Chapter 24: New
Seven millennia passed in Olde Sapp within what seemed to Rhinne as a blink of an eye. In that time, Rhinne chose a human to be attendant within the Temple of Time by the name of Serpo Arkum. His mortality would be stretched out to a near limitless amount as a gift from Rhinne. He was charged with the duty of maintaining the temple and overseeing the creatures that roamed the halls. He also became a close advisor to Rhinne she affectionately nicknamed Grandpa.
Unlike her, Ward and Louisa were eventually overtaken by old age and passed on, their duty of Transcendent being passed on to another within the world. They too would become old and die, the cycle repeating every eighty to one-hundred years. The giant crystal that she, Ward and Louisa had created was dubbed the Antellion by the second Grand Master. He named it so for its strange ability to draw people in who became unable to pull away from it much the same way an Antlion's pit would drag its prey towards it.
The enormous island-like land mass of Olde Sapp eventually divided into Nine countries with a tenth made up entirely of a massive city surrounding the now gargantuan world tree. This city was also named Olde Sapp. Here a massive boom in technology advances took root. After seven thousand years of simple farm living and exploration to find more and better ways to survive, the brilliant minds of the time brought a new age upon everyone.
New and better metals besides pure iron were created allowing for the discovery of steam power, magnetism, electricity and nuclear fission. Rhinne would visit the city often to see what new thing had been created. She would often disguise herself as a lowly miller's daughter come to see the wonders of the city. But she would soon be found out, mostly by inquisitive children, then escorted through the city by a throng of children and a few adults as well. As the technology became more abundant, the city would grow, expanding every year it seemed.
Despite the rapid growth of technology for the people, there was still the looming shadow of the Antellion within the Crisonwood Keep in what was now the country of Versal to the west. Some of the technology created in Olde Sapp was brought to bear against the walls of the Keep. Guns, explosive and cannons would all roar to break open the gates only to be pushed back by the forces of the Crimsonheart family. The next two thousand five hundred years would witness hundreds of battles fought at the gates of the Keep. During the last hundred years of that time became theater to wars. The countries of Krakia to the north, followed by Tynerum, Commercci and Arboren formed armies in an attempt to seize the power of the Antellion by force.
Versal alone would not have been able to withstand the attacks, even with the extensively trained assistance of the Crimsonwood forces. But thanks to the southern countries of South Perry and Amherst, Versal remained steadfast. Each of these wars would be known only by their numbers, as the first, second, third and fourth wars of Olde Sapp. It was during the Fourth War that the most diligent and powerful of the Crimsonheart Family would take stewardship of the Keep, Andrew. He and his wife Glona, both fought in the Fourth War. But when it was over, the both of them saw the overwhelming about of children that had been orphaned as a result. The wars left the north eastern counties in a poor state as most if not all their resources were spent in trying to obtain the Antellion.
Through hard work and even through undercover operations into enemy countries, the majority of the Orphans were brought into Versal where they were given homes and citizenship. A few children the Crimsonhearts took in themselves under the condition that they would help in defending the Antellion. Some rejected the prospect, but there were a few that did accept and become Grandmasters themselves. Among the children adopted by the Crimsonhearts were a bright, inquisitive boy named Subani, and a quiet yet protective boy named Narcain.
Rhinne paid closer attention to these two especially, granting Subani and Narcain magical abilities that were more powerful than the brothers and sisters. More powerful even them the most powerful of Mages of the time. Narcain focused his abilities and research in helping the technology of the world advance even further. He became known for introducing the scientists to a strange but powerful energy known as Mana.
Coal for fueling the steam powered engines of the city and the world was becoming harder and harder to find. Once it became clear how to harvest and refine it from the ground, Mana became a steady alternate fuel source. Despite the find however, it soon became apparent that it would not be able to sustain the growing needs of the world as a primary source. It became increasingly expensive to mine and refine. Other forms of power were considered, even nuclear fission which did provide an extreme amount of power for very little. Again, this ultimately proved dangerous as experiments proved that without a constant and stable means to control and insulate it, Nuclear fission would quickly become deadly.
