Dailin was adrift in a sea of bliss, joy surrounded him, accompanied by the feeling of someone watching over him, caring for him, such as a mother tending to her child. He breathed in and exhaled slowly falling deeper into the trance he had spun. His fears, worries, dread and last instinct were far off away from him. He could though, if he focused, pick up on the thumping instinct was making. An image of a fist slamming against a sea of caring emotions that kept them away. He needed this reprieve after his son had delivered his ‘Blessed’ news. Dailin was beyond embarrassed over the actions that followed when he had been struck cleanly with fear. He’d lost his composure, had let all surrounding him see just how distraught he was.

He was especially ashamed when he grabbed his boy on the shoulders and began shaking him violently. Dailin had forgotten his strength in his time of panic. Had harmed his son rather badly by the force of his grip, the act had jotted him back to his senses when he heard and felt shoulder blades shatter. Felt his son blood-curdling scream came pouring out. The rest had happened in a blur, people pushing themselves back from him, fearfully they would be next. Dailin had ignored them, hastily weaving Mana to repair the damage he had done. His sons crying had softened after but remained and his boy pleaded through his sobbings for a second chance, for mercy.

He had held his son, told him all was well, as he smothered his boy in waves of comforting thoughts and emotions, made the tears stop as Vollow fell into a deep sleep. Dailin recalled carrying his boy in his arms as he left the Maidens both confused and dazed by the effects of his spell. Something that happened to all he passed down the halls as he headed for his meditation Chamber. He had needed to be alone, needed time away from the pressure mounting against him. Away from a realm that was dead set on killing him, and everyone else.

It didn’t feel all that important or scary now, as he floated in a realm of bliss, of caring, in a place that should be the norm. Rivers of Mana, he imagined what the sight would look like. Water that was not, Mana so thick it was visible, the substance would be glowing, bathing the half-light realm outside in dazzling colors. It would lure everything in sight to it. The Nightmares would not take long to find the rivers.

‘Unless’ a disturbing realization came to him, but only that, the bliss wouldn’t let anything more than mild discomfort effect this place, and only because he demanded it.

‘The Rivers have already been found.’ Could be the reason instinct was throwing ever worse tantrums, why the pressure he felt was doubling in weight each time it occurred. He had thought it the Mines, the crystals they were consuming the cause. But if they got their claws on a river of Mana, began lapping in the liquid. ‘Gods, what will they become?’

Instinct hammered loudly against the barrier that separated them, and bliss smothered him more for it, keeping the darkening thoughts back and failing because unlike those around him, he wanted to know what was happening. Needed to, it was better to know your fear, rather than a masked one. Bliss gave way, loosen and instinct screamed ‘Doom comes!’

Simple as always, but so very true. The Vail were doomed, they had been on the defense since the beginning, and that was both he had arrived. Now the Nightmares had access to Rivers of Mana. That for some odd reasons were flowing down from above. There was no telling where the Rivers would pool, but it didn’t matter, for the Nightmares controlled all of the realms outside. They would find them eventually.

Then, Dailin wasn’t too sure, Doom for certain, but what shape? Would a Swarm of Ancients come hammers against the Walls, would be something else above them arrive? The Beasts were using Mana to grow themselves after all, how large would they become with Rivers worth of the stuff? Normally he would have felt a shiver run through him, but bliss stood close, kept the worst back.

‘What can I do?’ he thought, his plan to improve himself till he was above the threat was an impossibility now. The Wards wouldn’t keep him safe for much longer either. ‘Staying here solves nothing, I can’t outbreed those things either, even with Hosts of children with my strength it won’t be enough.’

If it was instinct wouldn’t be hounding him, be screaming doom at him with ever-growing urgency. ‘Staying here and repeating actions that aren’t helping, it’s absurd, Foolish, Its.” Dailin paused as the thought came to him ‘suicidal.’ Bliss came closer, holding him tight, he ignored it and focused on that thought. ‘Would the act of not acting damn me?’ Would he fall further down in these realms of madness for not doing everything in his power to hold off death? ‘Yes,’ he answered to himself. For he knew now, knew his actions were leading to suicide. So if he continued with them, knowing that, then he would have committed the act with the explicit intention of dying, and then the cycle would repeat.

