In the distance there was the strangest rushing noise like waves on the beach Otherwise they seemed completely alone in this pillar filled cavern with no roof
Neshamah decided she was too exhausted to attack them and looked forward again But her mind was racing That power that scope thatÆs an Authority Randidly Ghosthound condensed a genuine Authority Maybe heÆs really the one weÆve been waiting for
The new barrier was different than the first the light of its thin connections was much dimmer than the previously brilliant barrier But at the same time Randidly had enough spare attention to admire the way that the Patron of Truth spiraled out the supporting lines Rather than attempting to resist this foe directly with an inferior product it was clear she believed it more suitable to create a zone to steadily sap away the power of this beast
Then Randidly released the Authority and made to gasp but once more the restrictive sapphire liquid settled around him He floated without any motion completely inert and suddenly spent With its movement restored the serpent of black flames roared its pure fury and belched out a beam of fire
The fire sizzled through the intervening space and Randidly was abruptly struck by how particular you needed to be with your image to achieve such a distinct result through the haze of this sapphire liquid Then gushing black flames met the dim lines of energy the Patron of Truth had created
Vrrmm
Rather than any sort of impact it was a jarring resonance that resulted from the conflict Randidly winced even his powerful bones aching with the remnant effects Yet when the black fire began to fade the spiraling light fence remained with no lingering damage
The blast didnÆt possess enough mass The barrier held
You are truly powerful The Patron of Truth smiled at Randidly but her body seemed to be coming apart at the seams Her long limbs were dim after creating the barrier I must rest Thank you for your assistance
You RandidlyÆs image voice was unsteady pounding along with the pain in his skull He willed himself to speak with more clarity ignoring the pain Too much had happened too quickly he couldnÆt miss this opportunity to find out more information Why are you trapped here Did Elhume
He had The Patron of Truth offered one last tragic smile before disintegrating in the sapphire liquid That same blank look came over her as though she didnÆt see Randidly at all but another place No other choice
In the wake of the Patron of Truth whatever being remained sealed within this lake vigorously tried to test the defenses It unleashed blast after blast while Randidly floated and rather helplessly watched He would have been worried if it had been able to break through and reach him considering how spent he felt but the devouring black flames vanished without seeming to accomplish anything
Guiding the liquid around him Randidly closed his eyes and tried to ignore that being Unfortunately destroying the barrier also got rid of that image of Elhume Why were there three scenes that I saw Also there were only three figures that existed in all three of those scenes One of them had to be Elhume and it is likely that one was whatever Monarch remains here But who is the third figure One of the Patrons But several went with Elhume why is only one featured in this powerful memory
The Patron of Truth makes the most sense since she appeared in the lake to help rebuild the seal but that blurry figure didnÆt really resemble her Or perhaps its not a Patron at all but another figure
RandidlyÆs exhausted mind chewed on the possibilities for a while as far as I can tell Elhume is likely the first figure Due to the fact he says his power is necessary Æ likely talking about either this mysterious third figure or the Monarch Which means heÆs weeping in the pool forming the basis of this barrier Then heÆs sitting on the throne in the second scenario In the final scenario heÆs kneeling before the stairs well thatÆs a bit more confusing Also his first words above insanity and a broken eternity is he rebuking the Karma ordained individual
And who does that leave to be the blurry person
Randidly shook himself mentally Then he looked around at the gleaming sapphire liquid The trapped Monarch shifted its body and resentfully returned to its rest
I wonder Randidly considered His head continued to throb If I have enough time for a quick nap
Chapter 1869
ClaudetteÆs chest was heaving when she arrived at the base of the lighthouse Honestly referring to it as a lighthouse was a disservice to those functional buildings she had seen in other locations this was a spiraling staircase around a central pillar with some sort of treasure based light source at the top Her eyes traced the structure There were several platforms of woven energy at various elevations seeming to require different capabilities in order to pass through and ascend
But what made her heart grow cold was the figure that was currently halfway up the staircase And ascending every second
Kyl MacDuul squat and froglike turned and gave her a brief glance The corners of his mouth tilted up into a smirk as he reached one of the barriers ItÆs just business girl This is what was always meant to happen
Then he turned forward and said aloud to the gleaming barrier Her favorite color is Sapphire
The barrier flickered almost aggressively Kyl scowled and muttered several curses to himself His jowls shook Meanwhile the wave of adrenaline finally reached her nerves Claudette launched herself forward at the staircase herself forgetting briefly that she utilized RandidlyÆs body and almost crashing into the base of the structure
She regained her balance glanced worryingly at the places where the rising tide of black flames had eaten away at the foundation of the lighthouseÆ then looked at the small sign right in front of the entrance It had been penned by her father by hand
Congratulations worthy challenger your dedication to an alliance between my family and yours warms my heart But we cannot forget the true soul of this potential deal Claudette my lovely daughter If you are not taking her feelings into account I cannot in good conscience entrust her fate to you So this final test challenges your knowledge of her history and her tastes There are no punishments for incorrect answers but only by truly understanding her will you be able to reach the top
You For some reason this particular brand of faux concern was beginning to wear very thin on Claudette She clenched her fists a horrible frost skittering across her knuckles and up her arms How dare you consider me yours to surrender to anyone no matter what they know about me
I am not an object
Still at the very least Claudette was confident that she could quickly catch up considering the type of impediments She stepped onto the base platform and faced the first barrier A question floated in the energy barrier How old is Claudette
Seriously Despite the seriousness of the situation she couldnÆt help but be floored by the inane question She gritted her teeth and experimentally answered with just her thoughts IÆm 31
The barrier flickered and dispersed Claudette ascended quickly around the staircase even as she heard MacDuul speaking above If not sapphire perhaps indigo Ah excellent
The questions arrived in a condescending rain What was ClaudetteÆs favorite toy as a child What was the first thing that young Claudette gave Don Beigon as a gift Who was the person that Claudette looked up to most of all What was ClaudetteÆs worst fear
Trying not to dwell on the horrible farce of a test Claudette accelerated up the stairs Answers flowed quickly to the forefront of her mind Her tiny stuffed polar bear with the bells around its neck A paper flower Her mother Dying the same way that her mother had died
The last few steps released small novas of frost where her feet pressed against the stairs Swinging her blade she poured every ounce of frustration and bottled up emotion she had gathered over the thirty one years of her life All the dripping hatred and curdling resentment she felt toward her father exploded out through the weapon It cut into the barrier