Some two thousand kilometres away, the third culprit in the Titan Academy incident was sitting on a narrow beach on the western coast of Geraheim, only a few kilometres away from what was left of the previously expansive campus. Nikolai Amon, the recently revealed Geon host, looked out onto the crashing waves as they washed onto the shore. Peering out onto the water as the sun set over the horizon, a light sigh escaped his lips.

“Are you sure he’s actually coming?” A voice sounded from behind the young man, pulling his gaze away from the sunset and toward the figure that stood over his left shoulder.

Behind him stood a tall, wide-set man in an extremely ornate get-up. Nikolai smiled lightly as he set his gaze on the green and gold uniform that resembled a traditional Chinese yat-sen suit, but with a slightly more modern spin on the design. This elaborate outfit was densely decorated by both hand-embroidered patterns as well as the glowing zeta-conductive fibers that tended to be woven into comtemporary fabrics. In the dying light, the hand embroidered patterns found themselves illuminated by complimentary lumenscent designs, making for quite the display.

“He’s coming alright.” Nikolai nodded, drawing a puzzled look from Crydus.

“Confident as always Nikolai.” The man responded. “But we’ve been standing here for hours.” He shrugged. “How much longer?”

A wry smile just broke across Nikolai’s lips.

“Well, that should answer your question.” He retorted, turning his gaze back towards the ocean as the oddly familiar sensation took hold of his preternaturally enhanced senses.

It wouldn’t take long for his companion to pick up on the strange sensation that had inspired the statement. Soon, he too sensed the surge of zeta flowing towards their location; forcing the older man to turn his attention towards its source. At first, the influx of energy had no truly visible component, manifesting itself merely as a palpable sensation that washed over the two men on the deserted beach; but it would not be long before they would each lay their eyes on its source.

The two watched patiently as the influx of gold streaks made their way over the horizon and towards the shore, flowing from what they could only assume to be an extremely great distance away. Over time, these streaks flowed into a single spot, coalescing into an amorphous ball of energy just a few metres away from them both. As the streaks fed into this ball of energy, it grew larger and more luminous, before the ever-intensifying glow began to take on a shape that was all too familiar to Nikolai. A final flash of light revealed exactly what the Geon host had been expecting, preceding the solidification of the torrent of aesis into Roun – and a single additional body suspended above the ground in his arms.

Nikolai looked on, slightly bepuzzled, as the light faded; revealing not just Roun as he had expected but the young woman who had accompanied him to Genaisa so many months prior. He watched with a puzzled look as Roun released his grip on Zadavia, allowing her feet to rest on the sandy ground before he collapsed to his knees, panting heavily in exhaustion from the monumental feat.

“Did you just teleport here all the way from Genaisa? Impressive.” The heavy-set man sounded with a loud chuckle, startling Zadavia and drawing her attention to the fact that she and Roun already had a welcoming party.

Instinctually, energy surged into her body as she prepared to defend herself, remembering all too clearly her last encounter with strangers in the presence of the young Synchros host. Her actions did little more than amuse Nikolai and his companion however, causing the usually stoic young man to chuckle lightly as she settled into what he could only assume to be a fighting stance.

“Relax Zadavia, they’re fine.” Roun managed to announce between laboured breaths, still hunched over on the ground before Nikolai chimed in.

“Yeah, you’re among friends… Zadavia.” Nikolai affirmed, pausing to ensure that he’d gotten her name right.

“Old friends, I’d say.” The large man chimed in once again, drawing Zadavia’s attention away from the perceived threat and towards the strangely familiar voice.

Her eyes narrowed as she focused in on the source of the voice, looking past the faint luminescence of his garments to pick out the familiar face.

“Mr. Warren?” She inquired with visible surprise, causing the man to nod in reply.

“It’s been a while Ms. Moreno, it’s good to see you.” He replied in turn, drawing a nod from the young woman in response.

“You two know each other, Crydus?” Nikolai now questioned, rather surprised that the young woman of all people would know his old companion.

“Yes, I met Ms. Moreno and her family while I was on assignment in Amridad a few years ago.” He explained. “She’s a very pleasant young woman.”

“Thank you.” Zadavia smiled, drawing a simply flabbergasted look from Nikoali at the exchange.

