Chương 112: Make your paths your own again

The susurrus of the crowd died down when Meridians of the Sky leapt up at the broken fountain in the middle of the plaza, and for a moment there was only the forlorn sound of the wind making its way along the streets and buildings of the broken sect compound. Kite did not need his expanded field of vision to see that the destruction was widespread, almost all buildings being significantly damaged and about one in three completely ruined.

Along with Dragonfly, Will and Serene, he stood at the outskirts of the plaza, part of the encirclement of adventurers surrounding the group of surviving sect students who had been directed into the midst of the open area. They all wore suppression collars, and most were of iron rank or had but a few essences. Kite estimated them to be just over a hundred in numbers, but some captured in the initial stages of the assault had no doubt already been shipped off to Gilded.

Healer's clergy was also present, moving about adventurer and sect members alike to spread the touch of their deity.

"While I appreciate the foresight, I also find it a bit concerning that your father seemed to have a few hundred suppression collars ready and waiting for this day," Kite said, leaning in to murmur to Will even though he knew that Serene would keep the sounds from leaving their vicinity. His friend looked at him before taking a long look at their prisoners.

"He is a patient and prescient man. And a city lord must always be prepared for insurrection," he said, seeming unbothered.

"And besides, one might even see it as merciful. Not everyone would even bother." Kite nodded, acknowledging the point as the former grand elder started speaking.

"I trust that all of you know me, and who I was to this sect. Before all of this began, and corruption took root amongst us-""Traitor! There is no 'us' here! You betrayed us and everything we stood for! You should be dead, and those cowards who followed you- you…" One of the bronze-rankers of the crowd had seemingly been unable to contain his emotions, the angry outburst seemingly mounting up to a tirade. Meridian only watched impassively for a moment before nodding to one of the priestesses in the crowd.

The woman deftly navigated the crowds, the angry words suddenly cut off as she reached out from behind to touch the man's neck. Kite could not hear the murmured chant, but the man slumped before three heartbeats had passed during her ministry. The priestess then proceeded to unceremoniously throw the unconscious man over her shoulder and carried him from the crowd, the rest of the sect students remaining silent.

"Deftly done. They were prepared," Will noted to his friends.

"Had any of us stepped in, things might just have gotten worse. But the clergy is at least a less contentious player in this."

"As I said-," Meridian continued from her vantage when the disruption had been dealt with.

"- there has been corruption spreading in this sect. An affliction of the mind, devious and subtle. It inflames your emotions, making you reactive and disruptive. And it gradually grows, apparently even able to affect a silver-ranker. My cousin, the sect leader, was told about this affliction long ago. And did nothing. Even laughed at the Victorious Sunset for taking actions against it and therefore showing weakness. And today, they still stand proud and prospering, while none of us can say the same.

I will not waste my words with further explanations, or try to soften this blow. Because I truly believe that it is what all of us here will need to hear and accept, in order to have a future. Sect leader Comet Banishing Clouds is dead. And through his actions over this last year, he killed the sect as well. Not just its members, but the institution itself. Anyone who wants to try and still claim allegiance or loyalty to the Descending Star sect have chained their paths to a sinking ship.

And I will not mourn those of you who drown, not after this day." Meridian let her gaze pan over the gathered crowds before looking to the head building of the sect near her; a great work of architecture which still mostly stood proud. It was a veritable castle, each tiered floor surrounded by an awning of the dark blue roof tiles, built of fine woods and decorated with the past glories of the sect. Still keeping her gaze on the main building, Meridian continued.

"Some might look around and see an opportunity to rebuild. To reclaim what you feel is your rightful place. Maybe even find vengeance. What I am about to say next, is for you. Weight of the skies rain down upon you!" The power of the spell chant was unmistakable in her words, and soon after a cluster of meteors appeared in the skies above. Many in the crowd flinched or cried out, and not all cries fell silent as the magical destruction did not rain down upon the gathered.

