“So, Last Star, what news do you bring for us to come here through the Intersection?”

“The Divine Ladder has been destroyed. The Southern forces are in a rout, and we’re retreating towards the World’s End, pursued by the East-West alliance.” The Last Star smiled wanly.

An arctic chill descended upon all present, as his words began to register in the minds of all who heard it. Hushed chatter battered at the silence within Paragon Ortega’s dome, as the man himself said a single word.

“How?”

Nox, the Last Star, hesitated. “We have no idea. The alliance had been sieging us for quite a few days, but last Saturday, we heard a single word, and the Divine Ladder collapsed, destroying the whole of Empyria and its population. Only a fifth of the Southern armies now remain.”

“Restitution.” Paragon Ortega looked at the crowd below. “Everyone here heard the same word too. Senators, if you would?”

Having quelled the irrational anger within him, Gaius now wanted to laugh at Senator Alexandre as the latter took to the skies, despite all his declarations earlier that he didn’t want to meet or even see a Paragon in the flesh. The other senators had sent him a few looks, which Gaius interpreted as the investigation being a task that they had assigned to Senator Alexandre.

“Everyone I’ve interviewed heard it. All the way from Heritage to Orb itself. Our contacts in the other continents too,” replied the senator, who promptly descended.

“I see.” Paragon Ortega turned to Paragon Nox, his eyes alight with anger. “So, you come here, to a place where the Southern armies commenced a Second Extermination, and expect us to help you? What gives you this much confidence? Especially when you lot invaded our lands and made us flee into the Wildlands?”

“Politics makes strange bedfellows, Paragon Ortega.” The Last Star smiled mirthlessly. “You know as well as I do why the Second Extermination started in the first place. We now ask for your cooperation in fending off the East-West alliance; we can settle our own issues later.”

The beastfolk Paragon stared at his human counterpart, and at the exact moment, the world throbbed again. Paragon Ortega nodded at the newcomer and said, “Warmaster Chamberlain. I was wondering when would you arrive.”

“I rushed over as soon as I got your message, Ortega.”

“Warmaster Chamberlain.” Paragon Nox inclined his head. “Your defence of Lyseria is still very much talked of amongst the Constellations. Few Paragons can take on three Constellations at once and still make it out relatively unscathed.”

The Warmaster’s face darkened for a moment, and Gaius found himself recalling Senator Alexandre’s words. The speaker himself, however, was trying to look as insignificant as possible by his side, and didn’t look to be in any condition to speak at all.

Paragon Chamberlain exhaled slowly, his fangs somewhat visible. “Never should have let them gang up on me, eh?”

“Enough of your words, human.” Paragon Ortega interrupted. “Tell us what you have in mind, and we’ll see whether we can have a…compromise. I shall not hide it from you — we are equally concerned about the silence of the East-West alliance regarding us.”

“I thought you might feel that way. As for us, the Southern…” Paragon Nox’s words faltered for a moment, “…remnants, we are seeking refuge. Scorpio was short-sighted when he destroyed the beastfolk cities and strongholds, or else we might not be having this conversation.”

“You presume too much of our generosity, Paragon Nox.” The Warmaster glanced at his face. “No, we are not interested in fighting alongside you. It’s clear to us that we no longer have a place in the Five Lands, given the attitude of the Human God. We offer a different compromise.”

“Say it, then.”

The Primordial Earth that acted as the sky of the Intersection flickered as Warmaster Chamberlain spoke.

“Get Capricorn to remove the spatial seal, so that everyone here can leave for the Wildlands. We’re sick of fighting. We leave, and you take over Ark City and whoever wants to stay behind.”

“An unexpected request, given humanity’s understanding of how territorial the beastfolk are.” The Last Star exhaled slowly. “But fret not. The seal should dissipate come Monday, even without our interference.”

“Speak not in riddles, human.”

“Very well. Constellation Capricorn fell in battle two days ago, at the Battle of Empyria. He was surrounded by six Paragons, three from the East and the West each.” Paragon Nox trembled slightly. “He managed to take out one of them with a relic, and died from its effects.”

“He died a good death, at least.” The Warmaster clenched his fist. “Not everyone has the luxury of dying an honourable death. Better than watching others die ahead of you, at least.”

Warmaster, sir, your inner regrets are leaking out. Gaius thought, as he continued to listen in like the others did, while fighting down the unexplained hostility he held towards Paragon Nox. The other Harvesters, who were listening closely like him, had also began to connect the dots regarding the Warmaster and his actions.

“Be that as it may, it would have been better if he hadn’t died at all,” Nox replied curtly. “His loss, as well as that of Aries, Sagittarius and Aquarius, will be sorely felt by all.”

“It’s a good thing Taurus is still alive though.” Paragon Ortega cracked his knuckles. “At least Eisenhower didn’t fall to a weakling. It’ll be my pleasure to finish up what he started.”

The Last Star groaned audibly. “The entire South Continent is about to get annexed and possibly enslaved by the East and the West, and you’re fixated on past enmities? What is wrong with you? Are you going to stay behind while everyone leaves for the Wildlands, just to wait for Taurus?”

“That’s actually a good idea, is it not?”

“You beastfolk are really a piece of work. Fine, do as you please. Go fight or whatever floats your boat. Now, if you will, esteemed Paragons, can we find some place more sensible than the sky to negotiate the end to this odd state of war between us?” Paragon Nox descended onto the ground, peering at the auction venue interestedly.

“Very well. Warmaster Chamberlain, senators…I’ll leave it to you.” Paragon Ortega shrugged off whatever implicit request the Last Star made of him, and then zipped off into the sky after removing the energy barrier he'd cast.

Paragon Nox stared at the little cloudy trail. “By the by, has anyone seen Gemini in this place? It’s possible that he might be here, since this place…actually cuts off divine powers and blessings? Tis truly a weird place.”

“Hah! Good joke, Paragon Nox.” The Warmaster folded his arms. “Surely you know how guarded any entrance to the Intersection is. There’s no way he can slip through that tiny little door without us knowing, right?”

“True. I wonder where he went off to?”

The Paragons started chatting like friends as they left the Sheltered Duelling Grounds, leaving the assembled peanut gallery there all baffled. Nalus twirled the wooden hammer he had in his hands a few times, and then slammed it down to resume the auction.