The buried city beneath Blackstone Academy pulsed with a steady, unshackled rhythm, its black-gold runes glowing faintly under the dawn sky, casting a warm light as the late morning sun rose higher. The Veins' freedom had reinforced the academy as a radiant stronghold, its ley-lines weaving a resilient web across the continent, awakening ancient realms and ushering in an era of fragile tempestuous stability after recent unleashings. Mark Wilde stood in the council chamber within the academy's central tower, its walls etched with runes of unity and resilience that thrummed softly in the daylight. The crystalline table held Lysa's glowing orb, its map now shimmering with a silvery pulse from the Tidepool Depths, northwest of the Stormwatch Cliffs, indicating a lunar tide tied to the Veins' awakening. His allies—Elira, Vrix, Silas, Lysa, Kaelith Veyr, Torin Drayce, Lirien Frostweave, Gavric Thorn, Thryme Dren, Koryn Stormchaser, Sylra Vineborn, Draven Ashwalker, Celene Prismguard, Astrael Nightwatcher, Kael Driftsand, Liora Mistguide, Tharok Earthflame, Nyx Duskwraith, Lyra Celestarch, Erynn Rootwhisper, Zariel Crystalshade, Calen Tidewhisper, Tavrin Chronoshield, Kaelor Sunforge, Lirien Echochord, Seryn Nightveil, Tharok Emberforge, Veyra Frostspire, Kaelith Stormveil, Zariel Prismheart, Erynn Spiritveil, Lyra Sunpetal, Calen Moonflow, Astrael Nightveil, Tharok Emberflow, Liora Frostveil, Tavrin Stormrift, Erynn Crystalvoice, Erynn Rootbloom, Tavrin Seacall, Seryn Duskveil, Astrael Stargazer, Veyra Iceveil, Zariel Mistwalker, Kaelith Prismguide, Sylra Bloomguide, and Tavrin Windguide—gathered around, their faces reflecting the morning's calm yet rippled by the lunar signal. The air vibrated with mana, charged with tidal energy yet shadowed by a lunar force.
Lysa traced the orb's map with a gentle hand, her journal open, its pages shimmering with moon runes. "The Stormwatch Cliffs' roar is unleashed," she said, her voice tranquil despite the late morning's brightness. "But the journal detects a new tide from the Tidepool Depths—a lunar tide, a flow of water and intuition awakened by the Veins, guarded by a figure called Calen Mooncaller."
Mark's eyes narrowed, the Forbidden Tier magic stirring beneath his skin, aligning with the city's pulse as the morning advanced. "The Tidepool Depths," he said, sensing a shift from tempestuous to lunar. "What's the tide's purpose?"
Lysa pointed to the map, where the silvery pulse marked a network of shimmering pools. "The journal calls it a ley-line ebb, a current where the Veins channel water and insight. Calen Mooncaller, a lunar guardian, seeks to guide this tide—either to enhance the Veins' intuition or to drown their essence, depending on their intent."
Elira leaned on her staff, her wards glowing softly, cutting through the chamber's late morning light. "The Tidepool Depths are serene—glistening waters, mana-woven tides, and an air that sharpens the mind. This tide could enlighten us or submerge us. Our alliances are fragile; this could unite or overwhelm them."
Silas twirled his cane, his grin rippled by the prospect. "An ebb in the depths? That's a lunar fight. My Runebreakers can scout, but the Depths are a flood. We're holding the academy, but we're intrigued. What's the plan, Wilde?"
Vrix's stone-like skin glinted as she traced a glyph pulsing with flowing energy. "The Archives describe ebbs as ley-line currents, blending water and insight. Calen could use this to either guide or flood the Veins. We must gauge their intent."
Mark's mind blended the strategic foresight of his past life as Maximilian Wilde with his current role as the Crownless Sovereign. The lunar tide offered intuition but also submersion. "Lysa," he said, "any insight from the journal?"
Lysa flipped to a new page, revealing a sketch of a calm figure wreathed in silver light, surrounded by runes of intuition. "It reads: 'The Mooncaller seeks to call the Veins' ebb. The Crownless must face them with clarity, for their strength lies in their tide.'"
Elira's wards flickered, her tone thoughtful. "Clarity? The Depths' waters could drown us, Mark. It's a lunar challenge."
Mark's smile was focused. "Then we clarify their tide. The Veins are our intuition. Vrix, can your glyphs flow with the ley-lines at the ebb, countering their moon runes? Silas, your Runebreakers can secure the Depths' edge. Elira, Lysa, Kaelith, Torin, Lirien, Gavric, Thryme, Koryn, Sylra, Draven, Celene, Astrael, Kael, Liora, Tharok, Nyx, Lyra, Erynn, Zariel, Calen, Tavrin, Kaelor, Lirien, Seryn, Tharok, Veyra, Kaelith, Zariel, Erynn, Lyra, Calen, Astrael, Tharok, Liora, Tavrin, Erynn, Erynn, Tavrin, Seryn, Astrael, Veyra, Zariel, Kaelith, Sylra, Tavrin, you're with me. We'll guide the insight."
A new voice, soft and rhythmic, broke the stillness. A calm figure with skin like moonlit water and eyes like silver moons stepped forward, their robe woven with tidal threads. "I am Liora Tideguide," they murmured. "I've sensed the Tidepool Depths' flow. Calen is my kin, torn between enlightening or drowning the tide—peacefully or by force. I'll guide you, if you seek harmony."
Vrix nodded, her glyph rippling. "I can flow with the ley-lines, but the Depths' mana is deep. Thirty minutes, at best."
