Abyssal Road Trip

Amdirlain’s PoV - Material Plane

Having shaken off the foulness of her true form, Amdirlain took in the Earth-like world. Resonance briefly expanded to encompass its entire globe, checking for issues like those she had healed off Gideon’s list before she drew in and concentrated her attention south. Plumes of black smoke lapped at the clear sky, and she sensed the flames consuming hectares of forest. Animals that had escaped the Dragon’s breath weapon fled for safety from the roaring flames.

"We're well north of where we need to be," advised Sarah.

Amdirlain shrugged. "I can sense the Dragon."

“Any reason for it escalating its attack rate?”.

Lines radiating from a blackened impact point near the junction of her body and right wing showed where a lightning bolt had struck, but otherwise, she appeared unscathed.

Just because my 'True Form' no longer has hair doesn't mean I can't have the blue I like whenever I want it.

"Don’t know why she’s back attacking early, but there are some level forty individuals near the attack path," said Amdirlain. “They scored a hit on her.”

"She's trying to cook them out," replied Sarah. "All the food that is being wasted will have her in a foul mood if she is looking to feed hatchlings."

"Fouler," huffed Amdirlain, as she took in the details provided by the Dragon’s theme.

[Name: Ryrvunynoss

Species: Red Dragon, Mature Adult

Class: Behemoth / Wizard / Scout / Hunter

Level: 32 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9

Defence: 1,129 (Fortified)

Health: 16,945

Magic: 452

Mana: 26,445

Melee Attack Power: 1,948 (Siege Class)

Combat Skills: Body Weaponry [S] (46) - Breath Weapon [G] (3), various spell lists. Affinities: Fire, Air, and Metal. Innate Powers.

Details: Driven away from her preferred nesting spots on the volcano to the south, she's made a hasty home in a cavern nearby. Her mate abandoned her after she lost her hoard to the same rival. With the eggs now laid, Ryrvunynoss has been venting her frustration across the local forest to drive everyone away from her nesting site. ]

She's a recent moult, but I doubt she's ever gotten beyond a basic Prestige Class from her attributes.

'I already feel like a bully,' Amdirlain projected as she shared the details.

Amusement hummed across their mental link, accompanied by an image of Amdirlain spinning in circles, holding the Dragon by the end of her shovel-like tail.

The Dragon's flight path swung left, and Ryrvunynoss came around in a wide loop.

She's not an efficient flyer. Is this necessary or simply convenient? The actions are understandable, but she is so malicious in her soul. She’d act like this in contact with any intelligent species regardless of the eggs. Do I view this as dealing with a rabid dog or a game warden keeping ranges separated?

Admit it, I’m taking the easy answer here, but I don’t know any other way to meet Tiamat safely.

Before Ryrvunynoss could complete the turn, Amdirlain hovered in the air in the Dragon's path, and an outraged exhalation washed flames harmlessly over her. The reddish-blue inferno that wafted across her blinded Ryrvunynoss to her continued presence. A sharp impact shattered a tooth and cracked the Dragon's lower mandible, ruining the surge of satisfaction Ryrvunynoss had felt. For the first time in years, Amdirlain experienced the black line that the Energy Drain had set in place. Free of any explicit malice, it was merely a cold draw on physical strength and Soul.

The impact dislocated Ryrvunynoss' jaw, and she roared in pain and fury. She awkwardly snapped, but her jaw flopped about at a foe that had already moved. Directly behind the curve of her skull, Amdirlain empowered her Ki Body and struck again. Ki carried pain and Mana along the natural flex of her muscles and then drove onwards, multiple paths entwined together in a spinning Phoenix that drove through scales and skull to cook the Dragon's brain.

[Combat Summary

Red Dragon x1

Total Experience gained: +516,054

Ascetic Triumvirate: +516,054

Death Strike [S] (52->53)

Ki Body [S] (94->95)

Note: Just because someone of power will talk to you doesn't mean it's your friend or even a trustworthy ally.]