Instead, they crashed into the roof and walls of the main building, tearing great gaping holes and sending wooden splitters and lacquered clay tiles flying everywhere. With the defensive arrays down, there was only normal wood and other materials to stop Meridian's destruction, and to say that it was insufficient was an understatement. But Meridian was not done.

Next came a great golden chakram which tore out great swathes of the walls, followed by clusters of detonating starlight, more meteors and even a lone moon being conjured to fire a great beam down through the whole building. Even with the power of a silver-ranker, it took several minutes, Meridian seeming unhurried as she meticulously sent spell after spell crashing into the sect's main building, the proud structure giving out a final groan like a deathrattle before finally collapsing in upon itself.

Dust bloomed out from the collapse, but was kept away from the crowd through the united efforts of adventurers with wind essences. Only when the dust cleared, the smoldering pile of rubble revealed in all its horrifying splendor, did Meridian turn back to the crowd. Some were openly weeping, unable to look at what had once been the heart of their sect, while others had more complex looks of emotions playing over their faces.

"This will be a chance for you to do something else with your paths; to chart a new direction. And do so knowing that the Descending Star sect is dead, its heritage buried. With such a hollow foundation as the one we had, none of us would reach the heavens. And if you cooperate with the church of the Healer, city lord Indomitable has promised a full pardon for anyone who wishes to once more try to work for the betterment of Gilded.

As have the Adventure Society offered to let those who comply once more try out to rejoin their ranks. While betrayal of these offers in the future will incur the harshest of punishments, I will urge you to take it. Act to make your paths your own again. I, for one, will do the same." With that, Meridian stepped down from the broken fountain, leaving any hope of the sect's survival dead and buried.

Maybe some would still try to rekindle that hope and keep it alive, but after watching the display put on by the former grand elder, Kite seriously doubted that there was any chance for that notion to gain momentum. A member of Healer's clergy stepped up to take Meridian's place, starting to go over the logistics of what would be a march back towards Gilded and proper examinations by the church of the Healer.

Kite only listened with half an ear, instead looking at the former grand elder as she retook her place next to Will's sister.

"I think I need to speak to mistress Meridian," he told his friends.

"Will you follow me?" Getting only nods and curious looks in return, the three fell into step beside Kite as they rounded the gathering and drew closer to the silver-rankers, stopping at a respectful distance while Kite gazed directly at the former grand elder to make clear his wishes to speak. He did not have to wait, the group being waved over within a few heartbeats.

"Adventurers. Priestess. Young master," Meridian greeted. It was obvious that she recognized Kite, but she did not otherwise acknowledge him in favor of noting Will's and Serene's status.

"Mistress, I have something which I believe belongs to you," Kite said. Making his movements slow and deliberate, he held out his hands in which the axe of the sect leader appeared for him to hold out in offering. Meridian gave the weapon a long look, her expression unreadable, before letting her gaze return to Kite without any further ado.

"I am afraid that you are mistaken, adventurer. I have no claim to that weapon. No one has. It was a symbol of the Descending Star sect, an institution which is now dead. This is just one artifact of something lost to join the countless other such relics around the world." She then turned from him and the weapon to once more look out over the crowds, her stance clear; this was not something which Meridian wanted to reclaim. Not knowing what to do, Kite instead turned to Calm of the Indomitable Beyond.

"Then, mistress, I believe that this goes to you or your father as spoils." He did his best to keep his voice steady even as the pain of contact with the weapon was mounting. Will's sister looked at the weapon with a calculating gaze, before shaking her head.

"I believe that keeping such a trophy might harm my family's interests more in the long run. Better to have it been lost in the fall of the sect and set free into the world. Who knows, it might be able to forge its own path as well, unfettered by its heritage." Kite was unable to hold back a slight sigh of relief as he let the axe disappear back into his void sheath, bowing to the pair in acceptance of what this was; a gift, if only by providence of disinterest.

"Thank you. Then I will not bother the mistresses further." He turned alongside his friends to resume their post when Meridians of the Sky called something to him.

