Unbound

Felix's study was as bare bones as the rest of his apartment. There were some chairs and couches that had been hauled down and even a large potted plant in the corner. As nice as they were, set against the cold fireplace and empty built-in bookshelves, they only made the room look more unfinished. Manalamps studded the bare walls, but two large windows looked out over Elderthrone, casting enough light that they weren’t needed.

Zara and Mauvim followed him in, and he gestured for them to sit while he took up position by the fire. With a quick flex of his Will, he shaped wood into place and lit it aflame.

"So," he said, "what exactly about the Hierophant do you have to tell me?"

Mauvim adjusted herself in the chair, leaning against her crooked cane as if she couldn't find a comfortable place to settle. "I came to warn you again, this time with someone you may listen to."

Felix glanced at Zara, but the woman's face was politically neutral. He snorted. "If you want to convince me that this is dangerous, you don't have to. I know. I heard you before. It doesn't mean we can stop.”

“I know her."

Felix paused. "The Hierophant?"

"Yes. Before her rise as the Hierophant—” Mauvim took a fortifying breath. “She was a Sorcerer."

Felix folded his arms. "Really?"

“Like the one I met you in, Zara?”

The Naiad inclined her head. “That was the intended purpose of that space, once upon a time. The choristry in Haarwatch hadn’t been used like that for at least a century.”

“And for good reason. Few of the choristries still stand, because their locations were known to all Sorcerers. When I was a girl, there were multiple in every city. This was centuries ago, mind you. A different time.” Mauvim’s face tightened. "When Ocalla turned on us, she made sure that those were the first places to be raided.”

“Why?" Felix asked.

"Personally, I am not sure we'll ever know. Politically, however..." Mauvim studied her cane, twisting it about in her hands. "The K’vell people of northern Andiva have a tradition. The steppes get terribly desolate in the winter, and it requires hard decisions to survive. When the frost gets to be the worst, they place all of their sins done in those dark months down onto paper. They write them out. Those strips of paper are then tied to an Avum that's driven out of the village to starve on the steppes. They believed that this absolved them of all their evil deeds and in so doing, would bring herald the sun’s return."

Mauvim spread her hands. "Ocalla was a student of history, always was. She knows this tradition well. When she had her opportunity to rise in power, she made use of it. The Chanters are the Avum, a sacrificial pawn for the Hierophant to blame for all the ills that plague her rule.”

“We are an internal enemy," Zara pointed out, "meant to rouse the passions of the faithful. Far easier to galvanize them to action that way while she took control of Territory after Territory."

Mauvim sighed. "Yes, far easier to blame us than to fix anything."

"All right," Felix said, "but how does this help us in our planning?”

“Ocalla is smart. She will be prepared for us, and that means we need multiple avenues of attack."

"I've already planned for that," he said. "Zara, you're aware of this."

"I am. I have told Mauvim as much as I can already."

"Not nearly enough," Mauvim chastised, pointing at the both of them. "Emperor or not, boy, I cannot commit my people to this war if I cannot be part of its councils. Too much is at risk—"

"Do you trust Zara?" he asked, interrupting her.

"Yes, I do."

“With your life?” he insisted.

To Mauvim’s credit, she didn’t hesitate. “I do.”

"Then prove it. Trust that she has your best interests in mind. You couldn't stop Ocalla before, but I will."

The ancient Sorcerer rapped her cane on the floor. "You cannot be everywhere, boy. Your bonuses as Emperor will not matter if a Heirei demolishes the entire Legion. We will need more than just multiple fronts. We will need leaders capable of handling the might of the Hierocracy themselves. We will need champions."

Felix frowned. "I have a plan for that, too."

"Truly? Do you care to share where you might pluck such leaders out of the Void?"

"No, not really. You know your part to play. The less people that know the whole plan, the better chance we have to pull it off."

Mauvim scowled, but she didn’t dispute that point, at least. "If I know your champions, at least, then we can assist them."

"Zara knows, and will make that assistance readily available. I hope that she has your full support."

Mauvim's jowls shook as she tightened her lips. "Of course she does."

Felix smiled, but there was little warmth in it. "Good."

Across the room, a faint blue radiance rippled across the ceiling, like light cast from a pool. Felix flicked his gaze toward the far corner, toward the five foot tall pot and the small cutting of mossy bark and tender leaves that sprouted from its center. It was glowing.

Felix raised his voice. "Paxus?"

The spirit's voice wafted across the room, echoing as if shouted down a long tunnel. "Emperor Nevarre, I hate to interrupt you and your…company. I can return at another time."

"No, you're fine.”

The spirit hummed, but still didn’t appear. “What I have to say is of a delicate nature."

Zara stood. "That is perfectly fine, Paxus. We will leave you to it, Felix. Mauvim and I can discuss what I can about these champions."

