Nox had been surprised at how easy it was to "break in" to the old Novarista Castle inside the Ark of Zektbach. The guards, who were busy moving things to the new castle, simply let him in. It was because Matin had officially made him a prince, allowing him to go wherever he pleased.
He, Falo, Adhuk and Shamshir were heading straight for the old Agiona headquarters. All of them were armed, knowing that someone might still be there to stop any investigation.
But no one was there. They breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"There's nothing here," Falo said after a look around. "They must've taken everything to Aria te'Laria."
Nox had been expecting this. Now they would have to somehow get into Agiona's new headquarters. Despite his status, Nox doubted Agiona would let him in. They had to know he didn't trust them.
"Wait!" cried Shamshir. "I see something!"
She kneeled and pulled a piece of paper out from under a squashy black armchair. Adhuk took it.
"What is…this?" he gasped.
"Let me see it!" shouted Nox and Falo together as they both dove for the document.
"Here," Adhuk said grimly, showing it to the other three.
It appeared to be the last page of a larger document. On it were the words "souls contained in the Flask Sea will become the foundation of this project. The new empire will begin through the power of the perfect transcendental being."
"They're gonna do something to Lien!" cried Nox.
"Wait," said Shamshir. "How do we prove this is Agiona?"
"Right here," Falo said. He pointed at the top left corner, upon which was stamped a snake eating its own tail.
"That's the ouroboros," he said. "Agiona's official seal."
He swiped the document from Adhuk's hand.
"We have to show this to Matin!" he said urgently.
As the four of them walked back to the gate of Aria te'Laria, they were shocked by what they saw.
All five members of Agiona stood at the gate, with Hannes. Every time a person, not a Zeta, came forward, Hannes held up a black sword, prayed for a second, then said something to Carla, a pale Agiona member with short black hair who stood to her right. Carla then either pointed the person through the gate, or to the right, where that person followed Rouven somewhere. Whenever Rouven returned, it was without whoever had been following him.
"Sweet Trisagion," Falo whispered. "What are they doing? And why is Hannes there?"
"That's what I'd like to know," Nox stated bluntly. He marched up to Hannes and Agiona.
"What's going on?!" he demanded.
"Watch your tongue!" Lyudmil snapped.
"Now, now," said Matthias, an Agiona member with short black hair, pale skin and a thin beard. "Let His Highness speak."
"What is this?!" Nox shouted. "What are you doing with these people?! Hannes, why are you with them?"
Hannes opened her mouth to speak, but Zalieri made a shushing noise.
"Calm yourself, my prince," he said. "This is for the safety of everyone. Worry not, no one is being harmed."
Nox glared at Zalieri and was about to snap back, but Falo tapped him on the shoulder.
"Remember," he said, "Empress Matin is awaiting us."
Nox stopped. If Matin found out about this, she could stop it for good with her authority.
"Let's go," he said.
Matin stared wide-eyed at the document Falo had given to her.
"Souls contained in the Flask Sea?" she half-whispered. "The empire will begin through Lien's power?"
"It gets worse," said Shamshir. "They're at the gate to this world and turning some people away. And Hannes is with them."
"Hannes is? Then we must inform L'erisia!"
"Wait," Adhuk said. "What does she have to do with this?"
"Hannes told me that Agiona had given her a task to do, but she couldn't tell me what it was. She said L'erisia had approved. If there's something going on…"
Matin couldn't bear to think that she'd been betrayed, but if she had been, there was no way L'erisia, a Will of the planet, would knowingly agree to something bad.
"We have to tell her. Oh, here she is now!"
L'erisia had sensed that someone wanted to see her and instantly brought herself there with her magic.
"Tell me what, Empress Matin?"
Matin handed her the document.
"Oh…oh my!" L'erisia cried out. "Hannes!"
She vanished in a swirl of fuchsia sparkles. Moments later, she was back.
"Yes, it makes perfect sense!" she continued. "Oh, how could I have been so foolish?! And poor Hannes has no idea!"
"Where did you go?" Shamshir asked.
"The Flask Sea. Come on, quickly!"