He needed a new course of action, the Vail couldn’t be trusted to handle the growing threat, they like every other time will just ignore it, hoping ignorance will make the problem go away. He needed to find the Rivers his son mentioned. But for that he needed support, there was no telling where the Rivers of Mana would end up, besides it was a jungle of weaving tunnels out there. It would take him ages to find a single one on his own, and by then the Nightmares would have gotten to it first. With the speed they were eating the crystals in mines, they’ll soon run out and start looking for new sources. Find more Rivers as the substance continued rushing downwards to their level.

Hesitantly Dailin stopped the flow of his spell, let the illusion of bliss begin to fade. Instinct and dread came rushing at him, the weight of their demands coming back in full. He grunted and pushed back, spent a minute or two getting used to the burden again.

He sighed out tiredly, already exhausted and he hadn’t even done anything. He wasn’t made for this, the constant stress, fear, and now dread always hanging over his shoulders. Was a carefree life so much to ask for? A life without burdens, or worry, a life where each day was a wonder to behold, was bliss.

Nothing answered his thoughts, The Mana in him did for a moment, then stopped, even that desire seemed too much for it on its own.

Huffing he dispersed the thoughts and focused on his surrounding, on his son. His poor boy was lying on the floor, knocked asleep by his spell, and kept there by the continued flow of his hymn. Dailin sat down next to him, unhappy to see what he had done to his son, even if it had been accidental, and in the past, he deserved some punishment for his actions. But having one's shoulders shattered was a step too far. It wasn’t something a person could forget all that well. Dailin wondered if his son would ever get over the experience of it. Forgive that his own farther broke the House rule and harmed him, family harming family.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he caressed his son's cheek. He would have liked to let his boy sleep away his spell, but there were things to be done, and as they put it, cursed knowledge to be spread. So reluctantly he softly shook his child while calling his name “Vollow,” he said in a sweet voice.

Vollow began to stir awake, his eyes opening and closing repeatedly as his body struggled to pull itself from the deep sleep that it had been infused with. Slowly his son became more aware of his surroundings, then jolted awake with a start. His child pushed away from him, wide-eyed and confused as his head swiveled around taking in the sights, trying to figure out where he was.

Vollow stopped pushing away from him when he noticed who he was trying to get away from. His son demeanor changed instantly then. “Father?” he said baffled, then felt his shoulders, confusion growing. “I, was it a dream?” Vollow mumbled to himself.

“No Son,” Dailin said keeping his voice soft and filled with Mana to make it soothing. He pulled his child closer, the strength of his molded limps making it horribly easy. He held his son in a hug, and gently rubbed his back. Vollow returned it and held him tight, a child unwilling to let go. “Please Father, give me another chance, I won’t fail to please you, just one more chance I will sh—“

Dailin let out a hushing sound as he pushed his son far enough away that they could speak eye to eye. Vollow whimpered as the distance spread between them.

“Its alright son,” Dailin said adding more Mana to his words to calm his boy. “Everything is well, you did not fail me, you found what I asked for, you completed your Task.”

Vollow looked at him both relieved and befuddled. “But I was punished? I failed to please you!” he added with zealous verve.

Dailin showed a pained look, brought about by the word punished. “I lost myself for a moment, son, I’m sorry for what I did to you.” He said holding his son's hands in his own. “I forget at times how much I’ve changed, how easy to is for me to harm people if I’m not careful. If my emotions get the better of me.”

“Do you hurt anywhere?” Dailin asked.

