The center of the cavern pulsed with a light that eliminated the need for the Lucent Taper. The Source of Northgate's dam was both mighty and immense.

The mirror-like surface was ever changing, sending reflections in every direction. The strange reflections bounced off the walls in an intricate pattern before reflecting back into the source.

The floating orb reminded her vaguely of a soul shard, but she had never seen one remotely that large.

'Oh!'

Two of the reflections collided with each other midair, and small arcs of light flew from them into the cavern walls. A myriad of rune and symbols lit up and absorbed the energy.

When the structure was at full power, Noble imagined the arcs of light would be nearly constant to transfer so much power.

With that much energy flying, Noble doubted a mundane human would be able to be in its presence. As it was, she was straining against the awe-inspiring sight.

"Stratos wanted me to harness that?" Roam unconsciously wiped his forehead. "Would it even have worked?"

"I doubt it. It probably would have killed you both and blown up what was left of the city. We will never know." Syrce's face became sad. "I can't imagine what they must have done to Father to learn about this secret. He must have suffered greatly."

"Forgive me for asking, but why didn't you ask them if your father still lived?" Noble had wondered this at the time, but things happened too quickly for her to muse on it for long.

Syrce stared at the nebulous Source. The reflections danced across her face in search of each other.

"As soon as I knew Father had been captured by Imperialists, I knew for sure that he was dead. The Empire only kills or enslaves those they capture, and Father would have never let himself become a slave."

"I'm sorry." Noble wasn't sure what else to say.

"For what? At least I know what happened to him now. You have given me a great gift." Syrce smiled sadly. "You saved your friend from certain death, and I was able to avenge my father. All in all, I would say that is a pretty productive day, wouldn't you?"

Certain death. The words hit Noble in a new way. Roan had been slated to die today. Had he done so on the original timeline?

Most likely.

That meant that already they had made a difference in the course of events.

Had the mysterious human comet she replaced met a similar end? If she had not made the same good impression, it was entirely possible that the Saint had erased the newcomer from existence instead of adopting her like a lost puppy.

Whatever had happened before, both Noble and Roan were still alive.

That was good, wasn't it?

Absolutely. But not just because living was their goal.

Though there was not a lot of research to support it just yet, the most recent prevailing theory was that drastically changing the outcome of the Nightmare resulted in a better assessment from the Spell.

Noble didn't just want to pass the Nightmare by scraping by. She wanted to excel.

Even in school, she had been a teacher's pet. If the Spell wanted novelty, Child of Promise would do what she could to provide it.

Not every change was positive, of course, but Noble could see no downside to living where others had died.

"Yes, quite productive indeed," Syrce touched her amulet as she answered her own question. "And the day has just begun!"

She turned away from the Source, leaving it just as she had found it. While it wouldn't be repaired today, perhaps someday it would be restored to its former glory.

"We should get going."

The group retired to the landing where the other Imperialists still lay dead. Like Stratos, the Saint disposed of them completely with her Transcendent form. Not even their blood was left to mark their deaths.

Then Syrce collapsed the entrance to the Source and obscured any identifying marks.

The mossy-haired Transcendent brushed off her hands.

"If any more Imperialists come, they will not be any more successful than their predecessors."

"Is there anything else we need to do?" Noble was anxious to get out of the stony prison.

"No, we are through," the Saint confirmed. Her usually expressive face was devoid of emotion.

They all stared at each other for a moment before Roan coughed lightly.

"I don't know my way around here at all. Which way shall we head?" Receiving no reply, he rubbed the back of his neck and continued, "Up is closer, so that seems like the better option."

Was there even a way out below?

If there was, Syrce didn't say. She just headed toward the ladder leading back the way they had come.

The trip was made in relative silence. Unlike the weariness that comes from a hard-fought battle, the Saint just seemed drained. Her emotions shifted through moods of melancholy, making Noble wish desperately to cheer her.

But there was no rushing grief, and Noble sent a bit of comfort instead.

As they reached the surface, the group looked once more at the gigantic eel.

"Shall we harvest some of its meat?" Flint thought about how many people in the caravan the creature would feed.

"I wouldn't," Roan shook his head. "Rhagus said its skin was poisonous."

"Whatever you decide is fine." Syrce no longer seemed to be listening. She walked quickly toward the edge. "I don't want to delay seeing the others any longer. I will meet you at the bottom."

With that, her human form disappeared, and the ball of energy plummeted over the cliff in a dazzling display.

"Such a drama queen. I get why you two are friends," Flint rolled his eyes.

"Be kind. She is still hurting," Noble clicked her tongue. "Syrce just needs some time to process."

"Did she say there are more with you?" Roan raised his eyebrows.

"A whole convoy. Lady Syrce is their commander," Noble explained.

"Aether? Helie?" The legacy leader glanced ahead of them to search the landscape.

Child of Promise shook her head.

"We are still looking for them. We have left notes for them to meet us at our next stop if they should come across them."

"And your next stop is…" the blue-eyed man stroked his chin.

"A day's journey or so that way." Noble pointed only to have Flint push her arm into the appropriate position. She winced. "Thank you."

Flint kept whatever snide remark he had to himself.

"Good. That is the way I was already planning to head." The handsome Master smiled.

"Really? Why?" Noble was befuddled by his confidence.

The cohort leader lifted his hands. "Have you not seen the streaks of light in the night sky pointing that way? I have a sneaking suspicion that Aether is the one making them."

"That…makes sense." Noble had known something was strange about the comets that graced the sky. Part of her had also suspected Aether to be the source.

"What? How is that even possible? How can His Higheness have made it to our destination before us?" Flint gritted his teeth.

The straw-haired man scratched his head.

"Maybe he was just dropped closer to our meeting spot than we were?"

Noble winced.

"Our meeting point has changed. We are heading to Mirage's home now."

"Mirage, you mean the Demon of Imagination, right? I haven't heard that name in quite some time." Roan was not much of a scholar, but was thankful when Noble nodded.

"They are one and the same, yes. We are heading to the home of Imagination." Child of Promise confirmed.

"Is that not a fancy name for Bastion?" Roan's question was met with strange glances from the other two.

"Possibly? Is Bastion the home of Imagination?" Noble furrowed her brow.

"I've never heard it said outright, but I just assumed…" Roan turned to Flint. "Isn't it?"

The curmudgeon threw his hands into the air.

"How should I know? Everything I thought I knew before this Nightmare has been thrown out the window."

Roan chewed his lip.

"What had happened? What are you not telling me?"

Noble sighed. "Let's get moving. While I could fly you to the caravan, I think a walk will do us some good. We can explain on the way."

The three found the path and began their trek to the valley.

'Where do you want to start?' Noble asked Flint through the Memory.

The other Master got a dangerous gleam in his eye.

'You just relax. I know exactly what to say.'