As the days went on and they continued traveling the terrain became more alien to them.

  The lush forests began to thin out. The terrain became much more open, but in place of open fields of grass the ground became wet, the trees became much more sparse and many of them seemed to be covered with drooping thick brushes.

  “So I guess it's safe to say that we're out of the forest now?” Simeon asked.

  “Welcome to the marshes!” Said Kadus with faux enthusiasm.

  “How much longer until it stops being wet?” Zhi asked.

  “Well if we keep going this way, I would say about twenty days.” Kadus replied.

  “You can't be serious!” Zhi replied.

  “Well you wanted to come here!” Kadus said.

  “We're headed to the Serno Valley?” She asked.

  “That's right!” Kadus replied.

  “Through Vivenah.” he added with less enthusiasm.

  “That city is here? In this marshy wasteland?” Corin asked.

  “Yes it is.” Kadus said. “But the city itself is clear from any of this.”

  Even with Kadus guiding them the group had difficulties in the terrain. The ground was soft and would give in if they stepped in the wrong place. Large creatures seemed to be lying in wait under the surface of the water as they walked around. As Corin walked he saw a large reptile go into the water. The animal reminded him of a dragon, and its size was as large as most animals Corin had ever seen.

  “Did you see that?” He whispered to Kadus.

  “Hah, for every one of them you see, there's about a hundred that you don't.” He replied.

  “Impossible!” Corin whispered back.

  “Look for the eyes in the water.” Kadus told him.

  Corin did just that. It took him a while to spot the first set of eyes. It was not too far away from them, about ten paces to the right. After that set, he counted two, five. He stopped counting once he got over ten.

  “Is it safe with those creatures around?” Corin asked.

  “They're just as scared of you as you are of them.” Kadus assured him.

  “Really?” Corin whispered. “Cause they are doing a really good job of scaring me!”

  Beyond the large reptiles Corin saw another animal, a large snake, swim in front of them.

  “Snakes too?” Corin asked Kadus.

  “The marsh is home to many wonderful creatures!” Kadus replied to him.

  Corin felt a sting on his arm. “Ow!”

  He looked and he saw a large insect on his arm.

  “Argh!” He said as he swatted his arm.

  The insect flew away.

  “Some of the animals are not as wonderful.” Kadus added.

  After enough time of the bugs bothering them, Zhi felt as if she could not tolerate their presence anymore.

  “Enough!” She shouted.

  The area around her suddenly began to sizzle with energy and hundreds of bugs exploded in mid air.

  The sudden explosion caused all the animals around them to flee away from the group. Corin could not even keep track of all the animals he saw leaving. The majority of them he had not even noticed until they moved.

  “Wish you were around last time I was here.” Kadus told her.

  Before nightfall Kadus took to the skies again. He was beginning to fly without Zhi's assistance, but ever since stepping foot in the marsh he had required her help.

  “Onwards and upwards!” Zhi said as she conjured up a stream of air that sent him flying.

  “You really are going to keep coming up with different sayings every time aren't you?” Asked Corin.

  “I have been practicing them in my head this whole time.” Zhi replied.

  While Kadus flew overhead the group prepared their camp. It was in one of the few dry spots they could find. Shortly afterwards Kadus flew back down.

  He was not his usual jovial self.

  “What was it? Did you see it?’ Corin asked.

  “Yes.” Kadus replied. “As promised you will see Vivenah tomorrow.”

  Corin was excited at the prospect.

  “But just so you know. It's not too late to change your mind.” Kadus said.

  Something within Corin did not appreciate his suggestion.

  “We came here all this way, what do you mean?” Corin's voice rose as he let his frustration get the better of him.

  Kadus eyed his companion.

  “Tomorrow then. Early on the road.” Kadus said as he walked away.

  ***

  The group awoke early to get on the road.

  “What is it that you expect to see there?” Zhi asked Corin.

  “What?” Corin replied.

  What do I expect to find?

  An ancient city? Perhaps it ties into the artifact?

  “Well I had not brought it up previously since it didn't seem to detract from our main goal.” Zhi said. “But I can't help wondering why you are so focused on going there?”

  Corin felt defensive about her questions.

  “Well I remember my brother telling me about it.” Corin began. “I thought it always sounded so strange. But when you mentioned the artifact, and how you found out about it. In ancient written texts? I thought maybe there is a connection there. We barely know anything about this artifact, and I thought maybe we can learn something about it in Vivenah.”

