The buried city beneath Blackstone Academy pulsed with a steady, unshackled rhythm, its black-gold runes glowing faintly under the noon sky, casting a warm light as the late afternoon sun began to descend. The Veins' freedom had illuminated 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 radiant moderation after recent moderations. 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 deep pulse from the Stonecrag Depths, southeast of the Sunspire Peak, indicating an earth requiem 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, Draven Flamescribe, Liora Tidescribe, Seryn Shadowscribe, Astrael Lightscribe, Gavric Earthscribe, Kaelor Airscribe, Erynn Firescribe, Liora Waterscribe, Seryn Nightscribe, and Astrael Dayscribe—gathered around, their faces reflecting the afternoon's warmth yet grounded by the deep signal. The air vibrated with mana, charged with earth energy yet echoed by a solemn force.
Lysa traced the orb's map with a firm hand, her journal open, its pages shimmering with earth runes. "The Sunspire Peak's anthem is moderated," she said, her voice steady despite the late afternoon's glow. "But the journal detects a new tremor from the Stonecrag Depths—an earth requiem, a chant of stone and solemnity awakened by the Veins, guarded by a figure called Tharok Stoneweaver."
Mark's eyes narrowed, the Forbidden Tier magic stirring beneath his skin, aligning with the city's pulse as the afternoon deepened. "The Stonecrag Depths," he said, sensing a shift from radiant to earthen. "What's the requiem's purpose?"
Lysa pointed to the map, where the deep pulse marked a rugged, cavernous expanse. "The journal calls it a ley-line bedrock, a foundation where the Veins channel earth and solemnity. Tharok Stoneweaver, an earth guardian, seeks to chant this requiem—either to enhance the Veins' stability or to bury their essence, depending on their intent."
Elira leaned on her staff, her wards glowing softly, cutting through the chamber's late afternoon light. "The Stonecrag Depths are solid—deep caverns, mana-woven stone, and an air that anchors the spirit. This requiem could strengthen us or entomb us. Our alliances are fragile; this could unite or bury them."
Silas twirled his cane, his grin rooted by the challenge. "A bedrock in the depths? That's an earthen fight. My Runebreakers can scout, but the Depths are a fortress. We're holding the academy, but we're intrigued. What's the call, Wilde?"
Vrix's stone-like skin glinted as she traced a glyph pulsing with stabilizing energy. "The Archives describe bedrocks as ley-line foundations, blending earth and solemnity. Tharok could use this to either fortify or entomb the Veins. We must assess their intent."
Mark's mind fused the strategic insight of his past life as Maximilian Wilde with his current role as the Crownless Sovereign. The earth requiem offered stability but also burial. "Lysa," he said, "any guidance from the journal?"
Lysa flipped to a new page, revealing a sketch of a rugged figure wreathed in earthen light, surrounded by runes of solemnity. "It reads: 'The Stoneweaver seeks to chant the Veins' bedrock. The Crownless must face them with adaptability, for their strength lies in their requiem.'"
Elira's wards flickered, her tone cautious. "Adaptability? The Depths' stone could bury us, Mark. It's an earthen challenge."
Mark's smile was flexible. "Then we adapt their requiem. The Veins are our stability. Vrix, can your glyphs stabilize the ley-lines at the bedrock, countering their earth runes? Silas, your Runebreakers can secure the Depths' entrance. 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, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, Gavric, Kaelor, Erynn, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, you're with me. We'll chant the strength."
A new voice, deep and resonant, broke the stillness. A rugged figure with skin like weathered rock and eyes like dark caverns stepped forward, their robe woven with earthy threads. "I am Gavric Earthscribe," they rumbled. "I've sensed the Stonecrag Depths' tremor. Tharok is my kin, torn between fortifying or burying the requiem—peacefully or by force. I'll guide you, if you seek harmony."
Vrix nodded, her glyph grounding. "I can stabilize the ley-lines, but the Depths' mana is heavy. Thirty minutes, at best."
Silas twirled his cane, his grin steady. "Thirty minutes to chant an earth cult with a new scribe? I'm in. My team'll hold the entrance."
