“How is that going to help the fight with the Forgers?” I asked in return, thinking about the northern city.

  “We need to bring the tribes together to fight as one,” answered Havi. “Our family has a history in the city. Even though we relocated to the forest, we aren’t outsiders like the Water Tribe.”

  “After that, what’s the plan?” I pressed again. Something felt fishy here.

  “War. We rally the warriors of Steadfast against our common enemy, and join with the Water Tribe.” He gave me a nod and waited for my answer.

  “Lenna, thoughts?” I asked, trying to understand my own reluctance here.

  She leaned toward me, but her eyes flickered up. “I won’t know more until we leave the dungeon and rest.”

  “But we can go with them, and then travel back if needed?”

  She nodded.

  “I don’t see why we wouldn’t join you.” I shrugged, wondering what we were getting ourselves into. Havi and Manee had helped us take out the cloning facility, and if they wanted us to join them, I couldn’t think of a reason not to, except we’d be leaving the academy. We needed to do that anyway, sooner or later.

  Kabi smiled at me, his white teeth flashing, but he frowned when his eyes landed on his mother. She wasn’t even paying attention to the conversation. Her focus remained on Dengu and Strange.

  “The little one grows as well,” she whispered to me.

  “Strange is doing good.” The bond between the two of us stretched, but felt solid. It felt like we were on the right track. He glanced in our direction and I knew he’d be by our side in a moment if needed.

  “We should get going then,” said Havi, clapping his son on the shoulder. “I want to get this side trip over as soon as possible.”

  Havi and Manee marched to the center of the courtyard, and several people quieted in the nearby groups.

  We followed, but kept a slight distance between us and them.

  Dengu and Strange carefully pulled away from the children to join us as well.

  A tall Azura folk bowed deeply to Havi, and several of those around him did as well.

  Confusion rippled from the bond with Kabi, as he studied the scene. Then everyone around us vanished. We appeared in a cavern with an archway on the far side.

  Glowing green mushrooms covered the ceiling, providing enough light to see by. Runes flared to life surrounding the exit. Jagged blue symbols flickered around the opening, and then several more in the air.

  [Steadfast, Sealed.]

  Havi marched closer with a grimace, but paused. “Kabi, my son…”

  Manee touched Kabi’s back. “Whatever happens here, you and your brother are what matters,” she finished for him.

  This was what I’d felt. Something important waited for Kabi here. Something his parents really didn’t want to discuss. It reminded me of my father's discussion with me about my mother, and how messed up that had been.

  Havi’s body jerked as if being yanked faster to the archway than he wanted. “We left for reasons that I can’t explain now,” he said.

  “Grandfather said we left to start over, since not everyone agreed with the leaders or the Immortals,” said Kabi, softly. He glanced between the two of them, his lower arms raised slightly.

  “That is true, but it's so much more than that,” grumbled Havi. “More like everyone didn’t agree with how power was to be passed down family lines.”

  “But the Immortals own the city…?” asked Kabi, now shaking his head.

  Havi ignored him and turned to his wife. “Do you follow me with your heart and soul?”

  “Always, my love.” She bowed to him with her hands raised in front of her.

  Kabi jerked back from the scene, and more confusion reached me within our bond. “Mom?”

  Her smile softened even further as she glanced at him.

  “I love you, my son, more than I can explain. You and your brother have been worth all of this.” She bowed her head in his direction. “Family is important.”

  Havi swallowed hard, digging his heels into the ground. “Kabi, you’ll need to enter first with Alex, so that the runes recognize the link between you and Alex. Then Lenna, Dengu and Strange will follow. Then me and your mother.”

  Kabi frowned, glancing between the two of them. “The archway recognizes bonds?”

  “Trust me.” Havi set a hand on his shoulder. “All we care about is your survival, you and your brother.”

  Determination flickered into place as I stepped closer to Kabi. He stared at his father, like the man who’d raised him was an unsolved puzzle.

  “Do we need to be touching?” I asked, breaking the tension.

  “No, just enter together,” answered Havi.

  Kabi nodded and we both approached the runic archway, which thankfully stood big enough for several people to enter at once.

  I took a breath right before we touched the runes in the center.

  The darkness flickered to bright light as we appeared in a large open room with giant chairs facing the center. All sat empty. Cries of pain and the howl of battle echoed into the massive space through large archways that led directly outside.

