Aria, the Champion, and Zareb resumed their discussion when Lusha returned with three others in tow. The first newcomer was a male elf. He was tall, but slender. His hair was brown in color and reached down his neck. His eyes were a light green, and his demeanor was, much like Aria’s own, stern and serious.

  Lastly came in the dwarf.

  Komdar hummed to himself as he strolled inside, and Aria tried not to feel annoyed listening to him. Dwarves and elves have always had a… rocky relationship.

  From what her mother had told her about the dwarves, culturally, they tended to have a bit of a complex when it came to their height. Elves, as they tended to be rather tall on average, tended to agitate that complex. There was also the fact that Aria’s people had a deep respect for nature, while the dwarves had little regard for its sanctity, having no problem extracting all of its resources for the sake of progress. They were much like humes in that regard. And where elves were elegant and contemplative, dwarves tended to be… blunt.

  There was also the little fact that Jorbrann, the Realm of the dwarves and giants, had refused to make an alliance with Vindanna to combat against the humes during the Human-Elf War. Though some recognized the true threat the ashborn posed, most stayed out of the conflict. Had they had their full support, perhaps the Great Fragmentation needn’t have occurred.

  And perhaps I wouldn’t have had to live a life where I lived as a slave from the day I was born… she thought bitterly, hands clenching into fists.

  Her mother had spoken of some of the dwarves’ virtues as well, but Aria had a hard time recalling those. Especially considering, according to her mother, the dwarves had quite respected the humes before the Great Fragmentation.

  “What’s with yer face, lassie?” Komdar asked her in his accented Durainese, “ya look like yer tryin’ to swallow a lemon.”

  She glared at the dwarf, “It’s nothing.”

  “Fine, suit yerself. Choke fer all I care,” he snorted, walking off to sit next to Zareb.

  She scowled him, but otherwise bit back a response.

  As the newcomers took their seats at the table, the hume, Zareb, ushered for her and the Champion to stand in front of the table, facing the four that were now present.

  “Well now,” she heard the Champion mutter next to her, “would you look at that. Each one is of a different race. A representative for each one, maybe?”

  Aria looked back at the four, and noticed that he was right. There was Zareb, an ashborn. Lusha, a half-blood. Komdar, a dwarf. And an elf.

  “Good eye,” she found herself saying.

  The Champion smiled at her, “Thanks.”

  She frowned, now consciously noting that she had complimented him without thinking about it. She said nothing more. Neither did he.

  Zareb stood once the others took their seats, “I believe introductions are in order. Lad… Lass… you both already know me. But for formality’s sake…”

  He cleared his throat, “I am Zareb Aleksi Barus, one of the leaders of the Rebellion and representative of the humans in our ranks.”

  He sat, and Lusha stood next, “I am Lusha Barus. Representative of the half-bloods.”

  She sat, and Komdar stood in a more casual and relaxed manner, “Komdar Ironheart. Bein’ as great as I am, I’m sure ya won’t forget me.”

  Not for lack of trying, Aria thought.

  The dwarf plopped back into his seat, and the elf stood. He met Aria’s eyes, nodding at her before giving his introduction with a bow, “I am Neldor Uritoris. I am one of the leaders of the Rebellion and the representative of the elves that exist in our retinue. It is an honor to meet the daughter of a hero as great as Anila had been.”

  Aria returned the bow, “The honor is mine, Uritoris.”

  Ironheart snorted, “I swear, ya elves are only ever nice to each other.”

  Uritoris returned the snort with an equally derisive one, “Perhaps if you dwarves learned some proper etiquette, others would be inclined to be more respectful towards you.”

  “Nah,” Ironheart put a pinky to his ear to clean it, “too much effort. Ya elves wouldn’t ever be satisfied with our ‘etiquette’ as ya put it. Though, for a former slave, it’s funny hearin’ ya talk about etiquette.”

  Uritoris bristled at that, but thankfully, Zareb cut in, “Enough of that. Both of you. We’re not here to argue.”

  “But he makes it so amusin’” Ironheart playfully protested.

  Zareb shot him a look, and the dwarf got the hint, “Fine, fine. I’ll put on my professional face.”

  Surprisingly, Ironheart straightened his back and put his hands forward, clasped on the table. He looked… well, he looked professional.

  Not bad, Aria thought, for a dwarf.

