“So the plan is that we will all harvest the fragments of the deities with temples nearest to our sanctuary cities?”

“Yes Helgon, that is what we’ve been discussing for the last hour and a half.”

“My apologies Vaingloth, I have been working on a theorem to predict the distribution of divine fragments and it seems that proximity to a temple will have less than a three percent impact on the scatter radius of fragments under all but the most extreme of edge cases. In fact, if you look here, you’ll see that the greatest correlation in fragment distribution is…”

“Helgon, we all acknowledge that you received top marks in Aetherodynamics and Transubstantiation Processes…”

“Not to mention Grace Fluidity and Philosophical Remanifestation Continuum Calculus!”

“Yes. Yes, we are ALL aware of your credentials. In this SPECIFIC case however, the research we commissioned clearly shows that the divine essences will seek to ground themselves out in the most aligned temples to the domains involved.”

“Well that’s just foolish, the research is clearly wrong. Who did we have working on it?”

“The Sightbound Sages of Skysden.”

“How sad. Their standards have clearly slipped. Did we pay them much? Can we get a refund is so?”

“No, we can’t…what makes you think you know more than an academy of Enlightened Sages?”

“Well, because they’re wrong, clearly.”

“They are wrong because you have a theory?”

“No. I have a theorem.”

“That you cobbled together in an hour while we in a discussion?”

“It was an hour and a half you said, and I must confess I wasn’t paying much attention.”

“Helgon, we do not have time for this. We have a study, backed by data, and the testimony of learned men with ten times the experience you possess.”

“You’d think they wouldn’t have made a mistake like that then. Did someone perhaps pay them to bias the study? I mean, if you wish, certainly found your cities in proximity to the great Temples, I just thought we might arrive at an imbalanced equilibrium between us if we were to neglect considerations regarding the Blessed of the Gods, which is where any remaining shards will be making their homes.”

– The High Accessors being convinced to ensure that the Blessed are preserved beyond the Sunfall.

I wasn’t leaving my brother behind. I mean, yes, I was flying away from Helgon’s city as fast as Draconia’s wings could carry me, but, importantly, Kam was still mine.

Hey, my dearest brother! Can you hear me?

“What the hell?” Kam was speaking aloud, I could tell that even though I was only hearing his voice because he was thinking his words as well.

How did I know I could read Kam’s mind? I didn’t. And I couldn’t. I could just give him my words, and listen for the ones he wanted to give me. I couldn’t know what he was really thinking about anything and I very much did not want to. The connection we shared was amazing, thanks to Draconia’s gifts, but being privy to whatever random nonsense was bouncing around his head sounded like an excellent method for driving both of us insane.

I need to get to Mt Gloria, pretty much immediately, I said, trusting that the increasing distance between us was only physical and would do nothing to diminish my words.

“Wait, what?” He was confused, which, sure, that was a sensible reaction. 

Remember how I pulled you out of the First Tender’s execution room? Same idea, but this is just words.

“Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Okay, so you’re going to Mt. Gloria. Do you need to see Mom and Dad?” 

“No. They don’t want me anymore and that’s fine.” It was not fine. “No, I need to see Little.”

“Theia’s asking why you’re going to Mt. Gloria. Oh and Xalaria doesn’t look happy.”

Can you relay this for me then, tell them that there are plans in motion that the other Neoterics are going to notice really soon and we need to get ahead of them while there’s still time.”

“Okay, sure.” The fact that he seemed to understand what I was saying felt deceptive. I had the strong suspicion that he was simply accepting what I was saying and happy to pass along whatever I told him. 

Would he have questioned me if I said something completely ridiculous? Maybe? Probably not though. I think his response to all of belief falling apart, was to shrug and decide that if it didn’t effect him in the moment, then it wasn’t worth caring about.

Or maybe that was just how I wanted to be?

“They’re asking what plans you’re talking about?” Kam said and then added “Oh and Theia’s asking if you want her to go with you?”

That would have been great but I’m pretty far away already. Draconia’s no slouch when it comes to flying.

There were dangers in the world, quite a lot of what Sasarai had told us about the wastelands were true. Draconia could sense that so clearly that even I was picking up the shades of spirits that hungered for whatever they could take from us. Turning back might have sheltered us from them, but I couldn’t be sure how quickly the window that I saw would close, especially with Sasarai hellbent on reclaiming the powers I’d claimed from him.

“Umm, she wants to know if its dark where you are?” Kam asked.

The sky above me held no luminous branches, no leaves with even the barest comforting glow. I’d read of the stars which once graced the night sky but only empty shadows remained where they’d once shone. 

Far off in the distance though, there was light.

A still living sun.

My guidepost and goal.

It’s so dark I don’t think even a Neoteric could see me up here, I said, fairly certain they’d have other means of locating me. I beat my wings faster, placing my hope in sheer speed to deliver me beyond their immediate grasp.

I wasn’t fast enough to escape someone catching me though.

