True to his word, Ambrose returned to the stone villa after only a day. Leon had long since finished his chat with Nara by then, and after having left the man to continue resting, had taken to exploring the villa.
It was a remarkable building, having been constructed on a tiny plane amidst the Divine Graveyard. Leon found it surreal to stand on the edge of the plane, his toes curling around the lip of the island, his eyes staring out into the endless abyss. Stars in numbers beyond counting dotted the Void, each one orbiting its own plane. An uncountable number of planes existed out there, too, though bereft of such light.
âHow many times has the Nexus undergone Reconstitution?â Leon wondered. âHow many pieces of former Nexuses have been blasted out into the Void and now exist as planes?â
The future of his Clan lay out amongst these stars. One hundred thousand years sounded like an immense amount of timeâand it certainly wasâbut the foundations of a powerful Clan were laid in the planes. A long-lasting Clan could hardly be built in a place that periodically destroyed itself.
And yet, it was to the Nexus that he would first take the Thunder Kingdom. That was where they would find their legs amidst the universe. It was there that they would find the resources they would need to return the Thunderbird Clanâs hegemony to places like Tiryns, Kypros, and Minosâthe most important planes in the former Clanâs domain.
It was all out there, in the Void. With a single step, he would be amidst it all.
âBe careful over there,â a voice said from behind.
Leon didnât turn around; he knew who was there, and he also knew that the man was unlikely to take offense if he remained standing where he was. âIâm quite sure-footed,â Leon replied.
âBe that as it may,â Ambrose said as he took a position at Leonâs side staring out into the endless black Void, âit would be damn hard for you to return if you were to slip. Damn hard.â
âI think I could find a way,â Leon stated.
âYou have not even yet achieved Apotheosis,â Ambrose replied, his tone a little chastising. âYou do not even know what lies out there.â
âIâve done well so far,â Leon stated. âI now have the support of many powerful and competent people.â
âHow much can they help if theyâre far away? How much?â
Leon smiled and didnât directly answer. âHave you any advice?â he asked. âFor being out there, I mean.â
Ambroseâs brown eyes scanned the Void, undoubtedly seeing it in ways that Leon could not yet. âIt is chaotic,â Ambrose stated. âMillions and millions of planes, many with men and women living upon them. Many more with all kinds of monstrous beasts hostile to human life. Interplanar wars are common in more densely populated planar clusters. Most planes of any significance owe at least nominal allegiance to some power in the Nexus, though most retain some level of autonomy. So long as their tribute flows, the powers that be donât generally interact with them much, focusing instead on the problems found within the Nexus.
âWe are relatively isolated here in the Divine Graveyard. Despite our proximity to the Nexus, we are not oft disturbed. I prefer things this way, keeping a deep buffer between my home and the problems of the rest of the universe. I much prefer this state of affairs to the alternative.â
âUnderstandable,â Leon stated. âAny news about Planerend?â
âNone,â Ambrose replied with a scowl. âNone. We have no idea where heâs fled. None. And out in the vastness of the universe, he has no shortage of hiding places.â
âHow will you search for him?â Leon asked. âYour duties demand you remain here, donât they?â
âI and some of my counterparts have apprentices. All have achieved Apotheosis, so they will venture out into the Void and seek our errant prisoner. He will be found. He will be found.â
Leon slowly nodded, quietly hoping that Planerend would be. He had enough on his plate without worrying about a Primal Devil coming after him, too. Though, for some reason, he doubted that he would get off that lucky.
âSo,â he said after a momentâs silence, âwhat now? For us, I mean.â
âNow,â Ambrose replied, âI return you and your people to your homes. Oh, and take this.â He retrieved another silver twig from his soul realm and gave it to Leon. It was small, more akin to the one Leon had been given during the five days he was given before heading to Arkhnavi. At that thought, he couldnât but feel some guilt; he wondered if he couldâve found some way to prevent Planerendâs release if heâd had another five days to work with.
With a sigh, he banished the thought. What was done was done; not much point in dwelling upon it unless there was a lesson to be learned there, and he couldnât see one other than using it as a reminder not to waste time.
âIf only I was a prophet,â he sarcastically thought.
He focused instead on the future. He had a monumental task ahead of him, which the Grave Warden helpfully reminded him as he elaborated on the twig.
âI will return you to Aeterna, and you can go home to your Kingdom. Use that twig to come back to my tower, and we can speak at your convenience about my promise to take all of your people to the Nexus. I fully intend to follow through on that promise. Fully intend. When youâre ready, no matter if you wait five years or five centuries, I will follow through on that promise. Just snap that twig and come to my tower whenever you want. Just snap that twig.â
Leon nodded and said, âThanks. Might be a while, though.â
âTake all the time you need. All the time.â
Leon pulled the twig into his soul realm and turned back to the Void.
Ambrose studied him intently as the silence between them stretched. âIs⊠something on your mind, Leon? Your thoughts seem heavyâŠâ
Leon smiled bitterly. He glanced at the Grave Warden but didnât answer until his golden eyes turned back to the Void.
