Reigan turned grim after the dust settled, the wind calming down. Looking back to Joran, the grin he held slowly dissipated.

Reigan solemnly spoke, "And even with that, we may not repel the Invasion."

Taking a moment to process those words, Joran paled at the thought of something even remotely as destructive being unleashed from an enemy, aimed at him. Reigan had restrained half of the destructive power from behind him, only focusing it on the Beasts in front. If that power was unleashed indiscriminately... A shudder channeled through Joran involuntarily.

"Ah, sorry, Joran. I shouldn't be so grave about the situation. But, I do hope it gleans some perspective."

Joran numbly nodded, still in shock. It was only now he realized he was sitting on the ground, his legs sprawled out in front of him.

Coughing the last bit of dust out of him, he sighed, "I think I understand more than I really would've wanted to. But still, you really just annihilated this entire pack of Beasts in one blow…"

There was immeasurable awe in his voice, but everything else was dulled. Joran was convinced he was making steps towards being able to fight for himself. And yet, this display, this scale…

It was like he had only reached the starting line all over again.

Joran unconsciously slumped, defeated, looking at the ground around him. The earth was bare, the grass that had been here clearly ripped out of the ground no longer there. The dirt his hands felt as he clutched was parched. The grit in between his nails were what he suddenly felt he actually was.

Reigan swooped down and patted Joran on his back, giving a reassuring smile, "Listen, kid. You've only been at this for less than a year. By the time I had to face the Invasion, I'd already been at it for a few, myself. You'll get there."

"Maybe," Joran's mood lightened up a little bit, encouraged albeit still sullen, "But we're facing the Invasion now, and I have to be ready for it."

That put Reigan at a loss of words, so he stood back up, monitoring the surroundings. They fell into silence for a while.

The sun had almost finished descending when Joran broke the silence, "So… What was this, then? We didn't just clear the Invasion, right?"

"No," Reigan shook his head, his visage striking more proudly again, "This was a camp we happened to run into. There should be others around. The fact this was here solidifies that we are but thralls to the Invasion, now."

Joran scoffed, straightening himself, but still sitting down, "So what are we supposed to do, then? Go around, and destroy each camp?"

"Hmm… No, last time, by the time we had seen these camps, we were waging an open war. No skirmishes, no isolated encounters, just bloodshed. Which means we might still be early enough to figure out where they're coming from?"

The uncertainty in Reigan's voice filled Joran with considerable anxiety. It was the first time the Realm Monarch seemed to not have control or an idea at hand.

Joran exhaled, "Well… We followed them here, so now what? We wait?"

Joran was jesting half-heartedly, but Reigan turned around, his eyes lit up as if Joran said magic words.

"Uh… Actually?"

Reigan nodded, approving the idea, "Yes, because if this is a camp, then they're going to be getting supplies from somewhere, yes?"

Now Joran's eyes lit up, "So we wait for any possible convoy of Beasts, beat them up—"

"And follow them home, wherever that is for them."

In agreement with the plan of action, the duo scampered towards the now scattered foliage, with Joran eyeing Reigan jokingly, "Well, it'd be easier to hide in here if someone didn't show off."

"I did no such thing. I simply displayed my true power," Reigan waved off Joran, looking at him like he was an annoying child.

Joran playfully agreed, "Yeah, sure, of course."

Trying their best, they settled into a decent amount of bushes that survived the Ray-Gun, and waited in their newly created nest, as the night began to consume the remainder of the sun's light. Within the darkness, Reigan had no choice but to rely on Joran's Sacred Sight Arts, his eyes glowing a dimmer variant of the golden hue. The stars glistened, a few comets streaking across during the wait, and a crescent moon slowly rising into the night sky; it was calm and quiet. Which added to the eerie suspension the duo felt as they waited for any Beasts to show… If they were going to.

It wasn't until the moon had already started to descend back down the sky that they could hear the all too distinct scuttling of a couple dozens of goblins. Although they were on the other side of the clearing, for Joran, he could easily see the mangled, ill-fashioned carts of what looked like wild meat on top of them being carted into the center.

Joran whispered, "You were right, I see about 20 goblins, and a handful of… wagons of meat, I'm guessing."

"Where are they?"

"The front of them are about to get to the center of the clearing. Why?"

"Shouldn't they have realized their fellow Beasts are no longer there?"

"Well, they can't see very well, from my experience. Just hear really well."

"Yes, and you expect a camp of Beasts to be quiet enough for a pack of goblins to walk in and not hear them?"

"…"

"Yeah, try again in about 20 years, Joker; then maybe you'll know something that I don't."