Gideon, I’ve told you before that comment equally applies to you. Perhaps if you’d been straight with me earlier instead of manipulative, our interactions might be more to your liking.

Clear?

The plummeting Dragon started to spin, and Sarah materialised along its path, releasing thousands of metal rods that swooped into position around it and arrested its fall. Amdirlain reached out to the distant villagers and provided faint whispers of music from Livia's shrine. Jal’krin had composed scores of songs inspired by the monastery, and now Amdirlain used one.

Her interpretation of that favourite gave the worried villagers a sense of protective care, and she kept it going as other themes set to work. Amdirlain snuffed out the flames Ryrvunynoss's latest strafing runs had ignited within the forest. Among the fire-damaged forest, wounded animals shakily regained their feet, their wounds rewinding to leave unmarred flesh and pelts—the healing rolled through binding points of spiritual energy, whether trees or streams, and damaged spirits renewed.

"Think we should give it to the locals?" asked Amdirlain.

Sarah's gaze widened in affronted dismay. "You want to give over how much food!"

"I doubt they'd eat it," said Amdirlain. "Though they could certainly fashion enchanted armour from the scales."

"Precisely," huffed Sarah. "And I could enchant them as well."

"It was my kill," protested Amdirlain. "I can always create identical materials for you at any time. Why don't you butcher it and give them the scales?"

"Fine," Sarah cheerfully rumbled. "Are you listening to my song?"

"Yes, why?" asked Amdirlain. “You sound like your sides are going to split with laughter.”

Sarah smiled slyly. "I love you thirty-one per cent."

The mischief in her tone erased Amdirlain’s concern, but her gaze narrowed suspiciously. "What happened to the rest?"

"I'll give you that sixty-nine anytime you like," laughed Sarah.

Amdirlain's jaw dropped. "Bad."

"No, I'm pretty confident I could hit the spot," smirked Sarah.

"Where did you get that line?" giggled Amdirlain, aware of the blush that warmed her ears.

She did that to distract me from second-guessing myself.

Sarah smiled and caressed Amdirlain's face. "I’ve been sorting through all the playful ones, figuring out what laughs or groans I can earn."

"Maybe you should get Kli to find more for you," recommended Amdirlain. "I'd hate for you to get all tongue-tied at this point."

Wiggling her eyebrows playfully, Sarah turned her attention to the slain Dragon.

The metal poles warped into bracing supports as the corpse turned. Once Sarah had it positioned just about the ground with its head down, a giant blade opened its throat. "Kli would have me dish out the worst of puns."

More enchanted blades set to work to peel the scales away.

We should have come sooner; it might have stopped the team from the elven capital from annoying her.

"I can hear the unborn's song, but I don't understand why Tia wanted such maliciousness in their souls," remarked Amdirlain sadly. The Dragon's three eggs appeared near Amdirlain, and she mercifully sent the unborn dragons into a stasis chamber in Foundry.

I’ll need to figure out what I can do to change their course in life away from being a rampaging hazard to every other species.

"She wanted them to match her nature, is my guess," replied Sarah. "You said she drew in the souls' energy when you returned the black dragons to Judgement."

I'm not looking forward to talking to her again.

"Yes," confirmed Amdirlain, and the memory elicited a shudder. "Let's change the subject. Looks like you'll have plenty of supplies."

"Since it's a red, it won't be just for me. I'll cook some up to share. There are lots of recipes for cooking chromatic dragons. Though of them, reds are one of the few you can treat as a normal steak or roast," noted Sarah absently.

"Environmental contamination?"

"Yep," Sarah said, wrinkling her nose. "Green dragons take so much water to clear the poisons. White dragons are so flavourless you might as well be chewing ice, so they're good for dishes where you want spices or marinade to provide the flavour."

"The things you learn," drawled Amdirlain. "Guess you like eating more."

Sarah's heated gaze lingered on Amdirlain and renewed her blush.

“I so walked into that one,” groaned Amdirlain.

“Yes, you did,” purred Sarah. "Just like the little red and your fist. Though I didn't expect it to put up much of a fight, how did you kill it with just two punches?"

