"Fine by me." Phloria yawned as the familiar place allowed her to relax. "Gods, with all that sunlight, I almost forgot that we departed past midnight. I feel so sleepy."
"Of course, you can, Solus." Tista said. "Just remember that we are not Lith. A too intense mind link could give us mana poisoning."
"Donât worry, Iâll be very careful." Solus felt on cloud nine. For the first time in her life, she could share her thoughts and feelings freely. She wouldnât be just a voice in Lithâs head anymore.
"I donât know you but all this traveling made me hungry. Whoâs in for our first breakfast in Jiera? My treat. And when I say my treat, I mean Lithâs." Solus giggled.
The motion was unanimously approved because cooks didnât have voting rights.
***
Faluelâs lair, at the same time.
Tyris and Leegaain left the moment the Gate closed to return to their respective duties. The members of the Queen Corps protecting Lithâs house had reported the full conversation between Baba Yaga and the Abominations hybrids.
Tyris had been glad to discover that one of her lost sons was alive, but on the other hand, it made the situation with the Master even direr.
âWhoever it is, they know everything about Guardians thanks to our own children. The Master knows our powers, where we live, and even our habits. His hybrids are weak compared to us, but seven of them are too dangerous.â She said to Leegaain via their mind link.
âI agree. As it is, we only need Salaark to take care of all of them by ourselves, but as Baba Yaga said, their power grows by the day. I doubt we can summon the other Guardians from Jiera here without triggering another war with them.â Leegaain replied.
âYou keep collecting all the data their spells left on Lutia and Iâll examine them right away. Between my research with Balkor and seeing them in action, I think Iâm getting closer to finding a cure for Zoreth, my daughter.â
Faluel had no idea that the Guardians had agreed with her plan of sending Lith to Jiera because they were aware of her ulterior motive and because they had more of their own.
Leegaain needed an excuse to come to Lutia and collect the residual energy traces of all the Abomination hybrids.
"Thatâs it? Theyâre gone on Council business, but what about us? I thought you were supposed to test us as well." Friya said.
"I mean to, but youâre all too different and I donât know you very well." Faluel sighed. "The problem with wisdom is that unless a crisis arises, arranging a scenario for a single person is already hard. Let alone three of them."
"What if I give you one?" Nalrond asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Thereâs no need to feign ignorance. You know that Werepeople live inside Fringes and Iâm no exception. I could go back to my village and bring the others along with me." Nalrond said.
"Why would you do that and what would that prove?" Faluel said.
"Before I can start living again and planning my future, I need some closure. A Fringe exists only as long as Mogar needs a secluded space to pursue its agenda. If Iâm the only survivor, then it should have disappeared the moment I left.
"Yet if the Fringe is still there, it means that either my tribe itâs not extinct or that Mogar is not done with me and be more willing to communicate. By telling you this, Iâm showing you my trust to you and the others.
"Maybe itâs not wisdom, but itâs still something.
"On top of that, if we find the Fringe, Iâll show my companions how to access one of them. Meeting Mogarâs will might allow them to grow as persons and if you take Friya as your Harbinger, you can ask her to share such knowledge."
Faluel pondered both Nalrondâs words and intentions.
âI would love to go with them. Only a handful of Awakened ever stepped inside a Fringe and the few that returned to tell the tale always changed for the better. Yet I canât leave Lutia without breaking my promise with Lith to take care of his family.
âNalrond knows it so itâs obvious that he doesnât want me to come. Itâs too soon to say if heâs wise, but he sure is cunning.â She thought.
"I agree with your proposal, but before taking my final decision we also need to hear Friyaâs and Quyllaâs opinion. Fringes are dangerous places for those who are not born there and they have the right to refuse." Faluel said.
"Are you sure you want me to come?" Friya asked. "As a potential Harbinger, you canât trust me more than you do Faluel. I bet thereâs a reason why your people didnât take guests easily and once I learn about it, I will not be able to defend your secrets."
"Thatâs exactly the point." Nalrond gave her one of his rare, little smiles.
"Faluel has respected my privacy so far, just like she respected Lithâs, Solusâs, and yours. She could have extorted the Forgemaster wand from you or Solusâs abilities from any of us, yet she didnât."
"I think itâs time for me to return the favor and for you to realize how much youâll lose by becoming a Harbinger. Only fools never doubt."
His care for her flattered Friya, just like his words struck at her like a hammer.
âDammit! I know nothing about Royal Forgemastery so I always assumed that aside from my silver wand, Faluel couldnât hurt Dad much. But if she gets access to my memories, then Faluel will learn everything I know about Solus and about Menadionâs legacy.
âBecoming a Harbinger might give me the ability to follow my friends, but will I still have friends once I become a liability for both Lith and the Ernas Household? How could I possibly be this stupid?â She thought.
"What about me?" Quylla had never thought that Nalrond would show so much consideration for any of them.
Even though the Rezar spent most of his time in his human form, he seemed to trust only other hybrids. Nalrond had spent much time with the Ernas sisters, yet he didnât share with them much about his past nor did he teach them Light Mastery, no matter how many times Quylla asked him.
"How come you suddenly trust me so much? If I ever started growing on you, you sure made a heck of a job to hide it."
"I donât really trust you or your sisters because I never needed your help in time of need. So far, youâre just colleagues to me, if not fair-weather friends at most." After months of living in Lutia, Nalrondâs habit to never mince words didnât change.
âGood gods, heâs almost as rude as Morok. The only difference is that Nalrond is much more reasonable.â Quylla thought.
"Yet Iâve come to at least respect you as mages and as people. Iâve never seen anyone with so much genuine passion for the study of magic like you, Quylla. People usually consider magic either as a means to an end or as a weapon, whereas you love experimenting even on the most insignificant spells.
"I didnât miss how you stare at me every time I use Light Mastery, trying to understand its secrets, nor how hard you worked to match our Awakenedâs companions results in the study of Spirit Magic despite the limits of your wand."