Well this is the second chapter for you all, hope you like it as much as the first.


Transcendence

Chapter 58: Backroom Dealings

Shen'dralar Hideout

The room was quiet, only the thrumming of the portal nearby that brought reinforcements into the city could be heard. Not a word was said or an utterance given as the Sentinels and Druids stepped through the breach and into the steadily overcrowding chamber.

Caren stood nearby, alongside another Highborne mage, maintaining the portal and ensuring that it did not collapse before all their comrades were through. Mordent stood beside Iyeana as he watched the precession stroll on through, dozens had already begun to fill the chamber and more still came.

"It would see that we finally have a force to contend with the might of the Nobles." Mordent said, although his words were not something he admitted with pleasure.

"You sound less than pleased." Iyeana noted.

"Having warriors storm their fortress will only get many more people killed, and as you already know I am trying to prevent that." Mordent replied, frowning as he looked down at the contingent of Sentinels and Druids.

He knew that they will not be so inclined to accept his presence here, it is obvious that they will need to be convinced not to rush off and start slaughtering. He noticed that three were approaching them, two appear to be druids and the other another Sentinel officer.

"Convince them, I will gather my people for the meeting, and when they are willing to listen bring them to me." Mordent whispered, before turning and moving off.

Iyeana knew that convincing an Archdruid and several others to follow her lead would be difficult, for they had not been in her boots while events unfolded here. Had it not been for the circumstances as well as Ichigo's own unique brand of wisdom she likely never would have allied with the rogue Highborne or the Horde.

'Should be interesting; let us hope that they can be convinced.' Iyeana mused, turning to greet the three.

"Greetings, I am Lieutenant Iyeana Shadewalker, commander of these Sentinels. I thank you for coming as quickly as you have."

"Well met, I am Master Thal'darah of Stonetalon Peak." The Druid greeted in turn with a short bow, one that was shared with his two offsider. The greeting was sincere enough, but with the expression he wore, a deep and hard frown, left her concerned with how much he knew about the situation here. "These are Elder Sareth'na and Sentinel Mistress Geleneth."

He gestured to the green and teal haired woman, respectfully, behind him who in return bowed their heads towards Iyeana.

"Greetings to you both." Iyeana replied. "I hope that you have been made aware of the situation."

"We were told many things by Keeper Meredras when he arrived at the Peak, some sounded hard to accept." Thal'darah stated, before glancing around the chamber with his perpetual frown. "Yet we are in a city that has risen from the depths of the ocean, raised by none other than the Highborne we thought long gone from the world."

Iyeana knew that wasn't the only thing that was on his mind, she could see that his gaze was turned towards members of the Horde. Contempt seemed too perfect a word to describe what he felt for them, his glare solely on them and threatening to turn to something more tangible if he was not brought out of his glower.

"I know that this may seem foolish to you, I once believed it to be the same. But we have allied ourselves with a small group of Horde warriors and a rebel faction within the Highborne." Iyeana stated, drawing the Druid's attention back towards her. "We have come to an accord and are set to see that the Nobles who lead the Highborne are deposed."

"Can they be trusted?" Geleneth asked, crossing her arms. "The Highborne are a treacherous group, who is to say that they would not turn on us. And let us not mention the Horde."

"I have the same fears as you, but until then we must rely on the common goal we share to see the Nobles removed from power and that the Heart of Veles is returned to Maraudon." Iyeana replied, understanding the Sentinel Mistress' doubts about the alliance with the Highborne and Horde.

It was not one she took lightly.

"You would trust them?" Thal'darah inquired, arching a brow.

"I trust the one who proposed and solidified this alliance, he has my confidence as well as that of all my warriors." Iyeana replied.

"I see." Thal'darah replied, his words neutral and unreadable. "Then let us meet these leaders and see what we must do."

Iyeana wanted to let out a breath, thanking the Goddess that the Druid had not decided to argue over the logic of working alongside the Horde and Highborne. Although she had a feeling that it was mostly thanks to Meredras that someone was sent that was willing to help in spite of who they were working with.

Turning she gestured to the far end of the chamber, a single archway leading to an adjacent room where the meeting was taking place. Entering the spacious room she found Mordent alongside two other magi sitting at a stone table, around it were several others. Ichigo, Adelina, Caren sitting amongst themselves lightly chatting to each other. The final group at the table consisted of Mairne, Codexia and another Shaman, all three of them in deep conversation.

"Are they ready to speak?" Mordent inquired, silencing all discussion as he directed the question to Iyeana.

"Yes." The Sentinel replied, turning and beckoning the Archdruid forward and giving an introduction for him as well as his two companions.

"Well met." Mordent said, giving a slight nod of the head towards the Druid.

"Too you as well, this is a strange circumstance we find ourselves in. Is it not?" Thal'darah responded, moving forward and taking a seat.

"That it is, and in spite of what you may think of me and my kind I still thank you for willing to come and offer us aid." Mordent said.

"It was the Keepers that guided us here to halt this chaos, whether or not you can be trusted is up for debate." Thal'darah responded, folding his arms on the stone table and maintaining eye contact with the mage.

Mordent scowled slightly at the comment, yet before he could make a comment someone else spoke up.

"This better not become another shouting match as to why I hate you and why you hate me."

