Frostdeath had never been a place that felt alive in the first place but now it felt even more hollow. The evacuation had taken longer than expected because of sheer volume. The number of Xypelians far exceeded what could be moved quickly even with the Obsidian Runic Spire operating at full capacity.
Entire settlements had been emptied one after another and relocated safely, thei. It took a full day to complete and by the time it was over, Frostdeath felt abandoned in a way that was deeper than silence. The wind still moved, the ice still cracked faintly under its own weight, but there were no voices left.
It was the 82nd day since the Second Epoch Cycle began.
At the edge of what used to be one of the larger settlements, Narisva stood with her arms crossed. Beside her stood two versions of the same existence; the Water Pentarch, calm and composed as always, and the Justice Pentarch. The Obsidian Runic Spire loomed behind them in the sky as it completed the final stages of evacuation before moving on. The Water Pentarch finally spoke to Nari.
"You good with this?"
"There's something related to Celestials in Convergence. I can feel it. I'm going with him."
The Water Pentarch didn't need to ask who she meant, but he did anyway.
"Why?"
Before Narisva could even respond, the Justice Pentarch stepped in, carrying a hint of amusement that didn't match the situation at all.
"She wants a weaker version of me to protect. And honestly, I like it."
Narisva shot him a look immediately.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I just don't trust you to not mess something up."
The Water Pentarch let out a quiet sigh at that, stepping forward slightly as he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulders.
"Just be careful."
Narisva didn't brush it off this time. She simply rolled her eyes. She gently pulled back from his hold.
"I'm always careful. You should worry about yourself instead. You're rushing things."
"Not the first time I've heard that, huh?"
The moment passed quickly and without dragging it out further, the Water Pentarch stepped back and teleported. The Spire began to float upwards before vanishing from the sky in a distortion of space. Its next destination was already set, leaving behind nothing but silence and two figures who weren't staying any longer.
The Justice Pentarch turned without hesitation, already moving toward the direction Narisva had indicated earlier.
"Let's not waste time."
"Try not to slow me down."
He let out a quiet laugh at that, not even bothering to respond directly as the two of them moved further into the frozen wasteland, leaving behind what remained of Frostdeath as they headed toward the desert where the rest of Convergence awaited.
Far above, unseen by them now, the Obsidian Runic Spire reappeared in another part of the Hidden Citadel, cutting through the sky of Ledatic Siliportem as it prepared to continue Operation Chronology without pause.
°°°°°°°
The migration had already been in motion for days as they moved across the terrain of Ledatic Siliportem, following the path laid out by their Monarch and Elders. Supplies were carried, children were guided and the older generation looked weary. The sky above them was clear for once but that didn't make anyone relax.
Space distorted violently above the migration route and before anyone could react properly, the Obsidian Runic Spire manifested in full. Its colossal structure blocked out the sky as it descended just enough to be seen in its entirety. The entire migration came to a halt almost instantly.
A massive projection flickered against the surface of the Spire, forming into a clear hologram of Veneri. The crowd reacted immediately. Whispers spread through the ranks as his identity clicked into place in their minds. This was the Monarch Vastarael, the one who had already saved them, who had cut through Krepsunas and healed those who should have died.
"I'm here to get you out. I'll take you somewhere safe."
The Spire responded in sync as massive doors opened along its structure with a low, resonant hum, revealing pathways that led into its interior. Veylonar stood at the front of the formation as he assessed the situation. Then he made the call.
"Everyone, move. All of you, enter the Spire."
His voice cut cleanly through the crowd and there was no hesitation after that. The Elves began to move to the open entrances in organized waves. It didn't devolve into chaos. As the first groups began entering, a Teleportation Mystic Circle formed near Veylonar Veneri stepped out of it in person this time. He didn't waste time with formalities.
"It's time to save your wife. Edarea Avinaris is still active. Bringing the Spire here will make her notice. She might rush it which means Celadille doesn't have time."
That was all it took. Veylonar's expression changed to something far more dangerous and personal. Before he could respond, another presence entered the space. The Time Pentarch appeared beside them.
"Well, this should be fun."
Veylonar's gaze narrowed as he looked between the two identical figures.
"There are two of you?"
The Time Pentarch gave a small nod, completely unfazed by the reaction.