  Zhi listened intently.

  “I see.” She replied. “You do bring up a good point. Maybe we will learn something of importance there!”

  “Exactly!” He replied.

  He didn't like the feeling he had from that conversation. He felt as if he had been hiding something from Zhi. But he didn't even know what it might be.

  The group went on the move. Corin and Livia walked side by side as they moved towards Vivenah.

  “So what exactly did Cyril tell you about this place?” Livia asked him.

  “Oh.” Corin began. “It was not much. All I can remember was mention of a mysterious city. Large buildings, strange markings, and an unsolvable mystery as to who or what exactly built this place.”

  “Sounds fascinating,” Livia replied. “I wonder why he never mentioned it to me.”

  “Oh,” Corin replied. “He didn't?”

  “No, not that I recall.” She said. “I'm sure I would have remembered.”

  “I don't know. Cyril and I would have these late night chats. He would bring up these things he had heard during the day.” Corin said. “It must have been a passing story he had heard at some point. He probably didn't put much belief in the story himself.”

  “That must have been it.” She replied.

  “Up ahead there's a small hill.” Kadus said “Once we're over it, we'll begin to see Vivenah. We should be getting there around midday.”

  Nanaua was the first to go over the small hill. She stood waiting for the others to arrive. She stared at the sight ahead of them.

  Corin and Livia were the last ones to go over the hill. The top of buildings could be seen from this distance. What Corin was looking at from here was unlike anything he had ever seen. Nothing like a Leviathan structure, or a Dragon Temple, or like the buildings they had seen in Yranto. These large monolithic structures were not carved out of rock, they shone as if they were made of metal.

  As they all stared none of them knew what to say. The reality was that it was unlike anything they had ever seen. Nothing they had experienced before could help them comprehend what lay in the distance.

  “Have you ever seen any other place like this?” Simeon spoke to Kadus.

  Kadus, unlike the others, did not stare at the buildings.

  “No. There's no other place like this on the continent.” Kadus replied. He still did not bother looking.

  “Let's continue.” Nanaua said.

  The group continued ahead. As they moved on, more defining features from Vivenah could be seen. Various other buildings came into focus. Some of them were covered in metal, others seemed to be translucent, as if covered in glass. But it was as Kadus had mentioned. These large structures seemed to be devoid of any activity. Whatever or whoever had put these here had long ago abandoned this place.

  They were now closing upon the outside perimeter of the city. As they grew closer the ground became drier, the plant life became sparser, and less animals could be seen.

  “Why is it that there is no life around the city? Or within it?” Livia asked Kadus.

  “No one knows.” He replied. “There doesn't seem to be a good reason why, but life just ceases to exist near the city. As to why there are no furtives within the city I think it will only make sense once you enter it.”

  Kadus certainly felt uneasy about entering the area, but Corin's excitement only continued to grow. He could not explain why, but he felt as if he had to go there.

  Finally they all arrived at the edge of the city. At the edge the dirt on the ground quickly gave way to a smooth polished surface. Despite the abandoned status of the city it seemed very clean.

  They all stood at the edge. All they had to do was take a step from the dirt to the clean polished ground.

  Corin was the first to go. He moved as if compelled by an outside force. As he stepped inside he felt a washing sense of accomplishment over him. The others followed behind him, passing the barrier into the city.

  The city ahead of them was sprawling. Everywhere they looked they could see structures of all sizes. These ranged from structures that seemed to shoot up straight into the clouds, to structures about the same height as Corin's house. They seemed to be laid out in a very recognizable grid pattern. This was very different from Yranto where streets seemed to branch from one another randomly. Here all intersections and paths seemed to have been meticulously planned.

  “Fascinating.” Livia said as she studied what lay ahead of them.

  “Something doesn't feel right.” Nanaua said. She kept looking from corner to corner. It seemed as if she was trying to find something.

  “Are you sure we're not being followed?” She asked Kadus.

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  “I can assure you no one is following us.” Kadus told her. “What you feel, that sense of being watched, that's just the city.”

  It was not only Nanaua, Simeon too could not help but look around.

  “You weren't wrong there.” Simeon said. “This is a strange place.”

  “Where should we go?” Simeon asked Kadus.

  “Let's try going this way.” Corin replied as he went deeper straight into the heart of the city ruins.