"Death Strike shows me the critical points to hit, and since my strength was higher than its Endurance, I bypassed its fortification," advised Amdirlain. "Most things have zero Primordial resistance, though I could have gone with water instead and shredded it with a pressure cutter."

"I'd still think there should be a better way to encapsulate the Ki with Mana than hold it in your body," Sarah said absently, focusing on the Dragon's dissection.

"I'll need to evolve Ki Blast to achieve it," advised Amdirlain. "That's not a focus at present."

Sarah shot a glance towards the regrowing forest. "Do we stay to talk to the elves heading this way?"

"The regrowth is distracting most of them. If you complete the butchering, there isn't a need to stay," replied Amdirlain.

"Thought you were going to provide some divine message to them."

"Less is more," replied Amdirlain. "The villagers heard faint music from her shrine when I killed the Dragon. It's still going on while the forest is regrowing."

"Ah, I was just checking the minds of local threats," said Sarah. "Using music to signal things doesn't always work unless you believe Livia will have an undeniable connection to the music in non-worshippers' minds."

Amdirlain rolled her eyes. "I don't think that will be necessary," replied Amdirlain.

With slabs of muscle exposed, Sarah went over to the body and absorbed sections into inventory.

"You planning to do a barbeque?" asked Amdirlain.

"I might cook something up for you," replied Sarah. "Though I might need something in exchange."

"Oh?"

"There was that dance that you worked on with Ilya," Sarah said, focusing carefully on her carving. "I've never seen it firsthand."

Amdirlain threw her head back and laughed. "If you're lucky, you might one day. Though you missed the fun impact that Femme Fatale lent that dance."

"I don't need its influence to feel that way about you," replied Sarah.

"You enjoy getting me to blush," muttered Amdirlain bashfully.

Sarah winked. "I enjoy you'll react to me and not others."

They stepped through to the outlands well before the elven team got close, leaving the Dragon's hide under a preservation barrier bearing Livia's sigil.

"Subtle?" questioned Sarah.

"I didn't want to let them doubt her," replied Amdirlain. "Anything taking so much as a scale from that pile will experience a sensation akin to Livia's Domain."

A soft ahh of understanding was Sarah's only reaction before Amdirlain continued.

"I'll need to go to Judgement alone."

"How certain are you of your gambit?"

"I've got an escalation offer available, but I don't know how my memories will go being in her presence. I might have to jump to my biggest offer quickly instead of it being a prolonged haggling session. Some snippets I've recovered gave me the impression she bore a lot of resentment towards Tia after losing Syl."

"And staying away from her isn't an option?"

"It is, but it doesn't give me fallback plans," sighed Amdirlain. "Judgement is the safest place to have any discussion with her. The protection of the Titan's servants stops anyone from attacking first."

"True," allowed Sarah, and she stole a lingering kiss that had Amdirlain humming happily. "Be safe, and don't let her bait you out of Judgment."

"I'll be good," replied Amdirlain, raising a hand.

Sarah smiled slyly. "You were more than good."

"Go on," huffed Amdirlain. "I'm not going through while you're close enough for her to sense across the threshold."

With a concerned nod, Sarah vanished.

As Amdirlain stepped towards the still pool of the Portal to Judgement, it darkened, and the waters churned. However, the dramatic behaviour was only a set reaction to the souls she held within her flesh, and Amdirlain stepped forward.

Once again, the sky of Judgement was a black sea washed with tides of shifting colours, and this time, Amdirlain caught that those souls present matched the colouration of chromatic dragons. The tides overlapped and swirled up, forming feathers. Nebulae emerged from the swirling colour and became a pair of draconic eyes whose slitted pupils multiplied and stared down at her. The contempt they'd regarded Amdirlain with on her last visit was just as clear.

The eyes drew closer and dragged the colours into a cruel griffon beak, and a pair of horns formed a crescent from the sides of her head. A black pearl in the middle of her forehead gleamed briefly, and then the griffon with midnight feathers stood before Amdirlain.

