Th3King0fChaos

The Hourglass Order

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Cold Comfort: Sins of the Daughter

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"OUT! OUT! OUT!"

"Holy shit, Choran! They are ripping the place apart!"

"Marz! Wake up!"

Marz felt himself get ripped from his sleep as he heard yelling waking everyone up. When he hopped to his feet, Choran is there looking out the doorway. Choran turned to his cellmates and said, "They are tearing apart the bathroom! I think someone ratted us out. They are yelling at each other about an Anti-magic dampening device".

All within the cell seemed to have anger on their face, Choran, Mazan, and Marz held this face. All of them remembering that they had the device in their room and the moment they were caught they were going to face increadibly sever punishment. "Because of one rat everything is ruined!"

Marz pulled the item from his beard and began to look around, multiple ideas flew from each person, some said to make a crack in the wall, others said to put it back into his beard, others said to find a way to cram it up somewhere they would never want to look. Each person's idea came with a resounding barrage of rebuttals. With it came then curses, and then accusations.

"We wouldn't be swimmin' in shit if yer sor'ry ass didn't go and tell 'em about the device! What'd you do it for? Porridge?!" Choran yelled out, pointing a finger to Mazan.

"Porridge?! Your' belly achin' we 'ave no booze!" Mazan pushed Choran as he showed even in his age, he was still a smith.

More accusations continued to fly until everyone was winded, the guards had already began to search the rooms. Tearing them apart and even completely searching people. All the anger that was flying then began become ice cold, as Mazan, Marz, and Choran all looked to Khalud. Fire seemed to almost flow from their eyes as Marz stepped to Khalud.

"Ey! Why you lookin' at me like that?"

"It was you wasn't it?"

"ME?! Why would I!"

"You're always doing weird things at night".

"Last night you acted even weird last night, even ran off during the night"

"To the bathroom! If I wanted it found then I would have made it easy to find and put it there! I was writing to my family! I swear!" It was in that moment, Khalud realized he had said it and needed to show everyone now. He went off to grab his scroll and opened it to show the others. Choran snatched it and began to read it aloud quickly, finding it was just sappy letters to his family, and then a secret message, once pressed it was a code his wife knows, being for some more raunchy things. Choran looked at the scroll and then to Khalud with sheer disgust.

It was then, Marz knew who it was, but he kept his mouth shut. He could feel it the moment he heard what was going on. Khalud couldn't he would have told them it was in their cell. There was really only one person who knew it was in the bathroom. Only one person would have known.

During this time, all of the other cells were being thoroughly searched and the people in them too. Everything within was being torn apart, even if it was bolted down, it was pushed and pulled apart. The yelling became much closer as they began to hear what was being said. Everyone looked to each other as they realized that they needed to get the device out of the cell to a place that's already been searched.

Each of them, looked to each other as Choran said with a near yell, "I knew it was you! You fuckin' bastard Khalud!". Choran then took hold of Khalud's shirt and tried to swing at him.

Marz could see it, in an instant he understood what Choran was doing and took hold of Choran and pulled him away. "You're always tryin' to blame others! Now yer turned on yer own!" In that moment he turned his cheek and Choran threw a punch, sending him back slightly.

Wordlessly Choran and Marz traded blows, allowing for all who looked in to see them. Khalud took this time to hide the device in his clothing, given his ample form, while also hiding in the corner away from the brawl.

The moment the guards arrive to break up the fisticuffs, they took their batons and hit Marz and Choran, taking them to the ground and then drag each of them away. All the while Choran yelled, "Don't think this is over Khalud! I know it was you!". Seeing that Khalud is under suspicion, the guards treated him deferentially and didn't rough him up or search him, seeming to stoke more of this idea. Marz wasn't so fortunate in this situation, as he was hauled off to solitary confinement for the day, he was told before he was left alone, "A day in the tank oughta learn you".

Marz was left in a holding cell breifly made of solid and clean bars. Off in the distance he could hear the rest of them yelling, yet as it quieted down he could hear in the distance a quiet conversation with the voice of someoen he was familiar with, "But you promised: me and me pa. We get out if I do it".

Then a male one cut through, one with a strong Vossoriyan accent, "If we recover this 'device'." the man left a pause, "We didn't. How do I know you're not lying just for preferential treatment?"

"Piss on you, ya bloody liar! I talked ta him. I told ye where it is. If ye didn't find it, they either pulled a fast one or you're naff at searchin'. I'm done sellin' out my people for ya!"

"No, you aren't." the man seemed to leave an even longer pause. "You bring us the device, your father still gets to walk out of here with you".

"Aye, I can wait a few more months".

Dead silence floated in the air for moments before the man spoke once more, "I think you'll find that a bad idea, Venna".

Marz listened intently, hanging on the words, he needed to know, he needed it confirmed. The moment he heard the man speak her name, Marz knew, Venna had been the one to rat them out. He sighed, standing up as he patted himself off, he could hear the 2 sets of footsteps coming towards him, he knew what was to come.

2 larger men in padded armor came barging into his room, taking him by his shirt collar and nearly throwing him out of his holding cell. Marz had never been man handled by as he was, but these men were able to lift him like a child and throw him around. Through these tunnels that were dark and dreary, unable to see anything but his own hands infront of him, he could hear the moans and groans of others.

Slowly as they move through the area, Marz was able to see the light bounce off the walls, it almost seemed oily within the stone tunnel, as once they made it to the cavern where they have solitary confinement, there were multiple clean steel plates with a single hole poked through. From these covers Marz could hear voices coming from them, either people groaning and moaning, or even whispers from within. Once they had entered, one of the guards walked over to one of the lids and opened it, the moment it was fully risen, Marz felt a sharp pain in the back of his head as he was forced forward as he fell into the hole. The hole was 10 feet deep and Marz felt every moment of the fall. With the moment Marz landed, he felt his shoulder fire off with pain. He had only a moment to look up before the lid was dropped, and a resounding and violent 'bang' was sent through the hole Marz was in.

Within the pit, Marz could see from the light refracting from the oiled walls within. He could smell the oil and it was intense, making it nearly impossible to breath. As Marz began to look around he notice the hole was thin and difficult to move without nearly slipping. Within there he was given nothing other than a bucket. Marz could only sigh as he began to sit down, but found out that he was unable to fully sit without crossing his legs, let alone sleep his time away.

All he was left with was his thoughts, and the dull ringing of a bell telling them when it was time to eat or sleep.

"Well ain't that a bitch?"

University Of Magical Aptitude

ANCIENT EGYPT- ONE HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE ITS UNIFICATION:

Ra, the god of the sun, the bringer of dawn, the staver of darkness, the god above all. This was the Egyptian's chief god. All below the very heavens were believed to be his kingdom. The only thing they were right about was that he was above them all.

A lone sand dune stood above the vast desert, a single place where a man stood seeming to cast a view upon the village at large. The cool wind carried sand, dust, and debris at high speeds as it followed the curve of the dune, directly towards the man. Even with this seemingly overwhelming force, the man stood eerily still, the wind seemed to almost stop the moment it touched him, the wind split and shifted away as anything that touched the man seemed to fade away the moment it made contact. These materials began to form and shift covering the man in a dark armor that shone and shimmered. The man's hand began to shift across his body and the armor began to become more defined.

The man continued to watch, waiting for something, as he watched the village below multiple individuals come from behind him and began to speak. Many different things, yet the man did not listen, he watched. A pulse of energy rang out followed by a pillar of blue light punching into the vast sky, filling it with nothingness. In this moment, a low tone seemed to almost resonate with the energy, this low yet overwhelming voice seemed to come from the man's direction. Energy began to form around the man, as he began to raise his arms beginning to form symbols. The distance between the group that formed around the man and the village he was once watching seemed to only grow as one stares. The distance between the group and the village extends further and further as vast nothingness covered the distance.

