Amdirlain's PoV - Demi-Plane

She'd only been there a few minutes when Sarah arrived—her look of relief at seeing Amdirlain changed to concern when their eyes met. "Your eyes look a lot older."

"You could say I did some closed-door training. There was a time loop that repeated a day. I used it for meditating and lived out a half-dozen lifetimes of those tattooed elves. Also, I trained at Mana Mastery for a few centuries."

Sarah grimaced and sat on the grass beside Amdirlain. "Yeah, that would do it. Are you still wanting to work out which one was me? Not sure we were there together all the time."

"Those lives don't matter at present." Amdirlain took Sarah's hand, aware of the divine energy restrained under her skin. "I missed you. How is the Mantle holding going this time?"

"Bahamut's already extended our worship to other worlds. Kadaklan gives off a serene chill vibe, though I think he's concerned because of the existing issue the Jade Court has with the release of Ki energy. Klipyl's been helping his followers. Jinfeng set up a school for the Qil Tris Catfolk who want further Monk training in a trial safehold."

"I thought she was going to tend to duties in the courts?"

"She got issued a koan with the Jade Emperor's seal," Sarah smirked. "How are your classes looking?"

I'll check with her and see if she needs anything before I head to the plinth.

"I've got a magical Class that is unbalanced in strength with my Ki and psionic classes."

"The good thing about a tripod is that it doesn't tip over with uneven legs. Unless you want to use Profile Mastery to ditch them, you've two choices," said Sarah.

Amdirlain grimaced.

"What?" Sarah leaned against her.

She telepathically shared the brief interaction with Laodice, and Sarah growled at the back of her throat. "I want to end her. That bitch might well have needled you about the years you spent to rush you to the plinth."

"Instead of rushing, I need to use my time efficiently. Want to help me plan? Two heads are better than one."

"Of course I will. That Aspect's bitchiness aside, it still doesn't change your choices if you're not ditching those classes. Choice one: You merge the three into a Prestige Class slanted more towards the teaching focus of Arcane Magistrum. Two: you take a Tier 7 that mixes the weaker two, and then see about getting another Class that matches Arcane Magistrum in strength in another area. What sort of classes did you get offered for the trio?"

"There are some options towards teaching, but I don't feel worthy of the names used by those Ki-related."

"Let me guess, a Class with Bodhisattva in its name?" Sarah drawled.

"Yeah, I'm not holy."

"That's not a completely accurate connotation of the name." Sarah patted her hand. "Though there is more than one planet that would argue with you if they knew the truth. What's your approach to getting something you're comfortable with?"

"I'm going to pour knowledge and skill points into a few areas, then take the best Arcane one on offer."

"I'm sure you'll make the choices you feel you need to. You don't want to talk about finding your Mḗtēr and brothers?"

"Orhêthurin's old emotional wounds are pretty raw over it. I thought I'd spend some time cycling and channelling Ki into the Soul healing technique before I went there."

Sarah squeezed her hand lightly. "I'm glad you didn't rush for the plinth after her dig. You once would have, especially since it was on your list."

"It is my next major stop, so best to have a stable footing, but it will probably still seem rushed to some folks."

"Yet, the longer you take, the greater the impact you have to manage."

"It was odd for her to tip her hand that way, so I'm wondering why she did it. Will you help me with an experiment?"

"What do you need?" Sarah turned to face her directly.

"When I pour points into Arcane Knowledge, I'd like to see if holding a mental link with you would help me gain more insights."

"All my old lives would offer context to supplement and make sense of what you receive from the points." Sarah clicked her tongue. "Even with the Mantle boosting me, your brain is faster than mine. I'd recommend expanding your knowledge beyond Arcane. If you have enough of them in Grandmaster rank, it will provide a more diverse base. Your rank in arcane should provide synergy insights, helping them grow faster and evening out."

"The rune, ritual, and warding lores, plus magic circles?"

"Yeah, the various planar-type lore knowledges that you have don't count for helping Arcane Knowledge's growth. Push up your Psionic Lore and Eastern Paths as well, before you see what teacher prestige classes you've unlocked. There is also a Ki Techniques Knowledge that might help for a Class related to learning."

Amdirlain let out a slow breath. "I'm worried."

"Some days, you can still hold too much in," said Sarah. "Are you trying to distract yourself from old emotions resurfacing?"

"Yeah. I've got too much else going on. I'm not locking them away, but I wish they'd settle down."

"Taking the time to deal with them might be an idea, but prepare as best you can, sweetie," said Sarah. "I'm game whenever you want to try that experiment. Hold the mental link between us wide, and I'll help you sort the incoming knowledge. It's just as well that you've had all the practice with telepathy."