"If it shall be set free, let it at least carry its name with it out in the world. The axe is named Piece of Heaven, and was forged for the founder of the fallen sect once called the Descending Star sect. May it rise above its heritage." Kite turned and bowed again even though Meridian had not turned from watching the proceedings as she had spoken.

"Thank you once more, mistress. May Fortune favor you in your future endeavors, and your path take you to the heavens and beyond."

"You know, going back to monster slaying feels surprisingly tame compared to what we just did," Dragonfly said that night, managing to keep from devouring the meat skewer in her hands for just long enough to utter the words. It was well past midnight when the force that had set out from Gilded returned, having chosen to make the trip from the broken sect compound in one go. Essence-users were hardy after all, and could take the forced march well enough.

Kite and his companions had been one of the groups assigned as escort to the clusters of shackled sect members, half of their force returning while the rest spent their time securing what was left of the sect compound. While it was quite ruined, Will had still been doubtful that his father would let it simply remain a compound of only ghosts and sorrowful memories.

Once the prisoners had been deposited in the prepared temporary lodging close to the church of the Healer, the group had found themselves one of the food vendors still open at this hour, sitting in the shadow of one of the golden trees giving the city its name as they dug into their food.

"The surge will not wait, and neither will our growth." Will said sagely, brandishing his skewer like a dagger at an imagined opponent.

"But I still wish to thank you all again. For coming with me, even if it meant losing out on some of what the surge can offer those willing to temper themselves."

"Are you kidding, Will? Did you actually doubt we would miss it? Or let you go off by yourself?" Dragonfly looked almost outraged.

"Well, I had hoped not, but…" Will sighed, trailing off a bit.

"Even now, I'm still getting used to the whole sentiment and difference in the lives we've led up until we met. And I still often doubt myself and my actions. So.. maybe a little?" The rest gave Will the time to speak, feeling the mood shift a bit more reflective.

"Well, then don't." It was Dragonfly who spoke up again, giving the noble a stern look.

"Don't what?" Will asked, confused.

"Don't doubt it. Just stop. It's easier that way."

"I- Dragonfly, thoughts are not that simple."

"Or maybe that is just what the thoughts want you to think?" she retorted, an eyebrow raised.

"I… have no answer to that-" Will began, but fell silent and stiffened as Dragonfly took that moment to scooch over where the group sat beneath the trees and wrapped the elf in a big hug.

"When words and thoughts fail, action will forge your path," the young woman said sagely, her pink locks bouncing up and down as she nodded to her own words. As usual, Will had a hard time processing such spontaneous moments of physical contact, his 'training' in that regard still a work in progress. But in a show of growth, the elf managed to relax enough to at least ever so slowly lean a little bit into the embrace.

"Thank you, Dragonfly. I believe I can live by those words," he said, a nod of genuine appreciation in his eyes as their fires reignited a bit. Somewhere, Kite could just imagine Grim shivering, unknowing of what advice his ward was currently taking to heart.

"Speaking of paths-," Kite said, eventually coming to the elf's aid as he let the axe apparently named Piece of Heaven fall into his hands, putting it down on the ground between them and letting the rest of the group inspect its silvery sheen, the weapon seeming to only reflect lights in the shades of the sun, moon and stars. WWJS: [Item] Piece of Heaven Axe Silver rank - Legendary [Effect] For an additional cost of mana, the wielder may increase the potency of any special attack made with the weapon.

The cost is proportional with the cost of the special attack in question. [Effect] Any special attack made with this weapon adds an instance of [Celestial judgment], a stackable, curse-type affliction which increases the damage suffered from powers carrying the essence of the sun, moon, star, fire and light. This applies both to powers from essences of the concepts, as well as awakening stones from the concepts, with additional effect if both essence and awakening stone align.

[Effect] Increases the wearer's recovery of mana when beneath the open sky, further increased if the sun, moon or stars are visible. Domain-like effects with these concepts may trigger this to a lesser extent. [Effect] Vastly increased durability" -I believe that this one might need some help in forging its own. Would my ardent Dragonfly mind becoming the mentor to such a student?"