Both the mage and druid turned to the speaker and found the young substitute looking on with a bland look, behind him was Iyeana who withdrew from his chair. Mordent gave a huff yet the Archmage looked on intrigued for a moment, noticing Iyeana's closeness and also recalling her previous comment on the alliance.

"Should I suspect that you are the one that the Keeper spoke of, the human boy who somehow convinced the lieutenant here to accept an accord with the Horde and Highborne?" Thal'darah inquired.

"Yeah, that's me." Ichigo replied.

"I would have thought you to be older; you are barely a man yet." Thal'darah said, his eyes never leaving the Substitute who did not even seem interested at the moment. "How did you convince her of that? How will you convince me?"

"Let me guess: You don't trust them and think that they are going to screw you over the moment they no longer need you, am I getting warmer?" Ichigo asked, his expression turning from a bland look to an aggressive frown.

"You would not be mistaken." Geleneth stated, leaning forward and responding in the Druid's place.

"Then let me tell you what that means in the long run, absolutely nothing." Ichigo replied, that had taken them by surprise for a moment. "You can hate each other and despise one another all you want, but what I won't let you people do is get caught up in that hate so much that you do something stupid and make things worse."

Iyeana wanted to sigh a little, when she asked him to try and make a compelling argument she had hoped that he would pull another wonderful one that he did four days ago in Nijel's Point. But maybe it was an event that only happened once every hundred rant or two, or maybe it was because he had more time to think on it.

"Our concerns are no something that can be easily dismissed, when we are looking…" Thal'darah started, but Ichigo beat him to it.

"They don't matter in the long run when the future looks the way it does, we worry about what might happen and we won't be able to deal with what is happening." Ichigo replied, scowling as he looked at the elder druid. "The Highborne might pose a threat later on, maybe, they might turn on us when this is over, possibly. But we can bother thinking about that when we got something we know is happening and we are running out of time to fix it. So any issues you have with the people at this table, leave it outside and suck it up, because right now we need each other and fighting over things that are in the past is not going to help any of us make sure that there is a future where we are still alive."

It was a quick and brutally honest statement from the Substitute and did ring true, they had little time left and arguing of what may come would need to be made secondary. That includes the trustworthiness of their allies and the motives they may have after this conflict is over, all of it was speculation and suspicion right now.

"Alright, then let us discuss what is factual then." Thal'darah said, turning and regarding the rest of the table's occupants. "Where do we stand?"

"As of now we have a force capable of combating the main military force of the Highborne, the Guard and Shen'dralar." Mordent replied. "From what Iyeana has told me we have a force that can match them evenly."

"Then we should be preparing for an attack." Geleneth said, thinking it to be the best option available now that they had the forces on station.

"No, an attack such as this would cause chaos through the city, and it would undermine what I have been working towards." Mordent replied. "I intend for the people to rise against the Nobles and force them either to surrender or for them to be cast down."

Mordent had been sowing the seeds of dissent into the people for days now, spreading rumours and secrets to the populace to make them suspect ill of their leaders. It had been working in their favour, even several members of the guard have begun to turn and feed him information that they needed. Mordent even had a friend or two left in the Shen'dralar who was giving him some intelligence on Maluineth and her movements.

"You think that they will surrender?" Iyeana inquired.

"They have no choice, when we deprive them of their power they will be vulnerable." Mordent replied, referring to a bottle of draught on the table. "The Draught only provides a cure to the magical addiction my people suffer from, but gives little in return for magical energies. Even now Maluineth is still recovering her strength from her duel against Codexia several days past."

Said Primalist stood and make her presence known, rising from her seat and taking charge of the meeting.

"If we can free the spirits and deprive the Highborne of the Draught we may be able to starve them of what little power they have left. In fact it may work in our favour; the Draught is being siphoned off from Druantia and Thetis. If their powers are being taken than they may be able to influence those who drink the elixir, making them more rational and calm." Codexia said, smiling as she presented her findings.

From what she had discussed with the Shamans they had learned that the Draught is calming agent, not only treating the signs of the addiction but also flooding the mind with calming energies. Prolonged ingestion of the liquid could not only cure them of their addiction but also might even alter their personalities, with Thetis in place her tranquil nature might even make the Highborne docile.

"She is correct, we have seen signs that the people are also becoming much braver in face of possible tyranny, and it is forcing the Nobles to scramble to maintain control." Mordent said, smiling as he gave them the news.

"Then all that remains is for us to revealing the truth to the people and freeing the spirits, once both objectives are complete we can depose the Nobles and then reclaim the Heart of Veles." Mairne said.

"And I have two targets in mind for doing that, the first is a Spellbook owned by Maluineth that contains the rituals used to seal the Spirits. Since they use the spirits powers to do more than just create the Draught, freeing them would completely deprive the Highborne of most of their magical defences." Mordent replied.

"What is the other target?" Iyeana inquired.

"Caelyb Greenearth, he is the leader of the city criers who are attempting to quell the people's fears, we need to capture him." Mordent replied.

"Why capture him?" Iyeana asked.

"Because of he is Mildreas Willowgrave's son, one of the Nobles." Codexia said, having met him on occasion. "What do you plan to get from him?"

"My contacts in the Shen'dralar report that Maluineth is investigating Mildreas, and revealed some startling information about the man." Mordent replied.

