Councilor Jormac Sundry paced the Councilor's Quarters in Fort Givo with enough determination to burn his tracks into the floor. Large onyx banners with the Viberium Council sigil, a sideways diamond with an eye in the center, hung on the sandstone walls every few paces. Important to remind the Crimson Guards who ran this show. The Viberium Council led the kingdom, not the king. Good to remind them when possible.

The stale air made his throat dry. He paused his pacing to take a drink of water. To his right, a large rectangular window displayed a dreary night with the Seventh Division sprawling below. The city was a shade of gloom under the overcast weather that threatened a downpour of rain at any minute. Hundreds of miles in the distance over the Forever Ocean, a lightning strike brightened the horizon.

The Councilor set his glass back down on his desk. The dark brown oak desk had papers piled high. Jormac hadn't realized how much paperwork it took to run a prison like Fort Givo. All those Foundlings to be tested. He smiled at the thought.

With some strategic encouragement, some of the Foundlings would Snap and they would gain more power as an entity. The processing of the Foundlings into their ranks was a lengthy one though. Even if some Foundlings did Snap, then began the extensive process of brainwashing to keep them in the Viberium Council's control. He pressed his index finger and thumb into the space next to his eyes. An old mannerism from his father. Oh, how tired he was lately.

The processing of the Foundlings was taking much longer than Councilor Veiter had anticipated. But that was lower on his list of concerns at the moment. Where were those lazy Crimson Guards? They kept him waiting far too long for the information he asked for. The inefficiency of the Crimson Guards was becoming laughable lately. Laughable would be a good thing if he wasn't on the same side as those imbeciles. Commander Gentry wasn't cutting it anymore but Councilor Veiter said that was something to worry about after the Foundling problem was solved.

Patience. He ran his thumb over his father's gold ornament ring on his right index finger. Everything would work out, it always did for him. His father told him since he was young that he was born with the luck of the world, and Jormac had to agree with his old man. Things always worked out for him.

Some people are born with all the luck. I'm lucky I'm one of them.

The dark cedar door opened and in strode Captain Zelidar. The captain had a weathered face, lined from years of stress, that betrayed nothing of what he thought—an attribute that Jormac wished he was better at. His once jet-black hair was greying around the temples. A golden sun pinned his cloak to his crimson armor; the mark of station Jormac had given him once he'd proven trustworthy to the Viberium Council years ago. Zelidar's expression stayed business firm while he put his right fist to his chest in salute.

Jormac paused his pacing and sat down on the edge of his desk with his arms crossed. "Well?"

The captain said, "We had one of the Night Watchers trail Cornelia and Gavore just like you asked. Cornelia went to the Fourth Division and then we lost track of her. Gavore ended up recruiting the two Night Watchers sent after him to do another job for him. That man is very sly with his tongue, sir."

Jormac shook his head with disgust. "Send me the names of the Night Watchers that have now aligned with Gavore. That man hires my help more often than not lately and it's starting to irritate me."

"By your command, Councilor."

Jormac stood and absent-mindedly played with his father's ring. "What about Solomon? Have you heard more information about what the Council plans to do with him? I feel very out of the loop over here in Fort Givo. Councilor Veitar is playing with fire with that one. Better to let him rot."

"We've seen Head Vibrant Winslow traveling between the Skyprison and Councilor Veitar but that's the most I've seen of that situation, sir."

Jormac hmphed. "If they let that man loose, we're going to have a bigger problem on our hands than Kazmere Vale. If that man got ahold of Kazmere's powers, who knows who will be next? Solomon doesn't listen to orders. No amount of brainwashing works on him. I just don't understand what Councilor Veitar is thinking anymore. Why he thinks The One From Above would be satisfied with our use of Solomon is beyond me. The man's powers are formidable but he's mad. There's no reasoning with him." Usually, Jormac refrained from mentioning any real details to the Crimson Guard but Zelidar was trustworthy enough. He owed his life to Jormac.

The captain chuckled. "No matter what his power is, surely one man can't stand against the Viberium Council, sir. Between the acolytes and the other Councilors, it would take an army of other Vibrants to stop our operation now."

Jormac stood and folded his arms behind his back. He wasn't as easily convinced. That was something he would have said years ago but luckily, his father taught him better. 'A single person can change the course of the world with the right pressure in the right places,' his father used to say. It wasn't until he Snapped when he was ten and gained his Viberium powers that he understood. The single man that would change the world would be him. With his illusions, he could control the minds of everyone. His fated ascension into godhood sent a wave of elation through him.

