Meah led the Tista and her crowd up the path, although the morning had long passed by the time they ended their trek. The group was mostly silent after splitting from Davak, and Tista had no doubt made this trip many times in the past, as such, she and the rest of the group had known what to expect.

  Once arriving inside the palace, stepping into the foyer, Tista stepped forward. “I will be making a trip into the Armory, all of you may rest.” Tista insisted, when Meah followed close behind.

  “Wait!

  What type of Armaments do you use?”

  The girl asked, an obvious curiosity. “I utilize all types of weapons for different situations, a Warrior should not be too comfortable using just one.

  Each Armament you wield must cover the weaknesses of another.”

  Tista explained, while Meah listened. “My Father only uses one Armament though.” Meah spoke, as Tista nodded.

  “Your father's strength is immeasurable, and I've witnessed Garen firsthand. In his hands, he could raise whole mountains, or flatten them in an instant.

  Not all of us Warriors are blessed with the strength he carries, so we have to keep up with him in our own ways.”

  Tista glanced down at the child. “Rather than ask what type of Armament I use, it's best to answer what you wish to achieve with an Armament of your own.

  A shield can protect, but will offer little means of completing the Second Ordeal, so if that is something you desire, you should make it your second Armament.

  A bow offers the freedom to fight from afar, or from the backlines--But is almost useless in a close range fight--And needs experience to be used properly.”

  She then knelt on one knee, gently grabbing Meah's arm, and examining it. “You have short arms, a pair of gauntlets would do little against an opponent you cannot reach.” She eyed her legs. “And those stubby legs would make a pair of boots hard to kick with.” She stood back up as Meah rubbed her arm, a frustrated expression building up on her face.

  “But Vista says I need proper training to use a sword too! So what can I even use!?” She yelled.

  “That is true in a fencing match. But as a Battle God, few opponents will stand at your level of strength, their steel will do nothing against our Armaments.

  I don't recommend going into battle with zero practice, but a simple Sword with a strong ability would likely be best.

  If you want something that makes up for your small stature, a halberd or something similar that allows you to keep the fight away from your body, is another type for you to consider.

  Afterall, so long as you kill before the enemies can reach you, then it does not matter how tall or strong you are, nor will it matter how well placed your footing is.

  The danger of fighting so young is that your opponent will have a greater reach than you no matter what weapons you carry--My recommendation is something that covers that weakness.”

  She explained, causing Meah to pause and glance down. “You said you lost children, right?” She suddenly asked as Tista froze for a moment.

  “All but Lissia have died in battle against the Demons, even my husband was killed in recent memory.”

  She mused, while Lissia glanced away. “Do you want to fight a war?” The child asked, but Tista only took a long breath.

  “What I want is for children like you, never to carry a weapon again.

  I will do whatever it takes, to ensure our people are safe.”

  Tista made her stance clear when Lissia stepped forward. “I wish to avenge the deaths of my sisters!” She shouted, with clenched fists. “I would like to fight by your side one day, Meah.

  Surely you wish to avenge your mother, we're similar in our motivation, right?”

  She asked, when Meah glanced up to Lissia, Tista nodded. “Meraphi was a child to us all. She was younger than even Lissia, though her death likely hurt you most, as her only daughter, but all of us can agree that Sol was deeply wounded when we lost her, we would like to fight for her alongside you.

  Especially as you grow into a young woman, you may come to me for guidance, lacking a mother to teach you, I want you to come to me for any questions you might have.”

  Tista invited the young Meah, as both herself and Lissia bombarded her with suggestions and opinions, Meah just listened, and glanced up to the two adults before her, both awaiting some manner of affirmation to their questions.

  “Tista, Lissia.”

  Vista spoke from the top of the stairs, glancing down. “Meah was just an infant at the time of our mother's death, you cannot expect her to feel the same anger for her death as myself, can you?” He asked, as Tista turned up.

  “A mother and her daughter share a unique connection, different from a father and a son.”

  Tista responded, causing Vista to wince, his head cocked to the side. “Perhaps that is true for you, but I cannot agree that it is true for everyone.

  Meah has been closer to Father since she was a baby than I have ever been.”

  The boy explained, walking down the steps. “She was my mother, too. I've mourned for her nearly as long as Meah has been alive--It is not her right to fight on behalf of our mother, it is mine.

  She should remain safely in Sol, away from my battle.”

  He insisted, causing Meah to wince, as Tista put her hand to her armored chin. “I see.” She watched as the boy approached her, standing just over her the height of her knees.

