Published at 21st of February 2026 8:37 pm

Chapter 164 Speedrunning the Loop: Another Perspective

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Torrviol, Solem 3

Lily was walking back from the dining hall when she saw it. Several students were looking up at something, and, curious, she looked up with them. Shed been on edge ever since Mirian disappeared. Then, if the whole town hadnt been in enough of an uproar over the spree in the market, two of the professors had gone missing. Also, Archmage Luspire was furious over something that had happened, and she didnt think it was over Professor Cassiuss eximontar being stolen.

She still didnt believe that Mirian had done it all. It must have been someone else. Either way, she was worried sick.

Valen was walking beside her. Lily was sure Mirian hated her, but shed decided to attach herself to Lily, assuming that Lily knew far more than she did, as if proximity to her roommate gave her unique insight. The girl had quickly become an intolerable pest, with an appetite for chaos that made Beatrice look tame.

Actually, she was somewhat tolerable; she did somehow learn every rumor going around the academy at lightning speed, which is why Lily also knew that the Magistrate had started quietly rounding up people on espionage charges, of all things.

As if exams werent stressful enough!

It was getting dark out, though with her enchanted glasses, Lily hardly noticed. It also meant that, when she looked up, she could see that the thing the other students were pointing at wasnt a wyvern.

Lily tugged at Valens sleeve. Look, she said, pointing.

Is that a wyvern? Valen asked excitedly. The bigger ones never come this far south! I hope it performs its call for us.

I dont think so, Lily said. The dull, slow draw of her auric mana into the glasses was such a constant it was hardly noticeable, but she focused on it now. She tweaked the flow and enhanced the lensing portion of the enchantment so she could see the distant object better. Her breath caught. Its a glider. But how did it get that high up?

Valen paged through her spellbook, then found her own lensing spell. She cast it, and the air in front of them distorted. The other student carefully moved it around, then her eyes went wide. No fucking way, she said, voice full of awe.

From her angle, Lily couldnt see what she was seeing, and the glider was moving fast enough it was hard to track in the dark sky. What? she asked.

I think thats Mirian. Five fucking hells.

The glider broke into a dive, suddenly accelerating.

What!? Lily exclaimed. No its not. She how would she even why would she be? The glider was coming down fast now, heading towards the south of town. Lily started running.

She wasnt sure why. It wasnt like she had any spells to catch her, and she couldnt quite bring herself to believe that Valen wasnt just lying, or wrong. All of it was so absurd, she wasnt entirely sure she wasnt just having a stress dream and would wake up soon.

By the time she arrived at the south of town, Lily was out of breath, and there was no sign of the glider or whoever was in it.

There was a crowd, though.

Did you see it? a man was asking excitedly.

Yeah, that was crazy! He just swooped down and landed on the train! a woman said.

I think it was a woman, a second man said, though the woman ignored that.

Look! I got a piece of the glider! a fourth year student said excitedly, and everyone crowded around. It appeared to be a piece of bone.

Did you see who it was? Lily asked the second man.

I got a pretty good look, he said, puffing his chest out as if he was proud of the fact. Craziest thing, though. She looked like she was dressed in an academy uniform.

Lily and Valen looked at each other. Neither knew what to say.

***

Torrviol, Solem 3

Archmage Medius Luspire heard the divination machine let out a pleasant chime. He stopped gritting his teeth and rushed over to it. His desk, normally tidy, was a mess, and hed snapped at his servant earlier in the day.

It had not been a pleasant three days.

First, someone had broken into the tower and stolen his spellbook off his person. With the strength of his aura, that should have been impossible. Worse, they had no idea who it was. Sure, there was that student whod gone missing, the same one whod apparently stolen Eskier Cassiuss prized eximontar then rampaged through the market, but hed had his secretaries look into it. The student was completely unremarkable, and her last tripoint meter test from a year ago had put her at 28 myr. Hed dismissed her as the culprit immediately, though something strange was going on there.

Then, Magistrate Ada had quietly told him Praetorian Adria had disappeared just as she got word there was an entire Akanan spy ring coming to light. The first few arrests shed made had already confirmed some of the information in the documents shed gotten. The bloody Akanans. Shaking your hand with a smile, while their other hand reaches for a knife. Vadriach University knew about the research on the Monument. It had to be connected.

And Adria. Fucking Adria. Bloody Gods, that conniving bitch, was the nicest thing he could think of her. Shed gone from a staunch ally to a political player, only he still couldnt figure out whose side she was on, or even what game she was playing.

Then, two of his professorsand not just any professors, the ones helping lead the Gods damned Divine Monument projecthad vanished. Gone! Which was not like them at all.