Vollow moved his shoulders some before shaking his head. “All is blest Fathers,” his son said tightening his grip on Dailin hands. The contact helped his son relax, the worst of his trembling ebbing off as he stared at the floor. “Apologies Father for misinforming you, I’ll take care in my pronouncement that news is blessed, even when it appears to be.”

“That may be the best for both of us in the future” Dailin admitted in a half laugh, better than letting his emotions get the better of him again. He could be careless with his Rune child, but his oldest? No, they were fragile beings that he could crush with utter ease.

Dailin gently pulled his son into a hug again, Vollow putting up no resistance as he leaned into him. There they sat on the floor in silence for some time, neither willing to end the moment. Dailin thought of the news, Rivers of Mana the literal worst possible thing to be happing in truth. If it was under their control, it would have tipped the scales in their favor. He alone could have improved himself to the point he’d no longer be in danger. So he could see why his son had thought the news brought to him was good. They didn’t know the truth, the danger all of them were in. But if he was going to get things underway, have a chance of his family surviving. They would need to, no matter how cursed they saw it.

The scenarios that planned in his mind weren’t well, no matter how he pictured it, based off how they reacted before, people were going to on into shock. Maybe even for the first time try to label what he said as lies. Call him out as the falsehood he was, a fraud speaking for the Giver when he had no right.

“Father?” Vollow voice, his head resting on Dailin shoulder. “I’ve sifted through the knowledge provide me, yet I can find nothing that would make the news presented cursed, its blessed no matter what way I look at it. An abundance of Souls come towards us, the strength our House would gain from extracting them would make us stable of Cycles to come. Maybe to the point, we would never have to worry over it again.

Dailin sighed, for there was no path ahead of him that would let the truths he knew stay hidden. His family had to know, regardless of the stress it was going to put on them. Dailin words came out with soothing aspects to them as he spoke. “All you said is true, under the right circumstances this would be truly blessed news indeed. But times are different and I know truths none of you are aware of yet.” He felt Vollow grip on his hand tighten. “I had hoped to keep these truths away from all of you, to bear them alone so the rest of you could carry out your Tasks unburdened. But situations are not aliening in my favor, so the truth must be known.”

Moving his Legs in place Dailin rose from the floor, Vollow following suit, hanging on to him as he did so. “Come,” Dailin said motioning to the door, “the rest need to hear this.” Vollow hand remained locked to his as they left, and remained all the way back to his Chamber. The Chanters lining the halls had their head inclined, none moving as he passed, as all were on edge. Many of them had collapsed as he passed carrying his son in his arms. His spell had been in full effect after all. That and he wouldn't be surprised if word had spread an Advisor had been punished and he wasn't in a good mood.

Dailin glance down to his hand joined with Vollow, recalled similar times walking with his children hands intertwined. They were the correct size in his past lives, unlike now where he had adult children. He frequently forgot that for much of the time they acted in ways that made them seem mature. But there were occasions like now, where the truth shown through. They were still children inside, scared children looking for a parent to hold them, to care for them. Something in terribly short supply in this accursed realm.

When his Chamber came into view, the Chanters guarding the entrance flinched as they hurriedly opened the doors. Even though he wasn’t all that close. When he entered with his son, he found many of the Maidens with dried tears on their cheeks. Angrily tears mostly, the opening of the doors may have stopped whatever heated arguments they were having, but he could still see the effects from it. People were tense, many with reddened faces. His other two Advisors who’d been left behind, looked troubled.

‘They probably think they’re going to lose one of their own.’ He thought as he worked his way to his chair, Maidens rushing to ready it for him, pulling it away from the table. Vollow separated from him, head lowered as he made for his own spot at the table. Eyes followed his son, like hounds readying for a kill. Dailin knew how badly people wanted to have his ear, to be able to whisper to him, have more sway in the direction of his House. They were doubtfully all planning who was to take Vollow place. ‘There all going to be rather disappointed.’ He thought as he sat in his chair. Naturally sinking into its soft cushions as he leaned heavy back into the fabric.