  “Nobody but myself is permitted to take the life of my mother's killer.

  Not Meah, not you--Not even Father.

  I do not want you poisoning Meah's mind with a desire for vengeance that she herself does not have--She should not be burdened with a fight for a Mother she cannot even remember.”

  Vista made his opinion clear, when Tista sighed. “So, you wish to protect her then?” She asked.

  “She is my sister, I would not allow a Demon to take even a single strand of her hair if it were up to me.

  But she is also strong, and the strong have a duty to pick up a blade.

  I will not stand in her way if she wishes to fulfill that duty, but as for why she fights, is entirely up to her and her alone.

  I would be devastated to lose her--I believe that Lissia understands.

  Yet at the same time Lissia, you know that, your sisters lifted a blade for the good of us all, even knowing their fate's, would you have stopped them from fighting?”

  He asked, as Lissia glanced away. “Meah will fight, and those that fight, will eventually be killed in battle. This much is certain.

  So, the best way to protect her, is not to stand in her way, it's to let her become stronger, so that she can help us end the fight for good, before she is killed.

  However, she does not need you, nor me, nor Father, to tell her what to fight for--She is a Warrior, that should fight for her own beliefs.”

  The boy figuratively spoke down to Tista, who stood over him with crossed arms. “You should be careful with your fights then.” She responded.

  “Why so?” Vista asked.

  “Because there's a good chance that you become her reason to fight.” She answered, as Vista glanced back at his sister.

  “Me? For what reason?” He asked.

  “Do you intend to fight a fight you are not ready for, only to leave her mourning your death the same you have done for Meraphi?” She inquired, as the boy froze for a moment. “To her, losing you would be just as terrible as losing Meraphi was for you.” Tista leaned down to Vista’s ear.

  “Do not make her recklessly chase after you, to fight before she is ready, trying to protect the brother who wanted to fight a Demon capable of killing our strongest--To claim this glory, all on his own.”

  She whispered, standing back up. “To win this battle, Sol needs to be unified.

  It's well and good to be strong enough to fight alone, but there's a greater strength in numbers.”

  With that, she stepped past Vista towards the Armory.

  Meah watched as Tista walked off, leaving behind Lissia and the other soldiers, before turning her attention to Vista. “Our guests will be staying in the spare rooms on the third floor, Tomaa and Penn will be down to escort them momentarily.” Vista explained, heading for the front entrance.

  “Where are you going?” Meah asked.

  “To the Gateway, now that I have an Armament, I would like to see how it functions firsthand.

  I cannot yet leave Sol, but I would like to visit House Love.

  I intend to be back before dinner.”

  The boy explained, pushing open the large doors, to see Davak and Wayne approaching from the path. “Wayne?” He paused for a moment, then continued on, approaching his uncle.

  “Vista my boy, have you grown?”

  Wayne glanced down at the boy, who glared back up at him. “Perhaps a little.” Vista responded, attempting to hide his proud smirk, when his uncle put his hands on his shoulders.

  “Show me your Armament, boy.

  I would like to see it.”

  He insisted, when Vista sighed. “I suppose.” He complained, calling to hand a familiar spear.

  Wayne took a step back. “The spear of silence, my sister's weapon.” He glanced back to Davak. “Davak, may I test the boy?” He asked, when Davak crossed his arms and nodded, gesturing for him to continue with a flick of his hand.

  “Test?” Vista held onto the spear, looking over it.

  “I sparred with your mother many times growing up, I’ve faced that spear plenty of times.” Wayne called a pair of metallic gauntlets to hand. “As such, I believe I am fit to teach you how to use that weapon, if you would allow me.”

  “Let me make this clear, you want me to attack you?” Vista asked, as Wayne punched his fists together, before both were covered in a bubble of water that seemed to spring from the metal.

  “You cannot hope to pass the second Ordeal, unless you have fought with your Armament.

  You may move about the entire courtyard, your goal is to strike me.

  I will not make this an easy task, however.”

  Wayne explained, as Vista closed his eyes. “And if I hurt you?” The boy asked.

  “Do you expect to hold back against an opponent in a real battle?” Wayne asked.

  Vista glanced away from his weapon, taking a short breath. “Very well.” He adjusted his stance, loosening his posture, and gripping his fingers around the spear.

  Wayne took a deep breath as well, cracking his knuckles. “I'm ready whenever you are!” He eyed the boy from across the courtyard.