"Kite, you can't be serious!" Dragonfly protested, even though her excitement at feeling the obvious power of the weapon was palpable.

"Who am I kidding, of course you are. Because you are- well- you. Is this going to become a habit? You gifting me axes to use when ranking up?" Stolen story; please report.

"We are still quite a ways off from silver rank, but that is beside the point. I got a feeling for the enchantments when holding it earlier, and I truly think that it will best suit you. Didn't I say that your axe might sunder the heavens one day? Then why not use a piece of them to do it?"

"Besides, it would not do for such a marvel to just languish in storage somewhere," Will chimed in.

"It seems like a weapon deserving of a story. And silver rank, should we reach it, is a lengthy climb. You will have ample time to forge your paths together."

"I must admit that I am surprised to hear such praise from you in regards to something that isn't a spear," Kite noted, drawing an indignant huff from his friend.

"A man still has eyes, Kite. Even though its form isn't that of lengthy, shafted perfection, I can still appreciate it at a distance." This was apparently too much for Dragonfly, who broke down in fits of giggles, lifting Piece of Heaven in one hand while hugging Kite with the other, still unable to get any words out through the shakes of laughter. Her gratitude was quite clear, though, in action and aura both.

The group spent another hour just sitting there under the stars, Dragonfly eventually stashing the weapon away when contact became too strenuous and falling asleep with her head in Kite's lap while the rest talked.

"Any idea what awaits us tomorrow?" Serene eventually asked, both Kite and Will shaking their heads.

"We should probably return to surge contracts as soon as possible. While there were special dispensations, we still best not tarry," Kite said.

"Any idea how long the surge will last?"

"It should be at least two more weeks before it starts slowing down, at least from what I gathered from my father," Will answered.

"And the work won't stop there, as there will have been plenty of monsters having manifested far away from our population centers, but who will eventually risk wandering in at the end of their lifespans in a year or so. Not keeping them culled risks small monster tides in the future. Your uncle should be instrumental in scouting the region."

"Then he will lead a busy life, as usual," Kite said, chuckling.

"But he will have to make time for the other little project we have planned as well."

"Ah, yes, the guild. Did you manage to get a suitable venue for a guild hall? If I have understood correctly, the guilds in other parts of the world are meant to have those."

"We did, but it will not be finalized until after the surge," Kite said.

"And as for the members, we shall see. But from the last note he left me before going off on this little venture, Uncle Walker had at least two candidates in mind. And I may have an idea of my own, too."

"Look at you, my commoner friend realizing he had some ambitions of leadership all along!" Will exclaimed proudly, his slap on Kite's back causing the sleeping Dragonfly to stir a bit in annoyance.

"What?" Kite asked, perplexed.

"I- I don't- It was just an idea and something I could do, which I liked the sound of. Uncle Walker will be the actual leader."

"Proof of your humble upbringings, my friend," Will retorted, shaking his head ruefully.

"Kite, leadership isn't always to stand at the front and yelling commands. Sure, it can be, but it can also be taking charge in whatever ways you can to do what you see needs doing. Leaders shape the world around them, no matter the medium. At least, that is what my father has repeated more times over the years than I can count."

"I… Hadn't thought of it that way," Kite admitted, perplexion turning to thoughtfulness.

"I guess that is something which I need to reflect on further."

"You should indeed, my friend," Will agreed.

"But do not fret, your boon companion Will shall assist you in whatever ways he can."

"Then I will hold you to that, young master Indomitable," Kite retorted, giving his friend a fond smile. There was indeed great power in the bonds one may forge with others. Dancer on the Broken River sat in meditation, now far away from the sect compound of the Descending Star sect. The death of the priest of Discord still gnawed on her, as did having to retreat with the appearance of the silver ranker. As there had been others of silver rank about, River had, in the end, chosen not to stay.

