Theo wouldn’t consider the day’s agenda to be difficult. It was packed, that was for sure, but it was nothing they couldn’t handle. As they were reaching the maximum absorption of dragon energy the cheat way, their focus now turned to using that magic in a way that suited them. Tresk had a fight coming up in the arena, but not today. That just left gongs, and a trip to the edge of the sector. The alchemist was most excited about his trip to the fringes of this place. It was a place he expected to find answers.

If not answers, at least a vague plan for the future.

The one good thing about the way Sarisa and Rowan made their food was the feast that was present the day after. Theo was spoiled for choice when he sat at the table the next morning. Although he had spent a fairly hectic Dreamwalk going through the ways they could use the dragon energy, including a theory from Tresk that they could unlock a dragon system, he felt none of that tiredness in his mind or body. He faced the day with a belly full of ribs, starch, and enough potent tea to wake the dead.

“Are you coming?” Theo asked, poking at Tresk with his fork.

“Hells yeah. Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Tresk said, patting her now-fat belly. “We should bring the dragon.”

“Which one?”

“Both.”

It wasn’t a bad idea. Theo didn’t know King Leon Batteux or what he stood for. All the alchemist knew was that the former king was a murderer. People changed, that much was true, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t use caution. A bit of dragon’s fire had a way of smoothing over the most hardened people. All that was left was to collect Pogo and Alex.

The system had confirmed it, but Theo hadn’t looked too closely. There was a place on the edge of the void, almost as unnoticeable as the void island, that housed the king. Thinking about a way to uncover that location only reminded him of his responsibilities with Elrin.

“Just a few more shards,” Theo said, nervously pulling at his coat. “Unsure how that’s going to go.”

“Think you can hold the planet together long enough for the games to finish?” Tresk asked.

“I’ve done the tests. I know I can hold the region together with ease. I can also transport all of Broken Tusk to Tero’gal without breaking a sweat.” Theo looked to the ceiling, shaking his head. “With the gods busy, there’s nothing they could do to stop me. I could bring other places, if I wanted… But I have a feeling my window will be narrow. Once the system goes offline, big stuff will happen.”

“Big, bad stuff,” Tresk confirmed. She looked to Sarisa and Rowan, who had been eating their meal. Both had stopped, mouths agape as they observed the conversation. “Come on. You two should be used to this by now.”

“Not even a little,” Sarisa muttered, finally closing her mouth long enough to chew the food she had taken a bite of. “I don’t want to think about big things like this.”

“It isn’t that big,” Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. “And what does it mean to consider scale, anyway? We’re like a little baby sector. If you consider an infinite universe, there has to be problems people have faced that dwarf what we’re looking at. This is a road trip. We’re going from here to there.”

“Not like you guys have to worry about what comes after,” Tresk said. “We’re the ones who have to ensure the sector’s security after the temporal field drops. You should be more worried about what happens if we fail. Spoilers: everyone dies and the sector catches fire and everything you’ve ever known or lived explodes into ten billion pieces.”

“Oh, she has such a way with words,” Rowan mocked. “I feel completely comforted.”

Sarisa swallowed hard. “We’re going to work, right, brother?”

“Yeah, I’m not hungry anymore.”

With no desire to interface with the shards right now and a devious desire to see Elrin stranded on a foreign planet for a few hours, Theo decided to visit Leon first. After rounding up both Alex and Pogo, Theo dropped the group into the void. He couldn't teleport directly to his location since he was unsure about it. The moment they entered, he spread his senses wide, feeling his shadowy aura graze against unfamiliar things that still lay hidden. He couldn't exactly determine what they were and instead pressed on to the edge where the secret world was currently resting. It took some probing and no small amount of willpower, but he felt it. There was a world nestled between the layers of fabric that made up the temporal barrier.

"This place makes me feel uncomfortable," Theo said, pressing his hand against the wall and searching for any cracks. "I get an incredible sense of foreboding when I consider anything outside of this bubble."

“That'll be the effects of the temporal barrier,” Pogo said, moving to the edge of Theo's own bubble and trying to reach outside of it. Of course, she couldn't. There was a whole lecture the alchemist could give on why that wouldn't work, but he didn't bother. “Once this barrier drops, we're all going to be in for a world of hurt. That's why the system needs to go into a reset cycle. Otherwise, we'll lose our minds.”

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Theo pressed his willpower into the crack, not willing to stand in the bubble with Alex much long. She was heavy, both in weight and in concept. Eventually, the thin veil that segmented the planet from the rest of the sector gave way. It wasn't designed as a firm barrier but rather as a sheet held over something to obscure its true form. This was a disguise to keep prying eyes from stumbling upon it. Once Theo had a decent idea of what the planet looked like. He picked the place with the only building he could see and angled them downward. A flash later, and they were standing on a rolling field of green, looking up at a gargantuan tower set off on all sides by puffy clouds into the blue sky.