Gon,
Un mals mals graph un ur,
Gisg med,
Na med tal graph fam gon veh veh drux graph fam fam

Gon,
Un mals mals graph un ur,
Gisg med,
Drux med fam gisg un ur ged gon un

Or un don,
Or un don,
Un gon un gon,
Tal un drux gon,
Tal gon ur graph fam,
Un gon un gon,

Med nah,
Mals ur un veh graph,
Gisg na un gisg,
Graph pal gon fam gisg fam,
Pa graph gon med drux gal,
Tal gon,
Don graph un veh na

Gon gon gisg na,
Gisg na graph fam graph,
Or graph graph ur gon drux ged fam,
Pa don gon gal ged graph,
Gisg na gon fam,
Van un fam gisg,
Gal gon fam gisg un drux veh graph,

Gon gon gisg na,
Gisg na gon fam,
Nah graph pal,
Gon un don mals,
Gisg na graph,
Gal gon fam gisg un drux gisg,
Gon med don ur gal,

Gisg graph ur graph mals med don gisg

translation

"I appeal to homesickness,"
"I appeal to nostalgia,"
"Far far away, many miles away,"
"Oh place that exists beyond my reach,"
"With these feelings, Bridge this vast distance,"
"With this hex, warp the distant world,"
"Teleport"

This entire time, energy began to gather around the group of young mages. A bubble of brilliant white light began to engulf the group with the rising of power, and in that last utterance, a single beam of light shot forward. Extending into the now vast void like an arrow, this beam of light covered the great distance made by a void of nothingness. Covering what seems to be eons of nothingness from the outside, the moment the beam touched the distant picture of the village, the brilliant light exploded, and the group vanished from the sand dune.

CURRENT DAY, PHOENIX ARIZONA:

The smell of old paper and perfumed air fresheners hang in the air. The quiet shuffling of people, papers, and the solid thumps of books landing upon desks. It was a normal day within the library, Adrith Carter has lived in this monotony, and he was content. The smell of the hot summer desert snuck into the library every couple minutes when someone entered or exited the building. For Adrith, this was nostalgia, it was until a smell got to his nose that changed his entire demenor. His leg began to cramp as he turned towards his desk that faced the door most had to enter to enter the library. 3 individuals began to enter the building, Adrith knew them from scent alone, each of them were ones he knew well enough.

Adrith kept cool, as the individuals entered they began to make their way to the front desk. The one leading the group was a man who stood well above most men, built like a brick, and looked like he could crush one too. The man's eyes landed onto Adrith as a dead-set staring contest began. The two looked to each other as if waiting for the other to make the first move. The air was tense, as for those who could sense the energy, a class of auras began. A low level clash, as neither budged until Adrith's demenor changed, "What can I help you with?". The man across from Adrith looked astonished, caught off guard as he noticed to his ight an older woman making her way over. "Where's the books on the war of 1812?"

The talk became cordial for a moment as both men let the other pass while who seemed to be the director of the university made their over to the desk. The woman then dropped a stack of papers in front of Adrith before she said, "I need these papers faxed to your director". Adrith gave a light nod as he said, "Of course ma'am". While Adrith stood up, he took the stack of papers while the director turned to begin talking to the other man in a much more happier and delighted fashion. To Adrith it made sense, among the 2 other them, it was night and day. He shook his head as he took a step away towards the printer, yet the moment he tried to press the button to power it on, the button wouldn't budge.

Adrith became confused until he realized, the world was quiet, Adrith turned to see all the people talking seems to be frozen, "What in the good lord?" Before Adrith was given a chance to investigate, he heard the sound of the printer break the silence. He was startled as he nearly jumped out of his own skin turning towards it. Seeing something is being printed out, a manila-colored envelope was being printed, with words being addressed directly towards him. Adrith lightly plucked the letter from the printer before inspecting it, he was confused, yet he took a deep breath, and then opened the letter, to see it says:

Dear Adrith Carter, Congratulations you have been pre-approved for selection into The Clockmaster’s University For Magical Aptitude. Upon completion of reading this letter you shall be transported to a land beyond time and space known as The Immortal Hills. There you shall be joined by others with similar auras as yourself and go through our rigorous interview process before you are to be greeted by The Grandfather of Time, The Clockmaster himself Alus Arador. This is a boarding school, where you will learn and live and create a life for eight years in the Immortal Hills, but in reality, only five minutes shall pass upon your transportation, and all educational materials will be provided for you. Once more, congratulations on your selection as only eight million people have any sort of magical aptitude. See you in a moment.

Your Homeroom Teacher, Ms. Monik Maglon

When he finished reading, Adrith began to hear waves crashing. The world around him washed away in the roar of waves, something that made Adrith's skin crawl. Something deep in his bones screamed out as he began to see dark waves began to crash away the world around him. Yet in this fearful moment, the glow of celestial objects lit a way to safety. A staircase made of solid and clean stone lead up to a hill, these held above it all, 2 celestial bodies, a sun of gold and one of blue. As Adrith began to climb the stairs, he felt the waves wash away, leading to the brilliant land, and more, to those who began to appear just like him.

Adrith began to look around, many different colors, sounds, and smells assaulted Adrith. Yet for him it was fine, he was used to sensory changes, heightening them, dulling them, it was something he did with ease. Yet there was something strange, a pulse of energy seemed to almost wash over him. When that happened the world changed, everything became heightened in color then no color, he could hear nothing then everything, he could even 'smell' the energy around him. The chemical reactions being preformed by every living thing. Adrith nearly threw up from this sensory over load, yet as quickly as this overwhelming sense and energy came, it left. His body returned to normal as he let a sigh out, having experienced such an overwhelming energy was new for Adrith. It felt as if he had lost control of his power, it was something he knew 'was' a thing, but having one's energy be overwhelmed was not something Adrith thought he would experience. More over, he never knew that it could make one's power become enhanced, maybe it was the ambient energy.

It was just another thing for Adrith to figure out, in his new life with these new student's around him. All of which began to make their way to the school upon the hill.

University Of Magical Aptitude

curious question for everybody. i have a sport idea for this story called Mazechase, it's like the third task in the triwizard cup in Goblet Of Fire but turned into a sport, there are 5 people: 1 on the entrance of the maze and 1 on the exit who are called the Wagemakers who are in communication with each other as they bet their class grade percentage points on how long it takes a 3rd person who is on neither team called the Maze Racer whose sole job is to get out, but on the Wagemaker's teams are 1 other person who's job it is to keep the Racer in the maze called the Runcasters who are allowed to use their magic for this job. my question is, do you guys want this in the story, or should i leave it out?

@thatguy

I think it seems interesting

The Hourglass Order

Primative: A Light in the Darkness

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In Collaberation of: Tku Pictor @dragonpiece, Fiske Flachstrauch @jasbraq, Evander Fino Synesti @RezonanceV, and @Force and Fury

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Cazelui had spent the past hour and a half playing with dyes she’d found and she was far too much of a nervous wreck to go back to the bunkhouse and sleep. She’d lost Pan and the human girl. She’d followed the other three humans here. They’d gotten into the paténasca (safehouse) and taken the key with them. The Sahuitix (chain breakers) would be furious. They were meeting tonight. She could run away and play innocent, but she’d been seen in the area, they already didn’t like her, and word would travel. The twenty-two-year-old groaned.

Tentatively, sweeping first with her unpracticed energy sense, she opened the shed door just a crack and peered out into the quiet, nighttime streets. The usual creatures skittered about, and the usual people too. She still knew most of the patterns, even though she hadn’t been on nights for almost two years. It was right about then that the lock on the hidden door behind her jiggled. Cazelui nearly jumped out of her skin, but she put her dyes away as it opened and one of the humans - the tall blonde one - popped his head out.

“Finally!” she exclaimed. “I’m rescued!” She blinked, looking him up and down for a moment as he emerged more fully. “I… oh. Um, is everyone okay? Did you catch Potés-Palix? Did you learn anything?” The questions came tumbling out and she blushed. Evander This one’s name was ‘Evander’, she remembered.

Then, however, just as she was checking if there were more squeezing through behind him, just as she noticed a second, Desmond, there came quiet sounds of movement outside - stuzé movement. “They are coming,” she warned, “The Sahuitix - um… chain breakers. This is their space we are in and they are about to have a meeting.” The stuzé knitted and unknitted her fingers anxiously as she glanced at the small door. “I am not sure how welcoming they will be. You are not cazenax, but you are not stuzé either, and Potés-Palix…” She trailed off, worried.

It was too late. The door opened and a pair of stuzéts appeared. Both were women: one of perhaps around thirty and the other perhaps a shade older. They paused in the doorway at the sight of Cazelui, and a moment of recognition flashed between the daydreamer and one of them. The door was allowed to close and it was crowded inside the shed, suddenly. The new arrivals regarded the pair of humans. “Azaba?” (Sister?) remarked one incredulously, eyes searching the two unfamiliar faces as she spoke, “Who are these and what are they - and you - doing here?”

Once Desmond made his way through the entrance of the tunnel, he saw a familiar face, Cazelui. Desmond gave her a nod of the head as he began to speak, "Ah, we found some-".

He was then cut off by Cazelui's warning. The apparent chain breakers seemed to be coming to meet, possibly to speak of some plan. Desmond was curious of who these Chain Breaker's were so he stayed to allow himself to be known.

