The moon's pale face reflected on the waters below, agitating as the fish swam. Walls towered over the river full of Guardians, who hid in the depths, unwanting of the silver rays. Armor, spears, swords, bows and arrows, shined under the light in the many rooms along the border. It was amazing how a sanctuary can become a fort in a few months.
"Where have you two been?" Ria scolded Hubris and Grek as they entered the command center that was once the town hall. "We were just about to leave for the strike without you."
"Captain, listen!" Hubris stood in front of Grek. "I know you don't agree, but none of our work will matter without the Prime Songs."
"Well, do you have them?" Ria crossed her arms. Her spear glinted on her back.
"Err… no." Hubris scratched his head. "but we have the person who might be able to find them."
Ria softened. "Fine, so who's the new kid?"
Hubris and Grek led the engineer forward.
"Oh hi. I'm Fredrick." He waved. "I am a redstone engineer at the Redstone Academy."
"I hear you can locate the Prime Songs, Fredric?" Ria asked, "You two, go prepare for the battle."
"Well… not exactly," Frederick prattled. "but I'm working on a device that can. However," he looked around, "It requires some space, and it's not quite finished. In addition." He looked at the Ardoni in front of him, "it requires at least one Prime Song to calibrate."
"The Deathsinger already has two Prime Songs." Ria said, "Can you calibrate from that?"
"I am afraid not." The engineer replied. "Unless we know his location at that moment." He smiled. "Thank you for that knowledge though. My machine can indeed detect if two Prime Songs are together."
"Finish your device, Fredrick." Ria said. "You can find Galleous in the forge, he will give you the equipment and facilities you need. If we find one of the two remaining Primes, perhaps you can help us locate the final. Welcome to the Knights of Ardonia."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Later, in the war room.
"Is this all the clan members you can gather?" Ria asked Val.
"Unfortunately, yes." Val replied. "I'm sorry. Only a handful can fight, and fewer can wield Songs. The clans are otherwise determined to stay out of this war."
"Cowards." Ria slammed the table. "When will they learn to stand up and fight? Until the Voltaris is at their doorstep? When the Nether fills their fields with Netherrack?" Ria pointed outside. "When the orange and black skull flag of the Nether flaps with the wind on every rooftop?"
"Do you think we'll have enough forces to take Meridian?" Abbigail voiced everyone's worry.
Ria looked to the Tidesinger for help. "Even if we don't," he replied, "we have to give it everything we have. Cydonia and K'arthen control the two largest armies of Ardonia. If we can unite them and control the beacon conduits, we could liberate a few capitals before the Nether has time to retaliate."
During his speech, Grim casually sidled towards Him. Reaching out his hand, he slowly tried to poke Him. His hand shot up as if it teleported there and blocked Grim.
"Watch your hand, Reaper, or I'll watch it for you." He growled. Grim hastily pulled his arm back with quick nods.
"And at that point," Hubris continued after the Tidesinger, "the Nether will have lost their hold. It will be easier to strike at other, more fortified, points."
"Everything depends on the liberation of Meridian." Ria concluded. "Tomorrow is going to be a long battle, and it will not end there. You are all dismissed, sleep well tonight."
"Goodnight, Senn." "Sleep well, Ria." They waved as they came out of the town hall together. Senn watched as Ria returned to her quarters, her spear, that he made, glinting in the moonlight.
"So you and the Captain, huh?" Grek's voice made Senn jump. "Haha, you make it too obvious." The Jaggarthan leapt from the windowsill. "When you have been single as long as I have, you develop a hypersensitivity for these emotional matters."
"Yeah." Senn gazed wistfully at Ria's figure. "We grew up together in the same hill and always played with each other. I guess at some point in our lives, it just happened."
"Aw, come on. At least you have someone." Grek gently punched Senn's shoulder. "I have yet to even meet another Jaggarthan, much less a female. And even then she might not be interested in me."
"Grek, I'm sorry…"
"What for?" Grek led the way to their suite. "After this war's over maybe we'll go on another adventure and find the rest of my kin."
"Wouldn't that be something…"
"Gazing over that map all night will not bring you any closer to victory." Galleous said as he joined Achillean in his chambers.
"You should get some sleep, Tidesinger." He placed a hand on the golden warrior's shoulder.
"I seldom sleep these days." He replied. "I can rest when my work is done."
"You do not have to carry all this responsibility on your own." Galleous assured him. His golden markings still shone bright, but somewhere in there, a certain spark was gone. "Ria has been leading and inspiring the troops, Abbigail has your side with the Enderknights, and I am always available to lend a hand. In addition," he smiled, "we are gathering rebellion forces in Feldon. The War will draw to a close."
"And I am very grateful for your support." Achillean took his eyes off the map. "There are many brave hearts willing to stand up against evil. Far more than in my day."
"Then what troubles you?"
"A great many things, I am afraid. I feel the incessant strain of my Songs clawing at my strength, growing more painful every day." Achillean rubbed his temples. "You are aware of this I am sure. Thalleous experienced much worse effects."
"One reason of many why I stopped teaching Songs."
"There is also the mystery of Ingressus and how he has been able to elude me." The Tidesinger said. "We have seen very few Voltaris in our battles, and Ingressus himself has not been present since the Second Great War began."
"Supposedly he is still fixated on finding the remaining two Prime Songs." Suggested Galleous. "Fortunately that should occupy him and take some pressure off our troops, assuming my brother hid them well."
"So long have I spent hunting Ingressus." He scrutinized the city labeled Crown Peak. "Yet every time we face, I am unsure of my intentions."
"I hope you intend to kill him." Galleous said. "I know of no other who can."
"At our next confrontation, I imagine we will find out." The Tidesinger gently closed the map.
"Do you mind?" Masani yelled over the booming of her bedroom wall.
"Masani?" Onyx paused his punching. Normal bags just can't sustain the fists of a Magnorite. "I didn't know you could raise your voice that loud."
Onyx got down and started doing pushups. After a while, he put his toes up on Masani's wall and started doing more pushups upside down.
"Just warming up for tomorrow." He grunted between strokes. "I'm going to be around a lot of other Magnorites finally. I don't want to look weak."
In her room, Masani rolled away from the door, trying to ignore the obnoxious sounds. Sometimes she wished she had picked another room.
"So why do you care about Felora so much?" Onyx persisted in the conversation.
"That's none of your business." Masani snapped. Can't a girl get some peace and quiet tonight?
"In a pack of Magnorites," Onyx said, now doing squats rapidly, "We call the runt the omega." He slumped down on the ground. "That was me. I left them because they held me back, and I figured I could strengthen myself better on my own." He sighed. "That's where Ria found me, just punching away at a house."
Masani turned over to face the Magnorite's room. "I don't care for Felora." She said, calmly. "Only a person living there: Lira." Masani fidgeted in her bed, unknown to Onyx. "I haven't seen her in so long. I don't even know if she's still alive."
"So why haven't you gone back?"
"Because I was banished from Felden." Tears brimmed in her eyes. "The time when we take back Felora will be my first chance back in."
"Well, I hope you find her again." Onyx comforted. He went to the opposite wall and started punching it.
"Onyx! Don't make me come over there!" Yelled Grek.