  “Do you even know where you are going?” Nanaua asked.

  Corin was too far to hear her.

  “Well I guess that does not matter now.” She said as she began to follow him.

  The group followed Corin deeper into the abandoned city. All around them the structures stood tall, immaculate, with no single sign of damage on them. Had the buildings not been completely abandoned one might think this city had just been built this very day.

  The streets they walked on were wide and on occasion would feature ornate designs on them. Some of the designs seemed to follow a repeating pattern. It reminded Corin of Dragon script.

  Livia stood next to him as he looked at one of the patterns on the ground.

  “It is reminiscent of Dragon script is it not?” Corin asked.

  “You're correct. It probably is some sort of written word.” She replied.

  “Do you think it might be Giant script?” He asked.

  Livia looked at him and then around them.

  “I saw Giant script in Jaco's house.” She replied. “This is not anything like Giant script.”

  “It can't be Leviathan script right?” He asked.

  “Unless this city was underwater at some point and then ended here, I don't see how that would be possible.” She replied.

  All of them observed the markings on the ground intently.

  “This place really is a mystery.” Simeon said. Corin saw him looking around him, still bothered as if they were being observed. Corin did not feel the same unease that Simeon or Nanaua had mentioned.

  “Let's keep going.” Corin said as he continued leading the way.

  He was not sure where he was going either. He just felt as if he should go down this road, and when he had gone far enough, that he should turn left. Down that road they continued. Buildings surrounded them. The buildings, impressive as they were, were completely devoid of any artistic decorations. They had nothing over their facades that could distinguish them. Save for the actual size and building material that was used, all buildings were just large metal or glass constructs. Corin did notice repeated markings in a small corner in front of each building. They were similar to the words they had seen on the ground previously.

  As he continued Corin felt as if he should stop at a specific building. It was a large metallic structure, one of the tallest Corin had seen in the city.

  As he turned to look at it, the others did so as well.

  “What is it?” Livia asked.

  “Do you see that?” Corin asked as he pointed to the base of the building.

  Unlike the other structures this one was different. This one had something the others didn't.

  “Is that a door?” Livia asked him.

  “It seems like it.” Corin replied.

  “Have you entered one of these buildings?” Simeon asked Kadus.

  “No.” He replied as he looked at the door. Kadus looked from one side of the street to the other and then stepped closer to the door. He peered inside as if he could not believe his eyes.

  He looked back at the group.

  “I have never heard of anyone entering any of the buildings here.” He said. He turned back to look at the door.

  “Well let's go.” Corin said as he began to walk.

  “Wait a moment my boy.” Simeon spoke up.

  “We have no idea what's in there.” He added.

  Corin turned to look at him.

  “Simeon, are you telling me you don't want to go in? To see if you can learn more about what created these structures?” Corin spoke.

  “It's not that, I just don't know what we might encounter.” Simeon replied.

  “We left Trinixo with no idea about what we might encounter!” Corin began. “Just think about it. We've been searching for a weapon to destroy the Titans, with nothing but some old texts guiding us. Perhaps we might find more answers here! If there is one weapon, maybe there are more!”

  Simeon was quiet as he thought about what Corin was saying. It was clear he was indecisive.

  “You know first-hand how lopsided the struggle between Titans and furtives is. If there is even the slimmest of chances that we might learn something that could benefit in our fight against the Titans in there, should we not seek it out?” Corin made his case to Simeon.

  Simeon looked at Corin, it was clear he was listening.

  “Well?” Corin asked.

  “Fine.” Simeon said. “But if I don't feel comfortable I am going to leave.”

  “I have no problem with that.” Corin said.

  All of them turned to the building. They prepared to enter it.

  ***

  Inside the large structure it felt like a different world. Everything inside it seemed so different, so unique, that it was hard to believe it wasn't some weird dream they had all manifested simultaneously.

  “How is this even possible?” Livia asked.

  The room they found themselves in was not particularly large. There was a table at the center, a large metallic cube sat on top of it, and on the edges of the room there were two stairs that went up. Where they lead to Corin could not know. The walls in the room were as smooth as the outside of the building and they shone from light that emanated from the ceiling.

  “Where is the light coming from?” She asked as she looked above.

  “Is it a light fruit? Did someone light a fire? No it can't be the source is steady.” She asked.

  “It could be a light fruit.” Kadus said. “But light fruit trees are far from here.”