He was starting to feel old again, sitting down shouldn’t bring about such relief, but with the weight of dread pressing down on him, it sadly did. Maidens pushed his chair back into place facing the people around his table. Sounness and Uoth were glaring at their brother, who in turn flash a single hand sign at them. They looked confused, then visibly relaxed.

His Prime Maiden shared the look of confusion, which disappeared, swiftly hidden away. ‘That’s right, no one is being punished today, no open rank to bargain for.’ Well Vollow had been punished, having one's shoulders shattered wasn’t something that could be slighted away as an inconvenience. ‘All because I lost my nerve, and the Mana got excited.’ With the labyrinth of Mana veins running through his body, through muscles, he had to be more careful. He could, after all, punch through stone now if he wanted. That was not a strength that could be handled nonchalantly.

He heard people shuffling, moving closer to each, normally the noise would have gone unnoticed, but the Chamber was eerily silent. No one was speaking, and Dailin could feel everyone’s eyes were on him and his son. He breathed out loudly to gather people’s attention, but it was mostly a delaying tactic, he very much didn’t want to have this conversation.

“Know that nothing is going to be done with Vollow, my Advisor did nothing wrong, I was merely caught off guard by the knowledge he shared.” Dailin summed up. His son relaxed, plus his sisters by his side. Zellebeth looked, disappointed, but hide it away, an opinion many of the Maidens were sharing in, some not as well at hiding their feelings. Quite a few looks of irritation were thrown in Vollow direction, but the boy didn’t notice them as he had his gaze on the table hands out in front of him clenched together. Dailin noticed they were trembling some, the scene making him feel pain. Even with the assurances, they had in private it seemed his son still feared punishment to befall him.

Dailin spoke again, pulling everyone’s attention back towards him and away from giving his son death glances. “My Advisor accomplish his Task, found the reason why the Givers burden weighs heavily upon me.” That got their attention, many looking thoroughly confused, they had been there to hear Vollow words, before Dailin had a nervous breakdown, to his shame. They certainly believed in the same manner that the Rivers were a good thing. Maybe in his absence, someone else delivered more news on the matters, making them even more baffled by his statement.

Dailin opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out as the words caught in his thought, worry getting the better of him, second thoughts keeping him from acting. His jaw closed, and he found he was also twiddling his thumbs together. People began to look at him funny, then with worries of their own, eyes turned towards Vollow again, he’d looked up and was staring at him.

His boy turned to the masses of people around them sitting on the floor as he wore a mask of calm. “Fa- Our Divine as cursed knowledge to share with us, knowledge he'd hoped to shelter all of us from, but the news I brought this Ration has forced his hand.”

Dailin grimaced, he had been looking for ways to tell them gently, somehow, or not at all. It was a rather difficult puzzle to solve, given the news mainly told them they were all going to die if everyone stayed here and continued the same routines. It wasn’t something anyone would take well, these people even more so.

Dailin sighed loudly, forcing the words out. “You all know the Nightmares consume people” slow nods followed his pronouncement. “But, they also eat our Souls.” The silence that followed was palpable, all those present went still.

“What?” He heard Zellebeth say in a low mumble.

“I’m sure none of you know the reason why Nightmares are so invested in taking and holding our mines. It’s not for the metals there, nor the large chasms that have been mined out that they use for nesting. It is for the crystal-like structures there. Structures that hold Souls within them, I’m sure our own kind uses them as well. From the Shards, I gained the vision of Nightmares, and Ancients eating that substance with absolute need. From it I watched them grow in size, in strength.” Dailin stopped talking, though no sound was being made, those around him looked ready to kill over.

So he hummed, pushed out a wave of warmth, not worried about the amount he was releasing, if they fell asleep he didn’t mind, he could always try again later. He didn’t need all of them, just his Advisors, and Zellebeth. Both of whom weren’t faring any better, Vollow, his poor boy, was looking panicked like the rest of them. The calm demeanor he’d been showing was gone.

