Packing up took very little time for Isaac. He gathered his meager gear and began loading all of Slate’s supplies. A short time passed, a meal was had, and accounts were settled by Vythin. Darkness began to fall as everyone climbed into the cart, Vythin taking the lead and pulling around the front of the inn. Kalinor was standing in the avenue, leaning on his stave, waiting.

  Upon seeing the gods he approached. "It’s been a while since I’ve traveled at night," he said.

  "Once we are beyond the city gates Vythin will fly us to our destination," Isaac replied.

  Kalinor nodded as he climbed into the back of the cart. The cart moved, and the group descended the three layers of the city, making it to the main gates which stood closed.

  Isaac, sitting behind Vythin as he pulled, stood up and glanced at a nearby guard. "Is travel closed at night?"

  The guard shook his head, "No. Normally the gates are open at all times. But Larks were spotted recently."

  Vythin glanced back at Isaac before addressing the guard, "Larks?"

  The guard frowned, "Not from around here, are you? Lark is short for ‘land shark’. Most of the time they stay in the Badlands or the Oceanside Riverlands. But occasionally we get one near the city."

  Vythin looked back to Isaac, "Think we can take on a Lark?"

  Isaac nodded, "It’s just a big animal. Plus, we won’t be on the ground for long."

  Vythin spoke to the guard, "If you would let us out, it would be appreciated. We can take care of ourselves."

  The guard held up a hand, "One moment," and went inside a door embedded into the wall. A few moments later he came out and waved Vythin forward as the gate began to open. "Captain said you’re free to leave. But if you raise a ruckus out there, we aren’t coming out to help you."

  Isaac smirked, "Don’t worry about that."

  The cart moved out of the protection of the city wall and Vythin guided the cart off of the road, towards a grouping of hills they had landed behind when first arriving. He put down the cart and Slate got out. "Right then! Quick break to stretch and then off we go."

  Isaac sensed something. He dropped on all fours and put his head on the ground, hearing the plants themselves warning of impending danger. He stood and manifested his bow. "We don’t have time! Get ready, something is coming." He dashed to the top of the hill, as Vythin, Slate, and Kalinor joined him. To the West they could see three lines approaching them; where the large shapes went, a fin would tear through the ground, and the earth would slightly depress behind them.

  Vythin shifted into his hybrid form, "I’m guessing those are Larks."

  Slate nodded, "They are immune to flame and ice. I'll just get in the way if I try to help...I’ll make sure the children are safe." He took off down the slope towards the cart.

  Kalinor gestured with his stave and the air shimmered silver briefly around the three as they were covered in translucent twilight shadows. Isaac felt a slight weight settle over him as Kalinor leaned on his stave. "I’m not much use in a fight, but I do know protection spells. This should stave off a few blows."

  Vythin and Isaac glanced at each other, nodding in a mutual understanding. Vythin ran down the slope, gaining speed on an intercept course with the three fins closing the distance. Isaac pulled back his arm as an emerald green arrow manifested.

  He took aim just in front of one of the fins and let loose, the bolt whizzing across the distance and sinking into the ground. A dull roar could be heard as the creature slowed, but kept going. Difficult to take down eh? Isaac continued to loose luminous shafts as he saw one of the creatures boring down on Vythin. He stood there, claws outstretched as the large creature disappeared for a moment.

  An enormous, rough-scaled form erupted from the ground; instead of a set of jaws, a massive maw with razor sharp teeth that spun rapidly - launching itself at Vythin. He rolled to the side and lashed out with a claw, scoring a deep gash across the creature as it skidded past him. Isaac took aim at the creature as it wriggled, trying to re-enter the ground. He let loose and the bolt found its mark - the beast roaring as the shaft pierced its eye. It spasmed a few times then lay still. From his vantage point, Isaac saw one of the creatures veer off to his left. Towards the cart!