As the search for another fuel source continued, Subani would be the one to lead the way for diplomatic conferences between countries with his abilities and research. The small Country of Elpam was rich in coal deposits. But it was out of reach to most of the world because of their refusal to see themselves as part of the world. Through Subani, Elpam agreed to their coal deposits being mined as their need for food and infrastructure was made apparent. With the help of Versal's Iron and Orhalcon mines, and Amherst's rich farmlands, Elpam finally became stable enough to prosper.
Coal once again flowed to all corners of the world. With its fresh infusion of coal, the allied forces of Krakia and Tynerum marched through the forested lands of Ulu for Versal in the west. The fifth war proved more brutal than the previous two wars, leaving hundreds of dead on the battlefield. Narcain helped battle until the war was brought to an uneasy end by Subani's diplomatic skill. As the conference was dispersing and the Crimsonhearts were leaving for their home in the Keep, Narcain pulled his father Andrew aside.
"Why do we not just gather our forces and bend Krakia and Tynerum into submission? I have read the history of the world and they had been the primary aggressors or have had some hand in attempts to obtain the Antellion." The question made Andrew sigh, looking over his shoulder to the large sword sheathed on it.
"You do have a point, my son. But we are stewards of the great crystal, not crusaders."
"So are we only to sit behind our walls while the rest of the world continues to come after something that it shouldn't have? Why then don't we destroy it?"
"The goddess Rhinne herself stated that doing so would be catastrophic."
"Then why don't we at least use its power to protect Versal, or at the very least the Keep? So much power would be an excellent deterrent."
"That would not be wise brother." Subani interjected, coming back to them when he noticed the two of them were gone from their group heading home.
"And why wouldn't it be, scholarly brother of mine?" asked Narcain in a playfully mocking tone. Subani remained unchanged before explaining his position.
"Before you were brought into the family, I witnessed a band of thieves get close to the crystal only to be obliterated when they touched it. There is too much there to control. The crystal's power has in all actuality been growing steadily ever since its creation, which is why these wars and battles are coming to our country more and more often." Andrew's eyes became wide as he furrowed his brow hard.
"Growing? How?"
"I have been studying that father, and the only findings that I have are superficial at best."
"Don't leave us hanging dear brother. Please, share what you have found so far and perhaps we can come to an answer all the sooner." Narcain prodded, holding his chin with devious interest.
"My finding indicate this crystal is feeding off the thoughts and emotions of everyone within the world, absorbing them and in turn creating more power and further spreading its influence." With slow, casual steps Narcain walked to one of the many high windows within the Olde Sapp conference hall, looking out across the many bronze, brown and beige colored buildings. The steam cars and trams chuffed by with people strolling along the sidewalks in all manor of attire from the wealthy to the working.
"That is interesting. And you're right, this does require further study. If the power of the Antellion has been growing all these many millennia, using its power would be deadly at best and destroying it would only be apocalyptic. There is no other course than to keep guarding it. But how long will that last? If its power is growing, perhaps even the mark of the Transcendents will eventually become useless."
"There is no way to know that for sure Narcain. All we can do for now is do what we've always done: Guard the Antellion." With the matter settled for the given moment, the three of them joined with the rest of the family to return back to the Keep.
In the aftermath of the Fifth War, Olde Sapp seemed to stagnate. Coal was once again running in shorter and shorter supplies as Elpam's coal veins began to dwindle. The demand for the fuel had grown so much that the miners could hardly mine enough in one day to keep up with demand. Council Members from each country gathered to discuss the growing crisis.
Much of the world's engines and machines ran on steam, which was made by burning coal. Other fuels had been looked into for creating steam, and even rudimentary hydro-power had been made. But still the energy needs of the world kept growing. Nuclear fission power was a good alternative, but only when used to stationary buildings to generate electricity or to create steam for stationary steam engines. Mana powered machines were almost thirty times more efficient than steam or fission combined. But the cost of mining and refining said mana so high that despite the inefficiency made steam and fission the better choice.
"There is a crystal kept in Versal that could be the answer." The council member from Amherst offered.
"A crystal? What sort of Crystal?" The Ulu Council member asked. The Council members from the western half of the world remained silent, grumbling even at the mention of said crystal.
"I've only heard rumors and legends, but it is said that the Crimsonheart Family guards this crystal in their Keep. It is supposed to be extremely powerful, so powerful in fact that almost no one can touch it."
