Offer

The world was full of something that Ryun couldn't quite identify. His eyes saw nothing, and he didn't dare expand his sense, not right now with their company. He couldn't risk being incapacitated. It didn't take him long to recognize that what he was feeling was coming from his Soul. It wasn't a surprise, he had noticed that his soul's sense had become a lot more sensitive since coming to the Ethereal.

If he had to give voice to the feeling, it would be simply anticipation. It was as if the Ethereal Realm itself was curling around them. He had felt something similar in the camp, though there it spread through all of the valley, and was strongest at the center where the Grand Spirit of War dwelled. That sensation was different in the way that it felt more violent.

This was different in its nature, if not its source. The two Grand Spirits stood before them, Transition and Mysteries. The Grand Spirit of Transition was a tall crane-like being, its head was crowned with wide feathers spreading behind it, and its beak was long and narrow. A bird spirit whose body was covered in what looked like multiple layers of feathers, though Ryun noticed that the feathers were made of an Essence type he had never seen before. It seemed to have elements of the Ethereal, Death, and Life Essences. Or at least that was the impression that Ryun got.

The Grand Spirit of Mysteries was, as the name suggested, a mystery. The Grand Spirit was shrouded in a cloak made out of a Light Essence that Ryun had never seen before. He knew that the light it was woven from was faint, since there wasn't much of it spreading beyond the Grand Spirit. But, the cloak of light covered it completely, shrouding what was beneath. Its hood was the only place open, and in it he saw an Essence of such pure Darkness that it called out to him. It was not a Void or Oblivion, but it was kin. The Essences of the Ethereal Realm slipped around its form as if the spirit weren't there at all.

Ryun felt a tugging from that Darkness that resonated with the core of who he was, as if there was something within it that beckoned to him. He stepped forward unknowingly as if to reach out his hand towards the cloak of light. Nayra's hand on his stopped him, and snapped him out of it.

He shook his head and pretended that nothing happened.

"What kind of aid do you need, and why would we help you?" Ryun asked, pulling himself back from whatever it was that called to him.

"We do not know much of the chosen and your ways, most of us at least. So, before any requests can be made, we must know if you've pledged yourself to War's cause?" The Grand Spirit of Transition asked.

Ryun tilted his head at the question. Causes and pledges, he remembered the same from his conversation with the smith. It seemed like that was a big part of the spirit culture.

"We've made no pledges to any cause. We are here seeking aid, War has not yet agreed or offered anything."

Transition glanced at Mysteries, something passing before them, then nodded its avian head before turning to look back at Ryun. "Before we speak, we must have assurances, of privacy and confidence."

"And if we do not give them?" Ryun asked.

"We would prefer that you do," Transition said.

Ryun could hear the unspoken threat, not that he really cared. Actions were what he valued most. He opened his mouth when Nayra interrupted him.

"You didn't know who you would be meeting," she said slowly, and Ryun glanced in her direction. She was looking at the two spirits with narrowed eyes. "You just sought to intercept anyone new coming to the war camp."

Then, she turned back to look at Ryun. "They didn't expect someone like us."

Ryun turned his eyes back to the spirit, but spoke to Nayra. "What do you mean?"

"They didn't expect to need to ask for confidence, they expected someone weaker, that they could just kill if they didn't feel like they could get what they want."

Ryun blinked, then tilted his head. He was not nearly as insightful as most people were, but he trusted Nayra's instincts. "Is this true?" He asked.

The Grand Spirits looked at each other, tense even to his eyes now.

"Our concern is of great importance, for the future of both the Ethereal and the Real Realm. What we discuss cannot get back to War," Transition said.

Ryun shrugged. He didn't particularly care one way or the other. The time when he might've been worried about conflicts was long gone. There were few threats that he considered worthy of being cautious against. And with Nayra next to him, there were very few that could match them in combat. Still, he was interested to hear what they had to say, keeping their confidence was not a big issue for him.

"Very well, you have my word that I we will not speak of this meeting to anyone affiliated with the Grand Spirit of War."

The two spirits exchanged looks again, then Mysteries spoke. "I know the truth of your words, I see it wrapped around the pillar of who you are, this will suffice," the spirit said.

Ryun raised an eyebrow, that sounded very much like he could see the part of himself that Ryun had locked into his skill: My Word is my Bond. He was very interested to know how that worked, but for now it was a benefit.

He gestured with his hand for the spirits to continue, and Transition spoke.