"Yet again, you bring a Soul of one of my progeny here, Anar," hissed Tiamat.

Technically, Ori created them, and you just inspired their malice.

"Just one for you to drink up once we're done talking. Why do you call me Anar?" asked Amdirlain. "I'm positive you know who I am."

"Sun Elf was my term for you. Can't you remember how much it amused you to use the term to name that lesser species?" questioned Tiamat. "You said you would never return to this realm. Why did you lie to me?"

When did Orhêthurin tell her that?

"I've only fragmented memories of Orhêthurin, and she left a note in her memories to tell me she would never be again," replied Amdirlain. "Some of her memories have been painful to experience, but they've never tried to replace me. Though I'm sure they've influenced me in different ways."

Tiamat snorted, a hurricane of pressure battering Amdirlain's awareness. "That is not what some aspects believe."

"Gideon didn't even know how Orhêthurin removed her power even after the fact," countered Amdirlain. "Pretty sure that proves the aspects aren't omnipotent in everything related to their concept."

The horned griffon appeared on the black clouds within arm's reach of Amdirlain. "What is that you want, Amdirlain?"

"A way to gain safe passage past any of your progeny that inhabit the depths of the Abyss," replied Amdirlain.

"You seek to undo Balnérith's meddling?" asked Tiamat.

Amdirlain nodded firmly. "Yes."

"What's in it for me?" asked Tiamat.

Completely self-interested. Check!

"Besides the realm not being destroyed if she's successful in her stupidity?" asked Amdirlain.

Tiamat rumbled and flexed her wings in a metallic rasp. "It wouldn't mean the destruction of the entire realm, though Orhêthurin's plans would undoubtedly suffer cataclysmic alterations."

"What do you predict would occur?"

"The heavenly planes and the Material Plane would suffer the most, the Hells would shatter, and demons would be let loose past barriers that presently restrain them," replied Tiamat.

"Until the breach reaches a tipping point and the Far Chaos ruptures the sides," countered Amdirlain. "I know about the Planar Framework and how it's balanced. I like many things about the realm and prefer keeping the demons in the Abyss. Among other things, they'd take up places that dragons could dwell."

I'd remove them entirely if I could, but they're now a counter to the devils in some ways.

"You mean your metallic dragons," noted Tiamat.

Amdirlain merely returned to her question. "I don’t attack chromatics when they’re not attacking other people’s areas. I could have killed dozens of reds that live close to where I collected this Soul. What is it you want for safe passage past them?"

"Why don't you offer me things? I'll tell you when it's enough," Tiamat replied.

I discussed a planet for dragons with Sarah, but would that even get her attention?

"I'll create a planet for chromatic dragons," offered Amdirlain.

A disdainful exhalation of contempt swept Amdirlain's hair back from her face.

"I can create my own. Don't you remember who taught Orhêthurin?" asked Tiamat. "I might not have been as fast a creator as Orhêthurin, but I'm sure I can do so faster than you."

She’s so arrogant she didn’t teach her everything.

“You can create one, but when was the last time you bothered to create a world?” asked Amdirlain.

Tiamat sneered. “If I’m not interested in creating new planets, why would I care about you saving me the effort? You need a far grander offer for my aid.”

"A Plane. One that you can control for yourself instead of tolerating the other inhabitants of the Abyss,” said Amdirlain.

Tiamat reared her head back slightly. "Do you think to trick me? If you think such a grandiose offer will impress me, perhaps I should insist on penalties when you cannot deliver."

"My planar seeds aren't as elegant as Orhêthurin's and take time to stabilise," explained Amdirlain. "However, they will stabilise in time. Doesn't it infuriate you to share your territory with others?"

"I would see this for myself," rumbled Tiamat.

"I remembered Orhêthurin's song to create the planes," said Amdirlain. "The Abyss has so many planes that creating another to slip into its framework won't tip anything."

Claws flexed out of the sheaths in Tiamat's front paws, and she idly raked at the clouds, churning them underfoot. "I would still need to see this for myself. Show me the planes you've created."

