That night, I slept fitfully, my mind filled with faceless figures multiplying and invading my friend’s bodies. I woke in the predawn soaked with sweat, though I felt no chill. My eyes felt gritty, I rubbed them as I rose and took a shower for the first time in months, luxuriating in the water’s flow.

I was clean too soon, but I stayed in the shower for another half hour, just relaxing before finally stepping out and drying myself. Dressing in my glossy black robe, I sat on my small balcony, high above the ground and reflected on the events since my return to the Citadel.

Despite the relatively thin energy of my new home, I had no trouble pulling it in as I internalized the Experiences of the day before. It was certainly a very different life than my last. A wry smile on my face, I remained sitting and processing as my Praxis refilled. It would probably take me the rest of the day at a minimum to restore my Core, and possibly longer given I was going to need to split my attention.

After hearing my quest – and some questions from Raaf and Sonja – Walker and the other Apexes had left, warning that their planned gathering would be brought forward, in light of the new information I was providing. They had also warned me not to speak of it to anybody else until Walker gave me the all-clear. I was happy to obey the not-quite-request, given the frankly terrifying possibility that the being that had single-handedly – all billions-handedly, depending on how you viewed things – wiped out most of the planet, was on the verge of escape. Or death. I was hoping for the death, in the event I – we – failed to prevent one of them.

It was a shame the Apexes had left; my friends had been very interested in the possibility of inscribing their own Cores, but I was still uncomfortable discussing it outside of the protective dampening of the Apexes. There had been the possibility of me exploding as a result of my own attempt, and I had no idea whether it had worked due to some kind of synergy with my Focus, or whether it was something that would always work, adding destructive force to anything. Though, at least in the case of Darina, destructive regeneration did not sound particularly useful...

Either way, I did not want to be responsible for a potentially significant portion of the world hearing about it, only to blow themselves up. Nobody would need a pocket plane to imprison me.

The Sun was just cresting the horizon when I next climbed to my feet, skin tingling from the sensation of in-rushing Experience, before strolling out of my room, my mind still half-concentrated absorbing my Experiences.

I spent the next couple of hours getting the cores from my hunting trip exchanged for spirit coins, leaving my personal fortune at 11,199 coins, with the rest of the haul held in reserve until I could give my friends their share. Maybe it was all the D&D and co-op games I had played, but it did not seem right to make money in a party and not split it. Of course, when in Rome and all, and while my new home was not quite Rome, the sentiment still mostly held. If my friends refused their shares again, I would be happy – ish – to keep it.

I also stopped by the Alchemy Association’s Citadel branch again to renew my stock of cleansing pills and healing potions. Pleasantly, it seemed that in my absence from civilization the recipe for the hydrating pills had been distributed at least that far, for which I was glad, as I was starting to run lower than I liked, and they really were significantly more convenient than carrying around huge barrels of water, storage device or not.

I spent 3,000 coins there, partly because I did not have enough room in my rings for all the supplies, and had to purchase a new storage device in the form a pendant. It contained significantly more internal space than my looted rings, and the things I had bought probably filled only one small corner, but I knew it would prove useful if I found more things I wanted to study, bring with me, or a thousand other little things. More space was more space.

I did not drop off the limbs and bodies I was carrying, despite the fact that it would have saved me money. I was a very trusting person – for some reason – but I was not that trusting by that point. I had considered letting Sonja take a look, as she was clearly interested in energy channels, given Darina’s own extended energy circuits, and provided she had time after the meeting, I would probably pass her the Fullmetal Asshole’s body to study, and maybe save the limbs for Ben Won Ro to study the next time I was in Everwood City.

I stopped at a tailor as well, to purchase a couple of basic changes of clothing, though nothing as extravagant as what I had bought from the snooty tailor back in Everwood. The black robes DUK3 had given me were excellent, in that they seemed unusually tough and cleaned themselves, but given my track record with clothing, I wanted some backups.

By the time I was done, the Sun was well above the horizon and gliding its way towards mid-morning. I made my way to the top of the tower. I had to take dozens of elevator platforms to reach the Citadel’s crown, where I found Reff, Riffa, Darina and Cad, as well as Kestin and Toria. The six stood in two groups, with Chian’s apprentices standing to the left and my companions to the right of a large door, flanked on either side by guards, one of which I recognised.

Waiving at my friends – and hesitantly at the others – I greeted guard captain Tal with a smile. I had met her on my arrival at the Citadel with Walker, Aella and Reff months before, when my experience with abilities was in its infancy. Seeing her again, I wondered what her abilities were.

“Hey, Captain Tal. Nice to see you again.”

“In greetings, Hunter.”

I waited for a second for the captain to say more, but she merely stood, her eyes scanning about the room.

“If it isn’t Nameless. Should you not be in the creche, below?”

I turned as somebody spoke, tracing the voice to Kestin. The night before, as we made our way inside, I thought his gaze had held respect, but either I had been wrong, or he had changed his mind, because at that moment he wore a sneer like a mask, somehow looking down his long nose at me like I wasn’t actually inches taller. His voice matched his frame – and his expression - exactly; a nasal drone that would have made me dislike him instinctively, if his words and face had not already done that job. His words also reminded me that the discussion of the rogue Apex had derailed the discussion of my name.

“I might not have a name, but I got at least one less beating than you did last night. And I don’t need a name to give you another, jackass.”

