Tale of Eldramir

Slowly, time began to lose meaning for those within the Ancient Legacy. No one became aware of the shadow that Ezekiel had bound to his service via magical contracts, but almost everyone got the chance to experience the positive effects that it had on them.

It had taken some time, but Ezekiel had managed to turn the trial room into a time chamber. One that mixed the remnant’s unique [Domain] with his own understanding of [Acceleration]. Keeping the other Hunters unaware of the remnant’s presence was difficult, but nothing that the mental effects of his [Shroud] couldn’t handle.

Though, the mental gymnastics he needed to go through when doing so often gave him a headache at the end of the day. It also meant that Radiant and Obscure magic couldn’t be used within the room. That wasn’t the worst thing, however, and he was able to wave it off as an unfortunate side-effect of utilizing what was once a trial room for this training.

Alternating the Hunters and Mages who entered, and ensuring that they only ever meditated inside it, meant that they rarely noticed the increased passage of time anyways.

Riley was aware that something was up, due to her enhanced Mythic senses, but when Ezekiel swore that it wasn’t a problem, she seemed to let it drop. He knew that she would be asking again later.

This resulted in a chamber that allowed for a day to pass within just a few hours, and Ezekiel ended up exponentially expanding his time in training. However, it did almost nothing when it came to getting him to Tier six any faster.

Still nothing? He asked Shine after coming out of another session of meditation. It was his fifth time today, which culminated into a week of time for himself.

He received a mental head shake in response.

If I had managed to find your sixth Chakra, then I would’ve long since told you already. There was a sense of exasperation in Shine’s voice. Hell, you would’ve noticed it due to the shift in mana from my consciousness slamming into it.

Ezekiel rubbed the back of his head. He took a look around, but there was no one else there. Most of the other Hunters were tired, and given the lack of major activities, besides meditation and sparring, there was an onset of cabin fever setting in on most of them.

“Perhaps we should take a break... Maybe do another round of sparring with the others.” Now that he was once again aware of his surroundings, he no longer bothered with mental communication. “Last I checked, there were more than a few Hunters that were right at the edge of reaching Tier five. Maybe it’ll be enough to push them past the edge. It would certainly help, for when we get out of here.”

He stood up and stretched, cracking his back in the process. Shine lifted into the air from where they were stabbed into the floor and leaning against him.

“Perhaps you will also be able to help them make progress with the physical refinements as well. Though, I’m fairly certain that the effects are only really noticeable on the Spirits at this point.” Shine’s observations were in line with his own and reminded him of what he last spoke to his family about.

“That reminds me that we need to check on my mother first. She was right at the edge of Tier five last we saw her... That was a few days ago from our perspective, I believe.” Yawning, Ezekiel walked toward the exit, holding a hand up to the ceiling. “Come here, Shade. It’s time for a break.”

Shadows that were previously unseen seeped out of the corners and cracks in the surfaces of the room. They stretched across the room and there was a moment of total darkness that consumed Ezekiel and Shine’s figures.

With barely a second thought, Ezekiel shed off some of his mana. His [Will] was utterly removed from it, and it was immediately gobbled up by the shadow that was crawling over his body.

The light returned to the room, and Nothing more than a single strand that stuck out of Ezekiel’s collar was visible.

“Was that tasty?” he asked as the wall opened up.

“Yes... Thank you...” The voice from the shadow was quiet, and it was obvious to Ezekiel that the thing that was once a Remnant of the Ancient Obscurity was practically devoted to him at this point.

If not, then it was at least subservient in its entirety. Which made sense, since he was the only means for it to eat at this point. Not that a Tier five Spirit truly needed to eat.

The thought of such an entity being so devoted to him had made him uncomfortable at first, but he had adapted to it. Especially since this was something that had tried to kill his people. Something he usually would’ve killed it for if it wasn’t so useful.

“Any issues that I should be aware of?” he asked.

“None... though there was some fighting in one area after a spar got out of hand... I think you may need to get the people out of here soon. It’s been months since you arrived, and unlike the others, a Legendary constitution, both physically and mentally, likely won’t keep them sane much longer.” The shadow receded into his clothing. “If they cannot reach Tier five soon, then they will need to leave. The Adepts that haven’t broken through are already having difficulties being near others.”

