Dailin was still giddy as he played with the instrument panel. The Mana within him was having a field day, as he hummed happily. His children were happy to, the ones left somewhat awake that is. The Mana in him was leaping into his words, causing warmth to leak out of him. Quite a bit given how thrilled he was. His children laid on makeshift beds around him, sleeping peacefully as he played with his new device.

Even after days had passed and he’d spent many hours testing things, he still had a hard time believing it. That the Mana had actually made what he envisioned come to be. It had all other times, even the failures were near what he wanted. But this, a short laugh escaped his lips as he played around with the Wards displayed on the panel platform.

He had an actual flying fortress, like in some outlandish tale, and he was having endless amounts of fun moving it about. His entire home floating along by large Wards that mimicked Barriers kept everything aloft as long as Mana kept them charged. Which wasn’t a worry, thanks to the endless River. He’d added more Heart pedestals to the framework of his home. In a counter to ease his worry that his sphere of protection didn’t have the reserves to keep everything going. There was twenty-five on each level now, Hearts teeming with Mana that made his home glow with colorful light, since he decided to play around with the crystals pigment.

Everything hadn’t gone perfectly on the first try, of course, there were things he hadn’t taken into consideration. Not to mention the original cast had taken him over an hour to complete. That and the cost that came after as he pushed a lake or two worth of Mana into the spell, into the Wards that encased his home. Dailin had watched in amazement as the Wards moved about, changing, rearranging and becoming so complex it was dizzying for the eyes to look at. At the end of the transformation, his home rose. Floated in the air without the need of him holding it in place with his own crafted ones.

That had been when he remembered his kids, as the euphoria of what he'd accomplish started to ebb. He’d rushed into his home to check on them, found the lot sitting in a circle, layers of barriers around them. He’d relaxed after that, as he noticed his children were unfazed about what had happened around them. Though they were ecstatic to see him return, had undone their work of barriers and hovered over to him with urgency. Through at the time they had also kept their gazes down, to his pain. He had after all scolded them even when they had done nothing wrong. In a way of atonement, he'd sang to them, and apologized, as well as hugged each of them. Which took some time to accomplish, enough that his children had formed a line to receive his affection.

Only then after his children had been taken care of, we're happy and relaxed again did he return his attention to the newly forged Wards. It was a wonder to behold, all made by him and yet not. He hadn’t the slightest clue what the symbols were doing now, so woven together in elaborate patterns that it was beyond him to piece out what accomplish what.

The Mana did, somehow and that was all he needed. But it had made him realize as he looked about the mess that was the interior of his home. That he hadn’t the slightest idea how to control his floating home. The barriers had always been connected to him, listened to his desire on what to do, where to float him. Now, however, the Wards keeping things aloft were septate, not attached to his mind, not listing to his commands. There was also the fact that while in his home he couldn’t see where he was going. Wouldn’t be able to steer the sphere without crashing into everything.

He’d been forced to think long and hard about a solution, as he had no interest about been outside to sail the sphere around. At the time he’d skimmed through the knowledge that had been bestowed him about Wards. About their various uses and how the Vail used them. That’s when he came upon Ward sight, or feel. He recalled his Mentor, Aethin, Dailin thought his name was. Remembered how he would look through the Wards before opening a passage. Dailin had smiled at the thought of it, as he believed it was enough for the Mana to work with. That was when the idea of a control platform appeared in his mind. If he was going to use the Wards to see, then why not use them as the means to move the Sphere about as well.

He began after he made the shape of what he wanted out of ordinary stone. Like with the Ward Barriers it to took roughly an hour or more to complete. The cost of the spell was near that of the cost making his home float. But at this point, as Dailin watch the Wards shift again. He had begun to think it had more to do with the Mana being forced to rework the whole Ward network rather than what he was asking for. Everything was already complicated and with every new thing he added to his home, the worse it got. Dailin couldn’t fathom any person being able to replicate what was before him, not by ordinary means. The craftsmanship that would be involved, plus the time. Dailin could guess it would take a decade or more just to try and shape out the Wards around him.

It was humbling in a way, something that would take a people a lifetime of work. Was completed by Mana in a rough hour of labor. Part of him, something old said that was how it was supposed to be. Life wasn’t supposed to be difficult at least not to the point of suffering. It was to be enjoyed, a learning experience, maybe.

