Silence settled over the gathering, not abruptly, but as though each person had withdrawn a step into their own thoughts. Polarity felt it as a pressure rather than an absence of sound.
'Seems like I'm not the only one that falls under the same category,' she thought.
From what Ms. Journey had laid out, the so-called Thirteen Bends of the Bow were either lost or in the hands of the greater families who were actively suppressing knowledge of mysticism, locked away alongside other truths deemed too dangerous for public reach. Suppression, not disappearance seemed to explain the veil of truth surrounding mysticism far too neatly.
This reality suggested something uncomfortable. That most of the people here, stood in the same uncertain position as she did.
Polarity drew slow breath, steadying herself.
'I can only hope for the best'
…
The haze for some reason seemed to have thicken, or perhaps her attention had simply returned to the circle.
"If the greater families truly suppressing the practice as you said," Ms. Rivers asked, her voice cutting cleanly through the stillness, "Then how did such knowledge reach the public at all"
It was a reasonable question. The greater houses were anything but ordinary, it was not without reason that they have managed to maintain power across the continent for centuries. Turns out there not only have regional powers but supernatural powers as well, to maintain power for so long required more than tradition.
"It was due to a secrete organization" this time it was the man who introduced himself as Mr. Box that spoke, his voice measured, "Known as the lantern covenant"
'The lantern covenant' Polarity repeated the name under her breath. The name couldn't have sounded even more foreign, she couldn't recall ever hearing it anywhere. And from the way Mr. Box sounded, it meant he knew more than he was letting on.
"Their actions had weather intentional or unintentional had Inavertedly throw the kingdom into peril" Mr. Box added. Sounding as though he had a personal history with the lantern covenant.
"What do you mean Mr. Box?" someone asked.
"The greater families prepare their descendants for years before allowing them to step onto a path of dominion," Mr. Box replied.
"They strengthen the mind. Condition the will. Without such preparation, exposure to mysticism risks corruption." He did not elaborate on the nature of that corruption, he didn't need to.
"Madness," he went on. "Loss of self. Transformation. When one fails to withstand the mysteries, they do not simply perish they become something else. Something destructive."
"So when the Lantern Covenant placed fragments of this knowledge into public reach…" His voice trailed off.
No one asked him to finish the thought.
They all understood. '
'Going foldash, Madness, A killing spree' the phrase settled into place with an almost cruel precision, and Polarity felt something in her chest tighten.
She quickly connected the dots, so that was what that creature had been.
She remembered how she and William had lost their parents to that hideous creature.
If anyone of her deductions where true, it would mean William had also be demonized thereby turning into a monster.
'So that means, brother had stepped into the path,'
The realization came without drama, but it hollowed her all the same. That would explain Puffery's behavior
'It was just as I suspected, he knew more than he was letting on' Polarity felt her brain fire into overdrive. The supernatural was present in the everyday life, only those who knew what to look for would see the signs.
Polarity attention shifted, subtly, towards Mr. Box.. 'This person know so much about the ancient families, is he one of them' she thought.
'If so, then that mean this could prove problematic'
'Unfortunately I had given my real name, while the rest had given an alias, thankfully, to everyone, the name Polarity is an alias. This gathering is still very useful, a lot can be learned from these occasions'
Polarity was now even wearier of Mr. Box, for the man could be one of the ancient families, and could very well be a spy.
"So that mean, the wild hunt is real"
Polarity turned to the man who spoke this time, it was the silhouette by her very right side. The man had introduced himself as Mr. Journey, and till this moment like her had remained silent.
Mr. Box never answered his question. However his silence only served to confirmed his question.
'Of course, the wild hunt is real' polarity muttered. She would know, after all she had seen them twice in her lifetime, both time was when she lost something dear to her. The first was when she lost her parents to what she now known as dominators that went foldash.
And the second time when the demonized William had tried to kill her, the wild hint seem to be in charge concealing and protecting the supernatural from the public, and the lantern covenant seem to be making their job difficult of late.
"I would give great reward to any information concerning the lantern convent." Mr. Box, added.
"I require certain ingredient for my ascension ritual, and would pay anyone that can get them for me"
Polarity witnessed, the gathering turn from seriousness to transaction, this works for her as well. The ingredients required for her ascension ritual was still missing two major ingredients, from her knowledge both ingredients could be acquired in Deep Ocean.
"I can help with that" Mr. Journey interjected.
"The ingredient you mentioned is quite a delicacy at sea" he continued "Difficult to acquire for most. Not for me" the man said with certainty.
"The cost of this would depend on how far you are from my current location."
"I'm currently in Bolivia, in the Motte Kingdom" Polarity said.
"It would take at up to two weeks to arrive," Payment would be discussed on site. More transactions contained and vital information was exchanged.
"Ok, I'll be sending my servant to the point of meet" Polarity said.
"Look out for a ship with a golden seagull as a banner sigil, I will be waiting"
…
Far from Bolivia, deep within the Ingris Sea, a ship rode uneasy waters.
A young man stood alone in his cabin as the hull shuddered beneath him. He had long, silver hair that fell past his shoulders, catching what little light filtered through the narrow windows. The sea at the edge of the Ingris was rarely calm—this stretch bordered both Sersia and the Byron continent, where currents collided without restraint.
Another wave struck. The ship groaned, then steadied.
The man crossed to a drawer and placed inside of it a mirror, wrapped carefully and bound within a padded frame. He turned it once in his hands, thoughtful.
A profitable transaction, he decided.
The woman had spoken with the assurance of someone accustomed to wealth. He had little doubt she could afford what she sought. The materials she required were indeed easily for him to get hold of, but for this transaction, a detour would be required.
He smiled faintly.
Morning light broke through the clouds, pale and fractured. Sunlight spilled across the deck as the ship rose and fell with the swell. Whether it was early or late in the day no longer mattered; time behaved differently at sea.
"Set course for the Bolaris waters," the captain called.
Sails unfurled. Canvas snapped and billowed as the wind caught hold, driving the ship forward. Slowly, deliberately, it turned toward the horizon.