  Vista made the first strike by throwing his spear forward, in a blink it shot across the courtyard, a wall of water shot up from the ground in front of Wayne, causing the spear to slow just enough for Wayne to dodge it. He then punched forward, as the wall of water came shooting towards Vista.

  Vista called his spear back to hand, running around the incoming block of water that retained its shape. “The Spear of Silence is unaffected by air resistance, yet it becomes a regular weapon underwater.” Wayne explained, clapping his hands together, as a bubble of water appeared overhead, then he punched downward, as the water swirled into a ring--Spiralling above, keeping Vista’s attention for just a moment too long, as Wayne came dashing in and throwing a punch down at the boy, who narrowly ducked around the attack, losing his footing while a wave of water rushed under his feet, and as he was tripping, the ring of water above came crashing down, spiraling around the boy.

  Then Wayne threw a punch, as the water came launching for Vista like a fist, he slashed at it with his spear, only to be thrown back by a wall of water into another wall of water that formed behind him.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Then, Wayne relented--The water all around the courtyard flowing back into his gauntlets, as he glared at the boy. “You have only struck at me once.” He noted, as the boy dusted himself off, then held the spear forward with one hand.

  Wayne glanced at his posture, and crossed his arms. “A spear is not a slashing weapon, nor is it a javelin.” He explained, holding his right hand up, as water bubbled from his gauntlet into the shape of a spear between his fingertips.

  “Firstly, you hold a spear with both hands.”

  He grabbed his water spear between both hands, one towards the back of it, the other hand just in front. “A spear is a weapon meant for jabbing at long distances--The tip is sharpened for thrusting, stabbing and impaling.

  Yet at the same time, it is light in weight, however it is heavier towards the tip, so you should hold it with one hand near the back half, and the other about halfway up the length of the weapon.”

  He glanced at the boy's weapon, while Vista was adjusting his grip. “Your particular weapon does have an advantage over most spears.” He glanced at the tip, which has a cutting edge as well as a pointed tip. “You can swing that spear from the back half, and use the leverage to your advantage to slash harder than you could with a shorter weapon.

  Since it is not affected by the resistance of the air, everything you put into swinging it, will fall right with the blade.

  With that said, a spear excels at long range, and because a slash will always have a wide swinging arc, it will be more predictable for your enemy to fight against if you simply slash it around.”

  As he spoke, he swung his water spear, the tip of the weapon lagging behind the base of it. “With a sword, the entire length of the weapon is a cutting edge, with a spear, only the tip is.

  As such, a swinging slash with a spear, will only do damage at the tip, and the blade itself is not long enough to be effective at close distance if you were to hold the spear near the blade.

  So, a spear has two distinct uses outside of slashing, fighting at a distance, and thrusting.”

  He held the back of his water spear, palming the end. “To effectively fight with a spear, you must become accustomed to repeated, and accurate thrusts, using the length of the pole to block and defend, and the tip to stab.” He pushed the spear forward from the base, thrusting directly in front of him. “Many become tempted to play fancy with their spear, spinning it around like a staff.

  But unlike a staff, a spear is heavier on one end, meaning that unnecessary spinning will simply waste energy, and do little in actual battle.

  You will want to keep your spear facing your opponent at all times, ready to strike, while keeping them from approaching you.

  And of course, you can throw it.

  A normal spear would not go so far without strength, but the Spear of Silence is not slowed in air--Just to see if she could, Meraphi once threw that Spear right onto the bottom of Sol from the surface below.”

  Wayne explained when Davak laughed. “Tista asked why a spear flew right through House Rain after that one!” He sounded more proud than shameful.

  Vista listened, while looking over the weapon his mother once carried. “The two of you seem fond of this weapon.” He examined it for a moment. “It makes no sense to me that it was left in the Armory for anyone to take!” He added, when Wayne shook his head.

  “We did not leave it for anyone, Damascus agreed to reserve it for either you or Meah.” He explained, when Vista froze.

  “Then why did you not say anything about it!?” The boy asked.

  “Because your first Armament should be your own choice, not something we chose for you.” Davak answered. “If neither you nor Meah wanted it, Wayne wished to take it.

  It wouldn't be much use with me, I could never wield such a small weapon properly. It would be a shame to disgrace it in my hands.”

  Davak spoke his mind, as Vista took a deep breath, holding it forward as Wayne instructed. “Now that you can use the Gateways, I could take you to the edge of Sol, and see how far you can throw it into the ocean below.” Wayne's water spear retreated back into his gauntlets, before he put his hands together. “It is a shame Meraphi could not teach you how to use it, I do not actually have firsthand experience--And I am only able to teach you how to fight with one by relaying her technique.”

