Of course Harridon would be the one to tell on us. It’s too bad he’s essential to the ritual. Now that father knows, I hope they have managed to fill in the blanks so we can actually perform the summoning.

Felicity was troubled on what exactly to tell her father. She had her reasons for not wanting him to know about it yet, especially since they haven’t had possession of the full ritual up until she had to leave for the summit. Without knowledge of whether Fiona and Harridon had managed to complete it during her absence, she was hesitant to announce their find.

“Fiona and I have stumbled upon an old ritual while browsing the archives, father.” Felicity began to explain. “It describes the summoning of a hero from another world, which has allegedly been used in the past to ward off a great evil. We don’t know whether this ‘great evil’ the scriptures speak of has something to do with the planar convergences, but an otherworldly champion with the ability to save the world would be a welcome sight in face of the calamities that follow the convergences.”

“Hm, our country has the oldest recorded history we know of, but many of it has been lost. I have suspected a past convergence to be the reason for it, but our historians have found no information that supports this theory or otherwise sheds light on the matter. This ‘great evil’ may well be the missing piece in the puzzle.” her father mused.

“It could be,” Felicity said, “but the descriptions of the ritual itself and the circumstances in which it has been used have been incomplete. From what we’ve been able to gather, we would need both arcane and divine energies, as well as someone of royal blood. We’ve thus approached cardinal Harridon and asked for his help in trying to complete the ritual, and I didn’t want to tell you before we had anything tangible” she justified herself to her father.

“You’ll be pleased to hear then that Ashwood and Fiona have made the hoped progress in your absence. In fact, they have been waiting for you to come back, as the ritual is ready to commence. It was part of the reason Ashwood saw it necessary to inform me, as the cathedral has been blocked from the public as the place of the summoning.”

On hearing that, Felicity’s mood instantly improved. They made it! With a hero on our side, everything will be much easier! A smile stole itself back on her face. “This is great news, father, I was going to meet up with Fiona and Harridon anyway, and now we can go through with the summoning as well!”

Noticing the eagerness of his daughter, Rufus Esaburg knew better than to hold her at his study any longer. “We’ve been talking for some time now already” he noted, shooting a glance through the window behind him at the sun, now high in the sky, barely concealed behind a curtain of clouds that had formed since the morning. “Go then, my daughter. We will talk more later.”

Felicity sent a nod his way, before standing up and leaving the study, soundlessly closing the door behind her, that had been open the whole time. That went better than I had feared. She made her way towards the Castle-Tower, where the Royal mages were situated, in hopes of finding her old mentor there.

--

Just as Felicity was about to enter, the old wooden doors to the Castle-Tower opened under protest of the rusty hinges, and a robed figure rushed out and bumped into her. Felicity was only able to lean her upper body back in surprise before the impact, thus avoiding two heads clashing with each other at the least. The impact still forced her to take three steps back and an instinctive “Ow!” escaped her, more in surprise than actually being hurt. She didn’t catch what the other person grumbled, before they straightened their back and smoothened the creases that had formed on their robe. They then sent a strong glare her way, brows closely knit together, before they shot up in realization. “Felicity!” they said before closing the distance and taking her into a quick hug. They used to last longer, she noted before replying.

“It’s good to see you too, Fiona. It’s been two months.” Her opposite, Fiona Lockwood, replied “Yes, and what busy two months it has been, for both of us I presume!” Felicity nodded. “Well, on my part, most of it was spent travelling to and from the summit, though the event itself more than made up for it in the stress-department.” Not to say the weeks on the road and sea have been uneventful. “I’ve heard from father already, you have found the missing pieces of the summoning ritual?”

Fiona shook her head, as she replied in a tone Felicity recognized to be her ‘lecture-mode’. It has been a long time since she talked to me that way. She must really be excited about the whole hero-summoning and the findings they have made. “Not so much found as substituted for, Felicity. We didn’t know how to tie both arcane and divine energies together, as such a thing was supposed to be impossible! But with the information left in the scriptures, I managed to form a metaphysical connection between the two, not so much combining them, but allowing them to coexist and subtly steering them towards a single goal. After the initial idea had formed in my mind, it was only a process of trial and error until the method has been perfected.”

Fiona continued to talk about her methods, the steps of success she had achieved and what her thoughts were for each of them. As much as Felicity liked the nostalgia trip to her childhood days, where she would teach her about the intricacies of magic with a never-ending well of enthusiasm, she interrupted her old mentor. “Fiona, calm yourself! I’m happy to hear of your successes, but this is not the time - or place - to talk about them!”

That managed to snap Fiona out of her trance and she reigned herself in. “Yes, you are right, Felicity. I can’t stop myself, once I start talking about it …” She paused. “Anyway, I was just about to look for you. When we heard about your arrival, Harridon and I started to prepare everything for the ritual. We’ve figured you’d want to go through with it as soon as possible. His majesty told you about the place of summoning?”

“He did, the cathedral, right? If everything is prepared, we shall go at once!” Together, the two women made for the castle entrance and down towards the Cathedral district.