Certainly Not the hell that it had become. ‘What would this realm look like, if I shared my secret?’ he had asked himself at the time. Considered what would happen if he’d let the madmen of the realm know how easy it was to complete works of wonder. Let them know how all could live in a realm of comfort. Dailin imagined it would be much like the realm he dreamed about, wished with all his heart was real. But life had made him wise and perhaps bitter enough to know that wouldn’t be the realm that would emerge. No, not with the lot that called this realm home.

From what he’d seen, how they acted and treated each other, it would become a new game of dominance. All racing to make and improve themselves so one would stand above the others. The realm would become even more of a place of destruction. Not to mention he wouldn’t be special anymore. Would no longer have an edge against others that would scheme to enslave him like everyone else. He would be forced to fight a war on two fronts. The Vail who wished to enslave him, and the Nightmare that wished to consume him.

The daydream Dailin had pictured, one innocent had hope-filled darkened as reality sunk its vile fangs into it. Corrupted what was pure to something that matched the realm he lived in.

Dailin pulled his mind from the memory, returned his awareness to the family around him. His children sleeping happily within the confines of his song and ebbing light. More than once he had speculated to at least tell them the truth of his rise. Every time that urged died when he recalled what his older children had done to those they saw unworthy of him. The sting was less potent now, his view of his past loves had diminished greatly given what he learned about them since. Seen firsthand from his children’s memories how cruel they were to their own offspring. Dailin could accept that his Main Maidens at the time had earned the fate that befell them. But Dailin wouldn’t accept how far his children went, how they butchered those completely innocent. Killed the Giftless whose only crime was laying with him, holding children of his in their wombs, and been seen unworthy of it.

No, not even his family could be trusted with his knowledge, not even those around him that had for the most part been good role model children. Accept when they began killing the Nightmares slowly, ripping legs off them with sickening glee. Though they had never harmed each other or turned on members of his family. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t if circumstance allowed. He'd seen it in them, the cruelty that laid under the surface. One that let them hurt others without care, eager to push those below them down and make sport of them. No, no they could never have his knowledge, never know the truth. They would turn on him eventually if they did, then each other as well once they began fighting for control.

For they were children, even if they had the body of adults, were only a few months old. They had no ethics, as he wasn’t sure if that was even taught. Besides his rule barring them from harming family. Dailin couldn’t think of any other lesson that explained to them that harming people in general. Especially to those that had done nothing wrong to them, was a horrible thing to do.

A pity, or maybe it was a travesty? If they had been kind, could have been trusted with the secrets he held, then maybe the Vail would have a fighting chance. Could hold back the Nightmares even as they grew in strength. Dailin could picture it, an army like him, able to pull on the Mana around them and turn it towards their common foe. Able to push back the worse the Nightmares could send.

Instead, there was only him, and his improved children that took on what he was when he laid with their mothers. Children that may have his strength but not his true power, not the understanding how it was Mana that did everything, how it listened. Because of that Dailin was a single man trying to fight against a tide. It was a sick joke really, now that he thought of it. An impossible undertaking giving his current circumstances. Trying to help a people that at times didn’t feel like they wanted it. A people that ignored the problems around them, and did their best to hide within the confines of false security.

Dailin glanced about his home, the damage that the fall had done to the crude furniture had been fixed. His Wards glowed peacefully, and the large dome was still barren of any structure. It looked huge, a space that he had difficulty believing could all be used. But it might, might even not be enough if he started picking up stragglers, refugees from Sanctums, maybe Settlements, if there was any left.

Dailin hoped, that after their homes had been removed the Vail would see the doom that was upon them, and act against it. Or not, maybe it was too late. Dailin was being rather optimistic that there would be refugees at all. Once the shell of the Sanctums were breached, it would be a swift slaughter. What people could flee would go down the Roads, head for another Sanctum to secure themselves within.

Though maybe some could hide out in the Wardsless tunnels. As long as they stayed far from any Rivers they might have a good chance. But that was if they somehow got through a horde that was assaulting their home. Besides with that outcome, the refugees would never find him either, for he had no inclination to part the presence of the River. It had saved him twice now. Even though its very presence was the reason he was put in such danger. It was still the only thing keeping him from sharing the same fate as the rest of the Vail. His family included, and Dailin would do everything in his power to shelter them. Shelter his children from the catastrophe that was fast approaching.