  My spear appeared in my hand as I blinked against the light.

  Lenna and the others appeared behind us, followed by Havi and Manee.

  A large door on our far left swung open.

  Havi and Manee both suddenly appeared in front of us, moving impossibly quickly. One second, they were behind us, and then they moved so fast I couldn’t track it.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  An older Azura folk entered with a pained expression. His gaze landed on Havi, and he blinked several times before breaking out into a smile.

  [Sevtar, Keeper, Level 198, Prey.]

  “Master Havi - you came!” His eyes flickered to the rest of us before going a little pale as they landed on Kabi. “And you brought your child to register him!”

  “Sevtar, where is my uncle?” Havi kept his voice low but firm.

  It sent a shiver up my spine.

  “Gone, of course, exploring the stars while the city burns.” It came out matter-of-factly, like it wasn’t that big of a deal. “Like the rest of the Immortals. The only true path is growth.”

  Before the words registered, Manee dashed through an archway into the bright purple sunlight.

  Havi’s glance hardened at the statement, but he also turned to the archway.

  Manee’s voice came from the opening she’d vanished through. “My love, they are here.”

  All three of us raced to the opening.

  Stone buildings stretched out in a half circle from the viewpoint area. Where we stood was closer to the wall than most of the city. Beyond, waves of attackers approached, and in some areas they already clashed with an organized group of uniformed Azurafolk outside the city.

  The wall rumbled as a green figure landed on top. It pinged as someone with a bounty.

  “Manee, take care of that,” growled Havi. He turned toward the opening where Sevtar now stood. “Where is the damn sword?”

  “This one?” Sevtar held up a giant weapon with runes glowing all around it—the same runes as the archway.

  [Immortal Sword, Soul-bound to Immortals' Bloodline.]

  Havi snatched the sword out of Sevtar's hand, and it glowed a deep blue before turning purple. A lull in the clang of swords hitting in the far distance made the hair raise on my body. My fingers tightened on my spear.

  “Fight to defend the city, work as one.” The command rippled out with a physical presence from Havi. “We are Steadfast!”

  The purple light sank into Havi's skin, and his presence flickered.

  [Havi, Blade Weaver, Level 250, Predator.]

  I stepped back as the light winked out, trying to figure out what just happened. You couldn’t just gain a hundred levels all at once.

  “I need to go push back the forces on the wall with your mother,” said Havi, a sad look behind his eyes. He nodded at Kabi. “I’ll explain everything as soon as this is taken care of.”

  Then he teleported, suddenly gone from my radar.

  “What just happened?” I asked in a whisper.

  Sevtar answered, “The heir has returned to take his place, leading his people.”

  I turned to look at the man.

  He bowed low, with his head almost touching the ground, before he slowly pulled up. “May the bloodline bleed true.”

  “Which Immortal is my uncle?” Kabi asked suddenly. He clearly knew things I didn’t, and I was starting to get frustrated.

  “The Whirlwind Sovereign. May he reach the highest peaks.”

  “That means my grandfather is the Crimson Silhouette…” His words trailed off as his mouth dropped. All four of his hands hung limply at his side.

  “Of course.” Sevtar gave a sharp nod, but his gaze remained on Kabi. He studied my friend from his feet and each of his many hands to the top of his head. His gaze lingered on the lost fingers.

  Kabi turned away from Sevtar and stared at the wall in the far distance.

  I didn’t know what to say. For one thing, I didn’t know what any of it meant. I obviously didn’t know any of the names, but I didn’t even know what an Immortal was. Still, it didn’t really matter right now. Not with an army led by Forgers marching on the city. Still, the thing with Havi’s level was something I needed to understand, sooner or later.

  “We go fight?” asked Dengu as he stepped out onto the balcony. Lenna and Strange followed.

  I turned to the distance and pushed my radar out. Three beings pinged in all different directions, but somewhere close to the outside walls.

  “Kabi, thoughts?” I asked without mentioning the Forgers just yet. I didn’t want to spill my secrets in front of this new guy.

  Sevtar stared at Dengu and Strange, unobtrusively keeping away from the two.

  “What forces are outside the walls?” asked Kabi. His calm exterior hid the rolling waves of emotion I sensed within the bond.