Yeah, why? Unlike Nüwa and Bahamut, it seems she's not been bothering to look over my shoulder; either that or she's pretending she hasn't been.

"Creating a new one only requires a brief trip into the Chaos streams," advised Amdirlain. "Though you should think on this: if I can't create one you'd find acceptable now, I'll certainly be able to do so in time."

Tiamat sidestepped, not taking her gaze from Amdirlain. "Why offer me a Plane?"

"I've got a recollection that your domain on Ijmti is retreating away from the primary zone hidden behind some nebula. You've got it moving at such a pace that the light from it will never be visible. If you don't want your Domain anywhere near it, I thought I'd help you accomplish what you want. In return, you help me, and we both benefit."

"What's the catch?"

"You'll need to stop consuming the Chromatic Dragon souls," replied Amdirlain. "They get treated the same as all the others, so their life experiences strengthen the realm's boundary, and those damned receive punishment."

"I'll want a region like Hell with at least nine planes," countered Tiamat.

A pulse of venomous rage surged from within Amdirlain’s Soul, and she clenched her fists.

"You hurt Orhêthurin. By keeping her from making Shindraithra Immortal, you brought her billions of years of loneliness and pain. Instead of asking what more you can get out of me, consider what you can offer to avoid getting kicked out of this realm when I'm done.”

Tiamat snorted in disbelief. "As if you could do that, I’d crush you like a bug."

"I understand from Bahamut that if I declare our deals done, you'd have to leave. Are you ready to pack your bags?"

"If you are so sure of waving that stick about, why offer me a Plane?" growled Tiamat.

"I intended to be polite when I came here, but the longer I speak to you, the angrier I get," replied Amdirlain. "Orhêthurin hated you for what you'd done with Shindraithra.”

“What does a child know of loss?” snorted Tiamat.

“Binding Orhêthurin to that agreement and refusing to budge, even after she fell in love with Shindraithra. You suffered being ripped in two for so long, and yet you inflicted worse than that on the one who rescued you.”

Tiamat clacked her beak right before Amdirlain's nose. "What would you know?"

"Did you ever stop to wonder why she didn't take care of the situation on what was meant to be your Plane? You wanted retribution on those like your family and became them—worse than them."

"You know nothing about my family," hissed Tiamat.

"Had Orhêthurin ever hurt you before your disagreement over Shindraithra? Did she hurt you after your disagreement? She just never helped you or extended your agreements further.”

"She refused to destroy Shindraithra, and it prevented true balance," declared Tiamat.

The falseness and self-interest in the words rang out to Amdirlain.

"You don't care about balance. You care so little about anything but yourself that even in this lesser state, I can hear the falseness of your complaint," said Amdirlain. "The situation was simple: you objected, and Orhêthurin didn't comply, so your need to dominate suffered a blow. To keep the peace in the early aeons of the realm, Orhêthurin didn't make an issue of it despite the sorrow it brought her."

"This conversation is pointless since you're not Orhêthurin," said Tiamat, biting off each of the last words.

"You don't owe me, but I don't owe you anything. How about I declare the deals over, and we see what happens?"

"If I remain within this realm, I will hunt you and everything you love down," replied Tiamat. "By my banishment, I would set loose scourges on every world chromatic dragons live."

Amdirlain yawned. "Scourges take time to kick into motion. I could use the experience I'd get from killing countless chromatic dragons. It's so hard to level fast in combat without foes that provide nice chunks of experience."

"They'd be beyond your reach," replied Tiamat, clanking her beak.

"You think so?" sneered Amdirlain, and she released the Dragon’s Soul.

Tiamat immediately inhaled the Red and stopped in consideration. "Who summoned a Fallen of your strength?"

"I effectively summoned myself. The rules about entering the Material Plane don't care who makes the device, only that a Mortal uses it," replied Amdirlain. "How tasteless would the dragons' souls be if I first strip them of memories and emotions?"

"Why are you seeking to make me your enemy?"

“Your bluster does nothing to endear,” replied Amdirlain.

