So there are things a Arch Magi doesn't know, Travis thought as he observed Felix speaking out about the Paragon's innate ability and its only use through runic formulas. The more then learned about the Paragon, the more finicky it became to truely understand it or even use it. So far, they've proven that the Paragon, or at least Espial uniquely, would try to rob them of their mana if they tried to perform the same service on the crystal, thus making it very impractical as a power source for a spell. The only thing it seemed to be useful for was simply as the catalyst for a runic spell. While the notion didn't seem all that complex, Travis was hesitant to immediately test the theory in fear of misstep or negative response from the Paragon given its known vampiric behavior.

He watched once more Felix tried something else to the Paragon in order to tap into its function. It appeared Felix had suppressed his mana flow and attempted to concentrate on the Paragon but it was to no available. Espial didn't respond, at least not immediately. The Arch Mage commented how Thadeus could potentially figure out the Paragon had he been hear within different circumstances. It was at the moment Felix's eyes turned to nothing but white and remained motionless, almost lifeless even despite him standing in place. The sudden change nearly made Travis jump but he retained his demeanor before using his manalysis once more. Like last time, the Espial's aura had surrounded him but the fluid nature and behavior of the aura seemed calmer and less evident to sap Felix of his mana.

It wasn't long until Felix returned to normal except of for a now surprised expression painted on his face. Felix almost sounding frantic, explained that he had witnessed Thadeus and a group of medics attending to one of the fallen combatants from earlier. Travis avoided recording that piece of information but took notes on how Felix determined how he able to tap into the Paragon's talent.

"Sounds like you had a vision." Travis commented though didn't expect Felix to reply to it.

Felix eventually concluded the tests for the evening, establishing how late and it before actually "ordering" Travis to hit the sack. The Untalent would object but after sabotaging himself the morning before for his night owl research, he had little to contend with against the request. Bummer.

"Aye, will do." Travis replied before making his way up the stair case and towards his quarters.

Felix walked back up the stares and shut the hidden door behind him. He too, retired to his quarters and went to bed. It wasn't long before he closed his eyes that his vision became enshrouded by the devastating scenes of war and destruction, all the different way the world could come to ruin by the paragons flashing before his eyes. All of this was familiar to him. Then the voice spoke, though, before it was a roaring voice, this time it was a soft female voice that consoled him and lifted him up just by its sound.

"O Felix, ye chosen of the magi. Ye who knowest much yet still ignorant of all. Ye have collected the names of the chosen protectors, yet thou art not finished." The disembodied voice softly explained.

"Yes, I know I am not finished we still have to collect the other Paragons." Felix replied.

The voice continued on as if it didn't acknowledge Felix's reply, "The names bestowed upon you were those who had ripened. They were mature in their crafts, and thus were ready to be collected. Yet there are more names that have only just matured."

"More names? Are these replacements for the names that have died?" Felix asked.

"These names are ripened. They are ready for the collection. Find them soon. Only together can you weather the coming storm." The voice seemingly replied. Then a torrent of images of people in different locations. The first image was of the blonde woman, Alya. He'd met her before, but the scene quickly panned over to a girl with long black hair who was with her. Then the images quickly changed to a purple skinned woman holding an amulet. Once more the images changed, this time to a brown haired girl with wings.

The vision faded, and Felix found himself upright at his desk instead of lying in bed. Another piece of parchment with another list of names and locations written in his handwriting. Felix folded the paper up, and, with a puff of blue flames, stored it in his mana inventory. New names? A new list? It never even occurred to me that names could be added to the group. But I guess it makes sense. Felix pondered.

It was now just and hour before dawn, and Felix decided, he would get a jump on these four names. If I bring them back before everyone wakes up, I should still have time to make breakfast, we wouldn't want the new names on the list to miss out now would we?

Felix conjured the list, the first name being Alya Summers. Next to her name, the location said, "Valakite Catacombs, Redwood Forest." That's odd, that's where I left her, I wonder why she would still be in there..." Felix pondered. But he also noticed another name, Zuri, just below that name. With the location just saying, "Accompanying Alya Summers," which really made Felix scratch his head.

Felix conjured on his robes, and opened a glyph rift to the catacombs. Standing at the entrance, he used manalysis to feel for Alya's aura. He found the aura, being accompanied by a black aura, a little deeper in the catacombs than he had figured.

Felix opened a rift up to their location and stepped through it. The glowing shimmering surface of the rift had the image of the redwoods, and Felix stepping through it. The images refracted through the portal in real time, looked like the surface of a pool of natural spring water, that was by some fluke of natural physics, standing upright. And when Felix walked through it, ripples were made as if he breached the surface of a pond.

