Ilea killed the last giant void being in the mountains of the Courts, the closest one she saw a long distance away. I hope they dont start teleporting now. She thought back to the creatures she had fought in Kohr, but even they had only used teleportation to flee. Looking eastward, she saw arcane lightning flash up within the territory of the Courts, and beyond, she saw the storm of the Frozen Wasteland, more vast than she remembered. Maybe just another season? Or did the Extraction change it as well? She opened a gate to Riverwatch, stepped through, and send out a wave of burning smoke and ash, killing the void monsters on the ground. Fewer had gathered here than the last three times she had appeared, and still, there were hundreds. Ilea found it didnt matter. They would simply have to kill them all. To the east, she could see the single and last remaining sun of Elos low on the horizon. Soon it would set. The sight made her pause for just a moment. She didnt want to slow down and process, knowing she would have to face all of that death, doubt, and guilt. If only they had done more. If only they had found both meshes. If only she had killed the Architect back in Kohr. Ilea shook her head and kept flying, aimlessly slaughtering monsters for a few seconds until she saw a flashing green light in the sky. One of Akis Watchers, which meant his machines were moving out into the lands once more. She teleported close to it and breathed in, her eyes looking at the green light set within the sphere. I found them. They are here, on this continent. Were meeting at the Meadows domain, and we could use anyone who can fight an Ascended. Ilea blinked her eyes. Ill be right there, she said and opened up a gate to the North. She could feel the vibrant magic all around. The landscape here had changed as well, though the same cracks and crevices ran throughout the rock, the same arcane storms raged above. She could see the corpses of a thousand monsters of the void, scattered throughout the rocky terrain. The Meadows obelisk floated above the wracked lands covered in black blood. It was quiet, the winds flowing past before a bolt of arcane lightning struck down a few hundred meters away. Her resistance deactivated and she was moved into the domain of the Meadow. She was greeted by strained faces of nobles, scholars, and fighters alike. Seven mobile teleportation platforms had been set up within the domain, people and machines appearing in frequent intervals. The floating fireflies of the Meadow added a strange feel to the hectic scene. There were more present than usual. She saw the same three dimensional map hovering above the machine that conjured it. A map of our world. She thought about all the cities on it, all the people, all the forests and lakes, all the monsters and animals. How much of it was wiped out by now? How much more of it would be gone by the end of the day? By the end of the week? People parted to make way as she walked past and joined those already gathered near the map, all her spells deactivated. The main thing she was missing for a fight was time in her Meditation, but she doubted they had long to prepare. Owl, Vor Elenthir, and three Pursuers were already present, two more appearing on one of the gates, accompanied by Nelras Ithom. Ilea sat down on the ground, sighing as she hugged her knees. Owl floated closer and put a hand on her shoulder. The Ascended looked at her but turned back towards the map a moment later. Im sorry, he spoke. For what my kind has created. You found him! Nelras shouted as he approached, his magic thrumming. Where is he? We will gather those suitable for such a battle, the Meadow spoke. Calm yourself, and prepare. Ker Velor did not come alone. Ravana, Ilea said. Shes what all of this is about, isnt it? Why he came back here, why hes taken another sun. Her and the separation of the Olym Arcena. That is why I think he is here, though I could not have fathomed the extent of his plans, Vor Elenthir spoke as Nes Mor Atul appeared on the gates, accompanied by Scipio. The mans armor was covered in black blood, his eyes unfocused. So it is time, Nes spoke as she approached. She looked at Ilea and bowed her head for a moment. Then she looked up and turned towards the map. Erik appeared on one of the gates and walked over, straightening his wide robes as he approached. His expression was grim. Is this it then? Nelras asked. Or are there others in your Accords who could face one of their kind? One more has requested to join, the Meadow spoke. Ilea glanced to the gates and saw a single figure appear on one of them. The First Vampire, clad in enchanted black armor lined with silver. He did not wear a helmet, his long black hair flowing free. He breathed out, mouth open to reveal the two pronounced canine teeth. Ilea touched the hand of Owl on her shoulder and stood up. So, whats the plan? Aki is trying to track them, but they are moving fast. They have killed Audur and moved southward after, in the direction of the Still Valley, the Meadow spoke. His plan to take both suns in an instant has failed. I wouldve expected him to give up on this realm, but it seems Ravanas return has changed this, Vor spoke. His first goal would be the