"Information that could be key to incriminating the Nobles?" Caren inquired, knowing full well that incriminating information on a Noble was a powerful tool. "If you can reveal that information it could taint the image of all the Nobles, the people turn and then the fractured elements within their own ranks would also fall."

"Correct, the Guard and Shen'dralar follow those that earn respect for their power and ability, Maluineth took my position through subterfuge and her hold is not as strong as mine was." Mordent stated. "Undermine her leadership and I can take back what is mine with minimal effort."

"Then it seems we are prepared, how shall we proceed?" Thal'darah inquired.

"A two pronged attack will be needed, but one that does not reveal too much of our hand." Geleneth replied, cupping her chin as she made the suggestion.

"I agree with the Sentinel Mistress. A hard and fast assault with minimal casualties, attack and extract who and what we need before escaping." Iyeana stated.

"Attacking the Sanctum will not be so easy." Mordent replied factually.

"We don't need to attack, just get inside and get to the book." Iyeana stated.

"Actually, sending a message may be the more decisive move." Mairne suggested, drawing the meeting to him. "If we can prove the Shen'dralar and Guard are weak we may be able to give the people a greater belief that they can be overcome. Shame them both and we can weaken the hold the Nobles have over the people, if they don't fear the whip than they will be willing to fight back."

Iyeana nodded at the suggestion, destroying the public image of the Nobles as well as their defenders would go a long way to making a coup all the more possible. But there were other things that they needed as well, the right people to lead the populace against them. Yet that will have to come at another time, once they have the tools they need they can worry about making the people compliant.

"Then an attack on the Sanctum seems appropriate, word has come to me that Maluineth will be meeting with A'orean soon, we should organize an attack before then." Mordent said, rising from his seat. "But I must stress that I wish for no casualties in this fight, they are still my people and allies. Bloody their noses and wound their pride, I would not like to slaughter them for being forced to obey another."

There was a general consensus between the rest of the council, a shared looked between them all that said they would comply with his request.

"We will do what we can." Iyeana suggested, and received a thankful nod from the Archmage. "For the attack I think myself, along with Mairne and Master Thal'darah, will be able to help you in with the battle strategy."

Few words were said after this, mostly small details and personal suggestions on how to proceed with each objective. They hadn't even finished talking before they were filling out of the room, with the four leaders of the separate factions moving as one out the door. They were already deep in discussion and planning out the attack, not far behind them Ichigo alongside his two companions waited until everyone had left the chamber.

"This is turning into a guerrilla war." Ichigo commented.

"It needs to be, Mordent wants to mitigate casualties, so it is best to take out the leadership and force compliance on a leaderless faction." Caren said.

"She is right, this method of warfare is much less bloody than compared to an open conflict that could leave the majority of this city's populace dead." Adelina replied.

Ichigo was scarcely aware just how tactically sound those two were behaving, both of them rationalizing and understanding the deeper context of war and how to wage it. Adelina he could understand considering that she likely was trained by a more militaristic authority and that she had been stationed in Feathermoon Stronghold. But Caren didn't seem to be the type to him, call it strange but she didn't exactly seem like the type to know about how to lead and wage war.

"You certainly know a bit about this." Ichigo said, glancing at the mage.

"I was raised in a noble house; you would be surprised how knowing how to crush opposing houses and turn public favour towards yourself was often a staple to being of the upper class." Caren replied, casually at first before she scowled irritably. "Something my father perfected."

Ichigo wisely chose not to ask, instead he got up from his seat and moved for the door, they had people who would be going after the Shen'dralar but he knew where he was going. They needed to capture someone in public and get the hell out of dodge, more than likely he would be the one signed up to do it.

"Ichigo, we have a job for you." Iyeana said, strolling up to him.

Ichigo wanted to smirk, speak the devils name and he shall appear.


Court of Nobles

Maluineth and Tylarwin departed from the chamber, casting one last glance at the pensive A'oraen. He leaned on the railing surrounding the Heart of Veles, face mostly hidden behind his long white hair. Yet his eyes did not seem to burn at their usual intensity, and the crease on his brow all but confirmed that he was still brooding over the topics of their meeting.

Topics that even Maluineth struggled to accept.

At first she had come with Tylarwin to discuss the treacherous actions of Mildreas, who had committed a grave taboo within their walls and against her. Revealing dark truths and actions he had orchestrated long before their acquisition of the Heart of Veles and even before they intended to depose Mordent.

That name brought up a flame of rage in Maluineth, for he was another topic of discussion during their meeting. What A'oraen was suggesting was infuriating; it was something she had opposed and furiously demanded to not be done.

"Make peace." Maluineth spat, clenching her teeth at the words. "That man deserves to die for what he did, his actions for the last thousand years have been just as heinous as Tortheldrin's."

A'oraen had made the proposal to try and end this civil unrest once and for all, but not through violence or bloodshed. Mordent has all but spread dissent and lies to the people, filling their heads with suspicions and fears that the Nobles were corrupt and leading their race to extinction. The man had all but begun creating the framework for a revolution that would see the Noble caste wiped out from the city.

She could accept that her efforts, alongside Tylarwin's, had failed to locate and put an end to the man. But what she could not accept was A'oraen wanting to settle things peacefully, unwilling to solve the issue in a similar manner as Prince Tortheldin would have in the past. Saying that if they crushed Mordent and his regime than it would make him a martyr to the people, who were rallying behind his warnings.

