The moment Vasreveilder finished speaking, Shimmer's eyes widened instantly. Runner jolted upright so fast the sapphire bowl almost tipped over. Biolumine's cat ears shot upward and glared at the Supreme Entity.
"You are saying Dad dies again and you are saying it like it is just a possible outcome instead of something you intend to prevent."
Runner shook her head.
"No. That is not happening. There's no version of this where Dad just dies because some cycle decides it is convenient."
Biolumine moved closer too as she got serious as well.
"We have to go to Cassandra immediately. If there is even a chance he is there, we do not stand around discussing it."
"No."
Then Runner turned towards him with a glare. At this point she didn't care who he was.
"What do you mean no? You just told us he dies tomorrow and now you are telling us not to move?"
Vasreveilder exhaled slowly, like he had expected this exact reaction and had already accepted it.
"The only way to save him is not Cassandra. It's the Obsidian Runic Spire."
"That sounds like a completely different direction from everything you just said," Shimmer replied. "Why would that be connected to his death at all?"
Vasreveilder gave a small, almost tired smile.
"Because Veneri already knows. He's not stupid. He has already figured out what tomorrow actually means."
That sentence made Runner freeze mid-step. Denisia asked Vasreveilder as she stood up as well.
"Then what exactly is he supposed to do if he already knows and still hasn't stopped it?"
Vasreveilder looked upward for a moment, as if searching for the right way to explain something that even he didn't fully claim to control.
"The Separation is essential. It exists for only one reason. It's meant to improve everyone."
That did not help.
Runner looked like she was about to argue again but Vasreveilder suddenly stood up before anyone could interrupt him further. He raised his hand, snapping his fingers once without warning.
Everything vanished.
The ruined Central Station, the pillar, the Bowl of Wisdom and the broken lights were all gone. They were somewhere else entirely.
A vast infinite space stretched around them. It was filled with floating holograms suspended in deep dimensional darkness. Each one kept replaying moments like living memory fragments scattered across reality. Scenes flickered everywhere, showing battles and conversations. Vasreveilder walked forward as if this place was as familiar as a hallway, while the others stood frozen trying to comprehend the scale of what they were seeing.
"This is my observation space. Everything you have done, everything connected to your existence, is stored here in active recording form."
Shimmer's eyes widened as she looked at the endless moving images. Runner barely managed to whisper.
"This is insane."
Vasreveilder ignored that and raised his hand at a specific cluster of holograms, zooming them forward until they stabilized into clear scenes.
"This is information about Veneri's Pentarchs."
The first projection showed the Justice Pentarch walking beside Narisva through a forest in another world entirely. The sky was unfamiliar and distant. Vasreveilder pointed at it as they walked and found some sort of relic.
"The Justice Pentarch is currently outside Spheraphase with Narisva. They're searching for relics to come back to Spheraphase."
Shimmer frowned.
"So they are already separated from normal time. Meaning they're reacting to tomorrow the same way we are."
Vasreveilder nodded.
"Correct."
Another hologram shifted forward.
The Protection Pentarch stood in front of a massive hourglass in another realm with Adelasta beside him. Both stared at it like they were measuring something far beyond simple timekeeping.
"The Protection Pentarch is also outside normal flow. He already knows about tomorrow."
The next hologram flickered.
The Water Pentarch sat on a throne surrounded by shifting projections from Phaenora's system, calculating rapidly as if preparing for a war that had already begun. His expression was focused. Vasreveilder's tone remained steady as he explained.
"The Water Pentarch is preparing. He's already adjusting strategy for the Separation."
Then another projection appeared.
The Love Pentarch stood in a massive city alongside Greshina Emberforge, Veylonar Mintheris, Elyonari Mintheris, and the Time Pentarch, all of them gathered in tense coordination. The city itself looked like it was preparing for evacuation or defense on a massive scale.
"The Love Pentarch's group is preparing for a rescue operation. They intend to save Celadille, Veylonar's wife, who has been captured and placed within one of the three capitals. The Time Pentarch is already with them as well."
Runner looked around the endless holographic space and sighed.
"So the 100th day is The Separation. And if it goes wrong, the Second Epoch Cycle is lost."
Vasreveilder looked at all of them for a long moment.
"Yes. For now, the Separation needs to happen. No matter how much we try to interfere, it is already set in motion. Forcing it apart would only break the structure of what comes after."
"You're asking us to trust Dad and just accept that tomorrow might end with his death? That's not exactly something that feels reasonable no matter how strong you are."
Vasreveilder exhaled slowly, then shook his head slightly as if correcting a misunderstanding rather than dismissing her concern.
"I am not asking you to stand still, dear Runner. I am telling you I'm not going to stay here doing nothing while it happens."
"So you are intervening. Then what exactly are you planning to do?"
"I'm going to make sure the Separation happens without any instability and prepare all of you for what comes after it. I am going to raise your rank to the Fifth Enlightenment."
Shimmer blinked in shock.
"You can just say that like it is normal?"
Vasreveilder shrugged.
"It's not difficult for me. I'm a Supreme Entity and I have already done far more complex restructuring on reality than this. For you and Runner, it's not a problem. You're not affected by the Ascension Curse so your foundation can take the shift without you dying. As for the two of you, it's simpler than you think."
Natalis frowned.
"Simple is rarely comforting when you say it."
Vasreveilder raised his hand and from nothing at all two long, glowing feathers appeared suspended in the air. They shimmered with a soft, divine radiance that felt oddly familiar and deeply authoritative. The moment they appeared, even the surrounding holograms flickered.
"These were given to me by the Heavenly Mother. They contain authority over Naranq itself. Since angels and the Heavenly Order are bound to the Throne, these feathers will override that connection and grant you direct authority over Naranq itself."
Natalis stared at them carefully.
"So we would not be bound by the Throne anymore."
"Correct. You would be free from its control."
"And the cost? There's always a cost."
Vasreveilder didn't hesitate.
"Separation from everyone else until you reach the Seventh Enlightenment. Nothing below the Seventh Enlightenment will survive what comes after the Separation without distance and growth. I can't intervene because the Universal Laws will stop me from doing so, hence why I'm doing this indirectly."
Natalis and Denisia exchanged a brief look, then both nodded at the same time.
"We accept," Natalis said firmly.
"We agree," Denisia added.
Shimmer looked towards Runner next and Runner already looked like she had reached the same conclusion without needing further persuasion.
"If this helps protects Dad, then I'm not going to argue against it."
Shimmer exhaled once and nodded.
"I agree as well. If this is what stabilizes everything, then we'll take it."
Vasreveilder watched them for a moment, then gave a faint approving nod as if confirming a decision that already aligned with what he expected.
"Will this save him? Will becoming Fifth Enlightenment Divines actually stop him from dying?"
"I do not know, Shimmer. I cannot guarantee that outcome. However, it will give you the strength needed for what is coming. And after seven days of fighting, you already have the foundation for a Codex whether you realize it or not."
Runner exhaled slowly, gripping that statement like it was the only stable thing left in the conversation.
"So we use Forced Ascension to get the Fifth Enlightenment."
"Yes. After that, you'll head to the Obsidian Runic Spire and wait there. That's all I can say for now."