"It's what our countries have warred over for centuries." The council member from Commercci growled, motioning to the Krakian, Tynerum and Arboren council members.
"You mean it's real?" Amherst's member asked, standing out of his seat and putting both hands on the table.
"Oh yes, it is very real." Tynerum's member jabbed, throwing a few black and white sketches onto the table making them spread apart.
"Our scouts and spies within Versal have given the first-hand accounts of this crystal, and say they had to opt for divine intervention to leave as they wanted to take the crystal for themselves." Ulu and Elpam's members took up a picture each, looking over the sketches before all of them turned to Versal's member.
"Have you been hoarding this crystal from us? From the world?" South Perry's member demanded, shaking a picture he had taken at as he spoke.
"No, he hasn't." a woman's voice declared, drawing all their attention to the door where a woman stood dressed in a white dress and golden crown.
"Goddess, you humble us with your presence." Krakia's member said as they all bowed their heads to her before quietly sitting. Rhinne moved to the head of the table with regal steps and sat down, facing them all with intense eyes.
"As to the crystal you were speaking of, the Antellion is something that should not be used by anyone. Its power is the solidified form of a force that began corrupting all of Olde Sapp near the beginning. The First Transcendent of Light and Life along with myself bound that force into the crystal you now know."
"But its power is said to be immense! Surely using it for mundane tasks such as heat and electricity shouldn't be a problem." Arboren's member interjected, making Rhinne shake her head once again.
"Using any part of that crystal's power for even the smallest task means that its influence would be spread across the world once more. The wars and battles to obtain the crystal for one's self would only magnify."
"Then what if we were to use it to create something else we could use. Coal is running out and any other means for power is just not feasible enough." Ulu's member explained.
"I would still prefer that the Antellion be left alone. Until I have found a way to dispose of the crystal I am asking that it be left alone." The answer Rhinne gave left the majority of the council agitated. She may be their patron goddess, but why did she deny them the one thing they actually needed? Reluctantly they all agreed to leave the Antellion alone, but Rhinne knew that such a thing would never be heeded. And as she thought, no sooner had she left back to the Temple of Time then the members of the Council all agreed to pursue its use.
"Human tenacity is only matched by their stubbornness." Rhinne sighed to herself. If they were going to use it, then it would mean so many more people would be near the crystal and exposed to its harmful influence. At the very least, she knew that such a event would lead to disaster all the sooner. Before the Council arrived to Crimsonwood Keep, she visited Andrew and explained what the council had decided and what may come of it.
"What is it you would have me do goddess? I am but a man born to protect this crystal and the world from its power." He asked with tension in his words.
"It is not a burden I am going to lay on you Crimsonheart. You have done well in protecting this crystal and for that you have my eternal gratitude. But resisting this persistent advance will only make things worse for all." Placing her palms to one another, Rhinne pulled them apart and revealed a sandglass, its sand frozen in place within it.
"Take this sandglass and touch it to the Antellion. It is a barrier that will minimize range of influence it has. There will be hundreds of people that will be near it in the coming future, and the last thing anyone wants is for the Antellion's influence to spread and fall into the hand of the ill willed." Andrew took the sandglass, looking it over and puzzled at the unmoving sand within.
"Is there a reason that you can't touch this to the crystal my goddess?"
"Even a goddess such as I am not immune to the influence of the Antellion. Only when all three of the Transcendents stand together can it be resisted. That mark on your forehead was made by we first Transcendents, and is the only thing keeping you from its influence." Andrew nodded his understanding, re-pledging himself to Rhinne to keep the crystal safe.
"You come with some interesting propositions Council members, but my sons Narcain and Subani have yet to fully understand the power of the crystal. Would it not be better to wait until we all have a better understanding of it?" Crimsonheart argued, trying to sway the minds of the council from using it altogether.
"The time is coming when the energy reserves of the world will run out, and from what I have read and understand about this crystal, the Antellion's power is nearly limitless." Ulu's member said, the rest agreeing as well.
"Hasn't the goddess herself told you of the dangers that using the crystal in such a manor could be dangerous?" Crimsonheart shot back.