Silas twirled his cane, his grin flowing. "Thirty minutes to guide a tide cult with a new guide? I'm in. My team'll hold the edge."
"Set," Mark said, his eyes glowing as the Forbidden Tier magic surged. "We move at noon. Let's call the strength."
The Tidepool Depths shimmered under a noon sky, its network of pools pulsing with awakened mana, the air thick with water and lunar resonance. Vrix's glyphs had carved a narrow, flowing path, guiding the ley-lines' current. Silas's Runebreakers, aided by Liora's tide craft, secured the Depths' edge, their illusions conjuring clarity and dispelling submersion, drawing any guardians away from the ebb.
Mark, Elira, Lysa, Kaelith, Torin, Lirien, Gavric, Thryme, Koryn, Sylra, Draven, Celene, Astrael, Kael, Liora, Tharok, Nyx, Lyra, Erynn, Zariel, Calen, Tavrin, Kaelor, Lirien, Seryn, Tharok, Veyra, Kaelith, Zariel, Erynn, Lyra, Calen, Astrael, Tharok, Liora, Tavrin, Erynn, Erynn, Tavrin, Seryn, Astrael, Veyra, Zariel, Kaelith, Sylra, Tavrin, and Liora moved through the watery terrain, their mana-woven cloaks shielding them from the tidal energy. The ground thrummed with a rhythm of insight. "This place is a flood," Elira muttered, her staff's clarity struggling against the waves. "The mana's deep."
Mark's hand hovered near his spiral glyph, the Forbidden Tier magic syncing with the Veins' pulse. "It's tidaling," he said.
Lysa clutched her journal, its runes glowing as she whispered a counterspell, the light cutting through the water. The path revealed a lunar tide, its center dominated by a spire pulsing with silver light—the ley-line ebb. "They're here," she said, pointing to a figure in the pools. "Calen."
A calm figure emerged, wreathed in robes of silver light, their staff wreathed in tidal energy that warped the air. Their face, framed by flowing hair, held an insightful yet conflicted gaze—Calen Mooncaller. "You are the Crownless," they murmured, their voice a gentle wave. "But you are clouded. The Veins' ebb will be called, and my tide will reign."
Mark stepped forward, the Forbidden Tier magic blazing. "Your water is a drown," he said. "The Veins are free, and clarity endures."
Calen's staff flared, unleashing a wave of lunar mana that warped the tide into a maze of currents and moons—intuitive echoes, surging waves, a world that submerged all. Elira's wards surged, anchoring their clarity, but the shield strained under the tide. Lysa whispered runes, Liora and Koryn weaving counter-tide, but more guardians emerged, their staffs amplifying the ritual.
Mark fought with focus. The Forbidden Tier magic wove the Veins' clear energy, guiding the tide. The ebb pulsed, responding to his presence, and the ley-lines surged, countering Calen's runes. Visions flashed—the First Sovereign's free world, the Veins' power meant to enlighten, not drown. Calen wasn't a caller; they were a force, calling to enforce control.
"I see you," Mark said, his voice cutting through the water. "You're not reigning—you're submerging."
Calen lunged, their staff unleashing a spear of silver light. Mark met it with a surge of ley-line mana, flowing with the tide. The ebb roared, its light flooding the Depths, dissipating the guardians' runes. Elira's wards held, and Lysa, Kaelith, Torin, Lirien, Gavric, Thryme, Koryn, Sylra, Draven, Celene, Astrael, Kael, Liora, Tharok, Nyx, Lyra, Erynn, Zariel, Calen, Tavrin, Kaelor, Lirien, Seryn, Tharok, Veyra, Kaelith, Zariel, Erynn, Lyra, Calen, Astrael, Tharok, Liora, Tavrin, Erynn, Erynn, Tavrin, Seryn, Astrael, Veyra, Zariel, Kaelith, Sylra, Tavrin, and Liora sealed the spire, halting the ritual.
Calen staggered, their staff fading as the Veins' clarity embraced them. They knelt, their gaze softening. "The Veins are yours to call," they whispered, their guardians retreating into the noon light. The tide stabilized, the ley-lines' pulse returning to its natural flow.
Elira exhaled, her staff dimming. "You've guided us, Wilde."
Lysa clutched her journal, her eyes bright. "The Veins… they're insightful again. Life endures."
Liora nodded, their silver-moon eyes warm. "Calen yields, but the tide's power lingers. More ebbs may rise."
Mark turned to the tide, its black-gold light reflecting in his eyes under the noon sun. "This was their ebb. We'll sustain the Veins' intuition."
Back at the academy, the council chamber glowed with the orb's map. Silas grinned. "Tide guided in thirty? We're lunar now."
Vrix crossed her arms. "The Veins' awakening stirs more tides. New challenges flow."
Elira nodded. "The world's ours to call, Mark. What's our path?"
Lysa's journal shimmered with new runes. "New ebbs and callers emerge."
Mark, with Kaelith, Torin, Lirien, Gavric, Thryme, Koryn, Sylra, Draven, Celene, Astrael, Kael, Liora, Tharok, Nyx, Lyra, Erynn, Zariel, Calen, Tavrin, Kaelor, Lirien, Seryn, Tharok, Veyra, Kaelith, Zariel, Erynn, Lyra, Calen, Astrael, Tharok, Liora, Tavrin, Erynn, Erynn, Tavrin, Seryn, Astrael, Veyra, Zariel, Kaelith, Sylra, Tavrin, and Liora beside him, gazed outward. "We enlighten a world of clarity. But we stay vigilant. The lunar are coming."