âWhat would you do, Ambrose, if someone dangled something in front of you, something that youâd craved all your life? But this someone demeaned you, rejected you in the past, and demanded that you give up things you love in order to take this thing youâve long craved.â
âQuite the hypothetical,â Ambrose replied. âQuite the hypothetical. I suppose my response would depend on the exact circumstances, but I know my place; I wouldnât lower myself, debase myself, just to acquire what I want. I do not think I am a proud man, but I still have pride. And my pride, scant though it is, is worth a great deal to me.â
Leonâs eyes lingered a moment on a red star twinkling in the sky. âMy thoughts align with yours. It offends⊠it would offend me if someone were to dangle a prize in front of my face, only to snatch it away when I donât immediately bark on command. Still⊠if itâs a real shiny prize⊠there might be some regret in not obtaining it.â
âKeep your chin up, Leon,â Ambrose said. âIn my long life, Iâve suffered many indignities. In the end, a prize youâve earned, even if itâs more modest than one you havenât, will always be worth more than a prize only given to you. So whatever might be offered, I would recommend you to not take it if there are strings attached. Donât take it. Earn it yourself. Take it from this old man: the path to the least regrets and most happiness is to be your own man, not to sell yourself to those who donât value you. Turning something you may desire down may hurt, but if it comes at a cost too great to pay, youâll be happier in the long run for not taking it. Much happier.â
âIt seems⊠that we are still of the same mind about it,â Leon said as he finally took a step back from the edge of the plane. âIâm ready to go home, Ambrose. How is this going to work; MariâKha will be coming back to Aeterna with me.â
âAh, wonderful! Wonderful! My plane will only be richer for her presence! Richer! Well, letâs head back to the great hall and weâll speak on the subject more.â
Ambrose turned on his heel and led Leon back into the villa, heading back to the dining hall where Ambrose had first welcomed Leon after heâd regained consciousness. The other three still in the villa were already there waiting, with Mari standing there looking equal parts eager and nervous, TirâAnu seeming rather calm though with an undercurrent of anxiety, and ArdâNara standing as firmly as he could, though he was leaning on the table for support.
âLele!â Mari called out as they entered, her face lighting up in excitement.
âMariâKha,â Leon answered as he walked over to the group. âReady to see Aeterna?â
âYep!â she answered, though her voice wobbled slightly.
Leon clapped her on the shoulder and stated, âWeâll be working on arks, and when we reach the Nexus, weâll have access to greater resources. In other words, MariâKha, youâll be able to return to Arkhnavi in the future. This isnât goodbye forever.â
Mari visibly relaxed. âYeah. Yeah. Thanks, Lele, I donât mean to be an ungrateful bitch about thisâŠâ
âThink nothing of it!â Leon looked around the hall, his eyes narrowing slightly at not seeing something rather important. âDo you have your Ulta suit? It didnât get left behind in the ark, did it?â
âNo, I have it,â Mari said with a laugh. âThe arkâs fucked, though; I ainât gettinâ back in that fuckinâ thing!â
âThe ark is quite valuable,â Ambrose cut in with a good-natured smile. âIt flew with the great armies of mankind as they threw off the yoke of the Primal Gods and Devils so many millennia ago. It may be severely damaged, but my friends and I took it into our possession. It will fly again. It will fly again. To allow anything else would be unthinkable for such a venerable machine.â
âGood luck repairing it,â Leon said. âWe werenât gentle with our treatment of it.â
âNeither was Parnavi,â Ambrose said. âItâs no matter. Itâs no matter.â
Leon nodded gratefully, then turned to the other two in the hall. âHowâre you doing, ArdâNara?â
âBetter than I was a few hours ago, Leon Raime,â Nara replied. âReady to return to my wife and my people. I have been too long absent. A King ought not be absent from his people for long.â
âIndeed,â Leon agreed. He held out his arm and said, âThough our acquaintance was short, it was an honor to fight alongside you, ArdâNara.â
âLikewise, Leon Raime. Should the gods smile upon us, we shall meet again.â Nara clasped Leonâs offered forearm.
âI would like that.â When they released the other, Leon turned to TirâAnu. âThe same goes for you, TirâAnu. I should like to see you again, if possible.â
âMay Mandious, Lord of All in Heaven, will it so,â Tir stated. âI will pray for you and your people, Leon. Though⊠they may not need it, if the quality of their King is anything to go by.â
Leon grinned and outstretched his arm to Tir. The old monk clasped it as Nara did, and Leon said, âYouâre a good man, TirâAnu.â
âNo, Iâm not, Leon. Not yet. I may never be a âgoodâ man, but I will never stop trying to be one.â
They released their forearms with one more respectful nod, and Leon turned finally to Ambrose.
