Dailin stood within a meadow, a warm breeze wafting in the air, and a sky filled with bountiful clouds that climbed high into the heavens. His sigh was one of content, as he relaxed is his cushioned hammock viewing the scene before him in comfort. This whole illusion had almost become a need, for at times he felt claustrophobic always being underground underneath untold volumes of stone and dirt. Seeing a radiant blue sky did wonders to alleviate that feeling. That and while in here, within his dream world he was also undisturbed by his instinct and its nagging bout of dread. Here he could relax in full, till the bells began to ring and he was ripped back into the waking realm. He couldn’t or wouldn’t be allowed to fall back to sleep either, as he had a rather busy schedule. To his expectations, he'd spent much of his walking hours laying with various women, one at a time. Even with an indestructible body, he didn’t enjoy watching women craw at each other as they fought to mount him or gain his attention. It wasted more of his time, and he was already spending too much of it as is.

He stretched in his hammock, which morphed into a bed given him more room to maneuver. He envisioned the breeze smelling of freshly made pastries and took a deep breath when the scent came to him. A stand and plate of glazed bread manifested by his side, and he indulged in it. Trying his best to believe it was real. Always difficult, mirroring the smells of the waking realm was easy, but taste and texture still eluded him, no matter how hard he tried or experimented it just wasn’t right. He partook anyways, make-believe pastries was still better than none at all. As he shoveled one piece of bread after the other down his gullet, he summoned an Ancient into existence. The thing towered over him and cast a shadow over his area. He grunted and had the thing move to the side, its multiple limbs struggling to hold its weight as it moved oddly.

None of it was due to the monster, no it was his mind having trouble making the illusion work. He hadn’t actually seen the thing move in the open before, on level ground. The thing was long, maybe half a mile or more stretched out from head to endpoint. It was Carver shaped, a maggot with an extremely sharp bird-like beak. There were differences, as the thing had far more limbs than its smaller cousins, more eyes too. This Ancient he saw the most from the Shards, the one that caused the most damage.

At least it used to anyways. Dailin formed another Ancient, this one an obsidian colored ball of shell that was cavern size in height. It was in its ball form because he had yet to see what the thing actually looked like. The Shards only showed it rolling around, smooshing everyone in its path, and the survivors running away screaming for their lives. Dailin would to, if he was like them, so vulnerable. He was sure he could kill the beast easily, like the rest, once he had the chance for a clear shot at the thing. Something this particular Ancient did very well at avoiding, not once had he seen it suffered an attack. No, it was too fast, always hidden by layers of stone, always attacked from the sides, never once charging at the Vail head on.

The thing began to roll about, its pace slowly gaining speed as it flattened everything. Dailin had yet to figure out how it moved, if it was on an incline he could understand. But the beast had been seen going upwards through stone and didn't lose momentum. He knew the simple answer was Mana because Ancients had the skill to use it. But he hadn’t seen how it was being used, and the Shards weren’t helping, he yet to see the full scale of the beast either. The thing before him was more of a working of his imagination rather than what could actually appear in the waking realm.

He felt sorry for the fellows charged with dealing with this Nightmare. With how Giftless the Chanters were in the Shards he had doubts it would be possible. They looked near what he once was in the beginning. Dailin still remembered how tired he felt from using lighting only once, how he was ready to lay down and sleep the rest of the day away. It would be the same for the Chanters he saw defending the mines unless they had Hearts at their disposal. But so far he hadn’t seen anyone use such an item. Dailin wondered how long the Sanctums, or whoever was in charge of sending those groups out, would continue with the venture. How long before they just abandoned the mines, deemed to bothersome to protect. Even though they weren’t putting much effort into keeping them, it looked more like a convenient way to get rid of people they didn’t want around. ‘To Lowly’ that was what his Advisors, and Maidens of the past would have told him. That they needed to be removed for being too unworthy of the protective Wards.

‘I call it wasteful.’ Worthy or not, it still took resources to raise and train them. Throwing them outside to die with little or no gain was stupidity in Dailin eyes, and cruel. But these people didn’t care about cruelty, it was the norm of this place, how things are. He would try to change that, at least for his family. If it went well, maybe years down the line he might try to influence others to change. To stop killing themselves over meaningless things, and perceived importance. They already had a foe outside doing well enough job at killing them. They didn’t need to be helping things along by providing the beast’s large easy meals. Allowing the things to grow into greater monsters.

