BLUERAGE STARES AT ME WITH WIDE EYES.

He is completely taken aback by my suggestion. The man gets to his feet, frowning at me with both suspicion and disbelief.

“What are you talking about, Tian?” he prods me with furrowed brows. “Are you saying…?”

I smile at him simply. “I am saying that we bring the remaining survivors of Utana down to the Pishitim.”

“That’s—” He stumbles back, shaking his head. He looks like I have slapped him across the face.

And perhaps I did. Just not in a literal manner. There was no physical slapping, but a mental slap. After all, I am suggesting that he meet with what is essentially his god.

The Pishitim is the producer of Lifeblood. It is the heart of this world. Without the Pishitim, there is no magic. Without magic, there are Elementalists. There is no Lifeblood. There are no monsters. Utana would not be the same without the Pishitim.

Perhaps the Natifs do not consider the Pishitim as a god. But they certainly do revere it. Hence, Bluerage’s disbelief at my suggestion.

“And how are we going to do that, Tian?” he asks with narrowed eyes. “No one in the history of Utana but the guardians of the four domains have ever seen the Pishitim! And even the Icecaller has only been allowed to see it once every decade!”

“You are right,” I say, nodding. “No one in the history of Utana has ever seen the Pishitim. But I have.”

Bluerage blinks. He opens his mouth to protest— to sputter. Then he slowly lowers his hand, remembering that I have. “Right…”

I step forward, gesturing for the man to follow. “Come.”

He hesitates for a moment, before acquiescing. He trails after me as I lead him to the edge of the ruined city. I stop atop a pile of rubble where a wall once stood. I bring a hand up, pointing in the distance as he raises a brow.

“There,” I say as my eyes glimmer for a moment. “Beyond those hills, far, far away.”

“What is over there?” He narrows his eyes.

“That attack— the crimson pillar that ripped through the sky— landed there.” I spin around, meeting Bluerage’s gaze. “I want you to lead the remnants of Utana there. That is where you will you can find the Pishitim.”

He blinks a few times. “Seriously? How will that work?”

I explain, “There is a large pit that leads to the core of the world. You will descend to the bottom, and asea of Lifeblood will be waiting for you there. The Pishitim will let you pass through to the other side.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, pursing his lips. “What if we cannot pass through?”

“You will,” I reassure him.

“Then what about you?” Bluerage asks, eyeing me apprehensively. “Will you not come with us?”

I shake my head apologetically. “I am sorry, but I cannot.”

“But we need your help! You can’t just leave us by ourselves!” he protests.

Bluerage is right. However, I have no choice. I step back, glancing over the horizon. Searching for something in the far distance.

“Kalmat and the others have yet to return, Bluerage,” I say as my gaze darkens. “And I know that there are two other ships out there with their own army of machines. I need to find them— ensure they are safe.”

The man blinks for a moment. Then he lowers his head. “Right.”

I draw my lips into a thin line as I see his reaction. Bluerage is worried— he does not believe in his own capabilities to protect what is left of the city. I can understand his sentiments. Especially after he lost so much so quickly.

He closes his eyes, before sighing. “Can you at least wait for us to leave, at least?”

“Very well,” I acquiesce. “I need time to recover as well. These last few battles have worn me down.”

Bluerage smiles at me, grateful. “Thank you, Tian.”

I nod back at him. “Of course.”

***

I spend the next ten cycles meditating. Letting Soul Cycle bring me back to full strength. Meanwhile, Bluerage begins amassing the city. He gives everyone time to rest, but tells them of my plan.

Most of the people of the city are in disbelief as well. But they listen to him. They have no other choice. It is not like they have anywhere else to go.

So during those ten cycles, they recover. They ready themselves to leave. And when they are ready to go, Bluerage approaches me. I break off from my meditation— some of my wounds are healed. But I am still slightly injured. Ten cycles is not nearly enough time to be fully battle-ready again. Unfortunately, there is no time to be complacent.

“Tian,” Bluerage calls me.

“Right.” I get to my feet, dusting myself off. “Are we going?”

He nods. The man leads me out of the tent I had temporarily built myself for my meditation. We reach the edge of the city where all the survivors are gathered. I look over them— they are tired and weary. They look at me hopefully, but they know I am not joining them. Still, they are ready to go.

“Do you know the way?” I ask Bluerage.

The Bladewielder nods. “That way, right? Towards where the crimson pillar fell from the sky?”

“Indeed.” I take a step back as my Aspect flashes.

My wings spread wide. A susurration runs through the crowd watching. I give them a reassuring look, addressing those who remain. I gesture towards the hills in the distance, speaking for all to hear.

