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 invigorated 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 fiery control after recent controls. 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 rhythmic pulse from the Tideweave Shore, southwest of the Emberfall Ridge, indicating a tide hymn 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, Tavrin Windguide, Liora Tideguide, Lyra Sunscribe, Seryn Duskwalker, Zariel Starscribe, Gavric Earthscribe, Erynn Frostscribe, Tavrin Stormscribe, and Draven Flamescribe—gathered around, their faces reflecting the morning's calm yet swayed by the tidal signal. The air vibrated with mana, charged with watery energy yet shadowed by a flowing force.
Lysa traced the orb's map with a gentle hand, her journal open, its pages shimmering with water runes. "The Emberfall Ridge's chant is controlled," she said, her voice soothing despite the late morning's warmth. "But the journal detects a new flow from the Tideweave Shore—a tide hymn, a melody of water and renewal awakened by the Veins, guarded by a figure called Calen Wavecaller."
Mark's eyes narrowed, the Forbidden Tier magic stirring beneath his skin, aligning with the city's pulse as the morning advanced. "The Tideweave Shore," he said, sensing a shift from fiery to tidal. "What's the hymn's purpose?"
Lysa pointed to the map, where the rhythmic pulse marked a coastal expanse of waves. "The journal calls it a ley-line tide, a current where the Veins channel water and renewal. Calen Wavecaller, a tidal guardian, seeks to sing this hymn—either to enhance the Veins' vitality 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 Tideweave Shore is fluid—crashing waves, mana-woven currents, and an air that refreshes the spirit. This hymn could renew us or overwhelm us. Our alliances are fragile; this could unite or submerge them."
Silas twirled his cane, his grin rippled by the challenge. "A tide in the shore? That's a watery fight. My Runebreakers can scout, but the Shore is a deluge. 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 steadying energy. "The Archives describe tides as ley-line currents, blending water and renewal. Calen could use this to either revitalize or flood the Veins. We must determine their intent."
Mark's mind fused the strategic depth of his past life as Maximilian Wilde with his current role as the Crownless Sovereign. The tide hymn offered vitality but also submersion. "Lysa," he said, "any wisdom from the journal?"
Lysa flipped to a new page, revealing a sketch of a tranquil figure wreathed in watery light, surrounded by runes of renewal. "It reads: 'The Wavecaller seeks to sing the Veins' tide. The Crownless must face them with balance, for their strength lies in their hymn.'"
Elira's wards flickered, her tone thoughtful. "Balance? The Shore's waves could submerge us, Mark. It's a tidal challenge."
Mark's smile was even. "Then we balance their hymn. The Veins are our vitality. Vrix, can your glyphs steady the ley-lines at the tide, countering their water runes? Silas, your Runebreakers can secure the Shore's 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, Liora, Lyra, Seryn, Zariel, Gavric, Erynn, Tavrin, Draven, you're with me. We'll sing the strength."
A new voice, soft and flowing, broke the stillness. A tranquil figure with skin like rippling water and eyes like deep pools stepped forward, their robe woven with tidal threads. "I am Liora Tidescribe," they murmured. "I've sensed the Tideweave Shore's rhythm. Calen is my kin, torn between renewing or drowning the hymn—peacefully or by force. I'll guide you, if you seek harmony."
Vrix nodded, her glyph stabilizing. "I can steady the ley-lines, but the Shore's mana is fluid. Thirty minutes, at best."
Silas twirled his cane, his grin steady. "Thirty minutes to sing a water cult with a new scribe? 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 sing the strength."
The Tideweave Shore surged under a noon sky, its coastal expanse pulsing with awakened mana, the air thick with water and tidal resonance. Vrix's glyphs had carved a narrow, balanced path, guiding the ley-lines' flow. Silas's Runebreakers, aided by Liora's tide craft, secured the Shore's edge, their illusions conjuring balance and dispelling submersion, drawing any guardians away from the tide.
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, Liora, Lyra, Seryn, Zariel, Gavric, Erynn, Tavrin, Draven, and Liora moved through the watery terrain, their mana-woven cloaks shielding them from the flowing energy. The ground thrummed with a rhythm of vitality. "This place is a deluge," Elira muttered, her staff's balance struggling against the waves. "The mana's fluid."
Mark's hand hovered near his spiral glyph, the Forbidden Tier magic syncing with the Veins' pulse. "It's hymning," he said.
Lysa clutched her journal, its runes glowing as she whispered a counterspell, the light cutting through the water. The path revealed a tide hymn, its center dominated by a spire pulsing with blue-green light—the ley-line tide. "They're here," she said, pointing to a figure in the waves. "Calen."
A tranquil figure emerged, wreathed in robes of watery light, their staff wreathed in tidal energy that warped the air. Their face, framed by flowing hair, held a renewing yet conflicted gaze—Calen Wavecaller. "You are the Crownless," they murmured, their voice a gentle surge. "But you are dry. The Veins' tide will be sung, and my hymn will reign."
Mark stepped forward, the Forbidden Tier magic blazing. "Your water is a drown," he said. "The Veins are free, and balance endures."
Calen's staff flared, unleashing a wave of tidal mana that warped the hymn into a maze of currents and foam—vital echoes, surging waves, a world that submerged all. Elira's wards surged, anchoring their balance, but the shield strained under the hymn. Lysa whispered runes, Liora and Koryn weaving counter-tide, but more guardians emerged, their staffs amplifying the ritual.
Mark fought with equilibrium. The Forbidden Tier magic wove the Veins' balanced energy, singing the hymn. The tide 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 renew, not drown. Calen wasn't a singer; they were a force, singing 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 blue-green light. Mark met it with a surge of ley-line mana, steadying the hymn. The tide roared, its light flooding the Shore, 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, Liora, Lyra, Seryn, Zariel, Gavric, Erynn, Tavrin, Draven, and Liora sealed the spire, halting the ritual.
Calen staggered, their staff fading as the Veins' balance embraced them. They knelt, their gaze softening. "The Veins are yours to sing," they whispered, their guardians retreating into the noon light. The hymn stabilized, the ley-lines' pulse returning to its natural flow.
Elira exhaled, her staff dimming. "You've balanced us, Wilde."
Lysa clutched her journal, her eyes bright. "The Veins… they're vital again. Life endures."
Liora nodded, their deep-pool eyes warm. "Calen yields, but the hymn's power lingers. More tides may rise."
Mark turned to the hymn, its black-gold light reflecting in his eyes under the noon sun. "This was their tide. We'll sustain the Veins' vitality."
Back at the academy, the council chamber glowed with the orb's map. Silas grinned. "Hymn balanced in thirty? We're tidal now."
Vrix crossed her arms. "The Veins' awakening stirs more hymns. New challenges flow."
Elira nodded. "The world's ours to sing, Mark. What's our path?"
Lysa's journal shimmered with new runes. "New tides 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, Liora, Lyra, Seryn, Zariel, Gavric, Erynn, Tavrin, Draven, and Liora beside him, gazed outward. "We renew a world of balance. But we stay vigilant. The tidal are coming."