"I have a crazy amount of knowledge points thanks to my latest Class."

Sarah slipped her hand free and cupped Amdirlain's face. "I love you, and believe you will come back to me, okay?"

Tears pricked her eyes as Amdirlain's inside churned. She nodded, momentarily wordless, and kissed her wife, drawing her close.

"I love you," Amdirlain breathed a long time later.

The grin brightened Sarah's usually composed gaze. "We need to get you stronger, so you have the best chance. That means a Tier 7 Class; combining three classes should be your next step."

"Right. Can you spend time now? What about your followers and your Mantle? It doesn't sound like the situation is entirely stable."

"That's why Bahamut helped me branch out to other worlds. He also said he'd provide me with backup on my Mantle while you got ready for your next trip," Sarah shrugged. "Said it was paying me back for those lifetimes where I was a loyal priestess. The same as my memories are available because you gave me the ability to access them. We build on our past to move to the future, sweetie."

Amdirlain leant forward and pressed her forehead against Sarah's, snuck another quick kiss before she sat back. "Shall we see how much progress we make in a week? I'll take the time to explore the knowledge linkages."

"Let's get comfortable and ensure nothing will bother us." Sarah released her house and, taking Amdirlain's hand, led the way inside. Weaponry bristled forth across the rooftop, and a magical barrier enclosed the surroundings.

As they relaxed on a couch in the living room, Sarah smiled. "We were going to plan together because two heads are better than one, but it's not just us. There is also Lethe, and in your soulscape you learn faster."

"Lethe said I never learnt magic, just set up the rules, and I know I certainly never learnt psionics or Ki techniques."

"That's true, but you've drawn others in your soulscape when you thought it a mental palace. If Lethe can host the two of us, then she might increase the rate of learning." Sarah noted.

Amdirlain nudged her shoulder. "You going to stay like that?"

"Your legs don't get tired, and I'm comfortable."

With an amused snort, Amdirlain relaxed. Not wanting to show Sarah the flame-enfolded landscape, she visualised the layout from the Soul healing technique—a black space with the figure of her numerous lifetimes surrounding them.

They appeared in darkness, surrounded by the orbiting figures of her various lifetimes. Recognition trickled through the link as Sarah eyed one of the tattooed elves, but Amdirlain focused on their current purpose.

"Lethe," Amdirlain called. "Would you be able to help us out?"

A figure coalesced in the soulscape, her visage identical to the form Anar Ori had used for billions of years. Her platinum blond hair fluttered in an unfelt breeze. "Of course. What did you need?"

"First, did you feel the first time the plinth assessed me?" asked Amdirlain.

"I guard the memories from your original lifetime, others I only get when you explicitly allow me access," Lethe turned to Sarah. "Orhêthurin entrusted me with many memories of you."

Sarah squared her shoulders. "I understand if you need to chew me out."

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"Never," said Lethe. "She regretted the argument before Leviathan's arrival. Though the promise bound her to find someone else to love, she never regretted that first life you had together."

Amdirlain caught Sarah's hand as she blanched in distress. "Hey. We're here together."

"I didn't intend to cause you pain, Shindraithra." Lethe raised her hands. "In a way, I'm jealous of you. You were her secret keeper, her first love, whereas I'm the gaoler for her memories."

Sarah motioned for her to relax. "I took no offence, and I'm not sure why your announcement even surprised me. My reaction was purely from my lingering regrets."

"I'll start with a memory of what I'd like to accomplish." Amdirlain tried to allow her access to the earlier conversation with Sarah and heard the music of her short-term memory interact with Lethe.

She nodded confidently. "That I should be able to do. Could you provide me with access to your current knowledge? It might work better if I already knew what you're trying to improve."

"It'll give you new things to consider," said Amdirlain, as she imagined granting Lethe read permission on all the arcane knowledge.

A bright smile lit Lethe's expression. "It's been so long since I had new experiences. Shall we begin?"

Amdirlain expanded their mental link and drew Lethe into it. With their mental links open, the first knowledge points called up memories from across hundreds of Sarah's lifetimes. Each revealed more practical uses for knowledge new to Amdirlain. The theory mingled seamlessly with practical reality, Sarah's past grounding it with aeons of experience. Days stretched out as understanding blossomed, allowing ancient knowledge and new ideas to provide positive feedback for one another. The impact of the Arcane Magistrum was evident in Arcane Knowledge evolving far sooner than the non-arcane she'd included for a baseline. Amdirlain's growth wasn't a one-way street. Her existing knowledge interacted with Sarah's insights into why the magical rules of the realm had been established in particular fashions. Though Amdirlain's assorted knowledge skills soon evolved to the Lord rank, they pressed on for the entire week.

