– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 219, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 53 –

"This 'trip' is taking forever," complained a bald man.

"Derek, your complaining isn't helping." A slender woman with auburn hair in a side ponytail pointed out. "This is worse for me than it is for you."

"If that's true, then only because you've been slacking in your mana cultivation again," retorted Derek. "Otherwise, how could I possibly keep up with your mighty mana pool?"

Rosheen rolled her eyes, but clearly enjoyed the compliment to her mana pool.

"Quiet, you fools," hissed the tall, muscular man from the front.

The pair and all the other disciples following the Demonpalm instantly shut up.

"We're finally going to reach our destination," said Palmer. He stared towards the intense mana from the nearby forbidden zone. "Now, I hope you've read the compiled material for the Freedom Cooperative, formerly known as the Bloodborne Kingdom."

"Sure, but that didn't include the most important parts," grumbled Derek quietly. He flinched when he saw the Demonpalm's gaze rest on him. He cursed himself for always forgetting that the sound-gifted man could hear everything. "I mean, why are we here? From the reports, they are at war. I thought we tried to stay out of those. Fighting the Wastes instead of fighting folks."

"Derek's right," said Rosheen. "The reports also stated that the Cooperative is lax on cultists. I thought we chose Thanatos to stay away from those? They don't even have a Guardian presence. What are we even doing here?"

"For one, I'm the only recognized outsider in Thanatos," said Palmer. "And after someone…" He pointedly glared at Rosheen. "Has pissed off another Thanatos warrior with more pride than ability, I thought it would be better for you all to tag along with what I'm doing."

"He has a point," said Derek. "If you had allowed me to beat the guy up, he would have felt less insulted and embarrassed."

"Not my fault the muscle brain cannot handle my Resonance spell," said Rosheen. "No one asked him to pick a fight with us." She leaned closer. "And why are you siding with him after I spoke up for you?"

"Point taken, my bad," admitted Derek. He turned back to his instructor. "I get why we tag along, but why did you even want to come here, Instructor?"

"Rumors," said Palmer while looking towards the city's entrance gates. "About this city repeatedly repelling an invasion by the Lich Kingdoms even before they recreated the Union's alliance or gained the support of Thanatos."

"Now I'm even more confused," admitted Derek. "If they already won, then what exactly are we supposed to do here?"

"I want to take a look, that's all," said Palmer, and he started walking towards the entrance gate. "I know it's foolish, but I just have to confirm something." He shook his head and mumbled to himself. "Perhaps I'm getting sentimental."

Rosheen caught the slight mumble and narrowed her eyes. "Is this about the divine hammer rumors?"

"What…?" Derek's eyes widened. "Oh!" He turned to Palmer. "Is it possible? But we saw her… Can't be, right? But there's no one else who…"

Palmer did not comment, but continued marching towards the Freedom Cooperative.

When they had finally reached the city, Palmer briefly considered stopping to ask the locals for information, but then decided to take an unbiased look around first.

A large statue in the city's central plaza caught their eyes.

"Looks familiar…" mumbled Derek. "Who's that?"

"Freedom's Guardian," read Rosheen aloud. "In honor of the brave traveler from Arcana. Our eternal gratitude to the first Guardian of this city—" Her eyes opened wide, and she stared at the statue's face once more. "Mighty mana! It's him! It's really him!"

"Who?" Derek leaned forward to read the inscription himself.

"Terry! That's Terry!"

Palmer couldn't help it. From deep in his gut, a wild wave of unconstrained laughter erupted. He looked at the statue and wiped something from his eye. "Rest well, old friend. You can hold your head up high among the ancestors. Your divine hammer appears to be in good hands…"

***

"I can feel it," declared Terry. "Here." He put his hand towards the wall and it pulled back from his touch.

"Don't!" warned Yorgos.

"I agree!" stressed Mahalia. "There's a—"

"Transfer behind," said Terry. "I can feel it through the gap."

"Not just a transfer," said Mia with narrowed eyes. "This isn't just crossing space."

"The Veil," said Samuel. Next to him, some of the Arcanian Guardians inhaled sharply.

