As Alex rowed the dingy away, she glanced over her shoulder. There was that strange blonde witch with the clown hat standing over the bow like some pirate captain.

Stroke after stroke, they went out. Of course, Amelia helped on the other side. Not too far away, they could see an estuary to a nearby island. According to the people of Bath, the Morrígan Wings constantly sailed to this location, some kind of underwater ruins. Magilou detailed her intrusions here, and Aoife noted the deep Earthpulse point here.

She wondered how'd they dive into the temple. Swimming down seemed hard. Unless those ruins weren't too deep? No, that couldn't be. If that ship they spotted was here, it would've been stuck.

"And here we are." Magilou patted on the dingy as Alex and Amelia stopped. The light waves bobbing the ship in the water as Magilou held a strip of paper out. She chanted, holding her hands steady. "O reveal to us, portal to another plane…"

"Shifter!"

The air shimmered, warping before them. Swirls of grey and blue currents rolled around, but never disturbed the water.

Amelia rested her hand on her knee. "Interesting arte. Where'd you learn that?"

"It was something old man Melchior knew. Never thought it would actually be useful in a place like this."

"Remember Magilou. Melchior's soul was used for Amenoch."

"Yeah, yeah." She waved the idea off. "Alright, sail through! We'll be inside the temple."

"So, you've been inside?" Velvet asked.

"Just the entrance. Those Wings guard it well."

"Whatever they came here to do, they finished it beforehand." Amelia mused as she helped row them through.

Going through the portal was like passing through a thick layer of curtains. Pushing through the water felt like stirring thickened butter. But they continued, shutting her eyes as the boat bumped against some hard surface. When Alex opened her eyes, she looked around. A shimmering sky-blue bubble shielded the area. Fish and other aquatic creatures skimmed by, bopping their heads against it before swimming away. Sharks tended to avoid the bubble altogether.

"Care to go for a swim?" Amelia chuckled, hopping off the boat and getting herself on drier land. Just like the temples before, her feet created strange colored echoes in the flooring, bouncing around as they hit the edges of the path.

"Gotta wonder why they decided to make a temple down here. I know, like water, but…"

"It's more likely they build this thing on land. Then whatever happened in the weather or maybe even Innominat changed it all. You know, raising the sea-level or something."

Magilou raised an eyebrow. "You sure know a lot."

The brunette shrugged. "Temple's waaay to intact for being waterlogged."

Once Eleanor and Velvet stepped out, Magilou led the way. "Alright ladies, follow me."

"Magilou, what do you think we can expect from this temple?" Velvet asked.

"Eh, probably some puzzles. Maybe a trick question or something."

"So it'll be like the water temple back in Haria?"

"Probably…"

Amelia and Alex pushed the doors open. Just as Amelia stated, this temple was far too preserved to be underwater. Barely a trace of erosion on its tall pillars of marble and stone. Pools of water drained into the sides, filling and running like some complex waterway.

Before them in the entrance was a large stone tablet. This was a new addition to the temple, a leftover from the Wings as they did whatever they needed to do. It read:

The temple is broken down into several mini trials. People are to split into two teams on each side to complete tasks on each. The final door is a maneuver that only Paegniarius Minerva knows.

Be forewarned, the trials and puzzles are infamously flawed. Frustration is abounded with these things.

"Frustration is abounded?" Velvet repeated, looking to Magilou. "Any thought?"

"Not really. Guess we'll just have to split up." Eleanor looked. "Alex and Amelia, please escort Magilou and Bienfu. I'll be with Velvet and Aoife."

The two legates bowed their heads, understanding the Shepherd's order as they headed off to the left side entrance. Magilou followed suit, not before curling herself like a cat on its hindlegs, making kissy faces at them.

Velvet and Eleanor rolled their eyes, taking to the right side.

Hallways filled with small crevasses of water flowing behind them, Velvet looked over to partner. "Aoife not wanting to come out?"

Almost on cue, the malak appeared behind them, following in the traditional way. "You called? I sense nothing of note about the trials ahead, Therion."

Velvet growled, looking over her shoulder as Eleanor shot a look back as well. "Nothing but puzzles?"

"As far as I can tell, Shepherd."

"If that's all, you are excused unless we have some questions about the path ahead. You may return to resting if you wish."

"Very well." Once Aoife disappeared back into Eleanor, Velvet crossed her arms. "Can't believe a malak like her ended up being Maotelus's Primarch."