He stood in front of the two girls. Alya he had met before, but the other he had only seen in his dream.

"Alya, good to see you again. And Zuri, I'm Felix, pleased to meet you. I bet you are wondering why I am back, and how I know Zuri's name? Well, let's leave this catacomb and talk." Felix said awkwardly. He kept the rift open as a source of light, and was hoping they would leave the dark, dank catacombs as soon as possible.

Alya held Zuri's had as she grabbed hers. "I have a general idea of where the way out is." She said unaware of the now blocked entrance from the skeleton fight. Before Alya could move or answer Zuri's follow up question a portal opened in front of them.
"Very well. You should come too Zuri, better than staying here." Alya replied to Felix warily following him through the portal. Alya already had prepared a defensive spell in case it was some sort of trap.

'Is he back because I freed Zuri? He seems sincere enough.'

Zuri replied Alya with a simple "O-Okay.." before directing her attention to Felix and waves at him with her left hand as she is still holding onto Alya's hand. It felt a bit funny walking through that portal, especially after waking up from everlasting slumber, but the fresh air on the other side made her feel a lot better. She lets go of Alya's hand and does a few stretches and rubbed both her eyes because of all that dust in that cave. "Where am I and what year is it?" Zuri asks Felix.

Felix walked through the portal and the group ended up in the forest right outside the catacombs where Felix was just a few seconds prior. Felix was about to discuss the list and their membership eligability for Paragon's End, but then Zuri said something that made Felix scratch his head.

"It's Thursday, May 26th, 2016. You're outside the Valakite catacombs, though the Valakites have been gone for thousands of years. These catacombs have since been claimed by Societas Academia. Why would you ask something like that?" Felix explained.

"I just lost track of time in the catacombs, that's all." Zuri didn't really know what to say since she has no idea what was going on and why Felix could open up rifts or why he even came looking for her in the first place. She is even more clueless about herself than her surroundings. Her inner power is still asleep and has yet to be awoken, but it burns ever so lightly within her.

Felix activated his manalysis and examined the two. Alya had a light blue aura, it had an inviting warm feeling to it, no doubt a calming feeling for those on edge as well. But Zuri's aura was different. One of the things to note about it was that it was small. Either she was suppressing her aura intentionally, or she hadn't exercised her mana well properly, though she was definitely a Talent. But the most striking thing about her mana was that it was black, pitch black to be specific. It seemed as if the aura itself was an abyss that one could fall into if they stared too long. Felix knew about black auras. The traditional elements dictated that there were two sides to the Aether element Heavenly/Void or Darkness/Light. And while it hadn't surprised him to see a Void Aether aspect aura, as he had witnessed aura's of all colors through his studies, his own resting aura being white, it did catch him off guard to see someone have a stead black aura like that.

"Well, I suppose an explanation is in order." Felix broke the silence, "around a few months back, during a council summit, an arch-magi by the name of Thadeus suggested efforts be focused on an endeavor. This endeavor involved making sure the Arcanocracy obtain nine artifacts of devastating power named the Paragons. Thadeus had said it to be solely for the purpose of assuring the position and the safety of the Arcanocracy as a world power. Many were opposed to this motion including me, and most namely the papal-magi. After the motion was rejected... I had thought that would have been the end of the discussion. I knew better than most people that this pandora's box known as the Paragons should not be opened. So I breathed a sigh of relief when the papal-magi rejected the motion. Unfortunately three weeks ago, the papal-magi died, and a new papal-magi was voted in. The unfortunate part sadly was not only the previous papal-magi perishing, but that Thadeus's brother Cornelius was voted in as the new papal-magi. I have no way to prove this, but rumor has it they are both of the Church of the First Company... Jesuits. Needless to say a few weeks later at the next summit, the motion to search for the paragons was brought up once more, only this time the motion was not only accepted, but made top priority. That night I had a fever dream that could only be explained as a vision. In this dream I was shown the many possible endings of this world should anyone get their hands on the paragons besides a group formed by me. I awoke to find me sitting at my writing desk pen in hand, and parchment in front of me. Upon the parchment was a series of names and locations written in my handwriting." Felix explained

"I followed the names and locations, as the dream commanded me. Gathering up all the people on the list and forming a group. The groups soul purpose is to find the Paragons before anyone else does. The consequences are dire if all of them are collected by anyone else before we collect them. And that is what we were doing in these catacombs last night. We found our first Paragon. Upon returning to our headquarters, I had another dream. This dream gave me another list." Felix summoned the list from his inventory, a shroud of blue flames covered his hand for a moment before dissipating and leaving a piece of parchment in his hand."