"Five, actually. I split myself. You're just seeing two of them right now."
Veylonar's expression didn't fully relax, but he didn't push the point either.
"The Elves. Will they be safe?"
The Water Pentarch answered this time.
"They'll be taken to Cassandra and be protected there. I found it so yes, they are going to be fine. I promise."
Behind them, the Elven Elders approached them. They all assured Veylonar.
"You must go."
"Save the Monarchess."
"We cannot allow her to fall and we will not lose the heirs as well."
The mention of Celadille and the unborn children solidified everything and Veylonar didn't argue, didn't hesitate any longer as he gave a sharp nod.
"I'll bring her back."
The Water Pentarch looked at the Time Pentarch.
"Take care. I don't know what happened while you were gone so I can't access those memories yet."
There was a pause before the Time Pentarch responded.
"It's fine. Sirithiele made her choice. We'll make it count. We should build something for her. A statue would be nice though."
The Water Pentarch didn't respond immediately but the agreement was there in his expression, even if it wasn't spoken out loud. That moment passed quickly, because there was no time to linger. The Time Pentarch was already moving as Veylonar followed without hesitation. The two of them left the migration behind as they headed toward what was waiting ahead. Behind them, the evacuation continued smoothly.
Veneri remained where he was for a moment longer, watching the process unfold with a quiet exhale.
"Next, the Landscape Turtle."
He didn't look concerned about the Richinarias or his daughters, because he already trusted them to handle their roles without interference, and Cassandra was already set as their final destination.
"They'll make it there."
The Teleportation Mystic Circle formed beneath him again. Soon, after a few hours, the spire left Ledatic Siliportem behind thanks to Greshina Emberforge's permission to allow them to leave the realm. They headed to the last place.
°°°°°°°
In a farmhouse where animals grazed stood two figures.
Reynolds and Miranda watched the distortion in space that signaled Veneri's arrival. The Teleportation Mystic Circle formed cleanly beneath him, and in the next instant, he stepped out into the Void.
Miranda's voice carried that unmistakable country drawl.
"So... we finally leavin' this place or what?"
"Yeah. It's time. I'm turning this into the Spire's afterlife and the Landscape Turtle is perfect for it."
The moment the words settled, a deep sound echoed through the Void. Veneri pointed at the ground.
"See? Luke agreed."
Reynolds sighed before he looked at Veneri with a serious expression.
"You're really going through with this. Taking realms from the Hidden Citadel isn't simple."
"Vasreveilder would've stopped me if it wasn't allowed. He didn't."
Miranda let out a soft whistle at that, clearly impressed.
"Well, shoot. Can't say that sounds like a bad deal. And I ain't gonna lie, I wanna see what kinda realms you got stacked in that thing."
Reynolds didn't react to her enthusiasm much. His focus was still on Veneri as he shifted the conversation slightly, bringing up something that had been sitting in the back of his mind.
"The Reniatsus from the Gardens of Asphodelia. Did you meet her?"
There was a brief pause there. Veneri sighed sadly before he answered her.
"She's dead. But I told her what you said about the Landscape Turtle and conveyed your gratitude. She was... glad."
Reynolds' gaze dropped slightly at that. His voice was lower when he spoke again.
"That's unfortunate. Did she go without regrets?"
Veneri didn't hesitate. Even though the answer wasn't technically his own, his voice was steady as he gave it.
"Yeah."
It was simple and direct, even if the truth behind it was borrowed from the Time Pentarch's knowledge rather than his own experience. Sirithiele's end had meaning and that was enough for this moment.
The conversation didn't stretch further because the realm itself began to respond. Golden light shone across the Sinking Void, spreading through the unstable terrain in waves. The Landscape Turtle's massive form rose through the distortion just enough for the integration to complete without tearing itself apart. The light intensified the boundaries of the Void began to shake as space itself shrank. Reynolds and Miranda didn't resist. In the next moment, everything vanished.
The Sinking Void was gone.
The Obsidian Runic Spire absorbed it completely but it didn't linger because Phase One wasn't complete until the destination was reached. Space bent around it as it moved across the Hidden Citadel at a speed that made distance irrelevant.
When it reappeared, it was above Cassandra, the final point.
It was the end of Phase One. Now, Phase Two would begin once everyone was in Cassandra.