"I have seen what the influence this crystal has on the men of the world. Its power is limited to Versal and the Keep, but using as such could spread it across the world. You are all FOOLS for wanting to use it like this!" thundered Crimsonheart: Rhinne's warning had been about them using the crystal, but he never imagined something like this.
"No no no Master Crimsonheart. We aren't talking about using the power of the crystal exclusively. We mean to use its power to create something else scientists in Olde Sapp have been researching: Artificial Mana." Lowering his brow, Andrew squinted his eyes and remained silent, waiting for an explanation until the Governor of Olde Sapp stepped forward.
"Artificial Mana is every bit as powerful as its real counterpart. But real mana is very expensive to mine and process making it near worthless. Artificial Mana on the other hand is very cheap to make, cheaper even than using coal to make. To make however requires a lot of energy to make. Plans for mana generators are nearing completion, but a viable power source is still needed. The Antellion is that power source." Unnerving quiet surrounded the lot of them as they all waited to hear Andrew's answer. Turning around, Andrew himself looked back to the stainged glass window depicting the crystal thinking back to the sandglass Rhinne gave him to limit its influence. With a sweep of his arm to toss aside his cloak, Andrew locked serious eyes with the council members.
"You must draw up a pact and promise that the power of the Antellion itself will never be used for anything other than the production of this Mana. If not, I and the other Grandmasters will take the crystal back by force."
"Oh no, we won't be taking this crystal away from the Keep at all. In fact, we would build power lines that would run from the crystal here all the way back to the production station in Olde Sapp. You would still oversee its protection."
"Still, draw up the pact and bring it here for all involved to sign. Only then will I allow its use as such." Within a month, the pact had been drawn up and signed. Copies were given to all the council members and to the Crimsonhearts as a reminder of what it was they intended and were limited to. No sooner had the pact been signed then construction began on a housing around the Antellion and power lines running to the city of Olde Sapp. Construction on the artificial mana generator called the Grand Gears began at the same time. It ultimately was in the shape of an enormous clocktower affectionately named Bigger Ben by Rhinne herself.
As a clocktower, it did house an enormous cloak for all the city to see. However, the tower itself was filled with gears, clutches, levers and pistons all connected to giant brass rings surrounding great green stones. After five years, all of the construction was completed. As part of the competition and start up ceremony, Andrew and Glona were given the honor of connecting the Antellion to the Grand Gears. With a throw of a giant switch, the power of the Antellion blazed through the powerlines into Olde Sapp, staring the heavy machinery into motion.
Within hours, the first of the golden colored artificial man was flowing from the machinery into tanks ready for use. Once confirmed the Artificail mana was stable enough, machines, transportation vehicles and factories converted their mechanisms to use this potent new source of fuel. Within another few years, pipelines and transports were built for other countries to import Artificial Mana for their own use.
Narcain and Subani completed their research of the Antellion, finding that it gathered power from the traits of the people throughout the world: Luck, Affability, Inner Strength, Wisdom and Inner Agony. These traits would be absorbed by the crystal through the thoughts of the people in the world. Once the crystal absorbed these traits, they would be balanced and then expelled as the power used in Olde Sapp to generate the Artificial Mana.
"You mean to say that the more people are in the world…"
"… the more powerful the crystal will become father. It is an amazing thing. Terrifying really." Narcain explained as they watched the power be lapped up by the housing within their castle. As the demand for artificial mana began to increase, so did the number of mana generators. More and more of the inner workings and number of generators were added, spreading far and wide underground. Eventually the inner working became so large that the human mechanics responsible for the maintenance of the Grand Gears could no longer keep up. With the help and guidance of Rhinne, the scientists of Olde Sapp created what they called the Mechanized Assitence Chassis Halodron Induction Neuron Intelligent Synthetic Tender: M.A.C.H.I.N.I.S.T.
This artificial intelligence used a large arm-like devise to traverse the immense inner workings. Using its six spider arms along with the mechanical laborers called Steel Spiders, it took over maintenance of the Grand Gears. With the Gears cared for, the scientists began creating new technologies once more, eventually creating inter-dimensional rings. These rings using a combination of magic and science allowed explorers to travel to other worlds, even other dimensions, bringing back with them new and different technologies to integrate into the world.
