Eldric didn't react with fear. "Archwarden Thalos has sent for you. I am Eldric Vael, who used to be the Warden. The bearer is present in what I do.
The guards carefully looked at the scroll, but their faces were hard to read. Then, without saying anything, the gates started to move open, loudly creaking and hissing as if they did not want to welcome them.
Natasha paused and took a long breath.
And stepped into the world of academia.
---
The halls in the Spire were colder than the air outside. Frost-like magic hovered in the air, stuck to the stones and filled every nook and cranny. Each movement made a sound.
Men and women from the past, who had reshaped the laws and decided the fate of the world, were portrayed in the halls. They kept their eyes on the group as it moved, not taking them off once.
They moved through a room of mirrors and the images of themselves twisted in odd ways. Natasha looked into the mirror and saw herself dressed in black, with gold eyes. In another story, she was the only person present on a field of bones.
Alison saw that she was becoming hesitant. "They're only illusions," he said quietly. "Keep their thoughts away from you."
She nodded, but the worry did not go away.
In the distance at the end of the hall, two black doors were waiting.
One lid came off at a slow pace.
---
The next room was very large, with high ceilings hung with banners and lit by windows made of colored glass. Twelve high-backed chairs surrounded a dais and each one was occupied by a person dressed in formal royal attire. There in the middle was Archwarden Thalos, wearing black robes decorated with silver threads and holding a staff covered in runes.
His eyes which looked like moonlight, were fixed on Natasha.
"So. She is chosen by the relic."
His tone showed neither pleasure nor shock, but only analysis. Dangerous.
"You called us," Eldric said as he came closer. You know very well the reason for this trip."
Thalos nodded. "Indeed. But having knowledge and understanding are not the same thing.
He looked at Natasha next. "Come closer, please," said the god.
Natasha did.
You could hear her boots click against the marble. They stared at her with the same intensity as people might watch a dangerous animal or a fire.
"Give me your name," Thalos said.
"Natasha Lin."
"Origin?"
"Outer Districts. Used Emergency Gateway Protocol 107 to enter the Jungle Quest.
Members of the council started to talk quietly.
One of the elders spoke up and said, "Illegally?"
"Very much," she replied. "In order to save my brother."
More murmurs.
Thalos held up his hand to allow everyone to be quiet. But the relic picked you for its purpose. Is there a reason you give?"
Natasha hesitated. "No."
"But you can feel it now, can't you?" he said. "It increases in strength when danger is present. It makes things that were hidden visible to you. It enables something and then blocks it. Ancient items have a hard time connecting to one another.
"It happened before anyone realized it was possible," she added. "It just sort of happened."
He nodded. That is where the risk comes in.
---
They questioned her for many hours about the gate, the vision, the temple ruins and the Dark Tide Warriors. Her friends, family and associates. About how she made her decisions.
At some stage, they decided to speak with Alison.
A white-bearded Archwarden said, "Are you Nolan Fen's son?"
Alison gave a quick nod and tightened her jaw. "Yes."
It was said that you were disowned because you tore down the company.
"Not.." and he broke off. There are other parts to this story.
They didn't want to know all the details. They did not count on a plan.
The next people under review were Eldric and Ira. Then Dren. Things always returned to thinking about Natasha.
"You are not steady," said a female Archwarden. "A kind of power you probably haven't experienced. Feelings that block clear decision making. An implement tied to emotion, not training. For that reason, you are a risk to your team.
Natasha looked at her. Or it makes me more like a human being. That's what makes me decide not to use it as a tool I can control.
Everyone became quiet.
At last, Thalos began to talk again.
"We will have a discussion."
---
They were put in guest rooms—rooms that were luxurious yet caged them. Magic was used to block the doors. There is no way out for them.
Dren paced. "We were wrong to come here."
Eldric was standing close to the window. If we didn't, they would have sent someone to hunt us. Our priority was to create more time for our actions."
"For what?" Ira looked at us with her arms folded.
Natasha was sitting by herself on the bed, looking at the bracer.
"Go to the Gate," she said in a quiet voice.
They turned.
It's not shut off any more, she told him. I can tell it's there. It's cracked. Something's... reaching."
Alison came and sat down beside her. Then we try to find a solution to stop it.
"People all over are being affected," she explained. Friends are a key part of survival. Old ones. Forgotten ones. The Court is not there to help—they will try to apply the law to your case.
There was a sudden loud knock at the door.
There was a click and the door opened. There was a messenger at the entrance.
"The Archwarden has given his decision."
---
They went back to the Hall of Judgment. There was no sitting at this time. From the dais, Thalos pointed at the blueprints which were suspended in the air above him and spinning slowly.
"We have decided that the bearer will be permitted to continue her journey," he added.
Natasha blinked.
Nevertheless, this is only valid if.