The Grand Party Separates

Crowds stood in waiting around the base of the Council chamber as it slowly lowered itself to the ground with a reverberating hum. Dust circulated in wisps as the crystals soothed their descent. When the enormous disc steadied on the ground, Mi-ux and Ik-Yu took their places by the door. It slid open, and the entirety of the audience moved forward by a step.

Sayane and Azag exited, and a cheer spread across the gathering. Hundreds of voices churned up in excited waiting, and Sayane smiled a nervous smile as she waved to the faithful who were waiting for their update. Her throat was still raw, so shouting would be a challenge, but she wanted to address them all.

“We should address them. Can we tell them the plan?” she asked.

Azag thought it over before looking back to Attis, who was slowly making his way to them.

“I.., think so? We can tell them here, just not over the voice carriers. Lest any remaining Silence hear and try to ambush us during travel,” Azag answered.

Attis agreed.

“Once we reach Haven, we can send a full broadcast to invite all others. But for now, just the encampment.”

Sayane looked down at their newest co-leader. The shock of everything was still etched on his face.

“I’d like to introduce you,” Sayane smiled.

“Aye. Then perhaps you can tell everyone?” Azag said.

Attis chuckled.

“Am I about to have the Songstress Supreme hype me up? How the roles have switched!”

“I’ll do my best!” Sayane clapped.

With that, she stepped forward, and another roar moved through the listeners.

“Everyone! We have some great news!” Sayane shouted to the best of her ability.

Her words calmed the crowd.

“We have a new leader to join Azag and me! From here on, there will be three of us working together!” Sayane shouted.

Cheers rolled.

“He has been with me since my first day in this world! Before that, he was a dedicated council member of The Revolution! I have trusted his judgement every step of my journey, and I know he will be just as compassionate and dedicated to all of you as he was to me! Please, say hello to Attis The Hopeful Herald!” Sayane cheered.

Several councilors gathered behind them to observe the scene. Attis stepped forward and jumped onto the nearest rock to gain some height. His appearance brought a new wave of cheers, and chants of his name began to circulate. Tiny paws raised to calm to chants, and Attis cleared his throat to warm his booming voice.

“Friends of old and friends yet to be made! I do not accept this responsibility lightly! Long have I yearned for days of peace. Now that they are upon us, I vow that I shall do all in my power to keep them. With the help of Sayane The Songstress Supreme, and Azag The Great Guardian, we will all know tranquility and abundance together!”

As always, Attis had a way with words that even Sayane had to bow to. His affirmation was received by resounding cheers, and Sayane once again dared to feel joyous optimism. Attis inhaled to continue.

“Tomorrow, we make for Haven, home of the mages! Our new world begins on the Second Ring!” said Attis.

“Rest up, for we depart after dawn,” Azag added.

“Join us on this journey and help us build a better future for all!” Sayane finished.

A final wave of cheers sounded out. Sayane knew that keeping such information flowing would be crucial in the coming weeks and months. As the crowd dissipated, Anahita, Saxum, and Can-Mo approached. Erosc joined them from behind.

“Well done, Attis! Well done!!” Can-Mo cheered as the group convened.

“So, Erosc, do you always make major leadership decisions on the fly?” Azag dryly asked as he pointed to himself, Sayane, and Attis.

“Yeah, nobody stand too close to Erosc, or he might put you in charge of some Revolution committee,” Sayane jested.

Erosc let out a deep, hearty laugh. It surprised Sayane.

“I did ask Attis to forgive me,” he chortled.

“I’ve never heard you laugh, Erosc,” Sayane admitted.

“Aye, it’s been a while,” he replied as his massive paw pensively raised to touch the edge of his slightly curved mouth.

“Attis, what was your title? So that I may record it,” Saxum asked.

“Attis The Hopeful Herald,” Attis replied.

“It’s a good-ass name,” Sayane smirked.

Her comrade was so very small when he stood among them all. Tufts of his fur were matted from travel, and his cloak was even more tattered than when she’d first seen it. But he was still as wondrous to behold and be near as he’d ever been. Something about him filled her with a warmth that she couldn’t quite explain.

He noticed her watching him.

“What, dear child?” he asked.

Sayane simply smiled and winked at him. Attis observed the motion and replied by winking his two left eyes in near unison.

Erosc tapped his cane on the hardened soil and cleared his throat, causing everyone to look his way.

“Great Trine Sovereign. I humbly ask your permission to take my leave of the encampment so that I can return my focus to the remaining Silence garrisons and outposts.”

His tone was solemn, as though he himself was not yet ready to leave. But they all knew it was necessary. Thousands of Silence warriors still hid across the land, and the longer they were allowed to linger, the more of a chance they had to gather strength and organize.

“Beyond Vraxlyn The Broken, we know several commanders are still alive. I wish to take a contingent of soldiers, along with Xentros, to hunt them down. Those who surrender will be allowed to do so. Those that fight will be extinguished.”