  Corin approached the table with the metal cube. He cautiously viewed it as he neared his hand on it.

  “You really have no self preservation instincts do you?” Kadus asked Corin.

  Corin thought about it, but his hand seemed to move of its own accord and he reached out and touched it.

  His finger touched the cold smooth surface. He left his finger on it for several moments but nothing happened.

  “Seems like it's just for decoration.” Kadus mentioned.

  “Must be.” Corin said.

  As he removed his hand the cube instantly reacted. The top half of the cube lifted from the bottom and from it smaller cubical sections sprouted. Each of the small sections shone a light above the cube covering the entire space above the table in unique characters similar to those outside the building.

  “By the firmament.” Simeon muttered.

  They all stared. They had no idea what they were looking at.

  “Corin?” Livia asked.

  “Yes.” He replied.

  “What did you do?” She asked.

  “I don't know.” He replied

  They all stared at the shapes. Corin looked, but he had no idea what any of them meant. There were so many of the characters floating around Corin. He tried to see if there was anything he could spot that made sense.

  “Look!” Nanaua said.

  She pointed to one of the many different inscriptions. The inscription began with characters that none of them understood, but in the middle there was a symbol they knew. The sphere encased within the cube encased in the triangle.

  “Just like the artifact.” Zhi muttered.

  Could it really be? Information about the artifact?

  “What are we to do with this?” Kadus asked.

  “Perhaps we need to touch the light?” Corin asked.

  “One of these days you're going to stick your finger somewhere it ought not to be.” Kadus replied.

  “So you think we should not try that?” Corin asked.

  Kadus looked at Corin.

  “No, no.” Kadus relented. “You might be right.”

  Kadus was the one who tried it this time. He stuck out his feathered wing and touched the light with the artifact's symbol. When he put his feather on it, all that could be seen was the projection of the symbol.

  He brought his wing back. Nothing happened. The light continued shining.

  “Seems I don't have the magic touch.” Kadus said.

  “Wait.” Livia said. “Try it again.”

  Kadus looked at her. It was clear he did not want to risk touching the object again.

  “Trust her, she's good about these things.” Simeon assured him.

  Kadus did so. He put his wing out and let the light fall onto it.

  “Well?” He asked Livia.

  “Look.” She said as she pointed to the cube.

  “This specific projection. It's coming from this small cube.” She said as she hovered over the table.

  She was right. The small segmented cubes each projected their own light and one of them projected the symbol on Kadus’ arm.

  “Let's see.” She said as she touched the small cube.

  As soon as she touched the small cube all the projections turned off and the separate cubes merged into the large one in a swift motion.

  “What did that do?” Kadus asked.

  The stairway on the left lit up now. It seemed to be setting a path for them to follow.

  “What sort of magic is this?” Nanaua asked with rising concern in her voice.

  “I have no clue.” Zhi added.

  Corin began to move forward. The others were hesitant to go ahead. He felt the need to urge the others to join him and go deeper into the building.

  “You all saw what I saw!” He began. “It is no coincidence that the same symbol that has been guiding us to the artifact was found here. If we are to learn more about the power we seek we need to continue. We've made it this far. Let's not lose heart now.”

  “You're right.” Zhi spoke up. “I guess I've been scared to learn what we might be attempting to unleash on the world. But we have to come to terms with it. So let's go on.”

  She followed behind Corin and the others came.

  They went up the stairs. At the top of the stairs they faced a long narrow dim hallway with various branching paths. The floor on the hallway was lit showing them which way to follow.

  They followed the lighted path until they entered a large chamber. At one end of the chamber there was a large wall, completely dark. Suddenly it lit up.

  “What's happening?” Nanaua asked.

  Corin looked at the illuminated wall and saw a group of furtives in the distance. It seemed as if they should be somewhere in the building. But around the furtives Corin could see the outside. Not only that but none of the furtives were moving. They were too far away for Corin to see any details about them.

  The scene before them changed.

  “What?” Kadus said as he gasped in surprise.

  The image still showed the outside world but the perspective had changed. Now it showed furtives up close as if they were only several paces beyond the wall. The furtives had their backs turned to Corin and the rest. They seemed to be surveying their surroundings. Around them there were various buildings in different stages of completion. The image was strongly reminiscent of Vivenah.