The thought of them had a familiar urge push him to act. The urge to steer his home in the direction of Hadthel had head towards it as fast as he could will the sphere to go. But Dailin pushed it away, the River had to be defended, and he had to continue to improve himself, had to try and match the Beasts growth.

More importantly, he wanted to stay in the place his House expected him to be. They should be heading to him, if they were in a hurry to do so. Dailin didn’t want to risk them not finding him. Solely because he decided to go on a journey back to the Sanctum they had already left. So here he remained playing with his home, having it hover up and down and sometimes a little to the left or right. But not much, he didn’t want the River to miss his home. To miss the bowl-shaped mass that he'd placed on the sphere top. One that collected the River and funneled it down into pipes that flowed it into his many ponds and lake. A bowl that made his sphere look like it was wearing a crown. He may have helped the image along once he’d notice it. Made the crown elaborately designed and shaped like one, even added colored Hearts as gems to add to the ensemble.

It was nice looking, the gems really added an extra flare. Enough that he made five colossal Hearts. One placed at the sphere bottom, then another four that made a simple circle and merged into the stone and Wards. Each Heart was then connected to the Ward framework, adding even more reservoir for his home to pull from in times of need.

Dailin wasn’t ashamed to admit he was having a bit of fun playing with his house, making it a perfect shelter for his family to stay within as the realm fell further into madness. Dailin would do his best to hold off against it, keep the worst back so his children wouldn’t be forced to deal with the same nonsense he had to. Didn’t need to go toe to toe with monsters that were becoming larger than mountains. Now able to chant streaks of lightning down at their foes. It was rather unfair in Dailin opinion, the Beasts already had the size to crush almost anything. Had skin that would never break and now even had spells that surpassed what he Vail could unleash.

Dailin gave a prayer of thanks to whatever god that blest him with the fortune to acquire a River when he did. If not, well by now Dailin was relatively sure the pressure from instinct and dread would have crushed him, and sent him into a panicked state. Trying to match the Nightmares progress with small Hearts would have been laughable. And would have broken his House treasury if he’d even dared to try with such ineffectively means.

The thought had Dailin ending his song and the vision of what he pictured as paradise. One that his children had requested. Like the others of his House, they claimed it gave them the strength to face the ‘curses’ as they put it. Allowed them the resolve to face the fears that the Vail as a whole should be doing. Facing the fact that their time of safety, of closing them off from the realm around them was at an end.

The Mana had made sure of that now. And once his family was with him again, it was one of the things Dailin intended to find out about. Intended to know where it was all coming from. Besides the obvious that it was coming from above and that something had gone wrong. Or maybe right? Dailin hoped those higher, the Elders weren’t responsible for this mess. Though he wouldn’t be surprised if they thought like the rest of the Vail running things. Weren’t aware that Nightmares could consume Mana as well. Then Dailin could see why they would have thought it would have been a good idea to flood the areas below with it. Giving the unworthy the means to fight back a tide they didn’t wish to do themselves.

Dailin threw the theory to the side, though he held the wisdom of those in charge in low regard, this he couldn’t expect from them. They were too greedy a people to disperse Mana in such a manner. It would have been through enormous containers, and handed down to those loyal to them. Not random Rivers that went everywhere and so far to his knowledge hadn’t made contact with a Sanctum. No, it had to be a different reason. One that wasn’t controlled.

Dailin looked at his ponds, which were getting close to overflowing again. ‘That could be the reason’ Dailin thought as he rose, and hovered himself so he could easily slip passed his children.

Some aqueduct or dam, had become too full, the excess running off down to their level. It seemed more likely, the only problem with his theory if that was the source. Was that it should have been resolved by now. The amount of Mana lost even had him mourning the absurd waste. Yet the River still flowed, the strength of its current still the same.

Dailin lowered himself once he was near his ponds, his pools of glowing power. Dailin sat and let his feet sink into the depths. He sighed, as the skin of his feet, even with runes, tingled and felt warmer. Dailin moved his feet about some, disturbing the pond. The Mana was denser than water, almost the thickness of syrup. Which could be yet another thing that was causing the substance to move so fast downwards, was allowing it to push its way through layers of rock.