“If you go beyond those hills, you will find a pit that leads down to safety. The Pishitim will grant you all refuge there. This I assure of you.”

They exchange glances. They look uncertain. Lost. Afraid. Hurt. And tired. But the mentioning of the Pishitim reinvigorates them once again. Bluerage harrumphs, stepping forward.

“You heard her— let’s move!” he shouts.

And the crowd begins to get moving. The survivors stream away from the ruins of Thornthistle, leaving behind the remnants of their home. It is a slow, undulating line of refugees that trudge through the dark landscape. Elementalists like Vidraf help light the way with fire, ensuring that no monsters draw near.

Bluerage turns to me, giving me a thankful look. “I appreciate this, Tian. I really do.”

“It is no problem,” I say to him.

“Will you be taking your leave now?” he asks, glancing away from the city.

“Indeed. I still do not know what happened to Kalmat and the others. If that ship finds them—” I start.

But I am interrupted by a loud groaning sound. One that blares down from the sky above. I blink, looking up. The survivors of Thornthistle cast their gaze towards the sky, then they freeze in terror.

A ship emerges from the hole. One that is not quite as big as the Sentient Nest. But it is as big as Galgom’s Hive. And that alone is enough to strike fear into the hearts of the refugees.

I click my tongue as Bluerage whispers.

“No…” The man stumbles back. “More of them… what are we going to do?”

He looks around in a panic. The stream of people leaving Thornthistle back away in fear. Their line breaks. They threaten to scatter. I narrow my eyes, looking at this. Then I sigh.

“Do not falter,” I say as I beat my wings behind my back. I begin to ascend into the air as I look back down at the Bladewielder. “Stick to the plan. Lead the people of Thornthistle to the Pishitim! I will distract this ship!”

“What…?” Bluerage blinks. “Alone?”

I turn to the ship, watching it hover up there as a familiar strange prickling sensation runs over my back. It is scanning Utana, just like the other ships that have passed through. I nod at Bluerage.

“Yes. Now go!” I shout before shooting up into the sky.

I do not hear his response. But when I look back down, I see him barking commands at the refugees, beginning to lead them to the Pishitim. With that, I nod to myself and face the flying Hive.

Before it can complete its scan, I need to draw its attention. I spread my arms wide as flames gather around me. Rainbow-colored fire that take on the shape of a magnificent bird. A phoenix. One of the most legendary creatures in Jhisie. But it is only a mimicry of the real thing.

“Liufan Sacred Technique: Wrath of the Heavens!”

The phoenix shoots up. It dives straight for the ship before exploding upon impact. The blast erupts outwards— it rocks the ship back, taking out a massive chunk from the flying disc. However, it is not enough to bring the ship down. Not even close.

I know I have to target the core to even do that. I know I have to go inside the ship to destroy it. But the explosion does its job. It stops the ship’s scanning of Utana and turn its attention towards me. I continue flying up, ready to repeat what I did just earlier once again.

The hexagonal doors on the ship opens up. Esh and En begin to pour out as I embrace this challenge all on my own. But before I can get close, I notice something from the corner of my eyes. I do not recognize what it is at first. All I see is a glint, flying up with me towards the ship from the opposite direction.

The Esh and the En do not notice it either. So I know it is not with them. I pause, turning to get a better glimpse of it. Then I see the metal surface. I see the shape of the projectile. And I realize what it is.

I immediately back away, flying back down as fast as I can. The projectile continues to soar up towards the ship. And right as it makes impact, I create a barrier around me. To protect me. Because that projectile— it is Seiled and Beihal’s superweapon.

A powerful explosion erupts, engulfing the ship in its entirety. A black sphere consumes the Hive and wipes out the oncoming Esh and the En. I am knocked back by the shockwave, but I am far enough away that the blast that it does not endanger me.

However, I know what comes next. I continue fly down as a second explosion rocks the sky. The ship’s core explodes, damaged from the first blast. Fortunately, as this is not the Sentient Nest, the core’s blast is smaller than even the exploding superweapon.

Still, both explosions light up the sky, turning true night into true day temporarily. A sun that will vanish shortly. Until then, its light will guide all of Utana.

I look away from this blast, searching for the source of the projectile. Looking in the direction the superweapon came from. It takes me a moment, but I do not need to use the School of Divination. Towards the horizon— just at the edge of the Flourishing Flatlands— I see them.

My friends. The Keepers of the Grove. Kalmat, Nindran, Seiled, Beihal… all of them. They are alive and well.

And I rush down to be at their side in an instant.