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Chapter 822 Allies
🕑 Added 2022-01-18 16:31:57 +0000 UTCAuthor's note: Hey all. New chapters and more when they're done :).
Thanks for reading.
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Chapter 822 Allies
Ilea ignored the mind blown Mind Weavers, Adam and Octavia, instead signaling to the Meadow for a teleport.
She appeared in her room. “Get Aki in here too.”
An Executioner appeared the moment she had finished the statement.
“Ker Velor, the Architect, still has plans with Elos. In the coming months or years, according to the three mark divination mage. Adam’s daughter. No matter what the Accords decide, Octavia’s claims seem reasonable to me based on everything I know. She has lived in Kohr for some time, learned from the facilities there, and from the Mind Weavers,” she said.
“We will start to devise plans,” the Meadow sent. “Both to prevent the Architect’s plans but to react as well in case we fail to do so.”
“Another thing you will deduct once she’s done telling you about everything. There’s a Source in Eregar’s Haven. We should find out how the fuck it got there, why, and what the Haven itself is supposed to be,” Ilea said.
“Another source,” Aki repeated. “I will discuss increased security within the Haven. Iana and Christopher will be interested. We will discuss possible options with them if the time allows. Anything else?”
Ilea knew both of them were already talking to quite a few people. She smiled. She could fight insane creatures from other realms, could face Elves, and even Ascended, but what Octavia had suggested, she simply lacked the options to respond alone. If Ker Velor had been a crazed maniac destroying cities with his personal magic, she could go and fight him, but she had no idea how to even tackle anything the being had planned here. She had no way to find any facilities, had no way to find the Architect himself, all she could reasonably do was wait, and train.
If she didn’t have allies that was. Entire factions would consider this threat and possible ways to tackle it. Both the Meadow and Aki were incredible resources, but they had plenty of other people as well. Thousands. Fighters, scholars, scouts, enchanters, and organizers to make sure preparations were running smoothly. If Ker Velor planned to come back to Elos to take the remaining suns, for conquest, for revenge, or to experiment with the local denizens, he would face everything they had built. Everyone she had gotten together. And she was nowhere near done.
“I’ll go talk to Nes. I’ll try to get her involved in the talks, she’ll be able to confirm stories and suggest ways we can deal with things. Evan was there, three thousand years ago. Scipio should know plenty as well. Look for Dark Ones that may have been around, I believe Goliath at least knows some things as well,” Ilea said.
She checked through her marks. “Violence. I might need your help. Potential of violence is high. Find me if you can.”
“Maybe you want to Involve the Hunters as well, Isalthar or other might remember some things,” she said.
“Verena, if you can, get the Shadow Elders and Dagon togheter, Adam is back, Meadow’s domain,” she sent, finally contacting Nes. “Got potential intel on Ker Velor returning to Elos to take another sun. May I join you?”
“Of course, I am here,” Nes replied almost immediately, before any of the others.
“Violence!” came the predictable response from the little fae.
If I can convince the actual Fae to help in this.
Ilea didn’t consider as of yet, not about to try and get to the Fae without knowing the threat was indeed real. The Accords would understand based on the potential risk, but she had a feeling the Fae might not care too much about some metal being form another realm and its plans, though she could be wrong.
“I’ll try to be back as soon as I can. Aki, if you start to think the possibility of the threat is real, please start scouting for dangerous four marks in the far north and far south,” Ilea said.
“You plan to ramp up your training?” Aki asked.
“I’m not exactly the best scout, nor an enchanter. But if they do show up, we’ll need someone who can take down a prepared four mark Ascended, one used to battle,” she answered, activating her third tier transfer to the mark of Nes Mor Atul.
Ilea was moved through the fabric by her spell, appearing in the lounge of Scipio and Nes, both of them waiting for her.
“Did he return?” Nes immediately asked, her white eyes glowing.
Ilea took in a deep breath and sat down in one of the leather chairs, summarizing what she had learned about Octavia, Adam, and the Architect. She paused and considered as the others too thought over what they had heard.
