The group of youths, the moteling, and Claris ascended the small elevator to none other than Mote's office floor.

'This way, please." Claris instructed as they moved down the hall of endless doors.

Eary turned his head as they passed by the office of Scott Thompson. "Luke." He whispered to his brother. "That's the guy who told me i had no soul and was adopted." He said in an accusatory hush.

"Don't worry about it. You have a soul, Eary. I'm sure of it." Luke replied quietly.

Eary chuckled at the thought now. "I know. I also can't be adopted. Because of Josh and all that." He casually mused, looking up at his brother.

Luke sternly kept walking, not making a sound. A fact that made Eary's brow furl.

"I'm not adopted, right?" Eary asked rather loudly.

"We're here, Mote. Would your guests please, kindly, wait outside." Claris said calmly.

"Sure thing, boss!" Mote exclaimed enthusiastically. Turning to the group, he stated, "You's all stay out here. And don't touch nothin', I'm in enough shit as it is, I don't need a snorkle." He then zipped into his office with Claris.

The door immediately shut behind the divine pair. Eary still held his gaze fixed on Luke.

"Well?" He asked agitatedly.

Luke paused. He nervously wiped his hands upon his pants as he flashed Eary an awkward glance.

"I think you should talk to Mom and Dad about this." He replied awkwardly.

Eary stood staring at his brother with his jaw dropped wide. A moment later, his face shifted from shock to determination as he turned from his friends and proceeded back down the hall.

"Eary, hey!" Luke called out as he broke from the group to follow his brother. "Where are you going?"

"To get some answers!" He called back firmly.

Making their way down the hall behind the disgruntled teen. The group made haste after Earhart as he burst through the office door of Scott Thompson.

"Hey, you!" Eary announced as he burst into Scott's office by force.

Scott replied in a surprised stupor. "Who in the..." he paused, examining the boy, "Oh, young Orshin Elxam. Did you forget something?" He stated cooly as he took a drag of his smoke.

"You said I was adopted." Eary firmly stated.

Scott nodded slowly as he exhaled a large puff of smoke. "Correct. Bit of an unusual tale. Don't get too many Nocopo in my office chair. Ha." He said.

Eary quickly closed the gap on him and Scott. Grabbing the bird by the neck and pinning him to the wall, Eary exclaimed in a rage. "Get on your damn computer and fix this mess, or I'm not doing shit to save the Earth!"

"Security!" Scott called out in fear. "Security!"

Eary grabbed the phoenix's beak, silencing the creature. "Wrong answere, mother fucker!"

Eary felt as a swath of hands grabbed his small frame and pulled him off of the mythological clerk.

Quickly examined his situation, Eary saw his friends hands grasping him as he was pulled to the other side of the office.

"That won't be necessary." Alice said with a nervous smile. "He just missed his missed his meds today. Little moody." She continued as she reached her hand around Eary's cursing mouth as he struggled against his friends restraint.

Scott continued to call out for security as he scrambled for his pack of Heavenly Strikes for another smoke.

The team picked up the enraged teen. They pulled him out of the office and into the hall. Mei quickly slammed the door behind them.

The nine youths and one combative, Eary, stood staring at each other in the hall.

Calvin quickly asked, "Where now?"

The group paused. Alice broke the tension by announcing, "Back to Mote's office!"

They made their way back down the hall and rounded into the office. With a great slam, the group caught their breath.

Soon, a soothing voice casually said. "Right on time."

They turned their heads to see a woman of Asian decent, clad in a grey business suit, standing next to Mote, seated at his tiny desk.

"Wad ya's do?" Mote asked in a disapproving sigh.

Eary stood up straight. He nervously approached the desk. Looking directly at Claris, he stated, "Am I to understand I have no soul?" He asked as politely as he could, with tears welling up in his eyes.

Claris smiled gently. "Come with me. We will talk as I escort you all to the gates." They said smoothly.

Eary couldn't help but feel reassured as they made their way out of the office and down to the lobby. As they approached the sliding glass doors, Claris beckoned Eary to follow.

Once outside, they said. "How have things been with the Olson's?"

Eary raised his brow as he looked over to the now wrinkled old being, walking slowly with a cane.