"So there's a realm-crossing gate here?" asked Verecund. "A realm portal? For real?"

"A sealed portal," stressed Samuel.

"How could you miss that?" Mia looked at the different Guildheads.

"How could we not?" A man wearing a hooded robe that looked overgrown with moss retorted.

"Mia, he's right. William isn't even a dimensional mage," said Yorgos.

"We missed it, too. Including you." Mahalia pointed out. "Dimensional mage or not. The seal was impeccable."

"Well, that makes me feel better," quipped a tall man with sunken eyes, a dark grey coat, and well-worn travel boots. "Perhaps we should move on from why none of us detected this before and think about what to do now that we have?"

"Khaled is right," said Verecund. "None of us could pinpoint it before. The important thing is what do we do with it?"

Terry nodded. To him, this didn't come as a surprise. If it hadn't been for the location in his mind, or soul, all he would have perceived was a spot that blocked even his mana touch, which could very well be explained by mana-osmotic ore in the walls, which wasn't unusual in dungeons.

"So we have a sealed gate that might lead to a realm infested with a spore-transmitted mana curse," said Khaled gravely.

"A realm that used to be connected to ours somehow," added Samuel. "The spellwork Terry described is clearly an old branch of ours, or at least based on one."

"You said the army consisted of elves?" asked Yorgos. He sent a glance towards his cousin Mia.

"Together with goblinoid giants and beasts, yes," said Terry.

"Then it's possible that this realm wasn't directly connected to this one," said Mia. "It might be a common connection through one of the native elven realms. I'm afraid I don't have any contacts to ask about this. The Elusian Empire has pulled back from this realm, after all."

"Uncle might have contacts," said Yorgos.

"I don't think uncle will be happy to discuss the Elusian Empire," retorted Mia.

Yorgos wrinkled his nose. "I'm supposed to pick up the Valkyrie's disciple from her later. Perhaps I can get them to bring it up with Uncle."

Terry refrained from butting into that situation. It felt surreal to have two powerful dimensional mages cower at the idea of breaching an unpleasant conversation with their uncle, but then again, Terry had seen that uncle stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a magic sovereign and a lich king.

Not like I'm one to lecture others on avoiding unpleasant conversations with family members.

"I don't suppose we can just keep Terry away from here and ensure this seal stays closed?" suggested Verecund. "I'm not sure we're ready to equip a full expedition with everything that's going on. We can issue an empire-wide recruitment, but I'd still doubt we're going to get enough Guardians to sign up. Even if the other empires are pitching in, it's a stretch."

"I'm not sure a full expedition would be wise," said Khaled. "Not before we have at least some preliminary information about what we're dealing with. We're dealing with a powerful mana curse."

Verecund frowned. "A pioneering run sounds more reasonable, but…" He glanced at the hired Guildheads. "Who's going to pay for that? The risk and uncertainty of this is much higher than for regular dungeon pioneering. We're talking about inter-realm travel, hostile territory, mana curses, and dungeon activity. That's a lot of expertise to cover."

"I'm ready to go," declared Khaled. "It's necessary. Even if it was only to ensure the curse remains properly contained. I'm sure I can convince other experts in mana curses."

"I believe our uncle will have an opinion as well," said Yorgos. He shared a glance with Mia. "So you can consider transportation covered."

"I will join," declared William, to the surprise of those present. To answer the inquisitive glances, he pushed back his moss-covered hood to reveal elven ears. "A possibility to investigate a lost elven realm. How could any adventuring elven heart refuse to beat faster?"

"How about you, Samuel?" asked Verecund. "Whatever pioneering team we put together, it is going to need some dungeon expertise, and I couldn't think of anyone better."

"I'm afraid I won't be joining," said Samuel. "I'm happy to keep researching on this side, but my family is here, so this is where I'll stay."

Terry inwardly winced. He had held a tiny trace of hope that Samuel would be interested in researching the mysterious realm. It held answers to questions about dungeons and the Veilbinder's last sacrifice.

Alas, even this wasn't enough to tempt his uncle.

Terry clenched his fists. For him, the realm was more than just a mystery. It was linked, somehow, to his soul.

To the strange soul that had formed after acting as a dungeon defender.