Nes was the first to speak. “As I told you before, the chance of an Ascended returning to Elos to take another sun is slim. Many of the facilities are destroyed, and the Olym Arcena is no more.”
“Why would that matter? Can’t Ker Velor do it himself?” Ilea asked. “Maybe he built new facilities? They’re required to take a sun? And they’re underground?”
Nes considered. “Yes, new facilities could have been added to collect mana, but it would’ve had to be entirely separate from the existing mesh of pillars and stabilizers. If he had planned to use the existing mesh, we would have known. Now for him to secretly build an entirely new one… I suppose it is possible, in the millennia since our Unity broke apart… if it is him. Though there are other realms out there, realms that know nothing of the Ascended, unprepared and unable to respond in any meaningful way. Ker Velor is a rational being, he would not chose Elos. Never.”
“Never?” Ilea asked. “Octavia seemed sure it was him, and she was sure he would come back. With an ally. You mentioned her to me before. The return of an ally, that’s what Octavia divined. It fits with what I learned as well, from my near death encounter.”
“Ravana… would she?” Nes said, remaining quiet for a time. “For her… perhaps he would…”
“There’s your reason then,” Ilea said. “If he revers her to that extent, he’s at the same level as a fanatic.”
“An entire mesh, by himself… It would take thousands of years, even with his ingenuity and power,” Nes said, the Navuun sitting down before her hands dropped onto her legs.
Scipio touched her shoulder. “We will stop him.”
“There is no stopping this,” Nes said. “The beings of this realm have tried before. They failed.”
“This isn’t the same,” Ilea said. “We have you. We have the Meadow, Aki, and a ton of other allies.”
“The claims remain… dubious, though plausible in theory,” Nes said.
Ilea nodded. “That’s why I came here. I want you to be there, at the talks. Octavia will present what she learned to the Accords. You’ll be able to judge it all yourself, and you can tell us what to look for, how to confirm that her claims are true. We don’t know how the Ascended harvest entire stars. You do.”
“There are secrets that are not meant to be known. Not by me, not by you. We have aimed to become gods, and it led to the desolation of our home,” Nes said, floating up again, her eyes glowing.
“You don’t have to explain the details. You just have to tell us how to find and stop Ker Velor,” Ilea said.
Nes shook her head. “If this is true… no… the realm is aligned already. It would be impossible to detect. If a new mesh has been created, there is nothing we can do but find and destroy it.”
“Then come with me, both of you. Tell the Accords what you know. Not all of it, but what we need to prevent this,” Ilea said.
Nes looked to Scipio, the two remaining silent for a minute.
Ilea assumed they were talking through telepathy.
She considered and spoke.
“I trust you to treat this information with the weight it deserves,” Ilea said as she looked at them, their attention back on her. Perhaps it was a gamble but after all this time, she trusted them enough to take the risk. Especially considering what could be at stake. “I made a connection with what Octavia told me. And I believe there is a source in Eregar’s Haven, powering an artificial sun, and perhaps more, down below Ravenhall.”
“One for the Taleen… and one for Eregar… who would have thought,” Scipio said with eyes focused on nothing before he burst out laughing.
“He would not have had the influence. The Azarinth were decimated, and the Shadows were not loyal to such a degree,” Nes said.
“Where would you have hid it? If you had been the one to have the Source. The remaining Ascended were scrambling to find the sun of Kohr but none had succeeded,” Scipio said.
“None that we knew of. I had assumed an Ascended had it, perhaps Elven kind, but the Shadow’s Hand?” she murmured. “After all this time.”
“He was powerful, you know. Even back then,” Scipio said. “Perhaps he survived, like we did.”
“You think Eregar is still around?” Ilea asked.
“Why not? I am, so is she,” Scipio said. “You’re still alive too, despite your ridiculous battles.”
“Offense taken,” Ilea said.
“Are you sure it is a source?” Nes asked.
“No. Not at all, but the connection of the Haven to Kohr, the fact that you don’t know where Kohr’s sun went,” Ilea said. “I’m sure we could arrange that you can investigate the Haven yourself. I’m happy with where the other source is, and how well it’s protected, but Ravenhall is… not exactly Iz.”
