Karel arrived at the University of Ny'theras the following day, earlier than expected and with minimal escort — just two royal guards who looked distinctly uncomfortable outside their familiar Olkhar territory. The prince himself seemed changed from the formal, somewhat reserved young man Merial had first met in Olkaris. There was a new intensity about him, a focused energy that made his presence felt even before he spoke.
"We need to move quickly," were his first words after the brief formal greetings. "The Dome's song has become almost deafening. Something is happening, something significant."
They had gathered in Master Thelian's tower study — Karel, Merial, Ithor (who had insisted on leaving his sickbed despite the healers' protests), and the ancient Sylarei archivist himself. The circular room felt crowded with their combined presence, the tension between them almost palpable.
"You hear it too, then," Ithor said to Karel, relief evident in his voice. "The urgency, the coordinates to the north."
Karel nodded, studying the Naruun exile with interest. They had barely had time to speak in Olkaris before Nora's attack and Ithor's subsequent wounding. "Yes. Though I wouldn't call them coordinates exactly. More like... a pull. A sense of where we need to go."
"The mountains beyond the Great Forest," Ithor confirmed. "Where the Dome's barrier is thinnest."
"That aligns with what I've found in the ancient texts," Merial added, gesturing to the books and scrolls spread across Thelian's desk. "There are references to specific locations where the Dome's energy patterns converge, creating points of potential contact with what lies beyond. One such location is described as 'the peak where seven streams begin'—a mountain in the northern range that feeds the seven major rivers of Inhevaen."
"Mount Veridia," Thelian identified, his ancient eyes distant with memory. "I visited it once, many decades ago, when I was researching the geographical distribution of Dome anomalies. It's a sacred site to several of the races, particularly the Naruun and Zhyren, who believe it to be the place where the seven original ancestors first entered Inhevaen."
"Or where they first imprisoned the First," Karel suggested, his expression thoughtful. "If the ancient accounts are accurate."
"They are," Ithor said with unexpected certainty. "At least in their essentials. I've seen... confirmation."
He described the vision he had experienced while unconscious — the being of light and energy, the two possible futures shown to him. Karel listened intently, occasionally nodding as if the account matched his own experiences.
"I've had similar visions," the prince admitted when Ithor finished. "Though not as detailed. Impressions, mainly, of what might happen if the Dome's integrity is maintained versus what might happen if it fails completely."
"And what do these impressions suggest to you?" Merial asked, curious about how Karel's perceptions might compare to Ithor's.
Karel hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "That neither outcome is as simple as salvation or destruction. That there are... complexities, nuances that the historical accounts may have simplified or missed entirely."
This matched Merial's own growing suspicion that the choice they faced was not as binary as the ancient texts suggested. Strengthening the prison versus allowing liberation seemed too reductive, too absolute for a situation with so many variables and unknowns.
"What about Nora and her Lady of Shadows?" she asked, bringing the discussion back to more immediate concerns. "Ithor believes they're mobilizing forces, possibly planning some kind of direct action."
Karel's expression darkened. "My sources in Olkaris confirm unusual movement in several regions. Groups traveling under cover of darkness, avoiding established routes and checkpoints. And there have been thefts from several magical repositories —i tems and substances that could be used to disrupt or manipulate Dome energy."
"They're not waiting for our choice," Ithor concluded grimly. "They're attempting to force the outcome they want — the First's liberation — regardless of what we decide."
"Just as in the previous cycle," Thelian murmured, his ancient face lined with concern. "When manipulation failed, they resorted to direct action."
"Which nearly resulted in catastrophe," Merial reminded them, thinking of the historical account she had read. "Thousands dead, entire settlements destroyed."
"All the more reason for us to act quickly," Karel said decisively. "We need to reach Mount Veridia before they do, understand what's happening there, and make our choice based on complete information rather than external pressure."
"Agreed," Ithor said immediately, his posture tense with readiness despite his recent injury. "I can guide us through the Great Forest by paths few others know. We can avoid whatever forces Nora has mobilized."
Merial hesitated, her researcher's caution warring with the growing sense of urgency she felt. "We should prepare thoroughly," she said. "Gather supplies, consult additional texts, perhaps seek counsel from representatives of the other races — "
"There's no time," Karel interrupted gently but firmly. "The Dome's song makes that clear, at least to Ithor and me. Whatever is happening, it's accelerating. Days, perhaps, not weeks or months."
Thelian had been listening silently, his ancient eyes moving from one speaker to another. Now he rose from his chair with surprising grace for one so old. "The Bearer and the Broken Bond are right," he said, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of accumulated wisdom. "The time for research and consultation has passed. Now is the time for action."
He moved to a cabinet and withdrew three small objects — crystal amulets similar to the one the Sangor elder had given Ithor, but each slightly different in color and pattern. "These were created during the previous cycle," he explained, "designed to help the three navigate the increased Dome anomalies that accompany the final stages of the cycle. They provide some protection against the disruptive effects of Dead Zones and may help you communicate with each other if you become separated."
He handed one to each of them — a blue-tinged crystal to Karel, a green-tinged one to Merial, and a silver-tinged one to Ithor. "They're attuned to your specific roles and abilities. Use them wisely."
Merial accepted the amulet with a mixture of gratitude and trepidation. Its weight against her palm felt significant, a physical reminder of the responsibility they were assuming. "Thank you, Master Thelian. For this, and for your guidance."
The ancient archivist inclined his head in acknowledgment. "I have lived long enough to see the signs of the cycle twice in one lifetime — a rare perspective, even among the long-lived Sylarei. I only hope I have interpreted those signs correctly and provided you with useful knowledge rather than misleading assumptions."
"You've done more than anyone could expect," Karel assured him. "Without your insights, we would be facing this challenge with far less understanding."
Thelian smiled faintly. "Perhaps. But remember that understanding is not the same as wisdom, and knowledge is not the same as truth. In the end, you three must make your choice based not just on what you know, but on what you believe to be right."
It was a sobering reminder of the subjective nature of their task. No matter how much information they gathered, no matter how carefully they analyzed the situation, ultimately they would have to make a judgment call with potentially world-altering consequences.
"When do we leave?" Ithor asked, already mentally preparing for the journey ahead.
"At dawn tomorrow," Karel decided after a moment's consideration. "We need some time to gather supplies and make arrangements. I'll send my guards back to Olkaris with messages for my uncle — he should be informed of what's happening, even if there's little he can do to help from a distance."
"And I need to collect certain texts and instruments," Merial added, thinking of the specialized equipment she used to analyze Dome anomalies. "If we're going to make an informed choice, we need to understand exactly what's happening at Mount Veridia."
"Agreed," Karel said. "We'll meet at the eastern gate at first light. Travel light but prepared for varied conditions — the journey to the northern mountains will take us through several different terrains."
With their course decided, the meeting began to break up. Thelian offered his study for any additional research Merial wished to conduct before their departure, while Karel went to brief his guards and make arrangements for supplies. Ithor, still not fully recovered from his wound, reluctantly agreed to return to the medical wing for one final treatment before their journey.