As the three channelers exchanged pleasantries, Roun struggled to make his way to his feet, redistributing the aesis in his body to supplement his extraordinarily taxed energy reserves. It took a few seconds, but finally he managed, eventually turning his attention to the odd man in the luminescence suit.

“Crydus Warren—” He pondered aloud. “—that name sounds familiar.” He added with light pants, rubbing his hand across his thin beard as he did.

“I mentioned him to you back at the pub in Frigaheim.” Zadavia spoke up, jogging Roun’s memory.

“Oh right.” He nodded. “This is the guy that you trained with before you moved to Geraheim?” Roun inquired, causing Zadavia to nod in reponse.

Crydus just smiled lightly at the exchange.

“In that case I’ve only heard good things, Mr. Warren.” Roun announced, drawing a light chuckle from Crydus in response.

“As you can imagine, I can say the same – Synchros host.” Roun’s eyebrow tipped upwards at the title.

Nikolai just chuckled at Roun’s reaction.

“You know, having gone twenty-one years of my life without ever even hearing about these guardians, it’s becoming more and more surprising just how common knowledge their existence seems to be.” His gaze narrowed as he focused his senses on Crydus, who just continued to chuckle.

“I suppose this might all be just a bit much for you as a recently awakened host.” Crydus began to explain. “I just keep forgetting that you’re not all quite as informed as Nikolai is when it comes to these types of things.” He replied, causing Roun’s eyebrow to shoot upwards as he turned his attention towards Nikolai.

He couldn’t quite put his hands on it, but there was something different about Nikolai. He shook his head briefly – that wasn’t it. There was actually something different about himself. He smirked lightly as he made the only logical assumption.

“The missing Geon host, I presume?” Roun inquired.

“The one and only.” Nikolai nodded, causing Roun’s eyebrow to tip upwards sharply.

“…and when did all of this happen?” He pressed, drawing a light chuckle from the platinum blonde summoner standing before him.

“Oh I don’t know… about seventeen years ago, give or take.” Nikolai smirked, causing Roun’s eyes to widen sharply in respose.

“Wait, what d’ya mean seventeen years ago?” He pressed. “My dad told me that the Geon guardian hadn’t been discovered yet. In fact, I’m pretty sure he sent people here to find you.” Roun’s exasperation was audible.

Nikolai’s eyes narrowed with curiousity at this revelation.

“I don’t know where Shin Itami gets his information, but I was definitely awakened first – just over seventeen years ago.” Nikolai reiterated much to Roun’s shock.

“I can confirm this.” Crydus chimed in. “My teacher, Master Tamerun, awakened Nikolai’s connection to Lady Geon when he joined the Order of Planet Harmonics at the age of four.” He explaind.

“The order of what now?” Roun’s query only caused Crydus to burst out laughing.

“Ah yes. Again, I forgot that you aren’t all up to speed.” Crydus’s loud laughter quieted into a mild chuckle. “Hmm… now, where do I start?” He mumbled to himself, scratching the neatly shaved goatee around his chin as he tried to figure out how best to answer Roun’s question. “The Order of Planet Harmonics is something of a sister organization of the Guardians of Gaea. While your primary job is ensuring the continued existence of our species, our Order’s mandate is to ensure the health of the planet. In simple terms, our job is to make sure that when the dust settles from you battle with Teros, that we all still have a planet to call home.”

“I don’t exactly follow, Crydus.” Zadavia just looked puzzled by the explanation.

“How do I put this simply? The original guardians, and subsequently their hosts, have historically done more harm to the planet than good.” He paused. “Well – ignoring preventing the annihilation of the human race I suppose.” He continued to stroke his beard. “In fact, their last battle with Teros is responsible for that huge crater-lake in Usiles known as ‘the Drowned Province’.” He explained.

“That crater is like thirty-five hundred square kilometres.” Roun’s gaze narrowed at the assertion.

“Guardians and their hosts hardly want for power—” Crydus admonished him. “—and Teros is hardly an opponent that you can afford hold back against.” He further conceded. “So, in order to allow future guardians to fight for our survival without fear of the repercussions of their battles, a past Geon host formed the Order of Planet Harmonics to repair any lasting damage done to Gaia in the wake of these skirmishes.”

