Weather Predictions
On the other side of the great mountain, it had also been a busy week. After all the running around between the four corners of civilization, things were finally coming together.
Ehryinae once again found herself following the Arch-Magus. This time around, she wasn’t alone. Also present was the head disciples for the Pillar of Frost and the Pillar of Gusts. Behind them were a few members of their own Pillars, mostly for sake of ceremony. A proceeding of this magnitude had a lot of ceremony to it. The central hall of the Citadel was hardly ever used, because it was just too big, like a massive atrium. Today, it was almost ablaze with activity, mostly staff who were working to ensure everything was prepared.
Today was finally the day the four different factions would gather under one roof and discuss their mutual futures. Not even a fortnight from being sunken into the patterns of a war soon to come, things had came to a dramatic turn. She knew why, it was because the collective groups had returned empty handed but full of warnings. The warnings just begun the flood, as the removal of the Wall of Silence caused further unrest. The uncivilized lands were preparing for war, and were very well prepared.
On queue, she entered the central hall with her peers, the others hanging a distance behind. The entire room was divided into four sections. She approached her designated section, and took the seat to the right of the Arch-Magus, beside the Disciple for the Pillar of Gusts, her last peer would be seated on the other side of the Arch-Magus. Directly across from her in this grand assembly was the approaching elven embassy, taking their own seats on their own side. The High-Sage was in the middle, with two members of the Circle to her one side, and a couple of the Wardens to the other. Aelyiq actually sat uncomfortably between the High-Sage and the Circle, and just behind them was an assortment of translators. On the two sides of this giant square would be representatives of both warring factions in this meeting, making sure to establish peaceful terms in this neutral environment.
On the east side were the Qiciri, almost like a geographical representation of their square. The royal family took the center of this envoy, with one side holding commanding generals of their army, and the other being represented by the Shadow Reavers. This included both Xyithy and her eldest daughter. Across from them, on the west side, sat the Wyxiri royal family, including their three sons. The eldest of the three sons preceded as the head of the Wyxiri gathering, instead of his parents, having all but given the title of king already himself. The second son sat as the head of the delegation of their army, with the third son sitting sitting on the other side with his Crown Seekers. Everyone was present for this assembly.
“I thank everyone for taking the opportunity to gather for this occasion, despite our various differences. My citadel is glad to be host to such a significant gathering, and I am glad to offer you all my hospitality, in hopes that we can come together in this time of strife.” The Arch-Magus preceded over the assembly himself, making the initial introduction. “There is much we have to discuss. I am certain by now that each of you have became aware of the situation. While some of our guests here prepared for war, others stood waiting for the moment to strike once the lands were already drowning in blood. Each of you in fact has witnesses of your own lands who have seen this first hand, including the Citadel.” The Arch-Magus motioned for Ehryinae to stand.
“Envoy of the Citadel, the Pillar of Embers had set off to locate an individual of interest presented by the Arch-Magus that had departed without warning. Tracking this individual, we fell upon a group working with insufficient resources in an attempt to stop a faction of their own from developing weapons of unknown origins. These weapons are of a design never seen before, and are very advanced in nature.” Ehryinae was talking as Aelyiq requested to step in. It was acknowledged. “The Elniri had from very similar circumstances visited the same scene. The individual found greeting us from an allied position was very overwhelmed and so handled us with some uncertainty, however their enemy did happen to also greet us with exceptional venom, directing their weapons to confront us directly. Against our combined might, the first threat went down easily enough.”
People nodded in understanding, this was the uncultured lands, of course they couldn’t keep up. Xyithy however signaled her turn. “The Qiciri were also present for this, for actually very similar reasons. There is still some confusion regarding the weapons used by the enemy. Their initial weapons were using something we have currently no hopes to replicate, but were a mass-produced weapon they were treating akin to nothing but a sword. A sword itself would have done nothing to such a monstrosity, only some of our best were able to take down weapons they were making casually. The weapon itself was much larger than any person, and was capable of causing explosions with more speed and intensity than any catapult, while still remaining faster moving than any runner.” Finally, Izhyhur wanted his turn. “The most alarming part of that confrontation was that we were eventually forced to retreat. Their simple weapons we could deal with, but nothing we had was even having a visible effect upon the gigantic monstrosity that came after. This gigantic armor was of a size that could step over most castle walls, but was itself carrying weapons that caused even more devastation. All four groups, plus those standing defense already, couldn’t stand up to it.”
This was a monumental statement, considering all four groups were aware of how effective their dispatched teams were. This was what was preparing to stand against them. “As High-Sage, she is gifted with the ability to hear the voice of nature. Nature has itself found a saviour that will protect us. But speaking with it, we have also learned that the time of danger is also quickly approaching, the threat to us all is indeed this unexplained threat.” The translator spoke on the behalf of the High-Sage herself.