Worse, all this was happening right before the fortuitous collaboration between Torrviol and Vadriach University started. He was about to have TyrcastMedius refused to mentally give him the title archmage because he was sure hed fucked with the test resultseating out of his godsdamn hand. Tyrcast, at last come groveling to him, because hed finally realized that Medius was holding the card he needed. And he could hold his hand to the fire over those damn spies. Briefly, he had a vision of Tyrcast kneeling before him. Wouldnt that be pleasant?

But now it had all gone to shit, and the airship would be arriving soon.

The Archmage strode over to the divination machine. A detection. A day ago, hed practically fed the thing a ton of fossilized myrvite, and it had found nothing. Now, his spellbook was nearby. The thief had been clever; theyd ripped out almost every tracking glyph set. But almost wasnt all.

He puzzled at the machine. The book was nearby, and judging by the location changes, moving fast.

Medius rushed to his window and peered out, looking east across the town where the machine indicated. Up high, the last dusk light was glinting off somethingsomething that was also moving fast. He paged through his backup spellbookthe damn thing was an embarrassmentand found his lensing spell. He cast it, amplified the power, and peered through.

It was a glider. The thief was gliding toward the south of town. It broke into a dive. Towards

That vile crook.

Luspire could see the train, already in motion. The thief streamed toward it, diving like a falcon. Then, the wings of the glider flared up and the entire machine ripped itself away as the thief carefully stepped onto the top of the moving train, landing with such precision it almost looked practiced. Just who in the five hells is that? he thought. At this distance, in the dark, he didnt get a good look at them, but he immediately called for his secretary.

Get a message on a zephyr falcon, immediately, he said, as soon as the man was in the room. Alert the Cairnmouth guard. Give them this glyph sequence to search for, and tell them Ive personally placed a bounty on this thiefs head.

Yes, Archmage, his secretary said, bowing slightly.

By Mediuss reckoning, there was a finite amount of respect in the world. Hed hadsome of his stolen, but this thief was about to learn that respect could also be taken back by force.

He stood by the window and scowled.

***

Cairnmouth, Solem 4

Lecne stared at a spot in the floor, feeling sick, feeling numb.

You knew this might happen. Its the price we pay for our faith, he thought, but the words didnt comfort him at all. Hed been moving around their little temple, doing things, saying things, but it was like watching a puppet move. Hed gone to the market to look for those who needed their Gods aid, because that was what he did. It was his purpose.

But inside him was empty.

Arenthia was dead.

Really dead.

He was supposed to be lighting incense. He was supposed to be putting on a brave face for the others. Pelnu had called him high priest, and hed nearly slapped the man.

Wasnt his fault. Wasnt any of their faults. It was just fate. Bloody, stupid fate. He wasnt ready to be high priest. That was Arenthia. It had always been Arenthia. That beautiful old hag had dragged him back to his feet when his faith was at its nadir. He hated her laugh. Now, he would have given anything to hear it one more time.

Altrukyst, guide her soul, no matter the path. Shiamagoth, shield her family, blood and covenant both. Zomalator, always, we look to your example. Help us seehelp me now see

A door slammed. Lecne raised his head.

Was someone here?

Pelnu was sticking his head out of the kitchen.

Had the Luminates found them? They had been sure the cult itself hadnt been compromised, but what if theyd been wrong? He had a thin knife by his belt. If it came to it, hed die fighting to protect his family. He stood.

Lecne! came a cheerful voice as a young woman rounded the corner. Its been too long. Mirian, Seventh Prophet.

Lecne took a shocked step back as a shining rapier materialized out of the air into her hand.

Here, its the Sword of the Fourth Prophet, I took it right out of the Orders vaults. That always cheers you up. Sorry, running a bit late. Had to ditch some guards who were waiting by the station then destroy their divination machine, so thats kicked up a bit of a fuss. Then she looked at him, and her demeanor changed. I still remember my promise. As you saved me, I will save your high priestess. Arenthia will stand by your side again. Not this cycle, but when it matters, she will.

He stared at her. She looked young, but those bright gray eyes held something more. There was a depth, an age to them. No, not a girl at all. And the sword, he knew. He had seen it once when he was still a priest of the Order. It was real. He clutched his focus, and the girls soul blazed out before him.

It was bright, unlike any hed seen, and it swirled with an intensity that reminded him of the Rift Sea at storm. When hed been young, hed worked down by the docks with his father, and had seen the untamed ocean. Now, here it was again, and in the center, by her hearta hole.

A Prophet.

A miracle.

Zomalator, thank you, he thought, and knelt.