"You should let go of this anger of yours, it has done you little good in the last few days." Tylarwin stated, his words professionally calm as he had his arms behind his back.

"Let go of what he did to our people? My family?" Maluineth growled.

"He did not murder your father, and in spite of what you say your anger for him stems only from that baseless fact." Tylarwin replied, glancing at the girl at his side.

Maluineth had noted that the man had become less of an ally since the meeting, having actually agreed with the proposal to make peace with Mordent. Now he lectures her on her own animosity towards the man that had caused so much pain and misery in her life.

"His actions had all but destroyed my house, my father lost himself when he was deposed, a shell of a man. He was dead for a long time, and I had to watch him every day wither away." Maluineth replied, warring emotions of pain and rage dancing across her face.

"Yet Mordent did nothing more than take your fathers position, this is nothing more than a case of stolen glory." Tylarwin stated, dispassionate as usual. "Forget about this petty feud and focus on the real enemy, Mildreas and his crimes have been revealed but we must be ready to act when the time comes."

Maluineth schooled her features, fighting off the irritation in regards to the former leader of her order and turning the conversation towards something less vexatious. With Mildreas being revealed, alongside his co-conspirators, it was only a matter of time before they were denounced for their crimes and stripped of their ranks.

Yet they knew that he would not be so quick to surrender and forfeit his position to others, the man was power hungry and certifiably insane. Even the prospect of losing power, even appearing weak in the presence of another, was something he utterly despised. His own sons were such a thing in his eyes, two novices that had their uses but only one that actually amounted to something of worth. Even his daughter was being used, a more correct term being that she was being sold off to another to earn his loyalty and support. If his own family were expendable pawns in his plans than there was no mistaking that everyone else were valued as such.

"With Mildreas gone alongside Nytheas and Elaallaes, hopefully we can repair the damage to the image of the nobility as well as cleanse all taint from our ranks." Maluineth stated.

"I believe that they will not surrender quietly, they are too drunk on power and their own methods of maintaining power and authority are dangerously destructive. I think a more permanent removal is in order, and I would like your help in doing that." Tylarwin said, giving her a knowing stare.

Maluineth only gave a nod in response, leaving that man and his two accomplices alive was not an option that could be tolerated. All three had to die, but they needed to make their deaths useful to themselves. Luckily A'oraen's own plans worked perfectly into that as well.

"My lady!"

Maluineth raised her head and looked down the hall, finding one of her serfs rushing towards her. She took note of his frantic expression and suspected that there had been another attack, possibly even more infiltrators within the city. She had heard from Tylarwin of the Sentinels and Tauren that had entered the city, causing havoc in the streets.

"What is it?" She asked.

"There has been an attack on the Sanctum! The Shen'dralar is in disarray!"

Maluineth's eyes widened before she took off into a sprint, cursing as she rushed for the exit. With so little power left she had not the magical strength to teleport herself back to her headquarters, never before did she feel so helpless in the wake of her father's order crumbling to the hands of the enemy.


The Sanctum

The inner atrium of the Shen'dralar headquarters was in chaos, bolts of magic and elemental forces flew across the chamber. The many mages of the order were caught off guard when a small army of Druids, Mages and Shamans invaded their hall and began tearing it apart. Most had already fallen to the attacker in the opening minute of their assault; barely half remained to mounts a respectable defence.

"Protect the…!"

He was silenced when he was lifted from the ground by a gust of wind and cast aside, his body being driven through a bookshelf. Yet he was not the only Shen'dralar mage to suffer such a fate, their powers may seem mighty yet they too have suffered from lack of actual substance to replenish their mana. The few spells that they had in their arsenal would only keep them safe for so long, once it was spent they would be no more a threat than slightly lean librarians.

Mairne strode forward, hand wrapping around the head of a Highborne mage and quickly tossing him into another that stood nearby. He followed up by swinging his shield around and bashing aside two others, forgoing outright killing his enemies. Mordent had expressed the desire to only kill if needed, but this assault would leave few dead but would leave a deep wound in the pride of the order. It was a wound that would be inflicted upon its leader, who would be spurred by this attack.

"Locate her chambers; I will deal with the rabble here!" Mairne called, turning to the five women who were unleashing a storm of magical power against the Highborne mages.

"Follow me!" Codexia yelled, only giving a glance towards Adelina, Caren and two other druids.

She led them to the second floor of the atrium, ducking in behind a fallen support pillar as Highborne mages attempted to dispatch them from a distance. But one did not seek shelter from the storm of arcane magic, instead Elder Sareth'na strolled forward as her magical wards deflected the flimsy spells sent her way. With a wave of her staff she cast a powerful gust of wind forward and threw all the mages upon the terrace off their feet.

Adelina and Elyssa Skyshadow were quick to produce seeds and toss them down the lengths of the terrace, they geminated and grew even as they sailed through the air. Thick roots and vines lashed out and grasped the nearest individual next to the pods, ensnaring the disorientated Magi before trapping them.

"Forward." Sareth'na ordered, leaping over the collapsed column and taking the lead.

They escaped the chaotic battle within the atrium and into the more quiet hallways of the Sanctum, moving through several passageways unhindered. Any resistance that they met was quickly dispatched under the combined might of the five spellcasters. With the Primalist in the lead she guided them through the short maze of passageways and chambers before stopping in front of a seemingly random door.