The older Chanter did not move. "The spirit. I have not had a chance to speak with you, Paxus, though my people claim they've tried many times."

"Indeed," the spirit said. He sounded more annoyed than Felix had ever heard.

"Perhaps we could stay and discuss the Fallen Halls. Anything that might help us enhance our records and improve our power for the coming conflict. Advancement is our strongest path through Ruin.”

"I offer what I can," Paxus said, his voice flat. "However, your Sorcerers and I have agreed to a time to speak, and this is not it."

"A glass a day is simply not enough time—" Mavin started before Felix cut in.

"If I find any pertinent information in our chat, I’ll be sure to pass it along. I want the Chanters stronger just as much as you do—we all need to be our best for what’s to come.”

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“I know of several ritual arrays that might be of use. If we can delve into his memories directly—"

“Enough.” Felix gestured and the doors of his apartments opened. “Zara. Mauvim. I will speak with you both later.”

"Of course." The old woman stood, her face pursed as if she’d sucked on a lemon. With sure steps that belied her crooked cane, Mauvim departed, an apologetic Zara on her heels.

Once the doors shut, Felix sighed. "Sorry about that."

The spirit wafted up from the cutting of Abundance Anima, forming swiftly into the shape of a Nymean man. His robes were white with patterns of blue and green worked across the hemline, and his hair was done up in several intricate braids, neatly framing his dark face. He smiled, though his all-blue eyes looked weary as he glanced toward Felix's apartment door.

"I appreciate the privacy," he said.

"Of course. You're looking far more…realistic than usual."

That was an understandment. The Nymean spirit looked as real as the Chanters that had just left, even casting a shadow from the fading light of the windows.

Paxus looked down at himself. "Ah, yes. That is a new development. With Abundance being strengthened by what you’ve restored in Gharion, I've already grown solid enough to affect physical objects while in that Territory. Here in Nagast, however, my reach is only through the cuttings you’ve brought with you. Operating through them costs more power than expected.”

“You used to be a lot more see-through,” Felix agreed. “What changed?”

Paxus smiled. “Do you not know?”

Felix snapped his fingers. "Right. The other Spirit Trees."

"Indeed.”

“I noticed several of them growing up through the gardens. But how does that affect you?"

"The addition of several Spirit Trees to your Grove has greatly bolstered my manifestation as well as my range. From this simple cutting, I can traverse all the way to the base of the mountains without any inconsistency in my projection. I have yet to affect anything physically, however."

"Wait. My Grove?"

"You do not know?" Paxus seemed genuinely surprised before nodding. "I forget how much has been Lost. While connecting the Trees to your Shadowgate network, you've also been connecting the trees to one another. When the roots of Spirit Trees join, they form a Grove, often sharing their power, affinities, and auras with one another to protect themselves and the portion of the Green Wilds they can influence."

"Huh," Felix said. "I had no clue that would happen. Is that why they’ve populated my Mind Skill too?”

“The one you’ve used to facilitate the Shadowgate network?”

“Not just in the gates,” Felix said, rubbing at his chest. “I checked. The Spirit Trees are still in my Skill when I visit it.”

“Of course they are. Those that sing with the Green Wilds will find that the Green Wilds sings within them.”

Felix pondered that a moment. “I suppose I’m not opposed to that. Does this Grove have any other benefits?"

"As they grow older, you may see some strengthening of their auras. Not just a combination, but evolution as their power influences one another. Typically, the eldest Trees in a Grove will guide the younger, but you have bypassed much of their early growth. Now it is down to the Spirit Trees themselves and, of course, the Treesinger that brought them together.”

Felix blinked. "Treesinger?" A memory stirred from his recent visions. "That's right. I saw a whole bunch of people singing to a Spirit Tree. Is that what they were called?"

"It is one name for those of us that specialize in the Green Wilds. A venerated position, if highly specialized.”

“Were you one?”

“I was, yes. In my first century I took care of several Spirit Trees, before I grew more capable with the Chant and found my calling within the greater Harmonies.”

“Is that why you formed a Companion bond with the Abundance Anima?”

“One of many reasons.” Paxus looked fondly at the cutting of his Companion. “She was our protector beneath the waves, and I was her shepherd. By forming the bond with her, I became better able to anticipate and care for her needs, as well as detect issues that may undermine her growth.” His expression soured. “Would that I could have kept her safe from the Creature; instead she kept me safe.”

“I wouldn’t shoulder too much of that blame,” Felix said, wishing he could pat the man on the back. He settled for shoving his hands into his pockets. “Noctis’ splinter would have escaped eventually. I’m just surprised Abundance kept her restrained as long as she did.”

Paxus’ expression transformed from sour to a beaming smile. Pride radiated off of him like sunshine. “She is mighty, and only growing. In the end, I certainly do not regret my choices. Living now as a Mind and Spirit, we’re closer than ever before.”