To the strange source of power linking to another dungeon when battling the monster.

After the victory that had felt like a defeat, Terry had reflected a lot on his progress. His uncomfortable realization was that he had grown more under adversity than within the shelter of his home.

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Without being deprived of items in Thanatos, Terry might have never discovered mana touch and the unstoppable shift. It would have taken him much longer to master his spell's activation delay with the help of unbalanced aspecting.

Without being trapped in the martialists' folded space, Terry would have never subjected himself to a body transformation. His mana pool would be lagging behind. He would have never discovered a weapon as suitable as the king spear. He would have taken much longer to master the divine hammer and movable disruption fields, too.

Without putting himself into uncomfortable positions, Terry would have never acted as the chosen champion of a dungeon. He would have never gained his strange soul.

If it even is mine…

Terry wasn't certain about the nature of the soul inside of him, but he was certain that it was a source of large leaps in power, and not just the temporary ones. The temporary experience had brought along permanent benefits. The borrowed power had partially transformed into his own.

The improvement in his overall mana foundation.

The advancement of his spell control.

The inspiration brought by liquid mana.

Terry didn't feel compelled to chase after repeating such dungeon experiences specifically, but he felt restless since facing the monster.

That monster was even more monstrous than the fungus-infested army of death. In contrast to the ego-less mana cursed, Anand had prepared for his own battles. He had pushed to get stronger and had fought to survive.

Who knew what the monster would have prepared the next time?

Terry couldn't always count on a dungeon or his family to bail him out. He refused to simply stand on the sidelines, either.

Terry knew he had to prepare. Knew he had to push himself.

He would.

Right after he had mustered the courage to tell his whaka…

***

"Thanatos has fortified their position in the south of the contested area," said Mina. "Now that the Lich Kingdoms have lost the will for further westward expansion, our alliance can focus on reclaiming the lost territory at a pace that minimizes our losses and ensures we can hold what we gain."

"Sounds wimpy as fuck," scoffed Apex.

"Thank you for the input, Martial Tower Master," said Mina sharply. "As always, our Spirit Tower will take it into consideration."

"I get the goal of minimizing losses, but I have to…" Matteo just couldn't bring himself to say 'agree with Apex'. "Ask how that can work with people like Anand on the loose. Any dimensional mage capable of anchored transfers is going to rip right through any fortification plans."

"I thought the defeated prince would be out of the picture for quite some time?" Mina looked back at her delegation from the Spirit Tower.

"Recovering from a phylactery would take at least a year. And that would still leave the necromancer in a weakened state. For most, it would take decades to recover all of their power."

"This prince isn't most," interjected Siyu, and all eyes turned to the Elven Soul. "I never knew his name before, but I know his reputation in the Lich Kingdoms. He's young by the standard of his rank, but still among the most valued for his contributions to magic advancement and his innovative projects. Diligent and calculating. Talented and ruthless."

She looked at the member of the Spirit Tower that had spoken before. "You can probably cut your estimation in half or more."

Siyu moved her gaze to Matteo and she could see that the Elemental Fury understood. There would be a time when the defeated prince would dare to make a move again. Strong enough to leave the confines of his lich king's territory, but not fully recovered. That would be the best time to strike.

A sharp flint flashed through her purple eyes. The monster that had betrayed her and her father. The murderer that had sacrificed her father to empower himself. One day, she would turn that monster into an empty husk. Burn that rotten soul until nothing was left for a phylactery to catch and recover. "I'd like to join your hunts from now on."

Matteo nodded with a grim expression. He understood. He wanted nothing more than to rip his former mentor apart with bare hands. After all this time, Matteo had finally discovered the monster's background and location.

A background that helped explain how it had evaded his hunt for so long.

Unfortunately, that background was difficult to overcome, and the location was not easily accessible. Even if Matteo wanted to continue his hunt for Anand before the necromancer dared to leave the Lich Kingdoms, they would need a diversion.

A major force to bring the battle to the Lich Kingdoms.

