March 16, 2019, 10:14 am. Freefalling into Aethire.

The descent into the city is rapid, none of us wanting to give the Nightstar time to easily find us. After racing down several of the labyrinthine corridors under the cover of my invisibility sphere, we stop in an abandoned home. There are hundreds of similar dwellings along the outer edge of Aethire, the powerful materials preventing decay even after decades of neglect. The insides are full of furniture too heavy to easily transport, but little else. It’s enough for our immediate needs.

Restoring the guard is much easier than waking Rufka, as my attempt to shake the guard awake proves. “What’s wrong with my friends? Why aren’t they waking up?”

The guard doesn’t answer, instead launching into a hacking fit. Right, probably should've expected that. I’d heal them, but that would be more like torture.

As if reading my mind, Tipan kneels next to them, her talisman glowing with a gentle orange light. It’s not even that her talisman - a collection of small stones embedded in a thin sheet of bark - is better than mine. Tipan just has a much better affinity for using the healing talismans.

Her bedside manners are probably better too.

But bedside manner isn’t my job.

As the guard stops hacking, Josh forms a chair beneath them, putting them in what’s probably the comfiest interrogation chair in the history of Akilo, rose-petals the size of her head propping her up. I ask her again, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t our friends awake?”

The guard stares at each of us, then at our necks and wrists where our bindings are conspicuously absent. She gulps, leaning back. “Uh. I don’t know. The collars knock them out until we use the feed signal.”

Crap. I really hope we don’t have to go back for this thing.

“And you have the feed signal?” Tipan asks, prompting the Stormguard while I’m still mentally berating myself for not cluing in that they had a secondary system in place.

The Stormguard nods, perhaps a bit overenthusiastic, as she wrestles with a clasped pouch on her bandoleer. She stops when I constrict the air around her. A silent warning, to remind her that she’s not in control here.

Unfortunately, an unpleasant smell informs me I probably overdid it. I cringe internally, as I realize how much I must have scared her. I just wanted to keep her from hurting us, not terrify the poor woman.

Tipan retrieves a whistle from the poor guard’s hand, casting me a reproving glare. I remain mostly stiff, giving her a tiny nod.

While Tipan sees to the others, I make sure the guard overhears me whispering to Josh at the same time as I message everyone through Wyonna. While Wyonna’s range is limited, she’s there again, which is better than the regular message function.

Out loud, I mention that we’re going to need proper disguises before we’re able to escape the city, to which he makes a joke about nothing being in his size. Meanwhile, we discuss the route we’ll actually take to sneak to one of Rufka’s caches closer to the World Dungeon. With the guard escorting us past the security network, this is probably our best chance to hit the World Dungeon. Especially now that teleportation is offline.

The guard is rendered unconscious again, this time by Tipan using the very bindings they used on us. It’s gentler than forcing her to pass out. And it leaves her bound in the same way we’ve spent the last couple days. I’m honestly surprised I didn’t explode the second the collar came off. Maybe all that aura practice is helping.

With the guard unconscious and everyone on their feet, we slip into the city, travelling in two groups. With Rufka and Tipan as company, Rufka and I adjust our appearances, becoming just another K’tharn in the crowd. Tipan’s own disguise is even simpler, activating a common charm that makes her fur shine with a bright neon-pink and green combination. It’s not common, but the fake pattern is a sign for the South Tribunes, one of Aethire’s Desh'mersa teams.

Tipan didn’t even buy the glamour as a disguise. She already owned it. As has been established, she’s a pretty big fan. Since we’re headed for Rufka’s friend near the Desh’mersa arena, it works well.

We make our way quickly, passing beneath several Flights of Fallen patrolling the skies. I can’t tell, but I don’t think they look at us twice. Unlike several of the citizens who comment on Tipan’s outlandish style. But she’s so genuinely excited to talk to them about the latest game that most leave quickly. It’s honestly adorable.

Despite being stopped a dozen times by friendly passersby, we arrive at our destination swiftly. This close to the centre of the city, the patrols are normally thicker, but the Flights are almost all missing.

Rufka’s friend is waiting, her arms crossed as we walk up. She squints at Tipan’s brilliant form, then waves us in.

The smell of fresh cheese fills the room. I catch of something especially pungent, and it makes me realize I haven’t eaten anything except the thin soup over the last couple days. Munching on a wheel of cheddar while Rufka whispers to her friend, we slip into the back, waiting for the others to arrive. But it turns out we took longer than I thought, because the second I try to lean against one side of the small chamber, Josh lets out a grunt. I spin around to see all three of them standing there with smiles.

