Wait. He looked around searching for someone. “Uhm, what about Old Wen?”

  “He decided to risk going back to Alva,” Ash said solemnly as they rushed through the air. Achilleia’s barrier activated the next moment, buttressing the wind that was assaulting them. “I would have stopped him if I could but he was insistent on going.”

  Sheela moved from her position, settling in behind her. She rubbed her arm, and hugged her. “I’ve heard much about Alva, Ash. A lot of people die everyday in that city. Yet, a lot more are born or captured into slavery to replace them. Surely, you wouldn’t want that for those children he’s trying to save, will you?”

  “I know,” Ash sniffed, wiping her nose. “I don’t wish such upon my brothers and sisters. I just don’t know how Old Wen would be able to… I can’t find the right words to use here, but he would surely be captured. Then he wouldn’t be able to save anyone.”

  “What she wants to say is that Old Wen wouldn’t be able to bypass the security in Alva,” Jerome said. He sighed, summoning the pod of Hezvar to hover above him. “Achilleia, if the pod is now basically ‘space’, is it safe to say that I can make it affect our rings so it can help us bend space.”

  “In theory, yes, Xerae. This could help you all avoid detection, but not from a Transcendent though,” Achilleia said. Then she added privately to him, “But this is new to me too. The pod still does all it was meant to, it’s just changed. Improved, so to speak.”

  Jerome watched as his teammates watched the cube float midair above them on the moving dragon, uncaring of the bumpy ride. He smiled for a moment before concentrating. If he could give Old Wen the slightest chance at avoiding detection, it would go a long way to help him protect those kids. Even bringing them out of Alva. That would be a miracle though.

  “Bear with the ride for a while,” Nyx said. “When I get to a considerable height, I would begin to glide and it would be a smooth ride from there.”

  The girls didn’t mind though. They watched the earth recede away from them faster and faster until most land masses were just dots in the distance. Jerome hoped no one had seen a gigantic dragon taking off into the sky.

  “Don’t worry, Xerae, no one did.”

  Good.

  The ladies’ discussion and voices receded away as his concentration on the pod deepened. He was already connected to it. As were all their rings and gems. The pod served as a nexus for communication, a magical service provider, so to speak.

  You only need to manipulate that connection to serve your ring, and everyone else’s, Pandora said from deep within him. But sadly you cannot do that, Jerome. Not yet anyway.

  He sighed. Because I’m still Sprout?

  Only you can wield the pod as a weapon. But do not fret. I sent the dragonkin south to assist Wen. She will help him get them out of Alva. The world seeds have begun to grow inside me and soon, they will reach maturity. You would be able to get them all to Terra Praeta.

  This is great news, Pandora! Achilleia, did you hear that?!

  “No, I did not, Xerae,” Achilleia grumbled. “Your discussions with Pandora are private. I can’t barge in, even if I want to.”

  Jerome smiled at that. It was just like when they were in Terra Praeta, when she couldn’t read his mind whenever he was thinking about the mind-calming stone.

  Achilleia, keep me updated on Old Wen. Pandora sent the dragonkin after him, to help him get the children out of Alva.”

  “Very well. Just so you know, she also has a ring now. Nyx gave her one of hers.”

  That’s good, he thought. I should have done that when I had the chance but I was too focused on having a good time with the girls.

  If we’re done here, Pandora said. I want to take a nap.

  Wait. My wounds… do you think you can heal them?

  Yes, and no, Jerome, she said. Because Authority is involved, I’d have to use my Authority to get rid of the source of your wounds. Your body would not survive the impact of both Authorities and you’d be crushed.

  Jerome sighed. Is there anything I can do to stop it?

  Yes, but you will refuse.

  Jerome thought about it for a while and even as he thought, the answer came to him. No! He said. I’m not using them. I already plan to use them to restore Selene’s father.

  Those packets of vital aura might be the only things standing between you and a slow painful death, Jerome, Pandora said. Besides, the Saint might not need so much to heal himself.

  And are you sure about that?

  Pandora kept quiet, which was all the answer he needed. I do not keep silent because of uncertainty, she said. I keep silent because I know more than you do, and I also know you’re stubborn as a mule. But…

  He waited with bated breath to hear what she had to say next.

  If you get to the northern mountains like Nyx said and take on the darkness, your body will then be powerful enough to withstand the Authorities of two different powerful beings warring together. But will you be able to wait that long? Only time will tell…

  What about that female Elite Judge? Jerome asked. There was no need to chew over it any more. He’d make better use of his time doing something else. And he will absolutely not be touching those packets of vital aura. Thinking about it, it had kind of been something he had just done at the time for a keepsake, when he named Nyx. And now, he’d be healing a Saint with it.