"This is it." Codexia said.

"Are you certain?" Sareth'na inquired, looking at the plain doorway and find it no different from the dozen they had passed on the way here.

"She is right, I can sense the magical wards on the doorway, this is definitely her chambers." Caren affirmed for Codexia, placing a hand on the woods surface and flaring the protective wards in place. "I will need some time, keep me guarded."

"Understood, Adelina go with Elyssa and cover the intersection to the right, myself and Codexia will cover the way we came." The Archdruid said, turning and moving to her destination with the Primalist in tow.

Adelina turned and looked to the pale blue haired Druid and gave a smile and nod, both turning and rushing down the hallway and stopping at the junction. Adelina and Elyssa turned down the two hallways and making sure there were no surprises coming their way.

"Clear." Elyssa said, turning back to Adelina who responded in kind. "This is my first mission, never expected to be invading a Highborne city and fighting to stop an elemental apocalypse."

"Don't worry, I know you Elyssa. Your skills and powers are more than sufficient to be here, you are more powerful than the rest of our class." Adelina replied, smiling at her long missed friend from Stonetalon Peak. "I missed you."

"It is good to see you again as well, but I am even more joyed that you are finally somewhere you can grow." Elyssa replied, a gladdened expression on her face.

Although her smile became a little coy as she looked on, something that worried Adelina a little. While she had never been on the receiving end of her former classmates teasing, due to circumstances, she likely found her current happy mood something too hard to miss a chance to tease.

"I see that you finally found a few human friends to actually interact with, still trying to understand their culture?" Elyssa inquired, recalling much of Adelina's fascination with humans and their society.

"Never stopped even when I started to live in Feathermoon, and has only grown in Theramore, so much of what I thought I knew was not correct sadly." Adelina replied, giving a half-hearted shrug to her friend. "But Ichigo helped me along the way, he is a true friend."

Elyssa smiled, gladdened that Adelina's journey from Stonetalon Peak had been one that had improved her. Her power had obviously grown and become more potent in the months since her departure, but it was also her mindset that had improved. Less closed off and more open, melancholy would have been the only way to describe her before she left. But now? Elyssa had never seen Adelina so happy, even in the midst of combat she looked at ease.

"Too think… I only wanted to help him when we first met." Adelina mused, smiling slightly as she recalled the reason she had tried to befriend him in the beginning.

"He truly must be a remarkable individual to make you smile like that." Elyssa said.

Adelina looked a little bashful at the comment; it was true that Ichigo was the first people she had really connected with outside of Stonetalon. They had developed as friends when at first she had come to him to try and help him recover, not only physically but mentally as well. She was drawn to him because of that, because of the look he had and the pain he was feeling that was more than skin deep.

"More than you realize." Adelina replied, a serene smile on her face.

But they were taken from the moment when they heard frantic words echoing down the hall they were guarding. Both druids looked towards one another and nodded, Adelina stepped around the corner and released a beam of natural energy. The lead mage was knocked back, while those behind him quickly launched a counterattack.

Elyssa was quick to protect Adelina, summoning up magical wards, shrouding her in vines that pulsed with energy. Adelina weathered the assault and continued her own, releasing stream after stream of natural and celestial energies towards the oncoming mages. Singlehandedly she held the hallway against the Mages, whose own powers were overshadowed by those of the young druids.

"It would seem that Codexia was correct, these Mages are not as powerful as they should be." Elyssa said, continuing to shield and protect Adelina from behind.

"Without their magical fonts to empower them they are vulnerable, for they have a small pool of energy to draw from and because of that it is quickly running out." Adelina replied, taking her staff and jamming it into the wall.

From the smooth stone surface sprouted thick roots that grew and soon ensnared the passage, thick wooden roots sealing the hall and preventing the Highborne mages from advancing any further. Adelina nodded to her work, with that sealed there was no way the mages would be tearing through that anytime soon.

"Incredible, Ironbark roots, you certainly have grown stronger." Elyssa said, awed as the might and power that Adelina seemed to be able to call forth with ease.

"No… it is just as it always is…" Adelina replied, frowning for a moment before shaking her head and turning back down the hall when they heard a shout.

"I'm in!" Caren called out.

"Get the book and let's go!" Codexia called back, standing near the corner as bolts of magical energy came flying past.

Adelina and Elyssa were quick to retreat back towards their comrades, as they reached the doorway Caren came rushing out with the book in hand. Rushing on they regrouped with Codexia and Sareth'na, all of them moving around the corner to contend with the Highborne mages barring their path.

With the Archdruid in the lead they cleared through the opposition quickly, bloodying a few noses but taking no lives as they steamrolled over the enemy. Returning to the atrium they found it in ruins, yet the fighting had ended and their forces had emerged victorious. Below Mordent and Mairne Ragetotem stepped forward to look up at the party of five, looking no worse for wear despite the frantic battle they had taken part in.

"Were you successful?" Mordent asked.

"We have the book, now it is time we escaped." Caren said, passing the tome to Codexia before teleporting all five of them down to the ground floor. "Everyone gather around, I need everyone close so we can all leave at once."

Quickly all moved to the mage, huddling around her as she prepared the mass teleportation spell to get everyone out of the Sanctum before it was swarmed with reinforcements. Within a minute her spellwork was complete, with a bright flash she along with the party of thirty had disappeared. Long gone before anyone arrives.


