Waking up, feeling drowsy from the night’s intoxicating company, Cer looks around and does not recognize the environment. The smell, the sound, and the lack of mana-outlines of buildings set a feeling of uneasiness in Cer. Where am I, and how long have I been asleep?

As Cer scans the area for danger, a sudden melancholic longing washes over Cer. Ugh. I wonder how Pupu’s doing? I hope she hasn’t destroyed The Apiary. Don’t worry. I will be back soon.

Suddenly, a loud alarm emanates and reverberates throughout the walls and space, startling Cer from the daze into an immediate sense of awareness.

Sensing a familiar aura and scent, Cer hears a recognizable tone from the previous night. “Steady there homie. You had a lot to drink last night and you may not have your balance back. I make a mean mead.”

With equilibrium still off balance, Cer blindly grasps the area looking for support from sturdy physical objects while acknowledging the presence. “Ugh. Yes, Buddy. That is a powerful craft you perfected- intoxication and the subsequent hangover. Argh…. What is that blaring noise?”

Not looking up from his preoccupation with cooking, Buddy responds to Cer’s apprehension, “That’s just an alarm letting the Mech Nights know that something is off or needs fixin’.”

“That is correct. Something is off. But, don’t worry the citizens can’t hear it- it won’t alarm anyone but us” announces a familiar voice in Cer’s periphery.

Appearing from an entrance undetected, Chishiki rushes towards Cer with urgency to request Cer’s assistance, “There is an emergent need at hand. You are requested to the top of the tower, immediately.”

Noticing Cer’s dis-equilibrium, Chishiki points out his observations with curiosity and intrigue in his voice. “You know, the old Cer would have been able to de-tox by sheer will. I was right to design Fang the way I did. You have no control at all.”

“How is Fang supposed to help me de-tox?” Cer asks with annoyance.

Undistracted by the question, Chishiki reminds Cer of their need to reach the top of the tower. “Come, we need to hurry. I will give you lessons on how to use Fang to channel mana on your way up. You can use Fang not just as a cane, but as training wheels for your magic rehabilitation and mana manipulation. Right now, I need you to trust me, I am about to tether-guide you, just give in.”

Sensing Chishiki’s mana reach towards Cer, Cer remembers Chishiki’s instruction and surrenders to the enveloping energy.

“Now that I can manipulate your mana and your body for you, pay attention and keep aware of the flow of mana. I am going to take you to the top of the tower under this ‘spell’. We will also travel faster than your hungover, unstable, and blind walking on your own. This tower is disorienting for those that navigate the world through feeling and sensing. ”

Tuning into the tethered connection, Cer keenly focuses on the mana flow and the feeling of conducive energy traveling through Cer’s body as they head to the top of the tower.

-break-

Reaching the top of the tower, Chishiki releases the spell and urges Cer to channel mana autonomously.

Witnessing Cer fumbling to channel mana, let alone walk straight, Nova and Yasmina look at Cer with concern as Cer steps deeper into their space.

Continuing to think aloud, Yasmina shares her thoughts with Cer. “So this won’t be as easy as we’d hope it to be. We’ll adjust and make do. Cer, whatever's in your box, wants to get out whenever we activate the hex lens in our bubble.”

Thinking about the contents of the box, Cer shrugs, “Hmm, The small box has honey. And the big box has the other gift I received along with Fang.”

“You mean Talon? No, no, Talon is like Fang. It’s a conduit used to channel. No way it would react to any mystic sources such as souls.” chimes in Chishiki thoughtfully.

“Ever since I developed this disability, I’ve become aware of my limitations and weaknesses. Figuring I’m too useless to use it, I decided to lock ‘Talon’ in the box,” Cer adds to justify locking away the second weapon Chishiki made for Cer.

Annoyed by Cer’s ableism, Yasmina interrupts Cer’s thought process, “First off, not being able to see is not a weakness, it is an aspect of life you must learn to live with beyond just surviving it. Like all other aspects of life, not being able to see may have some challenges, however, none of them are weaknesses. Just as you cannot see what we see, you are more readily able to hear and see the things we cannot. Back to the box, what else is in the shriver’s box?”

Hit with realization and recalling the sad memory, Cer self-chastises internally. Holy shit. That’s right. … the box shaking at the ruins of Aisling… the box trembling when we saw the hex lens. HOW DID I NOT CONNECT THAT?