"She's helping with the armatus. Remember that pair of malak we found just before jumping into the celestial Earthpulse?"

"The one with the bow? Yeah, I remember them." She looked over. Velvet was still apprehensive with the whole thing. The same thing that Artorius used when they fought him the very last time.

"… Can you and the rest of your Legates use it?"

"We can, but there's a time-limit Aoife built in. Only for three minutes before a forced separation."

"Huh. I also remember them talking about building the armatus around 'trust'."

"Yes, it works like that too. Amelia and Lailah are the strongest with the armatus, bar none."

"Even stronger than you, the Shepherd?" She teased.

"Oh hush."

Walking through the halls, they finally came to their first destination trial. It was a large pond, with several fish swimming about. Though, there was a strange glowing in the middle. Eleanor looked over, seeing a large reflective glass showing the other side. It seemed Alex, Amelia, and Magilou were already there.

Velvet was the first one to notice the sign. It was done in the most basic written form, drawn in by a young child. The woman gleamed into the words, scratching her head a few times. Meanwhile, Eleanor looked to the rest of the members as they were… fishing?

"Is this a fishing trial?" The redhead asked.

"Looks like it. That strange glowing fish? We gotta get it."

"How does fishing link to a trial?"

"Beats me."

Resigned, the pair found a fishing rod nearby and tossed it into the pond. For the most part, it seemed like the other fish swam around while the glowing one stayed in place. Taking a seat, Velvet did the same besides her.

Awkwardly sitting there, watching the water flow around as Eleanor tried getting her line close to the fish. The silent lingered until Velvet spoke up. "Sooo, you wanna talk about it?"

"O-oh, you mean?"

"Yes. That."

Eleanor idly watched the line. Still nothing. "I mean, what else I am gonna say?"

"Honestly." Velvet scooted herself up. That damned fish wasn't anywhere close to the hook. A few nibbles sure, but not there yet.

"Do you really, honestly want something like that?"

"I… I do. I really honestly do."

"You realize you are talking to the Lord of Calamity right?"

"But that does not mean who you are, Velvet. That does not describe you. Or how I feel about you."

Velvet snorted; her mouth opened just as Eleanor yanked on her fishing rod. The redhead stood up, feeling the fish fight back.

"Th-this brings back memories, doesn't it?" She yelled back as Velvet grabbed onto Eleanor as they released and pulled back. Motions back and forth, back and forth. The water breached, as the glowing fishing skittered.

"Last time, it was a daemon that came out!" Velvet yelled, "Out of a damn pot!"

Tugging once more, the young women pulled the glowing fishing out. On second inspection, it looked more like some odd frog thing with a tail.

"It's kinda ugly."

"It's cute in an ugly way." Eleanor reached out and touched the creature. It glowed brighter than before then disappeared. On the far side of the room, the door's frame glowing the same color. But it did not open.

"Huh. I guess we'll have to wait for the others to open."

"Right."

Eyes turned to the translucent glass. Lailah was there, staring bug-eyed at them. Her mouth covered by a single hand. Velvet blinked. What was wrong? Finally, she looked back. Eleanor was still in her arms, in a rather compromising position.

Finally, the therion let go. Eleanor did her best to look unassuming. Redness filled their cheeks before turning to the others. Amelia laid on the ground, rolling back and forth. Was she laughing? Magilou focusing on the line while Alex looked like she was ready to burst a vein.

The witch tried to calm Alex as she continued tossing out her line. While no wisps of malevolence radiated from her, it was pretty clear that the blonde was getting agitated by the second. When it seemed that they accomplished it, Alex slammed the fishing pole into the ground, sitting and crossing her arms, completely pissed.

Amelia looked up, barely able to contain her laughter.

After some consolation, Alex took the fishing pole again and tried again.

The string tugged as Alex and Magilou tried to pull the thing. Lailah joined in as Amelia continued to watch, laughing. Finally, the girls yanked the fish out. Their door glowed and both doors opened.

"Looks like they finished. Let's continue."

Over the pond and continuing on, Eleanor looked at the path. Compared to the outside of the temple, the paths seemed rugged and worn. Almost like the water from the outside did damage the temple, but these seemed like new additions.

"Do you think that these trials are just half-assed?" Velvet quipped.

"I…" She stepped over a large puddle of water. "It's possible."