Tiamat growled. “You are not who you were. Don’t think I can’t take action against you. You best have a good reason, or I will ensure you pay.”

Amdirlain clenched her teeth to hold in the surging rage.

“Well?” demanded Tiamat.

"I've felt Orhêthurin's pain and loneliness that resulted from what you did—it's made me very unhappy with you. Then you started waving threats first,” said Amdirlain.

“Perhaps you should have simply left,” rumbled Tiamat.

“It's a flaw that I'm not very good at backing down," said Amdirlain. "Where I last lived, killing evil dragons was the stuff of happy dreams, and your progeny certainly qualifies. Your choice. We can deal politely, or I will add you to my list of enemies regardless of the arrangements you once had with Orhêthurin.”

"I know where Oblivion's Aspect rests in the depths," said Tiamat.

So he still exists. Do I care?

Memories of happiness and anguish clashed in Amdirlain's Soul, scratching at old wounds.

"I couldn't give a bent copper about Ruithor," Amdirlain snapped, needled by the reminders. "Aspects are playing games with me. Do you think I want another one on the field? Especially since he'd likely side with Orcus."

"Ruithor doesn't side with such as that Demon Lord," said Tiamat.

Amdirlain crossed her arms. "I still don't care. I've already told you what I'm after from a deal between us. You set chromatic dragons rampaging, and I will wipe all traces of them from this realm and fuck balance. I will make a new species to balance the power of metallic dragons, and they'll be nothing of your legacy. All the time you invested here will be dust."

"You are Orhêthurin," spat Tiamat.

"No, but you're like the gods she sought revenge on," replied Amdirlain coldly. "She had so many plans in place for various foes. It makes me wonder what she intended to counter you. Should I go seeking it in my memories? I already know what she had in place to rid herself of your opposite."

"You wouldn't," hissed Tiamat.

Amdirlain ground out the words. "Try me. Consider where we are and decide if you can attack me and not pay a price."

Tiamat stared at her coldly in silence and resumed after sharply snapping her beak. "You will create a Plane, and once I've seen that it is growing properly, I'll arrange safe passage."

"No. Once I've created it, you'll provide me with a token of safe passage valid for any Chromatic Dragon's territory. A token that doesn't require an oath to you or anyone else to function," countered Amdirlain. "My work in countering Balnérith's tampering might take centuries. If the Plane doesn't stabilise, I'll create another. You know every attempt will improve in quality, and you can use the damaged ones to bait enemies to their destruction."

"Why immediately?"

"A Plane suitable to fit within the framework of the Abyss will take longer to calm from its creation," explained Amdirlain. "I'd rather be able to travel the deeper planes a fraction safer than waiting a century."

And I want a token for travelling the hinterlands of Vehtë with no need to beat up every Dragon I run across.

Tiamat growled. "We do this now."

"Fine."

Amdirlain opened a Gate to the chaos streams but didn't step through.

"You first," said Tiamat.

"I'd prefer to keep the protection of Judgement in place," replied Amdirlain. "Creating a seed across a Gate's threshold is more challenging and adds to my enjoyment. What should I name it? How about 'Spite's Roost'?"

"No," instructed Tiamat. "I want a home named after my husband."

"Your children killed him, and you spitefully denied Orhêthurin her chance at love," said Amdirlain thoughtfully. "I'll consider it while I make it. Maybe I'll call it Marduk to spite you in return."

"You're only useful until you close the wound," warned Tiamat.

Do I set the Plane up so if I'm slain, it will collapse?

"I won't be able to close it properly until I'm strong enough to travel the Far Chaos," smiled Amdirlain. "Until then, who knows what might reopen it or boot you from the realm? I declare that if I die through any plot of yours, the trick you contributed to the Mantle is no longer necessary, and the benefits you’ve enjoyed end."

A mechanical servant of the Titan appeared, the layers of dimensional gears spinning inside the glass shell that outlined its humanoid form. "Witnessed."

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Tiamat.

“Witnessed,” rumbled Bahamut.

