princess still have much room to grow and massive potential. And there are a handful of instances of those without spirits trying unravelling. When it works... you might find yourselves with a powerful spirit, for sure. But the risks are vastly, vastly higher. I’d guess around eight out of ten of these cases ends up disintegrated or mental vegetables."

"Eh! Kali prefers sausage to vegetable, swishy magic not good for punches anyway!" Kali laughs.

"Um... I also know that dispelling technique now so... it’s not a good plan for me either, right?" Kiku sighs.

"I will do it, yes." Kaede says.

What?

"Whaaaat?" Aria shouts.

Kaede shrugs.

"Master was also a very strong Earth Mage. And a couple of my fellows were Fire and Wood mages respectively. Spirits apparently do not conflict with the Jutsu techniques."

"They ~are~ truly mysterious, these techniques, fufufu... well, I won't stop you if you are determined. Our tests bef... ah, right." She swishes back a twin-tail. "Ahem. I will go first, however. If I am disintegrated, when I have the highest chance of making it, I hope you will heed that as a warning that there is something wrong with the process and not follow."

She gives a sad smile.

"What is the process?" I ask.

"Truly it is simple. You start there. And you follow the lines."

"But... aren't there loads of branches and intersections? Where is the end? Which..." Rishya goes into a flap, looking between me and the circle anxiously.

She's really worried for me now, eh? That's really sweet.

"As you reach them, you shall know, yes?" Kaede says.

Seria eyes her suspiciously.

"Mmmm... quite so. The end is different for everyone. As is the journey." She says, tentatively.

"Much likely life." Kali adds.

Seria stretches like a cat, cracking some bones briefly as she raises her arms above her and squats. Then she moves over to the start point she indicated before. Apparently, she's going straight away. I follow behind her.

"Hah... what the hell am I doing at my age?" She mutters under her breath.

I hug her from behind, making her jump and squirm.

"Make sure you win, Eri." I whisper.

I'm not saying anything about coming back alive. That's just a death flag.

She peers back at me.

"I will. You're not helping me stay calm though, idiot." She grins and sticks out her tongue.

I let her go.

She takes in a deep breath, and steps forwards...