“It demands investigation,” Nes said. “Very well, Ilea. You have helped us, and you have shown us your trust. I will return this favor. To you, and to your Accords. Bring me to your meeting.”
Ilea grinned and opened a gate to the Meadow’s domain. “After you.”
Scipio frowned. “I hate that you have this.”
“Join me in Kohr and you’ll get your evolutions in no time,” she said.
“The fact itself that battle and violence is what provided you with such power is what frustrates me in the first place, Lilith,” he said.
“Blame the system. I’m just damn good at the game,” Ilea said with a smile.
She stepped through after them. “Scipio you know already. This is Nes Mor Atul, Ascended and Navuun of Kohr and the Great Salt,” Ilea sent to the various beings around, primarily the Meadow.
Two hundred mind weavers looked their way.
“Old one.” Whispers reached her mind, Nes bowing to the beings.
“Children, forgive us,” she sent.
Octavia glanced between Ilea and the Ascended, one of her eyes twitching slightly. She took in a deep breath and smiled, her fangs showing.
“Those teeth seem impractical,” Ilea sent.
“You have brought an Ascended here, why?” Octavia spoke.
“Because if what you say is true, we’ll need her help to stop it,” Ilea said.
“Scipio,” Evan said as he walked over. “It’s good to see you’re alive. Long it has been.”
Scipio glanced at him. “Her collection of ancient relics grows. Tell me, how did she convince the neutral observer?”
Evan smiled as more people appeared from the teleportation gate. It seemed the Meadow had cleared its domain, only trusted representatives and allies of the Accords allowed to be present. “She has a way with people.”
Scipio glanced at the crystal tree in the distance before he looked to a new group that appeared among the growing assembly. One floating with long white hair and white eyes, wind magic flowing around him as if he himself was exuding the element. Next to Isalthar stood the red scaled Feyrair, his eyes taking in the various beings, stopping on Nes. Elfie was present too, smiling when he saw Ilea. “She does indeed,” Scipio said.
“Elves as well,” Adam murmured, an Executioner still standing near him.
Ilea glanced over to the approaching elders, Verena and the Dragonkiller. Their eyes darted between the various beings gathered in the tree’s domain.
“Wow, now this is a fucking congregation of freaks,” Pierce said out loud before she laughed.
Verena’s eyes stopped on Adam, fire erupting around her as her axes materialized. She rushed forward near instantly, a scream resounding before a streak of fire lashed out against an appearing barrier.
“Adam Strand will be judged for his crimes. After the talks have ended,” the Meadow spoke.
“Says who?” Verena hissed, walking from side to side as she stared at the man behind the barrier.
“The law,” Aki spoke.
Verena slammed her axes into the barrier again when Neiphato broke off from the dozen or so Elves, walking over with calm steps. He simply stepped in front of her, smiling at the woman. She slammed one of her axes into him, finding growing would that slowly snuffed out the flame. The elf moved around her before he downright grappled her in a hug. “Let’s get you something to kill. Meadow, can we get to the sixteenth layer?”
The two vanished a moment later.
A few hisses resounded from the elves. Amusement. They mostly looked at the Mind Weavers and Nes.
Ilea saw the first representatives of the Accords appear at the gates.
“I apologize,” Octavia sent, the woman sitting on a rock and looking at Ilea. “Our arrogance nearly cost us everything. Please forgive me.”
Ilea just smiled.
“Your allies are diverse. Perhaps we may yet prevent a catastrophe,” Octavia sent.
“I hope we can get a few more on board. We can visit the Mava for one,” Ilea said when she turned her head to see a familiar war machine move out from the Soul Forge.
It walked over, looking around. “Well, well, well,” he spoke with a slightly robotic voice. “Ascended and Cursed. It seems fear will always hold you creatures back.”
Isalthar turned and moved over. He tilted his head slightly. “Who are you, to speak with such arrogance.”
