As much as Emet wanted to begin their search in Elpis as soon as possible, there were necessary preparations to be made. Themis wanted to gather all the info he needed about an undiscovered place as well as Hermes himself. It was important to be prepared. Gaia wanted to prepare herself, as well, and for that, she wanted to speak to a few Elpis researchers that were visiting Amaurot. She wanted to know about the current state of affairs and to what extent Hermes's peers knew of his own projects. This made her pay a visit to Akademia Anyder, a place where those researchers would share their concepts with others and work together to reach nights that were never reached before, an impressive display that Emet wanted to see once again and hence volunteered to visit the place together with Gaia. Loghrif was reluctant to allow Emet to join her on this path, yet he convinced her to allow him this chance.

And so the two of them have made their way into majestic halls filled with eager experimenters and bright minds, as well as countless creations and discoveries from across the world. Some of those were animal life from land, sky, and sea; others were that of plants and countless life forms perfected by Amaurotines. The early prototypes of many creatures seen in the sundered world, like morbols and wild sharks, all took their beginning here. Loghrif was one of the Convocation members that were regular visitors here, along with Mitron, Lahabrea, and Halmarut.

"So much to work on…" Emet spoke in awe as he looked over the halls and creations as if it was the first time he had entered those doors. Loghrif chuckled and looked back toward him.

"Must awaken a lot of memories, huh?"

"More than you can imagine…I always remembered, but after so many years, some details are forgotten…Like the scale of our work." Emet spoke with emerging pride in his voice.

"We've been making a lot of progress recently; there's no end to impressive creations that emerge almost every day."

"A shame that so many of them got bastardized in the sundered world reduced to nothing more than malformed beasts roaming in the wilderness." Emet scoffed.

"You really do hate this ephemeral 'sundered world,' do you?"

"Well, first of all, I have a good reason. And second of all, it's not ephemeral to me. It's a very real place I spent a rather unfortunate twelve thousand years in." Emet scoffed with disappointment.

"Whatever you say…"

They passed by a blue hall in one of the outer wings of the Akademia, a place where a number of researchers surrounded a large creature reminiscent of a shark, one seemingly aggressive and unhappy with its predicament, judging by its constant attempts to break free. The researchers did a fine job restraining it, however, keeping it inside a watery cage.

"Mitron's latest, I assume?" Emet wondered, noticing Gaia smile with pride.

"His projects can be outlandish at times, but he always approaches them with a perfect mixture of caution and enthusiasm. One of the many reasons he is such a great scientist…And a great man." She chuckled softly. "Well, I'm trying not to fall far behind with my own work, consider it a friendly competition of sort…Shame that he is away on his exploratory trip, and his poor colleagues have to keep his workplace neat."

"It's for the better," Emet said. "Mitron would've recognized my voice, and I'd rather not have it happen."

"Maybe I'd tell him the truth myself?"

"It's too early for that."

"And why is that? Artemis can be trusted, and if you truly are a guest from another timeline that emerged from ours, you must know very well that I would trust him with anything, even my life." Loghrif spoke with dedication and burning passion in her heart.

"Yes, I can't argue with that…Your bond remained strong even in the present after both of you were gone, and it caused me some headache to speak the truth…" Emet was about to tell more but quickly undercut himself. She wouldn't react too well to finding out that Mitron's last incarnation was killed by Emet himself.

"Well, at least you have something real in your tale." Gaia shrugged, making the ascian feel rather annoyed.

"You don't believe me. I take it?"

"I'm being cautious; that's different. It's easier for Elidibus and Azem to make judgments when it comes to Hermes, they don't know him, but I have seen him regularly in Elpis for many years now. We have our differences, sure, but that he is responsible for such a calamity strikes me as a tad…Odd."

"You don't know him as I do…"

"Really? And here I thought the reason we chose Emet-Selch to asses him was because of lack of prior association…"

"I'm not talking about him." Emet's voice grew louder as they evaded the public. "I'm talking about me. I might not remember the day when Hermes set the Final Days off, but I have seen enough of that side of him in his shard who sought to undo both the Ascians and the sundered."

"And why should I trust your words? For all I know, this sundered world might not even exist, and you might be some charlatan who wants to manipulate us for something…Maybe you have something against Hermes and want to ruin his life? Or maybe you're planning to take the seat of Fandaniel yourself somehow under a different face." Those words made Emet clench his fist, although he knew that he would be best left calm and rational.