  He focused his aim on that creature. Its fin disappeared. Damn, it went deeper. He glanced back at Kalinor who was focused on Vythin. The god was in the process of picking up the third Lark and slamming it into the ground repetitively, whilst Kalinor muttered some incantation and silver threads bound themselves around the creature, restricting its movement. They have that one covered.

  Isaac slid down the small hill, channeling his heat into the ground as a pulse of vibrant green heat went from his outstretched hand into the grass around him. All of his thoughts focused on one thing; bring that Lark into my sight. A few moments passed as the night grew quiet before a large cracking and tearing noise disrupted the silence. The ground split in two a few steps away from Isaac as he hopped back; the Lark wrapped completely in enormous blades of grass that tensed about the creature; a large cage for the beast. He smirked as it writhed in place.

  "You shouldn’t have tried to take on gods," he said to the creature as it began to tire itself out with its struggle against the binds.

  An unknown voice spoke directly behind him, "Indeed. But can you blame it? It’s just an animal, after all." Isaac spun around with another arrow nocked. A large human, muscular and covered in patchwork metal armor stood in front of him, his large red beard barely hiding his grin. "Isaac, I believe. Pleased to meet you."

  Isaac took a few steps back, recognizing the figure and dismissing his bow while bowing, "Ignis."

  The figure chuckled, "Are your allies with you?"

  Isaac stood straight, nodded, and pointed to the top of the hill where Kalinor was congratulating Vythin who was dragging the bodies of the two Larks he had slain.

  "Wonderful. Then what do you plan on doing with this magnificent creature here?" Ignis asked.

  Isaac shook his head, "I have no clue. I’d rather just leave and let it resume its life. Like you said - it is just an animal."

  "Ah, someone with respect for our creations! I figured you for a hunter, willing to take down any prey," Ignis replied.

  Isaac gestured to the plants holding the now limp Lark, "Let him loose once I have taken to the skies." He felt the plants acknowledge his command. "Let’s go meet the others," he said addressing Ignis.

  Ignis followed Isaac as he led the way back to the cart. Slate was on top of the cart, a small crossbow in his grip.

  "I’m assuming that you’ve dealt with the problem?" Slate asked.

  Isaac nodded, "Yeah, Vythin and Kalinor should be on their way over."

  Slate looked past Isaac, "Is someone with you? I don't have the innate night vision of your race, nor Vythin's draconic sight."

  "Yes. Why don’t you start up a fire? I have a feeling we are going to be here for a little while before departing," Isaac replied.

  Slate hopped off the cart and a quick flash of red tinged with blue sparked a bonfire that illuminated the area. Upon seeing Ignis, Slate bowed at his waist.

  "Oh don’t do that! Please, stand. We are equals, after all," Ignis said as Slate adjusted his posture. Kalinor and Vythin soon came into the light of the fire and spotted the new arrival. "Ah, good! It would appear that you are all here. We can get started," Ignis said as he held out his hand, a flash of silver sparked out before metal seemingly rose of its own volition from the ground, forming into a table and some stools of an angled design. He gestured, "Please, sit. We have much to discuss."

  As the group sat Vythin spoke, "To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?"

  Ignis leaned back as the chair turned into a stool, "I assume you all know that you are gods?" The three nodded as Kalinor sat silently, his hood pulled up masking his visage. "Ah, I’m sorry, but what I have to discuss is for the ears of gods only."

  Kalinor stood, "I understand, I’m used to being excluded," he said with a hint of jealousy as he walked to the cart.

  Ignis waved his hand and metal burst from the ground around the three, forming a large room without a roof. "Now that we have some privacy…You have gained my notice."

  "I know the intent of The Shattering was to make more gods to help keep The Void at bay. But I don’t know how many of us there are. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have kept the shards yourselves to make artifacts to aid in your plight?" Slate asked.