Two sulphurous eyes appeared in the sky. “I also witnessed and agree. Do hurry and get better, Amdirlain. She’s become tiresome and lax. I grow tired of you only training and creating, but all crafters need time at a forge.”

The eyes closed, but having felt neither of the primordials, Amdirlain wasn’t sure if Bahamut or Nüwa were gone.

"The souls of the chromatic dragons from every world come here, Tiamat, but the rules of the Titan and Orhêthurin remain in effect. Thus, we can come when needed," advised the Servant. "The rules are the rules. Father says Amdirlain might not consider herself Orhêthurin, but she remains his daughter. You are one reason he lives in the spire and couldn't be with her, Tiamat. He wishes you to know how thin his patience is with you. Given the minimal attendance you've made to your obligation since her death, your conduct now he finds intolerable. Should Eleftherios snuff out suns of interest to you?"

As her claws cut into the obsidian cloud bank beneath them, Tiamat ground her beak. "Very well. Can she deliver on the Plane?"

The servant tilted its head. "Gideon bears witness that Amdirlain doesn't make empty arrangements of any kind."

"Create a Planar Seed. If it's still stable in three years, I commit to giving you a token," Tiamat offered. "You'll still need to replace it if it fails later."

Amdirlain started on the Planar Seed, and Tiamat rumbled approvingly as the boundary of the orb lit up the Chaos stream. While she carefully followed the same approach she'd used on previous occasions, she found that the evolution of True Song cut hours from the creation time.

"What taunt do I have to put up with?" asked Tiamat coldly, waving a forepaw at the vanishing seed.

As it slipped away between dimensions, Amdirlain considered Tiamat. "Its name is Apsu."

Tiamat's forepaw twitched, and the Gate shattered. "Why? I thought you were going to rub it in my face."

"I didn't. It would be best if you remembered my generosity in fulfilling your obligations from now on," said Amdirlain. “And Orhêthurin’s past kindnesses that you returned with cruelty. She could have left you ripped in two. From her memories, I know there was no need to free or bargain with you.”

A tear trailing down Tiamat's cheek froze in the feathers and lifted into the air. "Your token."

"It's not been three years," stated Amdirlain.

"The Plane has a name I'll cherish," rumbled Tiamat. "If it ruptures, I'll contact you."

"I'll know if something is going wrong," advised Amdirlain. "Hopefully, early enough that I can repair it."

"I could sponsor you to be a Primordial," offered Tiamat.

Would that allow me to advance afterwards? I'm not sure it would be worth the risk—no doubt some obligation would be involved.

Amdirlain shook her head. "I'd prefer to earn it, not take shortcuts."

"Are you sure you're not Orhêthurin?" huffed Tiamat, and she promptly vanished.

The Titan's servant remained in place, quietly watching Amdirlain.

"I told Nicholaus he isn't my father, but would he object to being called Patḗr?"

"But that is the Greek word for father," noted the Servant.

"Greek isn't my native tongue, and Livia calls me Móðir to avoid disrespecting her mother," explained Amdirlain.

The servant nodded jerkily. "He thanks you. You should know your parents' souls are above his forge."

That news had Amdirlain stammering for words, and she blinked at the servant through streaming tears. "How long have they been here?"

"They were among the first to return after you provided permission for the Anar to return," explained the Servant. "Along with some of your close relatives, not all but many Anar souls travelled in your wake."

She bloated away the tears with the back of her hand and locked herself down with Mental Hardening. "He's slowed the realm's time stream down, hasn't he?"

"It's currently running at half the pace of your old realm and has been since your return," advised the servant.

In for a penny, in for a pound. What trouble will this question cause?

"And Torm?"

"He'll be reborn in time, but you won't know him, nor will he know you."

Amdirlain nodded in understanding. "Please give him kind parents."

"Nicholaus has some potential couples in mind for his Soul to reincarnate," replied the Servant. "Perhaps he'll even warrant elven parents."

"Or dragons?"

The servant clicked rapidly. "You want top-tier parentage for him? Gideon says that Shindraithra calls you a Dragon fangirl. Is that why the request?"