The machine hissed, though the sound was strange, distorted. “I am Nelras Ithom, former Monarch of the Sunlight Wastes.” He glanced at Nes.
Her eyes glowed for a moment before she glanced at Ilea. “How is this possible?”
“Soul shit, a sphere or something,” Ilea said. She was aware that her words explained nearly nothing, though she was thoroughly amused by the reactions, despite the reason they were here. Like a bunch of acquaintances meeting finally.
“If only I had my real body,” Nelras spoke. “Such meaningless talks would not be necessary at all.”
“You did, and you ended up in a sphere,” Ilea said.
“I would not make the same mistake twice,” he spoke. “Ker Velor does not fight with honor.”
“Yes. That’s kind of the point. Otherwise I would’ve wiped the floor with him already,” Ilea said.
The machine chuckled, the distinctively elven body language looking strange on the war machine. A predatory crouch followed by a hiss. “At least you’re not entirely lost. Are you sure you’re not elvish?”
“I’ve considered the same,” Feyrair said as he walked towards the war machine. “Nelras Ithom. How was it, being a monarch?”
Another hiss, followed by more hissing.
Ilea rolled her eyes.
“I would be honored to introduce you to the Mava,” Octavia spoke. “Perhaps with some of your allies here, they could be convinced to lend their support.”
“It’s their realm too. I don’t see why they would stand aside,” Ilea sent back. She glanced to Fey who was engaged in a hissing bout with the former Monarch. “I’ll have to talk to you later.”
He glanced over to her. “Why?”
“Because you’re the closest thing to a Dragon here. Garonoth, was it?” Ilea said.
The elf disengaged and stepped closer to her. “After all this time? You would wish to meet him? Ilea, with all due respect, you are not ready. I don’t know if either human or elf will ever be.”
“When are we really ready for anything?” she asked him and hissed, garnering the attention of a few of the Hunters.
“There it is,” Nelras spoke and hissed again. “If I am still Elf, so is she.”
“She is a Guardian of Cerith,” Isalthar spoke. “And she is human.”
“Why should she be limited to such a weak species,” Nelras asked but Ilea ignored their discussion.
Instead she smiled, seeing her shadow team join the gathering.
“Welcome to the party,” she sent.
Kyrian focused on Nes, his metal armor covering him as he approached without a word.
Trian and Claire looked at Adam, joined by Sulivhaan, and Dagon.
He couldn’t look at them, his eyes boring into the ground, only lightly shaking his head, still behind the barrier summoned by the Meadow.
Sulivhaan looked between Adam and the Elves, glancing to Ilea. His body was tense but he didn’t speak.
Trian teleported to Ilea. “How are you?” he asked after stepping next to her, arms crossed in front of his chest.
“Surprisingly well. Can’t help but be excited to absolutely wreck an Ascended’s day,” she said, pausing for a moment as she watched the various conversations, groups interacting that would’ve not met without the existence of the Accords. Without her. “And I’m glad everyone’s here. It feels… it feels like this was the point.”
“The Accords. To grow and cooperate, to respond to threats unknown. I agree, and I’m proud to be part of it all,” Trian said as he touched her shoulder. “As will the Sentinels.”
Ilea smiled. For anything that was out there. Ascended, demon, elf, eldritch abomination, this is what would stand in their way, should they choose to invade Elos, or the territories of the Accords.
She cracked her neck. And I will be the front line.
Comments
Flusspferd
On discord he said that there will be an update today but late (CET)
Kemizle
No chapter today?
Mokuyobi
XWP?
Wargen
Ah god it really feels like final arc
Grond (James)
It's not about her noticing, it's about the Haven even showing up as an object of Interest. She didn't even go down there after the fight
fbt
eh, the most cliche plotline ever. Sure didn't work out for XWP, did it? meh^(n+1), imho.
fbt
not necessarily; she noted it, thought "damn, this is fucky, I wonder how this is possible...lalalala on with life". If the MC was, say Poirot or something, sure. But our loveable oblviot? yeah, she's gonna miss some things.