Despite all of this influx of technology however, Krakia and Tynerum still periodically sent small squadrons to try and break the power conduits leading into Olde Sapp. Together they would then concoct reports of how Versal was breaking the pact by starving the world of the crystal's power. Their claims stated Versal was attempting to make demands of the world for the power of the Antellion.
"This is an outrage against all of Olde Sapp! The Antallion should be move to another country, out of the hands of Versal!" Tynerum's member would shout to the Grand Overture, a court established for regulating the pursuits of Olde Sapp after the creation of the Inter-Dimensional Gates.
"Have you evidence to this effect?" the lead magistrate asked.
"At least nine messages have been sent by Versal explaining that a power failure coming from Antellion would cause temporary shortage of Mana. Each time the message went out, the problem occurred within the gate of the Crimsonwood Keep. Each time, Krakia or Tynerum have been the ones to bring this to the Grand Overture, yet nothing has been done. The Antellion should be move to another country as a sign of good faith that Versal is not using the temporary disruption to gather and store power for an attack upon Olde Sapp."
"Yes, Council member of Tynerum, I remember. I have been the one to hear your constant 'concerns' regarding the location of the Antellion. Your evidences, while numerous, are coincidental at best. Until you can provide the Overture with concrete evidence of this so-called 'hoarding of power', your claims shall be henceforth banned from any hearings."
"But Magistrate! Such a power is…"
"DISMISSED!" the magistrate bellowed, slamming down his hammer signaling the rest of the magistrates to disperse as well.
"We need that crystal if we are to have any hope of making our proposals heard with any amount of seriousness." Krakia's member whispered.
"I know. With the gates now available to us, there are technologies and powers that we as a world have not been able to obtain simply because of the Overture's unwillingness to use force. This world could become a powerful arimes my be strong, but they lack overwhelming power to make sure we get what we need or want. We need that crystal."
"You mean that you would want to go to war a sixth time with Versal? They have been able to push back our forces for hundreds of years, what makes you think that this time will be any different?" The member from Tynerum smiled, passing a note to the member of Krakia and leaving in silence.
Several days later
"How have you been able to keep this secret from the Grand Overture? Don't they send inspectors out every month to ensure we are all at least abiding the pact." The king of Krakia exclaimed, marveling at the massive underground space here thousands of glowing blue tanks of raw mana was stored.
"The pact only state that we are not to use the power directly from the Antillion while it remains in Versal. It says nothing about what we are doing here. We were able to salvage the old Mana Mining equipment when Olde Sapp converted to Artificial Mana and have been running it on a volunteer basis. It keeps costs low enough that it doesn't show up on our spending habits and raise suspicions." The king of Tynerum explained, both of them watching the masses below working on huge battle tanks, mana cannons and flying machines.
"Combined with Krakian forces, we should have enough to overthrow the Crimsonwood Keep and take the Antellion for ourselves."
"Yes, and with it on our side, nothing will be able to stand in our way."
Five years later
Morning broke through the window waking Andrew to see the picture of his beloved Glona smiling at him on the nightstand. She had died during the Sixth War when Krakian forces had pushed all the way up to the keep in an attempt to take the Antellion by force. Unfortunately, Narcain was witness to her accidental but brutal murder. He had been close with her just as he had been close to Subani and her death triggered him to lose control of his immense powers. Within minutes he had driven back the forces.
After the war was over, Narcain was never the same. He became increasingly insistent that the Antellion would be better used to annihilate the two countries. Time and again it was Subani that was able to hold his anger at bay becoming harder as the years went by. Narcain began developing and learning to control powers that not even Rhinne would grant to the populous. As Narcain's powers grew, so too did the number of bodies with each battle. Andrew bolted upright when a soldier came bursting through the door and the entire castle jolted.
"What was that?!"
"Its Krakia and Tynerum sir! They've come at us with a full squadron of heavy guns. The forward bulwark has already fallen and the secondary bulwark is starting to give way. I think that jolt we felt was a shot from one of their heavy guns." Groaning in frustration, Andrew threw the covers off, running to his armor stand and hastily donning his armor.
"Haven't they had enough of war? What is this the Eighth time?" Andrew shouted as the sound of another mortar howled overhead and slammed in to the roof.