It took no more than a few moments for 2 more snake people to make their way into the shed. Making this once cozy shed, cramp. Desmond let the ones who entered have the first word, with once they made their worried remarks known, Desmond spoke, "Ah, we are outsiders, My name is Desmond and this is my compatriot Evander". Desmond made a light gesture to himself and then to Evander.

"We were looking for an individual who may have been connected with a crime that we are being seen as suspects for". Desmond spoke and began to feel his senses tingling of energies behind them, multiple large creatures seemed to be moving, they might also be other Sirrahi.

Desmond continued to speak as if he was not paying attention to the things happening behind him, "Cazelui was someone we met who had been a big help since the moment we arrived here", Desmond had been weighing his options as he spoke. Cazelui seemed to know of the Sirrahi from the outside, even if they were being referred to by a different name. Then Chain Breakers, Liberators, hot topic words probably for slavery of some form.

The Snake people here might be a second class citizen. Seeing as the Queen seemed to have some kind of power to afflict Cazelui to heed her command. Desmond came to the conclusion that this might be the time to play a certain card to see if this was the reason why they were sent here, " Especially since we were sent to this city on the behest of the Silent Ranger with no information".

“Wanted for a crime!?” exclaimed one of the women, and perhaps that was not the best thing to lead off with. “What crime?” prodded the other, leaning in concernedly, taking a moment to adjust her wig. “Cazelui, explain how you know these men!”

“Suilazaba, (sister-in-law)” replied the younger sirrahi, “I promise they are innocent. They're only poor, lost humans, not even from Xochi.” She shook her head. “Someone tried to poison the king.”

The other two women gasped, but Cazelui held up her hand to forestall any speech. “It looked to be Potés-Palix, but I think he was framed.”

“She" the older of the two recent arrivals corrected. The younger nodded, fake hair shifting on her head. “Your brother pointed it out the other day. It's her voice and, umm... her chest.”

Cazelui's eyes darted at the other two and then, awkwardly, at Desmond. “Silent Ranger?” she asked quizzically, tilting her head to the side. Both of the other two shook their heads, confounded. “Anyhow," said the older of the pair, “I'm Stela-Zomé."

“I'm...” the younger one trailed off and sighed. “Poto-Mits, and it's quite frankly an insulting name. Please call me -”

“Uixel-Nogen!” Cazelui giggled and, for the first time, Desmond got a sense of just how young she was: perhaps no older than Rikard or Fiske. Poto-Mits Uixel-Nogen (Hairy Head) glared daggers at her for a moment. “But yes, this is a meeting of the Chainbreakers," Stela confirmed.

“Liberators,” corrected Uixel.

“Sirui-Hé!” said Cazelui, “Or whatever they decide to call themselves this week.” She rolled her eyes grandly.

“Caz..." began Stela in a chiding tone.

“Zé, Malma?” (yes, mother) the teenager replied saucily.

“I know they're a little bit..."

“Cringe?”

The other two shot her disapproving looks. “Earnest," Stela concluded, “And maybe a bit extreme, but is it so bad to want our people to be free?"

“Do you really enjoy your work, suunei?” asked Uixel, using a yasoi word of sisterhood. “Honestly?”

Cazelui puffed out her cheeks before releasing the air. She shrugged. “Sure Id' like it. It'd be nice, but overthrowing a whole-ass government for it?” She arched an eyebrow. “Murder and mayhem?” She glanced Desmond's way and furrowed her brow pensively. “Actually, that makes me wonder, what's your position on it?” She shot a look at the others. “None of us have ever actually planned a revolution before.”

“Oh, and he's a professional or something?” It was Uixel's turn to roll her eyes before all three pairs turned to Desmond.

Desmond listened as he allowed the 3 women to speak. Nodding and making sure that they see he is paying attention, allowing them to speak as he collected information and began to understand more of what is happening.

Each of them seemed very charismatic in their own rights with strong personalities. This was very noticable in nature, each of them seem very off in different directions to each other as none of them seemed to reiterate the words of the other.

What felt annoying was that when he spoke about the Silent Ranger, they looked to him strangely. For Desmond it felt as if he said a random word none of them even understood in the middle of his sentence.

Desmond let out a sigh before he responded to the women, "Well it is good to meet you both". Desmond slowly picked at each of the ages and relations among each of them.

Desmond shook his head as he continued to listen, he was beginning to build out what might be happening here, these 3 women are related. Cazelui and Uixel-Nogen seemed to poke at each other, with Caelui being the greater offender. Stela seemed to be their mother, which told Desmond that the meeting of these revolutionaries must be a very tight nit group, that could be either very beneficial, or a disaster waiting to happen.

Desmond sighed once more as things seemed to get more complicated, the 3 girls seemed to begin to talk about the very subject of why would they become these Chainbreakers and the grandiose scale of it all.

What made Desmond laugh though was when not only did Cazelui question his stance on this situation and his skills, but was then questioned by Uixel about his very qualifications within the very subject he has became quite familiar with.
Desmond laughed as he raised his hand and took hold of his hat for a moment, he lifts it off of his head and placed it over his heart, allowing it's illusion to break away for just a moment. Once the bow was finished he placed his hat back upon his head and reapplied the illusion to cover himself once more in gorgeous garbs and spoke, "I am a Liberator myself. A slave once and now a man who has dedicated himself to the breakage of bondages. I am, in fact, the closest to what you could call a professional".

Desmond smiled as he continued, "If you don't believe me, ask my friend". Desmond waves his hand across to gather all of their attention towards the door, where he sensed a familiar energy.

Outside the Hideout

It was also well after dark when a different group arrived outside of An Zenui. The city slept in its valley, cliffs and walls pulled about it like a child’s blankets. Tku was first to alight from Ayla, who’d taken care to stay out of sight behind a hill and some hoodoos. He helped the doddering old Mr. Jascuan down and then they stood there for a moment as a cool nighttime breeze stirred the dunes. Naxos whined about getting off for a moment, suggesting that they just ride their giant human right into the city, but his conscience was pricked by the old man and he let out a sigh. “Okay, okay. I give. We’ll walk.”

She was left with a set of clothes for when she shrank and advised to stay out of sight. Then, with a grim sort of determination, Jascuan led them… around the main gate and up to a small shed. “I can’t remember shit anymore,” he joked through Naxos’ translation, “but I remember this place.” The door was locked, or appeared so until he grabbed the handle roughly and, with surprising strength, lifted. The weathered old wood creaked, thumped, and came open. “Through here,” he croaked in a self-satisfied voice. “Hidden entrance for us independent merchants. Avoid the gate taxes.” There was a long tunnel through the cliff and Naxos summoned a bit of feeble light to help them find their way through. “Oh goodie,” he griped. “I Just love small dark spaces.”

An Zenui by night was a different place. While the rich and their exhausted servants and slaves slumbered up in the Bantarsca district and the day’s bustling markets were empty and quiet, the streets took on a different kind of life. Stray cats, dogs, and lizards scampered about, sometimes fighting loudly in alleyways or leaping up onto sheds, water catchments, and rooftops. Their eyes flashed eerie shades of gold, orange, and acid green, reflective under the moonlight.

They weren’t the only eyes about, however. A handful of cazenax could be seen, moving from one place to another, for whatever reasons they had. They were few, though. Far greater was the number of stuzé - who the humans knew as ‘sirrahi’. Nocturnal either by choice or employment, dozens were encountered by the interlopers as they made their way through An Zenui.

“What are they up to?” Naxos wondered aloud, in both cazenax and, belatedly, avincian. “You haven’t been to the city for a while,” Jascuan observed. He shook his wizened head. “They work in shifts, you know. Some barely ever see daylight.” They carried on, towards where, only he could say. He seemed to at least have an idea, unlike the others. After a moment, he voiced it.

“They're headed for the tunnels," the old man rumbled. “Who'd have ever thought that keeping people as slaves and treating them like dirt would make them angry." Jascuan let out a derisive snort. “You know, it isn't often that I curse my age - I've lived a good long life - but if I was thirty years younger..." He shook his head and then, for a moment, self-doubt seemed to overcome him and he paused. “Naxos," he asked quietly, “You're happy?"

The imp seemed to consider. “...yeah, I guess so. You forgot to fluff my pillows last night and bring me my glass o' lemon water with three mint leaves and a -"

“You little ingrate," Jascuan snickered, and Naxos snickered with him. “You know you're my main man, pops. Ain't nobody gonna take our farm or hurt Maxi on my watch." He yawned and there was a faint hum of chemical magic. “If I can stay awake, that is.".

“You'll have your fluffed pillows and lemon water soon, Naxos. Maxi knows the tunnels, though. I helped dig them, after all," he grumbled. “It's the least those stuzé owe me."