He sighed and straightened, coming to a stop in order to think.

“Guardian,” he called out, “do you think that my idea will be feasible?”

A face grew out of the wall. “Your idea of moving the Legacy is feasible, but not as you are. Not alone. You would likely need nearly all the Void Mages and Hunters to work together with you in order to do it successfully.”

“Could we not do it over time? Move it slowly, rather than all at once?” He was happy to have that confirmation but was annoyed that there were such limitations due to his lack of power.

“I do not know,” the Guardian shook its head. “I only know that your idea if possible since something similar was done to move the Legacy here in the first place. That was done in one go, however, so I do not know if it is possible to move it slowly. I just know that doing so will destroy the pathways out of here. As such, if you fail, it will be nigh impossible for any of the others to get out of here. Not unless you gain the power needed to take them through the space-between-spaces.”

“So, no matter what, the only way to guarantee it is to reach Tier six.” He rubbed his chin and frowned. “It would also have to be Tier six as a Mage... otherwise my spells wouldn’t be able to do what I needed them to. Completing my body refinement and merging it with my soul would only allow me to go through the space-between-spaces safely on my own.”

The weight of the world was once more pressing down on him. The sense of calm that he had upon exiting his meditation was now gone, and he could feel the anxiety and anticipation toward the final battle eating at him once again.

“Take a break.” Shine cut though his thoughts and sent a mental nudge to push him forward. Along with a telekinetic push that made him stumble. “You need to take time to relax... Allowing yourself to go back into meditation when you are so disgruntled will not do you any good. See your family. Train the others and see what changes have occurred. It might have only been a few hours for them, but you never know. Something might have surprised you.” He looked over his shoulder at his partner.

For a while there, he had forgotten that his Spirit had been stressing out just as much as him. Time had begun to lose meaning to both of them, and it was showing.

Usually, he’d be far more stressed out, but still focused on his task, but now that he was taking a moment to reflect, he could see that he was losing track of his priorities. Something that searching for his sixth Chakra wasn’t helping with.

“Hah... You’re right. Let’s take a break... We’ve still got a few months left anyway... I just hope that they’re okay up there...” He gazed up at the ceiling, but shook his head before he could get lost in thought. “Let’s go see if we can help anyone break through.”

Stepping forward once more, he nearly stopped just a few steps later, when a massive flare of mana hit his senses. He chose not to hurry, however, since he knew what it was.

It was proof that Shine had been right. The others had indeed surprised him.

Someone had broken through to tier five.

----------

It had been a normal day, for the most part. Every Hunter in the Legacy, as well as the Mages and Spirits, was doing what had become the norm for them. Sparring, or meditating, with a sense of looming worry and frustration nestled over all of them.

Even Riley, with a mind and body ascended to Tier five, was finding it difficult to keep herself calm. Though, she had it worse in some ways, since she was the one that was mediating and making sure that the others didn’t kill each other out of spite and overzealous fighting.

“Once we get out of here, remind me to tell Ezekiel that he will be taking over Guild Master duties for the entirety of the Prime Guild. It’s only fair that he gives both me and Wolken a break, after all we’ve done for him.” She grumbled to Celia while laying sprawled out on a bed.

She had just finished dragging two fighting Legendary Hunters apart. A Glacial and a Cavern Hunter. The former had called the latter a ‘brick headed nitwit,’ while the latter had responded by calling the former a ‘yellow watered pond scum’.

“You have to admit, the childishness of these insults is rather amusing.”

Riley scoffed at the one who said this, but didn’t speak out otherwise. Much to the other’s disappointment.

“I’m not made of glass. Feel free to call me out if you want... I’d prefer it over how I’m being treated by everyone else.” Evelyn’s voice had a wispy echo to it that bounced off the walls and seemed to come from everywhere. “It honestly makes me feel even more terrible for how Ezekiel was treated when he was younger.”

Reya was nowhere to be seen, unless you looked at Evelyn’s shadow. Where a tail and large feline ears swished and flicked every now and then. Yellow-green eyes blinked open at times as well. It was unnerving to those at lower Steps and Tiers. But for Ezekiel and the twins, they were simply happy that their mother was awake.

“I’m not trying to treat you differently,” Riley said after a long and heavy sigh. “I’m just tired, and not in the mood for jokes. Something that I feel is the case for almost everyone right now.”