For better or worse, the actions of both her and the outcast earlier that day had led to answers gained, but so many more potential answers lost. River was still warring with the wish of having the priest here before her, stuck in her chains and leaving him open to the ministrations of her god. Answers would have been forthcoming within the hour, she was sure of it." Do not be so sure, child," the voice of her god whispered in her head."

Where the servants of other gods are involved, one must walk a careful balance."

"Lord, surely there is enough fell karma between me and them to last me a lifetime of transgressions," River retorted, her simmering fury still hot and raw in her mind. But it also shared the space with relief, because while the man had died, she had gotten answers. And leads; things to pursue. River had a path now." That might be, at least according to your national sensibilities. And as long as it is kept between you mortal instruments, we of the divine are limited in what ways we can act."

"So my actions can remain my own, as long as it is my motivations that guide them and not yours?"" Indeed-," Pain agreed, " - but that does not deny me some opportunities for spiritual guidance on your journey. One that I am sure will bring my touch far and wide over these lands."

"Then I will continue, Lord Pain. It was Discord's clergy who planned and used my father and our sect before discarding us, and I will find them all and drag them screaming into the light. And now my foes are no longer just shapes in the mist, part of my imagination. Now… Now I know what to look for." River smiled again, the expression still feeling odd on her face.

She had not had much reason to when growing up under her father's tutelage, in a place where clear expressions of feelings were seen as weaknesses that could be exploited. But now, River felt the tingle of excitement; a restless current in her body which urged her to take action. The path towards the heavens was long, or so the saying went. But River's path had a direction once more. Now she only had to walk it, and face all the perils awaiting her during the climb.

"Thank you, mistress, for taking the time to teach me," Kite said, looking up at mistress Dew who had walked up to stand beside his prone form. As most times he found himself sparring with his teacher, the lessons left him thoroughly exhausted.

"The surge is all but over, student. It will still be a few days before we receive the official declaration, but there has now been days since the last reported silver-ranked manifestation. I might as well spend the time teaching you and leave the weaker monsters to the younger generation to use as a whetstone." The courtyard of the small holdfast was currently empty as it was late in the evening and most residents had retreated inside to escape the light summer rain which was currently falling.

The two essence-users were unbothered though, with Kite even feeling that the experience was refreshing. He felt fortunate that he and his companions had gotten to spend most of the surge away from the cramped confines of the fortresses and holdfasts, new sympathy for the lower-rankers who were forced to sit holed up there through several weeks.

"Then may I be so presumptuous and ask for more advice in regards to another matter?"

"Student, if it is advice on the matters of the heart you seek, I assure you that I am as far from the right person to ask as one could come. Just ask the deputy director and I am sure that he can write you a book on the matter."

"Oh," Kite said, looking at his teacher.

"Are things not going well?" Dew looked at him for a moment with a considering look before she answered, which surprised Kite in and of himself.

"Many things are going well. Splendid, even. I am truly glad that I took the chance. Rupert is formidable in many ways, and a more gentle soul than I deserve."

"But…?"

"But my path remains my one true love and it demands that I settle things. Things of the past. When the surge is officially over and things have settled a little, I will leave the Autumn lands. Possibly for good, depending on how things progress."

"Ah," Kite said, understanding.

"And the deputy director would hope for you to have made another choice?"

"Indeed. I will even admit that the thought has struck me; to abandon retribution and find a new goal. But your teacher is stuck in her ways, her soul without rest before things can be put to rest. And no, you looking at me like that will not make me change my mind, student." Kite still regarded her for a bit longer before shaking his head.

"Sorry, teacher. I understand that sometimes you simply have to pick certain choices, even if they are less safe. Or pleasant. You say that you have to walk that path, and I believe you. But do you truly have to do it alone?"

"I believe so, student. That this burden and path is one that I have to resolve on my own. But it is good to see that you have grown a bit bolder since we first met. Politeness and a delicate touch has their time and place, but so does boldness and speaking one's mind. But I digress, and seem to have become the one spilling my own matters of the heart onto you instead, despite my own claims. What wisdom did you hope to glean from your teacher?"