The second Wyxiri prince spoke up next. “It is not like our own princess is without her own gifts, even if your voice does not hear of them. Having our back to such an enemy with such forces, the tactical prowess of such a maneuver is sound. I do not doubt what my brother saw, none of his men would have willingly returned unsuccessfully had they not believed they had no chance of winning and that their efforts would be a waste. Likewise, the Wyxiri do not take kindly to being treated as expendable pawns, this enemy needs to be put into their rightful place.” This dark tone was quite common across their entire family.
The Qiciri King spoke his next piece. “It is clear that our current rivalry would need to be put on hold, to deal with the threats at our back. It is then almost comedic that our new enemy was so willing to take on not only the combined might of the Qiciri and Wyxiri, but also the Elniri and the Arch-Magus himself.” Wyxir’s Eldest Prince interjected. “That would be a very smart idea, but maybe we could also lend false belief that we are still in conflict? That could draw our enemies into an illusion of confidence. It would still be amusing to sustain a false pretense.” Xyithy’s Eldest Daughter did like this idea. “This is probably wisest, especially for reasons of morale. After all our hard work, giving up wouldn’t be the wisest course, we might even end up resuming our previous status once our mutual enemy is out of the picture.”
It was clear this new enemy was turning their conflict into a sense of rivalry. That might be good in its own right, but there was still a matter not yet broached. “The situation still remains very complicated, more than any of you appear to be aware of.” The Arch-Magus suddenly surprised everyone with even worse news. “The disappearance of the four.. that was not a matter of coincidence. Everything points to something far more extreme. My own first clue was when I noticed a very abnormal storm at my own doorsteps. A Celestial Storm had gathered, attracted to a concentration of potential, potential from the same four people we had been seeking. But this energy had an origin, and it appears its origins are from our enemy tearing at the veil of the world, grasping for something beyond. Undoubtedly, this is where his power originates. However, little does he seem to know that the continued actions he takes could eventually tear the veil into shreds, which would destroy all of Celese. The dangers our enemy presents is not simply conquest, but world destruction. Our very world is reaching out for help in anguish and pain.”
The Elven Circle spoke up again, which was translated. “Wasn’t this simply as the High-Sage had been saying? That we need our Saviour, or everything will be lost?” The Arch-Magus shook his head. “The High-Sage’s daughter is only one of the four. I suspect that she is more in tune with the flows of the veil by her own personal potential, which is what the High-Sage has been seeing. However, the Celestial Storm gathered because four people drew it to them. In turn, those same four appear to have been drawn to the tear in the veil, as if guided by the winds of fate. All four have an exceptional potential somehow, some secret not yet revealed.” The two elder princes and Xyithy couldn’t look the Arch-Magus in the eye at his statement, even though the Arch-Magus himself had something he couldn’t share. “If the four are being guided by the wills of the world itself, that makes their rescue all the more complicated. However, of greater concern is still the necessity for it. We can’t afford to just wait for our enemy to attack, and destroy them as they come. Doing so, the veil could be lost.”
Ehryinae herself sought wisdom of this, out of concern. “But, we still could do nothing against that monstrosity. There is even concern that they have other things, maybe even worse things. We don’t know our enemy at all.” The second prince nodded at this insight. “Yes, rushing into a conflict without enough knowledge would be foolish. That should be our first priority, as we assemble what we would need to deal with our enemy.” Aelyiq himself spoke up at this. “Isn’t that what the four girls are doing, diving into the area infested by the enemy, learning more about them?” Xyithy was shocked at this revelation. “Ah, so it seems maybe we might have a new goal, to find them, learn what we can. Instead of bringing them home, we need to back them up. But we don’t even know if they are safe..”
There was silence for a time with that comment. The High-Sage’s Translator answered at this point. “It appears nature has revealed that the four in question were in danger, but are now safe. The world indeed has its eyes on all four women.” The Arch-Magus resumed with this revelation. “Taking to the front lines to learn more of our enemy might be the smart move, but we need to be careful what our enemy does, what our enemy learns. Drawing attention to the four women is not good for their safety, we should minimize contact with them as such. This makes everything.. so much more challenging.”
Ehryinae spoke out once more. “It sounds like the most important thing is to work with small groups in an effort to gain information from our enemy.. and seeing what can be done to support the Four women from the shadows. The Wall of Silence is down, we can manage messengers with ease, especially if we make sure it stays down. The four groups sent only turned back because we couldn’t save the four women, but it appears they are fine for now. The enemy still has stuff that can’t be dealt with, but still has dissonance on their doorsteps, people fighting against them, and they are still going. Maybe the best course of action is for our four groups to return, with the goal of discovering as much information as possible, returning it to this entire council, along with doing our best to make things easier for the renegades at our enemies doorsteps. This won’t do anything lasting, but you did say information was the next goal.”
