Chapter Five Hundred And Thirty Nine – 539

Chapter Five Hundred And Thirty Nine – 539

One, what the hell is a Halcyon Hall and B, what is the Luminous Void? Karys didnt answer immediately, and Felix looked away from the metallic liquid to find his Chancellor gone. I dont like that hes so quiet now, he muttered to himself. Karys? Whered you go?

In the Heart of Darkness, my Lord!

Felix glanced once more at the weird pool before turning around and exiting the Third Chamber. Luckily it was adjacent to the Second Chamber, arranged around the edge of his Seat and Seal as they were, and it took only a dozen wide steps to make it there. Felixs Heart of Darkness spread out before him, another circular room filled with glowing sigaldry, but mostly dominated by nine huge constructions of incredible artistry. Shadowgates.

Karys was standing behind an inactive one, pointing at the floor. Look at this!

He did, noting the swirling, almost knotted array that clustered against the chambers stone walls. They climbed the dressed stone until about eye level, where they simply stopped. These are new.

They are. I imagine they formed right after the upgrade. Karys pointed further down, where nine other lines intersected with the wall in the exact same way. Theyre extending from the Shadowgates.

Felix flared his Manasight, tracing the lines of sigaldry at the point where they vanishedand found that they extended through the wall itself. His Manasight couldnt penetrate too deeply thanks to the construction of the Temple, but the array wasnt just anchoring itself in the stone. Itsgoing into the Third Chamber?

It must be. The Halcyon Hallsthey were precursors to the Shadowgates. This sigaldry is linking the Heart of Darkness, the hub itself, to the Third Chamber.

Precursors? So they do the same thing?

Karys shoulders hitched, halfway between a shrug and a flinch. I amunsure. I know they were used by the Nym of old for a ritual, but the details were never explained to me. Or perhaps they were and

Felix didnt press him. Karys had a number of holes in his memories thanks to his long sleep, and while hed been making some process, Felix doubted it would be fixed any time soon. A ritual. To do what?

To deepen ones connection with ones Territory, I believe.

Felix frowned and walked back to the Third Chamber. The limpid silver pool remained undisturbed. Lets check. Voracious Eye.

Name: Pool of the Halcyon Oath

Type: Artifact

Lore: Constructed in Ages past, the Pools of the Halcyon Oath were designed to establish a deeper harmony within a Territory. Cast yourself into the Luminous Void, and find yourself anew.

Thatsmore than a little vague, Felix said after sharing the details with Karys. But it supports your recollections.

Karys let out a pleased hum. As validating as that may be, I do share your concerns on the wording of the lore entry. A deeper harmony within a Territory suggests a greater connection with your Authority, and perhaps that is all it meansbut the last line. Find yourself anew. Karys shifted, clearly uneasy. I find it ominous, Felix.

Hm. So I think I have a reason why its called a Halcyon Hall, Felix said. Karys nodded. Right. Whats the Luminous Void, then?

The illusion had no response other than to stand up.

Right. So! Youre an aid. Why am I not allowed to access the Pool of Halcyon Oaths?

It is a death sentence to those without the proper preparations, Knowledge said.

Can you tell me the preparations required? Felix asked.

I can. To embrace the pool, one must have woven all nine Pillars, crossed the Third Threshold, and have begun the process of core manifestation.

Felix blinked. He met two of those requirements right off the bat. Hed even crossed the Third Threshold like five months ago. Pretty sure Im good, aside from the last one. Whats a core manifestation?

Knowledge remained silent.

Cool cool cool. Cant have people just explain things to me, thatd be too easy, Felix muttered. Karys? Have you heard of it?

I Karys paused, and an uptempo melody sprang from his Spirit. I do not, but its mention had touched upon one of the holes in my memory.

Thats usually not a good thing.

No, not usually, but this one is strangely clean. As if things had been cut from me Karys looked up, his eye-fires gleaming despite the magelights around them. I cannot know what that might mean, but core manifestation is a natural part of our progression into the higher realms of power.

Grandmaster stuff? Felix asked. He chewed at his lip in thought. Felix had taken on a couple Grandmasters at that point, and thanks to clever thinking and the actions of his friends, hed emerged alive. Not unscathed, but alive.

It is unclear. I Karys eye-fires burned larger than before. Felix.

What? He looked up to find Karys pointing at Knowledge with a long, black-bone finger. The illusory Geist was staring at Felix with a sudden, upsetting amount of interest. Oh. Thats creepy.

You areresonating with this chamber. Might I delve into your Aspects and determine whether you are fit to attempt the Pool?

Uh, you think thats a good idea? Felix asked Karys.

I cannot sense any malevolence from this amalgamation, but it is amarvel I was unaware we Nym had developed. Were I in your shoes, no, I would not submit to a delving. The golden giant hesitated, before scratching his golden helmet. However, youTo err on the side of caution is not your way.

A sharp laugh escaped Felixs mouth. Right. Okay, Knowledge. Felix had a guess at what core manifestation meantand he wanted to know if he was right. Take a whack at it.

Hold still, my Lord. Knowledge lifted a diminutive hand and a smoky wreath of Mana sprouted around Felixs head, chest, and legs all at once. This will only take half a glass.

Wait, what? Felix asked, right as all three smoky circles cinched shut. Silence fell, darkness swarmed, and the world dropped out from beneath him.