Grond (James)
I want to see a lot more Easter eggs and explanations about the Haven when you do your rewrite. After the demon summoning, it was barely mentioned at all in the entire story. And if it's actually that significant, we should have had hints that it was more than what it seemed
good catch
Yeah I also think that many secrets have been lost considering that strong humans just leave and don't come back. The library and Dagon are really important for the Hand.
it will be funny if she becomes a spatial plug or something
In fact, it is not known why he did not choose another realm, and what is even more important is that it is actually unknown that his goal is the sun and not something else. Messing with Elos seems pretty stupid. After all, I'm sure Ilea and friends will beat the real reason out of him and we'll find out his unfinished goal.
oh my
Rhain
Anyone else getting the feeling that they will win but Ilea is gonna have to sacrifice herself to save the day?
David C
would has to be wood here, basicly her elven lover or meadow sprouted wood to stop the strike.
It's a typo for wood
Bob
"She slammed one of her axes into him, finding growing would that slowly snuffed out the flame." Sentence doesnt make sense consider revision
Steven C
I guess their conversation here could be compatible, but Fey did talk to Nelras already, when the latter was first woken up (765-66).
Alan McBrayer
The same reason that Octavia was able to bring Adam Strand to the Great Salt. As I read it, the Architect is either in love with or worships Ravana. As such he is willing to do quite a bit to please her
Alex I
Likely because Elos has at least 3 sources, 2 known, 1 known to the Accords and 1 possible but confirmed by no one.
Nate
So we (or at least I) always got the impression that the shadow's hand was small time back in the before times, but it seems like their founder was a serious heavy hitter. Wonder what happen between him and them modern incarnation of the shadows - seems some pretty important secrets were "lost"...
Nate
Brute force revival by hooking her up to the magical equivalent of a nuclear reactor, I suppose? It does seem weird to do it that way though - especially when you could just steal a new one.
Anon_Anon
I'm a bit confused, what does Ravana have to do with why Architect is targeting an remaining sun? Does getting the source bring her back or something? And why Elos instead of another realm?
Zack Darpinian
MY BODY IS READY
Alan McBrayer
That is one possible reason. We also recently learned that the ascended also attempted to sabotage the dungeons of the Mava, but they were discovered and their facilities were discovered. It could be that the North was affected the most because they had the largest percentage of ascended facilities that went undiscovered.
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Vexdt
I guess the same with the dwarves and Taleen, there are so many groups already that a second chapter is needed ;)
riichidesu
What happened to the four mark Lich?
MountainFox
Kohr's source could explain why the modern human domain remained unaffected from the shenanigans from the previous war when the north got destroyed. Mindblown.
Melting Sky
Her ovaries have turned to ash and her uterus is a hole made out of space magic. She is currently dating a woman and it's the only properly serious relationship that she's had. I'm not a betting man but even I can tell that llea having kids is far from a sure thing.
His Dad
No, there was always his own purpose, never stated until now.
Shukketsu
Hijack for further perspective: Harry Potter in its entirety is around 1 million words long AH on Royal Road is currently around 2,5 million words long Meaning AH is already 2,5 times as long as the whole Harry Potter Saga and well on its way to become thrice as long
Deinos
I'm a bit confused about Adam's motivation. Was there a retroactive change? As far as I remember he summoned the demons so that the Shadow's Hand would be strengthened in the long run mainly, don't remember any second reasons.
Michael Weis
And my 🪓!
Lowe K. Lyesmith
Love it! A bit like that Portal scene from Endgame ❤️
King Eater
I know people are upset the story is ending, but to provide some perspective, RoyalRoad has the equivalent of 23 full fantasy novels posted to it, for free. Harthane has written more AH than most authors will write books, total. That's not to say I'm not sad my favorite story is ending, just that we've already got more than most from this world.
Torbjørn Nilsen
I see it as the former fight was with the people of this continent (as far as we know) vs the Ascended. As of the formations all over the world, it would just take Ilea fucking up one of them to ruin the ritual. So Ilea will do this, the Architect will have to fight her to fix it, that's where the fight will be.
