There were several more days of reasonably paced travel to reach the sect. Originally they would have been expected to arrive two days earlier, but obviously that had changed. Yet the messaging infrastructure of the Sunfields allowed the reinforcements to arrive with haste.

That likely meant the Luminous Harmony Sect knew that their plan had not been successful, simply by lack of information. Thus while they didn’t hurry they didn’t linger anywhere. Just because they had reinforcements didn’t mean they should risk further attacks, especially with some of the original group still injured.

As they approached the main body of the Golden Tomb Guardians, the difference between a long-established sect and a clan that had been uprooted several generations prior became quite clear. The Order of the Amber Heart was the strongest sect in Marble County, and though they controlled the fantastical Crystal Caverns the ornamentation of their sect was fairly minimal. The Brandle clan had their own little bit of paradise, but was like an elegant and secretly secure vacation home. The Tenebach clan had practical areas and areas for receiving guests, both of which were adequate enough.

The Golden Tomb Guardians had something more. John had become used to intricate stonework and columns, but the Stone Conglomerate preferred to let the stones speak for themselves. Here there were tall pillars and domed structures resembling palaces, many covered in gold, and all of it reflective. Lights danced from structure to structure in what John supposed must have been a staggeringly impressive display, if he could see it. As it was, he still felt the vast size of the area. And it was busy, too, with disciples running every which way. The only thing that was odd was the largest, most central building. It was a mystery, with his senses blocked from entering it for the most part, though what he could feel didn’t involve any people moving about.

Zacharie led them to guest rooms which were thankfully meant for outsiders, and much less overly bright. John had to admit, if the Golden Tomb Guardians were attacked by anyone not able to handle excessive amounts of light element they would be at a severe disadvantage. In a way, the ornamentation was practical, but it was also to show off their prestige.

“Dinner will be in two hours. Until then, anything you need can be provided by the servants here,” Zacharie gestured, “Any messages you need to send can be relayed through them.”

That was basically an invitation to take a bath. Days of travel on the road, even inside a carriage, began to build up. The relaxation would also help with the stiffness of John’s wounds. More than half a week had let him make some steps in the healing process but he certainly wasn’t in top form yet. At least his spiritual energy reserves were close to full, though only because he was able to slowly convert other elements into darkness. Aydan was still merely half recovered in that respect.

The bath was nice, though perhaps hotter than John might have preferred. As a cultivator from a wealthy clan it was not difficult to get a heated bath, but it was likely easier in the Sunfields with fire being the secondary element to light. As John soaked in an overly large bath he was finally able to relax. Being away from home was nothing new, but he’d rarely been in hostile territory. In this case it was the land itself that was hostile, though some of the people were as well. John knew he needed to spend more time familiarizing himself with the light element, especially if he was ever going to complete a great cycle. That was a far off bit of ambition, but even if he didn’t advance his cultivation that far, mitigating his current weakness would still be beneficial. But that was for later. For now he needed to relax.

He was escorted to the dinner by Zacharie, where he was seated in a position of honor by the head of the table. As a visiting clan head he would expect something similar, but the position told him they were taking this seriously. He could have reasonably been placed several seats down, still able to interact with the sect head but lower than some of the elders. That might even had been appropriate, as they were merely heading into talks of alliance.

Others began to filter in, with several of those around John displaying a cultivation in the Consolidated Soul Phase. There were likely more not in attendance, and perhaps even some younger disciples around John’s age. Or perhaps Zacharie was the best of the lot, in which case they would soon have some. It wasn’t strange for a disciple of a sect, even one more powerful than the Tenebach clan, to be a bit more conservative with their resource expenditure on a single individual. They could afford to wait a few years, after all.

Then the sect head entered. An older man with glistening silvery hair that John wondered if it were real. Then again, if it was fake he might as well have gone for gold. This man was Sect Head Lambert, and he was in the mid Soul Expansion Phase.

Looking around the dining hall, John thought he should have brought a few more people along. Both Aydan and Crystin were suitable as guards and for formal family positions, but the three of them were surrounded by more than a dozen others. Just enough to make the table not feel empty, though. A nice consideration.

“Welcome, welcome,” the Sect Head bowed his head to John and swept his hand down the table towards the others. “The Golden Tomb Guardians are pleased to receive the Tenebach clan as guests. What’s more, I must thank you personally for standing up for our disciples even at the risk of your lives.” He looked to John, “We have much business to discuss, but for now we should eat.”

With those words, food was brought in and placed on the table. John was relieved that they weren’t the sort to style their food after the area. Gold leaf didn’t actually add any flavor to food. As for the meal itself, some of the food was familiar and some was less so, but the silverware was the strangest part. Or perhaps he should instead say goldware, as it was made of solid gold, along with the plates. It was heavy, but not uncomfortably so for a proper cultivator. As for its functionality, it seemed to be enchanted to be more properly durable and able to hold an edge. Otherwise bones or other common pieces of meals might deform the utensils.

The food was all good, of course. Lambert began the conversation by returning to the topic of the battle. “I must say, I was impressed to hear how effective you were in an environment antithesis to your element.”

“I appreciate the words, but I must point out that I am not wholly reliant on the element of darkness.”

