The study stayed quiet after I finished explaining the technical side of things, and Darling finally stepped forward.
"I will explain everything. You are not to interrupt until I'm finished."
Leones was confused but didn't argue. Milliania leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. Anamorsia nodded gently. Leon's hologram flickered as he adjusted his stance on the other side of the call.
He started with their grandfather—Vasreveilder—and how the Hidden Citadel wasn't simply an ancient stronghold. He explained how Vasreveilder had anticipated cycles of collapse and rebirth in the world's structure and had built the Citadel to endure beyond a single era's lifespan.
From there, he moved to their father—Dilasyus—explaining how much of the current political and metaphysical stability of Richinaria had been shaped by his decisions, even if most of them had never been told the full truth while growing up.
None of them spoke. They listened exactly as he had instructed. Then he shifted to something far more personal.
"I was not originally born in this world. Before my birth as Veneri, I lived an entire lifetime on a world called Earth."
Leon's holographic expression froze in mid-smirk but he kept his mouth shut.
Darling continued, describing Earth as a world without Divinity but with only technological advancements. He spoke about living as an ordinary human, about dying, and then awakening in Spheraphase with memories that should have been erased by the soul cycle. He doesn't remember most of them though.
"The Primordial of Time intervened. She preserved my existing memories and later chose me as Her Vessel. I became a Split of Time."
Milliania's eyes narrowed slightly at that but she remained silent, respecting his instruction not to interrupt.
He explained the implications of being a Vessel of Time, how his perception of events differed from others and how that awareness led him to uncover the truth behind the Second Epoch Cycle. He told them about the Timeskipping Events, about moments in history where cause and effect had been forcibly altered, and about how those distortions would erase anyone from existence.
He spoke about Natas has been manipulating these cycles for his own purposes. Then he spoke about his own goal.
"My objective is to become a Timeless. Only by achieving this can I ensure that we survive and we are able to fight the Mopherian Pantheon."
Only after he had finished explaining every detail from his past life, to the Primordial of Time, to the mechanics of the Second Epoch Cycle and his long-term intentions did he finally fall silent. For a moment, none of them spoke. Milliania was the first to peak though.
"Isn't it strange to remember a past life? Souls aren't supposed to carry memory across reincarnation. The cycle exists specifically to prevent that."
Veneri gave a small shrug. "The Primordial of Time deemed my memories necessary for the role she intended me to fulfill."
She studied him for another second, then nodded.
"Well, it's not like we're going to see you differently because of this. You're still you."
Leon finally let out a breath he'd clearly been holding.
"Yeah. You just… happen to be a reincarnated time vessel now. Totally normal family situation."
Leones scoffed quietly but didn't deny it. Anamorsia, however, looked at Veneri with concern and admiration.
"You've endured more than we ever knew and yet you chose to carry it alone all this time. I'm surprised you told us any of this. You've always been so secretive so why now?"
Veneri met her gaze directly.
"Because the Second Epoch Cycle is tied to Grandfather's Hidden Citadel. The coming events present an opportunity for all of you to advance into the Fifth Enlightenment and become Aeterium with established Demesnes."
Anamorsia blinked once. "I am already at the Sixth Enlightenment."
I spoke up at that point.
"You're at the Sixth through Forced Ascension. Your Overwrite was granted by the world itself. It's the only reason your Ancient Race physiology hasn't collapsed under your own power."
Veneri nodded, letting me finish that part before continuing.
"Ancient Races cannot naturally advance to the Fifth Enlightenment without possessing a Demesne. Your current state is an anomaly maintained by the world's tolerance. And Spheraphase isn't exactly known for being kind."
Anamorsia's expression slowly shifted as realization dawned on her.
"You mean the world will eventually reject me."
"Yes. Once your existence exceeds what the world can safely accommodate, it will exile you to preserve its own stability, like how it did with our parents."
Leones let out a low whistle. "So she's basically on borrowed time."
"If she doesn't establish a Demesne before that happens, she'll be cast out without a stable foundation. If you create a Demesne, you will sever your reliance on the world's Divinity system. You will become Divineless sure, but autonomous."
Anamorsia closed her eyes for a moment, absorbing the implications. Then she nodded slowly.
"That's preferable. I would rather stand on my own than remain shackled to a sentient world that may discard me. Spheraphase has never been particularly gentle with those who outgrow it."
Leon, still appearing as a hologram, laughed awkwardly.
"You know, this might actually be the first time we've ever had a conversation like this. No politics, no war updates, just… family secrets being revealed all of a sudden."
Veneri turned his head slightly.
"Natas, you know what to do."
A distant, irritated groan echoed faintly through the chamber.
"Yes?"
"Teleport Leon here."
There was a pause, followed by an exasperated sigh. "You really enjoy abusing your authority."