  “Hey now,” Ironheart frowned, “I know that look in yer eyes, lassy. Ya just thought, ‘not bad. For a dwarf,’ didn’t ya?!”

  Aria started, shocked that he had all but read her mind.

  “Don’t look so surprised!” Ironheart shook his head, “yer people are easy to read. Y’all think amusingly alike.”

  She scowled, but didn’t respond to his obvious attempts to provoke her.

  Again, to her surprise, Ironheart nodded in approval, his demeanor now showing more respect towards her. Had she passed some sort of test?

  Aria narrowed her eyes, this time more with suspicion than with irritation or anger. There was certainly more to that dwarf than he let on.

  “So,” Uritoris began, “why ARE we here, Zareb? You mentioned it was something important?”

  The hume nodded, “That it is. The lass, Miss Tufani here, has something important we need to know about. Neldor, you specifically will be interested in hearing what she has to say. We’ll also need to discuss with Galen, the Champion, about his future here.”

  “Very well,” Uritoris nodded, not trying in the least to hide his curiosity, “let us begin. Lady Tufani, if you please, tell us everything that has occurred that led to you being here today.”

  “Before that,” Ironheart butt in, “could we get some snacks brought in here for us? I get the feelin’ I’m gonna be here listenin’ a whole bunch. Might as well satisfy me munchies.”

  “Munchies?” the Champion questioned.

  Lusha sighed, “Very well. I’ll send for some snacks and refreshments.”

  Ironheart looked surprised, “Really? I was partly jokin’.”

  Lusha gave him a scowl, “Do you want those snacks or not?”

  “Of course!” Ironheart leaned back in his chair, “the fact ya were so willin’ to accommodate my request is proof enough that we’re gonna be here a while.”

  Zareb met Aria’s eyes, “If you will, lass. You may begin.”

  Aria took a deep breath, and began to tell the story. Of her life as a slave with her mother, and how she and Elder Feno had formed a plan for her and Aria to escape together. She explained how the plan had been derailed slightly when her blood relation to her mother was discovered, and how she’d been sent to the Second Circle of Ignis. She told of how Anila had come to save her, and the ensuing battle against the Shadows of Athanasius. She made sure to inform the Rebellion’s leaders of the Shadows’ special Armor and Weapons and their capabilities as explained by her mother. The Rebellion leaders had bristled at this bit of intel, with Zareb especially looking perturbed.

  “Armor that adapts to a foe’s elemental Affinites?!” Ironheart had barked, “by the riches of the earth. That’s just bullshit!”

  “Agreed,” Lusha hissed, “no wonder the bastards are so overconfident in a fight.”

  “To think they actually managed to defeat the great Anila Tufani…” Uritoris muttered with a grave expression.

  “When I learned of the existence of Sentient Weapons,” Zareb stated, “I hadn’t thought of the possibility of the Dominion using that technology to craft Armor with such powerful defenses… Void, I should’ve realized it could be possible. What you mentioned, lass, about their Weapons being able to siphon the Ether of a foe they manage to damage? That’s news to me as well.”

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  Zareb turned to Daxton, “Lad, can Redian do such a thing?”

  The Champion’s eyes glazed over for a moment before his focus returned, “No… Redian says he can’t. He says its likely a feature of the second and third generation of Sentient Weapons.”

  Zareb nodded, before gesturing for Aria to continue.

  She choked up a bit as she told of her mother’s death at the hands of the Shadows. She explained their mission, her mission now, to reach Axis Mundi’s Boundary and enter the Void Sea. To use the Astridian Medallion to navigate that tumultuous space between Realms and make it to Vindanna. All with the hope of convincing her people to prepare for war, and to send their armies to free the slaves. Elves as well as the other races.

  And to slay the false god the humes worship, Aria mentally added, though she verbally worded it slightly differently to veil some of her animosity, and utterly destroy this accursed empire Athanasius’s ancestor wrought upon this world.

  The others were quiet for several moments after she finished, all clearly thinking over what she’d told them.

  Ironheart was the first to speak, “Navigating the Void Sea? Ya must have a death wish, girl.”

  “Both my mother and Elder Feno thought it possible,” Aria argued.

  “And where are they?” Ironheart spread his hands apologetically.

  Aria’s eye twitched as she gave the dwarf a hate filled glare.

  “Metal-less earth! Yer intense for one so young,” Ironheart raised a brow, “but gettin’ angry doesn’t disprove my point.”