"Well, perhaps you're right, and the best course of action will be to imprison me. Or perhaps not, and the whole world will be put into jeopardy because of your judgment." He stated sarcastically. "Since then, did you become a gambler?"

"Was that an attempt at humor?" Gaia responded with amusement. "Those years really changed you, Hades."

"Oh, for the love of…Maybe you want some questions answered? Maybe there is something that you don't quite understand from my story. Go on. Then, I'll hear you out."

"Hm…" Gaia smiled playfully. "You can start by explaining to me that peculiar type of acne that you have on your forehead."

"What?" Emet was shocked, only now remembering that he forgot to remove the third eye from his vessel. "Ah, that…You know, by calling it acne, you delivered the gravest offense to one of the sundered nations, one that I painstakingly helped rise from the dirt."

"Ah, so a physical attribute of sorts? I see, I see…" Gaia sighed as they continued on their path. "But to continue with questions, I was wondering about what you, Elidibus, and Lahabrea did with the others in the Convocation. I assume all of us got sundered…Did we just live among those people? Without memories and knowledge?"

"Yes, as frail and imperfect beings."

"Yet you mentioned something about raising up shards, did you not?" Gaia was interested. "How was it done?"

"After the Sundering, the three of us created memory crystals for each seat, imbuing the, with knowledge of the past that can resonate with a soul, writing the memories of an Unsundered being onto its shard…Then they would remember everything that was taken from them, ready to ascend and become the Ascians." Emet said, thinking back to their recruitment and how difficult it was for the Unsundered to get used to their new colleagues at first. One would have to look no further than Lahabrea and the sundered Igeyorhm…

"And what of the lives they led before? They must have had families, loves, friends…" Gaia asked pressing questions, to which Emet only had one answer.

"It was not always pleasant…Were they to cling steadfastly to their old life, it would have to be erased."

"How crude…I struggle to think of the broken people that arose from such experiments."

"Most accepted their new role, sooner or later. Eventually, the memories would become their own, and only the duty of restoring Amaurot would be left before their eyes and in their minds." Emet said, thinking of Amon. The only one that never accepted, even after thousands of years, and now turned those memories into spite that drove him to undo all the Ascians' work.

"And what about Artemis and me? How did our shards fare?"

"Both of you were remarkably quick to accept your new roles. Mitron came from a life of pain and constant struggle; he was more than eager to embrace his new knowledge. It was a bit more difficult with you, but eventually, you became one of us too, and it was your bond with Mitron that helped to set you on this path. In recent years, you were instrumental…Instrumental in rejoining one of the shards. Alas, it ended with your demise, with you being killed and Artemis's soul trapped in a creature of pure light." He said, watching Gaia's pained gaze.

"So this is how it ended…" Even though she didn't want to admit any belief, it was clear from the tone of her voice that her heart ached at the thought of something like this ever coming to pass.

"Not necessarily."

"Pardon?"

"As I said, you were reborn again, and I saw your reincarnation on the very same shard that nearly got rejoined before I departed."

"And how am I doing, I wonder?"

"Good enough, you have a family, a life, ambitions…Thought all of those are obviously threatened by the Final Days."

"And Artemis?" She asked the uncomfortable question, making Emet pause for a moment, thinking of how to respond.

"His situation is complicated…When the creature of light was awakened, his soul didn't leave it but instead merged with a new host, a girl who used it to fight against our cause. She is not his shard, but their souls work under a unique fusion, the fusion that grants her some of his memories…And feelings as well. Considering she acquainted herself with your shard shortly before I left, the consequences could be most interesting."

"Huh…I wonder if those two form a bond as well, even after thousands of years. There is something very romantic in that." A warm smile emerged on her face.

"And yet, do you not agree that we should avoid this outcome?"

"Well…I see where you're going with this." Gaia sighed. "Fine, fine, I'll help you out in Elpis. Not like I planned to go against Elidibus and Azem's decision, but consider this a light approval from me."

"Finally, reaching a consensus peacefully…I almost forgot the feeling."

"Don't expect me to be done with the questions, though." Gaia quickly noted.

"Oh, I wouldn't expect such a curious soul to ever stop being a pain in my neck."

"Charming…"

It wasn't long before they reached a lone researcher, staring at the manuscript before him.

