One month had passed since the Sunken Archives.
One month of searching, one month of diving into abyssal depths with Naelvorn's protection, one month of investigating ancient underwater ruins preserved by stable zones across Theia's oceans.
Five more zones explored, perhaps six depending on whether the collapsed structure in the Eastern Trench counted as complete investigation or abandoned attempt.
Each promising answers, each delivering only fragments, each confirming what they already knew without revealing what they desperately needed.
One month, five zones, nothing significant found.
The Coral Archives off the Southern Coast showed beautiful crystalline structures grown from living reef, but information was identical to Sunken Archives. Earth's curse through extinction events, failed merger stealing humanity's magic, partial truths with complete questions remaining.
The Midnight Depths near Western Ocean lay six kilometers down like the first, darkness absolute, ruins preserved perfectly. Same paintings, same recordings, same frustrating gaps.
Three more after that with different locations, different architectural styles reflecting various ancient civilizations, different methods of preservation including some frozen in magical stasis and others protected by elemental barriers.
All containing the same incomplete information.
Earth suffered mass extinctions, merger would have granted magic, interference disrupted everything, Fate's Revenge punished both worlds.
But who interfered? How to stop the curse permanently? Why was Earth currently stable?
Those answers remained absent, consistently, maddeningly.
Naelvorn made underwater investigations possible, his Pressure Crown protection allowing pack to explore depths no surface-dweller could otherwise reach, his knowledge of ocean geography guiding them to zones ancient maps mentioned but modern Theia forgot.
The ocean Overlord had integrated seamlessly over the month, no longer new addition but family member now. His boisterous humor kept morale from collapsing under weight of repeated failure, his strength provided security, his commitment remained unwavering despite lack of progress.
Three Overlords allied with Draven now: Raziel in Crystal Desert, Malvorn bonded permanently, Naelvorn joining investigation wholeheartedly.
Power growing while answers remained elusive.
Draven felt frustration building, not despair because he wouldn't give up, not defeat because too many lives depended on finding solutions, but honest acknowledgment that month of effort yielded nothing new.
Every zone confirmed known information without advancing understanding, like reading same book repeatedly hoping different ending would appear, like solving same equation expecting different answer.
They were learning nothing, spinning wheels, wasting time investigating ruins that told them what they already knew while people across Theia lived under curse's shadow.
Something had to change with different approach, different location, different strategy.
But what?
***
They'd just left the sixth zone, or fifth depending on semantics, submerged ruins beneath the Polar Shelf where northern ocean's edge met ice. Ancient civilization adapted to extreme cold, their structures built from crystallized ice that never melted within stable zone's protection.
Same information, same gaps.
Naelvorn's massive form carried them through frigid waters, ascending from depths toward surface as everyone remained silent, not defeated silence but thoughtful silence, processing silence.
Month of investigation culminating in familiar disappointment.
Draven exchanged glances with pack through Naelvorn's Pressure Crown protection, Velnar's ancient patience steady but even he seemed tired, Sylvara's analytical mind working, Feyra's usual cheerfulness subdued, Zor's tactical focus sharpening, Malvorn's crystalline features thoughtful.
Breaking surface, cold northern air hit their faces as ice floes drifted nearby and desolate seascape stretched endlessly.
Naelvorn's form shrank, forty-story leviathan compressing into seven-foot human shape, more practical for conversation, more comfortable for family interaction after month together.
They gathered on ice shelf jutting from frozen coastline, natural meeting place that was isolated and private, perfect for discussion.
Genesis Codex floated among them, green-gold light pulsing steadily as Adhivar and the Codex both shared pack's frustration despite cosmic perspective.
Everyone settling, preparing to talk, month of searching demanding assessment.
Something needed to change, everyone knew it.
Draven sat on ice as pack surrounded him, Velnar's bulk settling comfortably despite cold, Sylvara's nature magic keeping her warm, Feyra curling close with small fennec form seeking warmth, Zor perched nearby with feathers fluffed against wind, Malvorn in human form sitting cross-legged with crystalline skin unbothered by temperature.
Naelvorn joined the circle, teal eyes bright despite month's disappointing results, still maintaining that ocean-deep humor, that impossible-to-suppress energy.
Genesis Codex floated at circle's center, connecting them all.
Family complete, alliance strong, progress stalled.
Draven looked around at each member, at faces familiar and trusted, at bonds forged through adversity.
"We need to talk," he said quietly.
***
Everyone's attention focused as month of fruitless searching led to this moment.
They'd explored underwater zones systematically, found information repeatedly, learned nothing new as pattern became undeniable.
Current approach wasn't working.
Five stable zones, maybe six, investigated thoroughly with each containing records about Earth's curse, about failed merger, about cosmic punishment, each lacking critical answers, each leaving them with same questions.
Who interfered with merger? How to stop Fate's Revenge permanently? Why was Earth stable currently? Where were complete answers hidden?
Somewhere, answers existed somewhere, they simply hadn't found right location yet.
Or perhaps weren't asking right questions.
Draven prepared to speak further as pack listened, Naelvorn serious for once, Adhivar's presence warming Genesis Codex's light.
Wind blew across ice shelf, waves lapped against frozen shore, seabirds cried overhead, northern desolation surrounding small gathering of beings determined to change cursed world.
One human bearer, five bonded beasts consisting of four Lords and one Overlord, one allied Overlord in human form, one cosmic artifact housing two ancient entities.
Eight minds, one purpose, zero progress.
The discussion they were about to have would determine their next move, would reshape their strategy, would decide where to search next, how to search differently, what to do when repeated investigations yielded repeated disappointment.
Draven took breath, cold northern air filling lungs.
Time to figure out what came next.
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