After the reunification dance, more than celebrations took place that weekend. With the Great Galya Tree barrier fortified by those who participated, they made a little less arduous the guards duties. But the news didn’t stop, making all that safety less effective, or at least in their thoughts.

The Lord of Calamity was progressing. He conquered those vital for their location and resources, or easier to keep expanding his influence wherever he went. His followers also grew. Those who decided to join his ranks stopped to be simple elthean who looked only for safety in an increasingly unstable world. However, together with the Dorean, those more powerful populations became the resistance to an evil that knew no limits.

Alasdair, among others, were taking the offensive to deal with what he was trying to put at risk his territory, although they could not speak of all those who formed the continent of Mithra. In addition, too much research might make some find out about their location, even if it was a possibility…

“It’s not the same to know for sure where your opponent is then to have a slight idea,” Ailfryd said.

And even if he hadn’t held him prisoner or isolated, but training and strengthening, everyone there understood what they were facing to make things further complicated to him. But sooner or later, that would no longer be effective, so he could not stay there longer. Perhaps his days in the Galya were coming to an end; they might even have postponed the inevitable, although they could not complete their mission there.

For that very reason, his sleep resented in those last days. Why was it as complex to rest as ever, now that he still had a comfortable bed to sleep in? Was his mind preparing him for what was to come? Finnian ignored the answers; he might not want to find out either, even though he did not have many options in it.

“You need to rest. It’s the only way you could grow stronger,” Ead reminded him.

Because, that Sunday after dinner, the possibility of closing his eyes and sleeping was too far away. That is why he remained with the light on, reading his magic notes, both that the book of Ailfryd and the annotations that Lelile or Lunaluz could offer. It’s not that he would master it, but at least it was a more effective way to stay busy and not feel like he was losing time. So, after feeling Aer’s presence, soon he realized they had a visit at a few unusual hours.

Lizzie, the same elthean of great glasses that watched more than she revealed with her words. She was not worried, nor had any other news happened that disturbed them at night. Instead, she went there to give him a gift.

“You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to,” Lizzie said.

Although it wasn’t an item he could find in any store. These were aviator glasses, similar to those she and other observers used to observe the Galya’s surroundings. With leather straps that could fit his head, it was enough to try them to experience the magic that flowed through them.

“I remember what you told me about the amount of information you received from Aer, Rune and Leith, so this should help you a little bit.”

Focus his mind and allow him to observe their nearness smartly. At first, through the goggles, Finnian doesn’t appreciate any changes around him. However, they were connected to their senses and offered him data of what his eyes captured and was near. He could even focus his view on tangible things, just like a camera lens.

“Although I don’t recommend you to use their magic all the time,” Lizzie said, this time more seriously. “Any accessory is useful until you can’t do anything if you don’t have it at your fingertips.”

Their cases were similar. The elthean wore glasses because she captured too much information by simply opening her eyes, which even Finnian could comprehend quickly. Without them, Lizzie perceived everything blurry, but that was something she would have to deal with for the rest of his life, while he should adapt to all those changes.

“Why do I have the impression that this visit was not just to bring gifts?” Aer said.

“Be careful once you’re out,” Lizzie said. “I know it’s not that long since you got here, but things change very fast through Elthea.”

Because their intentions to leave there calmly seemed to have vanished. Or at least that was Finnian thought. News reports indicated that the attacks were occurring, and a small group of refugees went directly to Galya. The world did not wait for him to be prepared to fight, and for that reason, they had to follow their path. It took Finnian a short time to reach that conclusion, but something else to get moving.

“You look tired,” Aer said as soon as they were left alone.

His partners might never be far from him when he was asleep, although he had no trouble getting to relax. However, the problem was when he closed his eyes, fearful that the darkness would try to devour him once again. The Dusk Lullaby was supposed to help him rest. When converted into an infusion, it was a plant that would allow him to relax in the evenings to recover forces, although that would not leave Finnian vulnerable. They had traps, spells that would take care of them during sleep and wake them up if any evil sought to damage them. But like all the technology in his world was not foolproof, so was magic.

“Your health is essential,” Aer said, encouraging him to take the infusion.

“Think this way: you strengthen them with your energy, right?” Ead said as he flew in front of him. “You share your power. For that same reason, you must take care of yourself. What affects you can also reach the others.”

“That’s why we don’t want you to keep things from us. We’re your friends, and we’re always on your side,” Aer said.

It was logical that anything could affect them badly if he did not care. Releasing a slight sigh, Finnian nodded as he was given his space and took a sip. To his surprise, it had a sweet balance that reminded him of the warmth of the home.

“I’m afraid what can happen if I close my eyes. This is the second time that something like this has happened, and I don’t want to find out if there will be a third,” Finnian said with a hilt of voice.

“We don’t know what it was… that,” admitted Ead.

“But we’re a team, and we take care of ourselves. You remember, right?” Rune said.

“And we’re getting stronger. The one who is trying to get to us will get an unpleasant surprise if that happens again,” Leith said fearlessly.

Or it would be they who would end up like that. After all, fear of the unknown was typical. There he might have the means to fight the monsters that dwelt his dreams, but that didn’t take away his fear and were placed somewhere else.

“I don’t doubt it,” Finnian said, saying a slight smile. “However, since we arrived at the Galya, I feel that we head to the wolf lair.”

“So bad hunch do you have?” Ead muttered.

“Being together, no. But don’t you think we’re going blind? The Eroder is creating havoc, Ariel continues to increase his army, and we are looking for a door.”

“No one said it was easy. Do you think the previous Signers came, fought against Calamity, and defeated?” Rune said.

“No, let’s stop assuming what the previous Signers and their partners did,” Aer said, denying with his head. “This is our time.”

“We will follow our path and solve what comes to us,” Finnian said instantly.

“Then don’t think of anything else. We’ll face what’s ahead,” Ead said.

“We’ll get to the Silver Orchid,” Rune said.

“Together, as a team,” Leith added.

“And nobody would have managed to bring together a group like this. That’s something we have in our favour,” said Finnian, holding a hand down the back of his neck, trying to contain the desire to drop a laugh.

They did not know what they could do, nor did they know what they could achieve. It seemed a better option than punishing yourself without solving anything or continuing to think that way. In addition, he had someone to grab if a new dark hand tried to catch him, whoever wanted to do something as dreadful as kidnap him. Who better than his friends to defeat the impossible? Because if that world had taught him, it was not only that anything could happen, but even he could face fate by using everything he had. And that was more than many managed to do, not to say try.

So, with his stomach full of Dusk Lullaby, he soon ended up giving up to go to bed. After all, they ignored when they would return or how long it would take to have a similar break to miss it.

Contact with the pillow was similar to rubbing a cloud with the heavy body. A slight smile crossed his lips, aware that it was something he could now experiment with his own hands. His thoughts were blurred like the air, perceiving that he was not alone. Maybe everyone would stay in their separate bedrooms, but their partners, their friends, even the family they left on Earth continued on their side, protecting them when they didn’t even see them.