She wasn’t wrong. The overall atmosphere had been declining ever since Ezekiel had saved them from the Remnant Spirit that had nearly killed most of them. Even now, she had her doubts regarding what he had done with it, but the results of many of their training were going well. Even if it was apparent that supplies had begun to be used at a faster pace.

It did surprise her that no one else had questioned either of them about it, but with the seemingly ever-present aura of Ezekiel’s magic, she knew that it was being handled.

That didn’t change the fact that her mental well-being was declining.

“How have your efforts to make progress with your body refinement gone? You’re one of the pioneers of an entirely new system of thought when it comes to magic. I can’t imagine it’s been too easy.” While it had been shocking to learn of the new method of ascending that Ezekiel had come up with, it was an even greater surprise when he had explained how it worked, and several Spirits had almost immediately broken through to the Legendary realm of power. “I know that your magic hasn’t strengthened at all, but it seems like your constitution has risen to an even higher level, right?”

Evelyn sniffed at Riley’s question, and the latter winced at her poor attempt to change the subject being called out like that. The older woman didn’t go further than that, however, and replied with a blunt honesty that Riley couldn’t help but feel refreshed by.

“I’m no longer in a state of constant, dull, aches and pains, which is nice.” Evelyn raised her hands and stretched, causing several pops to ring through the room. “I also found myself more easily able to use my magic to attune with the shadows. Something that used to take me hours of meditation to maintain my sense of self has been whittled down to minutes. I now feel more at home in the shadow realm than I do in the material world, and I don’t run the risk of getting lost when I delve into the deeper depths.”

Riley nodded her head. That was something that those who followed Ezekiel’s training for body refinement had all experienced, though not to the same extent as Evelyn and the Spirits had.

Even Riley had better results than most of them, but that was to be expected, since her body had already been baptized by her element when she broke through to Tier five.

It was the Scholars, and other Mages, who had no Spirits, that had the most difficulties. Human bodies were not meant to be turned into the elements. It was obvious when one Adept had tried, and the resulting typhoon had blown his arms off.

After that, Ezekiel had strictly forbidden any of the Mages from practicing body refinement unless they had broken through to Tier four. Only then, when they had solidified an [Understanding] of their element, and had a soul and [Will] that could direct their mana at an appropriate level of efficiency, could they just barely withstand the effects of pulling their soul and body closer together, allowing their magic to refine them, and increase their physique and constitution.

It wasn’t quite the same as merging their soul and body together, something that only Mythical beings should even try to do, else their lack of personal [Truth] causes them to literally fall apart, and be lost in the endlessness of their element, but it was something that brought them closer to their element all the same. Like the difference between pumping water from a lake to standing in a lake, to eventually becoming the lake itself.

The difference between them both was and wasn't great, and it was only after reaching the peak of Tier five that Ezekiel had begun figuring out the details pertaining to how to circumvent most of the dangers that such methods contained.

“What about the other theories? Do you think that Ezekiel’s prediction regarding your ability to make progress is correct, or does it seem like Tier four is still your limit?” This had been Riley and Ezekiel’s most prudent concern. “I don’t want to jinx anything, but it would be a relief if you could break through a little bit faster. Having another Mythical being that could help us make sure no one goes crazy would be so helpful.”

For the first time in months, Riley allowed herself to feel vulnerable and aired her grievances in full to her mother-in-law. Evelyn gave her a pitying look in response.

“...I certainly don’t think that the Legendary realm is the end for me. However, I couldn't tell you when I would be able to reach Tier five. This method is entirely new, and I’m not sure that I’ll be able to reach it before we are forced to leave here...”

Left unsaid was the fact that it was likely they would only leave once the time for the final battle arrived. No one had said anything, but the fact that Ezekiel hadn’t made any progress in finding his sixth Chakra meant that he wasn’t anywhere near strong enough to actually kill the Broods.

He had gotten stronger, thanks to his efforts in merging his body and soul. But doing that would only put him on par with one or two of the Broods at a time. His magic, his spells, would still only be as strong as they were at Tier five. Meaning that he wouldn’t have the strength to reinforce or recreate the seals on the Broods.

A soft chime filled the room before anyone else could speak up again. The alarm indicated that Ezekiel had left the chambers he had repurposed for meditation only.

