The council was in uproar. Why did Mock'ry have to be so uncouth? Most especially with the ambassador to the Nettlekin right there!Faust'ian Paktu stood next to his friend as they were both admonished. Faust'ian hung his head in shame. He had tried to talk Mock'ry out of it, but it was better to be by his side than for the fool to have died.The Council of the Page still couldn't make put what to do with them.

"You don't get it, do you?" Mock'ry fumed. "The old ways aren't going to cut it. Apoc'ryph told me what was out there! We needed to act, so I did!"

"Yes, but you acted foolishly. And honestly, we still don't know what it is that you've awakened!" Apoc'ryph intoned. "I ordered caution. Restraint. You did the opposite."

Faust'ian felt it was his time to chime in. "Then we keep digging. I will hold him responsible. We'll research this new creature, understand it, and then once we do, we can hopefully find a way to be rid of it."

Cor'vuss, the leader of the council, smiled coldly at this."Worst case scenario is you two die and nothing is solved. Either way we'd be rid of yours and Mock'ry's antics... Very well, Faust'ian. Your judgement is more sound than your colleague's, as ever. But I offer you a counter-ultimatum. You have a fortnight to figure out something, anything at all, or you both will be banned. Am I clear?"

Faust'ian scowled. Really? Banned? They wouldn't, would they? To ban a soul, was to bind it to an as of yet unbound book and burn it. It was unthinkable. A punishment that hadn't been done for centuries. What were the old codgers afraid of with this crearure that they'd renew the policies to allow it? But Faust'ian managed to nod."Crystal clear, sir."

"Then begone!"

Apoc'ryph scowled as they readied to leave "Is that wise, sir?"

The leader snarled. "I said begone!"

It was quiet between the two friends as they trudged back to the common rooms to gather their things. If they were going back out to the wastes, as it was colloquially called by the other apprentices, they'd need to be prepared.

"Old bugger is wearing thin," Mock'ry finally said, cracking a smile. "Wouldn't want to guard his book."

Faust'ian sigh but chuckled, unable to help himself. His friend was infectious. "Mock'ry you're my best friend, but you'll be the death of me yet." Faust'ian took a deep breath. "While we prepare, at least let's brainstorm. What do you think is that creature?"

"Obviously some kind of cephalopod. Did you see the tentacles?'"

"I did but they were too chitinous, I'm thinking insectoid. But it's more than that..."

"...You're talking about the fear." Mock'ry asked and Faust'ian nodded.

"It radiated the stuff."

Mock'ry smiled, and pushed back his shaggy brown hair, a trait Faust'ian had come to realize was a thinking tic. "Yeah, well, this time we'll be prepared..."

...

...

...

...

Mock'ry pushed back that shaggy brown hair and smiled one last time, his eyes were full of pure unadulterated mana and out of his mouth came a vast array of chitinous tentacles. The burning plains around them cast shadows everywhere.

"You and me, Faust. Gods. Brothers until the end. What do you say?"

Faust'ian grabbed out in the darkness as everything erupted in flames and of screams. Then...There was nothing. There was everything.

He was everywhere and nowhere all at once, drowning in nothingness.And the creature saw him. Somehow it saw him and it floated in the nothingness but it hesitated. If it could cock its head, Faust'ian was sure it did. And then the creature floated towards a small dismal disc, like a grey smudge of some cosmic lens. And it was gone.

...

...

...

...

Faust'ian awoke with a start again, as he had for months. Irides'net rushed over to him. Her wooden armor now held an enamelled scroll with a black rose as it's seal that had become all to familiar to him. It was the only thing that reminded him that he was having another nightmare.

"You ok, Faust? Was it the same dream again?"

Faust'ian nodded. "Just a nightmare, Des. I... I'm okay. What did her majesty say about my histories?"

Faust'ian and Irides'net had managed to ingratiate themselves into the court of one Queen Marchesa, the Black Rose, as scribes, specifically as editors of history and law. It was tedious but it allowed them to come and go as they pleased. A fact that pleased Faust'ian because he had met some who explained things to him and how he left home. Although, he had issues convincing her to train him.

"She was pleased. But seriously, Faust, what can I do to help? They're getting more frequent..."

Faust'ian shook his head and attempted a wry smile. "I guess I'll just have to write it down in a book. Tell a story. You think Kaya could help?"

Irides'net crossed her arms. "I don't trust that woman."

"She follows her code of honor. I respect that."

"So do I, but she's kills ghosts, spirits. What if she finds out about your book? That's all we have left of home..."

Faust'ian grimaced. At times like these he wished he hadn't told her about that.

"It's a Grimoire. It holds living spells and stories..."

"It holds an entire plane of existence. And it has ever since you did that thing. What was it called?"

"When I ascended. And it it holds echoes..."

"It holds ghosts, Faust. What if she finds out? What then?"

It was tense between them for several heartbeats.

"Do you trust me, Des?" Faust'ian asked.

Irides'net stared at him.

"Do you trust me?" he asked again.

"Yes."

He nodded. "I will protect my Grimoire. Okay? If she finds out, I'll be smart and I'll be safe. And I'll do what needs to be done, whatever that means. Besides, I'll have you there to watch and protect me like some kind of mother Cockatrice."

Irides'net scoffed, but Faust'ian had already caught the slight smile that preceded it. She stared at him a moment and her smile faded.

"Will we ever have be home again, Faust?"

Faust'ian stared back a moment and looked at the drab grey stone ceiling of his chambers gilded in candle light.

"I don't know, but I have to try. If I can travel us, I might be able to find us a home. Even if it isn't the one that we lost."

"That's a fool's errand, Faust. And I know you're anything but. Who knows where we could be free, truly free."

"Kaya would know."

Irides'net grumbled and they soon came to the conclusion that they'd agree to disagree. But Faust'ian knew that he had to learn to how jump accross worlds like Kaya, and he knew that Irides'net would try to protect him. He just hoped he could reconcile the two.