"Set," Mark said, his eyes glowing as the Forbidden Tier magic surged. "We move at dusk. Let's chant the strength."
The Stonecrag Depths rumbled under a dusky sky, its cavernous expanse pulsing with awakened mana, the air thick with earth and solemn resonance. Vrix's glyphs had carved a narrow, adaptable path, guiding the ley-lines' flow. Silas's Runebreakers, aided by Gavric's earth craft, secured the Depths' entrance, their illusions conjuring adaptability and dispelling burial, drawing any guardians away from the bedrock.
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, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, Gavric, Kaelor, Erynn, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, and Gavric moved through the earthen terrain, their mana-woven cloaks shielding them from the stone energy. The ground thrummed with a rhythm of solemnity. "This place is a fortress," Elira muttered, her staff's adaptability struggling against the weight. "The mana's heavy."
Mark's hand hovered near his spiral glyph, the Forbidden Tier magic syncing with the Veins' pulse. "It's requieming," he said.
Lysa clutched her journal, its runes glowing as she whispered a counterspell, the light cutting through the stone. The path revealed an earth requiem, its center dominated by a spire pulsing with brown light—the ley-line bedrock. "They're here," she said, pointing to a figure in the depths. "Tharok."
A rugged figure emerged, wreathed in robes of earthen light, their staff wreathed in stone energy that warped the air. Their face, framed by cracked hair, held a solemn yet conflicted gaze—Tharok Stoneweaver. "You are the Crownless," they rumbled, their voice a deep echo. "But you are unsteady. The Veins' bedrock will be chanted, and my requiem will reign."
Mark stepped forward, the Forbidden Tier magic blazing. "Your earth is a bury," he said. "The Veins are free, and adaptability endures."
Tharok's staff flared, unleashing a wave of earthen mana that warped the requiem into a maze of tremors and stone—solemn echoes, surging waves, a world that entombed all. Elira's wards surged, anchoring their adaptability, but the shield strained under the requiem. Lysa whispered runes, Gavric and Koryn weaving counter-earth, but more guardians emerged, their staffs amplifying the ritual.
Mark fought with flexibility. The Forbidden Tier magic wove the Veins' adaptable energy, chanting the requiem. The bedrock pulsed, responding to his presence, and the ley-lines surged, countering Tharok's runes. Visions flashed—the First Sovereign's free world, the Veins' power meant to fortify, not bury. Tharok wasn't a chanter; they were a force, chanting to enforce control.
"I see you," Mark said, his voice cutting through the stone. "You're not reigning—you're entombing."
Tharok lunged, their staff unleashing a spear of brown light. Mark met it with a surge of ley-line mana, adapting the requiem. The bedrock 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, Liora, Lyra, Seryn, Zariel, Gavric, Erynn, Tavrin, Draven, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, Gavric, Kaelor, Erynn, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, and Gavric sealed the spire, halting the ritual.
Tharok staggered, their staff fading as the Veins' adaptability embraced them. They knelt, their gaze softening. "The Veins are yours to chant," they whispered, their guardians retreating into the dusky light. The requiem stabilized, the ley-lines' pulse returning to its natural flow.
Elira exhaled, her staff dimming. "You've adapted us, Wilde."
Lysa clutched her journal, her eyes bright. "The Veins… they're stable again. Life endures."
Gavric nodded, their dark-cavern eyes warm. "Tharok yields, but the requiem's power lingers. More bedrocks may rise."
Mark turned to the requiem, its black-gold light reflecting in his eyes under the dusky sky. "This was their bedrock. We'll sustain the Veins' stability."
Back at the academy, the council chamber glowed with the orb's map. Silas grinned. "Requiem adapted in thirty? We're earthen now."
Vrix crossed her arms. "The Veins' awakening stirs more requiems. New challenges rumble."
Elira nodded. "The world's ours to chant, Mark. What's our path?"
Lysa's journal shimmered with new runes. "New bedrocks and weavers 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, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, Gavric, Kaelor, Erynn, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, and Gavric beside him, gazed outward. "We fortify a world of adaptability. But we stay vigilant. The earthen are coming."