The early morning began with a disruptive mental awakening for Rose and Thalga, as Headmaster Rahmarito Whispers urgently summoned them to his office, his voice laced with uncharacteristic worry. There, they found Rose's father, Jonathan, already present and being escorted by Sentinels.
Headmaster Rahmarito Whispers gravely informed them that at exactly midnight, an elemental ice storm had struck Sâdbarad, damaging many of the "Shield of the Oasis" systems that surround the region. They were actively monitoring the situation and had also sent out a Steward of Solaris to investigate.
He also revealed that all the arcane gemstones of the Shields of the Oasis systems were now blackened and powerless. The sentinels were arranging matters to have some of the arcane crystals of surrounding regions reallocated to Sâdbarad.
Headmaster Rahmarito assured them that Rose's mother, Callista White, and the Fyreward Council were safe. He emphasized the need for secrecy to prevent widespread panic and disruption on the trade routes and ongoing trade negotiations. He made it clear to keep this information under wraps, urging Rose and Thalga not to leave the academy and also refrain from going there during their upcoming vacation.
Following this unsettling revelation, Rose, Thalga, and Jonathan discussed the escalating situation, realizing the storms were growing more intense and coming much closer. Jonathan mentioned that he had planned a trip to Sâdbarad to meet with Rose's mother, as despite their separation, they kept in contact. But he assumed that this wasn't going to be possible now. When Rose's father mentioned that he and her mother still 'talked', she felt unsure what to say.
Later, when they shared the alarming news with Vita and Naomi, who had been asleep, the ladies made a chilling connection: The midnight elemental storm coincided with Vita and Rose's vision of Oyindamola being petrified.
Thalga further elaborated, linking the drained crystals and petrification incidents to the tablet they had previously encountered. Thalga also connected that the drained crystals mentioned by Headmaster Rahmarito Whispers bore a resemblance to "Void Essence" associated with the mysterious tablet. Their immediate concern turned to the tablet's whereabouts, hoping it remained securely within the Academy. As the ladies discussed, a mandatory Academy-wide meeting was announced, drawing all students to the dining hall for breakfast.
In the dining hall, Aiden joined the ladies for breakfast, mentioning that the Howling Heart Reserve was now fully reopened with new help from people such as Villi Novelington and Esme. Just like yesterday, the dining hall's decorative flames now glowed with the unusual blue-purple tint. During their meal, the ladies observed some of the other students. Malachite, Villi, Jora and Isadora were conspicuously sporting intricate elemental bracelets now...
Suddenly, Professor Lorelai commanded the attention of the hall, announcing that the entire upcoming month would be dedicated solely to combat training. Rose and Thalga, privy to the Headmaster's earlier concerns, connected the dots that this drastic change was probably a direct response to the escalating elemental storms.
Meanwhile, Vita noted Professor Einar's unusual absence from the mandatory meeting, an oddity given his usual presence. Instead of him, a new individual was standing with the professors, a mysterious deerfolk with a rather stoic demeanor that matched Einar's somehow.
The ladies then proceeded to their first combat class in a rarely used reserve classroom. There, Naomi noticed familiar starry patterns and constellations on the blackboard, reminiscent of her visit to the Stargaze Plateau observatory.
"Professor Askdyrnir", an impatient figure, introduced himself as Einar's substitute for now. During his little introductory rant, he said that he's not a professor at the academy and didn't care how the ladies would address him.
He coldly instructed them to read about 'Desert Jackals' for a mere thirty minutes before they would be expected to fight them. Naomi, who couldn't make heads or tails from the 'instruction', settled to hit them with weapons. Meanwhile, Vita was in her mind too worried about Einar.
True to his word, Askdyrnir led the ladies underground to a massive arena, eerily lit by blue flames. None of the ladies had ever been here, and it seemed to be some kind of ancient structure. Thalga immediately recognized the ancient Luminary craftsmanship of the architecture, a style Vita found strikingly similar to Einar's mansion.