  The scene changed once more. It now seemed to be situated at the beginning of one of the long streets of Vivenah. The sprawling city could be seen, with hundreds of furtives moving about. The furtives close enough for Corin to see were dressed in curious clothes, unlike any he had ever seen. He recognized them as humans.

  “These scenes in front of us.” Kadus began. “They are showing Vivenah.”

  “But this is not the Vivenah of now.” Livia said. “These are memories.”

  The scene changed once more. Now it showed what seemed to be the center of the city from an aerial perspective. All the roads in the city seemed to meet here. Around the center furtives were gathered and seemed to be focused on a singular figure. The figure at the center seemed like another furtive, but the image was too far for any details about them to be gleaned.

  Something about the furtive in the middle felt familiar to Corin.

  Another scene came by. The scene was now split, showing different images focused on furtives working on specific tasks around the city. There was something peculiar about what these furtives were doing. It was something most would not understand, but Corin knew from first hand experience what was occurring.

  “They are using magic!” Zhi said.

  She was right. These were still images but Corin had seen Zhi use magic enough times to be able to tell when a furtive was wielding magic. These furtives were doing things like heating a metal object, building a wall of ice around an outer boundary in the city, and digging a tunnel underneath the city.

  “There's so many of them!” Kadus added.

  Kadus was right. In each instance Corin saw upwards of ten furtives all using magic at once. He also saw something as he continued observing the images. It seemed as if the same person was in the background of each image. Corin began to compare across the images to determine if his suspicion was correct.

  The scene changed once again. It was another aerial view of the city. There were metal objects in the sky now. They had unique shapes, similar to a large bird in flight. Some of these seemed to be headed into the city and some of them out.

  “Are those metal furtives?” Kadus asked.

  The scenes continued to change. More scenes from various points in the city, furtives going about their lives in a vibrant city. The scenes portrayed a very different city compared to the one they found themselves in.

  “This city.” Zhi said. “Magic wielding furtives used to live in it. Furtives like us.”

  The images in front of them ceased. The chamber was once again dark.

  “What do you think happened to them?” Kadus asked.

  “Titans.” Livia replied. “This is how we used to live. This is who we were. What we were able to accomplish before the Titans came.”

  “Do you really believe furtives were able to create something like this?” Nanaua asked.

  “Of course!” Livia replied. “You saw Yranto yourself. It was nowhere as sophisticated as this city, but furtives were able to build it despite being under threat from Titans! Imagine if we didn't have the specter of Titans over us? If we had more furtives like Zhi who could wield magic? The things furtives could accomplish!”

  She was impassioned as she spoke.

  Corin looked to Simeon. His face was still focused on the wall in front of them.

  “Simeon?” Corin asked.

  “Yes.” He replied as he stared.

  “Are you alright?” Corin followed up.

  “My entire worldview had been upended in mere moments, my boy.” He replied. “Give an old man some time while he tries to make sense of what he saw.”

  The far walls of the chamber, where the images had just been projecting to several moments ago, opened up.

  “There's more?” Kadus asked.

  The floor in front of them was illuminated once more.

  “Seems like there is.” Zhi said. Now she was the one taking the lead. Livia followed shortly behind her.

  The group followed as they entered through the open wall. The room behind only had one display. There were statues of several furtives, all of different kinds wielding magic of some sorts. Behind them there was a singular figure observing as the furtives wielded their magic.

  On the wall behind the statues there was a large symbol etched into the wall. The same symbol that had guided them here. The hollow triangle overlaid on the hollow square that held a solid sphere.

  “You were right Corin!” Zhi said as she looked at the statues. “The weapon! This must be what it is!”

  “I’m not following.” Kadus said.

  “Don’t you see?” Zhi said. “Furtives wielding magic? This must be what the weapon does! It must be why the Titans are so afraid of it!”

  “But even with magic aren’t Titans stronger than you?” Kadus asked. “How is a furtive supposed to fight against a Titan? You saw the clash the other day!”

  “Kadus when we were in the forest before we came to Yranto the forest elves told us of another Onsiel they had met. Over a millenia ago, a sparrowling just like you. His name was Kehze. He was able to fight against a Giant and he won!” Livia said. “It is possible for furtives with magic to fight Titans! Zhi’s powers haven’t even fully manifested yet.”

  Kadus was quiet as he heard all of this.

  “Who do you suppose is this figure observing these Onsiels?” Simeon asked.

