378 The Seconds

Mari'Djinn hissed at him, the sound making his skin crawl. "Two of the Titan's before you are firsts, the rest of us are seconds."

Nix nodded as if accepting that the statement was reasonable. "Why am I here?"

Mari'Djinn approached him; the white snake slithered gracefully before stopping within a few feet. Slowly her head rose until her brilliant green eyes stared directly into Nix's yellow ones. "The Titans in front of you are the reason the Dragons no longer live in Everspire."

Nix hadn't paid close attention to the history of Everspire, but what he knew didn't match up with her words. "I thought human clans were responsible for that."

Tautius's laugh sounded like a thunderstorm echoing in the distance. "There are no human clans in Ever Spire."

"How is that possible?" Nix tried unsuccessfully to mask the confusion on his face. "I've met the human clans."

Mari'Djinn swayed toward him. "Did you? Her eyes bore into him as her soft voice dropped to a low hiss. "Do they seem strong enough to have dealt with Dragons?"

"Shit..." The word slipped from his lips before he could stop it. It had been staring them in the face since they first entered the Sky Kingdom. How could Clans like the Krayven defeat the Dragons?

Mari'Djinn's red tongue flicked at him several times before she spoke. "Generations ago, all of Everspire was inhabited by the Titan Clans. When the Dragons migrated from the Core, we waged war."

"A War with Dragons?" Nix remembered hearing of it, but couldn't remember the source.

Mari'Djinn nodded. "Both sides paid a hefty price. It ended with the Dragon's retreating into their Sky Kingdom."

Nix glanced around the room for the first time. It was then that he noticed the empty seats. "Some of the Firsts died in the war?"

The white snake's head continued to sway in front of Nix; there was a long pause before she answered. "Benat the First Lion, Treia the First Scorpion, and Yuntil the First Falcon."

"When you say the Second, what does that mean?" Nix suddenly wished that Semmi were with him, the blond officer had one of those minds that seemed to understand everything.

Mari'Djinn turned back toward the group. "Seconds, please introduce yourself."

A large black Dire Wolf stepped forward. "I am Wraina, the Second."

A white female lion stood up. "I am Gai, the Second."

Lastly, a sand-colored Scorpion skittered a few steps toward him. "I am Lucid, the Second."

"Four Seconds? You mentioned that three died in the Thousand Year War. What happened to the other firsts?"

Nix shook his head slightly. "The two Firsts who died most recently. Is this related to the discourse within the Wolf and Snake Clans?"

Mari'Djinn hissed softly. "You're starting to understand. Keep going."

"The three Titans who died during the Thousand Year War? What happened to their Clans?"

Tautius sat down on his rather large backside; immediately, Nix was reminded of Morti. "Those are now the Human Clans. Within two generations of losing the First, the Titan form is lost to their Clan."

Nix felt like the pieces were lining up, but something still felt off. "How do the Seconds fit in?"

Tautius huffed his sizeable black nose at Nix. "We may nominate individuals to undertake the Trial of Firsts. The candidates are referred to as the Seconds until they pass the trial or perish."

"The Wolf and Snake Clans are without Firsts, that's causing issues for them." Nix glanced at Mari'Djinn and Wraina, the wolf. "Why haven't the other Seconds taken the Trials?"

New Quests Available.

[Trial of the Serpent]

[Trial of the Lion]

[Trial of the Wolf]

[Trial of the Scorpion]

New Guild Quests Available

[Restore the Clan of Lions]

[Restore the Clan of Scorpions]

[Restore the Clan of Falcons]

Mari'Djinn chose that moment to morph into human form. She was as pale as Beta; if it wasn't for her green eyes, she could have passed for a Drahk. "The City of Trials has been locked to us. There are many things we can't speak of, Nix."

"Eidyngal? The City of Trials is Eidyngal?" Nix recalled the trial to unlock the city gates. Why was it locked? Was it a Titan City?

"No more questions," Tautius waddled back toward his platform and resumed his seat. "Will you help us?"

Nix shook his head. "No. Anything else?"