He had felt the spike of dread grow heavier weeks ago before it began to diminish as he improved himself with Hearts. Things outside were continuing to get worse, and though the Shards gave a view of what was happening, it was only a sample. Nightmares elsewhere, away from prying eyes could be up to something nefarious. The Ancients had proven themselves to be thinking creatures. Aware enough to avoid confrontation with a foe that could kill them, unlike the hordes of Nightmares that ran towards their deaths.

“Life would be so much easier if it was only Nightmares we had to deal with.” He said as he made the rolling Ancient stop moving, and repaired the damage it had done to the landscape. He eyed the two beasts the real threat to the Vail, it was tempting to practice on the apparitions. But any practice and experimentation on them would be highly suspect, more wishful thinking than anything tangible. He hadn’t seen them be hit by spells enough to have a framework on what could hurt them. Lightning of course, but that was the extreme, the kill all. Not something that gave any measure on what was enough to kill them with the least cost. He looked at the scales and shelling that covered them, the runes worming across the surface. Any spell would be costly to get through that. The idea of his improved skin had come from the creatures, after all, it would function in the same manner as his, save for being less efficient.

Once the beasts were drained of Mana they would be just as vulnerable as the average Nightmare. Maybe able to take a few more hits because of their bulk, but wind blades and hardened water would eventually kill them. Not something Dailin was sure the Chanters in the Shards had the reserves to do it. His only kill of an Ancient when he was that Giftless was solely because they had a stash of Hearts on had to give them the needed strength to blast through the thing defenses. Or at least allowed that crazed fellow the means to do it, while Dailin finished the job. It had almost taken everything they had to kill it, and that was a baby compared to the ones in front of Dailin now.

Others manifested as he thought of them. Beasts that resembled behemoths, Ancients that were mostly a giant mouth ready to fire spells at him. Colossal crabbed shaped beasts that ate everything in sight. There were more, creatures that had no base form, and seemed to be the mixing of many creatures into one. All caused devastation, each something that the Giftless and those near it had no business trying to stop. It was pointless cruelty on those above ordering such men to fight things so beyond them. Especially since they had the means to make those poor souls greater, armor that would make them a match for the Ancients that were growing in number.

No, instead they gave them nothing and sent them out to die, for they were unworthy, and those Above didn’t care. Dailin wondered if he was perhaps the only person who cared about what was being done, the utter waste of life. ‘Likely” he thought.

With a wave of a hand, the constructs around him dissolved back into the nothingness they had come, allowing Dailin to watch the scenery around him. A peaceful realm, lush and bountiful. Nothing around to hound him, nothing here trying to kill him, a paradise where one could exist in comfort, full of carefree days. A shame it was all a lie, an illusion of his own making, a place which could only exist in the mind of dreamers.

Bells began to ring, the tone low, but increasing, someone was waking him gently. Breathing in Dailin took a look at the sky on last time savoring its beauty before closing his eyes.

His senses came back to him, he felt a hand on his cheek, caressing it as the woman softly spoke his Title. His eyes opened, and he was forced to blink a few times to clear his vision. The woman came into view and her extended stomach that was slightly aglow. The woman smiled at him and rose as she with a multitude of others made their way off the bed they all had been sleeping in. One by one hands untangled themselves from his frame as Maidens stirred to life, all late into pregnancy. When the last pair of hands left his upper body he rose to a sitting position, surveying the sight before him.

A host of women, he had been right about them all wanting, demanding to sleep in the same bed. An odd thing as most of them women here saw each other as rivals. Yet perfectly comfortable with sleeping near, or on top of each other. He had to remind himself that he was the odd one, able to sleep alone unfazed by the loneliness it brought.

He watched as most of his Maidens headed over to his table, began grabbing and sharing Hearts. It had taken weeks for him to get them to do so without his permission. They had fought it at first, claiming that the Hearts were for him. But their unwillingness withered away as they entered further into pregnancy. The children were still a month or more away from being born, but already Dailin knew they were different, had inherited gifts. It was the only thing to explain the oddities these pregnancies were inducing, for the Maidens had shared they’d never experience such ailments before.

Their movements were sluggish as women moved in line to absorb enough Mana for them to make it through the day. The Children they carried within, seemed to be sucking them dry of Mana, leaving them mostly spent, and breathing heavy to pull more of it from the air.

His previous Maidens hadn’t experienced this, but they also hadn’t been that far along in the process, still two months from giving birth. If they had been left alive, he had a strong belief they too may have experienced this unpleasantness.

