Interlude - Power

Interlude - Power

Power

The preparations for their trip were all finally finished. They gathered in the courtyard of the palace in Consequence. Ryun stood to the side, saying his goodbyes.

You could still come with us, there is time, he said, though he knew that there was little chance of changing their mind.

Erdania shook her head. I dont think that the Ethereal would help me get stronger much. Besides, the source of Worldstone is here, I need to focus on it before I advance again.

And I need to spend time in the forge, Selia added. Creation is part of my Qi, and is ingrained in the core of my Class.

Ryun nodded, they had already discussed this so he wasnt surprised. I will miss you, he said instead.

This was why they worked so well together. They understood each other, and they didnt need to constantly be in each others presence.

And as much as he wouldve liked for them to be there, he knew that what he had to do in the Ethereal would be hard. He was going back to his roots in some ways. They embraced for a long few seconds, and then stepped back. With one last smile for them, he turned and nodded at Ereclaw who walked over to him as they headed to the center of the courtyard.

I will need your help in there, Ryun said. For a while at least.

Ereclaw growled and inclined his head. Of course.

Visit my mother, if you have the time, Nayra whispered to Anrosh.

You sure that I should intrude? Anrosh asked.

Nayra gave her a smile. Definitely, she answered. Mother likes you. Probably more than any other of her in-laws.VIsit n0(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Does she really? Anrosh tilted her head.

Would I lie to you? Nayra asked.

Anrosh narrowed her eyes, but didnt say anything. Nayra didnt lie, of course. Her mother did like her best. Which why Nayra hoped that she could help her. Her mother had been sitting in front of her fathers tree almost every day, barely doing anything. Not even father Olem was able to get her to do something else for more than a few hours a day.

Anrosh was young in comparison, but she understood her mothers pain.

And you, Nayra turned to look at Kri. You keep your mother safe for me, okay?

Of course, Kri said.

Nayra gave her a grave look, then nodded.

She glanced away, noting that Ryun and Ereclaw had made their goodbyes. She took a deep breath and released it slowly.

Im off then, she said.

Anrosh pulled her close. Come back to me, she whispered.

I plan to.

Zach stood to the side, near Naha and Hiro who were engaged in a quiet conversation. He looked around, saw the people from the Sect coming to see them off. There were a few groups gathered around, everyone saying their own goodbyes.

He turned his attention to Naha speaking with Hiro.

Make sure to stay safe, Naha said. Dont go around taking unnecessary risks.

Hiro smiled at her. I wont, but Im not a child anymore, he told her. He was used to her mothering by now.

Most people are children to me, Naha told him, her hand reaching up to tweak his ear.

He grimaced and pushed her hand away, but his smile didnt dip.

Keep up with your training, Zach added.

Hiro glanced in his direction and his expression sobered. I will, he nodded.

Zach reached up and squeezed his shoulder, then glanced around. He noticed that most of the others were finished with their own goodbyes and he took a deep breath, then stepped up to the center. The others followed. Ryun gave one last wave to his partners, and headed his way with Ereclaw following. Nayra hugged Anrosh and Kri then did the same.

Soon, the three of them met with Zach and Naha in the middle.

We ready? Zach asked.

Ryun nodded. We are.

Zach changed his hand into his Time Blade form and focused as he activated Gate Fissure cutting open a gate in space, one leading to the Ethereal Realm.

With one last look around, he stepped through, and the other four followed close behind.

Hm what is this? The yeti asked.

Berion glanced at him, seeing him pull out a device and look at it. So he senses something too.

Oh, the yeti said. Another one, I must see this.

Before Berion could react, the yeti carved a rune in front of himself and space bent screaming at the intrusion. Berion grimaced, but the sensation he felt intensified as the yeti teleported. It made him stumble forward, then reach out to catch himself on the wall next to him. His will thrummed inside his entire being, and unwittingly his skills honed in to the source. Space was everywhere, and distance meant nothing to Berion.