Felix handed the list over to Alya.

"As you can see, not only is your name on there, Alya, but the name of your companion here, whom I have never met." Felix explained.

The list said, "Alya Summers: Valakite Catacombs." And under Alya's name it read, "Zuri: Accompanying Alya Summers."

"Those other names are the two others I must meet with after you. The reason I couldn't let you join or tell you very much before, Alya, is because I can't let anyone else aside from those on the list know about my dreams and the quest for Paragon's End. So I ask of you sincerely, will you two join our group. Will you join Paragon's End?" Felix finished.

Alya listened to Felix as he explained the situation. 'I always suspected Thadeus to be forceful in getting his way and underhanded but this is insanity. He is having people killed just to satisfy his lust for power. The end of the world does not sound good either.' From all the previous events that had been happening and seeing just how Thadeus acted a while back she easily believed Felix's story.

Alya nodded at Felix's request. "My offer still stands, I will gladly assist you in stopping Thadeus." Alya turned her head towards Zuri. "You should come with us, it will be far less confusing that just wandering around here. If Felix is correct then you must of been trapped there for a really long time." Alya suggested, putting a bit of emphasis just how long Zuri had been sleeping.

Zuri was a bit confused about what's going on, and what Felix said was a bit hard to take in all at once, but she has somewhat of an idea. She was put on the spot, and walking out of such an offer would be pretty stupid. 'I need to figure out what is going on, and since these guys aren't hostile and seem to have good intentions, I'll just stick with them.' Zuri thinks to herself. "Sure, I'll tag along." she says in a sincere but casual tone.

Raiya had passed out almost immediately when reaching her room. Almost immediately she found herself in the abandoned city of her dreamscape once again. The dull greyish blue glow from the fully clouded sky covered everything.

She continued to wonder until she found herself walking down a dirty alleyway. At the far end of the alleyway, a little girl with black hair was huddled in the fetal position. The girl looked to be about three years of age, but Raiya couldn't tell with how far away she was from her. From where she stood, she could hear the girl whimpering. Raiya walked toward the girl, the whimpering increasing in volume. Eventually she was standing just before the girl, and the whimpering was so loud it was almost deafening. Bending over she reached out to touch the girl. Immediately as her hand came into contact with the girl, the whimpering turned into a deathly scream of pain. The girl shriveled up and fell over dead. That was when Raiya saw it, her hand that she had touched the girl with, it was pure white. Raiya gasped in horror. Looking over at a puddle, she caught her reflection, but what looked back at her wasn't her own reflection, but was Nemo's. Nemo's face, Nemo's white eyes, Nemo's white hair. She raised her hand to touch the her face and the reflection did so also. She looked down at her body and saw a naked pure white, male chest.

She let out a scream of utter horror, fear gripping her. Then she woke up. She walked over to the mirror, and was relieved to see her own reflection, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She walked back over to her bed and attempted to get more sleep but it wouldn't come. After a few hours she looked at her mana dial and saw it was only 6:15. She walked down stairs, no one awake yet. She decided to start a fire in the fireplace, and sat down on a leather sofa in front of it.

---

Felix was relieved that his initial rejection to Alya's joining the group had no bearing on her joining now. And was equally as relieved to see Zuri joining as smoothly as well.

Felix closed the first rift and drew another cross glyph in the air, creating another rift. This rift opened an entrance to a comfy looking living room with a lit fireplace.

"Let's go then," Felix said, before walking through the portal.

Felix appeared in the living room, and saw that Raiya was sitting in front of the fire place.

Before Raiya could say anything Felix said, "We have new members..."

Not far off from Raiya's own seating, a mass of blankets laid on the chair Nemo had been sitting on earlier. Raiya's presence, along with the sudden arrival Felix seemed to cause a stir in the them. Nemo then emerged from the pile, apparently having slept on the chair the whole night, that, or he had been waiting.

"Ohayou Raiya-san!" Nemo greeted her with a pleasant voice. "Yoku neta?" (Did you sleep well?) He asked afterwards. Nemo had clearly remembered what Raiya had said earlier about liking to speak Japanese. For a perfectionist and notorious actor like Nemo, his pronunciation was good. However the extent of what he knew was up in the air.

Nemo fully moved the covers off him, he had clearly undergone a wardrobe change for the occasion some time earlier at night. He had on a collared black silk pajama shirt with white polkadots, thick white and black downward striped pajama pants, and a pair of comfy white night slippers. He seemed to also still retain his jewelry, along with his black glove.