Askdyrnir, demonstrating the arena's environment-shifting capabilities by transforming the space into a forest and back, made it chillingly clear that their combat would feel real and that 'the desert does not hold back, so neither should you.'
The fight began with the ladies ambushed by cunning sand jackals, proving difficult to hit. Thalga's insight that opposite elements were most effective proved crucial, though Naomi struggled. Just as the ladies started to gain ground, Askdyrnir, seemingly unimpressed and bored, escalated the test by introducing a formidable griffon. Naomi's frustration came to a boiling point that she threw a weapon at Askdyrnir for putting them in this situation.
The griffon immediately targeted Rose, knocking her from the sky, leaving her prone and severely injured. In a desperate act of heightened senses and courage, Naomi leaped onto the griffon's back, brutally cutting off its wings before finishing the beast with a decisive blow, bringing it crashing to the ground.
Thalga quickly rushed to Rose's side, healing her. Askdyrnir, with a detached air, declared their "first test" a success, dismissing the exhausted and traumatized ladies. The ladies were in utter shock of the 'test' they were just put through, something that absolutely wasn't part of the normal curriculum.
As Naomi and Thalga tended to Rose, Vita felt a strange pull coming from a magically locked gate beyond the arena. It felt as if she was being guided towards it. The fence seemed locked and its lock didn't seem pickable, not that the ladies were considering it. Rose sensed the gate pulsed with a blue sparkly-rainbow aura, mirroring the magic that Vita possessed.
However, approaching footsteps forced them to retreat. As they emerged from the arena, they encountered Askdyrnir and rival students: Villi Novelington, Nayla Isadora Yasmin, Jora and Malachite of Emerald Echoes. Malachite immediately expressed excitement to be in the 'arena' again, implying that he and his companions had already been there. When Malachite demanded to know why Rose, Thalga, Vita and Naomi were there, Askdyrnir shut him down, mentioning "What? Did you think you were the only ones being tested? Take your positions!"
Askdyrnir criticized the ladies for still being in the arena. Naomi, despite her exhaustion, confronted their rivals with a defiant and intimidating glare. Drained from the ordeal, the ladies decided to take a much-needed short rest in their quarters.
Rose decided to share something: Einar had manipulated their memories concerning the strange sound snake that the ladies had heard. Stewie appears on Vita's shoulder to repeat the sound, confirming it to the others. The other ladies question how Rose still knows, but she tries to explain that her connection to the idol Mistress Harmonia protected her somehow.
Vita suddenly says "Oh no, he did it again." with the other ladies responding "What?" and "Excuse me?". And at the moment that Vita says this, the gemstone on Vita's dress sparks up, but... nothing happens. Thalga and Naomi feel unsure and even frustrated that Einar may have altered their minds twice. They wonder what he has to hide...
Vita tells the girls that she can't explain why...
This frustrates some of the other girls, with Naomi proclaiming that 'the truth will always come out'. Vita confides in the girls that the first time it happened was on the first day they met, at the 'Wine Yard'. The other girls know that she's a blabbermouth, and that she said something that he didn't approve of, wiping their memories. And the other ladies all now realize that Einar can read minds, and at the moment of that revelation, the blackened gemstone cracks!
Vita's concern makes her want to go to Einar's mansion immediately, but Thalga intervenes, saying that she won't let her go alone to 'that monster who messes with people's minds like it's nothing'. She explains to the others that she's very upset with him too, but she can't explain the truth now.
Their intense conversation was abruptly cut short by a furious, savage shout from within the Academy: "Where is my BROTHER?!" They instantly recognized the voice as a hordeling! It must be Lorik's twin sister! Rushing to the Academy's entrance, they find Lizz engulfed in a menacing purple aura, with several Sentinel guards already unconscious. Other students witnessing the struggle went out to fetch the professors, unaware of the strange aura around the Hordeling.