People began to slouch, and lean against each other, many had closed their eyes, but not from sleep. They were scrunched together, people forcing them closed, forcing themselves into the bliss he was singing them. He increased the flow of his spell, and people gasp in a mix of relief, and the sound of pleasure. He kept his spell going for a few minutes, by then many were dozing, falling into a deep sleep. However, the moment his singing stopped, all present shrieked awake. “NO” many of them screamed as they turned and looked at him crazed. Shivering, they were shivering so terribly.

“More Protector.” Some chanted, “The curses they still claw at us, please help us, bring her back” others spoke. “Your light we need your Light” most pleaded. Dailin was shocked by their conditions, he had known these uncomfortable truths would unsettle them. But what he was seeing was a different matter, which was ill considering he hadn’t told them everything yet. Dailin looked at those around his table found them in the same state, though none had voiced a complaint, their eyes spoke clearly to him, especially Vollow.

He began to hum again, not near the level as before, just enough to help them weather the fears they were fighting with. He spoke as he sung the benefits of an improved throat. “You’ll get no more, till this discussion is over.” He said his voice reverberating in the air. He saw and heard Maidens begin to whimper, some outright cried.

“I still have more to tell.” Dailin said “These rivers of souls, they are the reason for my torrent. The Nightmares, as they do to the mines are feeding off them, consuming all the souls heading down into the depths. With the amount in their reach, many of the Nightmares will become Ancients.”

“Lies” a woman began to cry out. “It has to be the working of the curses trying to claim you.” Others voiced in protest.

“You call the Giver a lier?” he bellowed out, the air rippling with thunder as the Mana magnified his words. “Claim that her blessing she placed upon me is wrong?” The Maidens around him prostrated themselves, chanting forgiveness, and claiming they spoke in haste, the curses taking them. Dailin looked at the host, his own worries growing, ‘They act this way even under the effects of my spell, how will others fair?’ How long will it take the truth to spread, if it causes such reactions from the people who heard it?

Dailin feared the answer might be never, at least not till the beasts were at the gates, hammering the walls down around them and flatting the city under their colossal frames.

The Maidens continued chanting at him, begging for more of his Light, pleading he'd not fill them with more curses. That they were at their limit, they could bear no more. His temper got the better of him, “There are no curses!” He said with conviction, his word echoing loudly making the women flinch “Only truths you refuse to accept.” Those around him began to cry more, wailing for his Light, wailing for bliss. “There isn’t the time anymore,” he said ignoring them, forcing them to listen to his words. “The time of blindness must come to an end, or all that awaits us is a swarm made of Ancients. All of you know what follows that. ‘Doom’ hammered Instinct in his mind.

“If any of you still question the wisdom of my words, know I kept all the Shards that display the Worth of them. Any of you are welcome to look inside, see the visions for yourselves.” He heard a disjointed series of no’s from all the Maidens, then crying lots of the crying. A glance let him see that Zellebeth had curled into a ball in her chair. His two daughters were clinging to each other, while Vollow was slumped on the table head held in his hands. He looked to be in shock, a growing number of them in fact as he surveyed the room. So contrary to his words he increased the flow of his spell, bathed them in warmth, till their crying stopped. There were whimpers for some time but those too fell away as he continued ranking up the Mana in his spell.

He sang to them for over an hour, sang even when none of them were left awake. For he was singing for himself as well, not that he needed it, but the echoes of a magical hymn was pleasant to listen to. A decent distraction to the many worries swirling in his mind.

‘Are the leaders of the Sanctums like this?’ He considered ‘Acting with poorly laid plans, not out of incompetence, but a lack of knowledge and fear?’ He wondered if any of those above him truly knew what was going on, and how bad it was. His son had said he was the most informed when it came to affairs below. Dailin was being to see that his son may have been more arcuate with that statement than either of them had understood. Even with his spell soothing them, the supposed ‘Worthy’ still fought to accept the truth he showed. He could understand some caution to his words the needed the validate them. He had prepared for such if the time ever called for it. He had skimmed the mountain of Shards he had, the best he could. Found the ones that held visions of the Mines. Now that he knew what he was looking for it became easy to spot all the places where Nightmares had eaten away at walls.