  Which is a good thing. Some of your teammates don’t know the usefulness of saving or preserving things but you do. They could learn a lot from you. Concerning the Judge, I’ve been learning a lot from her. Their technology, the source of their divine essence… Her name is Faye. Her people call her the deathless.

  Faye the deathless. That’s scary accurate, he thought.

  Pandora gave him a mental shrug. She is the daughter and disciple of Avana the ghost, another Elite, and a Hand in the Order of the Judges.

  Jerome snorted. What’s with all the scary monikers?

  You should beware of such monikers, Jerome. For they tell a tale of the enemy that may come hunting you…

  Jerome kept mute, waiting for her to continue. But she said nothing as the moments passed by. Pandora? Is that all?

  “I think Pandora has given words of wisdom, Xerae. And a word is enough for the wise.”

  Listen to the voices of the world, Jerome, Pandora spoke up again, her voice growing distant. For you may just hear secrets it wishes to hide away from the ether…

  Hold on, please. Layla… how can I get rid of the bond?

  But it’s protecting her. Why do you want to get rid of the bond?

  Really? He didn’t know that. From what?

  She needs to make peace with it…

  And then she was gone. He suddenly became aware that he was inside his mental plane, or half way inside it. The plane was fogged up and he could just barely make out the top of the trees. He thought through all Pandora said but was left flabbergasted. How the hell was he supposed to listen to the voices of the world?

  Maybe come back to reality and you shall find out,” Achilleia said cheerfully.

  Jerome slowly opened his eyes and he immediately felt the slight wind rushing through the barrier cloaking their auras from the rest of the world. The ladies were chattering excitedly and then stopping to concentrate on something he hadn’t gotten the gist of, before going back to their discussions again.

  “What’s happening?” he asked.

  “Jerome!” Ms. Tara called out excitedly. “We can hear everything going on down there!”

  “It’s like our rings can help us spy on other people,” Sheela said more sedately. But the shine in her eyes was anything but.

  Jerome looked at Layla who was seated in a meditative pose, concentrating with her eyes closed. He didn’t expect that anyone would be so relaxed doing that on the spine of a dragon. Csala was lying on her back, smiling, and enjoying the sunlight bearing down on them. There were no clouds in sight since they had broken through the canopy of clouds in the sky. He looked down at the clouds beneath them, but could also see the ground far, far below them where the clouds gave way. They were at least thirty-thousand feet above sea level.

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  He focused on his ring and words filtered through. Many, many, many words, from so many people. It wasn’t overbearing but it took some time to focus on one or two voices without interruption from other voices. So this was what Pandora meant by listening to the voices in the world. She must have improved the pod to help it with long ranged sensors that could pick up the natural frequencies of sound.

  The pod now acted like a hyper-sensitive receiver, capturing even the faintest vibrations of sound waves travelling through the air, water, and even the earth itself. No… space, he realized. Every vibration travelling through space was being picked up by the pod. The amount of energy it would take to achieve such a thing was beyond him.

  “This is incredible!” he said.

  “I know, right?” Ash beamed at him. “We could use this to find our siblings faster.”

  She jumped on him, hugging him tightly. “Thank you so much, Jerome.”

  Jerome grunted in pain, but breathed in the scent of her hair as they hugged. “We’ll find them all, Ash. I promise you that.” He cleared his throat, calling for everyone’s attention next before asking, “So what happened while I was… possessed, by the beast?”

  His teammates went on to tell him all that had happened since. The lord of the city of Alvion, Ismethil Ullysius, had sworn to capture the beast that had ruined the city, claiming it was sent by the Alvrics to destabilize the city from the inside out. But the dragonkin had discovered that Ismethil Ullysius had met with the Alvrics the night after Jerome’s rampage, behind the back of Vorthe to help them capture the beast. Whatever he might be getting out of that might come back to bite Vorthe in the back. And he might as well start selling them information.

  Jerome could only wonder the kind of mess he had created. All the effort to be useful, to be seen as a member of society that could benefit Vorthe, gone.

  “What about Rihal?” he asked as they soared through the skies.

  “He was forbidden from contacting you,” Sheela said. “The metal bird was also seized from him. My godmother mentioned she’d find a way to contact you though. Said you still had a contract with Vorthe.”

  “If Milena doesn’t find me first. You think she’s gone rogue?” Jerome asked Layla.