  “Creatures the Forgers sent, with a few of them as well,” answered Sevtar, still not looking away.

  One being blinked out, followed by another. That was fast.

  “Two of the Forgers are dead, leaving only one,” I whispered, leaning close to Kabi, but paused as the third vanished outside my range, heading away from the fighting. “All gone now…”

  “It all makes sense,” mumbled Kabi, clenching his fists. He snorted. “Of course, my father was bound.”

  A wave of arrows came from the walls and out to the fighting beyond. They smashed into the beasts, a line staggering to the ground. Confusion reigned as fighters appeared in front of that fallen line, all working together.

  Bound, I’d heard of that before, though it took a moment for me to place it. Noseen had been bound in the sanctuary, to be able to go on ‘vacation’, since his level was way too high for the level cap.

  The sword had bound Havi’s level, somehow.

  Lenna approached Kabi and set a hand on his shoulder.

  “Why aren’t you fighting?” Kabi asked Sevtar, turning away from the sight and letting Lenna’s hand fall.

  “Surely, you know this.” Sevtar frowned, tilting his head to the building. “I am bound to the bloodline, not able to leave this building, Heir.”

  Then he suddenly smiled. “Ah, looks like the fighting is wrapping up. I will get the registration items ready.”

  He turned and marched away with a determined grin, hurrying toward the door he had entered from.

  Lenna motioned to the building as she glanced at me. “This is going to get messy…”

  “That’s an understatement,” said Kabi, letting out a deep sigh. “My parents have much to explain.”

  All of this felt way too political, and my mind went back to the fleeing Forger who’d headed away from the city. Everything in me wanted to go and track it down as soon as possible.

  “You’ve mentioned the Immortals before. Who are they?” I asked. I needed to get caught up on all of this before I did something dumb, even if it didn’t seem super important.

  “Rank three individuals, mostly on the cusp of rank four, who basically rule the north.” Kabi didn’t even glance at me. Instead, he studied the tall building behind us.

  “It makes sense why they’d leave. They couldn’t reach any higher here.” Each world had limitations after all. You had to keep moving on if you wanted to grow. I was beginning to see, though, that most people just didn’t have that ambition. It had been true on Lenna’s world, and now it was clearly true here.

  Kabi’s head tilted to one side at my comment. “Is it really that simple?”

  “Why not?” My gaze flickered to Lenna. “If you reach the top of your world, you’d need to leave to keep growing. Isn’t that the point of all of this?”

  Lenna chuckled. “It isn’t that easy to get to the top, and most don’t even want to try, but you are correct. If you want to keep growing, you’d eventually need to leave and travel the stars.”

  “My father always said that the Immortal’s family ruled in their stead.” This came out as a whisper. “Passed down to the next worthy within the generation.”

  “We did,” said Havi as he appeared on the balcony, right where he had vanished from. The sword was no longer in his hand. “Turns out, my cousin died several weeks back. He kept order in the city. Unfortunately, that leaves us to take over.”

  Kabi stepped back, closer to me. “I serve another.”

  The blond between us vibrated as he spoke.

  Kabi’s father nodded solemnly before responding. “Your mother and I can handle this. Unfortunately, it will take longer than I wanted to get things in order here.” His gaze flickered to me. “You all need to track down the one that escaped.”

  “What about C…” Kabi’s voice cut off as a cold force came from Havi.

  “It is best that you all leave as soon as possible to complete your mission.” His eyes lingered on Kabi, glaring. “The Pathfinder can help get any supplies you need on your way out of the city.”

  Lenna nodded and snagged Kabi’s hand. “Let’s get moving.”

  Kabi ground his teeth but said nothing else as Lenna led him into the building. Dengu followed, while Strange waited for me.

  “This is a massive pile of shit you need to deal with, isn’t it?” I asked, past caring if I put my foot in my mouth.

  “Yes, and my son shouldn’t get anywhere near it.” Havi turned sharply to the wall in the distance. “He’ll understand later.”

  “You don’t always have later,” I whispered as I turned away. Thoughts of my father's warning about my mother, and what’d ended up happening, spun coldly in my mind. Later didn’t always exist.

  Hopefully, Havi didn’t run out of time. Kabi would be the one who suffered.

  The knot in my stomach tightened.