"Good. I love my parents and my brothers." He paused as he thought of the strife over Ephraim with Josh and his parents seeming disinterest. "But sometimes, I do feel out of place with them." He confessed.

Claris nodded their cloaked head. "It is a difficult age for all. But rest assured, they love you, and your wounds are skin deep." They stated as Eary and Claris led the group down golden streets.

Eary nodded and smiled.

Claris softly continued, "I placed you there myself." They stated bluntly. "You were a drift in time. I knew your transition would be difficult. But I am glad to know of the family that was created."

Eary sniffed hard as tears ran down his face. He knew it was true. It was. He clenched his jaw, took a deep gulp. And bravely asked, "What will happen to me when I die?"

Claris giggled. "No one knows, Eary. You can't."

Eary took a glance back to his friends. "I think they know, now." He states.

Claris smiled. They soon shook with a billion orbs of light. After the blinding flash, they took the form of a little girl. They had red hair, down to their back. And a white, Victorian style dress now graced the deity.

"They know as much as you." Claris said serenely as they skipped along the streets. "Say, what do you think of the architecture around here?" They said spinning back to Eary.

"It's amazing." The boy said bluntly.

Claris smiled, "Good, I'm glad you like it, Eary."

Eary quickened pace to match the surprisingly fast skipping child.

As he caught up they spoke. "How's Ephraim? That miracle still working out for him?"

Eary nodded, "Yes. He's still alive and well. Thank you." He said in a slow jog.

Claris giggled. "How are you two? Getting along still?" They asked in a bratty tone.

"Ah, yeah. We're friends again. It's great." Eary said in a swirl of confused thoughts.

Claris replied, "It's normal for kids your age to be confused about things." They said skipping along. "It's important to remember your not the only one going through that."

Eary nodded as he considered Ephraim's position. "I bet he feels like he lost a lot." He said in a regretful sigh.

"Indeed." Claris replied. "It odd you've grown so far apart, considering how earnestly you prayed for his recovery."

Eary looked a the golden road as he collected his feelings. The precious cobblestones glittered as he swiftly kept pace.

"Is that why this is happening to me?" Eary asked,

Claris giggled. "Uh-huh. You asked for a pretty tall order." The said playfully.

Eary recoiled in suprise. "Yeah, I guess." He said confusingly. "But didn't I already have powers?"

Claris stopped. In a gentle tone, they stated. "I see things from a different angle than you. Where one moment happens and another begins, its all the same to me."

Eary replied, "Outside of time."

Claris nodded, "Correct." They then raised their hand. "We are here."

They stood underneath a great arch. Behind them, was the magnificent celestial city. Beyond the arch was the infinite fathoms of space.

Eary and his friends approached the end of the golden road. Calvin peered his head over the edge, to which Mote promptly corrected the lad.

"That's the abyss down they're! Don'cha know down usually ain't a good thing in divine situations?" Mote snarked as he pulled Calvin back by the shirt.

"I wasn't going to fall." He replied as he shooed the moteling away.

Mote scoffed. "Ugh, fine. But if ya's fall into hell, don't go beggin' me from help. Heh!"

He quickly zipped back and bee lined for Claris. "Now boss, about that plot of land for me and mines." He asked chipperly.

Claris tilted their head. "Indeed. Follow me."

Claris proceeded to a small patch of cloud between the gate and the abyss. They shimmied across the narrow path and beckoned for the others to follow.

The team all nervously followed suit. The swirling chasm of darkness and flame swirled below as Eary pressed himself harder against the wall.

As the rejoined Claris, Mote asked, "Okay, now where's my lil slice-o-hevean?"

"You're standing in it." Claris announced raising their arms.

"Seriously?" The little moteling complained. "This is tiny. With a terrible view and they're ain't even any outlets out here!"

Alice squinted her eyes as she asked the blue moteling, "What's going on here?"

Claris quickly chimed in, "Motes deciding where he and the motelings will live when the Earth is destroyed."

Alice leaned back in bewilderment. "Excuse me?" She asked firmly.

Mote huffed in protest. "Now wait damn minute, now. Don't 'cha listen to a word they say..."

Alice continued in shock, "Oh I'm sorry. Is God lying to me right now?" She asked mouth agape.

Mote looked back and forth frantically. "Now, now, now..."