Felix's comment seemed to perk Nemo's attention, however he said nothing yet.

The warmth of the fireplace on the other side of the rift felt welcoming as warm light shone through. She could see people waiting on the other side, and the interior of the building looked inviting. "H-Hello." Zuri waves her hand as she steps through and starts subtly scanning her surrounding with her eyes. She held onto the ragged cloth that was the only thing covering her. Everyone seemed to be quite well-dressed, as opposed to what she was wearing. Zuri held onto the little she was wearing, afraid that it'll fall off. If someone saw, they would most likely assume she's just cold, which is also the case. She walks over to the fireplace and sits on a chair close to it.

Alya stepped through the portal and arrived in the living room. She saw Raiya and Nemo, but there was no sign of her previous opponent, Travis. "Hello." She greeted the two after Zuri did. Alya knew she was fatigued from both the lack of sleep and the previous day, but she did not show it, and thankfully was able to mitigate most of the fatigue with a bit of self-cast healing magic in the form of a minor rejuvenation spell. "I'm Alya Summers, I am-... Was part of the Catholic Arcanocray. I specialize in healing, defensive magic. Pleased to meet all of you." She said in a genuine tone.

Alya took a few steps closer to the fireplace and remained standing after her short introduction to the group.

Raiya was zoned out, looking at the fire. And when Nemo emerged from his pile of blankest Raiya let out an audible short yelp. Placing her right hand on her chest, her heart beating fast with the new shot of adrenaline she just received from that scare.

Then Nemo spoke in Japanese, and Raiya didn't know whether or not to be offended. His accent wasn't horrible. Though, he didn't understand the subtle inflections actual native speakers would add in conversation, and that was apparent. But she humored him anyway.

"Iie... demo- watashi ga dekiru saizen o tsukushimashita... Jōkyō-ka de. (No... but- I did the best I could... under the circumstances." Raiya replied.

Then a portal opened up with Felix stepping through and then a few others. Raiya was a bit confused but trusted that Felix wouldn't be stupid enough to bring random people, or enemies, into the hideout.

Raiya listened to Alya giver her introductions and gave a halfhearted wave.

---

"Make yourselves at home. There are a few unoccupied rooms up those stairs," Felix pointed to the stairs behind the sofas and to the side of the kitchen. "And there is all kinds of snacks in the kitchen. I'm sure everyone here will introduce themselves to you while I'm gone." Felix explained.

Felix then made another glyph rift and walked through it disappearing once more.

"Sou ne." (I see) Nemo replied, a fairly pleased expression on his face after he managed to get a somewhat good reaction out of Raiya. However the arrival of the two newcomers had diverted Nemo's attention before he could respond.

So this is the source of those manawaves from before... how very interesting. After a few moments of thinking, Nemo got up from his chair and walked over to Alya and Zuri. "Salutations you two, my name is Nemo Smiley. Pleased to make your acquaintance." He said as he extending his arm out to Alya after taking a bow. In his sleepytime slippers Nemo didn't look all too threatening, but to someone like Alya, they very well could already know who he is, on top of already seeing him work earlier at Nevar's expense. Nemo turned to Zuri afterwards. "And who might you be?" He asked.

"M-Me?" She gives Nemo a slightly confused look as she tilts her head just a little bit, pointing at herself. "I actually don't know.. But my name's Zuri, nice to meet you Nemo!" Zuri gives him a genuine smile as he looked into his eyes before getting really close to him before saying "Nice eyes." before backing a few steps, returning to where she was earlier. "Do you have fancy powers just like Felix?" Zuri asks.

The next list item was rather cryptic, "Ava Kurier - The skies of the Austrian Alps."

After looking on his manadial he had found that there was a village near the Austrian alps. Using his mana inventory he replaced his Arch-Magi robes he was wearing with something a bit more inconspicuous, a blue and white flannel T-shirt and dark blue denim jeans. Though, he didn't speak Austrian, he hoped his mission would be easy, as it always was with the list.

Walking through the town, he noticed everyone who was out, began to slowly migrate back into their homes. A woman who was tending her garden, didn't notice everyone else retreating. But as Felix approached her she promptly stood up and ran inside her home slamming the door.

Well, that amounted to a whole lot of nothing. Felix thought, I suppose I should try and survey the skies

While levitation spells were possible for Felix, navigating with a levitation spell was a bit trickier and took a lot of practice and a lot of time, something Felix never had enough of. So instead, Felix opted to use the same kind of spell Thadeus used to maneuver about the skies. Mana steps. Planks of manalloy anchored to residual mana in the air.