"Just keep tabs on Winslow and Cornelia. I'm sure there's a mole somewhere in the Viberium Council and I will find out who."

Jormac waved to dismiss the guards but the Captain still stood there.

"There's one more piece of information, sir. The Night Watcher you sent to follow Kazmere has yielded some information. The Orange Blade and three other Foundlings are on their way here as we speak. Savere is with them. Kazmere must know about the other Foundlings."

A wide smile spread across Jormac's face. Finally. His chance to end this pesky annoyance once and for all. They were coming to him, how thoughtful.

"Understood. Now leave me."

Captain Zelidar put his right fist to his chest, bowed, and left.

Jormac continued to pace. All of these preparations would help The One From Above make Cascadia ripe for the taking. But what would become of the Viberium Council? Would he gain a place of power next to the creature, or would he become his pet? Councilor Veitar told him on many occasions that this was why the Viberium Council was created in the first place. A thousand-year plan had brought them all to this moment in time. Jormac knew he was lucky to be born during this crucial period. Whichever way the wind blew in the coming days, he had to stay loyal to the Viberium Council no matter what he wanted. From the small bit of information he'd gathered about The One From Above, he was not someone to trifle with. The creature could turn the Viberium Council to dust if he wanted. That is if he ever appeared again from his dormant sleep. It had been nine hundred years since the last sighting of him.

Jormac walked over to the door the Crimson Guards had just exited and linked with his Relic. A dark green aura flowed around him softly. He closed his eyes and created one of his favorite illusions: a dark hallway where the walls, floor, and ceiling were made of mirrors. At the end of the hallway was a family member of the person trapped in the illusion being murdered. The victim of the illusion would be forced to hear their family member dying but never be able to reach them. It was a playful illusion he'd created when he was younger and just figuring out his powers. The illusion took the form of a soft green mist coalescing into his fist. He pressed it into the entrance doorknob. If someone entered without his express permission, there would be a fun experience waiting for the intruder.

The illusion set into the doorknob paled in comparison to the masterpiece he'd created for Kazmere. He peered over to the glass casing that held the old Commander of the Crimson Guard's armor. A wicked grin spread across his face. This time, Kazmere wouldn't escape. He chuckled to himself and turned on his heels to leave.

It was time to greet his guests.

* * *

Kazmere leaned against the stone wall of Windy Alleyway Inn with his hood up. Drunken working men, prostitutes, rosethorn fiends, and regular citizens all bustled around him with franticness that permeated their every action. He wondered why everyone was in such a hurry to get everywhere. It's not like where they were going was that much better than where they currently were. Above him, the moon rose into the sky at a steady pace. The moonlight cast a soft glow over Viller Square, complimented by the torches spaced out. Smells of tobacco and rosethorn smoke tickled his nostrils. Sounds of revelry rang into the night.

As if by instinct, his hand went to his Relic which was tucked into the pocket of the black cloak Savere gave him. The soft cloth of Sherie's doll brushed against his fingertips; touching the doll alleviated his anxiety in an instant. If only she'd survived and been able to become a grown woman; he would have given all the crimson marks in the Cascadia to see the woman she grew into. The doll's soft touch didn't completely dissolve his anxiousness though. Savere currently wore his cloak with all of his blood daggers. It would risk the whole plan if he wore the cloak into Fort Givo. He would have to trust her to give him his weapons back once inside Fort Givo.

Restless, he searched the area for anyone watching him. No one paid him any mind. Good. Savere, Zavan, and Sera were off gathering the chains they needed to get into Fort Givo and it was his job to keep watch for anyone paying close attention to the Windy Alleyway Inn. If they pulled this off, everything the Foundlings had experienced in recent months could be turned around. That thought gave him comfort and his determination grew.

The wooden door behind him swung open and Savere, Sera, and Zavan walked out, all with their hoods up.

"How'd it go?" he inquired.

"As good as it could go, under the circumstances. I almost gave Livilia a heart attack when I pulled off my hood. I guess she thought I was dead," Savere said.

"So you got the chains?"

Savere replied by opening the right side of her cloak. Three sets of chains hung from her right arm.

"Good, let's get this over with," Kazmere said.

Savere, Zavan, and Sera all nodded, grim looks of determination on their faces. They headed toward the northeast where Fort Givo was located.

Their passage through the cobblestone streets of the Fifth Division was uneventful. People barely paid them mind as they navigated their way through. Sounds of drinking and arguments reached their ears while they moved along. A man selling "love potions" tried to entice Zavan but he shrugged him off without so much of a glance. The young man's usual positive nature was hidden beneath a mask of focus.

