"Herobrine," Ria was almost completely out of breath, "I think that is enough sparring for today."
"Really? It's only been four hours." He said, loosening his shoulders. "And I've barely warmed up."
"Thank you, but I can't go on any longer." Ria leaned on her spear. "We can continue once I am back with the others."
"Very well. You mortals are so weak." He raised His sword, and with a crack of lightning, He was gone.
Ria packed her things. She egested the Primes and hid them in a compartment in her bag. She straddled it on her shoulder and descended the steps from the oasis. As she reached the Halls, she heard footsteps and quickly ducked behind a pillar.
Lucidius entered the tower. "You summoned me, Ingressus?"
"Yes," Ingressus answered. He took the Tidesinger's staff and walked out. "Bring Deltheus, we have much to discuss."
The trio walked out of the city and across the snow-covered plains. A white hare poked its head out and watched them curiously as they passed, its nose twitching. They approached a grey Ardoni tombstone standing alone in the cold winds. Ingressus touched it with the Voltar, and it glowed yellow.
"Is that…" Deltheus asked.
"The Tidesinger's grave." Ingressus answered. "We are not a ruthless clan." He looked pointedly at Lucidius, who stared at the ground. "We commemorate our warriors, as well as our worthy enemies." He planted Achillean's staff before the glowing stone. "And he, was my greatest adversary of all." Ingressus knelt down. "And my best friend." He mumbled. Standing up, he led the way to the Walls of Time.
"I have always wondered if my actions were to be written upon the Walls of Time," Ingressus ran his fingers across the engravings on the eleventh wall, "but never had I imagined an entire Wall would be dedicated to my legacy."
Ria peeked out from behind the pillar. What are they doing here? Are the Voltaris camped nearby? If they discover her, then… She dared not think of the consequences, and hugged her bag close.
Deltheus examined the other walls, all the way back. Outraged, he came back to the others. "There's not a single mention of the travesties which plague our history." He stomped his foot. "Not one word on the massacres, the killing, the champions."
"We should have the Glacians tear down these walls and re-write them." Lucidius suggested. "It is time the world learn our story."
"No need." Ingressus waved the suggestion away. "No need. There are still more Walls to be written." He looked at where Ria hid behind a blank stretch. "Some very soon I imagine." All of them approached her. Ria held her breath, hoping that they do not discover her. She reached into her bag and felt the Songs. If she must, she will use them.
Thankfully, the Voltaris stopped just in front of the Wall. "This will be the fourteenth Wall of Time." Deltheus read the lettering. "So this will be where we will record our victory in this war."
"Indeed." Concurred Ingressus. "I believe it is time to go forward with our plan."
"I agree." Deltheus nodded. "Too long have we lived in the freezing north and the equally cold Mount Velgrin. It is time to take back our homeland of old."
"Are you sure the timing is right?" Lucidius asked. "I do not think the Nether is at its weakest just yet. I've heard rumors that…"
"We cannot afford to wait much longer." Ingressus cut him off. "We might miss the opportunity to strike, and it is a narrow enough window already." He turned to face his companions and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "I have received word from my informant that everything is falling into place, and we must be ready to act swiftly. What we are about to do is extremely dangerous, but may be necessary to ensure the future of our clan. I am not asking any of you to join me. It is better for me to take the risk alone than to endanger all of you."
"Ingressus." Deltheus placed his hand over his Master's. "We are bringing a better future for our clan. For my brothers, and for the rest of Ardonia. I cannot stand by and do nothing."
"Deltheus is right." Lucidius held Ingressus's shoulder. "If it means a better future for our clan, I'm all in."
"Good." Ingressus broke the huddle and stood before them as the chief once more. "Have the clan ready." They started to leave.
"Wait!" Ingressus halted them. Ria held her breath. "Someone is listening…" Ingressus vanished with a haze of golden circles.
"Deathsinger!" Ria shouted as the Voltaris materialized in front of her. In an instant, she fused with the Primes and readied her spear. Deltheus and Lucidius ran around the Wall and surrounded her.
"There is no need." Ingressus waved for the others to stand down. "It is nice to see you here, Ria Sendaris, is it? Last I checked, the Knights of Ardonia were camped near Ataraxia. Why are you here? I wonder. Could it be, the Prime Songs?" He leaned in. Ria tightened her grasp on her spear.