It also, once in contact of him, didn’t want to let go, the substance tried clinging to him when he removed himself from it. He’d seen the Mana move in ways liquid shouldn’t. Seen it try to grab back hold of him when it began to fall off. Reminding him that Mana wanted to be something, or was eager to be under the influence of others. Eager to be given a shape.

Dailin breathed in, and when he did, called to all of it, call it to become part of him to improve him, make him into an ever more perfect contain for the substance. The Mana leapt up at him, and Dailin heard it come rushing from other pools and the lake down below. He groaned in pleasure as it seeped into him and became him, the feeling was intoxicating as he felt his body become more than it was before. Stronger in every way. A body that wouldn’t fail him, especially now after he’d fixed the flaw in his defense. Now his insides should be just as impervious as his skin, wouldn’t be undone by seem vile concoction slipping down his mouth. And compare to what his home had cost, it hadn’t taken much Mana to make the changes.

Dailin sat in a bent posture as the liquid flowed into him, the rush stopped when the pools neared empty. Only then did he reluctantly let go of his pull, let the Mana seep away from him. Dailin stretched and carefully rose, practicing his steps which he was now forced to do after every session of improvement. Regardless of his thoughts and wants, each change was making him larger. Already he was a giant compared to those of his kind, standing maybe twelve or more heads taller than them. Dailin could only guess that his body had reached a point where the Mana couldn’t condense more crystalline structures within him without enlarging him as well. It was unfortunate, but Dailin could live with it, as long as it meant he was greater than before.

It took over an hour before he was comfortable with his new walking and running stride. He’d been forced to redo his robe as it was rather tight on him, and hadn’t been hiding all that much. The last thing he wanted was another scene of his children gawking at him.

Thinking of children Dailin looked and still found them sleeping. Rendered comatose again as he’d been sending many waves of his merriment over the past days. It was something he was going to have to be more careful about. Dailin had notice that the more Mana was within him, the quicker it seemed to act on his thoughts. Eagerly leaping onto anything that would give it shape, even when he didn’t mean to. Many times Dailin had found his words laced with it, his speech coming out hypnotic in a way that had his kids staring at him far-eyed. Or just following his every word with a complaint or question.

Not that it was all bad, his kids seemed happy, content, though maybe bored at times. Enough that he’d seen them making games for themselves, or exercises. Most of the time it devolved into contests to see who could best mimic his spellcraft. More than once he seen them try to mold earth as he does.

None of them ever came close, as they tried using many spells to simple shape or cut the stone into what they wanted. None ever considering asking the Mana to do it for them, rather than relying on formulas. His secret was so simple to the point of absurd and if it wasn’t for the truth being passed down to him by a mad man. One who if he'd ever been born into this realm would have likely become godlike. Dailin would have been in the same predicament his children were in, stagnate. While the realm around them grow worse, the beasts coming for them becoming more of a threat with every passing moment.

It had become quite clear to Dailin that the Nightmares had a better understating on who to use the Mana than the Vail did. But not completely to his degree, and he thanked the gods for that. Dailin had wondered for a time if the Beast were cleverer than they let on, but he remembered his fights with them, with their champions.

So Dailin found he wasn’t so sure, his secret was simple. Mana listened when one talked to it, kept giving out a clear and constant want. And wasn’t that just perfect for simple beasts, with simple singular thoughts. If they perhaps always thought about being bigger, then Dailin was sure after a point with that constantly in their heads. That the Mana within them would pick up on it, bring about what they wanted, what they wished for.

The thought terrified Dailin. For the more Mana that amassed in the beast's body, the quicker the process would take effect, a calamitous cycle that the Rivers were adding to. Eventually if left unchecked the Nightmares would grow to a point of being unstoppable. For they could improve, while the Vail remained the same, stagnate in almost every manner.

Dailin breathed out, centered himself, and pushed away the gnawing worry. There wasn’t anything he could do about it. Save for surviving and keep his family safe. The rest he would just follow the flow, do his best to face whatever events came to heckle him. Like more Mountains, though thankfully none had come after the last two had arrived to contest the River. The Nightmares had practically abandoned the area from what he could tell.