Then, they found themselves approaching an indent in the cliffs under a particularly reddish section. Great mansions and sprawling gardens perched atop it, some two hundred feet up, vines dangling down, an entire fold-out patio winched up for the night. Around the base were a series of sheds, storehouses, hovels, and a slaughterhouse. Voices seemed to be coming from the shed beside the slaughterhouse. Up above, on the cliffs, there was a flash of sonic magic and bright flashing lights that suddenly went dark.

Tku found himself lucky to have been guided by the blind in this case. He found himself looking about at some of the colors left and wished to see it in the bright sun, even better when the sun is setting, colors just seem to pop in the dying sun.

When he heard about them treating the slaves like dirt, he couldn't help but be reminded of the place he traveled where slavery was abolished and place where it wasn't. "Slavery seems to exist everywhere and so many seem to try and protect it. But I'm Hopeful. There are place far outside this desert that have fought for their freedom and won," Tku spoke in a hushed voice out of fear of what these people in the city were like.

He watched the lights go dark, "All the lights went off, is that normal?" he posed to Jascuan. Though another part of him wanted to desperately explore the mansions. Oh I wonder how they build here? Do they have any unique ways to keep good airflow to cool it down? What might they take into consideration and focus on?

Jascuan looked up at him with blind eyes and shook his head tightly. “Lo," he rumbled, guessing the youth's meaning without actually knowing the words. “Something bad is happening up there." Naxos, translating absently, seemed to be paying more attention to the shed and the voices within, however. Tku turned his focus that way for a moment and could make them out to some extent as well. Even if the words weren't clear, he thought that he recognized one: Desmond.

Tku gulped as he realized that once again they might be getting into a dangerous situation. "We should really do a word exchange for some snappy and quick words," Tku suggested albeit to late. But then he squinted to listen better. His eye shot open and he lightly smacked Naxos's shoulder. "I know one of those voices!" Tku said in a excited whisper.

"His name is Desmond, a forthright and charitable man. I've been in his employment before. Good man," Tku vouched for the soup kitchen owner and general advocate for the needy. Fiske, Marci, and the blonde child shouldn't be too far then. "We should be safe to go talk to them, I be willing to approach if you feel unsafe." Tku offered.

Having confirmed with Jascuan and Naxos that he was going in alone at the start, Tku readied himself. Now is the time for some bravery! he told himself as he made his way to the conversion. He careful drew his sound away and very lightly on his own chemical energy to make himself seem smaller than he was. Or at least that was the hope.

But as he neared the shed, he heard bits on what Desmond was saying, Revolution? Makes sense. Where ever there are slaves, embers of freedom smolder, Tku thought, feeling wise having remembered what some old men said in Joru. It only lasted a moment as it seems Desmond not only sensed him but called him out to make an entrance...

Oh shit-

Tku went with his belief that bold is better. Shoulders back, head level, makeup on point he made his entrance. The shed door whithered only to give blossom to, what Tku hoped were seen as beautiful, melon flowers and vines accenting his arrival. He smelled of sweet flowers and petals fluttered in on his arrival to fill the room. Calm but fierce violet eyes and a small smirk he usually has on when meeting new people.

"Well hello there," Tku tried to determine make or female, "ladies. It is I, Tku." he did a bow with one arm crossed over his chest as he remade the door and got rid of the vines. "You called Desmond?" Tku sent a glance his way.

Too much? Tku wondered.

The 3 women looked at Desmond and at the new arrival and there was a rapid exchange in their native tongue. It was Stela who nodded. “It looks like you were headed out," she began, “To where, I'm not sure, but..." Her eyes took in the others for a moment. “Might you - and your friend here - consider coming in instead?"

Cazelui was already going over to make introductions with Tku. Uixel was caught in between as she introduced herself. Meanwhile, in the rooms beyond, there seemed to be a bit of a commotion starting. They could hear a familiar - or not, for some of them - female voice shouting, and others rising, perhaps in response.

Desmond nodded to Tku, "I did. An entrance of colorful fashion, like always".

Once the 3 women began to speak in rapid exchanges, he knew that they had bought it. Simple words may not always work, but this should be enough to hear them out. With the oldest of them then asking them in, Desmond gave a slight nod of the head as he answered, "Of course, we'd love to".

It was then Desmond could hear the commotion behind him grow. Fiske must be letting things run its course, "Oh, that's not good". Desmond turned to the others as he called to them before he began his way back into the tunnel, "We should hurry in, it seems that something is going on within and it may be including our framed Cazenax friend who hid herself away here".

Despite his rather flashy entrance and overall demeanor, Tku greeted them all rather softly. He had made his fabulous entrance and he somewhat regretted it. Only minorly though. "I wouldn't mind coming inside but I have some other people with me. They look for a family member who hasn't come home." Tku addressed them but in particular Desmond.

"May they come as well? They must be awfully nervous if I were to enter and say nothing."

Desmond turned to look to Tku before he was to enter the tunnel, "Oh the girls are here too, good. They'll be helpful".

Tku had hoped he would use less specific terms but it wasn't his fault. "Ah, not them though they are well. One is questioning some men, the other is investigating the town. These 2 are a worried father for their crippled daughter and his friend." Tku attempted to clear the miscommunication for his and more importantly the snake people, less they get suspicious and potentially violent at the change.

Desmond looks to Tku quizzically as he thought for a moment, he then asked, "Are they looking for someone named Potés-Palix or Samaxi?"

"Yes!" Tku responded, "Are the okay?"

"Not if we keep talking here". Desmond answered back as he turned one final time and made his way into tunnel. While he is entering he jokingly tells Tku, "Remember to fix the door".

"Ah Yes," Tku puts his head back and calls them over with the most universal get over here he could give. Once they scurried in, he fixed the door like nothing ever happened to it. Ooh, a new wood I can use.

Jascuan and Naxos showed up moments later. The imp's eyes darted about warily for a moment before he hopped up on a crate and held his hand out to Uixel. When she took it, he kissed hers. “Milady.”

Her eyes widened, but all she did was thank them. He greeted the other two similarly, though Cazelui did not particularly want his slimy lips on her hand.

The old man, for his part, carried himself with an understated sort of dignity. He swept in, cane flicking behind his back for a moment, and nodded at the three sirrahi as if he could see them though, of course, he could not. Immediately, all three bowed in respect. "Valcuo-Azcaniz," they said as one. He bowed in return. “Ladies. You all blaze like desert roses today.” They led him inside and now everyone was together.

“I sense my dear Nezana-Samaxi,” Jascuan said quietly, his voice deep and old and rumbling. He walked slowly towards one of the chairs at the table and pulled it out. It made a loud, keening scrape on the floor. “I ask that you please not harm her, for she is young and foolish.”

The big sirrahi who'd been holding her aloft opened his mouth to retort, but Egosto-Alguo, who all the humans now noticed looked the spitting image of a younger Silent Ranger, cut him off. “I apologize for Caluts-Gastiz's rudeness, Valcuo-Azcaniz.”

Jascuan paused for a moment and then nodded, as if that would do. He seated himself then, and that was cue for the others to do the same. “Oh, I have no desire to command you. That is very much a barbaric thing," the old man allowed. “But, in matters that concern my... offspring, you might allow me an interest."

Egosto-Alguo, apparently the leader, nodded. “As you have every right, of course."

Jascuan nodded in return. People took their seats at the table. The majority were sirrahi and they coiled around their chairs, for the most part. Naxos found some crates in a corner and crouched there. “You, by the way." the elder gestured in Fiske's direction - his true direction. “Why don't you come out of hiding and join us?"

“Why have you come here, honoured one?” inquired Stela quietly. Uixel's and Cazelui's eyes flicked her way.

Samaxi was clambering into a chair, finally at the same height as everyone else. “Largely to retrieve this one," he admitted, “But also..." He knitted his wizened old hands before him and he scanned the table as if he could nonetheless see right into everyone else present. “I have heard the attempt on the king's life has taken place." He cleared his throat.

Egosto nodded. “Yes, and it was thwarted."

Within the Hideout

Yet, this was not the only entrance to the extensive network of tunnels and paténascats beneath and around An Zenui. From at least three others, they worked their way in: dozens of stuzéts, many if not all members of the sahuitix. Potés-Palix straightened, eyes darting around. She scooted back in bed to find the human who had been suspicious of her - Fiske? - gone, perhaps invisible again as he often was. There was movement in the tunnel and then in the large room. The back of her neck prickled in warning. Then came a voice from the next room, low and growling in Avincian. “I smell cazenax. Find it and remove. Make sure it can’t say anything.”