Claris stepped forward. Interrupting the moteling, they said "It would seem that the moteling's original set up to preserve your world from Eldris has failed. And your Scions are merely the heralds of a much larger threat."

Alice bravely asked, "Like what?"

Claris replied coldly. "Eldris."

The team stood silently staring at the moteling. His glowing behind left him slowly bobing in the air as he fiddled with the opposable thumbs on his paws.

Eary whispered in shock, "You're abandoning us, Mote?" The words fells from his lips as a cold indifference washed over the boy.

Mote flew up to his long time friend. He consoled him, "Hey, now! I can't believe you would think so little of me." He protested. "It's in case I gotta abandon ya. That's what this is for." He stated grinning and nodding.

"Fuck you!" Eary exclaimed at the floating fairy.

Mote replied disgustingly "You are in heaven! How dare you use language like that! You are in the presence of Claris."

Eary recoiled in anger. "Whatever, you manipulative little shit! We are outside the gates! They are everywhere! And I learned it from you!"

Mote and Eary began to squabble, while Alice inquired for more information.

"What exactly is happening on our world?" She asked, her voice dripping with desperation and annoyance.

Claris replied with unshakable stillness, "Once upon a time, I sent Mote to Earth with a large piece of myself. Upon impact, it shattered into four separate parts."

Alice nodded. "We know. Mote told us." She said calmly.

Calrus smiled. "What he did not inform you of, is what happened after." They replied.

They lifted their hand and with a snap of their fingers, the team was on a large hill. Thick lush grass stretched up the sides of jetting peaks of black rock. A great sea crashed massive waves across the way to contrast the endless sprawl of land.

Eary glanced around in wonderment. "Where are we?" He asked in awe.

A tall man, garbed in rags that masked his honey gold skin approached. "We are on Earth, twenty six thousand years ago." The man, whoes calming presence identified himself as Claris stated.

Eary was about to reply when a small, blue, meteorite struck the plains nearby.

"Ah, let's get a closer peek." They stated as the team was lifted from their feet and pulled smoothly toward the impact site.

A young man, also in rags with honey golden skin, ran towards the site. A small blue light emerged from the crater and approached the boy.

Mote cheerily announced, "This is where I met Mica. The first Claris. Great kid, stayed in school, got 'emself a kingdom and everything."

"Indeed. Shall we have a look?" Claris asked coyly.

As soon as Claris had finished speaking, the surrounding environment began to rapidly change. At first, small settlements cropped up near the impact site. Then, a large palace. Soon, enormous structures erupted all around the former idyllic scene.

"Here we are." Claris announced.

The team was once again pulled. This time into the palace that had erupted. They passed through two grand doors, majestic halls, adorned in deep reds and silver. Soon, they found themselves in a great throne room. Polished granite floors chased their way up the steps of a platform. On its peek held a dark wood throne. Seated upon the throne was an old man wrapped in fancy regalia. A small blue light floated to his right as the two listened to an impassioned speech in an unknown yet familiar language to Eary's ears. Standing in front of the throne was a man wrapped in rags. He stood next to a contraption of unknown purpose.

"Hey, Mote. Is that you?" Eary asked in inquisitive wonderment.

"Sure is! This is where I showcase my ingenuity to Mica." Mote replied cheerfully.

Eary watched as the man in rags started up th strange contraption. After a series of flashing lights and a great deal of smoke, the machine opened. Out walked two males, one short and one tall. Eary watched as the old Mica took a large glowing orb and presented it to the taller of the two males. He extended his hands. The orb burst into a series of swirling blue lights as it slowly moved into the taller male.

Luke placed his hand on Eary's shoulder. He turned his head to the moteling. His voice dripped with apprehension as he asked "What just happened?"

Mote proudly proclaimed, "What just happened?" Mote asked in a confused laugh. "We's just made life! That's what that was. You's lookin' at the dawn of the Aedish people. Commissioned by yours truly!" Mote stated grinning and nodding.

Luke quickly replied, "Mote, you don't understand..."

Mote waived his paw dismissively as he continued his narcissistic rant. "I did it all, see. Made them Aedish outta clay. Toner was a bit low, so most of 'em are a bit paler than I was shootin' for." He swirled his light around the animated clay couple. "They ain't got souls or nothin', so they made the perfect sacrifice to trick ol' Eldris." He patted himself on the back as he continued, "Give 'em the shard of life. Make 'em have a kid. Send the former clay Claris as a sacrifice to ol' Eldris. He chews on them for a bit, tell the next Aedish Claris is ready. Rinse and repeat. Flawless!"