Coming to another chamber, this time larger with a pool before them. Crystal clear water gently splashed against the sides. Several platforms laid about, lazily bobbing to the waves. Walkways sandwiched them for space. On the other side, the door out was open.

"Platforming?" Eleanor tilted her head. Velvet did the first thing, dipping her legs into the water as the door on the opposite end closed. Pulling her legs out, the doors opened again.

"I don't see why swimming to the other side wouldn't close it."

"And be drenched in sea water?"

"You didn't seem to mind it when the Van Eltia dipped through the waves."

"That's completely different!"

Sighing, Velvet rubbed her temples. "Fiiine, we'll do it the boring way."

Gazing over to the side, it seemed like the other group had the same puzzle. Eleanor took her spear, guiding one of the nearby platforms over to help cross over to a walkway.

The therion hopped on top, bouncing up then falling flat on it. She slapped the platform. "This damn is slippery and bouncy."

"Oops?" Eleanor scratched her cheek, helping Velvet back up as they continued. Hurrying down the walkway, she also dragged the platform along just in case. At the end of their path, there were branching ways, some blocking the platform to move around them. Velvet pursed her mouth to the side.

"Hey Eleanor. You wanna try something?"

"What?"

"Do you think we can carry that platform out of the water?"

Eleanor fiddled with the thing, using her spear as a hook as she fished it out of the water. The door on the other side shut closed once she pulled it completely out. "It's pretty light." She noted.

"Do you think we can sail across with just that?"

"We could try." She admitted.

Setting the platform back in the water, Eleanor hopped on first. Velvet did the same as Eleanor used her spear to push off the walkway's wall and in the direction of another adjacent walkway. Still, the door out did not close.

"What kind of puzzle is this if you can just bypass it all?" Eleanor sighed, lamenting the bad design.

The young women sailed from one walkway to the next, fishing out their platform before heading to the next. Finally, they reached the end and turned to see how their friends were doing.

It was perhaps one of the worst viewings they have ever seen.

While Alex and Amelia were trying to hold the platforms, it seemed like they couldn't hold more than two people. Amelia looked drenched as she was pulling one of the platforms. Magilou doing their best to help them along. The thing snagged on the corners. Amelia tried yanking. Alex joined in two.

They tried calling to Magilou but before she could help, they lost their grip to the platform. The platform snagged in the opposite direction, flying away before deflecting off one of the walkways and into the ceiling.

They all stared at it before Alex walked off the edge of the walkway and started swimming back. Magilou curled over laughing. Amelia looked on the verge of laughing trying to call her fellow legate back.

The Hound stopped, yelling back. The two yelled at each other, not helped by Magilou who continued laughing at the entire show. After a few moments, the platform fell from the ceiling landing besides her. Alex blew bubbles into the water before paddling it to them and continuing.

It seemed the two reconciled, though Alex was still very wet.

Once they were crossed, Eleanor and Velvet continued.

"Do… Do you want to ask them about their misadventures?" Velvet asked.

"It's probably best not to."

Finally, they reached the end. A large atrium stood before the center chamber. A pedestal laid in the center in front of large double doors. The room was carved from coral and sea-stone, yet still shimmered brightly against the sun coming through the water.

Seeing that their companions arrived in the same room, they approached the pedestal. Nothing inscribed, but when their eyes look to the door, there appeared to be several icons. Humanoid looking icons of people in various stances.

"Soooo… Do we have to do these stances in order to go by?" Amelia quipped. She took the first step, swinging her hips out. Bit by bit she mimicked the motions. "This feels kinda weird."

Alex covered her mouth, slowly turning away. It was a bit too much for her.

"Stop."

The young women turned to Magilou. Unlike the happy witch she was, her eyes were dull and dreadful. "I know what we're supposed to do."

Amelia stepped off, letting Magilou take the stage.

"This is embarrassing." She warned. "Please, all of you, turn away."

Just as they did, Bienfu manifested at her feet. "Madam Magilou, do you think this is..?"

"It has to be."

Listening to the light tapping and scrapping of the ground, the girls slowly turned their heads. There was Magilou, doing some weird dance. All but her index finger curled in as she swung her body back and forth.

"Don't look now! It's not like I'm sticking out my butt or anything!"

They turned, watching Magilou perform this ridiculous dance. Back and forth, she spun her hands and hopped side to side. When she started spinning in place, her hat flew off. Bienfu dove and caught it from touching the ground.