Felix flicked his wrist and created a series of steps ascending up in the air. Holding his hand continuously outwards, he ran up the steps. Reaching a suitable height, he then maintained that height making the mana steps all level, like a floor. Then he continued forward, towards the alps. The mana steps behind him dissapearing and in front of him appearing as he went forward. He activated manalysis and felt a large talent mana well close by.

As he continued onward, running at a brisk pace, he felt the mana well above him. He looked up and noticed a girl with brown hair and a brown set of wings flying through the skies. Remembering the dream he had, and the faces he saw, he knew it was Ava.

"AVA KURIER!" Felix yelled out as he ran under Ava on his mana steps. "I don't know if you can understand my language, but I want to talk with you!" Felix continued to yell.

The sun was high noon and Ava was finally returning from her paper runs. Looking forward towards spending the day practicing her strange powers, she had decided to make a quick stop at her home in the village for lunch. Gliding through the air, she felt oddly good about today. Her morning depression had slowly faded as the sun had risen and she figured that maybe, one day, she'd convince her father that her powers could be used for good! Perhaps even leave the vill...... no.... she knew damn well why she couldn't leave.

Her father hadn't sugar coated any of her family's history. What had happened to her ancestors, how she now bore this curse. Flying across the sky she couldn't help but sigh again. "Damn.... well there goes the mood again...." she thought, disappointing in herself. However, as fate would have it, this all about to change... a lot.

"AVA KURIER!"

What?

"I don't know if you can understand my language, but I want to talk with you!"

......WHAT?!

Ava quickly glanced below her at the source of the sound. A man was running through the air right under her! This startled Ava to such a degree she nearly lost control of her flight. After a bit of a mid air tumble and a double take, she stared for a bit at the man as he ran. What on earth was going on. Then it hit her! "Oh god.... no... please no no no no no......" she thought, slightly panicked. Nobody in the village knew how to do magic. Even her own father had very little talent. But she was warned as to who did.... the church.

Her mind raced. They were on the outskirts, she needed to lure this man into the village. They'd know what to do when a member of the church shows up. Quickly recomposing herself, a plan began to form. She cautiously glided closer. She slowed her speed so that man would only have to walk.

"Yes, I speak some English.... ummm..... Sorry to make you come up this way to speak with me. Please, follow!" Without waiting for the man to reply she glided back to the village center.

When they landed, the town square was pretty empty. As the man stepped down from a seemingly magically created stairway, Ava faced the man.

"How do you know my name?!" She proclaimed, loudly. As if on que. Villagers emerged from the various buildings. Many carried guns, aimed at the man. Others, tools such as wood axes and hammers. A particularly older, middle aged man approached from behind her, wielding an old double barrel shotgun. Standing next to her, he aimed the weapon from the hip at the man.

"Yes, stranger, how do you know that name? And if your a wise man, you should choose those words.... carefully." He punctuated the words with the clicking of the firing hammer. "It is not every day a stranger comes here, let alone using sorceries, or more importantly, Using the Kurier name."

Nemo himself looked a bit confused for a few moments after her compliment. It was probably one of the few times anybody ever brought up his natural appearance in a good light. Nemo grinned, "Aw shucks, that's mighty kind of you, thank you. You've got quite an impressive head of hair yourself Zuri." He commented back.

"So you don't know who you are? How troublesome... Identity is a problem that plagues us all in ways. Who am I? What is my purpose? Or, where did I come from? Fear not, I'm sure the answers will come to you soon enough." Nemo said with his theatrical tone.

"My powers, huh?" Nemo started. "Yes, I do indeed have 'fancy powers' like Felix. However demonstrations of my talents will be most effective live, at a later date."

"Let's just say, I have a knack for making things both appear." Nemo waved his hands past each other, one of his revolvers suddenly appearing in his right hand after they passed by in a slight of hand action. Nemo spun the gun around in his hand, tossing it up into the air as it spun to catch it with his other hand. However once he caught it in his other hand, the ornate revolver vanished behind his hand just like it came out. "And disappear." Nemo finished as he held his empty hands out.

Zuri runs her hands through her hair and blushes a bit when he complimented her hair. What he said about not knowing who she is managed to put her mind at ease just a bit. Zuri also found Nemo's magical demonstration quite amusing as well. She still doesn't recall that she has powers herself, and with the lack of mana within her, the chances of accidentally casting something is minuscule. "Can you bring me to my room? I wouldn't want to get lost wandering around here.." She asks Nemo.