A moment later, space twisted in the center of the room with a sharp distortion. Leon stumbled forward as his physical body was pulled through. He caught himself, blinked, then looked around at everyone gathered in one place.
"Okay, I'm not even mad. Natas is really good at this."
Veneri rolled his eyes and focused on a serious issue at hand.
"Our plan moving forward is relatively simple."
Leon immediately snorted, "Every time you say something is 'simple,' someone almost dies."
Veneri ignored him.
"I need to reach the Tenth Star of Magecraft. That will allow me to get Demesnes for all of you. Once that is achieved, you'll be able to get to the Fifth Enlightenment without dying."
Leones tilted his head, "And the Fifth Enlightenment?"
"That should not be an issue for any of you."
"Wow. That's the most arrogant compliment I've ever received."
"It is not arrogance if it is accurate. Anyway, the expedition to Technographia will not simply be an exploration mission. We will be colonizing it."
That got everyone's full attention again.
"Colonizing. As in claiming the entire robot death-world as our new backyard?"
"Yes, Millie. Judging by the environmental hostility and the density of autonomous constructs, we can't remain stationary. Our forces will need to move continuously while securing zones of operation."
Anamorsia rubbed her temples as she began to understand the absurdity of what he was saying.
"So, a roaming military settlement in a mechanical wasteland. You really know how to pick vacation spots."
Right on cue, Leon suddenly glanced at the empty air to his right.
"Oh, by the way, Throenia is alone in the realm I was in."
The sound of Natas being inconvenienced echoed like a tired god being forced to get out of bed. Space twisted again and with a soft pop, Throenia appeared right in the middle of the room, stumbling forward a step as she caught herself. She looked around, blinking rapidly.
"Why am I here?"
Leon raised both hands. "Not me. I didn't ask for it."
Veneri gave Natas a brief nod toward the air.
"Thank you."
Another exhausted sigh echoed faintly. Throenia crossed her arms, looking between all of them.
"What is going on?"
Leon grinned. "Nothing much. Just the usual. World cycles, time fragments, colonizing a robot continent, that kind of thing."
She stared at him.
"I regret every decision that led me to associating with this family."
Veneri stepped forward before the chaos could spiral further.
"The Technographia Expedition will involve the entirety of Richinaria. Every House will be mobilized."
That wiped the humor off Throenia's face immediately. He began assigning roles like he was distributing chores.
"Leon and Throenia will lead House Viaca."
"Wait, we're leading a House together?"
"Yes."
Throenia looked just as shocked. "Why am I involved in this at all?"
Veneri ignored that for the moment and continued.
"Milliania, you will lead House Obligatio."
She nodded, looking far too pleased with herself.
"Anamorsia, you will lead House Maximilian."
She placed a hand over her chest in a graceful, formal acknowledgment.
"Leones, you will take command of House Levenees."
"Finally, something straightforward."
Then Veneri pointed casually at me and the door.
"I will be operating independently with Adelasta and Phaenora. The expedition will commence in ten days. Use that time to prepare your Houses, establish supply chains and ensure your forces are acclimated to operating in a Divinity-hostile environment. The full operation will take an extended period to complete. This is not a short-term campaign."
Throenia, who had been processing all of this with increasing disbelief, finally spoke again.
"I still do not understand why I have to be involved."
Before Veneri could answer, Milliania leaned forward in her chair, resting her chin on her knuckles with a wicked little smile.
"Oh, that one's easy."
"What do you mean?"
"You're interested in our little brother. Obviously you'd want to be part of anything he's involved in."
The room went dead silent. Throenia froze.
"I—what—no—that is—"
Leones snorted so loudly he had to cover his mouth. Anamorsia, to my eternal shock, nodded thoughtfully.
"It does explain why you've been unusually cooperative with us recently."
Throenia's face went bright red. "That is not—this is a strategic alliance—"
Leon slowly turned his head toward her.
"Wait. You like me?"
Throenia looked like she was considering opening a spatial rift and throwing herself into it.
"I do not like you! I merely… respect your intellect and—"
Milliania raised a finger. "Oh, she's definitely interested."
Leones nodded solemnly. "Yeah, that's the exact tone people use when they're lying to themselves."
Leon slapped his own forehead. "How did I not notice this? I've been around you for a while now."
Veneri, standing in the middle of this chaos, looked completely unfazed. He glanced at Throenia, who was now visibly trying to throw herself into another dimension.
"Your personal feelings are irrelevant to the expedition."
That somehow made it worse. Throenia stared at him in disbelief.
"That is not helping."
Leones burst out laughing.
"Oh, this expedition is going to be amazing. We're leading a House together, you secretly like my brother, and we're invading robot city. I'm never bored again."