"Ah, Daedalus!" Gaia exclaimed, making the dark-haired man turn around with intrigued eyes. "How long was it since you started wasting time here?"

"Excuse me; I've been doing nothing but glorious work since morning!" The researcher crossed his arms, though a smile also appeared on his face. "I was wondering if you'd show up; they say it's not in your nature to come late."

"I had some complications," Loghrif responded. "How goes your work in Elpis?"

"Wonderfully, the progress has been spectacular, matched only by what I can see here in the Akademia, and even then, it's barely so," Daedalus spoke with pride in his voice.

"I've been meaning to pay it a visit, see how my own creations fare there," Loghrif said. "How is Hermes treating them?"

"The chief? Well, he mostly leaves this work to us while focusing on his own projects. But rest assured. We are giving them the best treatment!"

"Good, good…I might check up on Hermes when I go. Do you think he'll be open for a visit?"

"Well, that's hard to say. His schedule is hardly fixed…"

Emet remained behind, standing silently as a shadow, not wanting to interfere. All he could think of was the cruel irony of having to listen to others speak of Hermes's project with calmness and apathy, not knowing what it was about to bring. Everything around him, the facade of a peaceful, prosperous world, every single second reminded Emet of what lay ahead. He had to brace himself. They all did. The hour was about to come, and no meticulous preparation could make it easier…

Perhaps he should enjoy his few idle moments in the Akademia; after all, it was his own world open before him, allowing Emet to witness that which he desperately wanted to restore.

It served as a reminder of how vital the coming endeavor was.

…

When the preparations were done, the time had finally come to make a move toward Elpis. Emet-Selch was tired of waiting while Gaia and Themis gathered all the necessary information for the journey. Every second spent lingering would make Emet think of how little time they had with regard to the Meteia project and Hermes snapping and turning against his own people. At this point, he was ready to use any means necessary, including brute force and murder, to end Hermes and Meteion's game. Of course, Themis would not approve, as wouldn't Apollo and Gaia, but they were not the ones who saw their world crumble before them.

Elidibus made sure their departure would not attract too much attention, although when three members of the Convocation would visit the floating isle at the same time, a certain amount of it would be unavoidable, especially when coming from Hermes himself. Emet decided to keep the identity of an intrigued researcher from Naxos who works with the Convocation and seeks to explore Elpis along with the wonders it holds.

When the time came, Elidibus called for Emet to meet him at the southern square, not far from the transportation bureau. The ascian would arrive at a due time without hesitation. He was eager to get this investigation underway more than anyone else. Themis was there, patiently waiting for his 'colleague.'

"Ah, here you are." The Emissary smiled and waved to Emet. "Just in time."

"Yes, yes…Now, can we finally get to the heart of the matter?" Emet said nervously, causing Elidibus's expression to become sterner.

"Of course. Follow me." The Emissary said before turning around and walking down the street.

"And what of Azem and Loghrif?" Emet wondered. "I suppose they are already there."

"Correct. Loghrif is a frequent visitor, and it's not Azem's first visit, either; both of them are attuned to the aetheryte, which cannot be said about us…" Themis paused. "I must say, it has been a desire of mine to witness the beauty of Elpis with my own eyes. The tales my colleagues tell paint a delightful picture."

"I am pretty sure I am attuned to that aetheryte, assuming it has the same configuration…And I don't see why it wouldn't."

"You are, but considering your aetheric density has changed due to transgressions Azem told me about, it's better not to risk it."

"So you know, then?" Emet crossed his arms. "About the instability of my soul?"

"I do; anyone would notice that there is something different about your current state, though the vast majority would not be able to quite put it into words," Themis noted.

"You think my soul isn't strong enough to travel through an aetheryte?"

"I think that until we find a way to restore it to its original state, we shouldn't take that risk. You said yourself that we should focus on something different now, uncovering the truth." Themis was right on this one. They could waste no more time, even if it meant that they would have to employ methods of traveling a little more primitive than teleportation.

"And what's your plan for once we get there?" The ascian said with curiosity.

"To speak with Hermes without revealing any accusations, at least at first," Themis stated, immediately receiving a sigh from Emet.

"With all due respect, dancing around the subject and pretending like nothing is wrong when so much is at stake is…A questionable strategy."

"On the contrary." Elidibus shook his head. "As we've discussed, pushing Hermes too hard will only lead him to snap quicker, and we cannot allow for that, or else all of us might pay dearly."