Each of the ladies sees a distinct, strange and terrifying eye-like creature with tentacles attached to Lizz. As the ladies shout back and forth where to hit the creature, they realize that there's multiple of them! But each of them can only see one.
During the struggle, the ladies manage to eliminate some, while Naomi grapples Lizz to keep her under control, observing that the purple aura dissipated as each eye was destroyed, though Lizz's rage persisted. The eyes shoot strange beams of necrotic energy at the ladies, injuring them severely.
Thalga's quick thinking leads her to casting Faerie Fire, which causes the invisible creatures to glow and become visible! After Vita, Rose and Naomi have taken out the eye that they can see, only one remains. The remaining eye becomes visible to the other students, causing a panic!
Professors Lorelai, Antheia and Hasulon arrived on the scene, with Antheia immediately casting Mass Healing Word, restoring the ladies' health. Lorelai, seeing the remaining eye, attempts to blast it as well, but unfortunately misses.
Despite Lizz's continued fury, the last eye is eventually defeated, causing Lizz to collapse, finally free from the creatures' influence. Aiden arrives at the scene, rushing to Lizz.
Professor Hasulon drives other students away from the scene. Lorelai and Antheia tend to the others. Lorelai reveals that what they saw was "Void Gazers", creatures that cause great headaches and feed on frustration.
Antheia, Lorelai and the other ladies are then escorted to Antheia's classroom, where Antheia and Lorelai use magic to confirm any other influence on Lizz, along with the other ladies. Naomi, Rose and Thalga did notice an eye-twitch when Lorelai 'scanned' Vita. Lorelai reveals a tattoo on her hand with a symbol resembling earth magic, revealing that she saw it too. The ladies realize that she's possibly also an 'Earth-blessed'.
Lizz awakens shouting "Where's my brother!?" but the ladies, especially Naomi, manage to calm her down. The ladies persuade Antheia and Lorelai to tell them what's going on. When Antheia tells Lorelai how important a 'twin-connection' is, and that this whole thing started with Naomi, Rose, Vita and Thalga, they deserve to know.
Lorelai relents.
Lorelai tells the ladies that they'll be going down into "The Vault". Vita decides to stay behind for now, telling the ladies she'll wait for them outside. Before heading down, Lorelai reaffirms to the ladies that they will not speak about this with anyone, and not touch anything at all. Lorelai takes the ladies back into the arena, and when the group arrives at the gate, she says something in a language that the other ladies don't understand. The portcullis drops and reveals a pathway.
Lorelai leads Antheia, Naomi, Rose, Thalga, Aiden, and Lizz through a long, dark, and disorienting tunnel, which Lorelai assured them was merely a "protective enchantment".
They soon arrived in a large, very old room constructed of metal and marble, with an intensely pressurized atmosphere that suggested they had descended far beneath the surface. The room was illuminated by an unusual blue light, and at its far end, a gigantic door emanated a strong, sparkling blue magical sensation, a more potent version of the aura they had felt from the portcullis itself. Thalga immediately recognized the architecture as ancient dwarven stone- and metalwork, noting its Luminary decorations, indicating it was built by dwarves specifically for the Luminary.
Their attention was quickly drawn to a statue of Lorik, Lizz's twin brother, who had been completely turned to stone. Lizz, distraught, demanded to know what had happened, to which the ladies explained he was found in this petrified state at the Howling Heart Reserve and was being kept here for his safety, warning them not to touch his brittle form.
Lizz recounted that she had experienced a sudden headache, anger, and frustration while on her Hordeling Hunt in the desert, and next thing she knew, she was at the Academy. This matched with what the creatures at the reserve mentioned! Lorelai then confessed that reversing Lorik's petrification was proving impossible, as even their most potent spells were ineffective, suggesting that what happened to him was "something ancient". Naomi inquired if this had anything to do with the tablet they had recovered.
