As the sorceress delved into the boundless expanse of the cosmos, she found herself standing before the entrance to the Orrery, a realm inhabited by the most powerful cosmic beings, gods, and new gods, each embodying fundamental ideas and concepts of their universe. Known as the Cradle of Gods by the upper echelon of the Mage's Association, this was a place where trespassing was considered an audacious act. Undeterred, Cadence stood on the arrival platform, a magnificent structure crafted from ivory, adorned with intertwining gold and blue patterns, resembling a bridge leading to an even grander platform that extended for at least five hundred feet in both directions. Encircling the platform was an outer ring connecting two colossal rows of seats, reminiscent of those in a Roman coliseum. Trees of divine origin sprouted from the structure, their leaves seemingly containing entire universes within them!

The gate was constructed from two identical horn-shaped structures, each adorned with platforms holding statues of a fantastical creature, part avian and part reptile. It appeared as though this creature resided in the distant reaches of the cosmos, far beyond the perception of mortal eyes. Faintly glinting stars adorned the cosmic backdrop of the astral sea.

With a hint of concern in her voice, Cadence noted the absence of the preordained presence. Despite her search, she found no sign of the elusive guardian of the gate. With a conclusive nod, she proceeded across the bridge towards the entrance. The atmosphere was eerie, with near-deafening silence broken only by the gentle wooshing of cosmic waves. As she floated across, she couldn't help but marvel at the size of the gate, yet her dismay grew as she realized it was inactive.

This hasn't been active in a long time. Why would that be?" she mused, rubbing her chin as she pieced together the clues. The lack of a guardian and the prolonged inactivity made her wonder if the chaos across the multiverse was to blame. Perhaps the gods had returned to their respective universes to attend to matters, but for it to remain inactive for so long, it had to be more severe. These thoughts raced through Cadence's mind as she pondered the situation.

The witch's outfit was a striking departure from her usual attire. She donned black, thigh-high stiletto heels and a form-fitting black garment resembling a leotard with an exposed neckline and no tights. Her arms were adorned with black-sleeved gloves with exposed fingers, and she wore a black and red cape fastened to an ornate, golden pendant with a massive ruby. She clutched the Renunciation of Convention and concealed Abydos somewhere on her outfit. Her fiery amber hair billowed in the cosmic winds as she surveyed her surroundings, sure that the preordained had to be nearby. Where could they be?

Under usual circumstances, she would have been subjected to thorough questioning and assessment to determine whether she posed an active threat or if her intentions were aligned with the expectations of the gods. However, delving into the intricacies of Cadence's motivations was a complex and challenging endeavor in its own right.

[QU'DARA'JINYEVA]
[MUSIC]

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In all his life Qu'dara'jinyeva had never seen a place so steeped in beauty, for no single universe could provide its equal.

Somehow these people forged a path into the heavens themselves to stand beside the gods and look over their creation. The sight of it beggared belief, the eye refusing its scale, gold filigree crawling like ivy across every surface, so that in the celestial light all gleamed as if gilded. In the flowers that bloomed amid the branches of the world-trees there were many galaxies. Great mysteries and the old powers of the multiverse lurked out in the boundless mist. As Qu's bare feet ascended those first steps, he understood the immensity of the day, and for an instant he faltered and sank to the ground to support himself on two hands, the others clasped in prayer.

The gods themselves will hear me in this place, he thought, eight-chambered heart throbbing for the ache of it, for the symbiont wanting to unsheathe itself from beneath his skin and encase him in his war-form: in ri, liberation in battle, a place set aside from all others, even here.

For a few breaths he waited at the gate, marveling at the images carved there. Impossibly, he recognized some of the legends, but what perturbed him was not their familiarity but that in the legends there were guardians at these gates of horn and ivory; their absence could not have come at a more inconceivably ill-augured time. He arrived deliberately early to complete his ceremonies and not belabor the onset of the duel. That they should not be here, knowing he would come? To attend to some threat? No, a threat that could move the gods from their posts would not have escaped his notice.

A test, he surmised, and if not then I have no patience for another answer. He began to Sing, and his Voice became the voice of the world, till creation sang with him... he held aloft one hand and high over his fingertips a great nail of light coalesced from whorls of unfolding energy. If the keepers of the heavens have left their gate unattended at the hour of my passing, so be it. Then they shall weep for the folly of promising passage to the Hero-Mage only to bar my way.

The Song grew more violent, the nail began to swing back as if to gain momentum for its siege -- and abruptly Qu'dara'jinyeva turned to face a newcomer, a diminutive creature no taller than his waist and standing on a heron's slender legs, a single wing emerging from its robes towards him, its face largely hidden beneath an enormously over-large witch hat save a ruinous vulture beak peeking out from beneath its sagging brim. Did it see itself reflected in the Alimir mantling his shoulders? What did it see there in the night of Xiri’zûlvir?

"Ease yourself, mighty warrior," the master wizard said in the high-pitched voice of a raptor. A very old creature, Qu realized, terribly powerful in the Art. As it spoke Qu watched his arcane construction waver and dissolve into nothing. "Our watch has been a long one... not all are driven by the same urgency of the youthful."

Qu knelt and offered his four hands palms up, head lifted such that a deathblow could be struck with ease, the xilviri stance of utter submission. "Forgive me, ancient one. My battle-lust overcomes m-" A squawk of laughter silenced him.

"Fear not I, mighty warrior, but the enemy you've chosen for the day. Show us the depths of your Art, lest you be found wanting."

In perfect silence, the gates swung open, revealing a path to the arena. Unspeaking, Qu rose and continued on his journey.

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"Battleground" [+]

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Their battlefield itself was as spectacular as the rest of this heavenly realm. A garden of unspeakable vastness, so great as to be a world unto its own, teeming with alien life of all varieties in a primordial forest. Among the massive trees platforms of levitating stone drifted lazily like clouds, impossible waterfalls cascading off some into rivers far below. Qu'dara'jinyeva waited on such a platform that traced small circles at a point almost directly in front of, but at some distance from the gate.

It was just large enough for him to unlash the Severed from his waist and position them beside him while he stood, as immobile as a statue hewn from stone. The Hero-Mage had brought all his contrivances of war: the axe Thûl and sword Kû, the spear Ynaui. Intra, his round shield, was clasped to his wrist at the size of a buckler. Qu had not yet sheathed himself in his war-form but was consolidating his passive wards and expanding his senses through the ontos, extending his perception, his awareness gradually permeating the space around him. To center himself he grasped onto a series of stones the size of his head and they began to circle him in their own lazy orbits.

Raising all four hands towards the sky, two balled into fists and two stretching their fingers towards heaven, the Bearer of the Word Battle began to sing the war chants of the xilviri while he waited, and perhaps as Bronwyn approached she would hear him and his song of war, his song of battle.