  “Show some tact, Komdar,” Uritoris admonished, “that is no way to speak to a child who has recently lost her mother!”

  “I’m not sayin’ that I don’t feel bad for her,” Ironheart responded, “just pointin’ out that getting emotional won’t change the state of things.”

  Before Uritoris could give a biting remark, Zareb cut in, “Enough, both of you. Neldor, you have greater ties with your people. How trustworthy is this Elder Feno?”

  Uritoris took a deep breath before responding, “Elder Feno is among the First Generation of the elf slaves. That means he was one who was present when the Great Fragmentation separated the Realms from each other, and was eventually captured and enslaved. He also is among the oldest of the elves that exists in Axis Mundi. He was known for his wisdom even before the separation of the Realms. From the last time I spoke with him, a mere fifty years ago, he seemed to have grown in wisdom in spite of his enslavement. If I were to place my faith on the conjecture of anyone, it would be him.”

  “So ya admit his word is conjecture?” Ironheart asked.

  Uritoris scowled at the dwarf, but he did, reluctantly, nod.

  “Well, that’s just great,” Ironheart huffed, “good thing it’s not my life I’m bettin’ to take that risk.”

  “My mother was willing to take the risk, even with me in tow!” Aria snapped, “if she was willing, then it’s a risk I’m willing to take as well.”

  “A nice sentiment,” Lusha leaned forward, expression contemplative, “but it’d be nice if we knew with certainty that your plan will work. The Void Sea is… it’s an unknown to us all. Even the Dominion, with centuries of research into it, is wary of traversing that space.”

  “What exactly is the Void Sea?” Daxton suddenly asked, hand raised in the air for some reason.

  All eyes turned to him, and he flushed, “Uh… sorry. No one’s really explained it to me in detail, and the Dominion didn’t really provide much in the way of information when I studied their texts.”

  “No one explained it to you?” Lusha asked with a frown.

  Daxton shook his head.

  All eyes slowly turned to Zareb, who was trying, in a very poor attempt, to look innocent.

  “Seriously, brother?!” Ironheart asked with disbelief.

  “Let me guess,” Lusha sighed, “you told him that you’d get around to it eventually, but never did.”

  Daxton frowned, “Is this seriously THAT bad of a habit for him?!”

  “YES!” Uritoris threw his hands up in the air, “he does it ALL the time. His only saving grace is that it’s only in regards to matters that aren’t urgent. He wouldn’t be much of a leader if he did this with critical topics.”

  “Oh, come now. I’m not THAT bad,” Zareb protested.

  Lusha smiled sweetly at him, “Love… best not to pick battles you can’t win. Okay?”

  Zareb grumbled, before standing and addressing the Champion’s question, “I did mention SOMETHING of this to you. You recall what I told you, yes?”

  Daxton nodded, “You mentioned that the Void Sea was created after the Great Fragmentation. That it is a spacial rift that tenuously forms an unstable connection between the Realms of Avani.”

  Zareb smiled approvingly, “Correct. And truth be told, lad, there isn’t much more to tell beyond that. That chaotic space is still wildly unknown to us. There are only a few things we know for certain. One is that it is entirely unpredictable. From several test trips into the space, those who managed to come back in a well enough condition to report their findings all said that it was a vast white void. And that traveling through it was simultaneously like being at sea in violent waters and flying through a tumultuous storm.”

  Aria saw the Champion’s eyes widen, as though he’d had a realization, “Is that why the Dominion has airships?!”

  “Ah, so you caught on to that?” Lusha smiled, “that’s right. The airships were made with travel through the Void Sea in mind. Though, even then, most don’t make it back alive from a trek into that chaotic dimension.”

  The Champion frowned, “But wait, how does the Dominion travel between Axis Mundi and Branlyn so much? Travel between those two Realms is done frequently, isn’t it?”

  “Ah,” Uritoris nodded, “a fine question. The answer is quite simple. The Dominion has found a way to reconnect the two Realms, making travel to and for much safer.”

  Daxton made a choking sound, “They found a way to reconnect the Realms?!”

  “Of course!” Komdar chuckled, “how else did ya think they manage travel between the two?”

  “But… if that’s the case, then whose to say they haven’t made it to the other Realms already?!” Daxton cried out.

  Aria bristled. It was something she feared as well. However…

  “Calm yourself, lad,” Zareb spoke, “we know for certain that the Dominion hasn’t managed that yet. Remember that my wife mentioned that most treks into the Void Sea prove fatal, even with the technology that has been developed.”

