Back aboard the Camelot, I was looking out towards the treeline, thinking about taking up the Vasas on their offer and going to see their home... But, in the end, I decided against it. I don't trust them that much yet. After Ur'Tokh was done with the explanation and saw I had no more questions, he took his leave. It didn't take long, and they all had already vanished. He went back into the mouth of his beast, making me think they were piloting it like some kind of flesh-mech or something... Connected to the other two, so he was piloting three at once. Bizarre to say the least. As for what I would do next... that was the question. I stood atop the observation deck, staring out at the gathering of clouds, my reflection flickering across the glass, having a lot to think about... and I had no clear decision forming in my head. Tsk...

Looking down, I had something in my hand, a gift, left behind by Ur'Tokh. It was made of bone, scorched to turn completely black, but then smoothed to a level that was shiny and strangely reflective. As for its shape, it was perfectly round and surprisingly cold to the touch. Fiddling with it, once the light hit it right, I could see the etching inside the bone. It took me some time to make out the whole pattern, which was so intricate it seemed like they copied the inscription on the One Ring from my memories. Except this was made out of this world's runes. When I asked what it was, Ur'Tokh called it a transmitter stone, supposedly made from the bones of some of their fallen, which would allow communication instantly over great distances. Weird and pretty metal if you ask me. Before leaving, he also mentioned that anyone with ample magic can activate it and reach them... so I should give it to Arthur. Of course I should...

Playing with it for hours, I turned the stone over once more between my fingers, the etched lines pulsing faintly in rhythm with my heartbeat... or maybe that was just my imagination. The truth was, it made me uncomfortable to even hold the damn thing. But it was what Ur'Tokh said it was, because the runes inside were cross-referenced in my mind with all that I had ever witnessed. It was indeed nothing but a morbid walkie-talkie.

"Sir," came Kustov's voice from behind me, his boots clicking against the deck, announcing his arrival. "We're ready to depart on your command."

"Take us up," I said without turning. "Back through the Gods Formation, but do it slowly. They always said it stopped them from coming through... Who knows if their tech will get blocked, too? Because if it does, I will chuck it into the gorge before it brings us down."

"Yes, Sovereign."

The deck vibrated not long after Kustov left as we began heading back home... This was a decision that needed everyone's input from the family.

... .... ......

My quick return and subsequent call for a family meeting made everyone gather in a hurry, expecting some grave news, especially because I refused to say what it was about. I insisted on waiting for everyone because I wasn't going to explain it every time a new face pops into the room. Of course, Sasha was the first to come, followed by Yuri, Luna, Mikan, and then the kids, one by one, including the three newest additions, Jila, Percival, and Fila. When everyone was there, I slowly looked at all of them, sensing that my stupid silence was doing nothing but raising their worry.

Sasha and Yuri sat across from me, already glaring at me like two predators about to rip me to shreds if I do not start talking, like right now. In contrast, Mikan was sitting between them, the only one managing to look calm, encouraging everyone with her smile. As for Luna, she sat next to the twins, while Arthur leaned back in his chair, looking composed, unlike Leyla, who sat with her arms crossed and stared him down like she was daring him to say something stupid, already guessing this was going to be about him and his stupid, open mind. Lancelot, of course, with his wife and son, while Morgan got her place beside Galahad and Fila, all looking at me, waiting for me to start.

"So…" I said finally, breaking the silence that had been stretching too long, just as Sasha was about to open her mouth to tell me to start already. "Here is what happened..."

I told them everything from start to finish. From the emissaries coming with riding beasts from within, their supposed end-of-the-world prophecy, about Ignis and about the offer, or the demand, depending on how you looked at it, to let them teach Arthur. Just as I finished, of course, the first voice to react belonged to Sasha, slapping the table, looking at me, and then looking at Arthur.

"No. Absolutely not."

"Seconded," Yuri agreed immediately, slamming her palm against the table for emphasis, just the same way Sasha did. When the hell did these two become twins? "You shouldn't have even brought that thing here." She pointed at the Vasa telephone I placed in the middle of the table, currently resting in a small box.

"It's not contagious," I muttered, rubbing my temple. "I already looked at it, and you all have more magic than I do. I thought you would be able to poke at it more, to see what it actually does."

"That's not the point," Sasha shot back, glaring at me. "Leon, they tried to contact our son through blood. Through his blood! And now they want a second method? Ooooh, how nice of them!"

"I know," I agreed, "I told them the exact same thing. Probably why they went with this, so... it is a compromise on their part."

"Whoopty fucking doo!" Yuri grunted, rolling her eyes, "They want to control this 'Ignis' nonsense... I knew people like them. They look at Arthur as a leash, and they want to hold it in the end. I don't like it. Not in the slightest."

"They also said the world's going to burn if we don't listen," I added, and before they could speak up again, I continued, "And yes, yes, I told them the same thing! Were you listening to my explanation or not? Why do I need to sound as if I am disagreeing, geez..."

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"We can come up with something they can't," Sasha snapped, "We always had, this is no different.

"Um, I'm also here," Arthur muttered under his breath, "Can I have a say in it?"

"No, you can't," Leyla whipped her head toward him, hitting him in the face with her ponytail. "Don't you dare start."

"I'm not starting anything," he grunted, sitting up straighter, his tone remaining composed as best as he could make it. "I'm just saying, as per the person in question. We don't know if they're lying or not, and we're drawing conclusions too early."

"Son," Sasha rounded on him at once, "You think they're telling the truth? After manipulating your mind, nearly killing you?"

"The last one certainly wasn't them." Even then, Arthur didn't back down. "And I think they're desperate. That's different! I didn't sense any lies in their words when they contacted me."