The advancement through the Lord rank brought the theory to channel energy from ley lines through runes, rather than living casters drawing mana, and moved forward to mechanisms for shifting and controlling them. The growth of other knowledge produced revelations on a similar scale, working with Mana through various mechanisms on a continental and then planetary scale.

As dragging notes grew common throughout the theme of Sarah's mind, Amdirlain forced herself to halt.

"Yeah, I need recovery time. You've wrung this little Demigod out," sighed Sarah. "Thanks, Lethe."

Amdirlain released Sarah from the mental link and started to leave the soulscape when Lethe's hand twitched.

Amdirlain paused at Lethe's quick signal. "What is it?"

"When you face the plinth, consider coming into the soulscape. While I'm not sure if I can help, the two of us together might handle it better."

"I had hoped with the billions of years you have held away, the review of those lives would seem less to you than to me."

Lethe frowned. "But those are the memories I started with, or from while Ori lived, not years flooding in a rush. You'd also need to allow me to access your ongoing experiences, so that might be uncomfortable for you. You're self-sufficient, so trying to trust me that far might not even work."

"I'll see how it goes. Talk to you later," replied Amdirlain before she exited the soulscape.

Sarah slipped forward on the couch. "You know, we have a bed upstairs. We've made a dent in this couch from lying still so long."

"What, no mating flight?"

"I figured you could do with a touch of normal," Sarah rose.

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Much later, Sarah shifted position, her arm draped across Amdirlain's stomach. "Sweetie, do you still have Muse's Embrace running?"

"Most of the time I don't think about turning it off," murmured Amdirlain, drinking in the humming music coming from Sarah. "Why?"

"My brain is putting points together when it should just be enjoying happy thoughts. Now, curiosity is trying to interrupt my mood. Question: True Song being made within the realm screws it up for repairing anything beyond the inner boundary?"

"Yes." Amdirlain relaxed beneath her caresses, taking in Sarah's sated smile and glowing eyes.

"What will you do if you can't break through to Primordial properly?"

"Then the best I can do is patch the interior, but since Balnérith showed extensive signs of Far Chaos influence, the durability will be questionable. The other option is to bargain with one of two individuals. If they don't want to cooperate, then I'll see what deal I can arrange with the maker. They sound focused on creation, but they might help us fix it."

"I take it you're not including Bahamut?" Sarah projected.

"No, his nature isn't right for forming the boundary of a realm, so he wouldn't be able to help me repair it. He's too orderly, so anything he creates would rapidly be corrupted by the chaos."

Sarah shuddered. "Great, so you have the choice of self-interested and destructive, self-interested and vengeful, or complete mystery."

That's a pretty fair summary of Tiamat and Nüwa.

"Nu already refused to help with demons when they came about, and Tia I've already had to threaten," said Amdirlain.

"Perhaps that's for the best. Nu's price for dealing with the realm's problem would be steep."

Amdirlain wrinkled her nose. "I'm pretty sure I know what she'd ask for and unfortunately, I could grant it without being a Primordial. I can see her wanting payment first, and that then leaves me vulnerable to whatever loopholes she puts in the arrangement."

"What about this maker individual?"

"No idea. Anyway, it's all a problem for a future me. There are options besides repairing this realm, so let's see how strong I can get."

"What options?"

"Moving planetary systems into another realm. I can't use True Song outside this realm, but I can use it to send things outside it. You told me about the big news. Any other things I should address or people I should meet before I head off?"

"Rachel wanted to meet up with you after you were in touch again. As did Rainith, but she seemed uncertain if she should bother you." Sarah's fingers traced looping trails across Amdirlain's abdomen.

Another shiver of warm desire ran through her, and Amdirlain smiled. "You're trying to distract me. Did they tell you what they were after?"

"Stuff to speak about in person," Sarah replied. "They were being mysterious, so I didn't probe. I don't know why Rainith didn't ask Roher to get in touch for her instead."

"Well, some things a girl doesn't want her Father to know about. Has Ilya changed her name yet, or is Rachel still talking her into it?"

"That's still in discussions. The suffix keeps her safe, and Ilya is still figuring out what name she even wants to use," said Sarah.

"I'll contact them later." Amdirlain rolled on her side and drew Sarah into a hug, enjoying the soothing melody of their bodies touching. "I can hear your Mantle buzzing away. I'm glad it's under control and not burning me."

"It would have annoyed me greatly if I couldn't touch you. Do you wish you'd left the graves on Qil Tris until after the plinth?"