  “Then, how did they-” the Champion began before Ironheart cut him off with an answer.

  “Ya gotta think! The Dominion, called the Empire at the time of the Great Fragmentation, controlled both Axis Mundi and Branlyn. They had forces on both sides. Our best workin’ theory is that havin’ two groups working together on either side make it possible to reconnect two Realms together.”

  “Although, even then, it can’t be easy,” Zareb rubbed his beard thoughtfully, “the fourth volume of ‘The First Champion’s Reminiscence’ details that it took twenty years of dedicated effort for the Empire in Axis Mundi to make it to Branlyn.”

  “I remember reading that,” Daxton snapped his fingers, “the First Champion returned to Branlyn to find the half of the Empire that remained there had declared their independence and tried to turn him away. A civil war then broke out. One that the First Champion won.”

  Zareb nodded, “Needless to say that we have good reason to doubt any of the other Realms would be so inclined to assist the Dominion in establishing a connection. That would go against the entire purpose of the Great Fragmentation.”

  Aria’s tension left her, all this having been told to her by her mother in the past. The reminder helped to ease her nerves. The fear that the Dominion would one day find a reliable way to the other Realms was one that was always present. However, even after centuries, they’d yet to find a way.

  “Still begs the question of how, by the riches of the earth, this elf girl plans to traverse the Void Sea,” Ironheart pointed out.

  Uritoris rubbed his chin thoughtfully, “Perhaps it is as she has told us. The answer may lie within the Astridian Medallion. Being made of wood from the sacred Astrid Tree, it should provide a powerful connection to Vindanna, serving as a beacon. Much like a lighthouse does for ships sailing through a dark sea.”

  “The question now,” Zareb began, “is how we may assist the young lass in her mission.”

  Aria’s eyes widened, “You would actually aid me?”

  Zareb frowned, “Of course. I mentioned as much when I offered you to come with me to our hideout, did I not?”

  “Yes… but…”

  “Didn’t expect him, a human, to keep his word, eh?” Lusha smirked.

  Aria didn’t respond to that.

  “How much assistance can we really provide?” Ironheart asked, “and would it be worth it?”

  “Considering we could potentially get the aid of an entire Realm,” Zareb pointed out, “I’d say it would be well worth the risk.”

  “Hold on,” Aria protested, “who said anything about my people helping you?”

  Zareb sighed, “Lass, one of our goals is to overthrow the Dominion. Another one of our goals is to free the races from their enslavement. Would your people not want this? Or would they themselves seek to enslave those who are not elves?”

  “Of course they wouldn’t!” Aria answered quickly.

  “Bold of ya to say when ya haven’t even met yer ancestral kin yet,” Ironheart pointed out.

  “Of course,” Lusha added, “we won’t assist you for free, Tufani. We’d like something in return for our aid in your mission.”

  Aria narrowed her eyes, “And just what is it you want?”

  Lusha turned to Uritoris, who cleared his throat, “It’d be best to hear it from me, Lady Tufani. Our request is simple. We wish for you to try to convince our people in Vindanna to aid us in overthrowing the Dominion, and recognizing the Rebellion once we usurp Athanasius as an independent nation.”

  Aria gaped at the four of them.

  Daxton whistled next to her, “That’s a rather tall order you’re asking of her.”

  “We know, lad,” Zareb sighed, “that’s why we specifically mentioned that we’d like her to try. We are well aware they may refuse.”

  That surprised Aria, and the feeling only grew as Zareb continued, “Regardless of their answer, lass, we also want you to let them know they’ll have allies in us should they decide to invade the Dominion to save their enslaved kin. Seeing the Dominion toppled and the enslaved races freed is our top priority.”

  The four looked at her, eyes expectant.

  “Well?” Lusha prodded, “do we have a deal?’

  “All you ask is that I try, right?” Aria asked with some hesitation.

  They nodded.

  She took a deep breath, “Very well… if that case, I accept. I give you my word on the Tufani name that I will honor my end of this bargain.”

  Zareb smiled widely at her, “Excellent. We shall see how we can aid you and what resources we can pool for your mission. Now…”

  He looked to Daxton next to her, “Let us discuss your future here with us, lad.”

  She could hear the Champion gulp nervously next to her, though he looked resolute.

  To her surprise, she was curious to see how this next part went.

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