“I assume that explains your presence in Merricent at the moment?” Roun inquired, having heard rumours about the strange phenomenon that had appeared at Titan Academy in the wake of Jayce losing control.

Crydus simply nodded in response.

“While not a battle with Teros per se, Jayce’s actions have caused a massive shift in the spatial fabric of Gaea. The Order thought it best that I investigate the potential effects of this.” Crydus explained.

“Okay, that much I follow… I guess.” Roun nodded. “But how does Nikolai fit in with this order of yours?” He pressed.

“My mother, and her father before her, were members of the Order.” Nikolai explained. “I was going to be inducted as a kid, with the expectation that I’d do exactly what Crydus currently does – but around that time my braver abilities also started to manifest.” He continued.

“Nikolai was transferred to my monastery shortly after, and we both trained under Master Tamerun. His abilities were prodigious, even at that age, and it didn’t take long for Master Tamerun to pick up on the tell-tale signs that he was a host. That same year he awaked Nikolai’s connection to Geon.” Crydus explained.

“Okay.” Roun paused briefly as he internalised the information. “—but why does my dad know none of this?”

“The Order is a very secretive organisation.” Nikolai explained. “I’d be more surprised if your father did know about us.”

“Indeed.” Crydus agreed. “Honestly, if baffles me that he even knows as much as he does. The connection between guardians and their hosts normally matures naturally, but the process can be accelerated if you know what you’re doing.” He explained. “The Order was formed by a former host, so that’s where our knowledge comes from. I’m surprised that the likes of Shin Itami and his ilk are even aware of the existence of the guardians, further more have the knowledge of how to awaken their host.”

Both Crydus and Nikolai turned their attention toward Roun, assuming that if any such explanation existed, he would have it.

“Yeah, don’t look at me.” He quickly shook his head. “My father tells me less than nothing when it comes to these things. I only learned about the existence of these guardians when my link to Synchros was solidified. Where they get their information from is beyond me.” He shrugged.

“I see.” Crydus scratched his beard once more. “Well, that’s something I’ll have to look into once I’m done my own surveys in Geraheim.”

“Speaking of which, Crydus—” Nikolai interjected. “—what have you found?”

“Oh about that – honestly, it’s not as bad as I expected it to be when you first contacted me.” Crydus replied with a mild shrug. “I mean, I’m sure it’s gonna cause some scientists a lot of sleepless nights trying to figure out what it actually is, but for us in-the-know it’s really nothing to worry about.”

“Reassuring.” Roun chimed in. “But for those of us out-of-the-know, would somebody care to fill me in on what actually happened?” Roun inquired. “I’ve only been able to watch the news reports; and I haven’t really gleaned much from them.”

“Do you remember the cataclysm that happened at Titan Academy last year, on the final day of school?” Nikolai inquired.

“The one that put me out of commission for three months?” Roun inquired with audible annoyance. “I remember it vividly.” His gaze narrowed.

Nikolai just smirked.

“Well, in trying to neutralise that, the Disaster Response Team ended up creating a tiny quantum of congealed space called a Gaea pocket.”

“A what?” Zadavia quickly questioned, but Roun’s eyebrow just tipped upwards slowly.

“You’ve heard the rumours that there’s like… another reality on the other end of the Gate at Stone Henge in Odessa?” Roun asked Zadavia, causing her to nod in response.

“Sounds more like superstition than science, but yeah, I’ve heard people bandying those ideas around.” She nodded, causing Roun to laugh lightly.

“Well, Gaea pockets are actually a scientific theory. They’re a mathematical model for what would happen if our world and that other theoretical reality existed simultaneously, in the same space.”

“They’re much more than that.” Crydus chuckled at the explanation. “Honestly, that wasn’t even the first pocket we’ve encountered. I encountered one in Amridad two years ago.”

Roun’s eyebrow tipped upwards at the seemingly ridiculous assertion, much to Crydus’ ever-persistent amusement.

“Just over a thousand years ago, in the last battle between the Guardians and Teros, the previous Synchros host banished Teros to an extra-dimensional… let’s call it a ‘space’ for now… our texts refer to as the Annals. To prevent him from returning, the Dias host tried to sever the connection between our reality and that extra-dimensional space.” He explained. “Unfortunately – as tends to be the case with these kinds of things – there were some side effects. The Dias host actually ended up splitting the planet across time and space, creating mirror images of Gaea interconnected by these so-called ‘gates’.”