Luke angrily exclaimed, "Eary's an Aedish, Mote."

Mote replied in shock, "Wha? Kid, is that why you was bitchin' about not havin' a soul?"

Eary turned into his brother as he began to cry. Luke handed the inconsolable Eary off to Alice and Decan as he approached the divine duo.

"Please. There has to be some kind of mistake. This kid is all about church and God. You can't just let this flying drunk ruin that for him." He stated firmly to Claris.

Mote recoiled in shock by the insult as Claris gave off a soft chuckle.

"Your devotion to your family is admirable, Luke." Claris said calmly. "But your brother is no different from the trillions upon trillions of lives in your universe." They said, as they approached the distraught teen. Placing their hand on his shoulder, they said, "All must learn to live and grow in the lives they were presented. Eary is no different."

Eary turned to Claris. "What about at the end?" He asked between sobs.

Claris smiled. "That's not for you to know." They continued, "13,000 years ago, the Aedish lost their last Claris."

They snapped their fingers. Once again the team was transported to another location. Now they stood in a large hall. Dark tentacles broke the stone of what was once another grand palace. Ilia and Mote could be seen standing in the way of a dark figure, trenched in a dark miasma. Behind them, a small blonde boy jumped into a portal.

Claris announced, "This is where Mote's plan failed. Eldris was not fooled by the long line of Aedish Claris' it was presented as food."

Eary glared at Mote who quickly shifted his attention away.

"Since then, the barrier around your world has been weakening. The Scions of your world wish to destroy these barriers and herald in the time of Eldris upon the Earth." Claris stated bluntly.

Eary angrily asked, "So I'm supposed to sacrifice myself, too?"

Claris shook their head. "No. That will no longer work." They stated melancholicly. "Eldris is too close. To near. He is ready to break into your reality, and release death on your world."

Alice asked in desperation, "Can we stop that?"

"Perhaps." Claris said cooly. "If you can defeat the Scions and purify my shards, perhaps you can defeat the seed of Eldris on your world."

Luke repeated Claris words, "Seed of Eldris?"

Claris nodded. "Yes. Since Mote's party, some 26,000 years ago, all contested worlds like yours contain a seed of Eldris."

The entire group turned their heads to angrily scowl at the moteling.

Claris continued,"The seed absorbs the evil, hate and darkness of the lifeforms on their respective world. After some time, it sprouts into a powerful manifestation of darkness. Destroying the world and all souls theirin."

Mote nervously stated to Eary, "See. You ain't the only one who ain't gonna have a soul soon, so what ya whinnin' about?"

"Nice." Alice retorted as she stepped forward and asked, "How do we purify the shards?"

Claris looked at Eary. They slowly approached the young man. "Now these three remain: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love. You would do well to remember that, Eary."

Eary nodded as the tears for before dried on his cheeks.

Claris announced. "It is time."

With a waive of their hand, the team found themselves in the library back in Bright Hope.

"There you are." A familiar voice announced from behind.

Ephraim walked up to the group. "You missed church today." He said bluntly.

"No we didn't." Alice said dismissively as the group made their way back to the portal door.

Ephraim shook off Alice's statement. "So what did you guys do? Was it exciting super hero stuff?" He asked enthusiastically.

Eary sighed. Decan rubbed his boyfriend's back as the swirl of facts rested on Eary's shoulders.

"You okay, Airbear?" Ephraim asked concerned.

Eary nodded. The weight of his body felt surreal as he and his friends returned to Toronto.

As they emerged in the entryway of the safehouse, Eary couldn't help but feel the crushing responsibilities of his newfound existence.

"Would I have to do the same as my ancestors?" He thought as Luke guided him to the living room.

"Stay here." He ordered. As he disappeared around the corner.

Moments later, Luke and his parents arrived on the scene. Sending the others away, Mitchell and Delia explained the adoption to their son. The family embraced and Eary agreed to keep the secret from Josh.

That night, Eary slept little. The facts of the trip lay heavily on his mind as he lay beside Ephraim.