He watched them, for he didn’t have anything else to do. The Servants wouldn’t arrive to attend to him till after his Maidens had left. Then later his Advisors would arrive, inform him of the latest goings on of his House. It had been rather mundane, no reports of people planning to off each other, or a body found. No everyone was behaving, all afraid to step out of line, and be the next group of people he banished from his House. He still remembered their looks of disbelief as he sentenced them. A handful of Maidens that schemed and killed off some of their rivals. They had presented themselves to him after, began to sing the sung of Worth. How it was all for his benefit, the women removed were Unworthy and planning ways to swayed him in High matters.

It was funny how they never mention how the offed group were going to accomplish that part. Only mentioning they were going too attempted to, which by that logic meant all of his Maidens needed to be removed. Because he wasn’t foolish enough to think they weren’t trying to manipulate him, for his benefit.

During their whole little speech, he’d remained silent, unfazed by the thoughts of what they'd done. Mostly because he didn’t care all that much about what happened to the Maidens around him. He was sure most had played a part in the slaughter of his family months back, he had little to no love for his new Maidens. Though He had been relieved to find that none of his children had been harmed by the small coup, so he was emotionally stable. Able to take in the words with an unclouded mind. It was still all madness but spoken by people who believed it whole heartily. Which only made their shock show more when he reminded them of his house rule, how they had broken it. That they were to be banished, with no means to return to his side.

His Chamber had gone deathly silent as his words ebbed away, leaving all in his company frozen in place, wide-eyed. Even his Advisors looked at him in disbelief, which was annoying to see.

It told him much. That none, even his blood, believed he would enforce his rule, that he would let them get away with anything they wished in the end. With that line of thinking, he hadn’t been so surprised anymore that the coup had taken place not even two weeks into his new life within a Tower. Once everything had been unpacked and made orderly, he assumed all the Maidens then began plotting to remove rivals and move themselves closer to him.

Before he could order his Chosen to take the Maidens away he was hit by a wave of the wailing screams. The condemned Maidens begged him to reconsider, begged for mercy. Always with the added words ‘It was for your benefit.’ He had screamed at them, used Mana to make his words of ‘Silence’ echo around the room, and snuff out their intolerable crying. After, his Chosen dragged them away, and that was the end of it. Since then everything has been calm, no reports of more feuds, no coup, and no people claiming the deaths of others was beneficial to him.

Dailin breathed out peaceful as the Thought of things looking better entered his mind. His House was beginning to act like a proper family. It was disappointing it been accomplished through fear, but if the alternative was people killing each other to get close to him. He could live with the fact people only obeyed him because of dread. He had just wished he had thought of it sooner and had the knowledge that let him know it was necessary. That way the people he actually cared about would still be around. Tealhun and the unborn children mostly. But also the Giftless Maidens he had once had. But not his supposed Loves, their memory had been greatly tarnished.

His children knowledge, and the memories he forced them to share brought many things to light. Sounness first, then others when he had children display their knowledge to him. He had at first tried to believe it was a trick on Sounness part, to put her mothers in a bad light. But he couldn’t hold on to that lie, not in the face of every child showing the same set of memories. He no longer blamed them for scheming to have their mothers removed. One can’t beat children into submission and expect loyalty.

He had asked Sounness and others if that form of teaching, of training, was the norm. To his anguish, they confirmed it was for the most part. But told that Unthee was more harsh than most, but the underlining training was the same for all.

‘I wonder how many of these coups had more to do with children getting even with their parents? Than removing unworthy.’ He mulled over the thought as he watched the Maidens now be surrounded by Servants who flowed into his room. They carried and hovered trays of food with them, plus basins of water, some for drinking, most to clean the Maidens hands. Dailin studied them, though the pregnancies were taking a heavy toll, they appeared happy, content. None looked like the kind of people who would harm a child. Yet Dailin knew or suspected from the new knowledge. That all of them had beaten a child or two in their time. Played a hand in training a batch of children at some point.

‘I can’t trust any of these women to raise a child. Not properly anyway.’ He was glad he hadn’t let anger cloud him, had him banished a large remnant of his children when hey killed Tealhun. He was going to need them, who better to watch over children. To make sure their new brothers and sisters didn’t fall victim to the same cruelty they had. Though given their nature Dailin had presented a reward to them, if they accomplished what he asked.