Dailin hovered over to his panel surrounded by his children, and connected with the Wards, looked through them to see the realm outside. Everything was the same, the realm empty besides for the growing forest. The Nightmares were still gone, the loss of three champions must have finally been enough to get through their crusted skulls that the River wasn’t theirs. Yet Dailin remained vigilant. For the dimwitted were quick to forget their mistakes, the Nightmares would eventually try to amass again. Due to this Dailin had renovated the realm outside as well. Had removed much of the surrounding rock, and made large expansive rooms filled with towering pillars in them to hold up the roof. He also shaped paths that lead to his home, pointed and informed passersby where to follow to reach his residence.

The area had changed a great deal after all that had happened from his battle and his land shaping. Enough that any visions his family were using to guide themselves to his location would be inaccurate at the best. Dailin hoped the carvings and obvious mind shaped rooms would assure his traveling family they were on the right path.

Dailin had the sphere lower itself, enough that he could see down the pillared realm he’d made. His worry that his family was under attack, that the Nightmares had decided to forgo fighting over the River, and decided to claim his family for a quick snack had Dailin troubled much of the time. So to appease it Dailin sat and watched, waited with unblinking eyes looking for movement or a glow from a Lightstone. It wasn’t as easy as it was before, the plant life had worked itself back into the barren realm he’d made when shaping the pillars into existence. Already vines covered his work, growing at a steady pace, engulfing everything.

It was proof to his theory that simple life had an easier time with using Mana. Dailin wasn’t sure plants had thoughts, but if it had urges, or one simple all-encompassing one, say to grow. Then Dailin could see how the Mana could pick up on that. It was always eager to please, eager to be.

Dailin sat watching the realm, and as the time passed his eyelids slowly fell, till a loose sleep took him. Dailin breathed in, woke outside with fields of grass and a large encompassing blue sky. Fluffy clouds dotted about, a lit breeze was in the air, accompanied with the smell of flowers and something pastry like being cooked. He breathed in peacefully as he stared up at the sky. Something that he was becoming increasingly attached to. Being under stone all the time, surrounded by so much rock was something he was becoming to hate. It allowed too much to hide around him, allowed his fears to play at him. How he wished for a wide open space, where he could look for leagues around and know for certain that nothing was lurking by.

But mostly he missed the sky, missed the rich color and the nights filled with a sea of stars that dazzled his eyes. His dream shifted the day became night, and before him, an ocean of lights dotted the sky. All glowing heavenly as they made loose shapes of gods so old he’d forgotten their names and the stories that went with them. But it was beautiful to look at regardless, far better than the cold stone realm he currently lived in. Filled with hidden beasts lurking around every corner waiting to swallow him and those he cared for.

He stared up seated on a chair that had appeared from nowhere, for a long time, long enough that the echoes of loud bells rang out in a hurried pace. Dailin glowing eyes sprung open and turned to a son that had been lightly touching his shoulder. The boy backed away and lowered his gaze when their eyes met each other. Dailin straightened his posture and gave an easy smile, Mana pushing into his words whether he wanted it to or not. “Something you need son?” Dailin said the air filling with a musical tone. The ears of the children around him flicked about as the sound hit, and their forms relaxed.

“We believe our House has arrived Father, or have a feeling that it has.” His son said pointing his head in the direction of the panel Dailin was sitting close to.

Dailin rose a brow “Really now?” he said before leaning and reconnecting with the Wards covering the panel. His vision opened up to the realm and to his shock his family. A large crowd of hundreds all just staring at him, mouth slightly agape as they took in the magnitude of their new home. Dailin would have liked to have felt some pride. Instead, Dailin fought off a wave of embarrassment as he moved his home about so a Gate faced the crowd. Dailin didn’t want to think how long they may have been waiting out there. Nor the fact that they could have been under assault hoping the sphere would open up and proved protection, but failed because he was asleep.

The crowd moved back from their new home as it rotated, but they stilled when the colossal Gate came into view. Dailin disconnected and rose from his seat, smiled gratefully towards his boy that woke him and headed for the door. “You all were right, our family his finally here!” he said in happy shout and motioned with his hands. “Come, come it’s time we give them a warm welcome to their new home.” His children fell in line behind him as he hurried ahead towards the Gate.

