"Disciples greet Master Sotarr," Alistair and Riseth said in unison, bowing with faint, knowing smiles as Sotarr waved them off.

  "I told you two to stop doing that," Sotarr said with mild amusement. "That won’t be necessary unless we’re meeting in a more formal setting with dignitaries or faction elders present."

  Despite his words, Alistair and Riseth both noticed how Sotarr seemed to preen just a little whenever they greeted him like this. They shared a glance before straightening.

  "Of course," Riseth replied smoothly. "What brings you here this time? You seem to be in a good mood."

  Sotarr’s smile widened as he looked between them. "A lot of good news for your clan and your wider universe—and by extension, for me," he replied.

  "Your Aegis Coalition has proven surprisingly resilient. It’s been a while since a newly integrated universe has mounted such a highly organized response. Not only have they battered the Syndicates and their efforts, but they’ve also managed to thwart multiple attempts at sabotage and corruption from within, all while holding firm on all three bridges. Frankly, it’s quite impressive."

  Riseth scrunched up her face, a little confused. "It’s not that unusual for an integrated universe to hold the bridges for the first and even second wave," she pointed out.

  "Indeed," Sotarr said with a nod. "However, your universe is much more stable and less prone to fracture. The number of internal threats isn’t as high as usual, and as I mentioned, your coalition has apparently quashed the schemes of not only the Syndicates but also several greater factions. Many in the wider multiverse are speculating that your universe might set a new record and hold until the fourth wave."

  "Why the fourth and not the fifth?" Alistair questioned, tilting his head slightly.

  Sotarr let out a bellowing laugh that echoed around them. "I would be shocked if your coalition grows strong enough to withstand a wave of peak grade-seven individuals and creatures. Even if you manage to scrounge up a small army of grade-four and grade-five combatants, holding against them for very long would be nothing short of a miracle!"

  He shook his head at their expressions. "The multiverse is nigh endless. There are true monsters out there capable of tearing through any prepared defenses at the bridges. The ceiling for what is possible at grade six and beyond is simply too vast to prepare for. I’m sure your coalition will be able to hold on to many worlds, but the cost in blood to even attempt to hold the bridges against the combined might of the entire multiverse’s forces at that grade would be unthinkable and most definitely not worth it."

  The room’s mood shifted slightly, a somber undertone settling in, until Sotarr waved it off with a swipe of his clawed hand.

  "This is still far in the future, and I’m here with good news after all!" Sotarr declared, his energy filling the space once more. "Your growth—and your potential—have finally caught the eyes of some of my fellow leaders within the Lyraxis," he announced with pride.

  "So, the Lyraxis consider us valuable enough to support," Riseth said, failing to mask the slight bitterness in her tone.

  Sotarr paused, his expression contemplative. He wasn’t the most personable individual; his perspective was shaped by the sheer weight of his age and position. Despite that, Alistair knew he meant well. Sotarr had been instrumental in helping them reach incredible heights, something Alistair would always be grateful for.

  "I apologize," Sotarr said finally, inclining his head. "I have been rather blunt and may have come across in an unfavorable light."

  The dragon surprised them by bowing deeply, a rare display of humility.

  "I must keep reminding myself how young you are. You haven’t lived in the system for as long as I have. Ambition has a way of taking hold of those who have lived long," Sotarr admitted, his tone carrying a note of genuine contrition.

  Riseth looked at the dragon with a conflicted expression. Alistair could tell her frustration wasn’t with Sotarr or Mitania but rather with the Lyraxis themselves. Sotarr seemed to realize this as well, straightening slightly before continuing.

  "You must understand that we do not force our members to take disciples or involve themselves in matters of integrating universes," Sotarr began. "Taking on disciples carries many risks. It is not that you became valuable enough for us to suddenly care and invest, but rather that your accomplishments have given you greater appeal."

  Sotarr paused briefly, his gaze meeting Riseth’s. "A disciple’s death could cause someone to lose hundreds of years of progress, if not more. Without the ability to intervene properly, it’s understandable that many are hesitant to take on such a risk."

  He folded his arms, his tone steady as he continued. "That said, with the current state of your fledgling universe and the accomplishments you’ve achieved, your overall potential has grown significantly. The risks are far less daunting—provided it’s managed correctly."

  A faint smile touched his lips as he concluded, "That was enough to convince a handful of elders to back the initiative Mitania and I have been championing."

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  This seemed to greatly ease the tension in the room. Juliana remained silently observing in the background.

  Riseth let out a breath, shaking her head. "Apologies, we haven’t taken your faction’s perspective into proper consideration."

  "Think nothing of it. I failed to do the same," Sotarr replied. He looked between Riseth and Alistair. "If you are still willing to accept our help and guidance, many within the Lyraxis would be honored by the opportunity to tutor members of the Ryser Clan."

  "What do you think?" Riseth questioned over the Akashic Link.

  Alistair took a moment to consider before replying. "They’ve done right by us so far, and plenty would kill for the chance to learn under outside masters. We’ve got a lot of young elites with amazing concepts but not enough tutors to guide them."

  Turning toward Sotarr, Alistair spoke aloud. "How do you plan to tutor our members? Without a crest of connection, I imagine it’s going to be difficult. I know you masters are capable of reaching out with your 'voice,' but as Nessyra described it, it’s fleeting and comes in bursts. I’d hardly call that proper tutoring or a proper master-disciple agreement."

