In the quarry above the subterranean world the Osh’Tika’Varu called home, Aiden and Anna stood before V’Yenya. His dark skin gray was still odd to Aiden, but he’d seen many stranger creatures since coming to Midrath. His rectangular face and six very intelligent eyes regarded both of them, lifting a single finger. His dark gray armor moved silently, his lavender leaf underclothing fitted perfectly and only visible through the small gaps in his armor.

Blue runes shone lightly across the armor. Aiden had seen them countless time, but this was the first time he really paid attention to them and recognized them for what they were. He could also feel the slumbering power reverberating through them, which paled in comparison to the towering monstrosity that was V’Yenya himself.

I knew they were strong, Avacyn feared him, but this is even more ridiculous than I thought. Maybe he’ll have some answers for us.

Skipping the dramatic bloodshed of the first time they’d met, Anna simply touched a finger against V’Yenya’s and started translating for Aiden.

“What may I do for you this day?” Straight to the point as always.

“I need information pertaining to my Patron. I’m not sure who to ask, and it’s a matter of great importance.” This was a big gamble. Aiden didn’t know V’Yenya’s alignment—or really anything about him.

“Please confide in me, Aiden Pearce. I will help where I can.” The sincerity of his words helped soothe Aiden’s nerves.

For the next several minutes, Aiden briefed V’Yenya on the matters of Khione, his stance against the Upper Real, and his plans, all in hopes that he might find some guidance from the ancient being. V’Yenya had been supportive since Aiden and his people were transferred from Earth to Midrath.

Aiden didn’t like asking for so much from the big guy, but he didn’t have much of an option left.

“This is quite the precarious situation you find yourself in. I hope to shed some light on your uncertainty. Let us sit.” He motioned to a gathering of rocks that were perfectly flat on top. They all did as he suggested.

Barely able to contain his excitement, Aiden waited patiently for V’Yenya to continue. He’d hoped V’Yenya might know something, and he’d been right. But to what extent would V’Yenya provide clarity?

“She and I are similar existences, beings of a time predating many of the primordials, a time before death where there was want for very little, fear of nothing.” Two of his eyes watched Aiden, but the other four stared at the sky as he spoke. “She is like kin to me, so I know of her well. What has happened to her has been tragic to witness, but she was warned long in advance. The Void corrupts absolutely, but she wouldn’t give up seeking the original creator of Ithalon. Those that know nothing of the truth of this world were threatened by her power, her genuine lust for knowledge. Once, she wouldn’t raise a finger to hurt a fly. Now, she has killed more of these false deities than any other single existence.”

“Wow, I… She’s incredible,” Aiden whispered. However, that information made a lot of pieces fall into place. No wonder the Upper Realm wanted to bind and trap her. “So what she told me is true. She seeks an escape from this realm?”

“She’s found that. She seeks something even greater, the original creator.”

“The One of Truth?” Aiden asked.

“Precisely.”

“That fits into everything she’s told me,” Aiden muttered, staring at the ground. He pondered what his next question should be for a brief moment, then resolved himself to help Khione. “How do I save her?”

“Are you sure this is a path you wish to embark upon? It is admirable, but peril awaits you at every turn if you so choose to aid her against the false deities. Before I tell you what you want to know, do you accept this certain outcome?” All six of V’Yenya’s eyes watched Aiden and waited for his answer.

Aiden didn’t hesitate to answer. “I was already planning on making enemies out of the Upper Realm already and seal them away with the Authority of Midrath. So yes, I am confident I want to do this.”

“I will tell you then, Aiden Pearce…”

*

The walk back was quick and silent, neither Anna or Aiden wishing to disturb the heaviness weighing on both of them. When they returned, James and Arkayan sat in front of their tents and eyed the others with contempt.

Josh and Blizzy had continued to wrestle, while Isaac regaled Ian with fantastical dreams of mythic-grade gear and skills, contemplating the scope and range of how great, powerful, and deadly he’d become as the greatest shadow assassin there ever was. Farthest from Arkayan and James, Adam and Madison spoke in hushed whispers.