***

Palendurio, Solem 7

Bishop Lancel walked through the Grand Sanctum with a smile on his face. Everyone liked a good smile, and there were so few problems that couldnt be solved by a big smile, a friendly word, and a can-do attitude. Yes, there was that little problem with the finances. The bishop didnt quite know what was going on with that, but he was sure it was all just a silly misunderstanding, and would be resolved in no time at all. Best to keep it quiet, though. Rumors had a way of getting out of control.

Another pilgrimage was making its way through the sanctum entrance when suddenly, there was a deep GONG!

Hed heard that sound very rarely. It was an alarm, triggered by

A woman rushed by him, right through the center of the sanctum, much like an unexpected train in speed, if not size.

He blinked. Shed been hovering several feet off the ground, dark hair billowing behind her. The alarm-runes at the front gatewell, glyphs if he was being honesthad detected the levitation spell. He stood still, trying to piece together what had happened and what that meant. The Praetorians needed to get permission of the Pontiff to enter the Grand Sanctum, unless it was martial law, in which case, a bishop could approve their entry.

A Luminate Guard was running toward him. Holy one, that was an arcanist. We couldnt stop her. She justI dont know where she came from, but she flew right by us. We need to get the Praetorians. Holy one, do I have permission to leave my post?

Yes, yes, of course. Ah theres a procedure were supposed to follow

Yes, holy one. The Luminate Guard has heard the bell, and will rush to their duty. The guard looked around, and cleared his throat. Normally wed form a line, there, with the high guard interspersed so that the blessed material rendered the arcanists spells useless. But, ah, normally they cant fly. Still, we should form a line

Well, someone needs to get the Praetorians, then. Go on, Ill, hmm well do what we can, I suppose! The Ominian cant really expect anything more, can They?

The bishop turned, looking around. The intruder had headed straight back, but the narrow twisting passages of the Grand Sanctum would no doubt confuse her and slow her. But what was her intention?

The room had broken into a bit of minor bedlam, with the pilgrims being hurriedly ushered back outside, to much wailing and gnashing of teeth. It would be a few minutes before the backup guards would be dressed and ready for battle. Priests and acolytes were running around everywhere. Soon enough, several guards from another section rushed by, and after some conversation, positioned themselves to block the entrances behind the Ominians statue. The giant gate in the front was too big to protect, and too heavy to close quickly, but the smaller ones would stop her. She couldnt fly by anyone blocking a passage like that.

Lancel hoped that he wouldnt be blamed for the problems. He didnt think it could be construed as his fault, but one never knew. Still, with a big smile, a friendly word, and

The mysterious arcanist suddenly flew down from the upper balcony to his left, still traveling at incredible speed. She was holding

He only caught a glimpse of it as she rushed by, then she was out the giant gate.

Are those the Holy Pages?

Lancels mouth dropped open. He stood there in shock. Oh Gods no, he thought, and his mind raced. For a moment, he stuttered, unable to say anything. Then the words came pouring out. After her! After her! In the name of the Ominian! She has a relic!

A holy relic? came a dismayed cry.

Luminate guards turned and ran after her.

Lancel sat down on one of the benches and held his head in shock. Gods above, he thought. A relic, a holy relicgone. On his watch! He was never going to make the next rank of bishop now.

Then, the panicked cries and dismay died down. At first, Lancel was confused. Then, he realized everyone had grown silent because they were looking at the dais. A man was standing where the bishops usually gave their sermons, the Ominians statue looming large behind him. It was one of the vault guards, he realized.

He recognized the man. Everad, he knew.

Everads voice was low but steady. He didnt shout, but his words were clear. Do not despair, brothers. The Luminates have done their most sacred duty this day. The age of the Prophets has come again. He let a scroll unfurl from his hand. By Pontiff Oculos decree, it is my honor to announce that the Prophet Mirian has arisen. As the relics served the Prophets, so shall they again. By the Ominian, let all that They have foreseen come to pass.

The room stood in shock, but only for a moment. Then, they all knelt, and Bishop Lancel rushed to join them, heart hammering. Everad waited a momen, then turned and knelt before the statue of the Ominian as well.

***

Outskirts of Palendurio, Solem 7

The estate alarm wards blared out, and Enrico Allard looked up from the report he was reading. A zephyr falcon had been sent to greet him that morning with it. Thered been some strange, quite large movements of gold and contracts. One of the bigger players was making a move, hed decided. But they appeared to be targeting the Palamas holdings, because they were moving large amounts of fossilized myrvite around. And that didnt make any sense.

Of course, thered been a lot of recent movements that didnt make sense. Enrico was only a bit bitter that the richer members of the family hadnt deigned him worthy of the deeper secrets of the familys maneuvers. Probably, itd take a few weeks to put together the full puzzle.