Maluineth rushed into the main atrium, behind her followed Tylarwin and a contingent of guards at the ready. She could not believe the damage that had been inflicted on her domain, it was worse than when she battled and defeated Mordent here days ago. The bodies of many Shen'dralar mages were seen amongst the rubble, most were beaten and bloodied yet still lived.

"Scour the Sanctum, find survivors and the attackers!" Tylarwin ordered, before moving to Maluineth and keeping his hand on the pummel of his blade. "This was a brazen move, attacking the Shen'dralar like this, he is sending a message."

"Yes, he wants to make me look weak." Maluineth said, clenching her fists and glaring down at the body of one of her supporters.

It was most certainly working, never before had she felt so beaten and powerless before that man. He had struck her powerhouse and demolished her forces, leaving them broken on the ground alive and humbled. A part of her demanded vengeance against the man for what he has done, against more than just herself but also the people she was meant to lead.

Yet deep down she shuddered at the thought of losing the Shen'dralar again, being driven from it like her father had before her. What if Mordent succeeded with this coup, he was turning the people against them, what if he actually forced them to surrender? What if the Shen'dralar turned on her before that? Everything she had done up till now, all the sacrifices and planning would be undone because she was too weak to finish what she started.

"Steel yourself, now is not the time to freeze up." Tylarwin scolded, grasping her by the arm and forcing her onto her feet.

"You realize that the longer Mordent remains at large he will always undermine us, he wants revenge for what we did to him." Maluineth said.

"It almost sounds as if you regret trying to kill him." Tylarwin replied, cocking an eyebrow.

"It should have been done differently; I should have taken the Shen'dralar from him by my own power and skill." Maluineth said, scowling as she thought on her rivals harsh words when they last spoke. "I took it from him like he took it from my father, by letting the previous leader being cast down by another."

"It would seem you have more than just this order to reorganize, so sort out your thoughts first and leave the repairs to your subordinates." Tylarwin replied, turning and moving for the doorway. "Once you have sorted it out come to me and we can discuss matter with the Court."

As he reached the exit a messenger came rushing up to him, giving a quick salute before relaying some startling news. Tylarwin scowled in irritation, it would seem that the attack here was only one half of the plan. Caelyb Greenearth had been kidnapped, in broad daylight in the middle of the palace courtyard of all places.


Maluineth did not say a word as she watched the Noble knight depart; instead she turned back to the ruins of the Sanctum's atrium. Her order had been attacked while she was away, while her powers were at their lowest. The emotions came to her quickly and violently, so many that she couldn't determine what she should feel and do.

From the fear of being seen as weak, unfit and unworthy of her position and to be cast out by those who saw it as such. To the despair of the suffering she had brought upon the Shen'dralar, she had divided the once united organization and left it in disarray. She knew that the people did not respect her as they did Mordent, many of them still unwilling to give their support even after she bested him.

Every action she had taken over these last few weeks have all been towards her own desires and wants, but now she was uncertain if she was in the right. Her reasons were just as shallow as her methods, revenge for her family and her status that she felt had been taken. Her own pride being the victim more than anything else, just as Tylarwin had said.

"My lady."

Maluineth looked up and found one of her few loyal mages, one that she knew to trust above most others. Falrin Treeshaper was an old acquaintance of her father and someone that had aided her in the many years since her father's banishment from the order.

"Yes… Falrin, what is it?" Maluineth said, straightening herself and standing tall.

"We need to speak, the artefacts we have been examining for Fel Taint have returned some startling revelations." Falrin whispered, leaning in close as he delivered the news. "The artefacts we took back from Mildreas are not genuine."

Maluineth's eyes widened, the artefacts were not the ones that had been taken? Grasping his arm she moved for the staircase, she needed to be shown what he meant and see for herself what it was he spoke of. Who knows what kind of harm Mildreas could cause if he kept hold of all those artefacts, what he could use them for was a thought she dared not have.


Council of Nobles

A'oraen looked over the city from the window, finding the looming clouds above the city becoming too much of an eyesore that he continue to see every morning. Yet to keep his people protected they needed to make sure that the Sentinels and any other malefic forces in the region do not come for them.

Yet it was the purpose that it ultimately served that gave him some pause, at first he thought it to be an excellent plan to eradicate their enemies. The world was a hostile place and their people were strangers to this changed continent, as well as being judged for the mistakes of the past that were not their own. Azshara was the cause of their downfall, her greed and bloodlust was notable and she saw no fault in her actions.

He could not be the same as her, for if he thought nothing of the consequences of his actions than he was no better than the ruler that brought an end to their once great empire. Repeating mistakes is what led the people turning against the noble caste, Mordent was a prime example as well as the invaders within the city. They had made enemies, ones that might have been avoided had they heeded Codexia's warnings on the matter.

Loath as he was to admit it, he could not doubt that she was correct on what was coming for them. A slaughter that he did not know if they could escape, not without compromising the very ideals and methodology they so stubbornly refused to change. Maybe it was time to think on the world and how they viewed the Highborne, and change not because the world wishes it but because they now realize something is wrong if all saw a flaw that they didn't.

'After all, our own people fear us and think of us just like the enemy at our gates, we are power hungry nobles looking to keep what fleeting power we have left and by any means necessary.' A'oraen mused, yet now that power was all but spend and all their plans had failed in the end. 'It is time we made a change.'

