Interlude - Progress

The room was on the edge of being something that she could call dimly lit. It wasn’t quite atmosphere inducing, but it was close. The room was lavish, as most rooms in this part of the massive compound were. The guest rooms were made to impress, and the servants walking around were both discreet and impeccable with their service.

The meal was probably the best thing that she had ever eaten. She hadn’t realized just how far culinary arts had advanced the last three hundred years. Tali had felt bliss unlike anything she had ever experienced before, it was almost… inspiring. Everything about the food was artfully done, from the arrangements to the flavor. The ingredients were of the highest quality she had ever seen. They even made her feel better, stronger, after just a single bite.

The only thing that marred the experience was… the awkward silence.

Sigmund sat across from her, focusing on eating, just as she was. They had so easily slipped into old habits without even talking about it. With his skill, he was unable to sign and eat at the same time. So, they would usually eat first, then talk after.

The dinner lasted for a long time. High tiered people could eat a lot, and this was a meal organized by the sect. It had to be perfect in all regards. It was a presentation, each dish served expertly, the servants regaling them with the story of how what they were about to eat came to their table.

“The chocku was grown by the best growers in all of the Settled Territories,” the servant said as he placed the desert in front of them. “This is from the last harvest done in the Belloi Kingdom before it fell two years ago, there are only a few left in existence.”

The fruit was dark in color sliced open to reveal a bright yellow flesh filled in with a white gelatinous cubes. Tali sliced off a piece and then put it in her mouth. For a moment the world stopped, and she was transported someplace else, a realm of sublime sensations and inspiration. Something at the edge of her consciousness called to her, a bright sky spreading around her and a sense of herself being… somewhere else, but still bonded to her. She tried to reach for it, but it slipped from her fingers.

She opened her eyes and realized that she had eaten the whole fruit, and Sigmund had as well. She had almost grasped at something there, but she forced her mind away, tucking the experience in a safe space to dissect later.

“We will need some privacy,” Tali said to the servant standing a few steps away.

He nodded, then left, and a moment later she felt the privacy screen activate.

She reached for a napkin on the table, playing with its edges with her fingers, trying to figure out what to say.

“So, how have you been,” she decided on after. Immediately she regretted saying it.

Sigmund signed, and she winced. He was right, this wasn’t… this wasn’t them.

“I’m sorry,” Tali said. “I just… don’t know what to say. I can’t imagine what you felt like when you thought that I was dead.”

He signed again. Eratemus couldn’t find your soul.

Tali nodded. “I was… too injured, my soul crippled. I… was captured, made a slave—” she paused as she saw his expression darken. “They wanted me for my knowledge, I was… treated like any other servant, one that couldn’t leave. I spent centuries in their service. And then… I was free.”

Sigmund nodded, then signed again.

How long?

Tali looked away. “Decade or so.”

He hit the table, gently, making her turn back to look at him. He tilted his head and signed again, his eyes boring into hers.

Why didn’t you come find me?

Tali took a deep breath, trying to find the words. He didn’t press her, for which she was grateful. She wasn’t used to showing her emotions, centuries of hiding her true feelings. “I wasn’t yet healed then… My soul was crippled, I had no Cultivation, no Skills, nothing. And I was afraid… Afraid of being a burden, afraid of what your life was like now. That maybe you’ve found—”

He stood up, interrupting her. He walked over to her side of the table and knelt next to her, then he signed.

There was always ever only you.

She felt herself relax, the tension she didn’t even realize she was having, slipping away. She put her hand on his cheek and smiled.

He signed again.

How did you heal?

“It took time, Ryun helped me. I owe him more than I can say.”

He signed again.

“What? No, we are not like that. He is… a friend. A true friend. Someone who I can advance with. I… I don’t think that I’ve ever had anyone like that in my life. Once, I thought that Awirren was that, but… she had fallen behind, and she was jealous, envious. She couldn’t stand someone being better than her in the things that she considered herself to be born for.”

Sigmund’s expression darkened, and his hands moved in a blur.

“No, no,” she said, then firmly. “No. It is my issue to deal with, and I will, in time. Let’s not talk about her now, there is still so much that we need to say.”