  He lamented, as Vista took a long breath, his glare narrowing. “Let us continue.” The boy insisted, rushing forward with his weapon out, he was holding the weapon less carelessly this time, immediately taking what Wayne taught him and putting it into practice.

  As he cut the distance between himself and Wayne, he thrusted the weapon up for Wayne's head, who dodged by ducking backwards by bending his back, practically folding his body all the way over itself, using a wave of water to push Vista back out of range before the boy could follow up with his next attack. Wayne sprung back up the moment Vista was out of range.

  “Do not relent, even for a moment!”

  Wayne yelled, creating a pair of water whips from his gauntlets, swinging one around, as the water wrapped around Vista’s leg, he responded by slashing at the whip, and cutting it right in half. “Do those gauntlets actually do anything besides splash water around?” Vista taunted, when Wayne smirked.

  “The Fists of the ocean have been carried by many Warriors, one Warrior would trap his opponents into a bubble of water until they drowned.

  I personally find such a method of killing to be needlessly cruel, and prefer to use these gauntlets with a bit more whimsy.

  But, I do not intend to use lethal attacks on my nephew, so at worst, you might end up with foul tasting salt water in your mouth!”

  “You will regret holding back!”

  Vista yelled, tossing the spear forward, when Wayne sidestepped the attack, only to see Vista rushing forward, holding the spear once again, then slashing it for him--Wayne used the metal of his gauntlet to grab the blade, before a bubble of water crept up the spear and towards Vista’s arms.

  He dropped the weapon, sidestepping Wayne's next wall of water, calling his spear back to hand and tossing it forward, Wayne twisted to dodge the projectile, only for Vista to come running up to him, already holding the spear once again, thrusting it forward while Wayne avoided the attack by twisting, only for Vista to follow up with a second, then third, then a barrage of thrusts.

  Wayne kept backing out of range of each, consistently stepping back without room to push back. Vista kept on the offensive, until Wayne punched the tip of the spear, throwing Vista’s grip off for just a moment, long enough for him to lose his advantage. In the next blink, Wayne was holding a bubbling ball of water that shot forward in a condensed stream--Right past Vista’s face, narrowly missing, as this condensed jet of water cut a tree at the end of the courtyard right in half.

  Vista froze up, glancing back at the fallen tree, only to face Wayne again, his uncle's fist now right next to his face, Wayne's gauntlet disappeared as the water it created disappeared with it, he then gently flicked the boy's forehead. “Never take your eyes off your opponent.” He said with a smirk, and at the same time, Vista’s spear disappeared.

  “I understand.”

  The boy clenched his fists, taking a long breath, as Davak approached. “Great fight, boy!” He gleamed with pride.

  “I would have preferred to win though.” Vista complained.

  “You learn quickly, I can imagine with a few more practice matches, I may not have to hold back so much!” Wayne responded.

  “I cannot expect to stand up to one so experienced in my first fight, it seems.” Vista sighed, an obvious frustration in his tone.

  “I was impressed with how you would call your Armament back so readily, it was as if you had done so many times before.

  But be warned, using an Armaments ability, or recalling it back, will exhaust your soul far quicker.

  Should you exhaust your soul too much, you will not be able to call your Armament again without first resting--Your Armament will shatter and retreat back into your soul, sometimes for days depending on how much you exhausted it.

  Your soul is still young, and therefore weak. It grows in strength with age, so for now you must be careful with how you call your Armament, and how many times you use its ability in succession.”

  Wayne explained, while Davak nodded along. “Is that so?” The giant asked. “Garen and I get along so well, he's never really caused me issues!” Davak said with a grin.

  “That is part of the story, the more you carry a single Armament, the closer you become with it, the less taxing it will be on your soul to use.

  But Davak, you are more than three hundred, by this point, your soul is strong enough where you have not had to worry about this in centuries--You also use just one Armament, where those that carry many, often become tempted to use many, and therefore exhaust themselves quicker.”

  “By those, don't you mean yourself?” Davak punched Wayne in the shoulder, while Vista glanced up.

  “Have the two of you ever had a match?” The boy asked.

  “Davak and I fight very differently, he is a natural fighter, but a terrible teacher.

  I would not fight him, and expect to learn much other than the taste of loss. I know he is far beyond my reach.”

  Wayne explained, when he glanced over to Davak. “I have had plenty of matches against Bel and Tista--One time both at the same time!” Davak shouted. “And of course, Meraphi too--She's the only one who actually beat me on occasion!”

