Ireniasky: I don’t ever remember hearing about mother having a sister…
Latare gives Archaia a hard look as she studies her for a moment or two.
Aiya: No, I think she’s telling the truth… I’m not sure why I don’t remember… But I feel I know her.
Archaia: It has been a very long time. Ash had me working for him on the outside. He had to ensure, specific measures were taken in case certain events happened.
Aiya: What events would those be?
Archaia: It’s over now. They’ve already come to pass.
Latare: the sun hurts you, doesn’t it?
Ireniasky: She’s been cursed, it seems…
Archaia: I have… That’s why I’m here. The god of darkness has cursed me for ending him. I was hoping you may be able to help.
Latare: The god of darkness? Aren’t arch-creators more powerful than gods?
Archaia: That’s what they would like you to believe. Your world is now a part of the greater realms, and the gods are the true gods. Not the ones your so-called creators made, but the real ones who make up the fabric of reality. There is no true killing a god. I killed Malnova, the god of darkness. His existence is now barred, and he may no longer return to Greater Canaan. He can exist on other dimensions but struggle as he may, he won’t be able to return or affect us anymore.
Latare: So now there is something more powerful than an arch creator… I wonder if what you mean as a god, is what we call an exalted.
Ireniasky: It sounds like these gods she speaks of are similar yes, but are a bit more than an exalted…
Aiya: If you work for Ash, then why should we trust you at all…
Archaia: I don’t work for him anymore. I’m switching sides, the knights of the lie won’t win… I can’t see how they could at this point.
Ireniasky: The knights of the lie… I remember father talking about that. Ash, Zero, and Kryptaris, I believe. But he said there were supposed to be 4 of them. He could never figure out who the fourth was.
Archaia: four? I’ve only heard rumours of the fourth… The other 3, you are correct in naming.
Aiya: Alzy thought maybe it was the one who made “the box” but was never sure.
Latare: I know of zero all too well…
Ireniasky: so why should we believe you, maybe you come here as a trick. If you worked for Ash, you could be after my mother.
Archaia: I’m not. I’m done with them if I return to him I will likely be killed, or worse. Ash had me conscript Malnova into the service of the Cult of Stars. But with the box now removed, Malnova was to be removed, his existence blocked Ash’s patron from entering the greater realms. And now, with the patron of the lie allowed to enter, the knights are allowed to impact these worlds.
Ireniasky: What you speak of is of the barrier of creation? These things are forbidden even for an arch-creator. And what do you mean the patron of the lie?
Archaia: There will be time to talk more about this later. Do I have your help? I feel my strength is waning…
Aiya: I say we help her. I feel she is telling the truth.
Ireniasky: Come, I will take a better look at you and your curse…
Phagika: So you’re telling me that this is a shard of Alzy, father and a few other exiles stuck together?
Alvertia: Yes. This place you are in now is a void between worlds, the leftovers of creation often get lost here. Pieces from cycles long lost. Although I’m not sure who she is, Sea here is helping me.
Embercea: I’ve lived here for a long, long time now. The goddess keeps me company.
Sea: Alvertia came to me after she broke off from Alzy during his battle with Dias Mortium. She asked me to help her find the rest of Alzy and Kaly. That they would need to be put back together before things were to progress. Then she took me to meet Coyabin.
Phagika: I feel like I know that name, but I don’t at the same time…
Alvertia: That’s likely residual knowledge from the Core’s influence on you. Coyabin is a being created by the gods of old. His sole purpose is to record and preserve history. He keeps the library of the gods. If anyone could help us find shards of Alzy, Arzi, and the others, it would be him.
Phagika: But why would he help, if he is supposed to just record…
Alvertia: He answers the will of the gods and the will of the fates.
Phagika: There is more too this; your not telling me everything.
The gold light around the fayte staff Alvertia was holding seems to change to a dark blue and begins to fade. The sounds around them seem to echo, and the colours seem to fade, and things seem to become slightly monochrome.
Him: Voidwalker… Voidwhisperer…
Alvertia: Wait… Embercea, was it? What did you say about a goddess??
Embercea: It seems she’s coming to visit.
The air around them seems to disappear into the void, and with a loud crack, the top of the chunk of mountain containing the cave they are in seems to become transparent. Outside they can see the figure of a giant dragon looking down at them. A large female looms above them, her size dwarfing the mountain, making them seem like ants in their elven forms.
Embercea: Hello, Yashæthera.
A black hole opens in the cave, and as it does, the mountain returns to normal and the transparent dragon disappears. A female steps out of the black hole, with pale grey skin. Her eyes grey with a hint of blue. Her hair long and grey. Her dress blue and white. She holds a staff, black, and marked with symbols of stars. At the top of the staff, a sun cross with a hole in the center.
Sea: Who are you?
The black hole closes behind her, and with it closing, the faint smell of Hyacinth fills the room.
Yasha: It has been some time…
Hermas entered the room and bowed to the Jodkin Palagok.
Hermas: Lord Palagok, I have something to report to the council.
Palagok: This had better be good Hermas. You know the council has been waiting for you. To learn why it is, you gave up your oroth to an outsider. Yes, the council knows of your activities and your dealings with the heretics.
Palagok pauses for a moment to take a drink of his wine.
Palagok: Yes, you better have a very good reason for your activities as of late. A very good reason indeed…