An alarm ward being tripped was never a good thing, though. Likely, one of the lower rank servants had gone sniffing about one of the rooms they werent supposed to be in. After all, if it was a thief, the perimeter wards would have been tripped first, and one of the estate guards would have alerted him. No one would be stupid enough to rob the place in broad daylight while everyone was up and alert, anyways.

Enrico looked back to the report. His agents keeping an eye on the market had been told to be on the lookout for strange things, and nothing could be stranger than this. Fossilzied myrvite shipped to Sabbicita and Normarg? He pulled out a map, then put it away, then pulled out smaller regional maps since the places were too small to be on the larger ones. They were remote villages. They had no modern industry to speak of.

Well, we can worry about it if we see a bunch of donkeys pulling a factory in that direction, he thought. Maybe its a move to create artificial scarcity and raise the price, then resell it. Exacerbate the shortages caused by the war in Persama. But why move it to a random village? And they must know the shortages wont last. Those little rebellions will be crushed.

Enrico looked at the short letter attached to the financial report. Allard contacts seemed to think the Deeps and Fort Aegrimere were butting heads over something, maybe to do with the war to the south. Whatever it was, something was happening. He just hated not knowing what.

He pulled out a piece of parchment and his ink set and started a letter toward his uncle.

Then, he felt a tingling sensation at his belt. He stood in surprise, and reached for the device. The manor safe room!

Enrico rushed down the hall, shouting at the guards to follow. By the time he got to the basement safe room, though, it was already open. The secret bookshelf was ajar, the reinforced door, wide open. Enrico stared at it. He scrambled to check for the glyphkey in his pouch. It was still there.

There were no other copies. The safe room glyphkey wasnt just a normal glyphkey, either, it used the same advanced enchantment techniques as the family seals used in bank transfers. Unbreakable.

What in the five hells? he said.

Sir, I dont know, one of the guards said, fear creeping into his voice.

Enrico Allard stepped into the room. The cabinets were all shut tight. The chests, still locked. He stepped in further, and there was the crunch of glass.

The case with his great grandfathers heirloom had been shattered. The archmages spellbook was gone.

Fury gripped him. They had no right. No right!

He whirled. How did this happen?

We will find out, sir, another guard said. He and the others rushed out to scour the place. Enrico moved to activate the divination engine.

An hour later, one of the servants was discovered to have seen a ripple moving through the air above the gardens. Then, one of the windows had parted, as if it was a puddle being melted away. A minute later, the ripple in the air had appeared again, coming out of the window.

Sure enough, one of the first floor windows appeared to have been melted.

There were no other signs of the perpetrator.

***

Alkazaria, Solem 14

Sybil stood behind the counter of her artifice shop, giving the man before her a tired stare, hoping that through sheer force of will she could adequately communicate how much she wanted him to leave.

This is outrageous! the man said for the third time.

Sybil shrugged. Sorry. This clients paying quintuple the usual rate. Their order gets priority.

Do you know who I am? he exclaimed.

She didnt, and told him as much.

Its no one pays that much. Theyre not going to pay you.

They already paid eighty percent up front, she said. Since her glare wasnt working, she bluntly said, Now please stop bothering me, its a big order. Go find another shop.

The man stomped his foot petulantly. But all the other artificer shops have said the same thing! Ive scoured through this entire district, and theres not a single shop that isnt busy with this ridiculous special order.

Sybil shrugged again. Great. I fail to see how this is my problem. However, it will become your problem if you continue to trespass.

Trespass! the man said, nearly hysterical. But when he realized she was serious, he finally left.

The artificer sneered at him as the door slammed, then put up a closed sign and locked the shop up this time. Then she returned to the back, where four of her assistantsplus three apprentices shed hired on a temporary basiswere all at work. The orders had been very large, paid for by bank transfer notes sealed with Allard sigils that were equally as large. However, the devices were incredibly simple. They burned a fossilized myrvite charge to dowell, nothing, it seemed, except burn the fuel. One of the glyphs was missing from the sequence. An energy glyph of some sort. However, the design was legal, and she was being paid enough not to give a shit about what her client was going to use it for. Shed never heard of Nezzar Fabrication, but that didnt mean much. Likely, theyd bankrupt themselves quickly, but their gold gleamed and that was enough for her.

Already, they had a pile of nearly a hundred of the little devices.

Down the street, her competition was also working on an order, also offering the absurd rate, though this one seemed to have come through a military contractor working with Fort Aegrimere. That didnt make any sense either, but maybe it had to do with the war down south. He was manufacturing actual explosives, combining earthshaker shells with a similar design. Again, the design didnt seem particularly useful, unless one were going to war with the local stonemole population.

Didnt matter to her. She got out her scribing pen, sat at her table, and got back to work.

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