He would forgive them, mostly. Enough that he would begin showering them in warmth again. That had gotten their interest more than he had expected, enough that even Sounness had looked up to stare him at him. He saw emotions in her eyes, saw them come alive for a short moment before the cloud of an empty shell returned.

They had told him after that his will would be done, the new batch of children would be guarded most feverously. Vollow had been very animated about expressing this, of his three Advisors his son, was fairing the worst without the warmth of his words. Out of pity, Dailin had given them a small embrace of his caring, enough warmth for them to notice accompanied with a smile. They had reacted to it instantly as they exhaled, their bodies began to relax, and postures going slack.

After that, once he secede the flow his Advisors returned to normal formal selves, only interrupted by the occasional shaking of their hands. For the better part of an hour, they had asked him questions, how he wanted things done. He explained, and as they watched and listen he couldn’t help notice how focus they’d become. As if they were putting every word to memory. They had left him in haste after, eager to get to work even though at the time the children were still months away from being birthed.

Dailin rose as he saw the last of the Maidens leave, and a host of Servants headed in his direction. He walked towards them stepping off the bed. After a portion of the Servants went about stripping the mattress of its sheets. Some went to ready the bath, while the rest circled around him. A water basin was placed in front of him where he washed his hands, only then did they move the tray of food near enough that he could grab something he wanted. Though he was never given the chance as the food was pressed against his lips by foreign hands long before he attempted to grab a piece himself.

They escorted him to his private bath, where all the uncomfortable experience transpired. They were slow at their work, taking their time now that the large influx of women wanting to sleep with him had subsided, mostly. But Dailin was plenty aware that is was largely due to the Servants getting lost in daydreams as they looked and washed his body. He did his best to ignore the attention, it was better for the Servants that he didn’t show interest.

They were quite beautiful, and even though they were classed as Servants they have the Mana veins to be well-cared for Chanters in the lower Tiers. Still, Dailin was not willing to take the risk of one of them getting killed for not being Worthy enough to bear children, not again. His House rule may keep order, but only to a point if he started doing things many considered unacceptable they may act out. So during the whole affair even as women rubbed him in sensitive places far longer than necessary he kept his eyes closed, and mind distant. Only surfacing from his shallow trance when hands began to tug at his arms and waist.

They were slow drying him as well, and to clothe him. Some, when he gave enough attention to notice, looked saddened once fabric block the view of his vessel. Only then did they pick up the pace, drying his hair quickly and combing it straight which had become more difficult as it was past shoulder length now. By the time he exited the bath his chamber table was covered in trays of cooked food. He saw two Servants in his small kitchen still cooking more for him. Someone before he ever arrived here, must have talked about how much he could eat. It was likely one of the main reasons this room was selected to be his Chamber.

As he was guided to the table, he found himself still marveling at the concept that all the dishes displayed were meant for him to eat alone. He could if he dared to let himself. But Dailin didn’t want people to wonder how he was able to eat enough food that it should be larger than his whole body mass. That even after the meal, he had a slender stomach, rather than looking like an over pregnant woman, or his stomach simply bursting.

As he sat and dished were placed closer to him, he recalled the time he had offered to share his meal with those around him. All had swiftly refused, heads bowing, proclaiming they were far too lowly to be allowed such an honor. He wanted to push the matter, but at the time the small coup had just happened, and he didn’t want an excuse to rise for another one. So he held his tongue, as he did now.

Though Dailin still had plenty of time before his tasks would need tending he still only allowed himself to eat for half an hour. He had ordered a Servant to make sure of it, to wake him from his food-induced trance. If not, if Dailin wasn’t careful he could, or would only wake from improving himself once every last scrap of food was gone. Or maybe after someone came to disturb him, with the number of servants around they would do their best to always keep the food coming.

He was spreading out his Mana vines more when he felt a tug on his clothing and the chime of a bell. His hand stopped mid-stride of grabbing another spiced mushroom. A pile of dishes were being floated away as he returned his attention back to the realm. To his surprise he found his Advisors already in attendance, spending their time waiting for him by trying some of the food strewn across the table.

He caught their attention when he summoned water to wash his hands, and a flick of will had the water vanish and his hands made dry. He smiled at them “Matters?” he asked, “I hope none are ill.”

His Advisors bowed to him, Uoth with her short stature disappeared behind the stacked platters of food when doing so. “Founder a blessed Renewal to you, there are things to discuss, but none we think you will personally find ill,” Vollow said, the speaker of the three.