After a half hour of walking, they reached the wide walkway that led to Fort Givo. Eight Crimson Guards stood at attention; four at the entrance to the walkway and four at the entrance of Fort Givo. This wasn't going to be easy. They ducked into an alleyway, Kazmere pressing his back against the cool sandstone wall. He peered over his right shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Fort Givo.

The fort loomed in the distance, a monumental bastille rising like a solitary pillar from the depths of the Forever Ocean. Its base was lost to the churning waves, giving the impression that it was floating upon the abyss. Constructed from immense cinder blocks, the fort exuded an aura of unyielding strength.

A single, small window near the top of the structure hinted at the isolation within. Massive banners bearing the sigils of the royal family and the Viberium Council flanked the entryway, fluttering in the soft night wind. These symbols of authority and power seemed to mock the desolation of the prison, their vibrant colors stark against the cold, grey stone.

The moonlight bathed the right side of the fort, casting long, eerie shadows that danced upon the water's surface. The interplay of light and darkness made the fort appear even more imposing, as if it were a giant sentinel, watching over the mainland of Reven with a malevolent eye. It seemed ready to crush anyone who dared approach, a silent guardian of secrets and despair.

Kazmere shuddered, remembering the tales of those who had been taken to Fort Givo, never to return. He and the Foundlings had never dared to set foot within its forbidding walls, and the sight of it now, illuminated by the moon's cold light, reinforced the wisdom of that decision. The fort was more than just a prison; it was a monument to fear and power, a stark reminder of the authority that held sway over the land.

A chill ran down Kazmere's spine. The thought of being captured again and imprisoned there set him on the edge of terror. His time in the Skyprison wasn't completely gone from his mind. He would rather die than be imprisoned again. He made an oath that if he was captured again, he would find a way to die by his own hands.

Sera put a comforting hand on his left shoulder as if reading his mind. "It's going to be okay Kaz. This is going to work. We'll have the other Foundlings back soon."

Kazmere's admiration and affection for her washed away all the anxiety he'd been feeling like a sandcastle before a strong tide. He smiled. "With you by my side, we can accomplish anything."

She beamed her beautiful smile back at him. Zavan poked his head from around Sera. "Okay lovebirds, let's get this going already."

Kazmere cleared his throat and turned to look at the three of them. "Let's go over the plan quickly one more time so there's no misunderstanding." He gestured for Savere to take the lead.

Savere withdrew the three chain handcuffs and handed them to each of them to equip. "First, we greet the Crimson Guards at the entrance with your hands bound. All three of you must remove your cloaks so your Foundling tattoos are obvious. I will inform them I have captured The Orange Blade and his comrades and that I am taking you to Councilor Jormac as he requested. Once inside, we get to my family and release them. Afterwards, I will give Kazmere his cloak back with his blood daggers and his Relic and we head toward where the Foundlings are locked up. We free them, move to the equipment room so they have weapons, and we break out before Jormac knows we're here."

Savere continued, "Jormac's Viberium powers aren't the greatest in one-on-one combat, but that doesn't mean he isn't lethal. Do. Not. Touch. Anything. I'm looking at you Zavan."

Zavan looked down and kicked at a stone on the ground.

"If you touch something he's imbued with his illusions, you could be caught in a trance and incapacitated. I've heard rumors that time within his illusions isn't the same as outside. A minute in the real world could be a week or a year in his illusion. You must be careful when touching anything. Gloves won't work. Do you understand?" She scrutinized the three of them.

"We understand," they said in unison.

Savere put her hand out toward Kazmere. "Your Relic, Kazmere. They all know what it is, it's common knowledge at this point. If you have it, they'll catch on to our ruse immediately."

Kazmere swallowed back his bitter reply. Having to separate from his Relic, even for a little bit, was an intimidating prospect. He forced himself to hand her his Relic but paused with it in her outstretched hand.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "If you betray us in there, I will kill you before they get me. With my bare hands if I have to."

A glint of worry filled Savere's eyes before disappearing. "I know, that isn't going to happen. I just want my family back."

He grunted and let it go. Don't worry Sherie, I'll get your doll back quickly.

"Now put your handcuffs on. It's time," Savere said.

They all took off their cloaks except Savere and left them folded off to the side. Then they helped each other chain their hands in front.

Savere inspected them to make sure they looked believable. "Alright, looks good. Now keep close and your mouth's shut. Wouldn't do us any good to antagonize them."

With that, Kazmere followed Savere and the other two Foundlings toward Fort Givo.