precipice

As we come to the gate that divides Asteria from the northern country, I am awe-struck by its imposing majesty. It's a bona fide fortress, with a gilded canary-yellow wall that stretches down and cuts the entire land in half, as far as I can see. It soaks up the early morning light of the sun, glimmering like a Nephilim's wings in candlelight. Beautiful - and menacing. I don't think any refugees are getting through here...

I look down. There's a few people in the area, on the Asteria side of the gate. No sign of Bree - mostly guards. I do see someone I recognize.

"Adma!" I shout, running forward and waving both of my arms. My one and only human friend.

"Is that you, August Madera?" she calls, peeking her head over a nearby soldier. She brushes the guard behind and starts walking toward me.

I run to her and leap into her arms, giving her a big hug. She's stilted - typical Adma - but it isn't long before she gives me some reassuring pats on the back.

"It is good to see you again too, young August."

I pull away from her slightly so I can see her face. I'm positively beaming. "Adma, hey, guess what?" I say, barely able to contain my excitement. "I did it!"

She pulls me back and puts a hand on each of my shoulders. "Did what, now?"

"I'm a real certified Magician now! Rav and Sola said so." I throw an intimidating (and playful) punch and kick in Adma's direction as I make wind noises. 

As I start shadowboxing, Adma lets go of me, patting the top of my head before taking a step toward my acquaintances. Kieran and Rav are just catching up to us.

"He's come far since I've last seen him. Is that right?" she asks, her voice broad and imposing with a tender hint of concern. 

"Mmm, he's not the worst Magician I've fought," Rav smirks. "A pleasure to meet you - Adma, I presume? I can tell by your stocky and worn demeanor that you are a lovely human champion. I expect I need no introduction?"

Adma nods and bows her head. "Great Sage of the Clouds. It is an honor to make your acquaintance. We have met before, when I was still squad captain of -"

Rav shakes his fan at her. "Oh, yes, yes. I have met many people, many places, many times. I can't be expected to remember every human." He drops the fan and defly scoops it up with his tail, clacking it open and fanning himself as he takes a dramatic step forward. Is he prepping another soliloquy? Or is he trying to change the subject?

"I shall let you catch up with my Nephilim servants, Miss Adma." His tone darkens as he says her name. "Okie doke! I have a little birdy waiting for me."

He saunters off as Adma bows her head in reverence. Does she...think he's rude, or is he such a legend he can get away with that behavior?

Adma continues watching him walk toward the gate as she thinks out loud. "To think this famine has become so serious...even the great Sage of the Clouds has arrived."

"Rav - the Sage - he's...kind of a big deal, isn't he?" I say. I knew so little about the world when I became Rav's student. Rav is just...Rav. To me, anyway. 

Adma looks at me like she's completely baffled. "Why, of course," she attests. "Has he not shared with you the extent of his legendary exploits?"

I scratch my head. "I always kind of assume he's lying to make himself seem more interesting."

"Preposterous," Adma shakes her head. "An honored Sage would not deign to lie, not for something so trivial. No, with that man - the stories don't do his deeds any justice. He is a hero."

I turn my head, bringing Kieran into the conversation and changing the subject. "Adma," I say, quieter than before. "I ran into Leoni again, two days ago in the Ferin Village. We were right. He's been hunting me."

Adma gasps, but I assuage her. "I took him down," I say. "He's not going to be a problem anymore. But he told me something interesting..."

I tell Adma what I learned about the corestones - how the pair of them were allegedly brothers. I inform her about the strange behavior they exhibited - how it seemed almost as if they had a mind of their own. I hadn't told Kieran that part, I didn't want to worry him. I see shock written all over his face as I detail how the red corestone shot a bolt of black lightning at me.

And then I tell her what Leoni said. That the truth of a corestone is that it's made with human life. A soul, ripped from their body, becomes the corestone. They possess some level of awareness, perhaps for eternity, and are forced to live as a perpetual Vessel.

Adma isn't shocked as I tell her this. She knew - maybe not the extent of it, but she knew.

"It is why they are so coveted and rare," Adma confirms. "Only certain people have the magical capacity required to become a corestone. There was a time, long ago, when such people were hunted. Turned into corestones. But the knowledge of such things has faded from the world."

Adma puts her hand to her corestone, which she's wearing as a brooch on her neck. "This was once a Magician of Wind. It is why mine is a master corestone - its capability can rival even that of a Magician in the right hands. Such corestones are incredibly rare - only a handful have ever been known to even exist."

She lowers herself. "But all that said, I have never experienced my corestone to show emotion - or rather, never experienced an emotion contrary to my own," Adma clarifies. "In the heat of difficult battle, I have felt it resonate with my rage. To rage on its own? Unthinkable..."

"My other corestone, it didn't react at all to this new red one. Not at first. Do you think the red corestone, Cralla Dem, is different somehow?"

"Different? Perhaps defective," Adma says. "Though perhaps that defect can tell us something about corestones...I shall ponder this further."

Adma turns. "I never did ask you why you're all the way out here, now did I?"

"Rav...er, Sage-guy, thinks we can do something about this famine. This is training for me, but I also hope I can do some good." That's all I say, but there's more to it than that. This is an opportunity to prove to myself - and the world - that I'm ready. That I'm here, and I'm coming for the Flamekeeper.

"You're a good man, August Madera." 

She looks to the gate, staring cautiously in the distance. Right now the gate is open, but as an alarm bell begins sounding, the gate begins to seal.

I look through the gate, and just before it shuts I see someone - or something, lurching toward us on the other side, moving wild - and fast. Whatever it is, it looks almost human...but what I saw was a monster.

"They're here. The Hungry."