"Auntie Crow always says that the mouth speaks of that which fills the heart, teacher," Kite began before following along the changed topic.

"I wanted to ask you about this." As he spoke, an item appeared from his void sheath to land in his hand. While the handle felt firm, it was still hard to fully focus on the weapon left behind by the priest of Discord over two weeks ago. WWJS: [Item] Veiled One's Decree Sword Bronze rank - (Growth) legendary [Effect] Shrouded in enchantments to evade notice.

Attacks and special attacks made with this weapon are significantly harder to notice and pinpoint for creatures of similar or lower rank, unless one possesses extraordinary aura senses. [Effect] Enemies struck with this weapon are afflicted with [Veiled Mind's Eye], a curse which makes it a lot more difficult to gauge one's own internal reserves and cooldowns. [Effect] Wielder's aura is shrouded, making it more difficult for enemies to glean the wielder's intent, especially in combat.

[Effect] Lowers the resource cost of illusions created by the wielder"That…" Mistress Dew began, " -is a curious weapon. Where did you find it?" Seeing Kite's hesitant chagrin, she seemed to understand.

"Ah, it is related to that which you can still not speak of."

"I am sorry mistress. But my offer of you joining me when I am called still stands. I believe it might be something where we could benefit from your expertise and experience."

"Then I shall have to curtail my curiosity for a while longer," mistress Dew said, but still looked a bit displeased.

"Then tell me what you can. If you have carried it for over two weeks now, I assume that you have gleaned something in regards to its capabilities? Some kind of shrouding is obvious. I can sense it to be of bronze rank, but I still need to focus in order to see it clearly. And even then, it is hard to make out details."

"That means that you can glean more than most," Kite agreed. Even when he held the weapon, it was hard to view it clearly. From its shape and balance, he knew it to be a sword; medium length and straight with a single edge. But as soon as he stopped looking, details about it faded and became blurry.

"I made sure to have the Magic Society take a quick look at it before leaving Gilded. The researcher in question was both baffled and fascinated by the enchantment, to the extent that I was worried that he would try to confiscate it," Kite explained, still remembering the look of forlorn longing on the man's face as he left with the weapon.

"But they could confirm it to be a sword, with enchantments to obfuscate both the sword itself as well as the wielder's intent, as well as to make it harder for those struck to sense their own reserves. And they could also confirm that it did not seem to be cursed or otherwise… affected by outside forces."

"Curious…" Mistress Dew said, eyes thinning as she once more focused on the weapon.

"I wish to experience this. Strike me."

"Mistress?"

"Oh please," she scoffed at the alarm in his voice.

"Even if you couldn't just strike my mana, do you think that you could truly harm me? Strike me, student." Kite nodded slowly before obeying, making a simple slash through his mentor's shoulder, Cleave the Spirit making the sword pass through her physical form.

"I seemed to have resisted it. Again." Three tries later, Kite finally felt the slight feedback of confirmation as a bit of the sword's magic was left behind in mistress Dew, who in turn frowned even deeper than before as she focused on the experience.

"That is quite the sensation," she said after a few seconds of inward focus.

"My senses of my own inner reserves seem to fluctuate, giving me oddly discordant signals." Kite did his best not to flinch at her choice of words, but if mistress Dew had noticed his reaction, she gave no indication of her own.

"One moment, it tells me that I have indeed lost some mana, but most times I receive the feeling that things are fine and that my inner strength is at its peak. This should be an excellent addition to your path, student. If you can deceive your opponents into believing their mana levels to be higher than they actually are, they might assist in their own downfall with even greater expediency."

"Thank you mistress. I will admit that I had not thought to test it out on a consenting sparring partner to get a better description of its effects," Kite admitted, once more chagrined.

"But I can at least attest to its subtlety. Most monsters have barely been able to react in time as long as I don't use it too consecutively. But that is easy with the martial path which you have helped me form."