“Okay. We’re in Aethire. They should be expecting us to go to ground. Do we know if the World Dungeon is occupied?” Beth asks Tipan.

“It doesn’t matter. The World Dungeon always lets parties in. The real challenge is going to be making it past the Queen’s Knights.”

“Right. You’ve mentioned them. They’re like the guards of the dungeon?”

“Yes. They’ll stop anyone without a blessing from entering. Ostensibly it’s to keep people safe, but the ministers have been using it to control people for over a century,” Tipan says.

“Mum got past them.”

“Which means it can be done,” Beth nods, pushing off from her spot on the wall, pacing back and forth in the cramped room. It’s a good thing we don’t keep much in here.

“Well, mum had friends in the guard.”

“Your aunt Paltha, right?” I ask.

“Palthia,” Rufka corrects me, “Yes. She’s one of mum’s friends. But she’s not in the Queen’s Knights anymore. They didn’t appreciate her letting mum in.”

“Why are they even called that?” Josh asks, “I mean, there’s no queen, right?”

“They used to serve the last queen, Uthica,” Tipan answers offhandedly, she keeps talking, but I can’t understand her words. They’re coming through as though through thick water.

The entire room feels as though it’s underwater for a moment as my eyes grow incredibly heavy.

Then the sensation fades.

I blink furiously, but I’m not in the room any longer. I’m sitting on the back of a furious panther the size of a semi-truck as it bounds across an open field chasing a herd of vhethal. On the panther’s head sits Smoulder, her flames blazing brightly. She looks back to me and I’m hit with a wave of affection as she bounds over, scooting up Uthica’s chest to land on her shoulder, nuzzling against our cheek.

Wait. Our cheek?

“Uthica?” I ask, surprised when I speak with her voice.

Stranger. I’m surprised it worked.

“Uh, what worked?”

We flexed the bond between you and the little one. It brought you to my aid.

“Uh, her name’s Smoulder.” I mention, “Wait, Stranger, you mean you don’t know my name?”

Know your name? I’m afraid this is the first time we’ve-

Even as I feel Smoulder’s smug approval at me coming when called passing to me through the link, I feel the connection weakening, Uthica’s voice lost as I return to the present. Tipan is still giving her explanation of the Queen’s Knights to Josh. Gone for no more than three seconds that time.

I instinctively reach for Rufka’s hand only to realize she’s not next to me, leaning against the doorframe chatting with her friend, with her eyes locked on the hallway outside. Right, probably a good idea. We’re in the middle of hostile territory. Doesn’t stop me from moving over to her, causing her to shift out the door slightly.

“While that’s interesting, it’s not important,” Beth interjects when Josh asks about the change in their armour. A detail I’d completely missed.

“We just need to contact the Taken. They've got a way in, right?” Rufka says, “I’ll be back in less than half an hour. If I’m not, I’d appreciate if you came to find me.”

“I’m going with you,” I say, reaching to squeeze her hand.

But she steps away, shaking her head. “I should go alone. We’re lucky no one saw through your glamour. I’m the only one who can go out without one.”

“But I-” I begin to object but Roberts lays a hand on my arm, shaking his head.

“See you soon.” Rufka says without so much as a glance in my direction. Is she still upset about me not teleporting? But…

I plop down on a pack of unfolded boxes, rubbing my head, only to have to stand back up again to settle properly. My leg isn’t meant to go like that.

Approximately the longest fifteen minutes later, Rufka pokes her head back in. After a quick glance around the room, she gestures us to follow her. I’m about to apologize when she holds a finger up to indicate we should remain quiet.

Obliging her, we head out, though this time, Tipan is under the cover of Beth’s invisibility sphere. It makes it feel like it’s just me and Rufka walking along the grand streets of World’s End district. Towering over most of the district the edifice of chiseled stone, the World’s End palace looms. Like the Queen’s Guard, the name is a holdover from Uthica’s time. It’s still the seat of their government though. It makes a great landmark, seeing as it sits directly on top of the World Dungeon.

We make it almost all the way to the World Dungeon before we come across a scene that makes me freeze in my tracks. On the steps of the palace is a veritable army of protesters all waving signs. There are signs saying things such as, “Vaus has had her destruction! No more!” and “Leave them in the Deeps.” Along with signs that would fit in at home, like “No more war!” or “Give me back my messages!”