The wind blew soft across the strange gray-scale darkened domain Arkayan called home, contradicting the chaos in Aiden’s head with an unsettling atmosphere of temporary peace.

Aiden paid none of them any mind, too busy focused on the thoughts rattling around in his head. There were so many things to do, so many places to go, so many impossible tasks to accomplish, and a very slim hope of completing everything with everyone in one piece. Considering all that stood in his way to save Khione, he didn’t think any of them were safe, and that weighed heavily.

He was again thankful that Olivia had decided to stay with Aunt Rachel and hadn’t tried to fight him on this. If he’d ever entertained the idea of getting her help before, he surely didn’t now.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Leyla had returned in the time he’d been gone and sat by herself. She’d long since noticed his approach through their connection and made her way to him silently, Anna slinking off to join Ian and Isaac. As Anna passed by James, she shot him a look, one part concern and two parts indignation.

Aiden skipped the pleasantries and waved his hand, reaching over his head and touching to the ground. A familiar swirling portal of doom, a coalescence of black, red, and orange, appeared. The swirling image solidified and shaped into something concrete, an image of a bone throne became clearer.

A great gothic chamber with wide, vaulted ceilings expanded out to reveal a figure in the center.

Miasma oozed out of him. Aiden could sense a thick aura of darkness and blood even through the portal. Two thick, spiraled horns pierced out of pale skin. They curved back over the figure’s head. Silvery-white locks draped down to his midriff. Brown leathery wings of mottled red and black hugged close, bent and compacted. They extended, longer than three grown men from one wing tip to the other.

A dapper black-and-white tuxedo with an equally sharp necktie hugged the figure’s frame, bloodred. Glasses settled at the bottom of his nose and made him look intelligent. He flipped through pages in an open book, something magical and with the likeness of a grimoire, as he paced the chamber.

Considering his get-up, the figure looked ready to handle his affairs with impunity, to take care of whatever business was set in front of him. The fact he looked so… normal really surprised Aiden.

“Kyriall,” Aiden called.

The ruler of Halla, the carrier of Halla’s Authority, the Immortal Father and the benefactor to Blizzy’s life, this meeting was inevitable. When he spoke, his voice was calm, unsurprised by Aiden’s call, and dignified. “If it isn’t Aiden Pearce. I’ve been waiting for you to come. You may enter my domain so we may partake in discussion. I’m well aware of your plight and mean no harm to you or your kin.”

“So I’ve been told.” Aiden waved, and the portal into Halla shifted slightly, bringing Kyriall into greater view and detail. Aiden didn’t wait for the others to follow and stepped through the portal. Face to face with Kyriall, the aura was even greater. Apex Predator roared to life and protected Aiden as well as it possibly could, but even with its aid, he felt the urge to bend a knee and proclaim his devotion to the Immortal Father. “That’s quite a sensation.”

“You manage well, young one.” Kyriall peered behind Aiden, his lips curling upward slightly in amusement. “Your friends, on the other hand, seem to be handling things far worse than you.”

When Aiden turned around, the urge to kneel dissipated entirely and was overridden by the desire to facepalm.

Leyla and Josh both seemed a bit dizzy but otherwise managed. Anna doubled over and dry heaved, while Isaac had completely passed out and slumped to the ground. Shadow licked his face in an attempt to aid him, but his efforts were entirely in vain. Ian sat down and rocked back and forth, Tortie-Tort using its flippers to try and smack him awake. Adam and Madison held each other for support, Madison’s legs threatening to shake out from underneath her.

Adam’s resilience and ability to remain standing, though looking as pale as Kyriall and sweating profusely, left Aiden impressed. If his attitude wasn’t so terrible, he’d make a great addition to Zion’s leadership.

The one least affected, even less than Aiden, was Blizzy. She ran through the portal and sauntered around, excitedly circling Kyriall and chirping her high-pitched and excited yip.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her so excited to see anybody, not even me,” Aiden said, turning from the embarrassing display of his friends and allies to watch his Companion.