Fiske shook as he kept himself from anyone's sight. Even more of these snake people? This whole situation is a Truth-Seekers Society member's wet dream. The boy kept close to the bed to potentially make a run for it... or bargain with this crossdressing woman that started to look more and more important towards their escape.

He would speak but revealing himself all of the sudden might make the situation worse as it is.

Samaxi flung herself off of the bed, scooting forward about as fast as someone with no legs could go. "You vouch for me, human. I vouch for you." She paused before the door, already seated by default, and opened it. "You throw me under the wagon, I drag you down with me."

Then, as she started to make her way through, a large, clawed, reptilian hand grabbed her violently by the shirt and pulled her the rest of the way. “Knew you was right, Egosto. Found us a lil' rat in here."

Samaxi flailed and shouted. "Let go of me, you asshole! I've got nothing against stuzé, except for your dumb ass! I'm Nezana Samaxi Soli! My father built this place!"

She raised enough of a racket, in fact, that even Desmond could hear her from the tunnel he was emerging from. In fact, the presence of multiple stuzé had not gone unnoticed by him. The question now was how to approach this group.

Fiske was patiently observing what was happening. Her father built this place? does this mean she might become useful? He kept close to make sure nothing too extreme would happen. He did not want to reveal himself but if necessary for his own well being he might have to...

“Right," laughed the sirrahi who'd grabbed Samaxi. “And I'm the Queen Mother."

"Yeah? Well you're an ugly woman," she spat back and he let out a bark of mocking fake laughter. “Looks like we have something in common, then!"

"Uuuaaaaghhh! Let me go you fat asshole!" she growled, as he dangled the tiny woman by her hood. "I'm not even against you guys! I'm on your side! Why'd you think I'm in this place and didn't say anything!?"

He started, a notion perhaps occurring to him. “Unless y'already did!" he exclaimed urgently. “Shit!"

He began to move to the other side of the L-shaped room and Fiske, still bending light around himself, followed.

"Oh for the love of water," she groaned, "I'm just laying low 'cause I was framed for trying to poison the king!"

Her captor paused for a moment. He blinked. “Yeah, now I know you're fulla shit," he retorted, but there was doubt in his voice - just a bit of it. “The fuckin' stories of this girl!"

It was at that moment that he came into view of the group's leader - Egosto-Alguo - and came to a stop. Fiske did as well. He did a double-take. The clothes were different and he looked... younger, so far as the human could discern sirrahi ages, but he was... Egosto-Alguo was the Silent Ranger.

Framed, yeah right. Just admit that you did it on purpose so I can stop caring about what happens to you! a invisible smirk plastered on his face mixed together with a cold sweat. Is that?... Did the ranger have a brother?... No, he looks too similar to be a different person.. Fiske became frustrated with his own doubts. Were it a Human, Hegelan or even a knife-ear he could easily tell if someone's a person they met before.

Against his better judgement he lowered his voice and with the handy use of sonic magic made it sound from the other side of the room they were previously from "What are you planning to do with the girl?" Praying to himself, hoping they fell for his delusion.

Fiske shook, his most prominent skill was seen through by this man without much issue. "Was it that easy to uncover me?" The boy revealed himself with a look on his face that wasn't one that he usually wears. It was not one of annoyance, not a smug one, it was one of genuine sadness. Inadequate, useless. Defeated, he walked away from the wall and came closer to the one that discovered him.

“Your illusions were strong, young man," Jascuan whispered, leaning in, “But you need to remember to disperse your energy or there'll always be someone better who'll detect you." He smiled, still somewhat impressed that the youth had fooled an entire room of paranoid people until he'd walked in. “Took me a while to master too."

"Disperse my energy? Wouldn't that alert everyone that someone is hiding inside the room?" Fiske sat down, genuinely intrigued on what the older man had to say about his. "How did you manage to master something like that?" To keep his frustrations in check he grabbed his dice before they slipped from his hand.

“There is an art to it," he admitted, “and a science." He shook his head. “You choose a space that is not empty. There is plenty of ambient energy. When you disperse, nobody notices the slight increase." He sniffed. “If you're alone, you use chemical to alter their senses. Arcane doesn't suffice."

Even with Desmond entering first, it seemed the man Tku brought with him stole the show. Every Sirrahi here seemed to bow to the man, and show great respect, yet seemed to also not know his own daughter. Desmond thought, How? Maybe they find him to be some kind of silent benefactor, but things seem strange.

Once the older man sat down, Desmond did the same as he began to scan for Fiske, yet it seemed te older man had already found him and asked him to even come sit with them, as that was when the talking of the assassination began.

Desmond realized that one of 2 things happened, word spread fast, or that this was something that they already knew was coming. If the Liberators knew, based upon the reactions of the Stela and Uixel, they either are out of the loop of something like this, or they were acting like they knew nothing. If they aren't, then is seems the 2 are just unlucky to catch the information.

But that doesn't answer the question of who did it? These Liberators, or another faction? Desmond couldn't tell, so he decided to say the most simple things to prod for information, "Seems word travels fast, hu?"

Desmond began to use both magic and skills he picked up to change his body posture and composure to make himself seem curious and slightly surprised.

Tku had once again been surprised by the weight of the old man that he will admit, he wrote off as but another landowner. A kind one it seemed but still nothing of too much note. A lot was happening but the first thing Tku did was scan Maxi's body. He had no idea how common blood magic was but if their was a mark on her, Tku would find it. Along with that, he checked for any wounds are aliments she would have. In fact he might as well scan everyone here, now that Fiske was also exposed. Quite the sneaky child.

Now Tku had no idea that the king had an attempt on their life. No, he didn't even know there was a king. But there was one thing that didn't make sense to Tku. How could Jascuan know that the King had an attempt on his life. He was at his home. He shouldn't have had time to pick it up. I guess he could have picked it up from the walk over. Did he already know? Were those raiders no mere coincidence?

"very fast," Tku agreed with Desmond but gave Jascuan some side eye. I know you can tell Jascuan Tku thought. Tku finally put in some words for the actual table, "So, would you be so generous in enlightening this traveler on the situation and the stances here?" he asked Jascuan but kept it open for the table as a whole. "You know I only mean well Jascuan," Tku tried to pull on the trust he may have made.

How far these serpents veered from their own wisdom.

Evander contemplated on his encounter with Disska. She was a different kind than these sirrahi who submitted themselves beneath the boots of others. When Evander and Desmond had entered, Evander took the back seat.

Let the mercenary earn his keep.

Evander stepped to the side of the door. Leaned back against the hallowed wall, his right foot anchored in the earth. While his left food found repose against the stone behind him. His arms, with grace, crossed his chest. Silently observing, Evander witnessed the family play drone out. Sisters and their mother it appeared, a dynamic he could not relate too.

Silently observing, Evander witnessed the family play before him. Sisters and their mother, a dynamic he could not relate too. The trio went back and forth about their freedom. Those who gathered were by Calezui's account, Chainbreakers. The name was self-explanatory to their desire. Oddly, Desmond began laughing and then pronounced himself as "Liberator" too.

Maybe he was trying to gain their trust. Wait, what's this?

Evander sensed several additional people in the tunnels. Interesting. One in particular stopped moments before the door to adjust themselves before entering. Not in a threatening way, in a way that signaled, I care about how I am perceived. The door opened, a strange and familiar character appeared. The new arrival announced their name, Tku, and bowed.

Why is everyone bowing to strangers?

It appeared after Tku's odd entrance. Desmond recognized him. The two exchanging pleasantries before the sirrahi interjected their own introductions to this Tku. It didn't take long before the real party started, another presence joined them and he was greeted by the three sirrahi, "Valcuo-Azcaniz." Chirping praises to his peers with a plead of mercy on behalf of his sister, Samaxi, of whom Evander had met. Valcuo-Azcaniz appeared to be an honored guest. The behavior of the others immediately changed as if royalty walked into the room. It was a sight Evander knew too well. The social rules and positions were on display as a younger version of the Silent Ranger gripped the mouth of another by the name, Calutz-Gastiz, saving both from what apparently may be someone who garters a high status within their society.

Of course, as all things in Sipenta, status was not enough. This Valcuo-Azcaniz demonstrated his gift's awareness by plucking Fiske from the shade of his illusion. Fiske had no choice but to join the others and the sirrahi got down to business by asking why this Valcuo-Azcaniz was here.

Honored one?

Evander asked himself. Who was this Valcuo-Azcaniz to these liberators?

Then, others were speaking and the old man who they had called Valcuo-Azcaniz waved Fiske off for the time being.