Rolling his eyes, Joran looked back towards the goblins that now seemed to begin to circle the inner ring of the depression Reigan had created from his shockwave.

Relaying what he's seeing to Reigan, Joran could plainly see the rising concern in him. His brows scrunched, now deep in thought, as Joran could only look on to the strange goblins.

Chitter among them grew, some in the same conversation, while mostly disharmonious. But for a few minutes, they stood in the exact ring they were in, until finally what they were waiting for happened.

An opaque, black portal warped into existence in the center of the clearing, the warble of space distorting what little Joran could make out, as he watched goblins file in and disappear. The wagons, the goblins, all of them vanished into thin air as the portal collapsed into itself and blinked out of existence as subtly as it had appeared.

Joran was speechless, however, Reigan only heard the goblins disappear.

"Hey! Where'd they go, Joran?"

"… A… A portal. They went into a black portal."

The wide eyed, mouth gaping Joran turned to see genuine fear struck across the Realm Monarch's face. Somehow, seeing him like that, festered more fear into Joran than when he knelt before him a month ago.

Reigan's voice seemed to immediately get dry, as he spoke, "Well… Shit.

"Did… Did you get anything by looking at the portal? Where they might've gone?"

Joran shook his head, still looking for the slightest of details of evidence. But all he could see were the dimly lit footprints under the moonlight. The goblins had vanished without a trace.

Reigan sighed, getting out of the spot the duo had been in up until then, "I should've known it wasn't something as simple as a camp… They were waiting for these goblins, or hitching a ride themselves!"

"So… Beasts aren't supposed to be able to use portals, right?"

Reigan almost turned to Joran in panicked rage, but took a deep breath, closing his eyes and looking upward, "Yes. In any records we've ever written or read, the Beyond had no capabilities of teleportation. Only the Sect of the Astral in the Mage Isles could use this Aspect… Until now, it would seem."

"Realm Monarch… We need to go back and report this."

Reigan nodded grimly, and the duo fled from the area they had been in for the better part of the day. As they ran through the forest, running straight for the open road, Joran's mind raced, recalling the key details of the events that had transpired. Not for tonight alone, but from since he had left the Central Districts.

It was normal for a few haggard monsters to appear now and then. Dealt with easily by anyone with a weapon. Even during the night, when monsters frequented more often, they were still avoidable within the main regions of the Hero Realm, especially within the Metropolis's walls. But ever since him and Hando had departed for the Metro, the sightings of monsters had increased exponentially, even from firsthand experience. A few goblins, to packs of kobolds and an orc; to witnessing an assortment of the most monsters Joran had seen in his life being obliterated by the Realm Monarch. And even more still, now they had observed the utilization of a portal by Beasts. The ramifications of walls no longer being able to bring security, meant utter chaos could ensue. This was the fear that Reigan held in his heart in this moment. He could vividly remember the first Invasion, when there were no walls surrounding the Metropolis. When his mentor…

He had promised himself, never again. That same massacre wouldn't happen again.

Reaching the open road with little difficulty, they were intercepted by a few groups of soldiers that evidently were on the lookout for them. Reigan and Joran spent the rest of the night being escorted back to Crown City, where Joran attempted to get what little sleep he could get before the next day, and Reigan arranged for the next Assembly meeting.

The next day, Joran could feel the ache of his body as it wasn't entirely recovered from the encounter with the Orc, and from the mounting fatigue from yesterday's debacle. But regardless, his attendant, Callahan, came in to his room to summon him up to the Throne Hall.

Making his way up inside the Sovereign Palace, it was the first time he had ventured back up since taking refuge there. While it towered over the plaza it was located in, it wasn't exceptionally tall. About a dozen floors was how many Joran went up to reach the Hall. He kept wondering to himself how he had been so lost in thought to notice how far up in the Palace they were.

Returning to the Hall where he first met Reigan, he could see a handful of guards stand in ceremony along the walls, standing in front of the colored banners of the Major Families. The myriad streaks of gold, silver, red, blue, bronze, and black flooded his vision, as he could clearly see their different starting points drape along the walls, and see them all converge at the same point, at the golden throne, with a familiar face sitting atop it.

And while Reigan was not smiling, much alike the day they first met, Joran felt about as calm as he could be having seen what they encountered last night. Joran walked solemnly towards the same fixed position that him and Hando went to and kowtowed towards the regal Realm Monarch.

"You summoned me, Realm Monarch?"

With no amiability in his strict, formal prose, Reigan spoke, "Joker, I have arranged for the Assembly to meet once again this morning, and I would request that you be in attendance, as the Eighth member."

"Uh… Eighth?" Joran looked up from his position, trying to go through the Families in his head, perplexed furthermore by the apparent 6 streaks of color across the room.