"All I'm saying is that fortifications have little use in the face of dimensional mages," said Matteo. "Even if Anand is temporarily out of the picture, there must be others in the Lich Kingdoms. Their nobility might not move to protect another's territory, but there will be limits. Lines that, once crossed, invite more of their forces to push back."

Mina traced circles with her finger while pondering the implications. She looked towards one of the present messengers for the broader alliance. "We already know that Thanatos is moving generals towards the border with the Lich Kingdoms. How is the Valkyrie's situation? If we can get the cooperation of the Mage Supreme and… What was the name again?"

"Naer," replied one assistant.

"Yes, that one. If that one shows up to support us, I don't have any objections to speeding up our plans." Mina suppressed a shiver at the memory of the rogue mage. She had merely gotten a glimpse of the old elf through a dimensional gate from a distance, and it was still enough to frighten her to her very soul.

A mana signature to rival the magic sovereign and the lich king.

A soul that looked infested with fiendish energy.

A presence as hard as stone and as sharp as broken glass.

"If we're going to face monsters, we might as well bring our own," mumbled Mina while tracing circles on the table. After being lost in thoughts for a moment, she jerked her head to look at the Elemental Tower Master again. "Where's Brynn?" The Crafting Tower Master had sent a representative instead of attending personally.

"Family matters," replied Matteo.

***

"Really?!" Bjorln grinned from ear to ear. It almost seemed like tiny stars danced in his eyes. "I'm going to be an uncle?!"

"Congratulations, Whaka Brynn." Isille hugged her friends. "Whaka Samuel."

"Weren't you an uncle already, Pa?" Jorg stood in line to hug his uncle and aunt as well. "Matteo? Emaldine?"

"Uncle-in-law," said Isille. "Technically."

"No, that's not the point," protested Bjorln vehemently. "It just doesn't count if I can't see the little chipmunks grow up, which I didn't with those two." His grin appeared chiseled permanently into his face. He playfully slapped Samuel on the shoulder. "We just had to take you out on a trip and out of your stuffy office to help you think straight."

"Congratulations," said Lori and offered her own hugs.

"I'm surprised though," admitted Isille. She pushed a loose thread of snow white hair behind her ear. "I remember you wanting to wait longer."

"Things have been put into perspective," said Samuel with an involuntary glance at the two aged dwarves. "Family should be cherished while we can." His eyes flickered to Terry. "And in troubling times, it's better to have more whaka to count on."

Terry couldn't help but wince again.

"Wait, this isn't because of…" Bjorln's grin faltered. His fingers subconsciously moved to his frizzy, snow-white beard.

"The thought of seeing our child grow up without ever meeting their awesome uncle and aunt might have played a part," admitted Brynn. Her soft smile widened into a cheeky grin. "But it's mostly the owning my own country thing. When would we ever have that much time on our hands again? Right?"

Terry stood frozen. Torn between the warring emotions inside his chest. He couldn't stand breaking up the pleasant family scene, but he couldn't hold back his own desire and urge to admit his thoughts any longer.

He became self-conscious when he realized he was the only one who hadn't congratulated the two yet.

He didn't trust himself to open his mouth without also speaking the words hidden underneath his tongue.

After a deep breath, Terry finally mustered the courage. "Congratulations." He hugged the two instructors that had saved him from his self-pity in the Arcana Academy.

"What's wrong?" Samuel and Brynn stared at Terry, who was acting strange.

"Sorry," said Terry. "I didn't mean to break the mood." He took another deep breath. "But I also have something to say…" He glanced at his parents. "And I'm not sure you will like it."

In fact, I'm sure you won't.

***

"No." Bjorln was the first to respond. His eyes were wide with trepidation.

"Terry, what brought this on?" Isille searched her son's gaze.

"Terry, no," said Brynn in an almost pleading voice.

"Wastes no!" barked Lori.

"If you go, I go," said Jorg with a shrug.

"No one's going," barked Bjorln.

Samuel only sighed. "I see…" This explained some of his nephew's behavior he had witnessed recently.

"What do you see?" demanded Bjorln. "Tell him no. We have to stop this madness!"

Samuel focused his gaze on Bjorln. "You know, not long ago, Terry told me something similar regarding you."