“It seems like my son has decided to take a break,” Evelyn sounded surprised, and Riley couldn’t blame her. Ezekiel had been spending practically every waking moment meditating or pouring over the memories of the Ancients, both of the Void, and of the others.

“Perhaps he has a surprise for us. Even if he hasn’t managed to break through, you know he’s good at coming up with new things that can change the game.” Riley wasn’t worried, but she did wonder what had happened, if anything, that was enough for Ezekiel to change his regular schedule. “Maybe he figured something out and wants to talk to us before he goes through with another idea that might have consequences.”

It was only a few minutes later, when both women were walking toward the central chambers that they felt it. A pulse of mana that seemed to reach every corner of the Legacy. One that made Evelyn stop for a moment, and that Riley was intimately familiar with.

Her own mana had done the same when she had broken through to Tier five, after all.

----------

As it turned out, it wasn't one of the Hunters, Scholars, or Spirits that Ezekiel was friends with that made the breakthrough. It was, however, one of tribal Hunters that had followed him alongside the Legendary birds from the Fjorya.

This was, in a way, good, because she was also a healer of good renown. Even if it was mostly only physical wounds that she could heal due to the less prominent spiritual aspect to her element. At least when compared to the Life and Death elements.

She was an older woman, one who had retired from actively hunting Cruor and Wild Spirits that were a danger to her tribe’s mountain. A Glacial Hunter with an icy ferret shaped Spirit that had eight legs and numerous dark blue streaks running through its pale blue fur.

“I must say that I am glad to see that progress is being made. I had honestly begun to fear that things were going to continue as they were, or worse, start to go downhill.” Ezekiel and Riley had asked the elderly woman to accompany them to someplace private so that they could speak. “Though... I had not expected for such a change to occur once you had broken through... I wonder if this will happen to all those who are closer to their limits that break through.”

He was referencing the appearance of the old woman in front of him. The old woman who now looked younger than, or at least very close to, his own mother’s age.

That was a difference of over a hundred years. The woman from the Fjorya being near the end of her Legendary life span, which had already been extended due to her own magic, and several other magical herbs and regents that aided in such things.

“Can you and the other healers confirm that there are no consequences of this apparent reversal in your aging?” This time it was Riley who spoke up.

The Fjorya Hunter shrugged. “From what we can tell, it was a total rejuvenation of the body. My body still reads as being as old as it was, but the amount of vigor and overall health that is infused in it is significantly greater than before. We also figured out a few tricks tied to your ideas of body refinement. It seems that the breakthrough to Tier five naturally brings the body and soul closer together, though still not fused like what you’re doing. We think that this proximity is the reason my body is more... Ethereal than before. It’s closer to the higher powers than the mortal coil.”

Ezekiel nodded in thought. That somewhat lined up with his own theories and examinations of both him and Riley. He hadn't been given any opportunities to examine the other Mythical Hunters, who were dragged into Tier five, rather than rising on their own.

“From your examinations, is there any Qualitative difference between yourself and Riley, or me?” The Hunter looked at him. “I only ask since you reached the Legendary tier by having your Spirit pull you up, correct?”

The Fjorya Hunter’s eyes widened, and the spark of concern that Ezekiel recognized on the faces of the healers that were worried about something appeared on her face.

“We didn’t even consider that... I came to eventually crystalize my own [Understandings] after your research and knowledge of such things eventually reached my tribe. Thus, my own [Truth] was born from my own [Understandings].” She hunched over and rubbed her temples in thought. The small ferret that was curled up on her feet climbed her leg and nuzzled her face. “Forgive me, Exalts, but I must go back and ask that my fellow healers do another examination. This time with cross referencing for comparison to yourselves.”

Ezekiel nodded when she looked up at him and gestured to the door. “That’s fine, however, now that you’ve broken through, do not forget that your station has changed.”

She paused just as she stood up from her chair.

“You are now an Exalt yourself, which means that you have the strength needed to kill everyone in this Legacy, if not stopped by one of the other Mythics that are here. The Legendary beings know this, so you need to know that your word will be taken as commands, and there may be some fear in those that might’ve annoyed or wronged you in the past. Do you think you can handle the fact that you are now above all your once peers?” Ezekiel wasn’t saying this to scare her, but because that had happened to himself and Riley. At least among the weaker masses.