Wisely, I didn’t roll or kick when I felt a pair of arm locked around my neck.

Was this your idea or hers? Umbrielle asked Draconia.

Entirely hers, Draconia said with no small bit of satisfaction drowning her words.

And you, of course, did all you could to dissuade her and convince of a more reasonable course of action? Umbrielle wasn’t asking a question because she very clearly already knew the answer.

This IS the reasonable course of action, I said and added, Thanks for coming though.

Have I ever given the impression that I like missing out on the fun? Theia asked.

This may not be fun. This may be pretty awful in fact. I said, all-to-easily imagining how badly things could go if the Sun Queen of Mt. Gloria didn’t believe me, or if she even questioned me long enough for Sasarai to strike.

All the more reason not to miss out, Theia said. With her clutched tight to my back, I could sense some of the emotions radiating off her.

Excitement. Concern. Irritation.

It would have been nice to be able to discern where those were directed by my senses weren’t quite that good, and Draconia’s domains didn’t include much in terms of emotional analysis.

How did you get here? I asked instead, guessing that was a safer subject to broach.

You’ve seen me step through shadows, she said, a questioning note in her voice as to why I would even need to have asked in the first place.

I thought you had limited range with that?

I do, but distance is dependent on a lot things. 

“Xalaria is asking what you’re doing,” Kam said and then amended his statement. “Sorry, she’s asking for exactly what you’re doing. Also, I’m supposed to tell you that we’re heading towards the trains and we’ll be in Mt. Gloria as soon as the fast line can get us there.”

Make sure Xalaria keeps you with them, I said. You’re the only one who can communicate between us at the moment.

“Yes! I’ve got a job!” That he sounded legitimately delighted about that was both endearing and idiotic. “Oh, Xalaria still wants to know what you’re doing. Exactly what you’re doing.”

Is Helgon with you?

“Yeah, should he be?” Kam asked.

I can travel outside my city now, at least along these rail lines, but my capabilities are rather limited here, Helgon said, speaking in the same silent space the gods and the Blessed used.

Which was chilling.

Oh, don’t worry, I can only do this because I’m with your brother, Helgon said. The others have no connection to you or him, so they have no presence here.

What about Sasarai? We were both part of the Garden since we were born, I asked.

Oh Sasarai could easily use one his divine fragments to…oh dear, he seems to have misplaced those hasn’t he? Such a shame. I mean all that power and no means to focus it beyond his own silly little skills, which always ran more towards compulsions and personal enhancement than I ever thought was sensible. Did he even once listen to me in that regards though? No, no I assure you he did not.

I felt the chill within me begin to thaw. It was at least a little amusing that I’d managed to take from Sasarai the things that would have prevented me from taking things from him. Given that he was nothing like a worthy Guardian however, that felt so properly within our domain that neither Draconia nor I held even the slightest of regrets.

Could you explain to the others what you told me, I asked.

I would be delighted to, though I must confess I am far from certain what I said which led you to flee my presence to quickly?

I didn’t…No Helgon, I wasn’t running from you I’m running towards what you spoke about.

But we were speaking of Dyrena and I can assure you she is not to be found at Mt. Gloria. She is not to be found anywhere on this world I am sad to say.

Part of me shared his sorrow at her loss. Despite having never met her, and very much despite her playing a key role in the destruction of the old world, I regretted that I’d never get to meet a woman who was not only held in such fond regard more than a century after her passing, but also a woman who seemed to be very likely the reason there still was a world and people upon it, rather than the emptiness of oblivion from a failed attempt at usurping divine power.

Another part of me was delighted by Helgon’s words though.

If even someone as close to Dyrena as he’d been couldn’t see what I had, then maybe there was some hope that the other Neoterics, aside from Sasarai, weren’t hot on our heels.

They would be of course.

If I was right, we were about to wake up every Neoteric in the world.

The fact that such an awakening would be best described as ‘apocalyptic’ was only tempered by the landscape below me already having been ravaged by a world ending apocalypse. 

Things were going to get bad, but there were a lot of places where ‘bad’ would be noticeable in the slightest.

Explain this to them then, I said. Tell them of Dyrena’s vision for the world she desired.

I would be glad to but I don’t see how that will answer our Blessed of Battle’s questions or allow her to plan for the disruptions which I gather will result from your present course of actions.

Just go ahead and let them know, I asked. I wanted to see if they independently came to the same conclusion I did. And let me know what Kalkit says okay?

I waited a few moments before Theia spoke up.

Care to kill me in while we wait?

I will but let’s see what the others take on it is, I said, the waiting driving me a little nuts.

Kalkit says, and I quote, ‘That’s not possible’, end quote, Helgon said and added. The others are not sure what you or Kalkit are referring to.

Ask them what is hanging over Mt. Gloria at the moment.

A sun? Oh. OH! The shock in Helgon’s voice was palpable and his next words came in no more than a whisper.

She’s still here.