"Shame," pronounced the man who'd been roughing up Samaxi a minute earlier. "Would've sown chaos if they'd succeeded."

Cazelui whirled in his direction. “Why's it always about killing with you people?" She shook her head in disgust. “What's he ever done but try to make our lives better?"

"He's one of them," the large sirrahi snarled. "They're never on our side."

Jascuan - or Valcuo, as some seemed to call him - merely watched, but Samaxi was less subdued. “Some are, ya know," she muttered, “Though you're doing your best to change that." Then, before a retort could come in, the humans began to speak, and it was Egosto-Alguo who addressed Desmond. "We're everywhere, friend," he replied. There was a bit of an edge to his voice: not hostile but wary of an exotic newcomer with unknown motives. "We pour these people's tea, fix their roofs, look after their children, and sweep their streets." He smirked. "If it happens, we know about it. Posthaste."

Jascuan raised a hand, and his soft, gravelly voice rose so that the others could hear it. “It is little surprise to me that the Bantarsca cabal have tried. His policies are not only reckless, well-intended as they may be, they break the monopoly of the elites on the professions."

“They accuse him of yet more extreme ambitions," added Stela-Zomé.

"This world they build," said Egosto solemnly, "It ends in tears, whether the king's reforms go through or not."

"It isn't their world, though," countered Stela, shaking her head. "It is ours now, too, whether we wish to acknowledge that or not." She spread her arms in an all-encompassing gesture. "We have a stake in it. Many of us were born here. -"

"Born into slavery," Egosto added, eyes narrowing.

"But born here nonetheless: felt its sun, eaten its food, lived among its people. My children know no other world."

"And they will know nothing but servitude as they grow up." snarled Caluts. "Is that the future you want to build with those weak-tailed words of yours? This kind of thing -"

"If I was content with the way things were, Caluts, I would not be here. None of us would. Don't be disingenuous."

He opened his mouth to argue back, but Egosto silenced him with a gesture. "We are here to discuss the matter of tomorrow. It was promised that Nyax-Acan would return then, was it not?"

Uixel, poring over a large calendar with many markings, nodded. Jascuan nodded. "I knew him briefly in my youth. He taught me all of value that I know. His words were clear, as well. He would return to deliver judgement upon the Cazenax." The old man sighed, once again seeming small and weak. "I have done what I can. I believe that our young king has too, but the rot lies deep." He shook his head. "It will be you stuzéts' best chance to break free. Godspeed."

"He was human, was he not?" asked Egosto, and old Jascuan nodded once more. Attention turned to the four humans in the room, dozens of curious sirrahi eyes studying them as if they might somehow be connected to this shadowed figure of myth and legend, as if they might yet know something.

“How will we know him if we see him?" inquired Uixel uncertainly. “We have only old paintings and the memories of a blind man." She bowed her head respectfully. “I intend no offense, honoured one."

"None taken."

“Wasn't he a Constantian, like them?" prodded Samaxi, also studying the newcomers. She pointed at Evander. “With golden hair like his?"

Desmond listened as information flew and he latched on. Information of factions, ideologies, networks, plans, and now some kind of dietic figures return. It seemed strange though, this figure was Constantian and had golden hair.

Desmond nodded to himself as he thought for a moment and asked, "Who is this Nyax-Acan? What is he like?"

So, it appears, at the very least some of these revolutionaries were not behind the plot to assassinate Stazen, Evander continued listening, but killing wasn't out of their realm of options either. Evander concluded as Cazelui pronounced that these people were always about killing.

The group broke out into conflict. Some praising Stazen, others rejecting his ability to change much. Desperation tugged at several hearts among them in the room, Evander could feel it. While the other side felt hopeful as they communicated a holistic picture of their reality as a part of this city. In the end, they seemed to align or at the very least - tune in to each other about one thing, the promise of a Nyax-Acan.

Evander looked at all the sirrahi as the discussion continued, did any of them know or have heard about Disska? Whenever he encountered sirrahi, he never knew when it was right to bring up his event with their kind in history. The event of the sixth moon setting. It was a core question whenever he crossed other sirrahi. Then, Samaxi pointed at Evander's golden hair. Dozens of sirrahi stared, studied, and Evander was singled out.

Still leaning on the wall, Desmond interjected with a question about Nyax-Acan's identity before Evander could react or respond. There was only one other person with blonde hair like his who was in these parts, and who went the same direction as him.

Although they didn't explain themselves, the conversation proved insightful enough. Jascuan, or Valcuo, and the sirrahi are waiting for Nyax-Acan and he would come soon. The King's assassination stems from him upsetting the elite by attempting to help the lower class. No, I can I say that for sure? They bring up that he is one of them, a slave owner. But then why are they okay with Jascuan. Is it from his lack of sirrahi slaves or is it from his actions? Do they not see people like Zox as slaves?

One thing for sure is that the king was a point of contention, probably why they, as a group, had no involvement. Egosto words pricked the back of Tku's head. He was removed and heavily self interested. They had met the older version of him before. He wanted help but was it to work out the kinks in his former plan or to change the mindset of his former self to see this as more than just them.

Tku would prefer the latter. If you see all around you as enemies, no, as obstacles, you tend to miss the greater picture. This will end in much bloodshed at this rate. And not just for the Cazenax.

Tku would need time to process the pieces moving but in the meantime, a simpler idea. Who was Nyax-Acan? Constantion, blonde, male, extreme sensibilities. Hmm. Tku started piecing things together and those very basic things matched their missing person but the angry child was younger than Tku. Unless... Tku asked Stela this time, "By any chance do you have the painting of him near you? And If I can appear ignorant a bit longer, does Nyax-Acan have any particular meaning? This is my first time interacting with the language".

Tku had some hope. Maybe he tried to use a portal to escape his foolish idea and it failed like how Tku would accidently draw bits of himself as a child. Temporal magic might have spectacular results if it fails.

"I've yet to dabble into chemical all too much, I've mostly used it to further my own senses." Perhaps he was overconfident, perhaps the incompetency of others around him got him to feel so confident about his own abilities. As he was waved off he stood there for a little bit longer, fists clenched and in an act of rare humility of the boy he lowered his head and bowed, partially out of shame and partially out of frustration. "You seem to know quite a bit around the ins and outs of my craft....." He paused, as if a rock was stuck in his throat. ".... I... would be honored if you could teach me more about it." Walking off from the older man soon after.

The eyes of the Sirrahi stung like no other after such a shameful display, normally he would pose or do a trick in a situation like this. However there he stood, rather meek compared to his usual persona. Seeing these snake people discuss some person of legend was something he did not pay too much attention too until some characteristics were named. Constantian... golden hair.. like the snobby noble? He was hit with a cold sweat as an absurd theory roamed through his mind. No, no, no! Even if all kinds of absurd things have happened ever since the sand wyrm... He began to bite on his thumb with a rather annoyed smirk plattered on his face. "It can't be, it shouldn't be." He awaited further information before saying much more, scared to be looked at as a madman.

Desmond nodded his head as he spoke, "It might just be. Crazy bastard might have just done it".

"Seems we are of like mind," Tku nodded. He had wondered if the blonde child had come to the same speculation.

The sirrahi nodded, Cazelui retrieving a picture, and they presented it to the four humans. Through the entire process, Jascuan sat perched at the edge of his chair, an enigmatic smile creasing his aged lips. “I did my best with this,” she said softly. “Not my best work, but I tried to follow instructions.”

The picture that was put forward did the best job it could making its subject look dignified but, for anyone who'd known him, it was clear as day. Nyax-Acan, whose name Stela had explained meant "Dark Explosion", was none other than their recently-disappeared classmate, Benedetto Corvi.

It was as he could sense from the signals in their brains the dawning recognition that Valcuo-Azcaniz finally spoke. “You are them, then: the people he told me about.” The elder nodded. “It would've been an exceptional coincidence if not.” There was a bit of a smile. “I'm not sure what all of these words mean, but he asked me to pass them onto you. He said, 'Desmond, you're a nerd', 'Stop hiding in the corner, Fiske', 'I'm better looking than you, Evander', and 'Who's the other guy, again?' He always did have a childish sense of humour despite his greatness.”

Desmond had a smile creep on his face as he heard the name and then saw the picture of none other than the shit storm himself. However, once he heard what Benedetto had left them, he bursted out laughing.

"Gods be damned! The motherfucker flung himself!" Desmond began to laugh as he held his chest, laughing at the absurdity, the absolute luck, and the sheer hilarity of it all being left in a message.

Once Desmond stopped laughing, he nodded his head and clear his throat while he said, "Yeah, that'd be us. He's a friend".