The two of them had bigger things to worry about when they had broken through, as well as support groups that had helped them adjust, but this Hunter did not. At least not to the same extent as they had. So, it was fully possible that, if she wasn’t ready for it, her new status in society would cause her a great deal of stress and worry. Neither he nor Riley were certain how she might take the changes.

Rather than thanks or appreciation for the warning, however, she just scoffed and let out a chuckle.

“It seems like my new appearance has affected both of you more than you thought.” Her words were confusing enough for Ezekiel to raise a brow, and for Riley to frown. “I’m an elder of my tribe, and among my tribe I was one of the strongest Hunters around, until I moved on to be a healer after I got old. A feat that not many in the Fjorya could achieve, and still keep their Spirits alive. Regardless, I know how to handle being in charge, being above others, thanks to things like personal power. You’ll have no trouble from me. Especially not when I know that you, Herald of the Void, could smack a Step one Mythic like me into the ground with just a thought.”

This time Ezekiel frowned. He wasn’t trying to threaten her into staying in line, but it seemed like his genuine concern was misunderstood.

“... Thank you for the concern, but I think you need to worry about other things, or better yet, clear your head so that you can properly meditate. We won’t win the final battle if you're stuck halfway to your goal.” She must've noticed more than he showed, because the Hunter looked sad when she spoke, and hurried out of the room right after bowing.

“We got lucky with this one,” Riley said after a few moments of silence. “A healer breaking through was better than any of the others. It means that it was someone who appreciates and loves life, rather than a meat headed fighter who might be going mad from being locked up down here.”

Ezekiel winced at the reminder, and the tone that his wife’s voice took. “I’m working on something with the Guardian. Hopefully you’ll be able to get out of here soon. You and everyone else. But for that to happen, I need to either break through, or the others need to instead.”

Riley turned toward him with a question on her lips, but he raised a hand to stop her.

“If at least half a dozen of the others can break through to Tier five, then I think that letting them all go will be fine. It will be enough for the majority to run away, even if they’ve managed to create a body for the Winged Broodmasters. But until that happens, we have little to no idea what is going on up there... Even now, I’m worried that my breakthrough will not be enough... If it even comes in time.”

With his worries laid out on the table, he wasn’t surprised when Riley came over to hold him. The stress, the anxiety, the doubts, and the fears were all coming together. It was honestly the first time he had felt this uncertainty in himself, to this extent, and he knew that he needed to continue pushing forward, or else everything would be lost.

“Thank you,” he whispered into Riley’s shoulder as they held each other. “Thank you for never giving up on me, and for always being there for the people I care about when I cannot be.”

“It’s what I should do,” was all that she said.

They stayed together for the rest of the day. Simply basking in the joy at another person’s breakthrough, as well as the comfort that each other’s presence granted them.

----------

Over the next month, Ezekiel and Riley witnessed several breakthroughs, the majority of which occurred in those that were far older than most of the Hunters and Mages that were there. Which made sense, since it would take a lot for their souls to reach the level necessary for reaching Tier five. Let alone the time it would take to find their fifth Chakra.

Of those that broke through, it was mostly those that had already found their fifth Chakra, but hadn’t broken through because they didn’t know about [Truths] before, or their Spirits hadn’t broken through, and it was therefore impossible to break through prior to now.

Even so, they had only managed to get four more breakthroughs during this time, and Ezekiel had decided that he needed to dedicate the next month entirely to his meditation. There wasn’t time to do anything else. If he failed, he would need to leave and start taking the fight to the Cruor and the Broodmasters. Even if he was ultimately going to be in a much weaker position.

So, with a goodbye to his family, just in case there were more breakthroughs, and they left with the rest, Ezekiel descended into the darkness of the Obscurity trial room.

“Do you think that this will be enough?” Shine asked once the room behind them closed.

“Perhaps... But if it isn’t, then we’ll just have to take the other path for now.”

A shift occurred, and Ezekiel felt the flow of time change, the next month would be turned into nearly a year. However, given his luck so far, and the fact that his soul was still not fully explored, he couldn’t help but have his doubts at having success.

With a shake of his head, he allowed his consciousness, and Shine’s, to sink into his soul, and the search for his sixth Chakra began once again.