The Gathering
Everyone had gathered in the vast meeting hall at the heart of the mansion.
The chamber stretched high and wide, swallowing sound and space alike. Technically, it had a ceiling, but that ceiling belonged to the fourth floor, far above, while the hall itself sprawled from the ground level. Sunlight streamed down in radiant bands through the glass high overhead, breaking into pools of brilliant color across the slate-black floor, like circles of color lain to guide the eager into adventure.
The first floor above them was one of the mansion's main libraries, its shelves lined wall-to-wall with books and scrolls. Higher still, balconies and arching bridges connected the different wings of the structure back to this central hub. The design gave the impression of standing at the very center of knowledge, power, and memory.
The hall's transparent ceiling admitted light—but only light. No person, no sound, no spell could pass through it. In or out, nothing crossed that barrier. The only ways in or out of the room were through the two immense main doors or the three subtle, hidden exits known only to the family.
At the very center of the hall shimmered a sapphire-blue pool. Much of the sunlight striking the chamber was drawn into its surface, scattering in luminous threads that carried illumination to every corner. Anis stood beside the pool, her expression carrying a faint smile that lingered both on her lips and in her eyes.
Rachel's gaze sharpened. Her words came out in a hiss. "What are you smiling about?"
Anis and Rebecca exchanged a laugh. Rebecca grinned wickedly. "You know exactly what she's smiling about. Honestly, Rachel—you look like a sulky toddler."
Rachel scowled, but Anis only shook her head lightly, trying to suppress her laughter. "Sister, it will be fine. Haven't you been the one teaching us all along? Without you, none of us would have become as strong as we are now."
Her smile dimmed, replaced by a darker weight. "Even Shain has grown powerful. Which means we must grow stronger still—and more active."
Rebecca's teasing expression faded. Emil nodded gravely from his seat. "She is right, Rachel. We are Azmins. Protecting this realm should not fall to you alone."
Rachel's gaze slid toward him, but she offered no reply.
Cramnal exhaled, standing slowly. He cast his eyes around the chamber, his smile touched with sorrow. "Then let's ask the question none of us want to voice: what are we going to do about Shain?"
The hall fell into silence.
Azmin blood was sacred. To spill it within the realm was taboo, a sin against the balance itself. For it to be spilled by another Azmin… unforgivable.
Rachel's voice finally broke the quiet. "For now, we do nothing. First we must understand the cause of this chaos and find a way to neutralize it. If Shain truly stands at its core…" She trailed off, the words heavy. Then her eyes turned toward her scholarly brother. "Mis. This falls to you. Search our history. Find out if what he claims is even possible."
Mis, who had been slouched deep into a sofa, snapped upright, sliding to the edge of his seat. His amber eyes shone with resolve. "I can do that. We have more than enough records of the realm's past—and our family's history as well." He paused, frowning. "But… does it matter? We cannot let you step down, Rachel."
Even as he spoke two stacks of book appeared next to him as of he had made an order. A large, thick, dark, tome rose and opened before him. Pink knowledge magic spilled forth and surrounded the book, the pages began to flip at ripped speed.
The entire time Mis had been looking at Rachel. She shook her head and scoffed, then she became serious.
"For now, I need you to dig," Rachel said firmly. "We must know if our brother has been deceived… or if he is truly a traitor. Only then will we understand the shape of this chaos. Remember—Trannisa can sense when the balance has been disturbed, and how deeply. But this time seems different. Something vital is hidden from her."
The weight of her words settled over them. Silence stretched again until Mis finally shrugged. "Then I'll need to consult the Great Library on Kannan. Some of this may lie beyond our own records."
As he spoke the book slammed shut and a portion of the pink magic flowed into him, as another book rose, opened, and was surrounded by pink magic.
Anis moved to stand beside her twin, her expression resolute. "I'll go with you. We all know the Great Library still hides traps and seals within its deeper archives. You shouldn't enter alone."
Rachel's gaze shifted to Struns. "Go with them. Keep in contact with Cramnal. Use the training chambers there to refine your skills—you'll need them soon."
Struns inclined his head, the barest of smiles flickering across his lips.
Her eyes shifted back to the twins. "The truth is the great library won't harm the Alvian, even if he has not admitted his role yet." Mis sat down in a pout.
Rachel turned to Emil. "You'll research medical paths. Consider curses, possessions, parasitic influences."
Emil tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Yes. There are enchantments that manifest as parasites—lodging themselves in the brain, the heart, even soul wells. I'll begin there. Though… I may need the Great Library as well. The medical halls are strong, but Kannan has been accumulating knowledge for millennia."
Rachel's gaze swept the group. "Fine. The rest of us will investigate the chaos itself. For the realm to falter like this, the cause must run deep."
Bre leaned forward, his voice steady. "Then we start with the Trannisa Conglomerate. They wanted the ritual. Shain is a CEO among them. At the very least, they are entangled in this."
"Not necessarily." All eyes turned to Cer.
He rarely spoke. The smallest of the siblings, Cer had amber eyes, a short nose, and a broad mouth that didn't quite fit his narrow face. He always seemed to linger at the edges, watching quietly. Hearing his voice after such a silence made Rachel's lips twitch into the faintest smile.
"I mean, why now?" Cer asked. "Why would the Conglomerate suddenly decide on this? Shain joined them because we were worried about how weaker continents were being treated. And now he wants to kill his own sister to control the realm? No—it stinks of something else. Outside influence. Something beyond the Conglomerate, pulling their strings."
He leaned back, folding his arms. "Investigate them, yes. But do so with the understanding that they may only be pawns."
Bre smiled faintly, nodding. "You've grown sharp, little brother. I like your thinking." He turned to Rachel. "Cer and I will handle this. We have the political ties, control over the guard. And Cer has contacts even in Small Color."
Rachel frowned. "Small Color? You believe the penal continent is involved?"
Bre shrugged. "If something from outside slipped in, where else would it hide?"
He wasn't wrong.
Rachel exhaled slowly. "Perhaps. There are too many possibilities." She turned to Cramnal. "Your thoughts?"
Cramnal's answer was calm. "We take our time. Struns, Anis, Mis, and Emil will pursue the Library. The rest of us look for chaos in the traditional ways before casting judgment."
Rachel nodded. "Agreed. We follow both paths. In the meantime, we'll train our soul wells. Three days—enough to sharpen our senses for detecting chaos and imbalance. After that, we each set out on our tasks. Rebecca with me. Cramnal with Bre and Cer."
She rose, stretching languidly, and strolled toward the sapphire pool at the center.
"Where are you going?" Anis asked, arching a brow.
Rachel's lips curved into a secretive smile. "To speak with our brother. Didn't you notice? He entered the north wing some time ago. His rooms are also the best place for you to complete a fate map."
Before anyone could speak she step onto the blue water, her feet causing ripples to span outward from their touch. The water's color flared like hot white fire and when the brilliance died down Rachel was gone.
It was time to begin.