"Even for us who view the climb to the heavens as a lonely one, most have at least a few sparring partners trusted enough to join in on such analysis. You are not a fragile normal or iron-ranker anymore, student. Once you hit silver, you and your trusted ones should further try out your capabilities against one another. There are few silver-ranked attacks which can kill another of the rank in a single stroke," mistress Dew lectured.

"And with your particular talents, you should use it even more. But it is at least gratifying to hear that your teacher still has a lot to teach you."

"I will ever strive to heed your counsel then, mistress," Kite replied, bowing in the fashion which had become part of their usual dynamic.

"And in regards to my path, the scholars at the Magic Society seemed to think that this particular weapon was upgradable to silver rank, so I should be able to make use of it for quite some time."

"The perks of growth items are many, as long as you always keep evaluating them. The line between an integral part of your path and a crutch can sometimes be fine and quite blurry. But this one allows you to work on your feints and can help you add a bit more deceptiveness into your otherwise earnest and direct combat, so I will approve of it."

"Mistress is ever generous." This time, Kite's voice also held a bit of playful theatrics, causing Dew to snort.

"Do not let my praise go too much to your head, little bronze-ranker, lest I get tempted into some more sparring to truly show you that the mountain left to climb is long indeed," she retorted, with the slightest hint of similarly good nature.

"But I believe that you are saved this time, student, as I believe that we have a visitor. And from the way he has been politely waiting, I believe that he wants to see one of us."

"In fact, I hope to speak with you both, Frost among Morning Dew," came a voice from just out of sight, its source stepping into view from around a corner the moment after.

"Grim Snowfall," Kite said in greeting. It had been just over two weeks since Kite last saw the elf, when he and his group had been once more sent out to fight off what remained of the surge under the command of mistress Dew.

"Adventurer Kite," Grim replied with a nod.

"It is good to see that you have weathered the surge in good health, as that means I can assume that the young master has done the same?"

"He has indeed," Kite confirmed.

"Our last two weeks have been challenging, but I can see why the mistress here believes that the surge is winding down. It has been days since the last silver-ranked manifestation, and the numbers in the bronze ones are dwindling; enough that we mostly let the iron-rankers go out and take care of them."

"One needs to foster the next generation," Grim said with a nod of approval.

"But while the conversation is pleasant, I come here at the behest of the young mistress. She has urged me to seek you out and to tell you that 'it is time', and that you would know what she meant." His words sent a slight shiver of anticipation down Kite's spine, mistress Dew apparently sensing it in his aura as she gave him a questioning glance.

"Thank you, Grim. Has she given you any more instructions as to whom I can bring along? Or is it still the same?"

"I believe that her words were 'anyone he deems worthy and necessary, as long as they are informed of the potential risks'."

"Then-" Kite began, turning to mistress Dew who immediately nodded.

"As long as the Adventure Society lets me return to the city for a spell, then I will join you. Your secretiveness these two weeks have been most infuriating, student, and I would love some more clarity on this matter."

"Thank you, teacher," Kite replied, turning back to Grim.

"Dragonfly, Serene and your young master have also expressed a clear interest, even in spite of the potential risks."

"It was the expected outcome," Grim noted with only a slight look of suffering. His charge having grown to bronze-rank had at least alleviated some of the older elf's worries, seeing that Will's single-minded path continued to carry him forwards.

"I would also hope for my uncle and aunties to join us, as well as to extend the invitation to some others-" Kite began, explaining the list to the dour elf manservant.

"That should be manageable," Grim nodded.

"But I will need the director's approval before seeking out master Walker and bringing mistress Dew here back to Gilded."

"Then go and make the arrangements," mistress Dew said.

"I will remain here on my post until otherwise informed, no matter how tedious the wait might be. The surge was over too quickly."

"A sentiment I do not believe many to share," Grim noted with a raised eyebrow before turning to Kite.

"Then please gather the young master and your companions. We will take our leave for Gilded at once. If all goes well, your meeting with the young mistress at the temple of Knowledge will take place tomorrow."