Before Amdirlain could answer, the servant disappeared without a sign they were ever there.

My parents are here, but now there are simply more people who will probably never remember me.

Amdirlain stepped out of Judgement and teleported to the mountain's base. Her awareness reached across the mountain, and she found the post-dinner session in full swing. Of particular note, Amdirlain sensed Tulne studying with Morgana in the training hall while Jul’iane sparred with Klipyl and Dareios at ground level. Sarah was involved in a discussion with her teacher, so Amdirlain headed for the training hall.

When Amdirlain appeared on the platform near Tulne, she knelt to watch to the trio sparring. The melody of the Power that concealed Dareios' True Form niggled at Amdirlain's awareness.

I've put off trying again.

She settled into a meditative state and let Harmony guide her towards the source of the same Power within her flesh. The same scars that delayed her for months with Sarah rose again but, familiar with their accusations, she slipped past the self-doubt. The threads that beckoned to deeper fears tried to obstruct her, but months of studying the flaws in her own song let Amdirlain evade them. Onwards, she pressed with a slow determination to alter her skin tone. Though the energy continued slipping away as it had done hundreds of thousands of times, she corralled it with a combination of insight and commitment this time.

In a wash of colour, Amdirlain’s skin changed from the dusky spearmint-tinged hue of her Wood Elf form to a pale white with blue swirls more commonly seen among the Isil. True Sight showed her the Wood Elf skin tone beneath that surface appearance but didn't breach her protections to her Fallen form's manifestation.

[Change Form Unlocked!

Change Form (1)

Critical Synergy with Phoenix's Rapture detected.

Phoenix's Rapture in Grand Master Rank.

Change Form (1) -> [Ad] (1)]

Her low hum of satisfaction drew Tulne's gaze from a grimoire she'd been studying with Morgana. "You sound happy, J. Sorry, I mean Am."

"It’s okay. Either is fine. And yes, I’m in a chirpy mood as I have a new Power working," Amdirlain said. "One that will eventually let me increase my survivability."

I’ll need to evolve it to Shapeshift and then figure out how to get it to Protean again.

"Having safety measures and backup plans in place is always good," said Tulne. "Is our presence here a backup plan?"

"Not a backup plan, but I won't deny keeping your people's strong features in some of my plans," admitted Amdirlain.

Tulne's ears twitched.

"The graves have to go," continued Amdirlain. "Yet I won't weaken what your ancestors fought and suffered to achieve."

"Oh!" huffed Tulne. "I thought for a moment you wanted something from us."

"To live, enjoy life, and improve yourselves," said Amdirlain. "I'm a terrible taskmaster."

"Truly," drawled Tulne. “I think I’ve been listening to Mor’lmes’s conspiracies too much.”

Amdirlain nodded grimly. "That’s fine. He’s required to be paranoid, given that he’s hunting for signs of Eldritch corruption. How are you and Jal’krin getting on?"

Tulne's gaze widened. "Oh no, don't you start!. There is nothing between us, and he's Jul’iane's brother."

Rather than argue, Amdirlain gently administered the same ear rub Tulne had given Jal’krin.

The little mew of embarrassment was answer enough.

"I enjoyed listening to his instrumental sets while I studied, and Jul’iane introduced us," huffed Tulne.

"You're a tough nut to interrogate," teased Amdirlain.

Tulne leant away from Amdirlain's hand. "You don't play fair. I hadn't expected you to pick up on that gesture. When did I do that?"

"When he came along the first time," chuckled Amdirlain. "It's okay. Just don't let him make reckless bets."

"He’s not done that," said Tulne.

“Not recently,” countered Amdirlain.

"If you two don't mind, why don't we get back to studying before Amdirlain heads off for her evening work?" interrupted Morgana.

When Tulne returned to reviewing her grimoire, Morgana pointed Amdirlain towards the blue barrier of the Spell chamber. "Cast a thousand Fire Storm spells as efficiently as possible. You should have enough time before Gilorn comes back."