Dailin called out “Servants you may leave, there are High matters which must be discussed in private.” The women stopped their work and bowed to him, not once uttering a word as they left his room in an orderly manner. “Have a seat my Advisors, make yourselves comfortable.” Gesturing to a mounds of food, “Eat as much as you like, I’ve eaten my share.”

“Thank you Father” Vollow said sitting close to him, Sounness followed suit, and Uoth shorty after she grabbed a plate and piled it high with cuisine. Dailin poured himself a cup of fruit juice as he waited for them to get situated, happy to have the Servants no longer hovering around him watching his every move. Vollow didn’t make any attempts to grab more to eat, though Sounness did grab whatever was in arms reach, her gaze like most of their times together, distant.

Vollow words interrupted Dailin observations as Uoth took a seat and began shoving food down her throat. “We have questions for you first Father, pertaining to events taking place Below. You are the most informed when it comes to such cursed affairs.”

Dailin looked at his son in confusion, and his son elaborated “The Shards Father, the visions within should have Offered the knowledge we wish to acquire.”

“Of course,” Dailin said, “By all means ask away.” Even though any of his children could look through the Shards at their own volition, he didn’t keep them hidden. Only added them with the others viewed on atop one of his stands near his bed.

Vollow nodded in gratitude, “You may not be aware but many of Sanctums have sent Flocks out to push the Nightmares back, and to start new Settlements.” This peeked Dailin interest, as scenes he had witness fitted into place. The recent Shards showed new sights of battle with the horde outside. In normal tunnels, rather the mining shafts he'd become acquainted with.

“We were wondering, as rumors have begun to circulate, if these Flocks have the ability to accomplish their assigned Tasks?” His son asked

Dailin placed down the cup he had been drinking from, as a snort came from him followed with a small chuckle. All three of his Advisers looked at him, causing Dailin to cough and whip his mouth with a cloth. “No.” his Advisors went still at his simple answer, fear coming to the surface on all their faces, well except for Sounness. But she did quickly glance at her brother, placing a hand on his shoulder, which brought Vollow out of his shock.

Vollow focused his attention on Dailin, for a passing moment their eyes locked, and Vollow quickly lowered his gaze. “In what way are they failing Father?”

Again Dailin answered simply “In every way.” But continued when their looks of alarm increased. “From the visions I’ve seen the Flocks are made up mostly of Soulless, what handfuls of Chanters are with them are themselves low enough they don’t show any visible signs of Worth." he paused to let his words sink in. "The individuals I saw marching were at least armed in decent fair. But that doesn’t mean much against these new Nightmares. Nothing, compared to the Ancients that move about the horde in sizable numbers. These Flocks, if their all the same, will be crushed easily. It would only take one Ancient in the right place to lead to the destruction of a whole Flock on its own. The Chanters looked Soulless enough that using the Givers Wrath could have them spent in short order.”

Dailin stopped talking as his children became fraught with worry, mostly Vollow, but he did notice Uoth eating faster, her hands shaking. He let them have the time to digest his words, since all of them seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. While they were distracted he floated over a plate of glazed and cream filled pastries to his side. Forcing himself to take only one and sent the plate over to Uoth. The child needed it more than him.

Eventually as time passed in relative silence his curiosity got him to voice a question. “So what are these rumors about anyways?” He words snapped his Advisors out of their mussing, and back to focusing on him.

Vollow answered, “That there was going to be another wave of Flocks. That the pests outside are being more troublesome than expected.”

“Pest,” Dallin said chewing on the word. “They’re far past pests at this point son, they’re a threat to all, save for myself. As for this rumor, sounds true to me, least from what I’ve seen from the visions. They may even send another after that one too if they keep filling them with Soulless." In an off-handed remark, he added, "Might as well be feeding the things a free meal for all the effort the Nightmares have to put in to kill Soulless.”

Sounness spoke in a low whisper, “There is no more Soulless to send.”

Vollow grimaced but didn’t show any surprise at the news. To Dailin wonder, Uoth voiced words after she cleared her mouth. “The Sanctums spent the passing Arcs rounding up the Soulless and lowly, trained them, preparing them for this Task." her voice cut out as she forced down another swallow of food. "If they fail, Higher will have to take up the burden, be made to take on this Task that is below them.”

Understanding came to Dailin as those words settled into his mind. “Are you all in danger? Are my children in danger of being sent out to face this threat?”