Lorelai points to the gigantic door, confirming the tablet was beyond it and the strange blue light emanated from there. When Naomi proclaims that they are not at liberty to talk about that, Lorelai states the contents of The Vault were reserved solely for the Headmaster and Einar Giedensera and that Lorelai can't even access it regardless.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the ladies urge their assistance in investigating, pointing out that whatever is going on is related to the strange purple creatures and auras that they can see, but others cannot. In response, Lorelai agrees to grant them "a few liberties to investigate" while stressing the importance of discretion to prevent city-wide panic.
As the conversation concluded, Lizz insists on informing her clan about her brother. Despite the ladies' attempts to persuade her to keep it secret, Lizz was resolute. Faced with Lizz's determination, Lorelai resorted to an extreme measure: she cast Mass Suggestion, an illegal black magic spell to magically compel Lizz to "not talk to anyone about this" and "keep this to yourself".
This powerful act shocked Aiden and deeply unsettled Naomi and Thalga due to its illicit nature, with Rose recognizing its connection to Mistress Harmonia's counterpart, Virtuoso Mortemus. After this, Lorelai escorted the group out of the vault.
Unbeknownst to the others, Vita, having decided to wait outside by the fountain, feels confused and anxious. She's angry with her father, but also worried. As she's playing with Stewie, her eye falls on a drake carriage arriving at the Academy...
Oyindamola, whom Rose had seen petrified in a vision, arriving fine and well in a carriage driven by Ahmidon. Vita approaches her, asking what she's here for at the academy. Oyindamola tells her that she's an alumna of the Academy and that she's here for an appointment with Professor Kalashar. Vita convinces Oyindamola that she'll go get him for her. Vita asks Stewie to keep an eye on Oyindamola.
Vita, quick-witted, attempts to stall Oyindamola by even calling out to other students that 'The famous Alumni Drake Rider' has arrived, causing other students to flock to her with many questions to keep her occupied!
Vita at some point catches up with Naomi, Rose, and Thalga in the hallways, with Vita explaining to the others that Oyindamola has just arrived at the academy, which completely catches the other girls off-guard, wondering what she's doing here!
As they head back to the main entrance, the ladies observe Oyindamola address the other students, mentioning that she really must be leaving now. Vita approaches Oyindamola again, proclaiming that Professor Kalashar is in his office. Oyindamola seems to be onto her act and dismisses Vita's further help.
The ladies decide to follow her from a distance, going through the Academy's hallways towards Professor Kalashar's office. The ladies try to observe her behavior, but there's not much to go on, noticing that she touched her right ear.
The ladies theorize that perhaps the vision that they saw was perhaps in the future? Maybe nothing has happened yet. As Oyindamola is walking away from the others, Naomi decides to catch up to her. Naomi discreetly inquires about Oyindamola's night, to which she casually responded that she "slept quite well" with "no nightmares". But she does mention that she had to sit out the 'Weinberg dinner' last night.
Eventually Oyindamola arrives at Kalashar's classroom. As Naomi says goodbye, Oyindamola dismissively referred to the ladies as Naomi's 'fan squad', remarking on their active following of her through the hallways.
The ladies are confused regarding the whole situation, because all of this sharply contrasted Rose's earlier vision, and it deepens Naomi's suspicion, who had previously noted Oyindamola's "subtle spellcasting" during the Drake Race. Oyindamola then knocked on Kalashar's door. The ladies overheard the professor warmly welcoming her as his 'top student' with Oyindamola calling Kalashar her 'old mentor'.
Naomi attempted to listen in, catching fragments like "That is a big project! Sounds exciting! I'm in!" and "I only expect the best from my mentor!" After this unsettling interaction, the ladies decided to head to Einar's mansion, leaving Oyindamola to her appointment with Naomi dropping her suspicion for now...
Emergency at Sâdbarad
Headmaster Rahmarito Whispers urgently summoned Rose and Thalga at dawn due to an elemental ice storm that struck Sâdbarad at midnight.
All arcane gemstones of the "Shield of the Oasis" systems are now blackened and powerless.