"After the Seventh War you would think so. But I've ever seen them like this. Their attack seems more brute force than tactical." The soldier responded, throwing Andrew's cloak around his shoulders and securing it around his neck.
"Is that so? Well then, let my sons know and meet them at the second bulwark. I shall make may way towards the Antellion.
"Even Narcain sir? You did say that he was banished from fighting after the massacre during the Seventh War." Andrew slowed his movements, closing his eyes with a long slow sigh.
"No, do not alert Narcain." The soldier acknowledged his orders and ran out of the door, ordering the other soldiers that were around the door to follow after him. Andrew stood alone in the silence, picking up a picture just behind that of Glona. It was the last one that Narcain and Glona took together before she was killed. He could still remember the horrid sight of Narcain standing in the midst of pools of blood staining his clothes and mountains of corpses around him. His brutality steadily grew as did his belief that the world needed to be forced into submission ending all war.
Gathering up his sword and slinging it over his back, calling on the soldiers guarding the halls as he made his way towards the Antellion. As he walked his mind wandered back to the words Narcain had bellowed to him at the end of the Seventh War.
"So many people have died and for what?! Wars are getting more and more frequent. The only way to stop it all is to overpower them all: let me use the Antellion and I will end all the wars, end all the battles. No one will ever loose anyone they love every again!" After those words, it became crystal clear to both Subani and Andrew that Narcain would never be persuaded, nor did it seem that he would ever want to heal the wound left behind by the death of his mother.
Upon nearing the Antellion, Andrew was brought to a halt when he saw Narcain standing before the great crystal, a new insignia carved into his forehead glowing with angry pale blue light.
"It took you long enough, father." He scoffed.
"Narcain, what are you doing here? I thought I forbade you from ever coming near this accursed crystal."
"What do you think I'm here to do?" he responded with a sneer. The few soldiers that had come with Andrew charged despite his orders to remain. In the blink of an eye the soldiers were obliterated leaving smears of blood running down through the cracks of every stone in the room.
"Narcain, that was not…"
"Not what father? Necessary? Kind? Protective?! The Crimsonheart family has been guarding this damned crystal for as long as I have been a part of this family, longer if you count your ancestors. And what has it brought us?! War, death and pain, all because of this crystal! You preach and pontificate about protecting humanity from its power, but yet you do so little to protect your own family!" Andrew lowered his head as his shoulders slumped, the weight of his sword pulling him to the ground all the harder.
"I know the pain you feel. Do you think that I don't miss Glona every day since her death?"
"SHUT UP!" Narcain shrieked, power exploding from his body and reacting with the Antellion, causing a massive surge. Fire flared around the Siphon apparatus and tore down the giant powerlines leaving the castle. Thunder rolled as the fire could be heard running the length of the power lines towards Olde Sapp.
"If you had used its power like you should have all those years ago she would be standing here right now!"
"And if I had used its power I could have done far worse. Tell me how many people have even touched the Antellion without dying or killing those around them. Tell me son, tell me!" Narcain clenched his fists so tightly that his skin creaked.
"None, until now!" he growled, throwing his hand back as power gathered on his palm.
"Son! No!" a blast of light ripped apart the siphon apparatus, breaking the crystal from its cradle. The blast wave threw Andrew to the ground, knocking his sword from his back as it stuck between the cobblestones.
"You are too weak to do what needs doing. The Crimsonheart name is shamed by weakness. I will make it feared for its strength!"
"All this power, and yet you still won't be able to bring your mother back." Andrew grunted, picking himself off the floor and wiping his ears to see blood on his fingers. The ringing in his ears made it hard to stand up straight, but he willed his legs to stay under him. The comment made Narcain stop his rage, standing still with the power of the Antellion raging through his body.
"That may be true, Crimsonheart…" he hissed. Andrew reached for his sword, rushing at Narcain with all his might, tears streaming down his face until Narcain held up his hand. Spears of light formed and stuck through his body, holding him in midair. Narcain waved his hand, bringing the numb body of Andrew close to him to whisper in his ear.
"…but I will ensure that people like you or those of Krakian and Tynerum never exist again. This world requires strength, not words." Throwing his hand aside, Andrew flew into the wall as blood began to pool around him filling the cracks and grout lines of all the bricks. Life remained long enough within Andrew to watch Narcain leave the building with the Antiellion in tow. As life faded from his eyes, Andrew Crimsonheart struggled to breath is last few words.