  She shook her head. “She reported herself after everything, but refused to back down.”

  “Why is Vorthe not taking action then?” he asked.

  “Politics, that’s why,” the dragonkin’s voice reached him through their mental pathway. “They have to seem as though they are trying to deal with the situation. But they also have a contract with you. You cannot depend on them to shelter you, Jerome. Don’t let them see weakness or desperation from you.”

  Not at all, he responded.

  “What about all the weapons created for the sacred army in Alvion. If Alvric has Ismethil in their pockets, they could ask him to—”

  “His hands are tied in that situation, Jerome,” Ms. Tara said and he nodded. “Rihal said every sacred soldier wielding one is connected to their weapon. In the hands of another, the weapon disintegrates” — that was a neat trick he had thought of while mass producing them — “They also swore oaths, and so did the city lord, and everyone connected to him, or in seats of power.”

  “When my godmother reaches out, she’ll have more information, Jerome,” Sheela said, caressing his cheeks. “Now” — she glared at him, crossing her arms under her bust — “who was that woman following us around in Alvion?”

  “Yes, and why did she…” Ash complained but became tongue-tied.

  “Is she your lover too?”

  “Are you going to forget about us…?”

  Jerome held his hands up. “Slow down, slow down. I’m not leaving you ladies.”

  “I want a romantic moment like hers?” Ms. Tara said, glaring at him.

  “Yes, me too!” Ash said.

  “Okay, okay,” he said. “You’ll all get your moments, I promise. I know our time in Alvion was cut short but I’ll make it up to you all, okay?”

  They crawled toward him, kissing him in turn and hugging him. When Ash came forward, he gave her a chaste kiss. She did not like that and chased his lips with hers for a deeper kiss. Everyone laughed at her antics, even Nyx who was flying them.