With that final thought the doors to the chamber opened, he glanced over his shoulder at the other end of the room to find the person he was waiting for. Turning he strode over to the plinth supporting the Heart of Veles, meeting the fellow Noble halfway, and as he stood before the white haired mage he let out a sigh.

"I think you know why I summoned you here." A'oraen said, his voice was level and eyes cast in a shadow of his frown. "Do you have any idea what kind of forces you are dealing with Mildreas?"

The elven Noble frowned at the accusation in the Head Councillor's tone, but A'oraen would not have any of the conceit of this man here. It was time that Mildreas was made to answer for this, for corrupting the people with such twisted and dark methods.

"I have been told of what you have done, with the Cup of Elune, the Band of Sulayman, and Maluineth's Tome. Using them along with the Seven Leagues Greaves to reach Sargeron and capture demons, so to seal them away and then siphon off their power." A'oraen said, giving a very short and accurate account for what the man before him was committing. "Have you learned nothing from the actions of our previous Lords?"

"I know that we must do all that we can to preserve our ways, Prince Tortheldrin knew that at least, I expect you to do the same." Mildreas sneered in response, clearly agitated.

"We have the Draught, our people are in good spirits and health while protected by the Storm above us. How is that not enough?" A'oraen demanded, narrowing his eyes at the Highborne who seemed to grow more erratic with each passing second.

"Enough? How can a watered down soporific that dulls the mind and does nothing to quench the hunger for magic we all suffer from!" Mildreas growled, clenching his teeth and making a violent gesture towards A'oraen.

"You haven't even tasted it, not a single drop of it has reached your lips since it was first extracted from the spirits. I know because you have not requested anymore since the first shipment was given to you. Instead of using it you have been tainting yourself with the Fel energies from those demons." A'oraen responded, he simply found it impossible to believe that Mildreas could be so foolish to do what he has done. "Look what it has done to you, your mind becoming just as chaotic and twisted as the energies you dabble in, you are unfit to be a Highborne."

"I am unfit?" Mildreas roared, his restraint slowly beginning to break. "I am the only one who sees the truth! That draught has done nothing but stripped away the drive of our people and corrupted them, they have become soft and complacent. Even you have changed, become weak, where was that resolve and dedication to do all that you must to ensure our people rise again as the world's greatest power!?"

A'oraen could see it, the burning hunger behind the eyes of his fellow Noble, Mildreas had been completely consumed by the taint. But even then A'oraen did not know if he had truly been changed by the Fel, that it had warped his mind and turned him into an uncaring monster that would see all dead to appease his own desires. Or maybe Mildreas was right, that it was A'oraen that had changed, with the Draught finally giving him the clarity to see things in a different light.

"We will never be able to rise to that height again, not with the methods that we once were willing to take to do it. Even greater powers and fonts have been used by our empire at their height, and yet it meant nothing in the end. Greater forces than the Obelisk have been overcome, and I know that if we continue this gambit we will meet our ends in a similar manner as our liege lords before us." A'oraen replied, turning and examining the Heart of Veles as he circled the plinth. "For the first time in millennia our people can see and experience the world without the hunger for magic always pushing us towards new and frightening avenues to survive. I feel we have finally regained our conscience, and I will not allow it to be weighed down by committing genocide."

Mildreas seemed to have calmed, that was something that both was strange and worrying for the Head Councillor. He knew that Mildreas was far from civil and logical, especially in these circumstances, so to see him so calm and collected only added some weight to his suspicions of the man's intent.

"So the Obelisk will be deactivated then? You will allow the storm to stop so that our enemies will swarm over us and see us all dead?" Mildreas asked, his words quiet and even with his elvish hearing A'oraen could barely hear them. "We have endured and suffered much for the last ten millennia, do we not deserve to reclaim even a fraction of what we once were?"

"Not when it will end with us being extinguished from history and the world shortly after we start." A'oraen said, raising his hand and calling his staff to him. "I will give one warning, surrender now and no harm will come to you, and if you refuse I will put you down right here, right now."

"You have become soft, something I never thought to happen, you were the best of us and I thought you the only one more worthy to lead than myself." Mildreas said, while A'oraen simply decided to ignore his arrogant speech in favour to prepare for the inevitable battle. "But the spirits are to blame, and I will be sure to make them suffer for that when I cleanse this land of all opposition."

A'oraen raised his staff and aimed it at the corrupted mage, power coursing through his stave as he prepared to fire the spell. Yet Mildreas did not make a move, instead he stood his ground and waited for the attack.

A bolt of arcane energy shot forth and overwhelmed Mildreas, the arcane energies circling around him as a powerful shockwave rocked the room and even displaced the pulsing energies from the Heart. A'oraen lowered his staff and gave a sigh, he had no thought that the battle would be a simple execution, despite the hasty victory he was saddened still at the loss of an old friend.

"You certainly have much power left, even drained and dulled by that Draught you maintain your great magical might."

A'oraen lifted his gaze from the floor and to the sight of the still breathing Mildreas, who had not moved from the spot he had stood. The ground around him was torn apart and crystalized from the potent arcane energies. But he could not say the same for the target; the mage was all but unharmed from the attack.

'How…?' A'oraen thought, before he saw Mildreas raising his hand.

