“Four years?” Daemon exclaimed. His mind was already reeling from all Adinoz had told him, but this was too much for him. He had tried to keep his cool, despite the situation he had found himself in. Waking up from a coma, finding himself in a strange place, being told that there were multiple universes. All of that he had been able to handle. Compartmentalizing it and approaching this entire situation as rational as he could. Losing four years with his family and friends in a situation like this was too much. He felt sick to his stomach, lost in this new reality he had found himself in, still not quite believing it was not a nightmare all along.

“How can that be?” He said, finally finding his words. “Have I been in a coma that long?” The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that had to be the case. It hadn’t felt that long. He knew that he couldn’t rely on his own measurement of time during his coma, but still, it bugged him.

“Actually, no,” Adinoz replied reluctantly, for the first time seemingly unsure of what to say. “The Advancement of your universe was two years ago. I seem to have made a…” He stopped talking for a few seconds, looking even more unsure than before. He breathed in deeply before continuing. “A mistake. You see, advancing all these universes becomes boring after a while. And after so long without receiving any visitors and only the gargoyles to keep me company I altered the laws of the temple. Compared to other universes, time is accelerated here. I stopped the acceleration as soon as I found you, but time was lost all the same.”

Daemon said nothing, trying to understand what he was feeling. He understood that, although Adinoz was technically to blame, this had never been his intention. Daemon saw that Adinoz wanted to say something but ultimately decided against it, continuing to sit in silence. The two of them just sat there for a while, thinking.

Adinoz thought about what went wrong when Daemon’s universe Advanced. Why he had ended up in his temple and what needed to be changed to prevent such an event from occurring in the future. Looking over at the Untouched, he sighed and motioned towards the gargoyle. “Find out where his people went exactly,” He said. “And if there is any way to return this Untouched to his people.” The gargoyle bowed and walked into one of the corridors surrounding them, fading into the darkness.

Adinoz turned his attention back to Daemon, who was still busy collecting his thoughts. “I am truly sorry this has happened due to my oversight.” He said. “Rest assured I will do everything I can to make sure I rectify my mistake as soon as I can. As for now, do you have any more questions you’d like to ask me?”.

Considering carefully, Daemon asked. “When I first came here, you spoke a language that I didn’t understand, you moved instantly, and as far as I can tell read all my thoughts and memories. I have read a lot of books and seen plenty of movies. And I can only presume that was magic of some sort. How is that possible? Is that the power of an Ascended?”

“Of course you would ask that first.” Adinoz smiled. “Yes, although it’s slightly more nuanced than that, all of it was due to magic. I spoke the Ancient language to you when I first saw you, thinking you had to be a fellow Ascended. Quickly realizing my mistake, I looked through your memories and used [All-Speaking Tongue] to understand what you were saying and make myself understandable to you. As moving myself and you through space, that was something intrinsic to my temple. Although it could be done considering you are Untouched, normally it would be much harder for someone to do so.”

Adinoz paused for a moment, refilling his glass from a decanter that appeared on the table out of thin air. Looking at Daemon intently, he continued after a moment. “Excuse my intrusion, but knowing your current understanding and all the assumptions that you have made, makes answering all your questions a lot easier. The gargoyles are simply my servants, a failed attempt of one of my fellow Ascended to create a new form of life. Sadly that is not as easily done, so this is the best result after millennia of trying. They are my loyal servants, using my skills to do most of my work. But I can’t consider them alive.”

Adinoz suddenly looked at Daemon puzzled, before looking slightly amused. “Pity, who else that an Untouched would feel pity for an Ascended. But I guess you are right, being alone for so long has been hard. As for why the short version is that all Ascended are bound by self-imposed rules. Although most of us are tempered, without rules the balance we have created would stop existing. With dire consequences for all universes. Trust me, this is better for everyone. Some of those rules make interacting with beings other than Ascended difficult. Especially considering....”. He trailed off, standing up when one of the gargoyles appeared.

“Oh ancient one, another would honor us with his presence, may I welcome...” It started before being cut off by something appearing next to it. It looked like an amalgamation of a skeleton and a vampire. A bare skull with glowing red eyes, dressed in a suit with a burgundy red dress-shirt. Upon his entrance, his eyes went across the room before settling on Daemon. His eyes seemed to glow a little more intently before he started talking.

“I didn’t believe it when they told me this old goat had a visitor.” He said, waving his hand towards Adinoz. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ankhoner, fellow Ascended of Adinoz, and the one responsible for adherence to the rules. Welcome Untouched, welcome to your new reality. Normally one of my lackeys would be the one responsible for you and your people. But considering the circumstances, Adinoz will have the honor of hosting me.”

Once more his eyes flashed, and he sat down in a luxurious chair which he had conjured. Looking over to Adinoz with a smirk, he continued. “I noticed my dear friend Adinoz has taken the liberty to explain some things to you. That makes my job a lot easier. Sadly for you, the Rifts to which your people have been brought are already closed to us. So we will have to make do with what is available at the moment. Surely you came to the same conclusion, didn’t you Adinoz?” He said, looking at Adinoz as if he was daring him to challenge his words.

Adinoz started speaking, but before he could form an answer, Ankhoner continued. “It might be better if you didn’t say anything, you are in enough trouble as it is. Leaving Advancements to those damned creations of Baraë, what were you thinking? Nevermind that, the council can decide your fate.” He put his hand through a portal, pulled out a stack of papers, and started to look through them.

Adinoz looked distraught at Ankhoner’s words. Daemon didn’t know what the council was or why they apparently held so much power over Adinoz. But he couldn’t help feel partly responsible for the Ascended’s distress. Although not by choice, he had been the one to arrive in Adinoz’s temple uninvited, causing Ankhoner to notice something was amiss.

Looking over to Ankhoner, who was still busy with his papers, he tried to think of something to say. Feeling out of place and out of his depth, he couldn’t think of anything. Noticing some movement to his left, he saw that the gargoyle had finally returned. And in his hand, a glowing green gem. “Oh ancient ones,” He said, bowing slightly before turning towards Adinoz. “I have returned with knowledge of the Untouched’s people location.” Upon the gargoyle’s words, Ankhoner smiled and looked up.

“You were really going to do it, weren’t you?” He said to Adinoz, slightly shaking his head. “After all these years, I had hoped you were wiser. But alas, I have no choice now.” Turning away from Ankhoner, he sat down cross-legged on the carpet in front of the fire, he began chanting. Daemon was captivated by the beauty and rhythm of the chant. It spoke to his mind, something primordial and unavoidable. After Ankhoner had finished, he turned back around again and addressed Adinoz. “The council will no doubt love to hear about what you have been up to in your little corner of the Rifts. Knowing the Chancellor, losing your position as Rift leader is all but certain.” He paused, letting his words hang in the air. Daemon thought he saw a slight smirk on Ankhoner’s skeletal face. The next moment it was gone merely a result of the flickering light. But when Ankhoner continued, Daemon knew for certain. The Ascended was up to something.

“Me being as kind-hearted as I am, we could come to another arrangement,” Ankhoner said. “Give the Untouched to me, in one of your Rifts that is. No one has broken any rules in centuries and it’s exceedingly boring. I have not had a plaything in eons and him being in your realm would mean no scrutiny from any other Ascended. What do you say? Don’t forget what the consequences are if you refuse.”

Adinoz seemed to be smaller now than when Daemon first met him. The regal and mysterious aura that had once surrounded him seemed gone. He looked at Daemon with sad eyes, before replying. “There is no choice here, he is yours to do with as you wish.”