“That’s… ridiculous.” Roun commented, but Crydus’ chuckling continued.

“I told you, Guardians do not want for power.” All he could do at this point was shrug. “Unfortunately, even with all of that power, the separation of the earth and the Annals was both incomplete and only temporary. The fact remains that Gaea is more powerful than any channeler; so the second that she was split, she began trying to reconstitute herself.”

“Resulting in the cataclysms.” Nikolai stated, drawing a knowing nod from Crydus.

“Over the last thousand years, each cataclysm has brought these different fractured versions of Gaea closer and closer together. Two years ago the link between this particular realm and the Annals became strong enough to facilitate Teros’ escape from his prison and into our world once more.” He explained further. “That’s when we noticed the first of the Gaea pockets.”

“Okay hold on.” Roun paused as he tried to wrap his head around all of this new information. “So you’re telling me that the Gaea pockets – which are real… apparently – are basically what the planet was like before the previous guardian-destroyer battle.” Roun concluded, drawing affirmations from Crydus.

“But that still begs the question: what the hell were Jayce and the others doing at Titan Academy?” Zadavia interjected.

“Our Guadian’s abilities are significantly amplified in the presence of a Gaea pocket.” Nikolai explained. “I suspect they were setting the stage for the final battle.”

“I don’t understand.” Roun sighed; but that seemed to be a trend for the night.

“When Dias split the planet into these fractures, she also disrupted the connection to these extra-dimensional ‘spaces’ that power our channeling abilities. Inside these pockets, access to the Annals, the Font and the Cache is unencumbered.” Crydus explained.

“More concepts I’m unfamiliar with.” Roun’s gaze narrowed at the assertion.

“No need to worry.” Crydus chuckled once more. “Just know that if my analysis is correct, Jayce managed to widen the pocket from about the size of a basketball, to nearly the size of the entire Titan Academy campus.” Crydus explained, causing the eyes of Roun and Nikolai to widen with shock.

“Okay, so in a nutshell… we’ve got a square kilometre battleground where our powers are at their max?” Roun questioned.

“Correct.” Nikolai nodded, causing Roun to smirk.

“I might actually have to give Xavier a pat on the back for this one.” Roun added.

“Not so fast.” Crydus retorted. “Teros’ abilities work similarly to those of the Guardians.”

“…meaning?” Roun pressed.

“Meaning: Gaea pockets also amplify the abilities of the destroyer.” Crydus countered. “Like the guardians, his abilities would have been developed before Gaia’s split, so within the pocket, he too has full access to the extra-dimensional energies that feed his own power.”

“That is decidedly less good.” Nikolai shook his head. “In addition to the size increase, were there any other side effects?” He pressed.

“None that I can tell.” Crydus shook his had. “Well, with the exception of Merricent now sharing a square kilometre with whatever exists at this geographical location in Oya.” He shrugged.

Roun’s eyebrow just tipped upwards before Crydus continued.

“Either way, a Gaea pocket larger than a basketball is certainly a first, but as far as I can figure it poses no actual threat to life on Terra.” Crydus explained. “Beyond that, it may or may not prove to be beneficial to you in your fight against Teros; that part remains to be seen.”

“That’s… good to know I guess.” Nikolai responded with a sigh of relief.

“Indeed.” Crydus affirmed. “I’ll be in Geraheim for a few more days, conferring with the relevant authorities to confirm my hypothesis, but I don’t see this being too monumental a screw up on your compatriots’ part.” He explained.

“That’s reassuring.” Nikolai nodded. “I was starting to question their competency as hosts.”

“Well I can’t vouch for that, I can confrm that they haven’t harmed your cause in any way.” Crydus chuckled lightly.

Nikolai just chuckled lightly in return.

“Still security in Geraheim is pretty high right now.” Crydus stated. “Best we stop congregating before we start to draw unwanted attention to ourselves. Roun and Zadavia, I can give you two a ride to your respective homes.” He stated.

“Thanks.” Roun and Zadavia replied in unison.

“Nikolai, we’ll be in touch.” Crydus stated as he turned to the young Geon host before leaving.

“Of course.” Nikolai nodded in reply before turning his attention to Roun. “You get some rest, we have a lot to discuss.”