  Vista sighed, glancing back at the Palace, catching Meah’s eyes watching from the doorway. “Meah, you don't have to hide, you know.” He complained, as she stepped out, Lissia just behind.

  “The two of you were watching as well?” Wayne asked, when Meah nodded.

  “I would like to witness a fight between Mother and Davak!”

  Lissia suddenly spoke out, causing Davak to breathe in deeply, and sigh loudly. “And what good would that do you?” He asked.

  “I can learn much by watching two great Warriors fighting, I believe this would help prepare me for my upcoming Ordeal.” She explained.

  “Even so, it wouldn't be fair.” Davak responded.

  “How so?” Vista was curious, stepping towards his father.

  “Tista can only truly go all out when she's given room to do so, if you are all around, watching, she'd be forced to hold back.

  She and I have similar Armaments in that, they're not exactly delicate, and you could all be caught up in the battle as collateral damage.

  She can't even try her hardest against me in the first place, out of fear of killing me--Her main Armament is one that is hard to control, after all.

  She's an amazing warrior, but not one that can fight freely in populated areas.”

  He explained, glancing down. “I see.” Lissia sighed.

  “Sorry to disappoint, rather than watch, I recommend spending these days sparring yourself.

  I'm sure you could teach Vista a few things too.”

  He explained, when Meah approached. “What about me? Can I spar too?” She asked.

  “Of course, once you have your Armament.

  You really should be taught with the training weapons first, but I suppose we're a little late for that.”

  He thought aloud, when Vista started walking off towards the path down the mountain. “And where are you going?” Davak asked.

  “I would like to visit House Love--Now that I have access to the Gateway’s.

  I will be back by dinner.”

  The boy explained, when Davak sighed. “House Love?” He scratched his head.

  “Sha and I had already planned to meet, I would not keep him waiting.” The boy explained, as Davak took a deep breath.

  “Fine! Just don't be gone all day!” Davak shouted, yet Vista didn't even turn around, simply waving back as he headed off.

  He walked down the mountain, a slow and casual pace, passing by soldiers stationed at various gates along the whole path, spiraling around the mountain, taking steps down steep stairways, crossing bridges--Then through the gate leading into Codeas.

  Once you step into the city, the streets are only wide enough for three or four people to pass through them side by side, buildings are packed tightly, yet very few of them are taller than two or three stories.

  Like every day, the streets are crowded, yet the crowds are organized, few are running, or pushing through--The majority of people here in Codeas are no younger or older than their twenties, at least not in appearance--There are no children running about, no wrinkles in the people’s skin, not a strand of grey hair to be seen on any head.

  There are carts being pushed into town--They are pushed and pulled by men or women, who seemed to do so both effortlessly and joyfully.

  The soldiers of this city appear relaxed, casually speaking with the citizens, guarding their posts without a hint of worry or stress.

  Then across the sky, a blue light shot down into the northern edge of the city, right into an archway built between finely crafted statues.

  A person stepped out from this archway into the city itself, though a soldier was nearby guarding it, he did not even react to the visitor.

  This archway, at the edge of the city, in the center of a large circular clearing, is the Gateway of Codeas, and the young Vista’s destination. The very same location where Meah first encountered Wayne and Tista.

  Eyeing the stone archway, ornately carved, he approached with a slight hesitation. Glancing around, seeing that nobody was paying him any mind, he eyed the soldier standing nearby, who was chatting away with a random man. “Hello.” The boy interrupted.

  “Prince Vista?” The soldier turned his attention to the eleven year old.

  “Would you mind explaining how to activate the Gateway?” He politely asked, when the man in armor nodded.

  “Sure, but it's not something you can really explain, you just stick your hand on the stone, and you'll figure out the rest.

  It only works if you have an Armament though.”

  He gave brief instructions, as Vista turned his attention back to the Gateway. “And how do you decide where you want to go?” Vista asked.

  “It works off of intention, just think of where you want to go, and if there's a Gateway there, it'll take you.

  If there's no Gateway, it'll take you to one closest to your destination--So, if you wanted to visit the city of Rave, it'd take you right there. But if you wanted to go somewhere outside, but nearby Rave, you'd end up at the Rave Gateway anyway.”

  He explained, watching as the boy approached the Gateway. “But what if two people went to the same Gateway at the same time, from two separate Gateways?” He asked, as the soldier shrugged.