Murigi
Okay, I'm a bit confused. I'm pretty sure that other continents have been mentioned before. So there are other continets on the same world as Illea is on that probably have sentients with similar levels of power. So it would make sense that the Ascended had to have formations all over the world and the various continents fought them. My question is, are we rushing things here by pretending that the continent Illea is on is the entire world or will she try form a cooperation between continets? Although I don't think there is time for the latter.
I love this fucking book, can't wait for the appearance of mava
Poor feyrawr even his idol hangs out with Ilea...
I don't feel it
Blackmoon11
Wow, getting Avengers end game vibes
Well if you're brave enough...
Cormac
Imagine if Ilea meets Garanoth and the two of them become best friends.
Kale Daley
I can't wait to see where this arc goes. I do have to second the many calls for epilogue chapters about where everyone ends up after the story concludes.
Aapjuh
Everyone arriving before our local hallowfort grp? is catelyn busy eating cake?
SunderGoldmane
Every new chapter is bitter sweet. I get so pumped for how this arc is going to end then I remember that it’s going to be the last one and then I get even more pumped.
Julien Fellegara
Harthane, when i understand that you want to end this story.. would it be possible to post a chapter every month or so, with something you want to tell about ilea? I don't know, like a collection of stories. Just to keep the world alive? A new spell, a new evolution, a new project like a school, a child? Some centuries skiped and sometime some month?
Falxie
I still have hope for Ilea to at least get a visiting chapter back to earth. (Maybe as an encore chapter after the epilogue?)
Andrew
Thank you!
Max Scherer
Honestly that really seems epic, but as final arc it now feels really rushed to be honest.
“We will start to devise plans,” the Meadow sent. “Both to prevent the Architect’s plans but to react as well in case we fail to do so.” Please let the ending be: They fail at stopping the architect for some reason and have to flee Elos. They then arrive at earth into the Infrasound Berserker storyline/universe, with the timeline beeing as Ilea came to Elos earth changed. That would be really awesome and would give a lot of future potential for Infrasound Berserker, since everyone loves Ilea and wants to see more of her. Assuming the Story ends with them arriving and just seeing the changed world.
Michael C
I was worried.. but this is pretty cool.
Jasonzerowars Playes
I love this chapter the build up is amazing
Alexander Dupree
Avengers assemble.
BeepBoop
So, if there is a Source there, it will need a more defendable holding place? Hmm, what kind of/level resistances and skills do you need to 'put it where the sun doesn't shine'? Asking for a friend.
Yeah... Strong final arc vibes here. Sad to see it end but it will definitely go with a bang.
Nodlehs
My assumption is that most divination mages are a bit stuck up
K Hilliard
I hate this story is ending. I feel there's plenty potential to keep it going for a long time yet. Yet I get that you feel the need to end things, to take what you've learned and move on to your next project. That's fine too. While it would be a let down, I could see this very chapter being the final one, even if there's still a whole list of plot threads out there I'd like to see resolved. That's life. Unless you plan to kill Ilea off, her "story" won't ever "end." She's always going to have another fight with some powerful being in her near future.
rizen
This absolutely feels like the avengers team up. Allies and enemies, new and old, coming together to fight the one that returns to take everything this time.
Han Pol
This Looks Like a propper Showdown. I Look Forward to metting a fire dragon
IJustWannaRead
Octavia acted awfully confident she could attack ilea and be fine when she can’t even (I don’t think) see her level. She seems awfully stuck up in my opinion, don’t really like her.
Michael McLeod
Its like some kind of Avengers Endgame magical equivalent this is gona be epic!!!!!!
PloofDoodle
This is good.
Thanks for the chapter, looking forward to seeing how this plays out
Azgaroth
Thank for the chapter. Only now, i seen the announcement for the end of the story..... i am ok with it, BUT in exchange can we have a side/after story of Ilea and her child?????
agentjongon
Wonderful showcase of what being “The Primordial Arbiter” looks like
WarStrider72
Nice
BlackRazaras
Thanks for the chapter