Nodding, Cer responds with a confession. “Well, the only other thing in the box are my mal-mystic beads.”

“The souls are attracted to something in your box. Whatever it is, it’s causing a concentrated gathering of the damned. The gathering of the damned is attracting something else big, and that thing is amassing energy and heading this way.” says Nova in a panic.

“We don’t know if they want the beads or if the box is just reacting to the souls gathering because the damned want one of us. Whatever the reason, we need to disperse the gathering of the damned and ward off that thing heading this way.” Yasmina adds cautiously.

Remembering Yasmina’s statement from the previous night, Cer inquires “You said I'll get assistance if I am able to help. So who are you sending me out with me?

Chishiki smiles, trying to comfort Cer’s uneasiness. “ Battal-lion is already out there. Battal-lion can draw them to you or away from you, kind of like bait. Battal-lion can also disperse them when they gather. Battal-lion cannot shrive or seal though. That’s where you come in.”

Confused, Cer inquires about the ethics of the group’s decision, “First off, you sent someone to deal with the damned as bait? What is wrong with you? Who is Battal-lion and how can they even sense the damned or demons? Secondly, I can’t shrive or seal anymore. The mal-mystic beads are full.”

Responding to Cer, Chishiki explains Battal-lion and the plan. “Well that's hard to explain. Battal-lion can actually see the damned, whereas you only see their auras. They cannot sense like you, so they rely on what they physically see. They’re not really human and they aren't technically dead or alive, we don’t think, so we think they can’t die. Since they can’t die, we sent them out there years ago. In fact they stay out there 24/7 because they also don’t need sleep. It’s complicated to explain since they are kind of like sentient witch-tek. So don’t worry about Battal-lion.

As for you, we have a back up plan in case you are too hungover to shrive. We are going to tether you to Hauck and myself, in case we need to pull you back here. You will also need to take this canis talisman. It will allow you to telepathically speak with Wyndel and his canines. They will be here shortly, that’s how we will communicate.”

Seeing a bright light penetrate past the bubble’s absorptive barrier, Yasmina commands, “That’s the signal! Battle up, sending you out now! Neko, send Cer now. Go!”

Surprised by the sudden directive, Cer tries responding without success. “Wait… what.. Now..?”

In the flash of an instant, Cer is sucked into a black mirror and re-appears just outside the city’s bubble, West of The Mecca.

As Cer re-orients from the porting, Cer is caught off guard by the sensation of a growing mass of energy.

Looking around, Cer notices a gathering of auras, which Cer assumes are the damned, all heading towards Cer.

In the distance beyond the auras of the damned, Cer notices another four concentrated balls of energy moving directly towards Cer faster than all the auras. In a self-assuring manner, Cer plants feet into the ground, awaiting the approach of the balls of energy. I guess I have no choice. I am going to have to handle this, then I’ll be home, Pupu.

The four concentrated balls of energy move in and around each other in a coordinated flight pattern as they zip past the damned, letting out a sonic boom.

Stopping just short of colliding with Cer, one of the four balls of energy releases vibrations of sound, “Long time no see, friend! We’re here for you. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen so many of those ghosts gather; what did you do?!”

Reforming their pattern, Cer watches as the four balls of energy re-distribute their energy mass to resemble the mana flow of a humanoid figure with a lion’s face. What is this thing? “Are you Battal-lion? Remind me how we met?”

Turning to refocus on the oncoming onslaught of the damned, Battal-lion gives Cer a terse response, “Yes. No time to talk- ready up! May mana flow in your favor!”

Sensing the mass of the damned heading closer to them, Cer points Fang in the direction of the mass and tries to channel mana through Cer’s body and into Fang.

Watching from a hex orb in Yasmina and Nova’s room in the tower, Wyndel instructs Cer telepathically. Yasmina said to feel the mana flow in your body before trying to gather mana. Battal-lion is there to help. Battal-lion is a sentient being made of modded Gen-U armor, so don’t worry about their safety, use them as a shield if you need to.

Impatient and frustrated, Cer responds. How do I feel the mana?

Relaying Yasmina again, Wyndel instructs Cer, She said you have to want it beyond survival. You need to want it to live and WILL it, just as you WILL your hands to move. It is an extension of yourself.