Holding her hand up with pointer finger up, she posed. The doors rumbled, coral bits snapping as it ground against the limestone.

"…"

The four looked at one another and nodded. They understood. They wouldn't speak of this ever again.

When Magilou took her hat back from Bienfu, her usual smirk and smile returned. "Let's a-go~!"

The final chamber laid before another pool of water. This one stretching deep into the water as the light could not reach. Waves bounced off the edges as something was bubbling in the center. Thunder crackled and a waterspout burst, climbing and climbing to the ceiling. An azure scaled dragon erupted from the center. It's long body reminiscent of an eel or a deep-sea predator with pristine fangs and claws.

Hovering over the pool, it closed its eyes as another water sprout bloomed before them. An older man walked through. Not the elder that the group fought years ago on top the volcano, but an older gentleman with exorcist robes tailored like a jester in a court. Regal, yet comical. Handsome, but foolish.

"Ah, the Shepherd and her entourage has arrived." He spoke.

Amelia nudged Alex. "Wasn't this supposed to be that old man you worked for? This guy's something else!"

"Ladies," Magilou bowed her head. "Former Melchior Mayvin, reincarnated as Amenoch, the Empyrean of Water."

"I do not concern myself to be anything to Melchior Mayvin." The Empyrean corrected. "But I suppose this is what he looked like in his prime."

Velvet leaned over to Eleanor. "This is weird. He looks nothing like the windbag we took down in Killaraus. Did all the other Empyreans do this?"

"Shigure looked like Shigure and Teresa looked like Teresa. This is… something else."

The water lord chuckled. "As we were. Shepherd, step forward."

Eleanor performed the rite, bending to a knee before the Empyrean.

By the blessings of the Empyrean of Water, and the torrent of sea, may your spirit stay true to your heart

Like the blessing of fire before, Eleanor felt a surge through her. Like standing at the bottom of a waterfall, the water clashing against her skin and clothes. But as she stood, the feeling slowed to a single drop on her head.

"How do you feel Shepherd, with three blessings within you?"

"I don't… really feel any different." She scratched her head. "I guess that's what happens when you house the Empyrean of Light for a while."

"Perhaps. Pleasant journals to the last Empyrean, Hyanoa."

"That's it?" Alex stepped forward. "Usually you lot have something else to say."

"There is very little I can explain to you."

"No, wait." Eleanor remembered. "Musiphe said that the Fifth Empyrean was a trap."

Amenoch closed his eyes, rubbing his chin. "Indeed. Innominat is a trap by the design of how the Seraphim perceived mankind. The bet between the Seraphim and the Malakhim never came to an end because the rules keep changing. While the elder seraphim that wander this land know of it, they do not know about the constantly adjusting end-goal. Emotional suppression… and technological suppression. Everything returns to zero."

Eleanor's eyes widened. "Then the dream that Zui Fuu and the malakhim that remembered –"

"Is a complete lie. They have done this cycle for over 15000 years. While the malakhim themselves have removed themselves because of the changing malevolence, they are also keeping themselves from transforming into dragons and destroying everything. Why stop this plan now? Where I see, the entire point was to make sure that this planet would be reduced to nothing. Utter annihilation. And Innominat serves as their instrument. He is direct bridge between the Four Elemental Empyreans and the Seraphim of the Heavenly Steppes. The rules keep changing, but heaven has gone silent."

"When did they go silent?" Alex asked.

"… I'm sorry, but that has been lost to the eons of time."

Velvet rolled her eyes. "I remember this conversation before. The answer should still be the same. Humans, daemons, malakhim, seraphim, whatever. We're still living on this planet."

"But that does not satisfy the reason how you returned does it, Lord of Calamity."

The therion's eyes narrowed. "What do you know?"

"Along with Innominat being a trap, there was a failsafe on its power. Should the head be seized, the heart and soul will supersede its command. But only for a time."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Your reappearance is unsettling, therion." Amenoch coughed. "Something has happened with Innominat and I don't know what it could be. This could very much threaten Maotelus, or perhaps be a blessing from the Fifth himself, entrusting Maotelus's rule."

Eleanor furrowed her brow. "So how come we didn't know about this sooner?"