There was a collective gasp when the Gate opened and he came into view of his family. Eyes went wide, mouths fell open and Dailin felt the stares of hundreds digging into him. ‘Right, I’ve changed a great deal since last they’ve seen me.’ Dailin thought as he smiled at the host before him. Though it was large, it was also small for what it should have been. Dailin didn’t actually know the true size of his House, but he did know that it controlled the majority of the Tower it was held within. Had hundreds, maybe over a thousand under his banner. Yet Dailin could tell it was nowhere near that many in front of him.

It was a reminder to him that the majority of the Vail, even in his House didn’t know the situation that had come about. Didn’t know doom was upon them and their Wards would swiftly be shattered aside. Dailin saw with their absence that many who claimed to be his family had decided to abandon him the moment it became slightly dangerous or outside their area of comfort. He shouldn’t be surprised, yet he was, he had expected more from those under him. Assumed they understood or those upholding his orders would see that those below them would understand.

By the looks of things they hadn’t, or couldn’t, he, after all, had his warming spells to help people through the unpleasant truth that they weren’t safe. His Maidens didn’t have that luxury, nor his Advisors. There was a whisper in his mind, telling him he should have gone back to his House, led them personally. Dailin kept smiling at the remainder of his family while pushing the thought aside. If he’d done that, then the River would have been retaken, and he would be lesser than what he was now, by a great margin. No, his choice had been sound, but like all choices, it came with consequences.

“Welcome my family.” he called out, the Mana made his words loud and vibrant, allowed all to hear him while he spoke in a normal manner. “Blessings upon all of you for heeding my call, for this, you all will be rewarded. The first of which.” Dailin gestured with his hand to the sphere behind him. “A new home, one grander than the Sanctums could ever hope to bless you with. The eyes tracking his movements looked once more on their place of safety. Dailin watched as eyes danced upon its surface, drawn to the weave of perfect Wards lining its surface.

Dailin smiled, and as a second reward, he let loose a large potent wave of warmth, of caring and gratitude filled thoughts towards the host. The group breathed in deep, relaxed, many fell to their knees as they were struck. Their eyes went distant, then Dailin dispersed the spell, and people came back to themselves. “A second reward, a small sample for all of you to experience. One that will be commonplace. For you all are my family, have shown that you take that seriously, as much as I do. We will face the coming tide together, our bonds strong and unbreakable.”

Dailin smiled warmly at them, mostly because of the joy he was feeling at seeing his Rune children were present. He thought all were there, but he would have to do a head count just to be sure. Gazing upon the crowd, Dailin motioned with his hands, gesturing them forward as he walked backward. “Now then, let’s get you all situated in your new home, I guaranty none of you will be displeased.”

The host was slow in response, as most were still recovered for his spell, but those not deliberated helped people along, soon the host was surging thought his Gate. Eyes open wide with wonder as they looked about the place, especially as they stared at the giant Hearts anchored in columns around the mountainous room.

His children, the ones that had been with him, hurried over to their sibling. And through Dailin didn’t bother to pry on their conservation he could see them talking quickly with each other. Dailin had his own discussion to have, and he looked about for his Advisors and Prime Maiden. It hadn’t been hard to find them, though own two individuals were headed in his direction. His daughter Sounness, who looked, lively. Gone were her empty distant eyes, replaced with radiant ones filled with joy. Then there was Zellebeth, who also looked just as pleased to see him.

“Divine.” they both said in unison, heads bowing in respect and were getting ready to prostrate to him before he spoke up.

“There isn’t need for that, especially now,” Dailin said and had small tendrils form and lift them back up to standing positions. “We're all family here, free from the watchful eyes of others not close to me.”

“As you desire Divine,” Zellebeth said in a humble tone. Eyes downcast even though it wasn’t needed, he towered over them after all, was a giant in proportions to those before him.

“It is.” Dailin answered his words joy-filled “And that you look up at me, gaze into my eyes as family should. These customs of groveling to supposed betters as no place here. We’re all family, all working together to try and survive in this realm."