He had wasted hours, for nothing. His own refused to look at the evidence, refused to see reason, because of the harshness the picture showed. None of them were safe, at least not for long.

‘The Nightmares themselves could likely already break through the Sanctum Walls if they wanted.’ He thought the fear of that was dull as he was encased in his own spell of bliss. But he could still feel it there, calling to gain his attention. Like all the other ill thoughts.

He sighed as he secedes the spell, let silence return as he waited for those around him to stir awake. It could be hours before they did, but there was nothing he could change, he wanted them in their best condition to face the problems he presented. Problems the Vail as a whole were going to have to deal with soon and considered how well his own House leadership was taking things, it wasn’t going to go well. The thought of it had his mind turning to the Flocks that were being formed in mad haste.

‘Those will be crushed just as easily as the first.’ he reflected with bitterness, many of his own goods were going to help make some of those, it sat ill with him it was all going to be a waste. Even with Gifted making up the Flocks the opposition they were going to be facing was beyond steep at this point. The Shards he viewed were old, he wouldn’t be taken by surprises if the Nightmares had already emptied the Mines of the crystals they had found, had become enlarged. The Beast had been eating the substance in an impulsive manner, with the numbers he’d seen, and the endless waves of them out in the tunnels, he was decently confident the Mines were gone. That the Beasts will be improved to the point that the thinly Gifted beings sent out weren’t going to last long.

‘Then what will happen?’ he wondered. ‘How will those up top handle the second wave of Flocks smashed aside by foes more powerful than the last?’ Not well he concluded, and given they were unwilling to face the truth of the situation, they would take more steps that would fail to alleviate the danger all of them were in.

‘Doom’ pushed Instinct, “Doom” he whispered in turn. That was the path the Vail was on, had been long before he arrived, things were just speeding up now. All because of the Mana flooding down from above, and wasn’t that something he badly wanted to know why.

Frighten gasps began to echo around him as, to his surprise, Maidens began to wake. They shivered, in a way that they appeared sick. Women clung to each other tighter, in turn, began crying again, to his annoyance. ‘These truths aren’t that horrible.’ He complained, but then again his view was distorted. Once all was done, even if he failed, death was sadly not the end. Off he would be to another realm, and he prayed to the gods that it would be even slightly better than the one he was in now. A place more loving, a place where people weren’t fellow monsters to watch out for.

“The Light,” a Maiden said to him, others once hearing echoed the words. All those that had awakened looked to him with pleading eyes, stained with tears. “The Light” they chanted, before others added more “Please Protector, Divine, please the Light, your warmth, bring back Bliss.” It felt as if he was listening to a disjointed chorus being sung to him. Sighing he gave them what they wanted, needed by the looks of it. He didn’t hold back this time, one moment the room was cold, the next it was smothered in a thick blanket of bliss. The Maidens dropped, many face first into the make shifts bedding they reclined themselves on all day.

He kept the spell going for half an hour, hoping it was enough to give them the strength to not mentally break down again. ‘Well, this was a complete mistake.’ He thought as he looked at the idle forms, he’d known they be miffed about the knowledge he had, but this.

‘I should have played the Giver commands me card.’ Or something else that gave him divine authority or excuse to get them to carry out orders he’d normally never give, orders they would have questioned if he had kept them out of the loop. Instead, now he had a room of traumatized women and children that needed his care.

Dailin sat there watching them for hours, the last blast of his spell enough to push their panic attacks away. Not once during that time did someone enter into his room, not a single servant, even though it was time for them to provide his last meal. Not that he needed them to, once he felt a bit famished, he carefully walked his way through the tide of sleeping women to his Chamber garden, plucking flowers and oddly shaped fruit that he enjoyed. He could have attempted cooking something for himself, but with the amount of noise, it would have made he reluctantly declined to take the chance.