destruction of the largest threats. The Domains, and the Oracles, Nelras said. Why fight that dragon first? Who is in charge between the two of them? Ilea asked. He revered Ravana, Nes said in a quiet voice. But she would listen to his council. But she is not the same, Vor spoke. The descriptions alone do not match perfectly. He created something different than what she once was. How do they fight? Owl asked. What should we prepare for? Ker Velor is not a fighter. His abilities encompass steel, soul, blood, and space, though he will not face us directly, not if he thinks there is a chance of his defeat, Vor spoke. He will flee. Then I will hunt him down, Ilea spoke. He will have planned for such an eventuality, and he will have prepared a trap, or more than one, specifically for you, the Ascended spoke. I know, Ilea said. And I dont care. Im the only one who could even hope to follow and find him. She assumed they didnt disagree. Ker Velor cannot live through this conflict. Or he will dismantle and destroy everything that you have built here, Vor said. Hes done enough already, Ilea said. I will find him, no matter what. Take me with you, Owl said. Ilea glanced over at her, looking at the glowing purple eyes. There are ways to track the soul, she added. Besides. I dont think I could die, even if he managed to destroy my form. Ill take you with me if I can, Ilea said and turned towards the Meadow. He manipulated the fissure left in Kohr. If he does that again A delicate manipulation. Even I could not do such in mere seconds, the Meadow replied. If we can even get to him, Erik said. He is calculating, but this is his victory. I doubt even he could resist the allure of seeing the fruits of his labor, Vor said. He is still here after all, and I suspect he will only leave once we face them. And he would leave this Ravana behind so easily? Nelras asked. Would he not think her in danger? Vor chuckled, a dark sound. No. He is a maker. A scholar. Ravana. She is a warrior. Perhaps the finest one that Kohr had ever seen. Whats her level? What are her abilities? Verillion asked. We cannot say for sure that she is still the same, Vor spoke. She had been above a thousand and five hundred in the times of the Olym Arcena. I never saw her fight myself, but it was known that she used the magics of storms and lightning, and that while she was no builder, her mastery of steel was unparalleled in battle. There were rumors too, Nes spoke. That she was not dignified in battle. That she found joy in it, and lost herself to it. There were rumors about other magics too. Something to do with sound, yes, Vor spoke. However her position in the Olym Arcena, coupled with her reputation, led to most Ascended leaving such matters alone. Many had their share of secrets. You included, Nes said. Sounds like a plan then, Ilea said. We find them, face them, me and Owl go and kill the Architect, and the rest kills Ravana. One of my Watchers has reached the outskirts of the Still Valley. It seems the cold air is dissipating. Single elves are fleeing. Something is hunting them down, one of the Pursuers spoke. The mists are dissipating? Nelras asked, doubt in his voice. He hissed. We should go and help them, Nes said. Akis green eyes glowed bright. The last one just perished. The Ascended are moving east, towards the Fire Wastes of Ash. There is a nearby Taleen gate that remains, but you may encounter elves of the Wastes. We have a Monarch with us. No elf would dare attack us for our mere presence, Nelras spoke. But while the Wastes offer a clear target for them, if we could lure them here, to the Endless Meadow, we would have another being to help. We must make haste. Erik spoke. Beings of the void are killing all that lives in this realm. Every minute we waste, they are scouring the lands. Agreed. The longer we wait, the more they will kill. I will fight, if you bring them here, but we should stop them now that we know where they are, the Meadow sent. Ilea should mark you all before you go. And Nes, Nelras Ithom has mentioned that he wishes for a better spear. You did tell me about something, a while back. Nes glanced over at the elf, the two meeting eyes. And you think yourself worthy to wield an artifact of the Olym Arcena? I have not heard of such an artifact, Ascended, Nelras spoke. But I know to wield a spear. Nes looked at him for a few seconds as Ilea moved to mark the fighters, none refusing her. Not even Vor. A spear Vor murmured as Nes summoned the weapon. Ilea felt the power emanating from the artifact. Similar to the divine items she had seen before. A silver spear tipped with a blade in the form of a leaf. The same weapon she had found in the hidden vault of the Architect. Wasnt it broken? she asked. And it has been restored. Having anchors in Kohr is useful, Scipio said. Nelras bowed his head. He looked at the Ascended, then held out his right hand and closed his eyes, his mana extending towards the weapon. A moment later, it snapped into his hand, a clear sound echoing out. I see, he spoke in a quiet voice. It is an honor. Ilea finished marking everyone, not in the mood to question what had just happened. If one of them would have a better weapon in the coming battle, then