--

The city of Baymere was one of the oldest settlements in the Esaburg kingdom, if not the whole continent. And the Cathedral was one of it’s oldest buildings. The massive stone building stood tall even after hundreds of years, though on closer look you could identify, which parts have been renovated and didn’t look as weathered as the rest. The roofs in particular have been rebuilt only a couple of years ago, now glistening in the same red as much of the rest of the city when the sun shined upon them. Normally a hive of activity even at this time of the day, the plaza in front of the building was unusually empty. A few temple guards stood watch at the entrance to the Cathedral, ensuring no one unauthorized could enter. As Felicity and Fiona approached them, they stood at attention, the giant longswords held close to their chests, pointing straight at the sky. It is an impressive building. In some ways, even grander than the castle. Felicity mused as they entered the building, throwing a quick smile at the guards in passing, that made them stand just the tiny bit straighter.

The inside of the Cathedral was in no way inferior. Rows of wooden benches stood in the main aisle that was supported by massive marble pillars. The stained glass windows to both sides of the building bathed the interior in an almost mystical light, as the rays aligned perfectly with the edges of the centre aisle. Which is what Felicity and Fiona strode down towards the presbytery, where a group of priests and mages was busy clearing away clutter like candelabra or carpets. A giant magic circle that would take up most of the presbytery was being drawn, overseen by a man in pure white robes and a finely gold-embroidered cope. As they approached him, the man turned towards them, a sagely expression on his face.

“Ah, her highness Felicity and mage Lockwood, I was wondering when you would join us.” He waved towards the happenings behind him and continued. “As you can see, we have been busy preparing everything for the hero-summoning.”

“Cardinal Harridon,” Felicity began, while nodding at him in greeting, “I’ve come just as I have finished meeting with my father to recount the resolutions formed at the 4 shields summit.” “Is that what you decided to name it, your highness?” “Yes, we’ve found it to be a fitting name, as the whole point of the collaboration is to shield the nations and their citizens from the havoc that would be caused by the convergence.”

As she conversed with the cardinal, Fiona went towards the one of the mages that drew the circle and practically ripped the chalk right out of his hand. “Hand it over, you fool.” She pointed towards a section of the circle. “Can’t you see you’ve messed up that part with your shaky drawing? This ritual is too important - and too costly - to risk its success on a mediocrely drawn circle!” She went to erase the section in question and redraw it, in a single stroke she perfectly aligned the disconnected parts, the drawn curve being many times smoother than before.

“With mage Lockwood at the helm, we will be ready even sooner.” Harridon commented, smiling, while the berated mage dejectedly went to help clearing the space needed for the circle. Speaking to Felicity, he continued. “When we start the summoning ritual, my priests and the mages will channel our respective energies through you. You are the focus through which the circle connects with this other world that’s described in the writings, we still don’t know why the ritual needs royal blood as the focus though. Our ancestors apparently used the ritual more than once and concluded that the summoned mimics the summoner in a way. With you, we should call forth an exceptionally pure soul, that ties in well with your summit’s theme of protection.”

One of the mages present interjected at that. “You know, cardinal, and your highness too, if this hero really is as powerful as is written, why should we only try to defend against the convergences? Why should we be the ones to be invaded by the creatures on the other side?”

That is not what I want. I need the hero in this world, with me! “My only desire is to protect the people. I don’t want us to become the aggressors, especially if the ones on the other side are a sentient race as well, like 200 years ago. We don’t know of their circumstances and while I will give it my everything to defend our world, if we become the invaders instead, we would be no better than them!” Her passionate speech seemed to move most of the audience, and the cardinal nodded repeatedly in agreement. “Well spoken, you highness!” Turning towards the mage, he continued. “In addition, we shouldn’t speculate on how to have the hero best help us, before we actually managed to summon them and they have agreed to help us”

That’s one of my worries as well. What if the hero refuses to help us or ignores what we would want of him? The writings made no implications that they would be compelled to do so, but also left no doubts that they would be exactly what the summoner needed.

As the priests and mages finished up their preparations, Felicity gathered her thoughts, ready to commence the summoning. This moment, after all, had been what she had been working towards ever since she learnt of the hero-summoning a year ago. As the priests and mages took position around the outer circle and gathered their energies, she stepped up to the edge of the inner circle, ready to receive them and act as a focus for the ritual.

--

Eulisses Malinor was in deep concentration, while mixing together various herbs and potions in the big iron kettle that stood before him, occasionally stirring its contents with a long wooden spoon. He hoped for a higher chance of success from his idea of melding alchemy and arcane magic, but it also raised the difficulty of the individual steps. In a decisive motion, he grabbed the jar with the ghostnettle he gathered two days ago and threw its contents into the mix, eliciting a violent reaction from the concoction. But instead of being dejected, he was jubilant.

I did it! The old bogey called me a crazy fool when I first proposed it back at the academy, but here we are! My genius surpasses them all!

The wizard danced around the kettle in ecstasy, as its contents compressed and hardened.