"I'm… sorry… my son…"
Rhinne could only watch in horror as the world she had created was decimated by Narican, wiping the entire capital city of Krakia and Tynerum from existence with a sweep of his hand. She would have given anything to intervene, but the thrall of power emanating from the Antellion would have thrown her into an uncontrollable rampage. After a few hours, Narcain's mind was lost as the power within the crystal over powered him. Subani and the rest of Narcain's siblings tried to reason and hold him back, but all of them save for Subani were vaporized in seconds.
Knowing that there was only one course of action left, Rhinne granted power to Subani to overpower his brother, finally getting him away from the Antellion and restraining him within magical bindings. Narcain struggled, writhing in fury after he had been restrained cursing Subani with all he had as all the pain he had been hiding came to bear. His screams varied between blaspheming the name of the Crimsonhearts for not doing what needed to be done and trying to explain that allowing the Antellion to exist would only bring more pain.
Subani could only look to the great crystal, knowing that Narcain was right: allowing the crystal to exist anymore would only bring more pain. But destroying it would mean the end of everything. In either case, the world was doomed: Protect the Antellion and allow the world to tears itself apart in a slow death or destroy the crystal and wipe everything away in one second. Taking a picture of the entire family as children from his pocket, Subani laughed to himself. Memories of what their family had been ran through his mind.
"All this time I've been trying to learn how to bring peace by talking, only to ignore the very war being fought in my own family. Mother, Father, I'm sorry I let you down." Rhinne held her breath as she watched Subani gather every last ounce of power within his body focusing it all within his palms.
"Subani, no, don't. There is a way to fix this!" Rhinne pleaded. From far below, she could hear the voice of the young man focusing his power.
"There is no other way goddess. I'm sorry, and goodbye."
"NOO…" Rhinne threw her hand out, sending down her power to Olde Sapp to protect it from the power of the explosion. Subani released the power into the crystal. A pin prick of light shone far below Rhinne's temple, spreading in a dome as a flash. She covered her eyes as a barrier flared around the Temple while the roar of the explosion shook it. Heat and sound ripped through everything outside the barrier, tearing even time itself apart throwing her against a wall within the temple. Rhinne awoke to find herself sprawled on the floor covered in dust. From a nearby sand fountain having been ripped apart.
Racing to the edge she looked over the railing only to find nothing: and infinite emptiness. She fell to her knees as the sight engulfed her: it was all gone. Serpo came to her holding a small orb of light in his palm.
"It is not all gone, goddess. You did manage to save this." Looking up she saw that within the small orb of light was the city of Olde Sapp, and the country of Versal with the Crimsonwood Keep. Taking the Orb from him, she cradled it to her chest and wept. How could she have let something like that happen to her world? Should she start again and use this small piece left of her world as its seed?
The thought of the world tearing itself apart again kept her frozen from ever doing anything. Arkum did what he could to comfort her, cradling her as she wept. The sight of the world having destroyed itself caused her to fall into a chasm of depression. Nothing Serpo did seemed to help to bring a smile to her face. Thousands upon thousands of years passed them by, time only moving within temple of time itself as it was the only other thing that had survived the explosion. Rhinne felt as if she were dead, only moving enough to breathe.
And then, they came. The echoes of their voices woke her from her catatonic state and coaxed her to the railing of her temple. Within the emptiness of her world were two beings: a woman with great white wings on her back, and the other having strong arms and black hair. They hadn't been there long when the caught sight of the temple. The woman spread her wings and brought the both of them to the Temple, setting down gracefully.
"How did you come here? There is nothing here." Rhinne whispered. The man's stern face softened as the woman came to her, holding out hands within her own.
"We found this world by accident, what is your name and what happened here that you would say nothing is left?" the woman asked, concern in her voice.
"The world I had created tore itself apart. I am Rhinne, goddess of Olde Sapp and Trascendent of Time. Who are you?" Rhinne asked, almost in a whisper.
"We are traveling sages and have been through many different worlds learning magic. I am Minerva the Gentle, and this is my betrothed, Corus the Black."