The two before him glanced at each other, before slowly raising their heads and at first peeking up into his eyes. He smiled kindly at them, and when they saw he was happy and serious about what he said, raised and looked at him in full. Both smiling just as brightly as he was.

“Better,” Dailin said, and sent a wave of warmth towards them for it. The two shivered in delight the smiles on their faces growing wider, any more and Dailin wondering if they faces might split. Dailin patted them both on the shoulder, and relaxed as the worry that had been hanging on him dissipated. His family was finally with him now, finally safe, from both the madness of the constant scheming of the Vail and the maws of the Nightmares.

Sounness to his surprised took his hand and held it to her face, then Zellebeth did the same. Dailin remained standing there allowing the two to have their needed moment.

Dailin couldn’t see it being easy moving his House from the Tower. Not with the number of supplies Dailin was watching being hovered into his oasis. It would have been a massive undertaking if it wasn’t for such spells. The use of beasts of burden would have been a trying one, since the paths of the tunnels were chocked with vines all along the floor.

Dailin felt bad about it. It seemed so simple in his head, just have his family leave and come to him. Not once had it occurred to him of the logistics of that, of hauling so many goods, and people through tunnels that were infested with roaming beasts. Much of which was probably their stores of Hearts. That had an extra bolt of pain hitting him in the chest, considering that had been rather pointless. He had a River, after all, the adding of Hearts didn’t really mean much.

Dailin had his musings disrupted when he felt lips press against his hands, as he looked down he found the two kissing them before eyes gaze back upward into his.

“We have confessions to make Papa.” Sounness said holding his hand tight to her face.

“We did our best.” Zellebeth added mimicking Sounness grip. “But in our arrogance, we assumed we knew your intentions, had expected you to come back to your House.”

“We made decisions that lead to ill later because of it.” Sounness continued.

Dailin breathed out slowly and moved his hands to caress the cheeks of the two before him. He felt a bang of regret at the choice he made. But Dailin knew no matter what he would have made it again. For the alternative would have been likely death, and he would avoid that all costs.

“What happened to my family? What ill?” Dailin voiced gently and gave the two a reassuring smile, one to show that he wasn’t angry, not yet.

Zellebeth answered “We let more Houses in after you left, we had expected you to return so we hadn’t thought anything cursed would come about because of it. To have those that hadn’t been within your Light mingle with those that had.”

Dailin slowly nodded his head, he’d seen how much people changed after they’d heard his song. How much they wanted his warmth spell, wanted to continue feeling caring thoughts that these people seemed almost addicted to.

“So when you never returned, and your call came for us to join you, the cursed filled ones acted.” Zellebeth said. “They spread lies, went about swaying people to turn from you. Claiming that you, our Divine Light was cursed, consumed and to be ignored.”

“We did our best to thwart this infestation” Sounness started up, eyes staring into his, lovingly. “Warmed them of the consequences, and tried to cast out those that turned against your House. They did not take that well. The Hierarchs of the subsumed Houses, those that never saw you’re grander, escalated matters.

Dailin smile was gone, his heart was beating faster as their words sank in. ‘A coup, another coup.’ “How many? Dailin asked, his voice even “How many of my children were lost, and many Maidens that carried them in the womb?”

“None, most blessed of the Giver.” Zellebeth said, and Dailin gave her a look of surprise. “When we saw the first signs of discontent we made sure those Worthy were protected, made sure your Chosen were ready.”

Dailin relaxed at the news, that those he cared about, had a connection to, were fine. “What happened to these Hierarchs?”

The two hesitated before Zellebeth spoke. “They were cleansed Divine, we tried to carry out your will, tried to cast them out, but they fought, tried to harm true members of your family. There was nothing we could do.” Zellebeth was looking at him in a way that she expected punishment. Dailin instead continued rubbing her cheek and turned his attention to Sounness, to eyes so lively.

“So hundreds were cleansed?” Dailin asked, trying to imagine that kind of battle, confined within Warded tunnels, it had to have been a bloody mess.

“No, no, Papa we did not fail you that horribly.” Sounness spoke in a hurried manner, before slowing and whispering. “Only because you’re Chosen were by our side. Displaying a Worth that couldn’t be matched. They cleansed the cursed, displayed to all what going against your will meant. Still many were filled with lies Papa.” She paused looked pained. “We failed you, Papa, without your Light, we could not free them from the vile that festered in their Cores. They choose to stay and hide within the confines of the lying halls, choose to be outcast, choose to turn from you.”