she welcomed it. And that was that. She could use a few days to meditate and regain some of her Fourth Tier time, but they knew where the two Ascended were right now. And they didnt know when or where the next chance would be to catch the Architect. Vials, she said to Verillion, using her black glass to pierce her own skin. The Vampire obliged, summoning five of them that she quickly filled, uncaring for the blood loss she healed in mere instants. Then let us move, Erik said. Akis five Pursuers started towards one of the mobile gates, eight Watchers arriving to join them. Ilea filled the last two vials while she made her way to the platform, ignoring the many eyes on her as blood dripped to the ground. She stepped onto the platform and locked eyes with the First Vampire as the others joined them. Today they would fight together. She handed the vials to Verillion and deactivated her resistance as the gate came to life, bringing them far away and to the south. They appeared in a dark hall, magical lights above broken, the ground covered in water, with more dripping in from the ceiling. Ilea looked up and saw the surface through her domain. Focusing on all the frameworks around her, she teleported them up and outside. She knew through her marks that they were in the former Navali forest. And yet all she could see was a wasteland. Mere bits and pieces of wood remaining among the cracked grounds. Scorched earth and not a single tree as far as she could see. Purple light flashed in the distance, lightning cracking down into the surface, one of the last dark clouds she could see in the late evening sunlight. She heard the screeching void beings around her, arcane, death, and light magic flaring up to silence the monsters. To the east, she saw a single mountain towering over the lands. Ilea squinted her eyes slightly, unsure if it was Karth. It had to be, based on the marks, but its peak looked fractured, entire sections gone, rock slides brought on by the Extraction. Follow me, one of the Pursuers spoke, all the machines taking to the air and followed by the group of fighters. Ilea spread her wings and rose. She had her magic, her draconic scale armor, and her Fourth Tiers. She was ready. Within her domain, she saw the marks set on her allies. Six beings near or past the Four Mark stage, five Pursuers, and her. In silence they flew, over the now quiet landscape destroyed by the Extraction. The last sunlight was soon gone as the remaining star of Elos set below the horizon. Ilea took in a deep breath when she saw the pooling mists flow down from the mountains to the north, appearing within craters and flowing down into the crevices of the land. She clenched her fists and breathed out, relaxing them once more as she focused. She saw the distant scuffles between void monsters and Miststalkers. It reminded her of Erendar. Spirits fighting an endless war. The Fire Wastes of Ash were barren as they had been. Though there were cracks in the ground near the border, little seemed to have changed within. Corpses of void monsters interspersed by dead elves littered the ashen grounds. Ilea felt heat from deeper inside the Domain. Its Oracles were still alive. Aki led them into the Domain, over burned tree stumps and a sea of ash. Ilea felt it all. She felt the heat within, felt the ash, all of it quiet, burning, embers left in a dying world. Refusing to go out. We are almost there. Prepare yourselves. For battle, one of the Pursuers spoke. Ilea narrowed her eyes when she saw the light of an explosion. They sped up, more spells now coming to life all around her. She felt her own magic, ready to activate her Fourth Tiers at a moments notice. A lot had changed since her last encounter with the Architect, but she didnt plan to give him any time to adjust. They came into view of an ongoing fight. A single burning figure sent tumbling over the ground, two beings of steel opposite. Were going in, Ilea sent and confirmed her target. Her spells came to life, her perception spiked, and she vanished, focusing on the floating form of the Architect. Of Ker Velor. She appeared not in front of him, but ten meters short, her arm gripped by a hand made of steel. She could feel the strange energy all around, altering the fabric, a mesh of heat and mana, as if the wisps themselves were on fire. She had felt it once before. Ilea perceived Owl and the others appearing within her domain. And she could see the Architect glaring at her with his vertical line of four white eyes. The grip on her arm tightened and she glanced right to lock eyes with the other Ascended. Tall, with the form of an armor clad warrior, thick pieces of linked steel plates. Two eyes of white light looked into hers as she saw the Architect prepare his spell. [The First Ascended lvl ?] She focused on the strange mesh, all of her training with the Meadow coming back with her Fourth Tier of Meditation. She saw Ker Velor vanish with a powerful teleportation spell, and she used his magic as a way out of the confusing field of mana. Latching onto his spell, and taking Owl with her, Ilea sent a last message to the others. Level three thousand. She has a Source. And then she vanished.
Chapter Comments (0)
Login to comment.