“You’re taking Xentros with you?” Sayane asked in surprise.

“He is truly insane, but even with just one arm, he is a fearsome warrior.”

“You’re not afraid he’s going to turn on you and rejoin his Silence comrades?” Azag asked.

“No, I believe he legitimately sees Sayane as the most powerful weapon of all, so he is loyal to us. Still, if I fall to a one-armed maniac, I shall curse my entire existence, and I forbid any of you from mourning me,” Erosc dryly responded.

“Fair,” said Azag.

“Take whatever you feel is appropriate, Erosc The Undying. When you are ready, rejoin us at Haven,” Attis replied.

Winds picked up, and Sayane’s hair drifted before her eyes. She watched as the invisible currents shifted everyone’s fabrics in a new direction, and the image struck her as an affirmation that a change in direction was coming for them all. Beyond Erosc’s request, she had her own for two other party members.

“Saxum? Anahita?” Sayane softly asked.

“Hmm?” Anahita replied as she landed on Saxum’s shoulder.

“Yes, songstress?” Saxum said.

“I have a request for each of you. Anahita, they said the soil on the surface is all but destroyed. Could your kind help restore that? Even if you need my help.”

Anahita’s head tilted as she pondered the question.

“We’ve never had to do anything of that scope before, but I believe it could be possible. I can seek counsel from our elders and return to you with answers.”

Sayane bowed.

“Saxum. I have not forgotten the horror your people have endured. Do you know of a way to find out everywhere your desecrated bodies were used in structures and sculptures?”

Attis’s ears perked. Vibrant pulses of light streaked through Saxum’s body.

“Sayane?” Saxum asked.

Sayane turned to Azag, then Attis. Her request was going to entail a great deal, but she had no desire to back down.

“I want to lay those poor souls to rest. Even if it means destroying whatever structures used them.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Azag replied.

Words abandoned Saxum, and all he could do was lower his head in reverence.

“I… I do not know of such a way, yet. But I shall find one. If I must, I will make one. For my ancestors who were humiliated. Thank you, great ones. Your names will never fade in our hearthhalls.”

It was done. Three party members would be departing. A heavy acceptance moved over Sayane, and the familiar bite of tears nipped at the edges of her eyes.

“It is not goodbye, dear songstress,” Anahita offered as she fluttered up with her hands extended.

Tiny, soft touch met Sayane’s cheek and wiped away her tears.

“I know,” Sayane sniffed.

“But I’ll miss you all. Please, be safe. Come back to us.”

With that, the three party members bowed, then departed, leaving only Sayane, Attis, Azag, and Can-Mo.

“Can-Mo, you knooooooow I’ve got work for you!” Sayane joked as she wiped her eyes.

Tentacles raised, then placed themselves in curtsy as Can-Mo bowed.

“At your service, always,” Can-Mo replied.

Attis was still, and Azag noticed his eyes glisten as he watched Sayane. Even though his subject was only a meter across from him, his four-eyed gaze was kilometers away, lost in thought and recollection.

“I am grateful to have your company in this, Attis,” Azag said.

The words pulled Attis’s mind back to the present, and his ears twitched as he formulated his response.

“I never told you. I was going to kill myself that day you found me. I was making my way to the cliffs, but I was so weak that I collapsed before I reached them. Then you appeared…”

Sayane paused to listen. Those two had known each other for decades. Even if they’d gone their separate ways, and for some time had not held the same beliefs, deep, sacred history was abundant between them.

“You were so small when I picked you up,” Azag said.

Attis nodded and looked down at his paw.

“Thank you, dear boy. This life… truly is beautiful.”

“This life is beautiful,” they all repeated.

Soft chimes echoed from the Council Chamber’s wall, and ethereal light began to shine. Sayane looked up to see the Violated Shard drifting to them like a nervous relative. It reached them and paused.

“Do you want to come to Haven with us?” Sayane asked.

The great crystal did not retreat, and Sayane took that as a yes.

Winds calmed, but the dust lingered. Haze caught the ambient glow, and Sayane admitted to herself that she was ready to leave these barren wastes. This would be her first true exposure to a city in this world. Thus far, she’d only known The Underworld, the Revolution’s base, and the brief alleys of The Silence’s capital. Part of her was genuinely excited to see what awaited them.

“So, tomorrow?” she asked.

“Aye,” Attis replied.

“I shall get a good night’s sleep, then,” Can-Mo said as he bowed and began to slide away.

The Violated Shard bobbed once, then lifted itself and vanished over the Council Chamber, leaving just Attis, Azag, and Sayane.

“Before we fully depart this place, I have to stop in the wreckage yard. Sayane, will you come with me, please?” Azag asked as he extended his hand to her.

“Of course,” Sayane replied as a soft blush filled her cheeks.

“Attis? Care to join?” Azag offered.

Attis smiled then shook his head.

“You young people go ahead. I’d… I’d like to have a moment to myself tonight. I have so much to discuss with my love…” he said as he looked to the sky.