“No,” Vollow send with conviction, “But those of the first tier, and perhaps the second, will be. The Houses of those sections we be called to Offer Worthy, and supplies to form new Flocks.”

Dailin relaxed, he didn’t want any of his children to face such monsters, even if many of them had earned that fate. “So you’re all safe for now, but it will eventually get to us, right? If the Flocks continue to fail?”

His children looked to one another, then Sounness and Uoth talked in their silent speech, leaving Vollow glaring at the two of them. “It’s hard to say, Papa,” Uoth spoke after a minute of deliberation. “It would take multiple waves of Flocks to fail before any of your blessed children would find themselves forced into service. Though during such times the Anointed would become increasingly persistent in their calls for aid.” Uoth began to play with her food, mind wondering. “They will Offer greater rewards and favors for Houses that volunteer Worthy.”

That didn’t surprise Dailin, It was a hallmark of this society, selling, and sending their children away to fight battles. He didn’t scoff at the notion, he had no right to. ‘Even I have sold children off to live in comfort.’ Every time he laid with a woman outside of his House for goods, was a mark against him. “That’s troubling to hear, but not a present problem, nor one we may ever face. If the Anointed and those Above start taking the Nightmares seriously the matter will be dealt with before it reaches us.”

His remark earned a muted calm from his Advisors, who once more look at each other, after which Vollow spoke. “Few are as informed in matters outside as you Father. Another display of your Worth and the Givers blessing upon you. That you can view the visons on cursed Shards and be left unmarked.”

Dailin raised an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me, that I, who only sifts through Shards to satiate my curiosity, am more informed than the majority of the people within the Sanctums?” His words were filled with disbelief at such a ludicrous notion.

His children bowed to him, his son speaking, “The Shards have become quite tense, the curses held within thicker than is custom. Though there may be many others who have the temperament to handle such sights, few are whiling to take the risk to find out. Even we Father, bestowed with the blessings you provided don’t look within the Shards unless absolutely necessary.” He paused seemed uncomfortable “It is how my sisters were able to sneak an Offer to you so easily when our Mother still governed, as you recall.”

Dailin grunted he had known the people around him avoided anything that pertained to the goings on outside Warded walls. But once again he found himself not fully aware of how bad a certain topic was. ‘They ignore the threat out of fear, allowing it to grow and fester into a worse situation.’ He placed a portion of the blame towards the Wards themselves, and the songs that always hung in the air. Its pull to close one's eyes and ears to the difficulties of life wasn’t something the diluted and misguided would easily free themselves from.

“I recall, it does answer why they always ignore my requests for more interesting visions.” He said. “Is there anything else you desire to know about the troubles that wait outside our blessed home?”

Vollow tuned to face his sisters, the two of them wiggling fingers and hand signs at each other after Sounness half turned to face him. Her head lowered enough that it obstructed most of her face. “There was another rumor about the Flocks, about orders being changed.” She went silent and after of period of absence, Uoth took up where Sounness left off. “Flocks instead of spreading out and headed below to push the Nightmares back. Were instead instructed to focus on Mines that have been under contest for some time. We were wondering if the visions you’ve seen could display any truth to these words?”

Dailin drummed fingers on the table as he thought, remembering the many sights he’d seen. “I could see the possibility of that, most of the Shards hold visions of battles taking place in mining networks. None of it was going well for us, the Nightmares are always winning. When there was a scene of our people gaining ground an Ancient would show up soon after to end the matter.” His words had his son looking sick with worry, while the other two spoke to each other in increasingly wild gestures. Both concerned, but better at hiding their feelings than his son.

“Even if the rumors are true,” He said interrupting their silent conversation. “It doesn’t matter, if all the recent Flocks are filled with Soulless they’ll be ground into paste in short order.” The images of Ancients flashed before his eyes, towering over everything, bodies shaped and made for conflict, for consuming the realm around them. “The petty spears Soulless use as weapons won’t penetrate the hide of those beasts. Only the Givers Wrath will be enough to put them down.”

He would have said more, but his children had heard enough as he looked upon their distressed forms. It was Vollow who recovered first as he took a deep breath and straighten himself. “You’re sure of this Father?” His tone came out neutral, but it was easy to see the hope in his eyes, the pleading that all he heard was a lie.

Dailin gave him a look of pity “Positive son, the visions themselves show me. This isn’t a fight the Soulless can win, at best they’ll delay this matter. But in the end, it’s an affair only the Worthy can settle.” His son shoulders sagged at his answer, but the worry he had displayed before remained hidden under an emotionless mask.