  Ignis tented his hands and leaned forward, "It would, but only in the short term. The Void grows more powerful the longer we hold it back." He looked around the table, "Aether Shards are small and relatively simple objects to work with. They just take time. However, when put inside a creature, they can grow as the creature grows. Eventually, the Shard will surround your heart. When that happens, you are a god on the same level of power as myself or my siblings."

  He turned to Slate, "That is why we shattered The Aether Throne. Thousands of candidates for New Gods. Even if only twenty of them grow enough in strength to affect things on a level that my sisters and I can - that would more than double the effort available to hold back The Void."

  Slate nodded with a deep sense of understanding as Vythin spoke, "So have we made enough of a difference that our shards have grown? Are we more powerful now?"

  Ignis smiled, "Yes. And you three are the first amongst this first group of gods to ascend to the threshold to gain the notice of myself or my siblings."

  "What made us grow more powerful?" Isaac asked.

  "Lots of possibilities. Most likely, though, performing a miracle in another god's claimed city and center of worship." Ignis' eyes flashed over to Vythin before locking back onto Isaac, "As one of you grows in power, so do you all - that is the power of a pantheon of gods working in concert." Ignis put his hands flat on the table and molded a small building out of the metal in front of him, a superellipse with a large dome.

  "The Conflux of Creation, is it not?" Slate asked.

  Ignis nodded, "This is the seat of worship for our pantheon, the Artificial Gods. Every creature in our creation has Quintessence within them that renews with rest and food, generated by their soul and body. When a farmer in a village pays homage to my pantheon they are giving a tiny amount of their Quintessence to us - and we split that. But, they could also be a member of a religion. Such as my Forge Knights in Scarhold. A religion prevents that tiny amount from being split - it goes straight to the god of that religion. Their Quintessence becomes extra heat for our use." He leaned back once more, "That is why many individuals stick to one religion, if they desire to venerate one god above the rest. There is a built in instinct to preserve one's own Quintessence - even if they are unaware they have it within them. Imagine if you spent several hours each day worshipping the gods in every religion - there wouldn’t be Quintessence for anything else. And using large amounts of Quintessence can actually damage the body and mind itself. Mages are aware of their own Quintessence, and can use it for their own ends - so several aren't really the religious types."

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  "If all creatures in creation have this, couldn’t a more sinister god simply take it from them by force?" Isaac asked. The whole table turned and looked at Isaac, Ignis with a grimace, Slate with a look of curiosity, and Vythin with shock and a tinge of horror. "What? I’m just saying what we are thinking."

  Ignis cleared his throat, "We thought of that; and it's been outlawed by mages as well. Once, long ago during The Void Invasion when the Void Gates opened upon Heimfold, we did do that. But it was a last resort. Think about it like this - you could have an animal - let’s say a goat. It provides milk which can nourish you, and also has hair and fur that can be used to weave clothes. You could kill it and eat its meat - but that only lasts a short while. Creatures are the same. You could kill them and take their Quintessence for yourself, or you could let them live and have Quintessence provided over the course of its life."

  "That makes sense. Why tell us all these things though? If you want to prevent it from happening again, wouldn’t it be smarter to just leave us in the dark?" Isaac asked.

  Ignis shrugged, "You’re the first group of gods that I have spoken to about this - the first to grow enough to gain our attention. I’m still working on what to tell and what to keep secret. Consider this a trial run for me. I'm not perfect, after all." He chuckled.

  "As a teacher I am more than happy to help you come up with a guide you can give to gods that reach our level of capability," Slate said.

  Ignis replied, "I’ll take you up on that offer. Another time though." He gestured widely, sweeping his hand across the three gods. "You three will soon find yourselves being worshipped as words of your deeds spread. You don't know it, but several guards saw your fight just now from the wall-top. Legends will spread and reputations will be built. You may be sought out by those worshippers. You will begin to hear your adherent’s thoughts if you focus your attention on hearing them. Concentrate hard enough, and you can speak directly to them."

  "We were going to be leaving to reinforce a place that we found, a city in the middle of the Starfall Badlands. Ever heard of it?" Vythin asked.