He ate quietly till he heard the intakes of breaths. Turning, he saw limbs begin to move as people slowly stirred from their sleep. People rose to sitting positions, rubbing their eyes, as others groaned from being disturbed. Dailin watched, waiting, praying, then one of the Maidens jolted to fully awareness eyes going wide, and Dailin let out a disgruntled sigh. For the woman began to shiver, the act spreading like a disease as others looked at her, remembered themselves and fell into their own fits of panic.

Dailin rolled his eyes and it stared upward, “Save me.” He murmured as watched back to his chair, women shuffling out of the way as he did. He fell into his seat, and without prompting from the Maidens who were looking at him with doe eyes, began singing. They relaxed, but stayed upright, as the spell he wove was weak, he didn’t want to waste any more time. Those around his table had remained asleep, so he gently prodded them with a will of Mana. They groaned and moved to get comfortable again, so he prodded them once more. Sounness was the first to wake, and sent an annoyed glare at him, which withered instantly as her eyes widen in recognition. She looked away began shaking her two siblings with little care. “I’m awake” Uoth mumbled out in complaint. “You needn’t be so aggressive I’ll take care of your desir-"

Sounness put a hand other his sister lips and forced his head to look in Dailin direction. He smiled at her, as his child looked at him in utter horror, began to shiver, and Dailin smile became strained.

Vollow woke with little commotion, and rested his hands in his head as before. Even though he had slept for hours, his son looked exhausted. Zellebeth didn’t look much better, once she had awoken she returned to a tight constrained curled position in her chair. At least she wasn’t crying now, but she looked miserable even under his warmth.

‘Doomed indeed’ he thought, but he would fight till the end, even with a race of fools who ignored the dangers around them. He had to, he couldn’t risk being born into another realm of this nature again. The next one might not have Mana in such high amounts, and Dailin didn’t want to be a bottom feeder in realm near this lunacy.

“Protector-“

He cut the woman off “You’re not getting more.” He said in a rough tone, people whimpered and hugged each other tighter. “Enough time has been wasted, you all must accept the wisdom I have provided, the Wards and the lies they sing to you will only lead to our end.”

“Please Divine” Zellebeth said in tired tone “We aren’t like you, able to stand against the worst the curses have to Offer.”

Dailin looked at her agitated “They’re truths, facts, not curses, whatever ill your feeling is you finally coming to terms with the weight of the situation we're in.” he leaned closer to her “That all the actions we’ve been performing are leading us further to doom. To our destruction at the hands of Beasts that will feast on our still living bodies.” Zellebeth looked away from him, sniffling as fresh tears began to form, but unlike the others, she fought them back, tried to contain her crying. An improvement compared to the many around him whimpering anew.

He took comfort and pride that his children were not in their number. His daughters sighed at each other, while his son remained dazed, numbly staring at the table surface.

“Once you’ve come to accept this.” He said raising his voice “It will become easier to face more of the things our kind avoid to gaze upon. Be able to form plans that will actually aid in preserving our kind.” His words were rewarded with more tears and fearful cries. So Dailin leaned into his chair, still humming a tune and waited for them to tire themselves out.

One by one crying turned to whimpers, then silence as Maidens followed in his son example. Faces plain, eyes distant, as they stared at nothing in general. Soon the room was only marred with the sounds of his humming. Seeing that there was an improvement, he increased the magnitude of his spell, enough to encourage their behavior, to fortify it. Also because he enjoyed watching the scene before him. Of Maidens that once would be scheming to kill each other, were instead huddled close, intertwined as if they were lovers supporting each other in troubled times.

“What would you have us do?” his son said pulling Dailin from his thoughts, away from the sight of Maidens seeking comfort. He son was looking at him with eyes matching Sounness emptiness. Dailin made his words soft weaving more Mana into them. “Send more Hosts out, find the Rivers, they are the key to this matter. With each lost to the Nightmares, the closer our doom comes, the sooner our illusion of safety will come to an end.”