‘Fear’ Dailin thought ‘Is more of a threat than any problem.’ It always made things harder, more impossible to face, and this race was full of it. Though he supposed it was warranted, large crab mixed insects weren’t something one could scoff at. But there will come a point all of them will be forced to face it. At least that’s what the visions pointed to after reviewing all he’d seen within the Shards. The beasts weren’t slowing, even with thousands killed, more just kept coming, bigger and meaner than the previous ones. One day those things will be hammering at Sanctum walls, then, then Dailin was sure people will stop calling the Nightmares pests.

“Thank you, Father, for your wisdom.” Vollow said as he glanced at his sisters, both of whom were still talking to each other.

“Your welcome son, though I wonder, with this knowledge what will you three do now? What, my Advisors should be done?”

Vollow turned to his sisters, Sounness made a hand sign, and Vollow nodded before training his attention back to Dailin. “Gather supplies in bulk mainly, Hearts will be a top priority, but also metals, clothing, items of high value we can trade later. Most of it will be used to Offer support to Flocks so the Anointed won’t come asking you to offer Worthy.”

Dailin gave a short laugh, 'The hell I would,' he thought. His laugh lengthed as he thought of what could do to help. “Should I start sleeping with more women, seduce them out of their precious materials?” his son didn’t join in his humor only nodded. “That would be of great help Father.”

“Oh” Dailin said “Well I suppose one of you or the Maidens can start excepting more requests. Whatever it takes to make my House secure for the difficult times ahead of us.” He added, “I’m sure it will be many women, given prices are about to rise.”

“Not yet” Uoth spoke, hiding much of her frame behind Sounness. “But in an Arc yes. That will be enough time for people to verify the rumors as we have, and the visions that will be coming back from the Flocks. Visions of failure, from what you claim, prices will rise quickly after.”

“Metals most of all” Sounness said her head low, and slightly pointed away from him. “With mines being lost those will rise the most.”

Dailin hummed as he leaned into his chair, the troubling news guiding his hands and thoughts as the tray of pastries floated back over to him. “I suppose it’s a good thing the Soulless are gone then, making their spears might become pointless given the rising expenditure.” He took a large bite of a glazed roll as he thought. ‘Praise to the gods I’m not at the bottom anymore.’ He ate in silence as his daughters wiggled hands at each other, while Vollow sat there motionless, eyes distant and his hand bunch up tight into fists.

Dailin shallow trance as he guided Mana around out of habit stopped, when his hand kept moving around on the platter. He looked and found the once full tray was now bare, rolling his eyes he returned his attention back to his children. All of whom had been waiting on him. “Oh, apologies my mind wonders at times, is there something else?”

They bowed Vollow speaking for the group “No need for apologies Father, we know the Givers blessings wait for no one. As for matters, there is the question about you future children.”

“Speak it then,” he said idly dusting off the collection of crumbs that gathers on his shirt.

“We were wondering if the children will be allowed to travel away to other Houses to gain knowledge more privileged?” Vollow lowered himself more when the words were spoken,

“No” Dailin said, his tone adamant and without reproach. “My children are to stay with the confines of my House, and near me as much as possible. I will not have a repeat of what you all went through.” Breathing out as he thought, “But if the information is Worthy enough, I will send one of you or the older of my blood to gain the knowledge. They then can be the ones to train my new batch of offspring.”

“That will be sufficient,” Sounness said as she gestured something to her sister.

“Good” Dailin commented as he eyed more trays of desserts. “Anything else? Perhaps news of more people that need to be banished from my House?” the question had the desired effect as his children bunched in on themselves. “No Father,” Vollow said in a frightened tone “None would be foolish enough to undertake such a venture after your display.”

Dailin smiled, but it quickly soured as he thought of the many he could have saved if he had thought of that rule sooner. “Well if there’s nothing else, your free to leave, and take some trays with you, if your find them to your liking.” His children rose bowed to him, Uoth began hovering plates about her. “Oh, and make sure the Maidens know they’re allowed to except more Offers for my time.”

“It will be done Father,” Vollow said, and guided Uoth away when she was apparently taking too much time selecting trays to take. Dailin breathed out slowly when the door closed shut and he was left alone. ‘More informed than most? Gods how blind are they?’ He thought as he got comfortable and willed desserts to him. The urge to improve growing heavy with the news of incompetence.