"We have left eyes and ears in the camp, looking for newcomers. Many come to the camp, spirits, shades, and chosen. Not all stay and pledge to the cause, and so we have been trying to get someone close, someone who can act on our behalf. You are correct, we did not expect people like... you. We can tell that you are strong, which complicates things."

"How so?" Ryun asked.

"You said that your goal is to hunt the yeti, that aligns with us and with War. It would seem to you that War is a natural ally, we think otherwise."

Ryun tilted his head and Transition's small beady eyes bore into him.

"War is preparing this army for summoning to the Real Realm, he has made a deal with a chosen in your realm. An army and a war, in return for free passage to hunt the yeti."

That was... concerning. The Core was not yet fully recovered from the wars that had nearly consumed them, and if someone was planning on starting another one, especially if they planned on bringing the army the size of this one into it, that could be an issue.

"Spirits can't enter the Real Realm freely," Nayra commented.

Transition nodded its head. "Ordinarily, you are correct, the chosen that War is in contact with has great summoners at the peak of their power. We do not know the details, we parted ways with War before matters were settled, we know only that they are preparing a ritual to summon the entirety of War's army."

"You still haven't told us what exactly your issue with War is," Ryun interjected. "Even if what you say is true, the yeti is a greater threat than whatever conflict the other party wants. Everything you said just makes me want to align with War more, this is after all, why we've come here."

An army of spirits to hunt the yeti? That was power.

Transition shook its head. "No, it is trading one issue for another."

"Why? Is War planning on breaking the deal?" Nayra asked.

"No," Transition answered. "War intends to help whatever conflict it is asked to, and will then hunt and kill the yeti. What War has not made known, is that they do not intend to return to the Ethereal Realm, they intend to break all the rules."

Ryun frowned. "Why?"

Transition glanced at Mysteries and it was the shrouded spirit that answered.

"We are bound by our natures, and we draw strength from them. But our Realm, is a mirror image of yours. The conflicts and wars in your realm have... influenced War, they have changed and made them stronger. With every war in your Realm that strength grows, and this army is a tool by which War intends to transform your realm into a domain of never ending war, uplifting itself beyond its purpose."

Well, Ryun had to admit that was a lot different. "And what do you want from us?"

"War has a rotation set up between the Real and the Ethereal, chosen come and go from time to time, coordinating the execution of their plans. We intended to find a person on the inside, someone who can join the army and be our eyes and ears, relay a message to the chosen in the Real Realm of the danger and the duplicity of War's actions."

Ryun wondered if whoever the chosen was would even care, he was even wondering if he cared. This army was large, perhaps rivaling the combined army of the sects, but it was not larger than all the armies in the Real Realm. Even if War wanted to cause chaos, Ryun didn't think that the spirits would be a greater threat than the yeti. On the other hand, they had already made that same mistake once, thinking that the Dome monsters weren't a big threat, and that had caused a lot of issues too.

"Why not just find a spirit that is often summoned to the Real Realm?" Nayra asked. "Have them relay the message."

"The Ethereal is as vast as the Real Realm, no spirits in our domains, or pledged to our cause are summoned. The number of spirits that exist in this world is so great that finding one that has ever even heard of the Real Realm is rare. We know of none that are not pledged to War at least."

Ryun blinked, but then it did make sense to him. The world was Infinite, and if what little he knew about summoning in the Real world was true, then it was mostly done on random.

"There are rules," the Grand Spirit continued. "Rules that we cannot break. We cannot act against War ourselves, we can't impede its task until it threatens our domains, and War does not intend that. We need those unbound by our rules, that means chosen."

"Why are you even opposed? You can't care about the Real Realm that much," Nayra asked.

Transition looked her in the eyes when it answered. "Because that is in my nature, Child of Death. I am the Grand Spirit of Transition, I govern over those who pass from the Real Realm to the Ethereal and then into the Afterlife, what War intends is to pervert that order. Spirits are not meant to fully transition to the Real Realm, this will have consequences beyond what you can understand."

Ryun tilted his head, he didn't understand the rules of the Ethereal, or what the consequences could be. But consequences didn't always mean a bad thing.

"How did War then get in contact with someone in the Real Realm?" He asked instead.

"We are all part of the Ethereal, but we are also connected to the planes of our natures. War was able to get in contact with someone who has dwelled deep into the plane of War."

That would mean that they were very powerful, they had to at least have a Glimpse of Aspect, if not Grasp.

"Do you know who that chosen is?" Ryun asked, wondering if he would recognize the name.

"They are called Grey Horde."