“It makes sense, considering she’s my daughter.” Kyriall dropped that bomb on Aiden, then completely disregarded him in favor of paying attention to Blizzy.

“Right, you did help give life to her,” Aiden said, catching himself for he went into the depths of contemplating the methods in which deities procreate.

“While that is true, it’s not what I mean.” Kyriall brushed his hand against the side of Blizzy’s neck, and the blizzard dragon immediately chirped in surprise as her form started to shift.

Aiden didn’t expect anything of it, but when a definitely not dragon teenage girl appeared in a simple black and red gown that dangled around her ankles, Aiden wasn’t sure what to think and simply gaped.

“Kinnai, dearest, it’s been too long. I hope you’ve been well.” The Immortal Father took Blizzy’s hand—Blizzy who was apparently Kinnai, one of the members of the Trifecta, and Kyriall’s daughter? Kyriall continued by lifting her arms so she posed like a ‘t’, checking to see if there were any blemishes or scars, even a single hair out of place. Once his inspection was complete, he turned to Aiden. “I commend you for taking great care of my daughter and thank you greatly for your efforts. Now that personal matters are taken care of, let us speak business.”

“Uh, Aiden…” Josh’s voice came from behind. “Did we all just see that right?”

“I’m wondering that myself,” Aiden muttered, scratching his head as he looked at the very similar looking father-daughter duo. Kinnai had the same angular face structure, even though her wings were crystalline blue and her horns formed a crown. They had the same points and thick curves. “Not my place to question the realm of deities and the like though, so I’m just gonna roll with it. Well, kind of.”

A certain Leyla seethed and prowled forward, her eyes glued to Kinnai. Kyriall regarded her with a dismissive glance, not even seeing her worth his time to consider.

“Leyla, don’t.” From the moment Blizzy had been revealed as Kinnai, he’d felt the overwhelming rush of explosive emotions through their bond.

“She’s one of those bitches that cursed me. How could you even think to ask me not to vent a little bit of frustration out on her, she’s the literal Scion of Chaos.” She glared at Kinnai and continued to approach, her scythe swirling in vicious circles.

“Please remain calm in my domain. I wouldn’t want to erase your fate from this realm out of mere principle. It’s quite rude to enter someone’s home and start to cause a ruckus.” Even though the threat was made quite peacefully, Kyriall oozed such casual confidence. How he spoke made it seem as if it wasn’t even a matter of if he could but rather should he have proper provocation, he would make due on his threat. “And, in addition, should you wish harm upon my beloved daughter, that stigmata may make a reappearance and come back a magnitude harsher.”

Leyla bared her canines at Kyriall, hissing her displeasure. Aiden really thought she might leap forward to attack the man and wrapped his arms around her. “Please stop. I know you’re angry at the Trifecta and the prophecy, I know it hurts and makes you unbelievably angry, but we need them. More importantly, I need you, and we don’t have the power to burn bridges we’re standing on.”

A growl ripped from her throat as she shoved him off. Violet glowed from her eyes and spread across her face, arcing down her arms, shoulders, and back. No matter what Aiden tried to do to soothe her, the violence her entire being promised refused to abate.

But she got a grip of herself and backed away, seething.

He knew this wouldn’t be the end of things and now worried about whether she’d try to kill Blizzy. A conversation would be in order before they moved anywhere.

Before that, he needed to speak with Kyriall.

Aiden’s eyes darted to Josh. “Please keep her busy, and whatever you do, don’t die.”

The brute’s guffaw irked Aiden, but he took the challenge seriously and donned the fourth stage of his Azura’s Avatar transformation. Idly, Aiden wondered if Josh would ever master the fifth stage.

His attention was pulled away from trying to keep his allies from killing each other by the calming voice of the one he’d come to see. “Why, Aiden Pearce, you keep quite the company. Had I known your fate would entangle with the Trinity’s, I may have handled things a little differently.” He let out a deep sigh, one unbecoming of his stoic facade. In the matter of several seconds, his lofty, aloof demeanor shifted into one of fatigue and weariness. “We have much to discuss.”