<24 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+> [Theo and Julia] The minutes were ticking down slowly. Theo checked his timer for what felt like the thousandth time in a moment.

Time to Primordial Flight: 00H - 17M - 03S

Theo stood up from where he, Julia, Ordus, Kreldar, and Sylvi had taken a seat at the edge of the Ward runes. The Arthintry were just finishing up entering the area that was for them.

Theo and Julia had been surprised by the balance of people in the village. Of the two hundred Arthintry, twenty-five were male, a hundred and ten were children who were between the ages of one and thirteen, and the remaining sixty-five were all women.

Theo looked around. Several of the Arthintry children were climbing on the blocks and playing around the Plinth. As the timer hit fifteen minutes to go, a new message appeared.

Time to Primordial Flight: 00H - 17M - 03S

Expected Duration of Primordial Flight: 01D - 13H - 07M - 55S

Mana Density Warning! Fatal levels of mana absorption per Personal Mana Rank at the following times F Instant B 05H - 39M - 07S E B+ 11H - 52M - 09S D- A- 14H - 14M - 35S D A 17H - 05M - 30S D+ A+ 18H - 48M - 03S C- 00H - 05M - 37S S- 20H - 40M - 51S C 00H - 20M - 47S S 22H - 44M - 56S C+ 01H - 16M - 54S S+ 23H - 59M -59S B- 02H - 41M - 29S S++ It is recommended that you seek shelter behind a Permanent magical defense. Runic Arrays, Spiritual Bulwarks, and Shielding Spells will prevent this time from being reached. Temporary variants of these defenses will be severely limited. Mana Impurity Warning! The Mana that is utilized in Primordial flight is of a higher quality than anything else readily available and is used to purge and correct Errors. Be warned that these Errors can and will cause mental effects on par with [REDACTED]. You have been warned.

"Alright, Everybody, Listen up!" Theo called out, catching several Arthintry women as they came to gather the children and take them back behind the multiple layers of protection that had been arranged for them. "Are any of you lower than C rank in Personal Mana Density?"

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

No one raised their hands. Theo nodded. "Good. But just to be safe when we make our way out to the Mana Convergence Array, stick close to Julia; she can encapsulate us in a moving ring of temporary Ward runes to ease whatever pressures there may be and help avoid the mental effects that the announcement indicated."

Julia nodded. "While we are out there, Theo and I will only be working to ensure that you all can do whatever you came to do. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask." As soon as Primordial Flight begins, we will move to the Mana Convergence Array. If..."

Julia trailed off as a roar hit them on a psychic level, coming from a massive shadow that was approaching. Everyone turned and looked at the shadow, watching in silence. It grew. And grew. And grew. When it finally crossed into the atmosphere of the planet, it was nearly seven miles across and thirteen miles from snout to tail.

As soon as it hit the atmosphere, a wave of mana, wind, and sheer unbridled divinity hit the area with a crash. Theo saw several of the dragons look up and make a strange gesture before bowing their heads for a moment. Theo took a breath and whistled as loudly as he could. The wind was loud enough that he wondered if they could all hear him.

He took Julia's hand and walked to the edge of the Ward runes. Everyone saw and gathered around. Together, they made the short walk to the Mana Convergence Array. He noticed that Sylvi was walking with Ordus and that everyone seemed to be doing fine as they traveled across the open space.

They made it into the Mana Convergence Array, and everyone spread out. Some took out crafts that they began pouring mana into from the ambient mana. Theo scrunched up his eyebrows as he tried to make sense of the Array. Sylvi walked over to Theo and Julia. "I hope it's okay that I came over here with everyone?"

"Of course", Julia said with a smile. Then she saw Theo's look. "What's got you confused?"

"What is the point of the Mana Convergence Array?" Theo asked, "Isn't there even more mana outside the Array than there is here?"

Julia looked equally confused. Sylvi was the one who answered. "It's only mana in here. Out there is Mana, Divinity, and a bunch of other things that are not used by most people. The Mana Convergence Array, in this instance, is acting as a filter. At least that was what Varess was muttering under his breath."

"Well, I guess that makes a lot of sense if you think about it." Julia said, "Alright, let's make sure that all is well; we can check in with people as they take breaks."

Theo agreed, nodding his head towards Sylvi, "I bet if you go over by the edge of there and work on your Runic Inscription, it will benefit from the amount of mana that is around. Maybe you can even pick something up from the ring that Varess made; just please do not mess with the ring."

Sylvi nodded and moved off to an open spot. Theo and Julia started making rounds, with Julia occasionally ferrying people to and from the Thronehold, where they had set up tents or had situated themselves in the partially dug basement.

This went on for several hours. Finally, as the sun started to set, Theo checked his timer again.

Duration of Primordial Flight Remaining: 01D - 07H - 13M - 27S

Most everyone was ready to head back and sleep to get an early start and make the most of the remaining time. Even the hearty Dwarves looked drained after the continual use of Skills and Mana.

Theo and Julia escorted everyone back. Theo looked at Ordus and Kreldar, who were tired but less so than others. "Can the two of you hold the fort down while Julia and I use the Array for a bit?"

Ordus nodded, and Kreldar waved a hand at them. Theo turned to Julia. "I think we do the tokens."

Julia nodded. They both pulled out their tokens and felt the thrum of power that they exuded. Suddenly, a hand tapped on Theo. He turned to find Yordo offering him a strange rock. Theo took it and looked at it.

Yordo smiled and spoke. "VRAG'AH NOR KARNZÛR VALMÛR."

With a loud crack. Theo was gone, shot away into the darkness and power. Julia cried out, "No!"

She rounded on the dwarf, who looked smug. She grabbed at Yordo, and he ducked; he moved to do something only to catch a dragon claw to the face. Sylvi was there, her right hand transformed into her full dragon form. Sylvi put herself between Yordo and Julia.

Julia immediately sent a message to Ordus and Kreldar. Who, only a second later, came sprinting back from where they had been. Julia pulled the cordage from her pouch and tossed it to Ordus. "I don't care how you detain him. Break every bone in his body if you have to. I will be back."

"Wait!" Ordus cried, but before he could stop her. Julia triggered Bound Teleport and was suddenly next to Theo, who seemed to be in the throes of a hallucination. She reached out with her hand, grabbed him, and tried to throw up a temporary Ward rune circle, but a wave of power slammed into her, knocking her into a hallucination of her own.

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