"They could easily mask it; we can't tell. That connection... is weird." Yuri added, taking Sasha's side again. "You of all people should know that, especially after you controlled that bone-made monster... What if they want to do the same to you?"

"Let's not get into a shouting match and scare poor Percy," Mikan joined in softly, her voice calm and soothing. "Let's take a breather, all of us. We all know what's at stake, and shouting won't make the choice clearer!" As we all leaned back a little, she continued, "I agree with Leon," she said, turning toward me. "We can't make a decision out of fear, and we have to talk this out and come to a decision. That monster, Arthur's collapse, is way too real. Even if that thing is not a world-ending calamity, it is still just as dangerous as the Guardian was. It must be dealt with."

"You can't be serious," Yuri muttered. "You want to hand them Arthur's blood?"

"No, of course not," Mikan said evenly, looking into her eyes, "I am saying that we can't just throw everything out. If they're right about Ignis... we must deal with that threat, and like it or not, Arthur can't shirk that responsibility. Especially not because now he is the Sovereign of Avalon."

"That's if," Sasha interrupted, "IF they don't lie about it."

"Everything can be an if," Mikan agreed. "But can we gamble that easily with everyone's lives? What if this is the one time the old monsters are telling the truth?"

Hearing Mikan speak, Luna slowly leaned back in her chair, letting out a long sigh.

"I hate that both of you are right," she said finally. "The Vasas scare me... But so does what Leon said about that beast. If this Ignis really existed before the Gods changed the world... what would happen if he woke up again? Haaah... this is like one of my bad books... A total sham, if you ask me!"

"Well," Morgan joined in, speaking up for the first time, "I think this is pretty easy to decide: We kill it." Everyone turned to her, of course, but she just crossed her arms, unbothered by the attention. "That's what we do, isn't it? Monsters come, we strike them down. Easy! If it's that big and powerful, we use the fleet, the mechs, the damn Camelot, everything. Why make it Arthur's problem? Let's go there and blow up the volcano and everything else with it."

"I thought about it..." I said quietly. "But if they're right, killing it may not be just as simple as throwing everything we have at it."

"Then we study it," Galahad leaned forward, eyes looking at every one of us, one by one, before settling on the Vasas' gift. "They left that stone for us for exactly that reason. I say, why not use it? More knowledge is never bad; we can choose whether to use it in the future. But learning about our enemies is a must!"

"Listen to them?" Leyla turned towards him, "To what? Some ancient mutant god-warlock telling us to bleed for the salvation of the whole world?"

"Leyla," Galahad shrugged slightly, "No, that's a bit extreme, I think. But I am saying that we should hear what they want to teach Arthur. We can all look into it, try it, and see if there is something fishy about it! We are pretty smart, are we not?"

"Haaah..." Sasha's glare could have melted steel as she looked at Galahad before shrugging, her shoulders drooping, "You sound just like your father."

"I'll take that as a compliment," I muttered, not wanting to look at her, fearing she would snap. Well... she did anyway.

"No, you shouldn't."

"Khm," Lancelot cleared his throat, raising his hand slightly. "Look, I'm with Arthur on this one. Whatever happens, we're stronger together. If he decides to go through with it, he won't be alone. Let him listen, learn more about what he can do, and then we can strategize about our next step. Like a family. He won't just get up and leave anyway!"

"Damn right, he won't," I snorted, pursing my lips. "Because he's not going anywhere without me."

"You're all assuming I'm going to just hop over and travel to some beast-infested land of actual barbarians," he said slowly, twitching his lips, "I haven't lost my mind, you know. I just... want to hear them out. Like a proper Sovereign."

"Son..." Sasha started to protest, but he lifted a hand to stop her from doing so.

"Mom, if there's even a chance they're right, I need to know." Then, after a long moment, not getting any more retorts either from Sasha or Yuri, Arthur looked at Leyla. They clearly were talking in their own way, until Leyla just snorted, looking away, letting Arthur turn towards me. "How do we activate it?"

"I have no idea," I hesitated, reaching out for the stone and rolling it towards my son, "They said anyone with magic can trigger it."

While listening, he picked it up, and the transmitting stone immediately began spinning. The runes along its surface started to shimmer the moment his palm hovered over it, forming a circle, precisely like that damned ring in that book! Fuck.

"Arthur—" Sasha began, but it was too late, as the light from it flared and, like a mirage, Zah'Ratil's head appeared in front of us like some holo projection.

"...Savior." Arthur froze because this was the first time he had heard the same voice talking to him, without a headache accompanying the experience. "I greet you… With all the warmth in my heart," the voice continued, looking only at him. "Forgive my earlier intrusions, but we were and we still are, desperate. I am Zah'Ratil of the Vasa Sect, the current Sect Master of our people." He began, but it was clear that his introduction was mainly for the others present.

"Well... You know who I am," Arthur nodded in answer, "Dad told me everything so... What's up with that?"

"Yes," Zah'Ratil's voice continued, distorting slightly, thanks to being carried from a long, long distance. "I must impart all we know about the monsters, their cores, and how to take control of their magic. And you must use it, to dominate and control the beasts, to get familiar with the feelings because Ignis–"

"I understand the risks," Arthur cut in, before Sasha could explode.

"No. You don't." Zah'Ratil shook his head, "None of you do. We are already late... And I fear... That this winter may be the last our world will ever see. Please... listen to me, before everything turns to ash."

And then, as if on cue, I caught it. Outside, through the window, in the lamplight of the night... I caught the snow coming down from above us.

Damn... That's... ominous.

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