With enough arcane magic, one can tear down the barriers between the realms, at least temporarily. It’s the basic principle behind the summoning of demons and the like. However, the nature of the barriers themselves is divine, arcane magic unable to sustain itself in the chaotic void. How to carve out one’s own realm in the void and connect it with this world, then, when you cannot have both arcane and divine magic at work at once?

He reached into the kettle and took out the object of all his hard work, admiring the milky white surface that seemed to irradiate a gentle light of its own.

Back then, I was interested in its supposed rejuvenating properties, thinking it could aid me in - or be my solution to - my immortality research. But its real power lies in the unrestricted conversion of energies.

He spun around, holding the object close to his ribcage. The philosophers stone. If he had the ability to choose to smile - difficult when your face is a bare skull that always seems to grin - he would have the widest one possible. My own realm … and the ticket to travel between it and this one at will.

Absorbed in his thoughts, Eulisses was startled awake by an infernal screeching sound that almost had him drop the stone. That was close! Not that a small drop could damage it. Probably, I mean I hope it can withstand that much. But that sound, my wards have been broken. They must be here, damn it! He rushed at the nearest window slit and spotted seven figures at what used to be the edge of his wards. Seven inquisitors! Eight if I count the one I surprised in the woods. That’s way more than last time! A quick glance at the philosopher's stone calmed his stormy mind, as if the dim shimmer gently washed away his distress. I have the stone, but I still need to create the pocket realm itself. They will undoubtedly break through my defense, I can only hope it’ll buy me enough time. It is too late to flee, I won’t be able to lose them, my only chance is to create and slip into my pocket realm fast!

Losing no more time, Eulisses quickly dug out the scrolls he had prepared a long time ago for this moment from the bookshelves and grabbed a stick of chalk, before commencing to draw an intricate network of runes on the ground then and there with practised hand, only briefly making sure he had made no mistake.

--

While the undead wizard rushed to bring his ritual to completion, the three animated armors and the miniature hydra flesh golem exited the tower and took position opposite to the inquisitors. They, in turn, readied their own spell and weapons, each of them held the same rune work as the lone inquisitor’s weapon back at the spring. After a short moment of motionlessness, the two sides rushed at each other, intending on ending the encounter in as short a time as possible.

The animated armors blocked the inquisitors’ blades with mechanical but deceptively quick motions, while the flesh golem - still the most massive combatant present - simply overran the two inquisitors that tried to intercept it and made for the two casters that stayed back. It didn’t make it in time, however, as one of them finished their casting, and pointed at it while yelling theatrically “Dispell!”

Much to their horror, however, the flesh golem didn’t drop dead, the unholy magic animating it dispelled, but massively swelled in size instead. They quickly tried to prepare another spell, but they were suddenly in range of the raised hydra, now as high as a one story building, and it promptly lunged one it’s heads at them to bite off their upper body.

The gruesome scene didn’t give the other inquisitors pause, they were elite warriors of their faith and used to many horrific sights. The two that failed to intercept the flesh golem initially have caught up and tried to mount it and cut off its head, while the remaining caster rushed to increase their distance to the monster, all the while preparing their next spell. The three that wrestled with the animated armors in the meantime, managed to slay one of it and were in the process of overwhelming the other two.

Despite their initial momentum, the defendants were at the point of breaking, the hydra, unable to shake off the inquisitors mounting, couldn’t go for the caster, who in turn gave the other three inquisitors an opening they used to slay the second animated armor. Before they could commence to completely wipe out their opponents however, they were interrupted by a shrill screech, this one much more animalistic in nature.

Following it, a flock of wyverns swooped down on the inquisitors from the sky, using their sharp teeth and claws in an effort to mutilate them. It was now their turn to lose momentum, as the inquisitors had difficulties in fending off the aggressive third party that crashed their fight. The hydra and the armor capitalized on the opportunity and killed two more, but even with the unexpected help from the local fauna, they were slain in the end.

Just as the inquisitors had slain the last defendants and the wyverns retreated after suffering losses themselves, a manic yell resounded, “I did it! Laters haters!” accompanied by a blinding light bleeding through every opening of the tower, before it abruptly vanished, leaving behind the valley in an eerie silence. When the inquisitors later sweeped the tower, they wouldn’t find anyone, with only a scorch mark upon much of the tower’s second floor and a split, unassuming rock bearing testimony to some ritual being carried out there recently.

--

Ugh, I didn’t know that planar travel would come with such a headache. Eulisses groaned while trying to find his bearings. As an undead, feeling pain would indicate an injury to his soul rather than his vessel. I will have to conjure up a soft bed first and meditate for a bit, I’m tired! Thankfully, I can just use the stone to - wait! Where is my stone? He frantically frisked his clothes, searching for the philosopher's stone and looking around the floor, only to suddenly pause upon realizing he stood on a floor. Wait, that shouldn’t be. For the first time, he actually took a look at his surroundings and found someone else there, a few feet away from him, that stared at him incredulously.

This is not my pocket realm ...