Tku nodded as he was quite impressed. It was dignified and easy to make out. Maybe some technical things could be improved on but overall it was very fine, "Well done, it's clear and noble. We definitely know this person." The cherry on top was the translation, dark explosion? Tku snickered, "A fine descriptor."

Tku let out a guttural laugh, "Well it makes sense, I only met him today." Tku had enjoyed this entertainment but he steadied himself, It be rude to keep laughing. The him I knew is not the ones they pray to. Afterall, I'm sure Shune-Zept's acquaintances saw him as quite quarky. Tku let whatever momentary energy settle before he continued, "Even if I only met him for the day, I'm glad he's alright. For us he disappeared in the recent sandstorm. I had been concerned but my skills would've failed me if I were to look for him in the desert."

Fiske looked fuming. Can anything make sense today? That idiot Benny did something idiotic and is praised for years now... And for all the messages you could've left you Revidian bastard... His face turned to a smug smirk, combined with a little snort. "Never seen him so dignified before, guess all Revidians have the same 'dignified' energy after all."

Friend? Just the thought of viewing him as a friend makes me gag. In most cases I'm nothing but a pissing pole to him... A sigh escaped the boy. "Dark explosion? Did he dabble into Dark Magic now as well?"

Evander peeled off the wall to look at the painting, identified Benny and cracked a smile, I didn't know Benny was insecure about his looks, what a tool. He looked up at the sirrahi in the room, "We know him. What exactly did Nyax-Acan tell you and what is your prophecy about him?" Evander was curious to the details of this story between these revolutionaries and their classmate. There seemed to be some prophecy of his return to judge the Cazenax, but to what end, and what else did he share with them about his return or his favor to judge the Cazenax.

Jascuan turned his head in the vague direction of the human voices. Questions and reactions were flying thick and fast. It was not he who answered, however, but rather Stela-Zomé. “So far as we're aware,” she said, “He was always a dark mage. He claimed to be the most powerful one alive.” It was Evander who she addressed next, however. “Well, it's not so much a prophecy,” she amended, “as there's a schedule. He appears once every forty years, on the same day, and stays for two months.” She quirked an eyebrow. “Does this sort of thing fit with your friend?”

“The last time that we saw him, I was a young man," Jascuan explained. “Hard to believe I was ever young, now." He shook his head. “He wasn't happy about the direction our society was going in. Promised he'd change things the next time he came back." The elder shrugged. “Maybe that's why Stazen's doing what he's doing." A good few of the sirrahi nodded in agreement. “Maybe that's why you're here: to help in some way."

Egosto-Alguo nodded. "I doubt the timing's a coincidence." He spread his arms. "Unless he was completely wrong about you, I think the idea's that you help us bust out of here."

"Of course," Cazelui was quick to interject, "That's a choice and not a condition, right?" She regarded Egosto warily, eyes flicking between him and her human acquaintances.

Desmond shook his head a little more, having his smile finally fading away. With Benedetto's actions, he sent himself back in time and began to become some important figure within this city, Seeming to dissappear for decades at a time before reappearing and getting status checks, possibly even doing nudges here and there while trying to do smaller jumps forward in time. Possibly trying to preserve his own youth while seeing how his actions effect this city.

Yet something is off, from what is being said, he has either embellished himself and made himself seem stronger than he trully is, or he may have gone even farther back in time than thought. Possibly he had trained to a certain point and then was finally was able to do these jumps. Then being called the 'strongest Dark Mage ever' makes sense.

Desmond didn't dwell over these ideas, Desmond nodded as he said, "I'd be happy to help". He then looked to Jascuan, "Since it seems he'll be showing up soon. I'd like to discuss the happenings within this city and get a firm understanding on how this place works. Preferably before...Nyax-Acan returns". Desmond seemed to slightly struggle to remember the name Benedetto made here but managed it enough.

Forty years and two months, Tku speculated if their was some kind of message in it or pure coincidence? 402 months. Days is... Tku mind melted for a bit, having to break out an abacus in the end, 14,673 Days...I get a feeling that there isn't a specific reason. Maybe it was chosen to appear in the next season, or every generation. Or It's the furthest he can jump at his skill. Maybe there is something stopping him from interacting like the future Egosto-Alguo. Tku wasn't going to deduce it with his limited information so he set them aside.

Tku had nothing to say about the child's skill in dark magic but for the age he was, Tku doubted it to be the truth when he hurled himself through time.Though with what has happend to me? Maybe. Tku saw Egosto-Alguo comment as nonthreatening until Cazelui added some context.

His neck tingled. I see how it is, Tku met eyes with Egosto-Alguo. "I assure you Egosto-Alguo, we were asked to help," Tku paused before continuing, "That being said, let's rest for the night. Tku stood and he rubbed his neck like it was sore before he healed the aches with chemical and binding, "Any takers?" Tku grasped onto Desmond's shoulder and relieved the burdens on the day.

"Do we have a place to sleep for the night?" Tku asked everyone in the room. Tku looked at the table, "How about a grand meal from Virang?" Tku smiled as he whipped his hand over the table. Mutiple hot dishes filled the table, plates and bowls and all. More than a dozen options with drinks as well. Even Tku was stunned at his own skill and as the smells wafted to his nose, Oh thank you Sky Snake! Tku told them about the meal and its origins as well as what certain ingredients are.

As they finally finished Tku offered one last thing, "Since we were such an unexpected arrival," Tku pulled on his blood and binding powers to create these colorful pillows that to the touch felt like clouds. "It's made of the feathers of the Wullieweid, The giant penguin of Eskand. They even stay cool as you sleep on them." He made the sirrahi some extra large one with a much more durable material to account for the claws and scales, still just as soft.

Desmond rolled his shoulder once Tku placed his hand upon it and the stiffness left. Desmond nodded in agreement as he said, "I think a rest would be good, it has been quite a joureny just to get here".

Desmond allowed Tku to preform his act, which even included food. Yet when Desmond looked upon it, it looked gray, slimey, and unappetizing while Tku was forming it. Desmond's face winced slightly when he rememebred all the 'food' he was fed, and the sickening nothingness it tasted like. Desmond wished not to experience that same feeling again, he thought he moved past that.

Yet the food formed more and more as color began to appear and smell soon followed. Desmond sighed relief as he was then greeted with food that he quickly took bits of to taste and was greeted with real taste.

Desmond Tku on the back with an approving nod while he allowed the others to look on in awe.

What are you are doing here Benny? Evander dropped his head down to ponder, Benny's playing with time, as sirrahi do, and the Traveler. Was Benny preparing these sirrahi for the war? He remembered Disska explaining the war between sirrahi and the knowers. He remembered the Traveler's take in the tunnels last year. Evander began to recall the role of humans in the war to come, what humans are supposed to become to help the sirrahi and Sipenta. Helping second-class citizens would not have been out of the Traveler's M.O. either. The question remained, which side was Benny on? It could be that he is on his own side taking advantage of the situation, or leading them to a worse fate than as second rate citizens.

Evander looked up to ask the elder, "Bust you out of here? To where?" Then again, maybe it was to when.

Sleep? Do you think I can even sleep after all of this? Fiske was still frustrated by it all. Starting to walk towards the way they entered.

"This room is too cluttered... Have fun eating your gray, slimey goop." With that he cloaked himself once more before exiting the room. What an annoying day... I need to be better, need to do better...

Tku was offended but didn't say anything and just rolled his eyes. "If you come across Ayla or Marci let them know about what's been talked about," Tku waved at him, mostly writing off the pouting child. Then a thought crossed his mind of another feisty child the little Kite Tusker that was there, Tku worried of it's safety, and hoped only the best for it.

Into the night, many more talks are had, people eat, and work on side projects was done, such as Tku with his armor for Classa, and Fiske with honing his skills. With sleep finally taking them, the question left in their mind was still: Why are they here?

Fallout: The Vegas Affair

Nevermind, restarting my DIscord did the trick

The Hourglass Order

---

Cold Comfort: The Search for Red Carles

---

The morning came once more, the ringing of the bell woke every once more. They were all escorted to the eating hall and were given the same tasteless food they have been given everyday. Yet today seemed much different, a presence of quiet excitement filled the air. Marz looked around and saw many ate with such speed it seemed they may nearly drown in the soup. Yet after the quick meal many stood and left of their own accord, not one monk seeming to stop them. Marz was confused for a moment before he felt a hand slap his shoulder and say, "Come on, this is a rare time"

Marz was introduced to one of the few times that they have a respite while most of the Monk were away. Many of which seemed to dealing with religious duties, which most assumed was them trying to keep up their front. Which gave Choran time to show Marz the device and explain what it was, "This is it, the device we have been working on". Choran fished the item from a crack in the wall someone had made to transport the device. Choran took it and then passed the item over to Marz to allow him to inspect it, "This is an Anti-magic disruptor".

