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 empowered 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 fluid pulse from the Tideflow Delta, southeast of the Emberfall Ridge, indicating a water ballad 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, Astrael Dayscribe, Gavric Earthscribe, Tavrin Airscribe, and Erynn Firescribe—gathered around, their faces reflecting the morning's brightness yet flowed by the watery signal. The air vibrated with mana, charged with water energy yet sung by a gentle force.
Lysa traced the orb's map with a fluid hand, her journal open, its pages shimmering with water runes. "The Emberfall Ridge's symphony is controlled," she said, her voice smooth despite the late morning's warmth. "But the journal detects a new current from the Tideflow Delta—a water ballad, a song of flow and gentleness awakened by the Veins, guarded by a figure called Calen Tideweaver."
Mark's eyes narrowed, the Forbidden Tier magic stirring beneath his skin, aligning with the city's pulse as the morning advanced. "The Tideflow Delta," he said, sensing a shift from fiery to watery. "What's the ballad's purpose?"
Lysa pointed to the map, where the fluid pulse marked a sprawling, river-laced expanse. "The journal calls it a ley-line current, a stream where the Veins channel water and gentleness. Calen Tideweaver, a water guardian, seeks to sing this ballad—either to enhance the Veins' harmony 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 Tideflow Delta is serene—flowing rivers, mana-woven water, and an air that soothes the spirit. This ballad could harmonize us or overwhelm us. Our alliances are fragile; this could unite or flood them."
Silas twirled his cane, his grin carried by the challenge. "A current in the delta? That's a watery fight. My Runebreakers can scout, but the Delta is a tide. 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 balancing energy. "The Archives describe currents as ley-line streams, blending water and gentleness. Calen could use this to either harmonize or drown the Veins. We must judge their intent."
Mark's mind blended the strategic wisdom of his past life as Maximilian Wilde with his current role as the Crownless Sovereign. The water ballad offered harmony but also flooding. "Lysa," he said, "any wisdom from the journal?"
Lysa flipped to a new page, revealing a sketch of a fluid figure wreathed in watery light, surrounded by runes of gentleness. "It reads: 'The Tideweaver seeks to sing the Veins' current. The Crownless must face them with balance, for their strength lies in their ballad.'"
Elira's wards flickered, her tone thoughtful. "Balance? The Delta's water could overwhelm us, Mark. It's a watery challenge."
Mark's smile was even. "Then we balance their ballad. The Veins are our harmony. Vrix, can your glyphs balance the ley-lines at the current, countering their water runes? Silas, your Runebreakers can secure the Delta'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, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, Gavric, Kaelor, Erynn, Liora, Seryn, Astrael, Gavric, Tavrin, Erynn, you're with me. We'll sing the strength."
A new voice, soft and rippling, broke the stillness. A fluid figure with skin like flowing waves and eyes like deep pools stepped forward, their robe woven with watery threads. "I am Liora Waterscribe," they murmured. "I've sensed the Tideflow Delta's current. Calen is my kin, torn between harmonizing or drowning the ballad—peacefully or by force. I'll guide you, if you seek harmony."
Vrix nodded, her glyph steadying. "I can balance the ley-lines, but the Delta's mana is deep. 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 Tideflow Delta flowed under a noon sky, its river-laced expanse pulsing with awakened mana, the air thick with water and gentle resonance. Vrix's glyphs had carved a narrow, balanced path, guiding the ley-lines' flow. Silas's Runebreakers, aided by Liora's water craft, secured the Delta's edge, their illusions conjuring balance and dispelling flooding, drawing any guardians away from the current.
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, Gavric, Tavrin, Erynn, and Liora moved through the watery terrain, their mana-woven cloaks shielding them from the water energy. The ground thrummed with a rhythm of gentleness. "This place is a tide," Elira muttered, her staff's balance struggling against the flow. "The mana's deep."
Mark's hand hovered near his spiral glyph, the Forbidden Tier magic syncing with the Veins' pulse. "It's ballading," he said.
Lysa clutched her journal, its runes glowing as she whispered a counterspell, the light cutting through the water. The path revealed a water ballad, its center dominated by a spire pulsing with blue light—the ley-line current. "They're here," she said, pointing to a figure in the flow. "Calen."
A fluid figure emerged, wreathed in robes of watery light, their staff wreathed in water energy that warped the air. Their face, framed by rippling hair, held a gentle yet conflicted gaze—Calen Tideweaver. "You are the Crownless," they murmured, their voice a soft song. "But you are rigid. The Veins' current will be sung, and my ballad 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 watery mana that warped the ballad into a maze of currents and waves—gentle echoes, surging tides, a world that overwhelmed all. Elira's wards surged, anchoring their balance, but the shield strained under the ballad. Lysa whispered runes, Liora and Koryn weaving counter-water, but more guardians emerged, their staffs amplifying the ritual.
Mark fought with equilibrium. The Forbidden Tier magic wove the Veins' balanced energy, singing the ballad. The current 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 harmonize, 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 flooding."
Calen lunged, their staff unleashing a spear of blue light. Mark met it with a surge of ley-line mana, balancing the ballad. The current roared, its light flooding the Delta, 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, Gavric, Tavrin, Erynn, 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 ballad 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 harmonious again. Life endures."
Liora nodded, their deep-pool eyes warm. "Calen yields, but the ballad's power lingers. More currents may rise."
Mark turned to the ballad, its black-gold light reflecting in his eyes under the noon sun. "This was their current. We'll sustain the Veins' harmony."
Back at the academy, the council chamber glowed with the orb's map. Silas grinned. "Ballad balanced in thirty? We're watery now."
Vrix crossed her arms. "The Veins' awakening stirs more ballads. New challenges flow."
Elira nodded. "The world's ours to sing, Mark. What's our path?"
Lysa's journal shimmered with new runes. "New currents 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, Gavric, Tavrin, Erynn, and Liora beside him, gazed outward. "We harmonize a world of balance. But we stay vigilant. The watery are coming."