{Chronicle 0. I'm beginning the chronicles of my ascension to Emperor. Once my new world regime begins, Cindar will be a historical site in my honor, where I will be recognized by everyone for my greatness. I have waited to assume my rightful place among them for eons and must continue to do so until the time is right.}

  He let out a resigned sigh at the thought of having to wait even longer.

  {My patience and intellect will be rewarded, and I will be renowned across the quadrant. These records will serve as proof of my endeavors.}

  Avarice skipped forward some before stopping again.

  {Chronicle 1,774. I was surprised today. I discovered that Grandfather has spent quite some time gathering a formidable armada from a distant world. He says they will fight for me when the day comes, but first, the conquering of Cindar must be accomplished. I'm nearly there: I've been sporadically kidnapping inexperienced pneumarians and letting desperate klevonians feed off them. My actions have been perfectly hidden among the Klevonian Army's child-abduction tactics so that no one suspects anything about a few missing adults, least of all me being behind them.}

  He grunted in frustration, and then there was a tapping noise as Aeric paused for thought.

  {Unfortunately, I must take this skulking approach to avoid breaking my blood oath, but in the end, this will all help me bring the pneumarians and klevonians under my control before Grandfather and I push forward with the larger agenda.}

  He let out a loud, deep sigh before continuing.

  {If only I could use Invade to control them all. But, alas, it only works on the willing unless I break their spirit, so I have to be smart with whom I manipulate. The agonizing wait, the humiliation I suffered because of him, all of it will be worth it once my plans come to fruition. I'll cement my place among the Celestials, then none of the others will be able to stand in my way.}

  Suddenly, there was chuckling that shifted into a low maniacal laugh before he continued.

  {I've even gone as far as forcing klevonians and pneumarians to unify then mate in hopes of producing a new zasshu that I can groom into an apprentice. There's a young, male klevonian in the Klevonian Army with the Transference cintracy. If I acquire him, the process would go more quickly, but Grandfather has warned me that it is too risky to pursue him. Therefore, I must continue on my own...}

  {Chronicle 1,933...}

  There were sounds of objects breaking in the background, followed by abrupt silence, before the recording continued.

  {...I have documented at least 100 failed attempts and, frustratingly, have come to realize my dilemma: without Transference, the surest way to produce a zasshu is for two zasshu to unify and mate, but there are no female zasshu suited to me. The two within Pneuma City have already been marked by their Crest Heads. My eternal half must only have fealty to me. Regrettably, it seems I'll have to move forward into the final phase without the possibility of an heir. So be it. When all goes accordingly, soon the Third Great War will begin...}

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  After continuing and eventually finishing the recording, we stood in silence as everything sank in.

  "This guy.... The zasshu has been trying to start another war?" Za'Fia asked in disbelief. "For what? Didn't he say earlier he needed Cindar under his control?"

  I am not sure, but I do know that none of this should be possible, Viraa stated with concern.

  "Because of his blood oath?" Avarice asked.

  Yes, all cindarians are made aware of it. It ensures that he is not a threat to any of us, and so long as he is not antagonized, he cannot inflict harm on anyone present on Cindar. He can only harm someone if that person is trying to harm him.

  Viraa paused, and I could feel the realization set in as she saw the flaw in the blood oath he'd given long ago.

  ...but this only applies to those present on Cindar at the time the oath was made...if those he targeted were not born or present then they are not protected by the oath.

  "So, it's possible he's behind the missing children then," I noted, putting the pieces together. "He takes the children from Pneuma City; everyone thinks the only ones capable and historically proven to do such a thing are the Klevonian Army."

  "Cindarian parents can feel that their offspring are still alive even if they don't know where, so they panic, preventing any rational thought," Avarice added.

  "Right, and he'd be able to harm the children he kidnapped without breaking his oath if things don't go his way," I said.

  "Or have someone else do the dirty work," Za'Fia commented. "He mentioned having a way to control people if their will is broken, right? He could have minions or puppets or something, too," she shrugged.

  "Oh, God, these people aren't nearly as safe as they think they are," I said in horror. "How did this go on for so long with no one realizing? Did none of the pneumarians and klevonians come forward?"

  "He probably killed them. If I were evil, that's what I'd do," Za'Fia replied, giving it some thought. "Why risk others finding out? The real question is: how'd he silence them? Whatever power he has must be strong enough even to take out a pneumarian then. That's terrifying."

  Aeric is many things. Thoughtless is not one of them, Viraa assured us.

  "I agree," Avarice looked at the mappings with a more intense interest. "Based on what we just discovered and the fact that no one's noticed too many loved ones disappearing, it's more likely that to prevent suspicion from arising, Aeric tried to avoid killing as many cindarians he forced to undergo the unification rituals as possible."

  Perhaps he forced them to give their blood oaths to never speak of what happened and then let them go, Viraa suggested rather optimistically.

  "That seems to be the only plausible option," Avarice concurred. "Those who refused were likely killed. Most of them likely reluctantly agreed and went on with their lives. Some of which could still be on Cindar. Of course, most klevonians involved likely died naturally from old age since I doubt he'd take any from within Pneuma City's crests, what with their links to their patron."

  Ah, as for the pneumarians, some were likely traumatized to the point they willingly allowed klevonians to absorb them, something that typically occurs after losing one's eternal half, but a violation of this sort could trigger those reactions just the same.

  "Yes...," Avarice gave everything some thought before letting out a deep sigh and looked at me. "Since you tend to take the role of peacekeeper, I'm guessing you object to his visions."

  "I do," I sternly placed my hand on my hips. "And you're gonna help us stop it. As for the kidnappings...it seems pretty obvious he's behind them, but in reality, this only points to him abducting adults in the past... Still, we can't sit on this either.... Let's do what Raina asked and see what we can learn from Forgeton before we share anything."