Iteration 616: Border, Abidan Sector 61 Control
Sharani couldn't believe her luck. Not only did she get a response in a mere 2 years, between the low priority of her report and Ozriel's disappearance, she expected a decade long wait minimum, but 2 had shown up, in person.
Durandiel made appreciative noises as she observed Sharani's findings. "Very interesting, very interesting indeed."
Telariel nodded as he leaned against a wall. "I'm sure it is, still don't see why I need to be here."
Sharani suppressed a frown; she heard that there was a faction within the Spiders that was trying to raise a new Spider to replace their current lazy one. She wasn't a member… yet, she was starting to reconsider.
Durandiel ignored him with all the grace a Judge should possess. "This definitely deserves further research, I'll be increasing the size of the Ghost contingent to this outpost, as well as installing this."
Durandiel's Presence sent a file to Sharani's, whose eyes widened as she saw what it was. "A Ghost Eye?"
Ghost Eyes were the single most powerful piece of surveyor equipment in the entire Way. Capable of peering into the Void like a telescope, each one was hand-crafted by Durandiel herself.
Durandiel nodded before turning towards Telariel. "We'll require a dedicated high-speed link to headquarters.
"I'll get someone on that right away," Telariel said before a glare from Durandiel made him straighten up. "Or I could take care of it while I'm here."
Sharani considered a transfer.
Iteration 110: Cradle, Moongrave
Mercy was excited, today was the day she was going to get her book. She had trained hard for this, she was way better with her bloodline armor than other Akura her age, but she liked dodging things with her Iron Body better. As she approached the Book of Eternal Night, she fiddled with a bracelet on her wrist, a Lowgold construct of the Strings of Shadow technique, a gift from her mother when she heard of her dream, although it wasn't the last dream of that strange city she had. Two dreams were especially useful. One was of a pair of people standing on a wall as if it was a floor, which inspired her to use the Strings of Shadow to make a film on her palm to do the same, although she hoped to learn to use it with her feet when she didn't need a construct. The other was of a refiner, which inspired her to give it a try. Turns out she had a knack for it; she could still feel the low-grade elixir, her first successful project, flowing through her madra channels.
Loyalty placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Noone has claimed the Book of Eternal Night since your divine mother created it, you can try another if you don't claim it."
Mercy nodded, then touched the Book.
She found herself in a world of darkness. Despite being in the Book, she could see it a distance away from her. However, between her and it were dozens of massive rotating pillars, and no floor. She had been told that she needed to pass a test to claim a book, and it was clear what this one was.
Mercy smiled; this was going to be easy.
Calling on the power of her Iron Body, she leaped towards the first pillar. Landing on it, she ran across as she shot a String towards another. As the pillar spun, it pulled on the String, launching her towards her goal. Bouncing across the last few pillars, she landed on the platform with the book, and picked it up.
As she held it, she felt something crawling on her hand. She looked to see what it was, it was a spider made of shadow. Before she could react, it bit her.
A flash of pain later, she found herself back in the archive. Looking down at her hand, instead of a spider, she saw her hand encased in black. Mercy grinned; she had passed.
Iceflower Continent
Malice smiled as she watched her daughter succeed. The Book of Eternal Night had been without a master for far too long. However, with some regret she put her daughter's accomplishment out of her mind.
There were more important things that required her attention.
"About time you got here," said Larian of the Eight-Man Empire as she shot an arrow at a distant target, "care to join me?"
Malice extended her perception to see a pack of Overlord level wolves vanish in a blast of destruction madra. "A little weak for you, aren't they?"
Larian shrugged as she gestured towards her bow. "New bow, need to break it in."
Before Malice could reply, she felt a spacial disturbance. A circle of blue light opened in the air, and out stepped Emriss Silentborn. Beside her, Sha Leiala appeared in a shower of rainbow light. "Now that we're all here," she asked, "what's this about."
"Not all of us," said the last person there. Arina of the Eight-Man Empire scowled as she looked to the sky. "Northstrider, I asked for your presence."
Malice felt her eyebrow rise, last she heard Northstrider was dead. Before she could say anything, a massive figure dressed like a beggar appeared in a massive gust of wind.
"This had better be worth my time," said Northstrider.
"It's quite rude to not let us know you'd survived your fight with the Weeping Dragon," said Sha Leiala.
"Enough," interrupted Arina, "this is important."
Malice instinctively cycled her madra. Whatever had the normally reserved Spider Sage acting like this, it had to be important.
"Speak then," said Emriss.
Instead of answering, Arina manifested her Icon. A massive silhouette of a spider appeared in the sky. Before anyone could question her, the Icon flickered. It was too fast for anyone but a Monarch or Herald to catch, but for an instant the realistic image of a spider was replaced with a more stylized version.
"Concerning," said Northstrider before he turned to Emriss. "Have you ever heard of anything like this?"
"No," Emriss replied as she turned to Arina. "Thank you for bringing this to our attention."
Arina nodded. "Between us and those who answer to us, we have access to every Icon on Cradle. We need to find out what's causing this and, more importantly, if any other Icons are showing the same… changes."
"Agreed," said Northstrider before he flew off.
Sha Leiala sighed as she adjusted her jewelry. "He certainly didn't learn manners while he was gone. None the less, I'll consult with my Sages."
The others assented as they went back to their places of power. As Malice stepped through shadow, she made a note to peruse her old bows, it was only right to send a gift for such important news.
Serpent's Grave
A blonde-haired man grinned as he rubbed his chin in thought.
"Well, isn't this interesting."
Bloopers
Instead of answering, Arina manifested her Icon. A massive silhouette of a spider appeared in the sky, and music filled the air.
"Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can."
"That," said Arina, "has been playing, in my head, for 3 months."