"Perhaps there is no need for an explanation at all." Emet shook his head. "It's him against the four of us; we can chain him and force him to destroy Meteion's consciousness, cutting off her link to the rest of her sisters. Maybe it will destroy them as a conscience and will have them simply scatter around the stars…"

"With all respect, what you're asking of me is to break my vow of impartiality." Elidibus, ever so stubborn in his dedication to duty, past and present alike.

"When it comes to the salvation of our star, does it truly matter?"

"Indeed."

"I'm afraid you might be failing to realize the extent of it…"

"I completely understand, and as Themis, I believe your story, as outlandish as some parts of it sound. It makes me raise many questions to Hermes, Venat, and even myself…But I trust you've spoken truthfully." Judging by his words, Apollo shared the truth of the Sundering with him. "However, as Elidibus, I have to remain objective. Hermes is one of us, and he hasn't done anything malicious, so as it stands, he is an ally in this investigation, not an enemy. At the very least, it will be his choice."

"Very well…" Emet clenched his teeth, realizing that he couldn't go against the Emissary's wishes. The Ascians abandoned many principles their society once held dear, but it wasn't fair to force people of the past to do the same, even as an exception.

"What is it you would've done?" Themis wondered.

"I would've put him in chains and forced him to halt the project, whether he likes the prospect or not."

"And would your own brethren approve?"

"You and Lahabrea would…Hythlodaeus might, now that he has the knowledge." This made Emet think of how his friend fared in the aetheric stream. By this point, his memories must have been cleansed of the Kairos's influence, allowing him to have one final glimpse at the missing days in his life, only for the truth to be unveiled before him. It must hurt to realize that the answer was so close all this time, just like it hurt Emet when Hydaelyn spoke of the truth.

"But from what I gather, you don't remember those days yourself. You only go by what Venat told you."

"Not entirely…I know Hermes's shard from the present who restarted the final days, an unhinged lunatic."

"But he is still not Hermes, right? The one you knew died from the Sundering and was never given a chance to realize the truth. Maybe if he were to see some aid from the people around him, some support…He would make a different choice."

Emet would've argued, but they had already arrived at the bureau. While much of their traveling was covered by the art of teleportation, sometimes one needed a more grounded way to get to their destination, especially when it came to places they didn't attune to yet. Bureau of Transportation covered this, providing Amaurotines with gwibers, reptile-like creatures that could easily transcend the skies and fly at long distances. Emet and Elidibus needed one to get to Elpis, so they made their way to the clerk.

"Greetings…" He said calmly before looking up and noticing who his guest was. "What a surprise, the Emissary of the Convocation himself!" The clerk exclaimed.

"Greetings. I was wondering if you could provide gwibers for my associate over here and me." Emet decided not to talk much, just in case someone recognized his voice.

"Of course, anything for Elidibus." The clerk said. "I only need to register you and note your names. One of our best gwibers for the Emissary and…What is your friend's name?"

"Solus," Emet spoke quietly, trying not to sound too distinct.

"Solus…A unique name, I must say."

"He's not from Amaurot, their naming conventions are different in Naxos." Elidibus was quick to interfere.

"Ah, that explains it. And where it is, you two are going?"

"The facility of Elpis."

"Here, here…And now that's written." The clerk looked up. "Go to platform three. There are two gwibers there which are now yours; they know the path to Elpis, so your journey should go smoothly."

"Thank you." Elidibus bowed before making his way to the platform along with Emet. Soon, the duo found themselves at the named platform with two draconic creatures awaiting, bound to the ground by magic. One of them is colored emeralds, while another is azure, both unique in their beauty.

"I suppose it is where we begin…" Elidibus sighed with some hesitation. "When I spoke of wishing for a real conflict that I could mediate myself, I was not expecting one to arise so soon. I suppose now is my chance to prove myself."

"Themis…" Emet reached out to him. "You don't need to prove anything. Your continuous service to the Convocation is more than enough. Not to mention that I saw you readily take up the mantle of Zodiark and give your life for our people.

"Maybe that's exactly what I thought on that day…" Elidibus mused. "But alas, I might never know that."

"Then let's see to it. Let's make it certain that neither you nor anyone else has to live through this nightmare again."

"Oh, that much I intend to see through, indeed…" Elidibus looked up with confidence. "I will not stop until our doom is unwritten."

"On that, we are of one mind."

It was time to begin their fateful mission.