Sigmund sighed, then smiled. He stood up and pulled her with him, then he brought her close and she relaxed in his arms. It had been so long since she had been held like that, and she let the moment drag on. Simply enjoying it.

The Gathering of Sects was being held in a large arena. Thousands of Sect Heads and their seconds filled into the hall, heading to their assigned seating. The top layer, high above everyone else was reserved for the most powerful and influential Sects there were. Tali and Ryun sat up there, the banners of Twilight Melody Sect hanging from the balcony of their alcove, in the colors of black and violet. Anrosh was thinking about adding in silver, for Ryun’s new appearance, but she hadn’t made any decisions before they left.

The other Sects all had two occupants, the Sect Head and their second. Their Sect was the only one with four. Erdania and Lesamitrius stood to the side of Tali’s and Ryun’s chairs, wearing Sect colors and standing straight with their hands folded on their back. Tali had been given leave to attend the gathering despite not being a Sect Head, because of her past accomplishments and the respect she still held. She saw the looks of other Sect Heads when they noticed them. Twilight Melody Sect was known in their part of the Frontier, but not elsewhere. Some would probably know of Ryun, the Undying Void, Slayer of the Dome Leader, The High Ranker of the Seventh Iteration. Many would also recognize her; others would have no idea who she was.

The Dragon Heart Sect had done them a great favor, just being placed up here among the greatest Sects made them a part of them. Perception mattered, and if the Dragon Heart considered a Sect powerful, it was. Anrosh was about to get a lot more inquiries and requests. Sects trying to create or deepen prior relationships.

There were thousands of sects here, the entire arena was filled with colorful banners, a sea of whispers and an air of anticipation. The result of the gathering was already decided, for the big thing at least. Everyone, or at least those that were needed, knew that the Sects would be going to war. What was about to follow were… theatrics, face, perception.

As everyone settled in, Hitor walked on a stage far down in the center of the arena. Formations projected his voice to the highest alcoves, and his image was displayed high in the middle of the arena, magnified and in perfect color.

She glanced at Ryun. “Can you see?” She whispered.

“Only Essence,” he answered.

His eyes were a great advantage, but there were some disadvantages as well. To him the projection would be just a moving field of Light Essence of varying density.

Then, Hitor started to speak. “My fellow Sect Heads, I thank you for answering my call. I know that the last few years have been hard for us, for the world. We’ve fought in conflicts, old animosities finally growing to great, matters of honor and obligation. But as the rest of the world turned to chaos, we’ve kept our conflicts within the bounds of our laws. As it was intended, we’ve retained our strength, we did not weaken. You all know of the Domes, a threat, a test from the Framework itself. We were not prepared for what it brought, and through foul and dishonorable actions of others, we’ve lost many of our great leaders. But the new ones have stepped up to fill their place, you, who stand here before me now,” he turned, looking around the arena. “You are what makes our people great. We have a responsibility, to protect our people. To grow strong, as we have vowed when we settled these lands. And yet… we have grown complacent of late. Forgotten the struggles of old. We… settled into a sense of peace and safety. Forgetting that this world was made for the strong.”

He looked over the other Sect Heads, his expression grim. “The core has forgotten it too, they destroy one another, all the while they leave a threat to fester in the center of our civilization. And that, cannot stand. Will we stand idly by as they allow a threat to grow? A threat that could put in danger all that we have built? No,” he cut the air with his hand. “The time of turning our heads away, pretending that threats don’t exist just because we don’t see them is passed. A Dome was opened, more will follow. Now is the time to grab hold of all the opportunities thrown at us. If they will not take care of the monsters and the taken, then we will. My friends, I call for a vote, I call for the Sects to go to war.”

There was debate, of course there was. But Tali tuned it out, mostly. The most influential figures spoke, but the most important conversations had been held before the gathering. Some, had doubts and concerns, but ultimately, they moved on to the vote. Tali cast the vote for their sect, a blue light lighting up above their alcove.

The Sects made their choice, and it was war.

The gathering would last for a couple days more. Grievances and concerns would be brought up, but the biggest decision always went up first. That way, the Sects could prepare. Sect Heads would send word back to their sects, prepare their warriors for war. Tali wondered what Anrosh would think about all of this, probably curse them for making more work for her.

There were still things for them to do here before heading back, conversations to be had, and plans to be made.