âBy the way,â he said, âwhereâs Serena? I couldnât help but note her absence. She didnât die or something, did she?â
âNo,â Ambrose confirmed. âMy friend who acts as the Warden for her home plane simply took her home early.â
Leon slowly nodded in thought. âThatâs⊠well, none of my business, I suppose. Still, I mightâve liked to wrap things up with her. Get some closure.â
âThe universe may conspire to allow you two to meet again,â Ambrose stated. âIt may not, too. The future cannot be seen.â
âIf only it could, then we might all live without regrets,â Tir said.
âIf only it could,â Ambrose repeated. âNow, Iâm sure youâre all eager to return home! Youâre all eager! Allow me to send you all on your journeys!â
Leon gave Tir and Nara one final nod of respect before, with a snap of his fingers, Ambrose sent them home. Spheres of blue-tinged darkness surrounded them, and when the spheres dissipated a moment later, the two men were gone. Ambrose then turned to Leon and Mari. It was their turn, now.
âWhere will we find ourselves?â Leon asked a little nervously.
âI will return you to your palace,â Ambrose stated. âWhere else would I put you? Where else?â
âCan you send us to Elder Hall? I would prefer to give my people at least a little bit of warning that Iâm returned instead of just appearing in their midst.â
Ambrose agreed, though Leon had to give him more specific directions to Elder Hall, as he wasnât entirely familiar with all the various buildings around Stormhollow.
âVery well, Iâm ready,â Ambrose said. âPrepare yourselves.â
Leon glanced at Mari, who, despite still smiling, had gone rather pale. âYouâll be welcomed,â he said. âThereâs absolutely nothing to worry about.â
âThanks,â she said. âI think Iâm gonna worry anyway, Lele.â
He softly chuckled. âI get it. New place. Will take some time to adjust.â
Mari hummed in agreement, and Ambrose asked, âAre you two now ready to head to Aeterna? Are you ready?â
âYes,â Leon replied.
âSure, yeah, fuckinâ of course,â Mari stated. She mightâve continued if Ambrose hadnât snapped his fingers, causing two more spheres of blue-tinged darkness to appear around them.
All around Leon went dark as he felt the cold and the pressure of being sent into a teleportation tunnel. It was an easy thing for him to travel to the other end, and in a flash of light, he appeared standing right in the center of the Elder Hall.
He breathed deeply, noting that Mari wasnât yet there. But above him were the frescoes of the Thunderbird and the Ten Tribes, while around him was the hall heâd become familiar with. The benches around the dais were empty, but the trees around the silver and blue magic lanterns were active, and there were a few guards near the door.
These guards zeroed in on his position almost as soon as he appeared, and sprang into action. They drew their weapons and lunged forward to contain the intruder that he assumed they thought he was, only to halt in their tracks after a moment, recognition dawning on their faces.
In a moment, they fell to their knees while in a flash of light, Mari appeared next to Leon looking decidedly uncomfortable.
âFuuuck that was unpleasant!â she complained before noting their surroundings and the armed guards who looked like they were conflicted about whether they should confront her or continue kneeling to their King.
In Aeternaâs common tongue, Leon told the guards, âPlease inform your superiors that Iâve arrived. MariâKha here is no threat.â
The highest ranking of the guards immediately replied, âYes, Your Majesty!â
The guards sprang to their feet to follow his orders, while Leon smiled at Mari and said in azurian, âPlease be patient. Thereâs a lot thatâs going to happen now, but just bear with me.â
âUh, yeah. That, can do,â Mari said in Aeternan common, her lips still struggling a bit with the language despite having as perfect of an understanding of the language that Leon could give her with the Rumble Stone.
She took a deep breath and crossed her arms across her chest while Leon shifted his attention. Now that he was back on Aeterna, then that ought to meanâŠ
All it took was a cursory look at his soul realm, and he felt the connection he had with Maia. Already, he could feel her attention upon him, and as he sent her his love, he could already feel her magic senses, and those of dozens of others in the city, washing over Elder Hall.
[Iâm back,] he said to his river nymph Empress. [Give me a couple minutes and Iâll come straight home.]
Maia didnât so much respond in words as she did in feelings. He could feel intense excitement and deep relief, both emotions strong enough that it seemed Maia was at a complete loss for words, and sending the emotions was simply faster.
At the same time, Leon projected his magic senses. His power pulsed out over the city, and he could see it all. The Tribal districts, the districts for the cityâs residents, and his palace. He could see the Heavenâs Eye Tower that was taking shape, already about fifty feet all, and he could see several relatively small units of the central army training on the assembly fields to the cityâs south.
Within his palace, though, were the people he most wanted to see. Most of his friends were there, as were all of his ministers. Iron-Striker, the Jaguar, and Ipatameni were there as his Chancellor, Marshall, and Steward respectively.
But of them, he focused on five people. He could see Anzu painting under the guidance of an instructor; Maia was standing on the edge of the large pool most of her lesser nymphs had taken up residence in, all of the emotions sheâd sent to Leon reflected in her expression; Valeria was with Nestor studying enchantments; and Elise and Cassandra were in a meeting with several diplomats who appeared to be from the mainland.
Almost all of them had noticed his return, and just to make it clear, Leon reached out to their minds with a simple message.
[Iâm home.]
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