CHAPTER 83: THOSE EYES OF HIS...

His demeanor shifted, becoming more serious.

"First, understand this. The deployment isn’t purely defensive or investigative, or even political. One of the primary objectives is to improve the overall combat capability of talented Ossuarists worldwide. The World Tear represents an unprecedented opportunity as a space where the normal rules don’t fully apply, where soul masses behave differently, where assimilation and growth can occur at accelerated rates."

"In fact, the Ossuary is already allowing Arcanist groups from each continental power limited access as well. It’s... a gesture of good faith, you might say. Proof that we’re not hoarding all the benefits for ourselves."

"How long has it been open?" Finn asked. From Priest’s words, the barrier had to have been open for more than a day at least for all of that to have happened.

"The barrier began accepting stable passage two days ago," Priest replied. "Which means people have been going in and out for over forty-eight hours now. Entry requires a minimum of one full day inside before the barrier will allow exit — some kind of spatial magic at play that we don’t fully understand yet..."

He pulled out a small scroll from his robe, unrolling it to reveal scribbled reports, before tossing it over to Tron, who caught it and read out loud:

"Reports from early reconnaissance teams describe... uncanny terrain. Forests where the humongous trees grow, reaching toward the sky. Plains where gravity behaves abnormally and shifts direction every few hundred meters. Abandoned cities where buildings hang upside down from the sky. And in some areas, the fundamental laws of reality appear to be... negotiable." He frowned after reading the report.

Priest’s nodded, then added:

"And most importantly, while entering the World Tear, the barrier doesn’t function like a normal breach. It’s more like a prism. A spatial prism that refracts anyone passing through it into different entry points. You could walk through one second after someone else, following their exact path, and emerge miles away in a completely different environment."

Tron frowned. "Then how do teams stay together?"

"Physical connection," Priest said simply. "You need to maintain direct contact or be physically tethered by a rope or a chain, or whatever that works. As long as you’re connected when you pass through the barrier, you’ll emerge in the same location."

"So make sure you three are bound together when you enter," he said, before quickly looking at the time on a pocket watch he held in his breast pocket.

"Any questions?" He asked, though his tone suggested he expected none.

"Just one," Althea said quietly. "What’s the real objective of all of this...? Not the official one. What is the Ossuary actually hoping to find in there?"

Priest’s smile returned, and he placed his hands deep in his pockets, looking between the three young Ossuarists.

"Now that," he said, "I can’t tell you. And even if I could... where’s the fun in that?"

"You leave in thirty minutes. Join the main deployment wave." He turned toward the staircase leading down further into the Sanctum, waving a hand over his shoulder. "And try not to die immediately upon entry."

His laugh echoed as he descended, leaving the three of them standing on the chain bridge.

.

.

Thirty minutes later, Finn stood among the throng of Ossuarists gathering at the Soul Sanctum’s main departure platforms at the mouth of the pentagonal hole.

The whole thing was chaos — organized chaos, but chaos nonetheless. Caretakers, who Finn never knew remained as numerous as this within the Sanctum, barked orders as initiates scrambled to their assigned teams. Soul masses of every description materialized as Ossuarists prepared for flight.

Finn, Althea, and Tron waited near the edge of the platform, joining the other teams that had begun to tie ropes connecting their wrists in preparation for the eventual entry when they reached the World Tear.

It seemed that the tip had been made public already.

Tron kept shooting Finn assessing glances, as if still trying to quantify exactly how much of a liability he represented.

Finn ignored him, fixing his eyes solely on the far distance where the World Tear waited.

Around them, massive winged shadows took flight. Wyverns, griffins and bird summons of all kinds, all bearing Ossuarists toward their destination.

"Stay close," Tron said curtly. "And try not to do anything stupid."

Finn’s wings flexed involuntarily.

"I’ll do my best," he replied with an absolutely flat tone.

Althea caught his eye, and there was something like sympathy in her expression — or perhaps just understanding. She herself could see how grating Tron’s attitude was, but she also knew they needed to work together.

It wasn’t long before they started to move, lifted by one of the large, Caretaker-commanded transport beasts, rising into the sky with dozens of other teams.

The Soul Sanctum slowly became smaller below them, like a black hole ringed by a single building in the empty expanse of land where it sat.

Finn sighed at the sight.

Finally.

It had been short, but Finn didn’t think he could take being there for any longer.

Now it was on to the next thing. He didn’t know how things would pan out in this new, unknown world. But he had a feeling he would find answers to questions he had, not only about himself, but about the world itself.

His mind went back to Priest’s earlier words about him and his worth...

...worth that can only develop and reveal itself inside the World Tear under the right conditions... He mused, then sighed.

One step at a time, Finn. Let’s get there first and see what we’re dealing with.

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Meanwhile... Inside the Soul Sanctum...

Priest walked the descending levels of the Soul Sanctum with unhurried steps and a small smile on his face.

He was heading toward one of the deepest sections — a private quarter reserved for those of his rank, accessible only through specialized wards that responded to Fragment-bearer signatures.

He was almost at the door when a voice spoke from the shadows of the corridor behind him.

"Why did you assign Finnegan Slade to that team?"

Priest didn’t even turn. He didn’t need to. He recognized the voice as Preceptor Elias’s immediately.

"Elias," he said pleasantly, finally glancing back. "Still here? I thought you’d have departed with the first wave of Preceptors."

Elias stepped into the dim light cast by the corridor’s soft lamps. His expression was neutral, but his eyes held visible questions.

"Answer the question, Priest. Why Finn specifically? You could have assigned any other Vested to accompany Althea and Tron. But you chose him."

Priest turned fully, meeting Elias’s gaze with his own gold eyes.

For a long moment, he said nothing. He just stared, as if weighing how much to reveal.

Then he smiled, as if he had decided.

"The boy intrigues me."

Elias’s frown deepened. "That’s not an answer."

"Is it not?" Priest tilted his head slightly. "You know how I am, Elias. I get bored. And that boy... he’s anything but boring."

"You’re lying," Elias said flatly. "Or at least, you’re not telling me everything..."

"Am I?" Priest’s smile widened. "I’m the Truth Fragment bearer, remember? I literally cannot lie. So if I’m not telling you everything, perhaps you should consider why I’m choosing not to."

He turned back toward his quarters, waving a hand dismissively.

"Besides, you should be preparing yourself. The Preceptors’ primary mission has already begun. You’re behind schedule, and we need to reach the Tear."

"Priest— "

"I just need to grab something from my quarters," Priest cut Elias off, already pushing open the door. "Won’t be more than a few minutes. Wait if you like, or go ahead. Either way, stop worrying about the boy."

The door closed behind him with a soft click.

Elias was left alone in the corridor, and he couldn’t help the troubled expression that colored his face.

What was Priest up to? What did he know? What had he seen with those eyes of his?

The boy intrigues me...

That wasn’t a lie. Priest couldn’t lie...

But it also wasn’t the full truth.

Which meant there was something about Finn that Priest had noticed. Something significant enough to warrant special attention, but subtle enough that even Elias who’d spent days traveling with the boy, had missed.

Elias’s frown deepened as he replayed every interaction, every observation, every strange moment from their journey.

Did I miss something?

The question echoed in Elias’s mind as he stood alone in the dimly lit corridor, staring at Priest’s closed door.

What does Priest see in that boy that I don’t?