  Ignis stroked his beard for a few moments before shaking his head, "No, I do not know of such a thing. What drew you there?"

  Isaac spoke rapidly before the others had a chance to, "Instinct."

  Ignis cocked an eyebrow, "Is that so? Well, it is good that you have a place to call home. The next steps for you to continue to grow - besides performing miracles and experiencing the world - would be to make a temple and consecrate it. Make a place for your followers to worship you. Consecration just means infusing your heat into the location. Think of it like a dog pissing to mark its territory." Ignis stood up and waved his hand as the metal receded into the ground, the three gods standing up as their stools descended and merged into the ground once more. Ignis glanced around, "My siblings will be seeking you out eventually. I’m not one for politics - they are my sisters and I treat them all with the love and respect a brother should. But you will notice some friction between them. Regardless, I wish you the best of luck." He waved to Kalinor who was leaning against the cart, and the mage waved back. Ignis turned, beginning to walk away from the fire, and with a flash of crimson light he vanished, a small amount of ash scattering in the slight breeze.

  Vythin turned to Isaac, whispering, "Why lie to him about Zohkah telling us about the city?"

  Isaac faced Vythin and whispered back, "Zohkah said that he has been making little changes since the dawn of creation itself. I think the less people know about him, the better. He’s done nothing but help us so far."

  Vythin nodded and walked back towards the hill he had come down, dragging the corpses of the two slain Larks. He gestured at them, "What do we do with these?"

  Slate knelt down and touched the Larks, "Their hide would make for tough but light armor. Their teeth could make excellent arrow-heads, and the larger ones, daggers. Outside of that? Meat to eat."

  "We killed these creatures, we are responsible for making sure all of their remains are used," Isaac commented.

  Slate nodded and passed his hand over the Larks. Isaac watched in grim fascination as the corpses unraveled themselves; the hide tearing itself away and stacking neatly in piles, freshly tanned and ready to be worked. The meat portioned itself into thick cut steaks. Every part of the creature was disassembled and reconstructed in a workable form. Slate fell back on his butt, panting from the exertion.

  Kalinor walked over, "Impressive." He reached into the pile of offal left off to the side and pulled a heart out, putting it into a pouch on his hip. "Their hearts are useful in rituals as well. Particularly transmuting substances from rocks. Not my speciality, but I enjoy having such reagents on hand." He reached back in and pulled out another before muttering an incantation as the ichor sloughed off his hand.

  Vythin glanced at the items on the ground, at Slate, and let out a groan. "Fine, I’ll load the cart." Isaac and Kalinor assisted him. Within a few minutes the cart was packed so full that Yvilli and the children couldn’t sit in the back anymore. Vythin looked at the kids and gave them a big, toothy smile, "Guess you lot get to ride on me this time!" He stepped away from the cart and transformed into a dragon once more.

  He’s bigger now, Isaac thought. Vythin used to be slightly larger than the cart - now he was easily double the size of the cart. He looked back at himself and then down at Slate, "What happened?"

  Slate rubbed his chin, "Dragons grow as they age. Perhaps growing in power has functioned in a similar way."

  Isaac helped everyone onto Vythin’s back and Slate lashed everyone to his spines. Slate was shaking as he did so, so Isaac double-checked the knots and secured everyone. Vythin gripped the cart with his two front claws and pushed off the ground, ascending once more. He looked back from his position on the front of the spine. Slate and Yvilli had a worried look on their faces as they held Matthew and Mary. Kalinor’s hood was swept back by the wind howling by, and Isaac was able to glimpse a moment of sheer joy on his visage before Kalinor noticed him watching, pulling his hood back up to mask his expression. Isaac grinned and squeezed with his legs, letting his arms flail in the wind as it washed over him. Flying is something I could really get used to.

