"So, tell us all about it. How did you manage to beat him?" Nenvalur said, clasping his hand on my shoulder firmly, but when I didn't budge, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Never mind, I think I know. You didn't reach the fifth stage mid-fight, did you?" he asked with no small amount of curiosity.
"I thought you all heard the story already, but yes, I did. It took everything I had, and even then, it was hardly enough. If it hadn't been for all the time I spent training with you guys and Kalia, I don't think I would have lasted even a second against him. I even had to use bow and spear-caster techniques just to figure him out," I said, gesturing to Vyra and the others, who all looked at me with teary eyes.
"But you're a sword-caster, right? How were you able to…?" he trailed off as I formed the Kataki blade for everyone else to see. "Sorry, I didn't get the chance to show you guys this earlier, but this weapon can take the form of whatever I need it to," I explained briefly, though the full explanation was a little different.
They immediately turned to Kalia with an expectant look, causing her to sigh heavily. "I'll consider it," she said tiredly. The four of them immediately turned back to me with the same look, but when I heard Syldir clearing her throat, I knew I couldn't show anything off.
Just before they could say anything, a guardsman appeared beside her with a decorated metallic box sealed in a multi-colored layer of mana that shimmered gently in the sunlight. "Thoma, we should deal with this first," she urged, dismissing the guardsman with a nod.
"She's right. I'll have to show you the techniques later on. We need to speak with Anwill first. Kalia, we'll need you there, as well," I said, giving her a nod, though she already knew what we were going to talk about. "What about us?" Irun asked, prompting me to chuckle. "Did you really have to ask?" I answered with my own question. "Just making sure," he said with a shrug.
No one else bothered to ask, though I could tell they were a bit nervous around Syldir.
We all made our way over to the palace, where Aurae and the others who'd stayed behind to defend Myrdin were already gathered in the main hall. "Mother, Father!" Ysevel said, rushing over to them and giving them both a warm hug.
That will never stop bringing a smile to my face, will it? I wondered, seeing their thankful expressions that she'd returned safely.
"Welcome home, daughter. We're so glad you're safe," Elhael managed to say, though I could almost hear the lump in his throat. "Thank you. All of you," he spoke to the rest of us who were with her in the Gramm Isles. "Don't thank us; you might want to thank her instead," Mom jutted her thumb toward Syldir, who offered them a small nod.
"Welcome back, Thoma," Leona said with a tone of relief, getting up from her seat to wrap me in a hug. "Kalia showed me what happened. Are you alright?" she asked, pushing me back to take a closer look at me.
"Well, aside from the fact that I'd probably be dead if it weren't for Syldir and Ryfon…" I shrugged with a smirk. "Not funny," she said with a disappointed pout. "I wasn't joking," I said flatly, prompting her eyes to widen.
Aurae, of course, was one of the only people there who knew Syldir's true status. Thank you, Lady Syldir. Please send my regards to Ilyas as well, Aurae sent her, but allowed me and the others in on her brief conversation. Think nothing of it. Helping her and the others was the very least I could do for Ryfon. I can't have his granddaughter marrying a corpse, can I? Syldir replied, giving me a knowing look.
I couldn't help but blush at the fact that she'd said it so openly, even though in my head, I'd only really known her for a handful of days.
"Come, the others have been awaiting your return, and there's plenty to discuss," Aurae said, gesturing to the same meeting room we'd used so many times before. Syldir gestured for us to go first, likely having had more than her fill of attention for one day, so Mom and I began making our way toward the room, with the others following close behind.
Every member of Nightfall's Blade, including Devyr, Mom's team, and Nenvalur, followed in after us, only to find that Taegin, Ardrin, Thorn, Ren, Anwill, and Meliss were already in there waiting for us. Meliss was sitting in a chair with some strange piece of equipment around her chest, while Anwill examined the mana stone at its center.
Noticing our entrance, he pulled away from Meliss, leaving Taegin and Ardrin with looks of mild frustration.
"We'll continue this later," he said, giving her a warm smile, gently patting her arm, and turning to offer us a welcoming greeting. "It's good to see you all in good health," he said, prompting Taegin and Ardrin to mimic him. 'It's good to be back, old friend," Mom said brightly, but I could see Anwill's face shift into one of genuine surprise when he laid eyes on me.
"T-Thoma, what happened to you?" he asked breathlessly, moving toward me. "Well, I'm sure you heard plenty from Meliss, but…" I began to say just before he cut me off with a wave.
"No, and that's what worries me. She hasn't been able to say much of anything. Just what the hells happened over there?" he asked, prompting Ardrin and Taegin to lean in a little more closely, while Ren, Thorn, and Leona stayed silent with worry.
"I think it's best if everyone hears this," Ysevel said with a nod, causing me to respond with one of my own. "I agree, but it's going to take a while," I shrugged. As soon as I did so, Elhael immediately put his open palm to the floor and poured his mana into it. The floor shifted and moved, as more root-like chairs began to form, and the table in the center grew much longer than it had been a moment prior.
We all took our seats, and I briefly introduced Syldir to the group. Once everyone's amazement died down, the questioning began. I explained everything in as much detail as I could, even filling in the gaps I could for Ed and Meliss, trying my best not to miss anything.
Ysevel and Mom chimed in as well, getting additional notes from Irun and Athar, while Kalia gave her perspective on the situation we'd just encountered.
"However, that's where the problem lies: We know he's willing and able to do almost anything to get what he wants," I said gravely. "And what might that be?" Anwill asked, though I could see it in his eyes that he already knew the answer.
"Me," I said with finality. "What? You can't be serious, Thoma. Please, tell me you're joking," Haldir nearly shouted as he quickly rose to his feet.
"It's true. The whole reason he put the seal on my core to begin with was so that he could offer to remove it in exchange for using my Authority for his purposes," I said, feeling a few of the memories seeping through my connection to the others.
Aurae and Leona, who weren't present for the same shock Mom, Ysevel, and Kalia were, had tears welling in her eyes as the two of them tugged on our connection. However, Bernar and Ren could only look at me in stunned silence. The air grew strangely still after my comment, and I could tell that the others were trying to grasp the depth of what I was saying.
"Fy faen i Helvete, Thoma. I knew about the seal, but I didn't know that was the reason for it," Thorsen said, breaking the silence. "It's alright. At the very least, we know what he's after, but that also means he's going to take more drastic measures the next time he tries to make a move," I shrugged, but knew my words carried much more weight than I was willing to admit.
"Then we'll just have to be ready for him when he does," Taegin said, giving me a nod. "That would require those of us who know what's coming to split up. If we stretch our forces too thin, it won't end well for anyone," Ardrin interjected, getting more than a handful of nods in agreement.
He's right. Unless we gathered everyone to a single point, we wouldn't be able to defend the entirety of Kavrass, I sent Ysevel, who understood me immediately. What about Ryfon? Could he help? Kalia asked, but I could only shake my head as I didn't know the answer, but I did know where I could get one.
"Syldir, would it be possible for Wardens like Erumon to assist us again?" I asked sheepishly. She put a finger to her chin and furrowed her brow pensively. "Perhaps, though Erumon's presence was merely circumstantial and not authorized by the council. However, that doesn't mean there isn't a way around their decisions," she said, though I wasn't entirely sure of what council she was talking about.
Although Aurae's expression nearly told me everything I needed to know.