“Ah yes,” Lambert nodded. “I had heard you had several totems of different elements.” Lambert had been quite polite in avoiding inspecting his guest, but John opened himself up for a glance. “Four different elements? And with air appearing to be mismatched…” John took note of the man’s emphasis, “It appears you are attempting a complete cycle of elements. A bold choice. But one that was clearly not ill considered.”

“It remains to be seen if I can complete it,” John shrugged.

The man smiled. “That… would be something to see. But even in the worst case scenario I should imagine you would match my own cultivation, and there would be no shame in it. But I am just an old man, doubtless destined to be surpassed by the younger generation.”

The conversation never turned to the topic of alliance, but the genuinely friendly nature of the Sect Head indicated he was open to the idea. John could tell that some of the others at the table might be less favorably inclined to publicly ally with a darkness clan, but to combat a mutual enemy they would defer to their Sect Head.

Official talks of alliance were planned for the following day, and John returned to his quarters where he was glad to have dim lights. The dining hall had been toned down for guests but still had many reflective surfaces along with light cultivators everywhere, who wore on him regardless of their intentions.

-----

Darkness was comforting to John, but being darkness was a rare feeling. It wasn’t the same as having it as part of himself like when cultivating, but instead his fundamental nature. That came to him naturally, as was always the case in a dream, and he would consider it when he awoke.

As darkness, his form was not solid… yet he knew he had limbs to interact with the world. Teeth and claws, in fact. A form meant for battle, much like the creature ahead of him. The form of the other beast was indistinct in its brightness, but he picked out wings, talons, and a beak. Some sort of bird, then.

They fought. There was no reason to it, but it was impossible to avoid. It was their natures to clash, and clash they did. Darkness and light danced back and forth, their insubstantial forms tearing at each other. The entire process was pain, each contact burning like a deep wound. The final exchange ended with an ear held in the beak of the flying creature, and a claw broken off in its side.

-----

John awoke with a fuzzy memory of a dream, and a vague sense of unease. Not danger, but a different sort of discomfort than the light element that filled the world outside. Like he was missing something.

Zacharie once more guided John, a completely unnecessary waste of the honored disciples time but an appreciated gesture. “Breakfast will be informal, as Sect Head Lambert is momentarily occupied. However, he and the elders will be free to meet with you afterwards.”

“Thank you,” John replied. “And informal is… appreciated sometimes as well.”

Zacharie smiled, “I do get tired of the constant scrutiny, but I am a familiar face here. You aren’t so lucky, unfortunately.”

After breakfast John was escorted to a large hall with many adjoining rooms, presumably one of which would be for formal discussions on alliance. However, as they entered the area an elder came to find them. “Apologies, but the Sect Head requests your presence outside the Tomb.”

John looked to Zacharie, who seemed to have not expected it any more than he did. But they made their way back out, and towards the center of the sect. Specifically the largest and most impressive of the structures, where they did indeed find Sect Head Lambert waiting.

When John arrived, the man nodded. “Good, you’re here. If I recall correctly, the Tenebach clan has a guardian beast, correct? Snatched from the Society of Midnight, even.”

That wasn’t exactly public knowledge, but it couldn’t entirely be kept a secret either. It wasn’t strange for Lambert to know it. “That’s right,” John nodded. “Several generations ago we liberated our guardian beast from their control.”

If he took note of John’s wording, Lambert didn’t show it. “Well then, I am sure you understand the importance of such a beast. They have great power and can possess ancient wisdom. This morning, I was consulting our own guardian beast… and she requested your presence. Alone.” Lambert was rather stiff, his hands held behind his back. “Unfortunately, it is impossible to go forward with the alliance without her consent.”

“Is there a problem with meeting her?” John asked. He could think of possibilities, but he would prefer Lambert’s judgment.

“I won’t lie. There are… certain grudges she may hold against you, regardless of your actual involvement. It would be dangerous.”

“Will my injuries make any difference?”

Lambert shook his head. “I don’t imagine they will, one way or another. I was unable to get Cuah’arn to speak her intentions. There is a more than moderate chance of harm coming to you. If you are unwilling to meet, the sect will gladly host you until you are fully recovered, and you can return with only good will between us.”

“Is this Cuah’arn known for… spontaneous decision making?”

“She is usually wise and considerate,” Lambert declared. “But emotions might overrule any, in the right circumstances.”

It would be reasonable enough for John to take Lambert’s advice to heart and just leave. The man didn’t explicitly say he should go, but there was that risk. “Could you bring Aydan and Crystin here so I can consult with them?”

They did so, of course, and John explained the situation to them. “If I do go in, I would prefer the Tenebach clan not hold a pointless grudge, if something happens.”

“I see,” Aydan said. “So you are going in?”

“I didn’t say that,” John said.

“But you didn’t really bring us here to ask us, either,” Crystin pointed out. “You came here to tell us not to hold a grudge.”

“And we won’t, but others might not believe us,” Aydan concluded. “So you just have to live.”

“I trust that a rational being will reside inside there. And that it would know that whatever grudge it has won’t be resolved by killing me in particular.” That was what John said, and what he hoped and believed. There was some chance he might just die but… he imagined the guardian beast would at least wish to exchange a few words, even if it had already decided to kill him. And something wouldn’t let him leave, though he couldn’t quite pin it even if he thought he should be able to.