Quickly he attempted to cast another spell, yet he was not quick enough to call the incantation before the corrupted noble cast his own.

"Dath'ishura." Mildreas intoned, his hand pulsing for a moment.

A'oraen did not know what had been cast, but he felt an immediate response. His staff fell from his hand and pain wracked his whole body. He was just able to see the pulsing glow of red energy around his neck, coming from the Syamantaka.

"What… have you… done…?" A'oraen barked, falling to his knees as he felt his strength fading with every second that passed.

"I have done what I have too, that stone was once the Syamantaka but no longer. I took the powers from it and transferred it to another artefact." Mildreas replied. "That stone now holds the power of the Tyet, the Blood Amulet, a tool once used by Azshara to do away with handmaidens who displeased her. Right now it stealing your life force and draining you of all your power. Soon you will be dead."

A'oraen tried to stand, but as he lurched forward and his hand hit the ground to save himself from falling, his arm broke from the shortest of falls. He would have screamed had he the ability to breath, yet his own lungs seized themselves inside his chest.

"I truly am sorry that I must do this, but you can no longer lead the people as you are." Mildreas said, kneeling next to the slowly mummifying Highborne. "But do not fear, your death will inspire us to find Mordent and his ilk and crush them for your murder, none will know that in your final hours you sought to betray us. Your legacy will remain intact and you will be honoured for all time."

A'oraen was long gone before Mildreas finished, his face and body shrivelled up by the amulet, leaving behind a dry pale husk of the former Head Councillor. For a moment Mildreas appeared regretful for what he had done, killing a close friend and colleague had not come easy for him. A'oraen was a friend, someone that he felt was more close to him than his own flesh and blood, so to be the instigator of his death struck the mage hard.

"Goodbye, my old friend." Mildreas said, rising up and turning to the doorway.

With a wave of his hand the locks and latches were released and the door swung open, beyond the door the bodies of several fallen knights were seen. Standing over them were his followers, power flaring in their hands and eyes. It was another heavy blow to his heart to think he had expected this to happen, that he knew he was coming here to kill A'oraen.

"Spread the word, let all know what has transpired here, that A'oraen has been murdered by Mordent and his rebel mages." Mildreas said, some pain appearing in his voice as he made the utterance. "Let them know that I will lead in his place, be guided by his example and will see to it that all who threaten our people will be put to the sword!"

The mages all cheered, it was a light and guarded applause by his followers, but it meant much to them. For now they could continue the great work and see to it that the people are given true nourishment and saved from sedation.

All who oppose them would be cast down by their newfound might, none would stand in their way. Not the Alliance and Horde, the marauding Centaur, and most certainly, not Mordent and his rebels. All would fall before them, none shall bar their path to glory.


There you have it, things are certainly getting interesting aren't they?

Reviews:

Selias: Undead? Don't know where that came from, but there is something corrupting the Dream and it will be revealed in time.

Fdsadsaw: In a way he will become a Demon Hunter, but it will be a unique case with him, so I don't want to reveal anything. But the Hell Armour is something to consider because it is cool.

Star: Sorry to hear that your tomorrow sucked, but that day is long gone now. Rexxar is a cool dude, that is for certain. Ichigo learning the Arcane is going to be a unique case and I have a way around that. Flash Step only increases the speed and strides in which he moves, also he couldn't cover the distance quickly enough before the lightning got him. He would slow down eventually and also Lightning is faster than he is.

Black Cross0: Thanks. Don't worry, that kind of thing won't come along. Ichigo is much more composed and rigid than that.

Heh, I think you have seen the image then on DiviantART.

His hair has grown a little bit, might reference it later on.

Will make a Gaiden story for Marta and Codexia later on, still need to write it up along with so many other things.

Reality Deviant: Glad you like it, really? Light, didn't feel like it.

Astroga121: Thanks, I am glad you liked the chapter. Also it is important when adding characters to the story that they fill a specific purpose and despite appearing in a certain way that they actually have a brain and their own personalities. It is important when presenting to do it and I am glad that you think the Oc's are good.

Also about the Nightmare, you will see in time how that works, trust me on that.

Leapinglemur: Yeah, the Old Man is a copy of Yhwach and him getting scares is not something you should take lightly.

Meech Macho: Wow, Are We Alone is a second, from what I know that is something everyone like over this. But yeah things are looking bad at the moment.

Prince Sheogorath: I will get to your answer later on, I will talk with you in a PM.

Blindluck92: Life certainly is fun for Ichigo isn't it? Looks like you know how to get a general idea on how Ichigo acts with everyone, nice.

Ceps: No, Shunpo is used to cover distances in a single stride, because he can use it doesn't mean he continually uses it. It has been shown that it isn't something that is continually done in a battle, often used to catch an enemy by surprise or to evade when there is no other choice. Because if the enemy can follow you they can hit you because Shunpo requires you to travel in a straight line.

Also not always, Spiritual power is important but certain circumstances can negate that advantage.

Stuporman: I would be willing to talk with you over some PM's to discuss these things.

Mr. Bumpity: I don't plan to edit them unless I have the time, I don't have the time. So I am holding off on it for a while, mainly when I get a few chapters done first, maybe have three chapters or even four done and set for a month and go back to editing them a bit. Also not changing much, just improving on grammer and getting rid of mistakes here and there.

I know not to fall into that trap, so don't worry too much about it.