Synnove glanced at Rena from ti to ti; other than that, the entire upward journey had been silent. While Taeryn stole glances at Synnove as he was srized by her beauty. He was awestruck, his cheeks turning red too.
The platform finally ca to rest before doors wrought from materials that defied classification—neither wood nor tal nor stone, but sothing that seed to exist in multiple states simultaneously.
Beyond lay a chamber of breathtaking proportion, its dinsions warped by Origin-working until the space contained within exceeded what its exterior walls could possibly hold.
A single table dominated the room's center, crafted from what appeared to be simple wood of white color. Two chairs faced a third across the table, while behind the head chair stretched an open balcony that offered an impossible vista of Hanompetra.
Rena gasped at the chamber's sheer scope, her inexperienced mind struggling to process architecture that bent space to accommodate infinity.
Taeryn stood transfixed, his projected aura expanding unconsciously as if seeking to fill the vast emptiness, only to encounter currents of Origin so complex they sent his essence reeling back upon itself.
Morgana and Darian moved directly toward the balcony, their experienced perceptions imdiately grasping what lay beyond the imdiate spectacle.
Synnove positioned herself near the balcony's threshold, her form serving as an anchor point between the chamber's controlled environnt and the raw chaos of possibility that churned beyond.
"She communes with the fundantal forces," she explained, though her words carried undertones that suggested such communion ca at prices beyond mortal reckoning.
The air itself suddenly compressed, reality bending as space folded upon itself with casual disregard for natural law.
A figure materialized upon the balcony platform with the smooth grace of one who moved between dinsions as easily as walking through doorways.
Wendelina Kar'han, Mother Supre of the Silverspire and High Mother of the Witch Council, embodied power made manifest in feminine form.
As soon as she ca into the chamber, there was an invisible pressure wound around Rena and Taeryn and they felt like they was standing before a giant force.
Her presence commanded imdiate reverence, not through intimidation, but through the simple recognition that here stood soone who had achieved perfect unity with Origin's essential nature. Raven hair crowned with circlets of gold frad features that combined regal bearing with the terrible beauty of ancient war goddesses. Her form spoke of classical proportions refined to perfection, while her eyes held depths where galaxies were born and died in monts.
Her attire was a robed gown, flowing down to her ankles, with full sleeves. Upon her breast rested a necklace adorned with sapphire crystals.
As she ca into the hall, she soon took in all the people standing in her chambers.
"A small hunting expedition beyond the Veil," she spoke with a voice that carried harmonics of creation itself.
Her smile held warmth that sohow coexisted with the absolute authority of one who had gazed upon Origin's naked face and erged unchanged yet utterly transford.
Her gaze settled upon the newcors with the intensity of one who perceived not rely their present forms but the infinite possibilities that radiated from their existence like ripples in a cosmic pond.
"Now what do we have here?"
She looked at the two young people and then at Morgana and asked her, "I believe they were a total of three."
Morgana said with a blank expression, "The third one is on his way."
"Oh, right. Synnova did say that. I forgot."
When her attention focused upon Taeryn, his projected aura blazed with unprecedented brilliance, as if her very regard had refined his connection to Origin's masculine interface.
"The loyalty-bound warrior," she observed, her words carrying layers of aning that resonated directly with his soul.
"Your aura burns with the steady fla of absolute dedication. Such purity of purpose shall serve as bedrock upon which greater works are built."
Taeryn could hardly breathe in front of her, but he stood his ground, gritting his teeth.
But when she turned toward Rena, the very atmosphere seed to thicken with anticipation.
The Mother Supre approached until she stood re inches away, her presence causing Rena's mind to lose focus and making her almost faint.
"Originshaped already," Wendelina murmured, her voice carrying notes of wonder and terrible certainty.
"The old blood runs true within your veins, child. I perceive within you echoes of the Divinarcks themselves—those first won who stood before Origin's naked essence and forged the compact that binds our species to cosmic purpose."
She reached out with one perfect hand, stopping just short of physical contact.
Even at that distance, Rena could feel the Mother Supre's Origin-channels reaching toward her own, reading the fundantal patterns that defined her potential like pages in an open book.
"You will beco formidable," Wendelina continued, her words carrying the weight of prophecy itself.
"Perhaps the most powerful since the Fourth Revolution. But power without wisdom is re destruction, and wisdom without testing is re theory."
She stepped back, her attention now encompassing the entire group.
"The previous generation have played their parts upon the larger stage."
Her gaze found Morgana, and within that exchange passed understanding that transcended re words.
"High Mother," Morgana began, "the Empress has expressed a desire to et with the young ones. Perhaps—"
"No."
The Mother Supre's interruption carried absolute finality.
"The Empress serves her role within the mundane hierarchy, but these children answer to higher authority now. Your duty, faithful Morgana, has evolved beyond re instruction. You are to guide the Chosen One through trials that will either forge her into humanity's salvation or witness her destruction in the attempt."
She moved to the table, and her fingers traced the surface of the table, and then a hologram of a fortress, which stood upon a chain of mountains, revealed itself.
"Berdhshire Fortress," Wendelina spoke, her voice carrying undertones that made the chamber's very foundations resonate.
The images on the table shifted, showing glimpses of the fortress walls and the other side of the wall. There seems to be a deep forest beyond those walls.
"This is your test," the Mother Supre continued, her words falling like hamr blows upon the anvil of destiny.
"You will descend into Berdhshire's depths, confront what lies sleeping beyond those walls, and either try to eradicate the problem or..." Her pause carried the weight of unspoken consequences.
"Or?" Taeryn blurted out.
Wendelina's smile held depths of sorrow that spoke of choices made and prices paid across centuries of guardianship. "Or you will discover whether the human spirit, when refined through Origin's crucible, can transcend the limitations that have bound our species since the first compact was sealed in starlight and sacrifice."
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