  But as they flew through the air, he couldn’t help but ponder on Pandora’s words. He had defeated the deathless. The Church may well send the ghost next.

  ~~~

  The Council Chamber of the Diviners. Somewhere in Vorthe.

  Milena

  “Your pacing is getting on my nerves, Madaras Junior.” She glared at her son. He stopped and went to stand beside his father’s chair. The silence of the council chamber enveloped them again, making her feel alone, even with her mate and son beside her.

  Milena glanced at the throne-like chair on a small, raised dais beside them at the end of the chamber. Sunlight streamed into the room through three windows above the throne, giving the chamber a mysterious feel. She remembered coming in here when she was young and disturbing the Divine Mother whenever she had her meetings, oblivious to what was going on. Those were simple times and she missed them. She took a deep breath and concentrated on the now.

  Her mate, Madaras Senior, lost in thought, hadn’t spoken a word to her since she set foot home. She had been gone for so long that she had missed her son becoming a Spirit Realm artist. She had missed so much of his growth and it pained her heart.

  “Why won’t you speak to me, kaizer,” she whispered for her mate’s ears only, using the word for ‘my lord’ in the old Aramanai tongue. He didn’t answer, only placed his large hand on hers to let her know he heard her.

  The silence continued, seeming to suffocate her as they waited for the Divine Mother to make her presence known. Milena knew she was probably in trouble, but if she was given the chance to change things, she wouldn’t hesitate to repeat the same thing, only she’d make sure to finish the job.

  “Tell me where he is, mother,” her son said. “I can finish him up. The King’s Torture Blade has done a lot of damage already. Let me release little Layla from this monster!”

  “Shut up!” she snapped at him. “You have no idea what you’re talking about!” Besides, he will be dead soon. It was only a matter of days. And then a new Fated will be birthed.

  The double doors opened up, and the morning light streamed into the chamber. The Mother Divine walked in and they rose to their feet in reverence. The sound of her staff lightly hitting the ground and the wind pouring into the chamber was the only sound she heard. The helm of her colorful robes billowed in the soft wind as did her long white hair. She was aged, with wrinkled skin around her face and limbs. And her gait showed the effects of ‘Father Time’ on her, yet she was agile and smooth in her movement, like a cat. Even in her old age, the Divine Mother was still as stealthy as she had been in her youth.

  “It has been so long, hasn’t it, my child?” the Divine Mother said with a bright smile toward her.

  Milena came to kneel before the raised dais as the Divine Mother sat and gestured for her mate to be seated. She knew not whether to smile or weep, but her heart sang to the words of the ancient Mother.

  “Mother of spirits,” she began. “Caretaker of the wild and untamed. Bearer of my oath and diviner of cycles to come. Your sight is in my heart.” She held up her dagger with both hands and gently, and ceremoniously, placed it on the ground.

  The dagger slowly floated up to the Divine Mother and settled in the palm of her hand. “Your feet have found home, my child. I am pleased.”

  She caressed the dagger in silence for a while, smiling lightly to herself. Nobody dared speak until the Divine Mother did.

  “It is a beautiful thing, is it not?” she said. “The trials we go through to become… to attain this blade. I once was young and talented too…”

  “Your youth has not faded one bit, Mother Divine,” Milena said with her head bowed.

  The Mother laughed out loud. “Oh, you flatter me child! I used this very dagger myself! Ah, what good memories it brings; running through the shadows, tracking down my targets, and taking them down with the edge of this very blade.” She smiled with a distant look on her face, balancing the tip of the blade on her index finger. Then she sighed.

  Milena felt her rebuke coming, perhaps banishment, or worse, the destruction of her sacred foundation. She didn’t want to think about it.

  “But I only ever went after those deemed enemies of The Alliance, child. Not allies.”

  Milena shook where she was. “He bound my daughter to himself, Mother,” she growled in anger.

  “And…?”

  She looked up at the Mother Divine in shock.

  “Was little Layla being controlled?” the Divine Mother asked, still fumbling with the dagger. “Did she complain about this bond?”

  “I couldn’t bear to see my daughter enslaved to that… monster!”

  “And with everything you did to stop this ‘enslavement’, Layla still went to be with him. I believe we call that a failed mission, daughter.” The Divine Mother shook her head in sadness. She stood up and walked behind her throne. “There was a prophecy that went out into the ether a while ago. The contents of the prophecy are not relevant right now, but the person it came from.”

  She turned to face her and Milena looked down. “Munin of the Itakar hasn’t been heard from in a long, long time, child. But all of a sudden, we hear from him. His people have been active ever since…”

  “What gives?” Milena asked. She sensed the Mother’s questioning look and rephrased her question, “Why is he active all of a sudden, Mother?”

  The Mother snorted. “You spend too much time with the youths of Farryn, child. I have been steering things whichever way benefits our clan for a very long time in Farryn, little one. The Fated’s healing sessions with Layla are among the many, many things I manipulated.”

  “I wondered why she was chosen for such a duty?” Milena muttered. “I would have refused her the permission to do such a thing. But Mother, why?”

  “Because, Munin is about to become a True Saint, that’s why!” the Divine Mother roared, sending an unearthly force rippling out of her. Her son, Madaras Junior, passed out on the spot. “And can you guess who is going to help him do it?”

  “No, that’s not possible!” She stood, clenching her fists. “He’s just a Sprout! How can he heal a Saint?!”

  “The river of fate doesn’t lie, kiri,” her mate said, for the first time ever since she got back. She was so glad he called her ‘kiri’. Her heart had longed to hear that word from him for a long time. “I had hoped… that if Layla followed him north and saw him heal the old Saint, then maybe… just maybe…”

  Milena watched him clench his fists until they turned white, frustration evident in his eyes and breathing. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart sank. The shock of what he was ‘not’ saying overwhelmed her. Had she just made the biggest mistake in her life?!

  All her life, her oath and duty had led her away from her family — which she regretted a lot. The knowledge that she had just made her mate lose a potential way to advance to the Saint Realm bit into her soul. This was a huge loss to her family and clan! One she would regret for the rest of her life.

  “I never knew you were this close to advancing, my love,” she muttered. Her son groaned on the rugged floor, still unconscious. She paid him no heed, he was now a Spirit Realm artist; he would be okay. “You should have told me, kaiser. I’m so sorry.”

  She went to sit in his lap and hugged him tightly. “Is there nothing we can do, Mother Divine?”

  The Divine Mother sighed. “I am afraid there is not. If he chooses to heal himself with his resources rather than heal the old seer, then… we lose twice in one grand battlefield. And perhaps a million lives in this war dance.”

  More silence engulfed them, stretching the sense of hopelessness before the Divine Mother spoke up again.

  “You should take the blade back, child.” She stretched her hand and the dagger left her hand, floating toward Milena. “You will need it, for the Church isn’t done with the Fated Dark One. You will protect him with the very blade you tried to kill him with, and from the shadows. You are forbidden from contacting or revealing yourself to your daughter or anyone else in his team, except absolutely necessary.”

  “You mean he wouldn’t be dying anytime soon?”

  The Divine Mother chuckled. “No, little one. And one more thing… beware the mother of the deathless.”

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