"That is correct. Look above me, Joker," a hint of slyness in a shadow of a smile across Reigan's face as he nodded his head above him.

Once he followed his gaze, Joran forced himself from scoffing at himself. On the ceiling, above the throne, was an hourglass, no larger than the throne itself, painted in a hue of dim green; depicted with some sand falling through it. It was then that he realized each of the banners at the very top of them also had similar insignias. Briefly recalling in his mind which family were what colors, he kowtowed once more.

"Of course, the Argo Family. My apologies, Realm Monarch," with a thought, Joran frowned as he asked cordially, "You would have me stand as the Eighth of the Major Families?"

The Realm Monarch, refraining from even the slightest of emotions, sitting regally, nodded.

A cold sweat formed on Joran's back, and before he could bring himself to question the sanity of the Realm Monarch, stammered out, "I-it would be my honor. I will make sure to attend the Assembly."

With that Joran stood up and turned to leave, but as he did so, Reigan spoke up acutely, "That was not the only thing I had summoned you here for."

"Yes.. Yes of course that wasn't all," Joran started to shake and knelt in front of the Realm Monarch this time.

"Since this will be you being formally recognized into the Assembly as a legitimate entity; we must make arrangements for your assemblage, and your Insignia."

Joran blankly looked up at Reigan, thinking for a few seconds before he knew what his choices would be.

"I'll request that Callahan Idaten and Hando Jura be my assemblage."

"Done," and with a wave, Reigan dismissed a pair of guards for their wordless assignment.

Once they left the room, Joran couldn't think of any insignia, or even a color that he seemed to resonate with. If he had to pick, it would've been green, but that was the Distilled Mind Family's. And then, the dream he had came to mind suddenly, the translucent water, the voice that resonated through him and the water at the same time.

"Turquoise."

"Hm?" Reigan was honestly surprised Joran came up with a hue relatively fast, almost leaning out of his chair, expectant of the next part of his question.

Joran stood back up, and looked sternly into Reigan's eyes, and smiled faintly, "An open palm. The Joker's insignia will be a turquoise open palm."

For the first time since Joran could remember, Reigan chuckled and stroked his chin amusingly, "So be it," he pulled his hands apart, as if presenting something grand, and smiled to Joran, "So be it, Joker Joran. When we depart for the Assembly you will have your space among the Major Families, as the one with a hand out for others in need of help.

"Now, we will be presenting the encounter you and I had, to the Assembly. More specifically, I request that you do the recounting. As your first official… Act as part of the Major Families."

Joran nodded, still unsure about the whole procession, "A-anything else that needs to be addressed?"

With a silent wave, much like the one he used for the guards, Joran was dismissed. Back at his room, he approached his attendant-turned friend, Callahan, with a sheepish smile that was immediately reciprocated by Callahan's gleeful own.

"Welcome back, Master Joran! How was the summon?"

"Hm, you know… It was really strange."

"How so?"

Joran walked over to his bed and sat on it, relaxing before he spoke again, "He asked me to join the Families in the Assembly. As… the Eighth."

At this, Callahan gave a jovial laugh, "Well, that's wonderful news, is it not?"

"I mean, it could be. But more importantly, he asked me to form an assemblage, which was obviously going to be Hando…. And you."

Callahan's face lost its smile slowly, as what Joran said was processed. Slowly, he slumped into the chair in the corner by Joran's bed, staring blankly, thinking.

Joran shifted in the uncomfortable silence, waiting for Callahan to speak his mind. For the most part, Joran looked around his room subtly, only looking towards his friend occasionally. However, Callahan continued to be in deep thought.

Finally Joran spoke up, "Listen, yo-"

"That's incredible! I mean, me?" Callahan erupted, interrupting Joran as he shot out of his chair, pacing back and forth in an incredibly vibrant way.

Joran stuttered out of shock, "I- Yeah! Yeah, why wouldn't I choose you?"

Callahan chuckled self-deprecatingly, as he looked down at the ground, "A servant such as I? I mean, it's an honor to even attend the Assembly, let alone as part of a Family's assemblage!"

Joran frowned, "I told you, you're hardly even my atten-"

"To you, maybe. What does the rest of the world think of me, though?"

Joran gritted his teeth in frustration as he glared at Callahan, who had stopped as well and glanced at Joran, confused. Joran grunted, and walked out of his room, slamming the door shut as he left. The frustration was at Callahan for not dropping the status he held around Joran, but he was also frustrated at himself for letting the prestige and elitism become something comfortable.

He could never forget where he had come from.

"Ah… Why are you out here, Joran?"