  The flight lasted until dawn. With the morning light the city in the Badlands came into view. Vythin landed them at the front gate, and to Isaac’s relief the thorn wall was untouched. He leaped off Vythin and rolled to his feet, helping the others off the dragon. Vythin returned to his humanoid form as Isaac approached the thorn barricade. He willed a tunnel through the thorns and they spread apart, allowing the group to enter the city.

  Slate looked around, "Impressive. The architecture and design are all uniform. The same material as well. Someone put a large amount of effort into this place." He knelt down and red flashed from his hands as he frowned, "Normally I could touch an object and know who created it. But I’m not getting anything."

  "We’ll have time to investigate who made this place later. Come on, I’ll give you the tour. Vythin, can you take the cart to the city center?" Isaac asked.

  Vythin replied in the affirmative and Isaac took Kalinor and Slate on a tour of the city. When they arrived at the entrance to the mine Slate spoke, having been quiet during the whole tour, "This must be the source of the stone. And I believe Vythin told me there was Titansteel down there as well?" Isaac nodded, and Slate continued, "If Terra had made it, my miracle earlier would have discerned that…this wasn't made by any of the Artificial Gods."

  The tour ended and the whole group met at the center fountain. The children were playing in the water as Yvilli watched.

  "Alright then! I think the first thing we should do is come up with a name for this place. Any ideas?" Slate asked.

  Vythin shrugged his shoulders. Kalinor held up his hands, "I didn’t have a hand in finding this place."

  Isaac thought for a moment, The barrier makes this place quite defensible. If we replace the main gates then it would be a fortress. He smiled, "Bastion."

  Slate rubbed his hands together, "Excellent! Then I will begin fixing this place. Vythin, I believe you will begin work on your artifact?"

  Vythin nodded, "Yes. But I’m not sure how."

  Slate slapped his forehead, "Apologies! Right, well, you will need to spend the next several days - at least a week - focusing on what you want the shard to do. And you’re going to be channeling all of your heat into the shard. It should take the form you desire. However," Slate held up a finger and wagged it back and forth, "You can take breaks here and there. No more than an hour break at a time. If you cease to focus on the process then the time is wasted and you must start over."

  Vythin replied, "Makes sense. I’ll get on that."

  Slate turned to Yvilli and got her attention, "If you would find a house in the residential district and set up there. I’ll be here at the fountain."

  Kalinor looked at Slate, "And let me guess, I’m going to be teaching the kids spellcraft?"

  Slate nodded, "Yes, indeed. I’ll be busy bringing this place up to snuff. Really making it shine." he turned to Isaac, "What are you going to do while Vythin works on his artifact?"

  Isaac looked up into the brightening blue sky, "We decided to take a Season to ourselves, correct? And you'll be working on the city in the meantime."

  Slate replied, "Yes. But fixing up the city will take less than a week. For me, that is." He cracked his knuckles and grinned, "Crafting is such a versatile domain."

  Isaac looked back at Slate, "Then I guess I’ll be setting up a means for followers to get here."

  Slate cocked his head sideways, "How do you intend to do that?"

  Isaac chuckled, "I’m a god of space. I’m sure I can use that somehow."

  Kalinor interrupted the two, "What you’re talking about is a portal. There’s spells that can do that - but normally only allowing travel to a specific location where a ritual is performed. It's tricky if you mess up."

  Isaac nodded, "Right. A portal. I’m thinking of just having one location where everyone arrives. And making sure it’s outside the gates." He turned to Yvilli, "I’ll need that seed also, Yvilli. It looks like we won’t need it for its original purpose." She handed it to him. "I’ll be gone for a few days. See you soon."

  Isaac waved goodbye to his companions as he went to the front gates, sealing the wall of thorns behind him. He walked a few steps to the side of the gate and knelt down, planting the seed into the dirt. It sprouted into a large cherry tree, and he went inside. The interior had changed as he had willed it to; the doorway behind him read ‘Bastion’. Seven doorways lay before him, each labeled at the top with a different Capital City. He walked up to the first door frame, labeled ‘Starhold’ and focused his thoughts on traveling to the front gates they had departed from the day prior. The heat spread from his chest and a shimmering green doorway appeared filling the frame. Now stay that way. He stepped through and found himself a short distance from the main gate, alongside the trade road. Many individuals looked at him and pointed. I may not have thought this through, he thought as several guards approached him with weapons drawn. He glanced back and saw the shimmering green doorway still there.