Vollow eyes looked directly into his, some life returning to them. “Then what?’ Once Rivers are found even claimed, in what manner do you wish them best used?”

Dailin smiled “Then? I’ll do what the Giver had always asked of me, I’ll consume the Rivers myself, and prepare for her blessing.” That brought much life his son’s eyes, wide with surprise. A motion followed by all. Gone was the fear that hung heavy over the room, burnt away by the rising of hope as people looked at him with reverence.

---------------------

With the Protector, their Preserver gone, the cold within her came back in full, the void he filled becoming more apparent with each partying of his Light. She shivered her body in protest of being away from Divinity, but her Divine had departed to check on his blessed children when they had finally embraced is wisdom. Zellebeth rose from her chair, shivering from head to paw, and walked slowly over to her Bondmates. The two of them were bond together but they separated as she neared and held her tight when she laid with them on the floor. The contact helped some, as much one could Offer when separated by the Light. It was better than facing the cold alone.

She heard a giggle, so sweet and merry, so warm. Her eyes widened as it came back to her in full, the dream, Bliss.

‘You’re not alone dear child, not as long as he has need of you. Not as long as you serve him fully.’ Bliss whispered softly in her ear. Her shivering stop for the most part, as a spark of the Divine light, shined within her. Zellebeth felt Bliss wrap her arms around her, humming a slight tune, the Divine tune. ‘I’m here dear children, now focus, do you hear them?’ Bliss asked.

Zellebeth did, the Wards, they spoke loudly to her now, begging her to turn from the curses she now faced head own, before it chilled her, but now the worst of it was kept away by Bliss. Letting her gaze upon the wisdom without torment.

‘You are safe, the Nightmares will never reach you, the Divine is cursed, consumed, turn from his lies before you are taken as well.’ Zellebeth smashed the words away with a force of will, Bliss helping her in the act.

‘Cursed?’ she laughed in her mind ‘The Light, the Protector, Perseverer, the Givers Champion.’ It was a thought to scoff at. The Wards had overstepped themselves, revealed their own lies, and oh how badly she wanted to accept them. But one little recall of the Light and is Divinity and Bliss holding her tight and that desire died. ‘There are no curses, only truths.’ Bliss recited in her mind, put it to memory, a mandate brought down from the Giver, guidance for all that had gone astray. Provided to them for the troubling times ahead.

‘Nightmares consuming souls.’ The thought had a new wave of chills running down her. Then Bliss brushed them aside. ‘There, there my child, all is well.’ Zellebeth relaxed in Bliss embrace and looked upon the truths presented to her. It wasn’t as horrible a burden now, for her and her vessel. Still Fear and Worry grow with abandon at the flood of ill images that filled her mind. Brought new thoughts, ideas, and plans for the times to come. It was odd that emotions she had once fought now provider her aid.

The Flocks came to mind first, with the Protectors wisdom, she could see as it as he did, see it was going to be another failure, and a costly one. The Voices would be furious, the Elders more so, and more Flocks would be sent, then meet the same end. A viscous cycles Zellebeth was sure the Voices would carry out with hesitation. For they were blind, not Chosen like she and her Sisters were, burden with the greatest Truths the Giver Champion could bestow them. Worthier than all others, selected to carry out the Givers, the Protectors demands, selected to lead. And Zellebeth was, she would make she of it, once she had reviewed all the truths had to Offer she would put her plans into motion. Gather the Houses under the Protector, spread his truth with those Worthy. Together they would remove the Voices, remove the unworthy and their lies. Hadthel will be at the Divine service, will aid him in collecting the Rivers, raise him to his proper place by the Givers side, and Zellebeth would be there by his, ready to enact his will.

Bliss kissed her on the cheek smiling with glee. ‘That’s right my dear child, enact his will.’