It’s the last one that makes me realize that they don’t know about the incoming System Agent. They think the interference is caused by the Lords of the Deep. And if the Lords think the same thing, this war just got a whole lot more complicated.

Which feels weird, cause we’re trying to not get caught in the middle of it. Even Tipan. Like, Tipan obviously doesn’t want her family dying, but after everything she’s learned about the Aetherium, she’s having a hard time defending their actions. Just before we went to Pelwerd, she suggested we try to sneak in and convince the ministers to apologize.

Which Beth promptly shot down, and the rest of us reluctantly agreed that it’d be better if the K’mintar handled that. And Genitha… Okay, maybe not Genitha.

A gentle shove from one of my invisible companions reminds me this isn’t the main attraction. I jog to catch up with Rufka, winding through the crowd. When I get close, I almost reach out for her hand again, but stop myself. She clearly wants some distance. Maybe I should just-

My thoughts are shattered when I feel a hand take mine, and my heart jumps probably two times higher than it should. “Come on,” Rufka whispers, “we should stick together.”

I nod dumbly, clearing the edge of the crowd and moving toward an elaborate stone door near the edge of the stairs leading up to the palace. The door is set with several different rules, each engraved in Vausian, illustrated with pictograms. I quickly scan over the ‘rules’ as Rufka knocks on the door, adding a new message to the System overlay. I read over them, inspecting their matching images as we wait for Rufka’s knock to be answered.

If you enter, you cannot exit without completing the Dungeon successfully.

Is that a K’tharn getting sucked into a black hole?

Beware the Calthonra.

Huh, a centaur with only one eye and a pair of scything claws.

Traps are not standardized. Do not rely on maps for trap locations.

Hmm, several squares, each with the Vausian equivalent of a question mark, a kind of U shape, engraved into the surface.

You have twelve days to complete the Dungeon. Unlike Standard dungeons, you won’t be allowed to exit if you go over the time limit.

An engraved Vausian symbol for time, basically a skinnier eight.

Several items will not function within the World Dungeon.

Just a flaming crossbow with a cross through it.

Quality of Life Abilities and the changing of subclasses can only be accessed from within the designated safe zone within the World Dungeon.

A picture of a K’tharn separated from their bag that has a sword inside it that they can’t get to, next to another image where they’re inside a house and can get to it. I guess that means inventory counts as a Quality of Life ability. Makes sense.

Some of these are really clear, but that warning about the Calthonra seems strange. It doesn’t tell us why we should worry about it.

I don’t have much time to dwell on it, the door grinding open slowly, as a familiar K’tharn emerges. Her dark fur makes her hard to pick out from the passageway, but I’m pretty sure she’s waving us in.

When Rufka steps forward, I wait several seconds until I feel an invisible tug at my hand indicating everyone should be inside.

With one last glance around the plaza, I weave twilight into night vision, following them inside.

As my foot leaves the plaza, the door starts closing. I swear as I skip forward, staring back at the closed door. If I’d tarried any longer, I would’ve been locked out. Turning back, I realize Rufka’s talking with Kellica in hushed tones.

Finally, Kellica nods and Rufka hands over a small satchel.

The satchel disappears, presumably into Kellica’s inventory, then she turns to address us, a small smile on her face. “Good to see you, Tel’thoni. Beth, I’ll need you to drop the invisibility. Then we’ll get Ael’thani to give you your blessings. Once you have your blessings, I’ll need you to stay invisible until we make it to the System entrance.”

The others reappear, Josh in the middle of a question that he snaps off once he realizes they’re visible. Ael’thani appears just behind Kellica, and I realize her personal stealth has really improved in the last few days. She moves about, a grimace fixed on her face as she presses her hand to each of us for a few seconds while muttering under her breath. When she gets to me, she lays her hand on my shoulder, her Vausian crisp and precise as she says, “By my eyes, this one is worthy.” Her proclamation is followed by a System notification indicating I’ve been granted access to the Upper Preparation area.

Even before she’s finished bestowing her ‘blessing’, the others have disappeared once more.

I jog next to Rufka, who stares at my illusionary form as I approach. “It’s still weird when you do that. Doesn’t look right.” She flicks at my illusory ear, which twitches at her contact as I pull back at the sensation. There are strands of twilight connecting my cat ears to my real ones, which improves the illusion, but also provides weird feedback.

“Anyway, ready to delve into the darkest part of Akilo?” She asks, giving me a small smile.

“Well, when you put it like that…” I pause, before taking her hand then following after Kellica who’s already walking away.

“Absolutely.”