Marz looked to Choran confused, "Okay, what does it do?"

Choran chuckled to himself as he spoke some more, taking Marz to a more hidden location away from the crack they retrieved it from, "Its a device to counter the devices taking our use of magic away".

Marz began to nod, "Okay, so it is a device to counter act the sound being produced by these devices?"

Choran looked to Marz and seemed impressed, "That's correct, how could you tell?"

Marz continued, "Based upon how the device it made it seems to be made to have this cylinder spin in some form of fashion, something akin to oscillating to. With the grooves, possibly grinding against something with purpose".

Choran looked impressed as he said, "That's correct, we did run into a problem, it seems the-".

Marz then instantly cut Choran off, "You're usin' copper".

Choran looked to Marz confused, "What?".

Marz repeated himself, "You're usin' copper".

Marz let a moment stand before sighing to himself and continuing what he was saying, realizing Choran isn't getting what he is saying, "The copper you are using is unable to handle the stress you are putting upon it. The metal you need to transfer the energy across the cylinder needs to be able to do so efficiently, but also needs to be strong enough to handle the oscillation and keep contact without being warped by heat or friction. Copper is unable to do all these things by itself without being malformed. You should encase a thin wire of tungsten in copper to increase the copper's ability to handle the oscillation and keep contact while the tungsten absorbs the heat. It will cut a groove into the device eventually, however, if done properly it should work for long enough".

Choran and the many Hegelans who began to gather to listen to Marz as he continued to explain small things he began to see within the device. Small things, yet things that most wouldn't notice when their focus were so set upon the goal. For Marz, he still had the ability to dedicate himself to his craft to see the faults. Unlike those who were trapped in this prison for so long, all they could look for is the next step to freedom.

Once the bell rang again, it signaled for the next meal time, lunch. Here Marz across from Venna and asked something he was curious about, "Aye Venna, you go around wit tha cart, is there other work areas?".

Venna looked up and nodded to Marz with a smile, "Oh ya, there is a whole bunch of 'em. But they are mostly made up into clusters based upon what they do. The one you are in is mostly dedicated to fine work, the other cluster is pretty strange".

Marz sat down and looked to Venna wishing for her to continue, "How so?"

Venna continued, now swaying her spoon around as if recalling what she's seen, "Oh, you know. They focus upon more laborious craft. Seems to be an older workshop actually, it would makes sense because of the work they do there".

Marz continued to listen intently as he began to watch multiple begin to take notice.

"They seem to be working on Monarch crafts. You know-".

Marz cut in with, "-void hearts"

Venna nods as she continued, "Ya, it's strange though, the monks call 'em chaos marbles or somethin the like. They have a whole bunch of em though, but it seems the monks 'ave been quite pissy since production slowed-". Venna stopped herself as she noticed multiple others begin to make their way over to sit next to Marz. Many of them looked to Venna quite nastily, as she left, leaving Marz in a strange spot, yet one he could not rectify now, he had just earned their trust. Marz let out a sigh as he began to eat the tasteless soup, strangely it had flavor, the soup was sour.

Marz and the other crafters who are part of the plan fall into a routine. They began to steal little bits of useful materials as they work. Important metals, makeshift tools, and even some makeshift parts made in the shop that they eventually sneak off through whatever means they can. Marz had learned why the Hegelans had such rough-looking hair, often time they were handled in rough ways to move and shift the hair, oftentimes with tough gloves that have metal fixing that catches on the hair. Yet even with this, Marz and the others found ways of taking things out, even with searches. Marz often uses alternative compartments to hide them away.

With these many materials the group was able to pool together, they used any recesses, bathroom breaks, and even sleep time to work feverishly on the device. With new found vigor and resolve, they made great progress on their work. As the device truly neared completion, talks continued into even dinner, whispered talks near the center of the table as many around the center group spoke louder, using their voices as a shield against the ears of the prying. Those within the center, with Marz being the forefront of it all, working on the device even further. With all this work, few were truly allowed near, leaving Venna, the one Marz had first met within this prison, outcasted, as she knew she was not welcomed by the others.

During this night, Marz was the one to take the fewest breaks, using his work to the best of his ability to try and draw the least suspicion. All in the sake for him to be able to retrieve a part from the privy that had come loose from someone's mistake. Many of the monks grew to trust Marz because of his forward nature and hard work, leaving them little room to doubt his nature. Which allowed him leeway when it came to the use of the restroom. When Marz made it to the toilet, he began to enter the men's toilet when he picked up the sounds of crying from the women's privy a few yards away. Marz quickly fished out the part that came loose and made his way to the woman's privy as he was finally able to make the voice out, recognizing them to be Venna's.

Marz sighed as he lightly knocked on the door, a scramble happened within as it seemed the occupant had been startled. After a moment the door opened with Venna appearing wiping tears from her face, and said once she noticed Marz, "Oh, hey, sorry about that. You shouldn't have seen that"

Marz looked to Venna with something that doesn't often show on his face, concern, "What's wrong Venna?"

Tears began to pour from Venna's face again as she began to pour all of her woes. The pain she felt being so outcasted from everyone. These months alone, outcasted, all until someone finally came to find her. Yet all that happened was that he was also captured. Turned into a worker in this forsaken prison and had slowly been withering away from the toil and little rest. "My own father! All I can do is watch! Everyone has a plan, everyone has an objective and all I can do is sit here!"

Venna grabbed onto Marz and looked up to him, tears streaming down her cheeks, "Please! Marz! Anything! I want to help! I can't take this! I know you have a plan!"

Marz felt his heart get caught in his throat, he felt Venna's true anguish, all the emotions, everything. Her very voice seemed to resonate something, as he had a vision. Something that he had when he dedicated himself to this path as a smith, a purpose, a reason, a will, the soul of a person. He saw just a glimpse of Venna's will, and he knew he had to do something.

Marz the broke his silence, "We are making a device to stop the magic dampening". Venna looked to Marz confused as if he didn't hear him.

Marz continued, "We are making a device to allow us to regain our magic. With it, we are going to try and make a break, taking out the monks and escaping".

Venna's eyes began to glow once more, bright as a star as she seemed to have finally gotten something. She was finally trusted as Marz took hold of Venna's shoulders, "Now that you know, we need your help, You are the only one who can move between the 2 areas".

Venna began to nod her head as her mouth opened, "I…I can. I can help, I can spread the news quietly. Freedom will come with magic. Maybe I could even make it where when things happen the others will already be ready to fight. Using the weapons they'd make, we can fight them".

Marz nods as he says, "Good, we're almost done, so let's head back to work. We have a lot to get done". Holding his hand out for Venna to high-five him, as they begin to head their separate ways.

Marz and many of the others are hard at work, working like mad to complete their work for the day while also completing work for the anti-magic dampening device. Hours of work to near the finishing stages of the device, only leaving fit and finish and then testing to do. With by the time they turn in for the night, they were near the point they could think of the actual escape. Today was some of the most fervent days they had, which left Marz quite exhausted, yet also excited.

Even into the night, Marz could not stop thinking of the plan and the device, this sleepless time was kept in tempo by Mazan's snoring. However, once more, Marz began to hear the scratching he heard the night earlier. This time Marz was able to discern its origin coming from the lower bunk where Khalud was. Marz feeling something wrong, used his preparedness to jump up and nearly tackle the smaller chubbier man. Leading to Khalud to nearly fumbling a scroll with writing materials. Marz then quietly barks, "What is that?"

"None of your business, now fuck off".

Marz began to nearly stand to his full height as Khalud seems to squeal out, "They're messages to my family back home! I won't share anything with you, it's-", Khalud seems to become slightly blushed before continuing, "It's for my husband back home".

Marz looked to Khalud slightly aghast as he said, "Keep it to yourself, I don't wanna read it". With Marz returning to his bed, he went to lay down again and began to fall asleep, giving him but a glimpse of movement in the doorway before his eyes fully closed. With the scratching now unable to be heard anymore.

University Of Magical Aptitude

I'm all for either one, I find both having their own merits

University Of Magical Aptitude

HELL YEAH! You love to see it.

Photographic Mimicry is one of those skills I love seeing.

University Of Magical Aptitude

I’ll have mine up by tomorrow! It’s been very busy at both of my jobs this week and I don’t appreciate it.

@AardWolf

Hey you good, take your time, no need to burn yourself to do it

University Of Magical Aptitude

Oh that's 100% pure chance