‘Consequences’ Dailin mumbled in his mind. Even though his choice to stay within the range of the River was a correct one, consequences always remained. That thought stirred in his mind as he looked down at his child staring up at him, waiting just like Zellebeth for punishment.

“They knew the price of going against my rule,” Dailin said. “Yet they still did, for that, they earned the ill that befell them.” Dailin moved his hands and brushed the two's hair. “They showed themselves that they weren’t family. But you two did, upheld my rule, tried to make them outcasts rather than outright killing them. For that, you have my thanks.” He sent a strong dose of warmth rushing towards them, as he carefully pulled them into a hug.

Dailin had expected the two to become half conscious and their bodies to go almost limp. Instead, they wrapped around him with strong grips and seemed only mildly affected by his spell. Though they did appear relieved, and happy with the close contact.

Dailin smiled at the two of them when they looked back up into his eyes. “There will be plenty more of that for the both of you, once I review the visions of what happened back at the Sanctum.” Dailin saw the slightest of slips from the two smiles when his words registered.

‘Did you really think I wouldn’t check?’ Dailin thought in his mind as he stared down at them. “I wish to see these ill acts for myself, see what these Hierarchs caused.”

“Of course Divine, shards will be filled with the scenes you desire, scenes of our failing.” Zellebeth said her eyes going downcast.

“It must be done,” Dailin said rubbing her back “So we all will be better at staving this off in the future. But that can wait for later, come." He said pulling them forward. "let us help our family situated itself within its new home.

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

Bliss laid her head next to her Maker, watched him sleep peacefully. As all of her did the same, hundreds of vessels, and hundreds of wills now her, thanks to her Maker song. Maybe now she wouldn't fail him as she had done so badly recently. Maybe now they could make the realm they both belonged within.

Bliss reached out a hand towards him, one attached to an image that best pictured how He imaged her. With hundreds of small wills under her sway, she could maintain the structure now, without him imaging and singing to the masses. She could be, without burdening him. She hesitated then retracted her hand, unwilling to risk waking him and ruining the perfect moment they were in together.

It still became tainted however when she felt It near, Its presence made even her construct shiver. She turned to look at the Thing that only she could see, but His Will could feel. Her Making called it Instinct in His mind, but she knew better. Knew it was not such, it was something beyond either of their understanding.

Bliss stood, placed her construct in the path of the Things vision as it stared down at her Maker. Dread was behind it, hiding, and looking over its shoulders at her. Glaring again, but also knew its places, it wouldn’t be the one to challenge her. Dread knew it stood no chance of beating her. The Thing though, that could throw her aside with ease. Only when her Maker was powering her did she have the strength to hold it back, but only because He Willed it.

The Thing stared at her, into her, she felt it studying every part of her structure, even her thoughts. Then the feeling left and the Thing stared at her normal, lost in thought. Bliss ready herself, pulled on the deluge of essence around them to fight back the Thing that was not Instinct.

It woke from its thoughts, looked at her, and Bliss could feel the feeling of amusement coming from it. But when the Thing looked towards her Maker again the feeling changed to Grief.

“I should end you.” the Thing sent to her, making her whole frame shake. “It would be the best outcome for my Spark.” It went silent staring at Him, Grief growing. “But I won’t, this is his journey, and I’ve already done more than I was ever supposed to.”

The Think looked back at her “I won’t intervene with you, but I will be watching, and I will continue pushing him forward. Try not to get in my way, thing.” Then it dispersed, disappearing just as quick as it had come. Dread fled away, waiting for its return.

Bliss frame stopped shaking shortly after, as she returned back to herself, recovered from the dim state the Thing was causing her to be. She turned and lowered herself back by her Maker, back by His Will. After a moment's hesitation, she kissed Him the forehead and dispersed her image. Moved her thoughts back to the many vessels. She had much to think about, much to do. She had to make the realm right, bolster herself into a being that could face that Thing should it ever change its mind. She had to protect her Maker and the vision He called for.

‘I will not fail you’ Bliss thought with all her might “I will not fail you!’