Spying at the gates, that was something everyone here was familiar with. Even better, there were delegations of people already familiar with some of the lands, they could be sent to accomplish this. This brought their meeting rapidly to a conclusion. Xyithy’s daughter would work with the Qiciri Army to create a siege force capable of dealing with the enemy, as information arrives. The second prince would be doing the same for Wyxir. The circle would be meeting to determine appropriate measures required to command the forces that would be needed in the upcoming conflict. The Pillars would also be meeting to figure out a way to properly apply their own resources to this new threat. Both the Arch-Magus and the High-Sage would be applying their own efforts to investigate the world status itself.
However, beyond that, a scouting expedition was expected, and already assigned. Ehryinae, Aelyiq, Xyithy, and Ihzyhur would be working together in the shadows of the front lines, exploring the capabilities of this new enemy. They knew they had to be careful, Khaexyn would probably react dramatically were they to be spotted again. Xyithy’s Shadow Reavers knew the shadows very well, this would not be a problem. The Crown Seekers were not inclined to lose to the Reavers in a competition, Ihzyhur would take them into the darkness as well. The Wardens were ones with nature, even in a land without trees they would find a way to harness the wilds to yield their own camouflage. The Pillar of Embers.. Ehryinae would need to figure something out. Sometimes, her Pillar was capable of standing out like a torch in the night.
The assembly was adjourned at this point, and the four scouting parties due to meet again once preparations were completed. In this time, she would have to find a way to turn her own Pillar’s light into something more refined. It was upsetting that she had been picked originally for this, instead of say the Pillar of Dust, they were usually a lot better at this sort of thing. She didn’t have the fortune of escaping this, inadvertently it was her own insight that had thrown her into this mess. Technically, it was the Arch-Magus who had chosen her in the first place, that was what had caused this. She still wasn’t inclined to simply pass the Arch-Magus blame for this, she was willing to take the heat for this problem.
And then it dawned on her, their destination had her Pillar completely in their element. Maybe that was why the Arch-Magus, in all of his wisdom, had chosen her in the first place. Their destination wasn’t some sandy desert, but it was still really hot, and her Pillar knew how to work with hot conditions. If the elves could bring what little nature remained in that wasteland to their own use, she could find a way to turn the warmth to her own advantage. It would require some of their own… gifts… but the world was always built upon the hopes and dreams of the people who shaped it. This was something the Arch-Magus had taught her, after all.
Ehryinae set off to begin her preparations. She would blanket the Embers in Illusions of Nothingness, as if they weren’t actually there at all. Warmth within heat, it made total sense to her.
For anyone else, her own thoughts wouldn’t have made sense at all. But she was there, she had been a part of everything… she had been one of the few who had been capable of taking out a Destroyer in moments. She was, after all, one of the Arch-Magus Disciples. For anyone not a part of any of the pillars, this made no sense at all. But the Arch-Magus had really shaped the citadel from the hopes and dreams of himself and those he cared about, including some of his followers. Being able to shape the world from hopes and dreams, this was how the real world truthfully worked, after all.
Most of the world were ignorant of the gifted, only a handful were aware of the blessing given unto those with the right kind of potential. All of the Disciples were fully versed in this lesson, but there were others. The Elniri Circle was secretly founded upon this principle itself, the Wyxiri Royal Family held this as their most closely guarded secret, and a few others had been stumbling upon discoveries relating to it, such as the Aiylthhiylz Family and even the High-Sage. However, Khaexyn himself was not ignorant of the existence of this gift either, in fact he had his own gift to be proud of. He had his own wishes to bring to form. Everyone else still remained confused and ignorant.
Ehryinae walked into her workshop, her mind filled with ideas on what needed to be done. With little more than a motion, she lit the candles in the room, and set to work. There was a lot left to be done, she wanted to get started right away. Tomorrow, she would meet up with her scout peers to coordinate a plan further, but she wasn’t willing to become a liability to their efforts. Her training as a disciple felt like it had accumulated for this very trial.
Thinking about it, she considered the implications of the Arch-Magus’ words. A secret potential, exceptional potential, ‘guided by the winds of fate’. The Arch-Magus had used those words to her before, to imply her own potential when she started studying under him. Her arrival was also guided by the winds of fate, to someone her own fate had a connection to. Winds of fate are a calling to go to where you belong. If the same girls were to draw in the Celestial Storm caused by the tearing.. that means there was a similar connection between the four girls and the tear in the veil. The Arch-Magus wanted her to know this. She just needed to figure out what more she could do, knowing this.
There was no other way around it, she would have to learn more about what was really going on. They all would have to begin discovering exactly what kinds of secrets were still not being shared.
Luminaeris 