"Then I would have gone there, worried about something happening to them if I didn't handle the plinth well," replied Amdirlain. "The bloody thing would have then probably judged me for not helping for reasons of self-preservation. I'd rather suffer because I did the right thing than for not helping others."

A warm smile curved Sarah's lips before she leant forward and planted a kiss on the tip of her nose.

"What's with kissing my nose?"

"It's your nose, and if I start on your lips, then I won't stop. A minor but applicable factor since we're talking." Sarah hooked her ankle behind Amdirlain's calf and wiggled closer. "Did you get any useful prestige classes from our study session?"

"I got some unlocks reported. Let me check for the best." Amdirlain projected the details of the one with the strongest theme.

[Sidereal Magistrum (Variant)

Details: Gained by luminaries in multiple fields, who have guided students. The primary focus of these prestige classes is on the strongest Class combined.

Requirements:

- Possess any Magistrum Class variant.

- Possesses five knowledge skills that have evolved into the Prince Tier or higher.

Adjustments:

- Increased chance of sage insights when advancing Arcane, psionic or Ki-related areas of knowledge.

- Increased chance of significant insights when advancing arcane, psionic or Ki-related powers.

+50 Intelligence per Level.

+25 Willpower per Level.

+6 Free attribute points per Level.

+20 Health per Level.

+30 Magic per Level.

+60 Mana per Level.

+30 Psi per Level.

+30 Ki per Level.

+2 Defence per Level.

+8 Skill points per Level.

+8 Knowledge points per Level.]

"That alone will get my magic rating over the hundred thousand mark."

"True Song Classes next?" asked Sarah.

"Yeah, but I need to expand my Psi reserves."

"That's because your Ki powers absorbed your meditation skills." Sarah wiggled again, her hardened nipples rubbing against Amdirlain. "You should regain one and push your Psionic-Lord."

"Have you finished indulging your curiosity?" breathed Amdirlain, caught in the heated notes of desire climbing through their bodies.

Sarah's eyes glowed brighter. "Yeah, I need to stockpile your touch."

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Nicholaus's PoV - Spire - New quarters

An instant of warning from Gideon had been enough. He'd create a grassed area with a simple house in a part of the Spire away from the racket of the main forge room.

Ourania had arrived, cussing up a storm at Eleftherios for snatching them from her daughter. Nicholaus had created an Avatar to meet her, while his primary focus remained on the flames within the forge. He arrived expecting his wife to be ready to shatter, but beneath her sorrow, he felt tempered steel.

What did they do to her?

"Thank you for bringing them to safety, Eleftherios," offered Nicholaus.

She'd taken one look at him and raised an eyebrow. "You're still working on something, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"I see you've not changed. I barely recognise our daughter, and this Eleftherios fellow could have given me longer with her." Ourania reclaimed the boys from Eleftherios, her gaze sparking with fury.

Eleftherios shook his head. "Too much attention. If you'd stayed, it would have endangered your family, and I could have protected you, but not Amdirlain."

Ourania stiffened. "Why couldn't you have protected Phaedra?"

"Her name is Amdirlain. Do you want me to tell you directly?" asked Nicholaus.

She shifted her weight as she rocked the boys. "Amdirlain, what an odd-sounding name. I should at least know the surface details without the maze of foundations your reasons normally possess."

Nicholaus motioned to the front door. "Even the surface details are a tale of many years. Let's go inside so you can sit while we talk."

The arrangement of the front room echoed that of their old home, a circle of furniture with chests and shelves along one wall for storage. Yet the padded chairs and baby things were far different from any they'd possessed when they'd lived together.

With a strained sigh, Ourania eyed a wide, elaborately carved crib with a curved stone base; the ends with stoppers to prevent it tipping. "Will the boys sleep?"

"They'll experience most sensations that will mimic flesh. They won't need food here, but they'll still be able to taste it as they grow."

He took a spot in a chair as she settled them in the crib.

With that done, Ourania sat on his lap and stroked his face; her gentle touch was as accepting as ever. "Your eyes look so sad. What have you and Ph- Amdirlain endured, my love?"

"You're worried about what we endured? You died. What did they do to you in Hades?"

"Our deaths were quick, and the rest isn't important. Amdirlain said it has been aeons for you."

"I'll share the tale whenever they're asleep," rumbled Nicholaus.

Ourania reached higher and stroked his ear. "I'll listen."

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, the warmth of her acceptance drawing a trickle of tears. "We missed you so much."

Outside the cottage, Eleftherios's physical form dissolved back into energy as he slipped away.

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