  Sotarr nodded sagely. "Yes, if we attempted to tutor you purely through our voice, reaching across the fabrics of space and reality, it would indeed be difficult—even when the bridges strengthen," he admitted. "However, we share a strong karmic connection with you two, the leaders of this bloodline. With a properly set up grand formation, it will most definitely be possible for other masters of the Lyraxis to reach out as specters.

  "That said, it will be mana-intensive and require many rare treasures to create. Fortunately, thanks to our direct line of communication, we can at least guide you through the process."

  Alistair hummed, exchanging a glance with Riseth. "And is there anything else you would need from us?"

  Sotarr hesitated for a moment before responding. "We would require a list of your members and their core concepts for our masters to select suitable disciples."

  "Is this truly the only means?" Juliana questioned, her voice calm but firm.

  Sotarr paused, surprised that she had spoken up, and turned his gaze toward her. "For those unable to create such a formation, the only real option is to strengthen the karmic ties through personal sacrifices or by fostering dependencies. While effective, these methods can be harmful in the long run. There are alternatives, though, depending on the disciple’s affinities. Some use meditation to temporarily enter certain planes—such as elemental or other conceptual planes—allowing them to connect with their master there for brief periods."

  Juliana nodded clearly, deep in thought.

  "You can enter different planes through meditation?" Alistair asked.

  Sotarr frowned slightly. "Yes, though it can be dangerous. Elementals are not always welcoming to intruders or those who attempt to tap into their power or essence—even if mana is offered in exchange."

  "Is it possible to travel through those realms into others?" Riseth asked.

  Sotarr shook his head. "Not unless you are an Inhabitant of the Beyond or possess a rather peculiar heritage. Even then, the system prevents any crossing into this fledgling universe. Unless you were to summon or pull those beings in yourself, you shouldn’t have to worry about the inhabitants of other planes invading your world."

  This gave Alistair some pause, a flicker of worry crossing his mind. "Couldn’t the Blackmarket Syndicate pull someone with such a heritage into this universe?"

  Sotarr shook his head again. "No, such attempts have been made before, but the system differentiates Inhabitants of the Beyond from those with unique constitutions. The former cannot remain in the corporeal realms indefinitely, while the latter can."

  Sotarr turned back to them. "You do not need to make a decision immediately, but the sooner you do, the earlier we can begin elevating those chosen as disciples."

  Juliana hummed thoughtfully. "How likely is it for someone to be picked? For example, take my core concept of Stars. Would anyone even be willing to teach me, especially since I focus on nurturing?"

  Sotarr stared at her, seemingly at a loss for words for a moment. "Did you just say your core concept is Stars?" he finally questioned.

  "Yes…?" Juliana answered, her tone slightly hesitant.

  Sotarr coughed, shaking his head as he regained his composure. "To answer your question, it strongly depends on the prospective disciple’s concepts and affinities," he explained. "In your case, there would likely be competition over who gets to teach you. The Stars affinity is exceedingly rare and an extremely potent combat affinity, though it can also complement your nurturing focus."

  Alistair watched as his mother mulled over the information. He had always known her combat potential was absurd, though he had chosen not to push her toward combat. Her space and light affinities alone were incredible tools.

  He had helped her develop a handful of defensive and mobility skills to complement her spatial awareness and teleportation magic. Together, they had made her nearly untouchable in combat. However, her lack of drive for battle and reluctance to adopt plasma-based skills to enhance her offense held her back from becoming outright monstrous.

  Alistair was more than happy with his Kinetics concept, but if he had to choose another, it would absolutely have been her Stars concept.

  "One of our founders held the very same concept, so it carries a certain level of prestige. While I understand you do not wish to become a combatant, I know a few masters who could help you develop your nurturing abilities further while also teaching you how to defend yourself and others," Sotarr explained. "With your permission, I would like to reach out to the person I have in mind."

  Juliana looked uncertain, her gaze shifting between him and Riseth as she hesitated.

  "I’d say let him do it," Riseth offered. "Get to know that potential master before making your decision."

  Alistair nodded in agreement, his expression calm and reassuring. Seeing their support seemed to ease her tension, and Juliana visibly relaxed.

  "Alright," she said. "But I will only agree to this if Alistair and Riseth decide to create that grand array."

  Sotarr nodded in approval. "I will keep this to myself until you have made your decision."

  "Are there any other matters you came here for?" Riseth asked.

  "Of course," Sotarr replied. "I came to help you train your summons and to educate King on Draconic matters."

  Sotarr looked around, his senses clearly scanning far beyond the room they were in, until his eyes locked onto a specific direction. Alistair knew it was where King was currently training others within the Crucible.

  A subtle tug rippled through Alistair’s connection to his summon, and he could feel King’s eagerness as he quickly approached.

  "What was that?" Alistair asked, a strange sensation reverberating through his soul. It wasn’t unpleasant, but neither was it entirely comfortable.

  "As his guardian, my karmic connection to King has strengthened," Sotarr explained. "Due to our intertwined connections, you likely felt the twang as I reached out to him."

  Sotarr folded his clawed hands behind his back, his eyes glinting with excitement. "It is time to bring all three of your summons to a new level," he declared.