  A guard with more ornate armor spoke as Isaac held his hands up at spearpoint, "What’s your business at Starhold?"

  "My name is Isaac Grovesward. I’m a god."

  The guard in the ornate armor laughed, "Yeah, and I’m the Rune-Saint. What’s the deal with the green door?"

  Isaac gestured back at the portal, "This is how my worshippers will arrive at my city. Would you like to see?"

  The guard’s expression went stern under his helmet, "No. Close the damned thing or we’ll have to get a priest to close it for you."

  Well, miracles can change minds, Isaac thought as he focused the heat within him down through his feet. He smiled, the guards eyes went wide, as an enormous cherry tree shot up behind him, the center hollowing out and the inscription ‘Bastion’ appearing above the shimmering portal in the bark. "Still don’t think I’m a god?" The guard in ornate armor kept his spear up, but several of the others stopped pointing their spears at Isaac. He sighed, "Well, you may not believe me. But I am a New God. And my worshippers need an easy way to get to my city. There’s no harm meant here." He put a hand on his chin as if he was thinking aloud, "This portal goes to a hub that will have portals to other capital cities. I wonder what that could do for a city oriented around free trade."

  The guard in ornate armor immediately lowered his spear. "Wait here...please," he said as he mounted a nearby horse and galloped into the city.

  Isaac leaned against the tree and made small talk with the other guards, telling them about the Larks he dealt with the day prior, and a short time later a Vaysani woman dressed in an ornate black dress robe stitched with green emeralds rode up on a horse, her feathers blending in with her robes.

  "So you’re the god I have been told about," She said, coming to a halt.

  Isaac bowed his head, "Indeed. Isaac Grovesward. I am simply making a means for my followers and worshippers to come to my new city. I mean no ill intent."

  The woman hopped off her horse and strode up to Isaac, "Do you have more of these portals?"

  Isaac shook his head, "Not yet. But soon. I’m working on it. This is the first."

  She gestured to the portal, "May I see?"

  Isaac bowed and dipped his hand into it, pulling it out, "Of course. It’s perfectly safe."

  She stepped through and a few moments later stepped out, glancing around and getting her bearings. "Well, Isaac. I believe you. What is the trade policy of this Bastion place?"

  Isaac shook his head, "As far as I am concerned, none. However, my fellow god, Vythin Goldenscales, may have some thoughts on that. What say you come through the portal in a week’s time, at noon, and we can discuss terms."

  She nodded and smiled, "I will be sure to attend. I look forward to it." She turned to the guards, "See to it that none harm this tree or try to go through it. Post a unit here to prevent any from entering until I allow it." The men gave various answers in the affirmative as the woman remounted her horse and rode off. Isaac bowed, thanked the guards he was talking to, and stepped back through the portal.

  A similar scene played out over the next several days in various locations across Heimfold. Isaac transported himself to a Capital over several 'jumps' using his control over space, created a tree, and established a portal outside the location. Then, he invited a representative of that locale to Bastion. Four days passed in this way as he emerged back in Bastion’s portal hub from the last Capital City. He smiled and looked around with pride at the shimmering green portals around the room.

  This is going to be a good thing. Surprisingly he did not feel that tapped of heat. Perhaps I'm already being worshipped. Word of my power must have spread.

  He opened the door and stepped into the desolate Starfall Badlands outside of Bastion, looking back at the tree, dwarfed by the wall. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t come back to bite us. He opened and resealed a gap in the thorn wall. A familiar feeling spread through him. A feeling of belonging. Of coming back home.