Joran shot a mean look in the direction of the voice, only to soften it as he saw it was Hando being escorted by the guards that Reigan had sent off. Hando seemed nervous, but more about the guards than Joran.

Joran cleared his throat, and straightened himself out, "Thank you, guards. I'll take it from here."

Without a word uttered by the guards, they departed, walking along the hallway. Joran watched them as they walked away, only turning back to Hando when they disappeared at the end of it, going up the stairs to the next level. Looking over Hando, Joran could tell that he hadn't slept well.

"Are you okay, Hando?" Joran asked with equal concern and frustration from talking to Callahan.

Hando pinched his nose, waving him off, "I'll be fine. Listen, I'm sorry that I didn't think about Joseph…"

"Huh? Wait, that's what you lost slept over?"

"Well, what else could it have been?"

Joran paused for a second and realized only he and Reigan were aware of the portal from last night. Grimacing, he sighed.

"Right, well, that's part of why I had the guards bring you here- er, well, why Reigan brought you here."

"… I don't think I understand, did you find Joseph's grave?"

" Yeah, he was at the one in between Portsmouth and Kaywood, if you want to ever visit. And then I ran into Reigan at the cemetery. Well, rather, Reigan came to me there."

Hando raised an eyebrow at that, "What, the Realm Monarch followed you there?"

With a shrug, Joran changed the subject, "We ended up going out to the Inven Forest, out to where we… You know."

Hando's face turned ashen as he nodded, not saying anything.

Leading Hando into his room, and after he and Callahan said hello to each other, Joran explained what had happened this morning, with Reigan at the Throne Hall.

Hando smiled, patting Joran's back, "I mean, that's great news! And, I'm honored that you'd have me join you into the Assembly—Though I hope you don't take offense that I still would prefer to be part of my Jura Family."

Joran laughed, playfully pushing his shoulder, "Yeah, I take great offense to that!"

The trio shared in the laughter for a minute, and once it settled down, Hando turned serious again, "So… What was this news that you're supposed to convey to the Assembly?"

Joran settled on his bed again, looking at both of his friends who sat next to him now, his hands clasped together, he took a deep breath in, and recounted the tracks that he and Reigan found, and the eventual clearing, the single strike Joran witnessed, and then finally the stakeout.

"We waited out the night, and encountered a convoy of goblins that had gone there. We assumed they were there to drop off supplies to the Beasts Reigan had slain but…"

Joran's voice trailed off, and for a minute it was quiet, until Hando grabbed his shoulder and started to pat it, "Hey, it's alright."

Shaking his head, Joran continued on, more distressed than he'd been in the conversation, "No, no it's not alright. We watched a portal appear, and the goblins walked into it, and they vanished without a trace."

Dropping the news on the other two was like looking into a mirror, their reactions the same as he had when he witnessed it firsthand. The shock and awe had both of their mouths gaping, and the silence festered like a looming omen.

"Yeah… Yeah, that's what I thought you had meant by you couldn't sleep Hando. I only slept for a few hours, and even then…"

"So… You're the harbinger of the Invasion, now?" Callahan had asked, more out of concern than anything else.

Joran sucked in air as he heard that, the weight of the world seemingly placed on his shoulders in one swift motion. He could feel that he was getting light headed, but shook his head.

"We will go to the Assembly, and I will be the harbinger, yes. But, we will also be there to assist however we can. However I can."

Callahan chuckled, and gave an amicable glance to Joran, "You're up there dealing with the best of the best. Don't bullshit me by saying 'we, us, together'… This is your fight. I'll be here supporting you from the sidelines though!"

Joran nodded, and with that, the trio departed out of the Sovereign Palace, towards the Assembly dome. Before leaving the Palace, Joran was handed three sets of turquoise tippets by an attendant. He was surprised, but also pleased with the way the tippets felt in his hands. Smooth silk that reflected light gently.

Once they had reached the dome, Joran noticed there was a smaller crowd than last time. Intrigued with that observation, he navigated his way through the traffic, some people recognizing him vaguely, others doing double takes, until the trio made it to the entrance on the Idaten's side. Unfurling the tippets and handing them to Hando and Callahan, they fidgeted and fixed theirs up and each other's right before Joran reached the door.

He clasped onto it, and took a deep breath, before opening it.

The first time he walked into this chamber, he was a boy who still refused his part on the larger stage. Forced over and over ever since then, to face his reality, and to overcome obstacles.

Now, he had grown more, albeit it had only been a week. And he could feel the step he took as he descended down the stairs, more ready than ever. As well as the clamor of hundreds upon hundreds of people that were now seated in the Assembly audience seats that surrounded the concave.

"… Shit."