Isille ignored the valid reminder about her husband's mad plan to brew a forbidden potion and instead focused on her son. "Terry, I understand that this location has meaning to you, but we can't just—"

"I'm not asking you to," interjected Terry firmly. "I'll go. Me. With whatever team they prepare." He had already explained that the seal was only reacting to his presence. That the team would need him if they wanted to get back through it. Above all, that he desired to go.

"Screw that!" shouted Lori.

"If you go, I go," repeated Jorg.

"What he said," agreed Lori.

"Please don't, you two." Terry grimaced.

"You're not the only one that wants to get stronger, you know!" snapped Lori. "If you take such risks, then why shouldn't I?"

"Because you don't have to!" snapped Terry. "I do!"

"No, you don't," retorted Lori.

"Yes, I do," stressed Terry. "You? You want to get stronger?" He gestured at the tower visible in the distance. "There's your chance. Just like Dhruv taught you the ways of fighting as a root protector, the Elemental Tower is filled to the brim with possible paths for an earth-aspected mana user."

He looked at Jorg. "As is the Crafting Tower or whatever tower you choose to learn spellwork and cultivation from. You're unaspected and it's your pick.

"There are countless paths for either of you to follow." Terry clenched his fists. "Me? I don't have that. The only known paths open to me would be item use or substitutes." He pointedly showed the plane drift tattoos on his fingers.

"Terry, you don't have to follow spellwork to be strong," reminded Isille.

"And I'm happy to instruct you in runic inscriptions," said Brynn.

"I know." Terry said softly, while looking at his mother. His gaze moved to his aunt. "And I appreciate that, but that is not my path. I don't want to feel naked without items ever again and…"

Terry searched for the right words. He shaped a small but intense disruption field in his hand and rapidly moved it around his hand. "When I first learned disruption discharges, this was nothing more than a dream, but it was a vision I could follow."

He flung his hand down, and a divine hammer impacted on the ground. "I'm running out of visions. I need something. Something I can't even see right now."

"That's not true!" objected Lori. "I've seen you practicing the disruption burst."

"And the mana drain," added Jorg.

"And both I will master eventually," acknowledged Terry. "But I need something more." He couldn't help but remember the sensation of liquid mana flowing through his veins.

Terry bit his lips. "Without the unique situation in the Thanatos Proving Grounds, I might have never learned about the unstoppable shift. About the interaction between a spell and same-naturalized mana discharges. It appeared nearly unworkable, but that's…" He sighed. "That's the kind of vision I'm looking for and I don't think I can find it without seeking new experiences and unique situations."

"You say unique, but I'm hearing deadly," said Isille grimly.

"We've just gotten you back and you already want to leave again?" Bjorln's phrasing made Terry wince.

Do I want to?

Terry didn't know how to explain himself. He felt he must. Was that the same as wanting to? He couldn't help but think of the Hound and his monologue about desires.

Perhaps I do?

"You all saved me," said Terry.

More than once and in more ways than one.

"But I want to become stronger," insisted Terry. "I want to do this."

Isille shared a look with her beloved Bjorln. "Then I think we have to save you from yourself."

"If you can defeat me and your ma, you can go," said Bjorln determinedly. Isille nodded.

"I'll join as well," added Brynn.

"Dear." Samuel cleared his throat.

"Fine, my constructs will join." Brynn corrected herself. Her eyes lingered on her beloved Samuel.

"I don't think I will join either side," declared Samuel. He looked at Terry. "I hope you know what you're doing."

I wish I did…

Terry grimaced at seeing his fears realized in full. He tried to think of a way to change their minds without having to fight his parents, but an approaching messenger distracted him.

"Guardian!"

Terry frowned at the title. Being addressed as 'Guardian' when there were two more senior Guardians present felt out of place. "What?"

"Your, uhh, someone claiming to be your father has appeared. He's saying he needs your help. Claims your sister is missing."

Terry's eyes moved from the messenger to Bjorln, to Lori, and back to the messenger. "Yeah, I call bullshit on that."

"Wait, did they give a name?" Samuel shared a glance with Brynn.

"I believe it was Antelias…"

***

– End of Arc 8, Eternal Grudge –

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