There was something there, something that called to him. Without thinking Berion slammed his will into the space where yeti had just stood, strands of Aspect of Space reached out and touched him, then pulled him through.

He landed in a frozen land, fell to one knee immediately as the weight of another will billowed in the distance. He raised his head and saw a frozen mountain stretching high into the sky. A frozen river wrapping around the stone as if the land itself was pulled up and frozen with everything that had once occupied it.

The yeti was a few steps ahead of him, his device raised high, his attention fully on what was happening. Berion knelt there unnoticed, a noise rising inside of his mind.

As the will in front of him rose and spread to a crescendo, the corners of Berions mind realized some part of what was happening.

The will on top of the mountain stilled and moonlight froze into mirrors, a song of power exploded and then everything went white. For a moment Berion lost all sense of the world, of time, and existence. Only Space remained to anchor him and he dropped deep into the Aspect of Space, his connection with the Plane widening inside of him.

The noise rattling in his mind became voices, ideas and desires. Slowly, he heard them for what they were, understandings of Space. Some clashed with his own understanding of it, while others were in tune.

Then something changed on the mountain and the song quieted and disappeared. But inside of Berion a new song was being born. His will shook and space trembled all around him.

The yeti turned and noticed him, his eyes narrowing.

Oh, this is perfect, he smiled a terrible smile at Berion and approached. His hand rose a rune carved into space that pulsed and didnt disappear. The yeti brought his hand closer to Berion, almost as if he wanted to brand the rune upon his forehead. Fear blossomed inside of Berions being, flashes of his old life, of branding and collars. Berions hand twitched, a finger carving a rune that infused him. A teaching of the yeti, but useful and powerful. He felt his will surge as his soul cried out in pain. All of Space trembled and pulsed with Berions fear, and Berion turned his growing will on it all. Some of the voices inside of his head exclaimed in horror, others in confusion, his will took hold of them all and forced them to aid him.

For Berion, space was freedom. It was knowledge that he could never be trapped again, that he could be anywhere at any time. That distance meant nothing to him, or that it meant everything.

Acting almost on instinct, guided by the after wave of what he had just witnessed Berion acted and Space answered.

As Raazels hand drew closer, as the rune almost touched his forehead, the space in between the hand and Berion wavered. Space filled the gap, and the distance that was short increased.

The yeti frowned his hand moving forward, almost lunging, but Berion knew that it would never touch him unless he wanted it to. Berion rose, and Space shuddered.

Ah, Raazel stepped back, the rune disappearing from his hand. He smiled at Berion. I wished simply to help.

Berion narrowed his eyes, he opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted. Something was happening on top of the mountain.

We should leave before he notices us, Raazel said, his hand rising to carve a rune.

Berion would not allow his power to touch him, so he focused his skills and will. The Space filled him completely, and it answered. He grabbed hold of Raazel, seeing the yetis eyes widen, and he ripped them both through space. Returning them home.

Raazel took a step back from Berion, neither of them breaking their gaze from the other.

Ber! Teacher! Kael called, the beat of his wings forcing them both to look away. What happened?

Berion opened his mouth, but Raazel spoke first.

Nothing to worry about, young Kael, Raazel said, his eyes sliding to glance at Berion. All is well.

Berion didnt answer. In the corner of his eyes, he had new notifications.

CONGRATULATIONS WORLD THIRD FEAT ACCOMPLISHED:

New titles available:

The Third DaoWay of Aspect

The Way of Space

Titles

The Third DaoWay of Aspects

Be the third in the world to give shape and form to an Aspect of Essence; harness and create the Way of an Aspect.

+5% to all base stats, 1000 Immortal Essence

The Way of Space

Establish a Way of Space, formalizing the rules of the Aspect.

+10% to all base stats, Formalization of Space (World Change), 1000 Immortal Essence

What Berion knew was only that the world had changed. He closed his eyes, and felt for the first time that the Space around him offered true freedom.