"Because our memories are still fractured. Slowly, we are relearning what our past incarnations learned from their cycles. But these Wings, they are somehow disconnecting our link from the Sixth and our kin. Some type of power."

"Was it Melchior's doing?" Magilou asked.

"Unknown."

"Past cycles..." Velvet's eyes widened. "So this happened before?"

"The conditions were not the same as last time, but yes."

Amelia's eyes twitched before she turned to the group. "Then we should head back to Empyrean's Throne and check up on Maotelus."

Velvet was silent. Her hands reflexively gripped into a ball. Bangs over her eyes. Purple haze clouded her face and cloaked her shoulder. A thundering rage grew in her stomach, her chest.

A warm touch rested on her shoulder. Then moved to her hand as it was brought up. Velvet looked up. Eleanor was holding her steady. The fog dissipated and she was calm once more. "Th-thanks." The Lord of Calamity finally relented.

"Just like what you did for me back in Haria." Eleanor weakly chuckled.

"Rokurou was there too."

"I know."

"One more thing." Alex interrupted, turning to Amenoch. "Did you happen to see a woman in a wheelchair pass through here?"

"Never did. Was I supposed to?"

"I guess not." She lazily swung her leg. Alex frowned. But the instructions said that Minerva knew the dance.

Amelia chuckled, knowing what her fellow legate was talking about. "She probably just told one of her venators to do the dance for her. Remember they're folllowing Melchior's orders to the end."

"Yeah, you're right."

"If that will be all, safe travels." The Water Empyrean waved.

As the young women headed out, Magilou still remained. She stared at the Empyrean, arms at her hips.

"Is there something the matter, young witch?"

"Hard to say, seeing you bare the face of my old master." She snorted. "You… really don't remember anything do you?"

The man closed his eyes, rubbing his chin. Long waterspouts grew down, giving him a slightly older appearance, but kept to his younger form.

"I remember everything that Melchior Mayvin had done. Every action he focused, every emotion he felt, every pain he encountered throughout his lifetime. From the trickster mage of King Claudin Asgard, to the Legate of Shepherd Artorius. I remember it all.

"But that is not who I am. I'm a completely separate person from Melchior Mayvin."

"I see." Magilou held her hands behind her head. "I guess that's it then."

As she turned, Amenoch said, "However… There is something that perhaps you'd wish to know."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"He knows that what he's done may never be redeemed in your eyes. That the relationship between you two is beyond repair. He brought you in for a purpose, to solely be his successor. Everything that lead you to him being your savior was orchestrated by him."

"I know."

"IBut there was one time when he would've thrown all the plans away."

"Because he got old?"

"No." The Empyrean's form slowly shifted. The wispy vapors that transformed into a beard. It was as if Melchior when he first met Magilou stood before him. "For all his inventions, his ambitions, and love for flowers, if there was anything that he could've given to the world, with no regrets. Even at the crossroads… His greatest gift in the world, free of malevolence… Is you. Never doubt what you have done. All your decisions have brought you here. And will propel you beyond what I can possibly imagine."

Magilou looked back as the Empyrean lowered his head.

"That is all I will speak on the matter, for it is not my place. Farewell."

The elderly man disappeared in a deluge, plunging back into the pool. The dragon gently roared, diving back into the depths, barely disrupting the surface.

As Bienfu watched the Empyrean disappear, he turned to Magilou. The witch covered her face with her hat. A loyal servant to the end, the Normin walked over to see his master.

He has watched many things in his time with Melchior and Magilou. A shattered heart. Lifeless. Her aloof attitude. The pompous way she carried herself. Laughing and taking the pain against her former master. All through it, she never wept.

Bienfu never thought she could never make that kind of face. Twisted and torn. Tattered rags and wet fabric. Tears crisscrossing her face, barely keeping herself up. A dot of snot expelling from her nose.

Dripping on the strange floor, bouncing blue circles about.

"It wasn't his place to say..?" She repeated. "… What a joke."

Bienfu pulled a small rag he carried, hopping up. The blonde took it, dotting her face free of imperfections.

"Magilou! Come-on, hurry up!" Velvet yelled back.

"Magilou! You're the only one with the spell!" Eleanor called as well.

Magilou readjusted her hat, swiping with her sleeve. A smile slowly growing on her face as she followed behind the one's she called friends.

No. Family.

"Comin' darlings!"

Wounds close to the heart, as time cracks them open once more, Wake Me Up When September Ends…

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