Interrupting Cer’s unheard dialogue, Battal-lion reminds Cer of the urgency, “Can you work a little faster?”

“I’m tryi……” As Cer tries to respond, the mass of the damned bumrushes Cer and knocks Fang out of Cer’s hand.

Pinning Cer against the bubble barrier of The Mecca, the damned concentrate into a palpable force like a thick heat wave pressing Cer down against the palpable barrier.

Feeling Cer’s skin sear and burn from the bubble barrier, Cer tries to push back. “Arrrghhhhhh. I can’t fight this alone, what are you doing Battal-lion?”

Concentrating energy into their shield, Battal-lion throws their shield towards Cer.

Upon striking the damned pushing against Cer, the shield opens up a web of energy that repels the damned from Cer and covers Cer in a field of emanating energy.

Recovering from being pinned, Cer fumbles blindly looking for Fang on the ground.

“Didn’t you tether Fang?” shouts Battal-lion.

“What? What’s that supposed to do?” Cer responds, panicking at the realization that the onslaught of the damned was coming back for another bout.

“It does this!!!” shouts Battal-lion as the shield returns to the central mass of their armor. “And it allows me to do this!!!”

Watching, Cer notices a small thin thread of mana tethering an axe head to Battal-lion propel forward towards the center mass of the gathering damned souls, decentralizing the damned and dispersing them in all directions.

“What? You can throw projectiles? Your shield and axe?”

“It is technically not throwing or projecting if I am actually tethered to it this way- it is an extension of my limbs! They are gathering again… I can only interrupt them, I can’t kill them. You are the shriver. SHRIVE or SEAL like you did before the fall of Aisling!!” yells Battal-lion.

“Shriving is for demons and conquys! I also left my mal-mystic beads back in my case in the tower so I have nothing to seal with!”

“What? Do you need the beads to seal souls? You can’t shrive a soul?” Battalion-lion asks with frustration as Battal-lion continues to swing the tethered shield and axe methodically to disrupt the concentration of the damned.

“I was never able to shrive a soul. That’s forbidden by my covenant. It’s against the covenant and breaks the shriver’s pact. I can only seal or consume souls!”

“Then you better hurry and start eating. Five hectares to the West, something big is headed this way. It might be a conquy headed this way”

“I can’t consume without waking the third eye. If I can’t control my mana, waking the third eye will be too dangerous.” yells Cer while still fumbling to locate Fang.

“I need you to disappear then. If they are more attracted to you than me, it’s not safe to have you here. Until we meet again, my friend. May mana flow in your favor. ABORT THE MISSION!” Battal-lion shouts as it flies Westward at great speeds, releasing another sonic boom.

No longer disrupted by Battal-lion, the damned gather again, forming a whirling storm of pain, readying to attack Cer once more.

Frantically searching for Fang, Cer hears faint crying and wailing within the whirling energy of the damned, as the mass continues to accelerate towards Cer, growing in mass as it approaches at great speeds.

Cer reaches mentally reaches out to Wyndel to communicate the oncoming onslaught. Wyndel, you all have to figure this out. The auras show the damned are all in anguish. Something you all are doing or something you did is driving their vengeance. If y’all don't figure out how to stop their anger and hate, the world will be cursed beyond the damage we have already done and the curses that the few of us carry.

Providing a brief response, Wyndel acknowledges Cer. Heard!

Attempting to convey a different tone, Cer sends a desperately slow message to Wyndel.. Please tell Punkin I love her and I will always be there for her… She just won’t be able to see me. Thanks, old friend.

Looking down in defeat as the damned close in on Cer, Cer exhales one last breath. I’m sorry, Pupu. I don’t think I’m going to make it home bubs.

CRACK!!!

The concentrated energy of the damned smack the bubble barrier so hard that it breaks the momentous silence and shakes the air; even the people within The Mecca heard the sound and felt the ground quake.

Sighing in horror, Nova turns away from the West and walks into the tower, hopeless and defeated. If Cer couldn’t do it, who could? We are all doomed.

Sighing, Yasmina send’s Cer’s box to the underground with Wyndel. “At least the damned are no longer gathering outside. Was the cost worth the peace?”

“Peace is never worth the cost, when the price we pay, feels like it's all a loss.” Chishiki sadly mutters as he follows Wyndel out of the tower.