The sky was falling, raining shards that mirrored both sides. Raido’s hair clocking with the abrupt winds. Head out of the copter. Adjusting his glasses, he signed to the hooded figure to take hold. They landed on a pad without issue. Raido glanced around before jumping off, swiftly motioning for the others to follow.

  “Jean, are you sure this is it?” Raido asked.

  “Indeed, this is the exact coordinates my cousin’s soul was reincarnated at. We shouldn’t be far off.”

  “Then answer me this. Why do I see a scorched land without a shred of life anywhere?”

  “Hmm, it has been around thirty years, perhaps these lands were ravaged by war. Worry not, my pillar can feel out the residuals,” Jean said as he placed his hand upon the ground. “Old, very old. We should head south, let us return to the copter.” Jean returned to the copter, starting the wheel.

  Walking past the hooded lad, Raido whispered: “Keep your head down, remember, if you feel his presence even a little, run. Don’t worry about anything else. This operation is already as dangerous as it can be.”

  “…”

  Xertoz felt the crumbling of Elysion, the floor to their reality disappearing, falling towards the World. In a week he had gathered the Lords. Although he called upon the servants to the five Elemental Towers, only one heeded his call; Ronald of Red. The mission was simple, quell the fall. For if Elysion fell then the cycle of rebirth would fall as well.

  “Raido…this mission is far too grave. It’s a precedent unlike any other.”

  “Lord Hauke, I must, I have to…please.”

  “I’ve been worried about you lately. I’m no fool, it would be more dangerous to leave you to your own devices. So here, I have deep suspicion that the pyromaniac is somehow involved with the current events. I’ll let you lead with Father Cauldwell as back up, and the one who brought in the lead. He’s an astute shaman, here’s his card.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Jean…Krow, one of the Krows!”

  “Yes, it’s good you know of them. You can take one more of your choosing. About five can occupy a copter. I’ll let you enter the World in secret as me and the other Lords handle the larger threat. Remember, your goal is to find whom the flame manipulator that we suspect has relations with the one who broke the barrier between our realms. They will surely be a foe far more powerful than even I. So do not engage, gather the information needed, and get it to me discreetly.”

  A healer, a shamanic specialist, and a ticking time bomb…it should be alright. It should be. “How are you feeling Father?” Raido asked.

  “The World is far more distinct than I could have imagined. The entrapment of pillar energy is also quite thin.”

  “Seconded great priest, I notice it more than ever the longer we stay down here. The ash that hasn’t restricted my breathing in years has begun to cause me problems. It’s not only the strength of our abilities, but also the potency of our side effects and conditions. I feel worse than I have in quite some time,” Jean added.

  “…” Raido gazed out at the left for dead lands that soon faded as they entered a desert cluttered with mountains and moving dunes.

  “We’re almost there,” Captain said.

  Ronald rode his horse through the tunnel of fire, sending his phoenix to the temple’s orchard. Messaging the children, Hau and Monaha. Hau dragged Monaha from the dredge of spiritual oil. Washing his body with salts gathered from the edge. Along the bridge they were asked to follow. She tossed his old body into the whirlpool. The gate rumbled open, the raspy hands of flame, aged on depleted fuel.

  “Haaa…” Clawing his way from the bottom of the deepest, Monkey Navy Hawk was reborn. His smoky hair hovering a navy face, three horns and red lips. Skin as dark as oak and as hardy as steel. “Took awhile, but I’m ready.”

  “Took you long enough, I’ve been scrubbin’ yer shoes for the last hour; that’s how bored I was,” Hau said.

  “No backing out now, not after I devoured the headmaster’s elixir.”

  “Well then let’s hurry up, Ronald is gonna be gunning for Ignis if we don’t get to him first.”

  “Aye-aye.”