“You dare threaten the Left Hand of the Sun’s Judgement?”

“Seriously, what is it with the assholes of this world, that you’re always wondering if people dare after they already did? Doesn’t my offer to beat you into the floor imply my daring?”

“I will burn you-”

It was at that moment that Toria slapped him on the back of the head.

“Enough, Kestin. You started it, and he would beat you twice over before your first flame ignited. Sorry about him, Hunter. He has a tendency to grind grudges up in his mind until they make him act the fool.”

Kestin was rubbing at the back of his head and muttering something under his breath, but I ignored him. I knew what it was like to inflate something beyond reasonable bounds inside the confines of your own mind. Instead, dismissing the gaunt mutterer, I focused on Toria who had a pleasantly vibrant voice.

A snort from Darina told me what she thought of the whole situation, and I imagined she was calling us both fools in her head. But at least she was not saying it out loud for a change.

“No worries. I try not to start things, so as long as he doesn’t come looking for trouble, he won’t find any from me.” I hesitated for a moment before proceeding, still unsure of the protocols involved. “Uh, sorry about last night. I’m not quite as fire proof as Darina, and may have gone a little hard in avoiding it...”

Toria looked confused, glancing at my friends as in unsure what I was saying. Reff came to her – and my – rescue.

“In familiar clarification, Hunter is from a great distance away, and his home is isolated. He is unfamiliar with many things which we may consider... normal.”

“It doesn’t help that he’s an idiot. Sometimes.”

Well, the silent judgement had not lasted long, but at least she had added the, ‘sometimes’. That was progress, right?

“... With deliberate continuation, perhaps you and your fellow apprentice would like to spar with my sister and I at some point? I am at the Foundation stage, however I am used to holding back.”

“In sincere addition, he barely ever kicks Darina into the distance anymore.”

“I believe we should be here for a number of days, which should provide ample time in which to spar. Isn’t that right, Kestin?”

The man in question was silent for a moment, glaring sullenly at the floor but quickly spoke up as Toria raised her hand again.

“Fine! I would be... honoured to spar with the brother or sister of the Apex of the Mountain’s Seed.”

I was about to ask if either would like to spar with me again when I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned to find Cad's almost neatly bearded face wearing a wide grin, his grey eyes playful.

“An’ how ‘bout me, Sparky? Can you ‘n’ I have another go? I’d just got used t’yebein’ gone and eyes not itchin’ when back ye come.”

“Won’t you have to report back to the Alchemy Association once the meeting is over?”

“How’re they t’know the meetin’s over? I could delay for a spell if ye’ll be givin’ me another chance at decipherin’ this Void damned itch...”

“... Don’t they have a branch here? I mean, I know they do, I visited already.”

The normally playful face of the Alchemy Association Specialist screwed in in frustration for a moment.

“Blasted Void, ye be right. If I don’ be reportin’ back before news filters over, Commander Jayford’ll have me nuts in a vice... Yer getting' kidnapped really put a dampner on th’intire trip, ye know?”

“Well... sorry? I’ll try to get kidnapped at a more convenient time... next time.”

“Ah well, at least I get t’meet the Apex o’ the Crystal Drake. Any damned minute; we’ve been stood here for an hour.”

“...Why? They said it wouldn’t start until mid-morning.”

“Cad was too excited to wait. And dragged us all along. We stopped at your rooms, but you weren’t there.”

I let out a mental sigh that I had been already about my business when they’d come looking for me.

“Yeah, had to re-stock on health potions and cleansing pills. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I actually get injured a lot?”

Darina snorted, and even Reff and Riffa looked like they wanted to let out a chuckle. Cad, who had been around for fewer of my fights just shrugged, while Kestin and Toria just looked confused.

Toria opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the low grinding growl of the door opening to reveal wide stone stairs leading up. Tal stepped forward, smacking the base of her spear into the floor and speaking in a formal voice.

“With formal solemnity, The Apexes are ready for you. Please make your way up the stairs.”

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of who should be going first, but that did not seem to be a concern for Caddin, who was through the doors and running up the stairs almost as soon as Tal stopped speaking. I looked at Reff, who gave a minute shrug and began to climb the stairs, Riffa close behind. Darina went next, and I was left with Kestin and Toria. The lanky man began to step forward, his head held high, looking down his nose once more, but his fellow apprentice held him back and gestured for me to go on.

I nodded thanks to her, and began to climb the stairs, wishing I had gone last as I felt Kestin’s eyes on me. But despite that itch at the base of my neck, I took comfort in Instinctive Precognition, knowing that if he tried anything, I should be fine.

Reaching the top of the stairs revealed a vast terrace that had to occupy the entire top of the Blacksand Citadel. It was decorated with hundreds of beautiful stone sculptures, statues and flowing walls, with thick, green bushes and trees scattered about. At its centre, immediately ahead of us, there was a round stone table at which sat the Apexes, as well as several other figures I was unfamiliar with.

Cad had already covered half the distance to and around the table towards Jorl, but there came a sudden pressure directing each of us to our seats and the Specialist came to a dead stop, turning to sit quickly.

Following my friends, I took the seat indicated to me, and watched as everyone settled in, the eyes of those already at the table on us. It made me feel nervous, but I quickly shook the feeling free; I was past that. Holding my head up, I offered a seated bow to the table, meeting the eyes of everyone present in turn.