Rose's mother Callista White and the Fyreward Council are safe, but secrecy is paramount to prevent trade route panic.
Jonathan (Rose's father) had planned to visit Sâdbarad to meet with Rose's mother, revealing they still maintain contact despite their separation.
Disturbing Connections
The midnight elemental storm coincided exactly with Vita and Rose's vision of Oyindamola being petrified.
Thalga linked the drained crystals to "Void Essence" associated with the mysterious tablet they previously encountered.
The dining hall's decorative flames now glow with an unusual blue-purple tint.
Rival students (Malachite, Villi, Jora, Isadora) are now sporting intricate elemental bracelets.
Combat Training Overhaul
Professor Lorelai announced the entire upcoming month would be dedicated solely to combat training.
Professor Einar is mysteriously absent from the mandatory meeting.
"Professor Askdyrnir," a stoic deerfolk, introduced himself as Einar's substitute, explaining he's not actually a professor.
Underground Arena Trial
Askdyrnir led the ladies to a massive underground arena with ancient Luminary architecture, similar to Einar's mansion.
The arena can shift environments and featured eerily realistic combat with Desert Jackals and a formidable griffon.
Rose was severely injured by the griffon; Naomi leaped onto its back and brutally defeated it by cutting off its wings.
This "test" was not part of normal curriculum and left the ladies traumatized.
Vita felt a strange pull toward a magically locked gate beyond the arena that pulsed with blue sparkly-rainbow aura matching her magic.
Memory Manipulation Revelation
Rose revealed that Einar had manipulated their memories about the strange sound snake, with her connection to Mistress Harmonia protecting her from the effect.
Vita confirmed Einar had done this twice - first at the Wine Yard on their first meeting.
The ladies realized Einar can read minds, causing Vita's blackened gemstone to crack at this revelation.
Thalga refused to let Vita go alone to "that monster who messes with people's minds like it's nothing."
Void Gazer Attack
Lizz (Lorik's twin sister) arrived in a rage, demanding to know where her brother was, surrounded by a menacing purple aura.
Each lady could see only one terrifying eye-like creature with tentacles (Void Gazers) attached to Lizz, but multiple existed.
The creatures shot necrotic energy beams and fed on frustration and anger.
Professors Lorelai, Antheia, and Hasulon arrived to help; Thalga's Faerie Fire spell made the invisible creatures visible to everyone.
Lorelai revealed a tattoo suggesting she's also "Earth-blessed."
The Vault Discovery
Lorelai led the group (except Vita) down to "The Vault" through the arena's locked gate.
They found an ancient dwarven-built chamber with Luminary decorations, far underground with intense atmospheric pressure.
Lorik (Lizz's twin brother) was completely petrified and kept as a statue for safety.
The mysterious tablet is stored behind a gigantic door emanating strong blue magical light.
Lorelai confirmed that reversing the petrification is impossible right now, it was "something ancient."
Vault contents are reserved solely for the Headmaster and Einar Giedensera.
Illegal Magic Usage
When Lizz insisted on informing her clan about her brother, Lorelai cast Mass Suggestion (illegal black magic) to compel her silence.
This shocked Aiden and deeply unsettled Naomi and Thalga due to its illicit nature.
Rose recognized the spell's connection to Virtuoso Mortemus (Mistress Harmonia's counterpart).
Oyindamola's Unexpected Arrival
While others were in the Vault, Vita spotted Oyindamola arriving in perfect health via drake carriage - contradicting Rose's vision of her being petrified.
Oyindamola claimed to be an academy alumna with an appointment to see Professor Kalashar.
Vita cleverly stalled her by announcing her arrival to other students, creating a crowd of admirers.
The ladies followed Oyindamola discreetly, noting she touched her right ear and mentioned sitting out a "Weinberg dinner" the previous night.
Oyindamola dismissively called the ladies Naomi's "fan squad" for following her.
She warmly greeted Professor Kalashar as her "old mentor," with fragments overheard about an exciting "big project."