“It's about time you came to Tel’vengar,” a voice called. It sounded thin, but still held a baritone low enough to rumble the ground. His timbre was thick with authority. “I was wondering when the local authorities would come for me.”

Theo held Tresk back before she could say something. Instead, he pointed in a random direction, indicating that both she and Alex should run off and do something before they stabbed someone. Theo and Pogo crossed the distance instead. The alchemist wasn't sure what old-timey greeting this man would want, so he waved awkwardly and immediately felt a fool.

"I don't really know about the authorities. I just wanted to check in on your little project and see if you needed any help," Theo said, feeling some of the awkwardness flee from his body. Standing before the elven king was an intimidating thing. He was old, with a gray beard and hair to match. His hair flowed down and fell over his shoulders. He wore a gold and orange cloak, which he currently had pulled over his head, but it was wide enough that the alchemists could see every feature of the man.

Theo had never seen someone so frail and intimidating at the same time.

Leon looked upon Theo with pale gray eyes, his brows raising upward as though confused. When Theo had known him in the paper world, he was a husk. Now he was slightly more filled out but still emaciated, looking as though he could croak at any moment.

"I broke out of your little prison though didn't I?" Leon asked, a smile playing across his face. "I didn't think you'd let that go easily."

“From what I understand, you're working on something very important here. I also know that you're kind of a despicable bastard that just about everyone you've ever come in contact with hates. So, while I'm approaching this relationship with caution, I understand how important what you're doing is.”

Leon let out a booming laugh. Pogo jumped in place, clutching her hand over her heart. "Excitable guy, isn't he?" she asked.

"You're one of the dragons, aren't you?" Leon asked, pointing at Pogo. "Maybe I should have listened to you guys back in the day, but here we are. So, what is your opinion on my project? Do you think I'll have it completed before I die?"

Theo allowed his senses to run wild. His aura spread out further than it had ever done before. It took him a moment to realize that his Dreamwalker's Core was fueling it. This was something within his authority, and it was eager to know whether this broke the rules. Before long, his aura had encompassed the entire world, blanketing the hills, mountains, and valley with his sense. It picked apart everything, processing the information for him and presenting a sense in his mind that resembled a report.

Theo clicked his tongue, turning to regard the tower and nodding with approval. “According to my core, you're operating within the bounds of the system. Something about a special exception that allows you to create a sector-altering world. I suppose I finally understand what the storm is about.” Theo took a moment, turning to Pogo and offering her a frown. “Why didn't you tell me the other dragons were working with him?”

“Are they?” Pogo asked, looking genuinely surprised. “I deal with the mortal world, mostly. Whatever the other flights are doing is their business.”

“And you?” Theo asked, pointing at Leon.

“No one told me anything about dragons working with me,” Leon said. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you talking about?”

“There's a net over the entire sector designed to catch something called an interdiction event. My assumption is that it works exactly as I know and will catch people trying to enter the sector and redirect them to a point. Until now, I had only suspected that it was your planet, but upon processing information through my core, I can say that's exactly what will happen. When people try to attack the sector, they will end up here, meaning that your planet is the first line of defense.”

Leon’s brows rose higher. “That’s absolutely perfect.”

Pogo blinked a few times. “How are you going to defend this place, old man? Not sure if you’ve noticed, but you have a tower to show for your effort. That doesn’t exactly sound like you’re going to win against a crazed squirrel, let alone an army of hardened outworlders.”

He had felt a strange rush through his body. He turned, spotting the person who had disturbed his senses' so completely with an aura surrounding the planet. Every little shift felt like an explosion in his senses. He saw an unfamiliar woman wearing leather armor. She had her raven-black hair cut short just below the ear. In her eyes rested an instinct Theo had only seen once before.

He had seen it in Tresk’s eyes. It was ‌killer intent.

"If it isn't the hero of Parisart," Leon said, backing away slightly. He looked over his shoulder to find an escape route. "And what have I done to draw your ire this time, Meya?”

The woman strode over with enough swagger to sink a ship. She looked between Theo and Pogo, shaking her head. After jabbing her thumb over her shoulder, indicating both Alex and Tresk, she regarded the alchemist. “You’re the local adjudicator?”

“I’m not sure that’s the right word, but… I guess,” Theo said with a shrug.

Meya extended her hand, grasping Theo’s and giving a firm shake. “Call me Meya. Earth, 2000s. I understand you’re from the 2300s?”

“Just about,” Theo said, growing more confused by the moment. “Hold on, who are you exactly?”

“Commander of the Warriors of the Shard,” Meya said. “With the system busy, I can finally move unimpeded. I’m here to secure the sector.”

Tresk and Alex did a pretty impressive roll, the dragon landing alongside the group. “Wait, you’re Elrin’s boss!?” Tresk shouted from her point on Alex’s back. “Oh, this is gonna be good.”