"If that is the case," the Deathsinger stepped back. "Then I congratulate you, Ria Senndaris. You are the youngest Ardoni in all our history ever to use a Prime Song. You will be pleased to hear that I am now against the Nether. I look forward to fighting you or with you on the battlefield. But realize this. If you lose, then I will have all four Prime Songs."
"If you lose," Ria retorted, "Then I will have all the Prime Songs."
"Good luck." The Deathsinger smiled and walked away with the others.
Senn exited Hailstone and wandered south across the snowy plains. As he trekked across the ankle deep snow, a blue dot appeared on his horizon.
"Huh?" Senn moved towards it. He was close to the Walls of Time. When he finally caught up to the dot, he realized it was a person, an Ardoni, nonetheless. And on the figure's back, was a spear-like weapon, with a small, flat head, glowing purple with enchants.
"Ria!" Senn called out.
"Senn?" Ria looked around and saw his white markings glowing in the half dark sky. "Senn!" Ria jumped and summoned her platform. Gliding towards him, she nearly knocked him over as she embraced Senn, wrapping him close in her arms.
"I thought I'd never see you again." She motioned to touch her antlers to his.
"Ria, wait." Senn pushed her away. "I'm not… I shouldn't be with you, Ria. I'm not… I'm Voltaris, Ria. You are the greatest Ardoni I've ever met, and you… can't be with me. They killed my parents because they were together."
"Voltaris or not," Ria pulled Senn back in. "It doesn't change who you are, or how much I…" tears seeped out from the corners of her eyes, "love you."
"Do you mean it?" Senn asked.
"With every marking on my body." Ria answered.
Time seemed to stop as their antlers touched, igniting a dance of rainbows around them. After what might as well have been eternity, they broke apart.
"Why are you here?" Senn asked.
"I could ask the same question." Ria replied. "I was here for the First Song Shrine. I learned to use the Prime Songs, Senn." She summoned his blue bubble around them, shielding them against the wind.
"You can use the Prime Songs?" Senn broke into a tearful smile. "Ria, you are the youngest Prime Song user in…"
"Ardoni history." Ria finished. "The Deathsinger told me. And I am hesitant on using them."
"You met the Deathsinger?"
"Yeah, they were at the Walls of Time, discussing to enact their plan." Ria said, still shivering a bit from that experience. "I came face to face with him and two other Voltaris."
"How did you escape?" Senn pulled Ria closer. "Did you fight all three of them?"
"No, they just let me go." Ria said. "Why are you here?"
"The Voltaris are, have taken refuge, in Hailstone." Senn said. "I was with my brothers. One had his leg bitten off by a wolf. They told me their history, Ria." Senn held her hands. "The four clans elected a champion to slaughter them every five years. They just wanted a fair share of the Prime Songs' power since there is only four. They are a people struggling to survive."
"Let's go back together." Ria took his hand in hers.
"Ria, wait." Senn stayed where he was. "The Deathsinger has made me an offer." He looked into her eyes. "He promised that if I bring the Prime Songs to him, he can, we can, end this war right now."
"Are you?"
"No." Senn was firm. "However this war ends, the Deathsinger will not have all four Prime Songs. Not from me."
They returned to Ataraxia together, hand in hand. As they walked into the war room together, everyone was astonished.
"Ria?" Hubris asked, "Have learned to use the Primes? And what is he doing here?"
"Yes, I did learn to use them." Ria replied, "And why shouldn't Senn be here?"
"He is a Voltaris spy!" Hubris declared. "I do not know what kind of evil sorcery the Voltaris used, but Senn is the only Ardoni I've seen in all my life that has white markings. Onyx was right from the start."
"I'm not a spy!" Senn shouted, "but it is true that I am Voltaris." He said in a weaker voice.
"I have known Senn since our childhood." Ria protested. "He grew up along side me. He has no chance to contact the Voltaris, much less become a spy."
"Come on, Hubris. You must have eaten a whole cask of vinegar." Grek walked over to Senn. "Welcome back, kid." He placed his hand around his back and on his shoulder. "Don't mind Hubris, he's just jealous."
Senn snuck a look at the yellow Ardoni. He looked like he could murder Grek right about now.