“Companions are cool like that,” Felix agreed. “Not to change the subject, but why did you refuse to come out with the Chanters here, by the way?"

Paxus sighed and the light of pride faded away. "The Sorcerers of the Fallen Halls are eager in their pursuit of knowledge. Too eager, at times. Since one of Abundance’s cuttings was placed in the Bastion of Atlantes up above, they have battered me with constant inquiries. Questions I, unfortunately, cannot answer. My memories are scrambled and vague, much like Karys’ own, and it is painful to revisit some of them.”

“Karys has told me similar things. I’m sorry.”

“You did not send Ruin to burn our people to ash, Lord Unbound. The jagged edges of my memories are the wounds of war, and their shrapnel leaves lacerations on my Mind that take time to heal.” The spirit shuddered. “The Ruin does not leave things neatly in its wake."

"I'm sorry, Paxus. I can ask them to stop."

"No, it's fine. In fact, through their endless questioning, Karys intervened on my behalf. He has instituted a strict schedule for the Chanters to submit questions; one glass every morning. In the meantime, Karys and I have conversed quite a bit and I’ll tell you that it is refreshing to speak with a learned man.” Paxus folded his hands before himself. “As we’ve both persisted long beyond our allotted time, we have explored many topics as we search our memories. Together, the hurt is not so sharp.”

“Search for what?”

“For whatever we can. Some of it are small things, such as where I lived when I was a boy. Others are far more pertinent and useful to your empire’s endeavors."

“How so?”

"That brings us to the reason I have interrupted you." Paxus gestured, and beside him, an illusory map of the Continent appeared. He pointed at a portion of it that was somewhere along the northern edge of Amaranth’s Territory, near where Levantier and Andiva met in the mountains. "By cross referencing our memories, we have found the Singing Fields, where the Elysian Halls once rested."

Felix strode forward until he was an arm’s length from the map and took in every detail of it. The marker was a blip between the mountains and nowhere near a settlement of note. “This scale is correct?”

“It is.”

If I traveled to Levantier, I could get here within a month. Faster if I could charter a Manaship. “So the capital of the Golden Empire is here?”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not.” Paxus dismissed the map. “The Elysian Halls sat upon Etrionn, They Who Hold Up The Sky. It was known as the Walking City, and it moved often. Etrionn would cycle between several locations, walking for months before coming to a rest to accept visitors and trade more easily as it traversed the empire. Here, in these mountains, was the last place I knew it to be when destruction came for me and mine. At the very least, it may provide you the clues to tracking it down.”

“What about the other resting places?”

“We…are still trying to recall them,” Paxus grimaced. “If it still remains here, however, what do you hope to find? According to Karys, it was the epicenter of Ruin’s advent. I do not know what secrets remain within its husk.”

"I’m only looking for one," Felix said. “I believe you’re familiar with the Crown of Elysium.”

He summoned it, and the Crescian Bronze circlet appeared across his brow just as a golden light radiated from him like a halo.

Paxus nodded, a smile on his face. “Of course. One of the Three Treasures. Tools designed to bolster the Aspects of the Herald herself, and in turn, the entire Golden Empire. There is no citizen who does not know of them. If you plan to find the others, though, I must disappoint you. They would have been the first to be consumed by the Ruin—”

"Well," Felix said, before gesturing and flaring Sonata of Dominance. “Let’s not get ahed of ourselves.”

The Fiendstone floor parted at his feet, and the shimmering Chalice rose on a platform of shifting hexagonal pillars.

"Ancestors wept! Two of them.” Paxus licked his lips, his expression moving between awe and eagerness in turns. “Have you bond them both?”

“Still just the Crown. In a few days though, I'll bond the Chalice, too."

Paxus looked between the Regalia pieces, clearly overcome. His realistic form flickered in his excitement, shifting through blue and purple hues as if he were being viewed through a vast distance of water.

"I see now. You hope that the Exalted Bell is in the ruins of the Elysian Halls?"

"I do."

The spirit's eyes flashed, literally, filling with a mixture of shining blue and green gold Mana that lit up Felix's apartments.

"Then we require more investigation," he said. "I will coordinate with Karys to find details on the Halls and check with Abundance to see what she remembers of the Regalia."

"I appreciate it," Felix said. "Any hint of the Bell would go a long way towards preparing for the Ruin."

"You need not praise me, Felix. The recovery of the Three Treasures is paramount. This..." A smile spread across the spirit's face. "This is beyond promising."

"I certainly hope so, Paxus. For now, though, we need to prepare for the war that's on our doorstep."

The spirit inclined his head. "I will help in any way I can.”

“I actually have an idea that might help your reach, actually. But you'll need to ask the Abundance Anima first to see if she'll agree."

Paxus tilted his head, his expression lighting with interest. "I'm listening."