  “I don't think that's all too common, but it'd be like two people trying to walk down a narrow hallway. One would end up behind the other, I reckon.

  You always enter a Gateway on one side, and exit it on the other.

  It stays open for as long as you intended it for, or for whoever you intend to travel with you.

  That's all there's really to it.”

  He explained. “I see.” Vista put his hand towards the stone of the archway. “I appreciate your time.” The boy pressed his hand on the cold stone of the Gateway, when a blue light opened up at its center, and he walked around the Gateway to the front, stepping straight through.

  He stepped out in an entirely different location, no different than stepping through a doorway, he traveled across Sol in an instant.

  He arrived in the city of Astal, House Love's capital. Unlike the stone city of Codeas surrounding a lone mountain, Astal resides up at the top of tall and wide trees, connected to one another by wooden rope bridges. Houses are carved into the massive trees, yet the trees are still standing, strong and healthy.

  Around the trees are wooden walkways, some spiral around the base of the trees, and some go through the trees themselves. The city of Astal resides entirely within the canopy of this massive forest, and below at the base of the trees, is a massive lake which the trees grow out of.

  The people here, all wearing hand crafted or carved masks, and rather than metal armor like the soldiers of Codeas, the people here are all wearing fabrics or cloth clothing, not a single armored soldier in sight.

  Vista walked across the rickety bridges, eyeing the small gaps between wooden slabs, and seeing the dozen or so layers of bridges below him, all with people wandering across them, following a route to the tallest and widest of all the trees.

  The Central Tree named Astal, at the very center of all House Love, is also where the House Head resides.

  There are windows carved into the length of the tree, and bridges leading to and from it both far below and directly above, and from all nearby trees, each leading into separate entrances into the tree.

  Each entrance, a wooden doorway, guarded by a single soldier in a metal mask, standing on a small platform near the door, hanging from the side of the tree. Vista glanced up at the soldier guarding this door, who was glaring back down at the boy, but did not say a word as the boy pushed open this door, and stepped into the tree itself.

  Once inside the tree, there are tunnels carved through the tree, but are intentionally kept small to prevent taking too much from the tree and causing it to wither or collapse, the tunnels are just wide enough for a single adult to fit through. They spiral the length of the tree, and occasionally exit into small rooms built into the sides of the tree, where people work or live in.

  Vista followed the spiraling stairs up, stairs carved into the wood itself, yet as you follow the tree up, you sometimes pass by small coves carved into the interior of the tree for soldiers to stand watch, or for people to stand in and let others pass by. It is mostly dark within, except for the light from a carved hole to the outside every so often. The narrow tunnel shrinks as you walk up the length of the tree, until you reach the end of the path, a Door that opens up out near the top of the tree, into a larger room hanging on the side of the tree, with glass windows all around.

  Two soldiers stand guard in here, before a door leading out onto a rope bridge that brings you to a small wooden building hanging from the branches of the tree. It is tied to six branches, as well as tensioned ropes reaching down and around the tree itself from the bottom, mostly preventing it from swaying or swinging with the wind.

  The soldiers stood in the way of this entrance to the rope bridge, taking a glance down to Vista, stepping aside and allowing him to pass without a word.

  Vista then walked across the bridge without hesitation, he could see the city below as he walked across, grabbing onto the rope handle, though his sight was mostly blocked by the leaves and branches of smaller trees from below him--Arriving at the door to the hanging structure.

  Knocking on the door, a moment later, it was opened, and a young man, no older than seventeen with white hair and a crude wooden mask was standing at the other side, cloaked in blue, he gestured for Vista to step inside. “Vista!” The young man stepped back into his office.

  The office has glass windows in all directions, allowing for the visibility to observe the entire city below.

  “Sit down.” The young man walked around a desk, as Vista sat on the opposite side of it. “You finally get to visit me without assistance, access to the Gateway’s is quite liberating, is it not?” He spoke from behind his mask as Vista nodded.

  “That is one reason why I'm here.” Viata responded.

  “Let me guess, you're curious about last night's House Meeting?” He asked. “It was more or less the same--”

  “Sha, I would like to know everything that was discussed.” Vista interrupted, when the young House Leader by the name of Sha, sighed inwardly and nodded.

  “It was a meeting between the House Heads, I really shouldn't be sharing this freely, especially if Davak himself won't speak of it.” Sha responded, removing his mask and placing it down on the desk.

  He had bright blue eyes, glaring at Vista. “Of course, I suppose a discussion between friends won't hurt!” He said with a smile, as Vista made himself comfortable.