"Nix!" Mari'Djinn's pale face turned red; the anger on her face evident. "Only three may enter each of the trials. If the trial is lost, then that Titan Clan is doomed."

Nix shrugged slightly. "Does that have anything to do with me? Haven't I already helped you by opening Eidengal?"

The Lion chose this moment to morph into human shape; for comparison purposes, she bore a striking resemblance to Chiba's real form. "He may only participate in one of the trials. I have a peerless blade Nix. I will offer it to you if you help me."

"Gai...." Mari'Djinn crossed her arms in front of her.

"Enough, return to your seats." Tautius's dark eyes watched the two until they complied. Apparently, neither wanted to cross him. "Will you help us, Nix?"

Nix considered his mission for a moment. "I require the antidote to the Snake Clan's Terror poison. I want it right now."

Tautius nodded his big head. "Agreed. And the trials?"

Nix shrugged helplessly. "Gai said I could only participate in one of the trials."

"As the leader of Inferno and the 12 Pillar Alliance, don't you have access to the strongest of your kind?" Tautius looked at each of the Titans, one by one, they nodded. "What say you?"

"Agreed. Send me back to my room with the antidote I requested. I'll assign someone to each quest as soon as I read the description."

Mari'Djinn smiled slightly. "I will solve the chaos within the Serpent Clan once the trial is done."

****************

Sharl shook her head slightly. When Nix returned to the room, he had two vials of Terror Poison antidote and a long story. "How do we restore the Clans of the Lion, Scorpion, and Falcon? Those are Human Clans now."

"Human Totem Clans," Nix agreed. "Let's help them complete the Trials first, then worry about that. Any volunteers?"

Nix displayed the quests one at a time.

[Trial of the Serpent]

Quest Description: The First Titans have chosen a candidate to assume the mantle of First Serpent. Send two of your most powerful fighters to aide them in that quest. Failure to complete the quest will result in the loss of the powerful Serpent Clan. You may only take part in one Titan Clan trial.

Reward Unknown.

Recommendations: High Poison Resistance.

Location: Once you start the quest, you'll be transferred to the Trial of Firsts holding area.

[Trial of the Lion]

Quest Description: The First Titans have chosen a candidate to assume the mantle of First Lion. Send two of your most powerful fighters to aide them in that quest. Failure to complete the quest will result in the loss of the powerful Lion Clan. You may only take part in one Titan Clan trial.

Reward Unknown.

Recommendations: Melee DPS and Healer.

Location: Once you start the quest, you'll be transferred to the Trial of Firsts holding area.

[Trial of the Wolf]

Quest Description: The First Titans have chosen a candidate to assume the mantle of First Wolf. Send two of your most powerful fighters to aide them in that quest. Failure to complete the quest will result in the loss of the powerful Wolf Clan. You may only take part in one Titan Clan trial.

Reward Unknown.

Recommendations: High DPS.

Location: Once you start the quest, you'll be transferred to the Trial of Firsts holding area.

[Trial of the Scorpion]

Quest Description: The First Titans have chosen a candidate to assume the mantle of First Scorpion Send two of your most powerful fighters to aide them in that quest. Failure to complete the quest will result in the loss of the powerful Scorpion Clan. You may only take part in one Titan Clan trial.

Reward Unknown.

Recommendations: Crowd Control.

Location: Once you start the quest, you'll be transferred to the Trial of Firsts holding area.

/Viper: Sharl: They are all worded the same except for the Recommendation. I could bring Floyd with me as a companion. That way, we would have an extra fighter.

/Viper: Floyd: Up to you. I won't get a share of the reward then.

/Viper: Nix: Good point. Preferences?

/Viper: Sharl: I'll take the Serpent trial with Floyd, just the two of us.

/Viper: Floyd: Works for me.

/Viper: Milat: I'll be one of the DPS in the Wolf Trial.

/Viper: Sori: I'll be the other if you don't object.

/Viper: Milat: No objections here.

/Viper: Nix: I'll do the Scorpion trial with Ducky. We'll get someone else to do the Lion Trial.

/Viper: Milat: What about the Restoration Quests?

/Viper: Nix: Those can wait until we deliver the antidote. Those are guild level quests anyway.