  The group diverted their attention to the solitary figure in the background. They all neared the statue. It was a statue of a human female. The statue was tall, taller than Corin and as tall as Nanaua. Her face displayed no emotion. She looked upon the furtives in front of her not with fear, not with admiration, not with pride or joy, she just observed. Her head was decorated with long braided hair, and unlike the other figures who all wore very distinct clothing, she was adorned in a long robe. The figures all faced away from her.

  “Perhaps they are defending her?” Kadus said. “Perhaps she is in danger and they are using her powers to protect her?”

  “Situated behind those using their powers.” Nanaua said. “She could be giving orders to these Onsiels.”

  “Hmm, perhaps you are right.” Kadus replied. “It’s hard to tell with her, umm, lack of expressions.”

  Corin was fixated on the statue. He felt as if he had seen this person before. He kept telling himself that he must be mistaken, but part of him could not deny the fact that he truly felt as if he knew this person.

  “Look, on the floor.” Livia said.

  They all did. At the feet of every of the statues there were symbols inscribed, much like the same symbols they had seen throughout the city.

  “These must be their names.” Zhi added.

  Corin began looking at the symbols inscribed at the feet of the other statues. Much like the other characters he had seen outside he had no clue what he was looking at. Finally he turned to the one in front of the female statue. He was fixated on the characters.

  Corin stood there, observing the characters.

  “Do you think there is more here?” Zhi asked.

  There was silence amongst the group.

  The ground lit up. It seemed to show the way they had taken into the room.

  “Well I do not understand anything that has occurred until now. But it seems that the building is telling us to leave.” Kadus said.

  “But there must be so much more we can learn here?” Livia argued.

  “There could be.” Kadus replied. “Or we could end up in a room with no way out.”

  “You want to leave? Now?” Zhi began to argue.

  “I know you both don’t want to hear it, but the old bird is right.” Simeon spoke up. “We have no idea how anything in here works. Whatever kind of magic this is, is unknowable to us. Every moment we are in here puts us at risk. We came here with the slimmest of hopes to learn about the artifact, and we learnt much. Let’s not tempt fate by staying here much longer.”

  “I agree with the old men.” Nanaua added.

  “Fine.” Livia said. “But once this is all done, you have to bring us back here Kadus!”

  “I’ll show you how.” He said. “You can get here by yourself!”

  “Fine by me.” She replied. They all began moving.

  Corin was still focused on the symbols on the ground.

  “Corin?” His wife spoke to him.

  “Oh yes.” He said as he turned to her.

  “You ok dear?” She asked, a twinge of concern apparent on her face.

  “Oh yes, yes.” He laughed. “It’s just like Simeon said. There’s so much in here!”

  “There really is!” She said. “That’s why you’re coming back here with me! It might take us forever but we’ll figure out what those symbols mean.”

  “Oh,” Corin began, “that sounds like a plan.”

  The group left the building. Once they stepped out they went into the road ahead of it. They turned to look back at the building. The door they had walked through had disappeared.

  They all looked around. There seemed to be nothing around them. There was no indication of what had happened to the door, or of anything around them that could have caused it to close.

  Livia went up to the wall where the door had been and touched it. All her hand touched was smooth metal.

  “Incredible.” She said.

  “You might say that, I might say disturbing.” Kadus said.

  “It’s time we continued. This artifact won’t be of much use if we don’t gather all the pieces.” Simeon spoke.

  “Agreed.” Zhi added.

  Kadus began leading the way. Corin was quiet as they exited the city. The way out was similar to the way in. There was a definite boundary at which point the finely polished ground on the city gave way to the dirt of the surrounding area. Shortly after, the ground became wetter, and they began to see more wildlife.

  “Well I can’t believe I am saying this, but I am glad to be back in these marshes!” Kadus announced.

  “Agreed. That Vivenah.” Simeon said. “I don’t know what it was but it made me feel uneasy.”

  “I take it you’re not coming back with us to visit Simeon?” Livia asked him.

  “Aye you might be right.” Simeon began. “This old man has seen enough life shattering truths for now. I don’t think I need to see more.”

  “Well Corin and I will miss you.” Livia said.

  “Uh, what?” Corin said out loud. He had not been paying attention to their conversation.

  “Corin, I'm not an exemplary husband, but sometimes you need to listen to your wife.” Kadus said. He began to laugh and Simeon did as well.

  Livia turned to Corin.

  “Are you alright? You haven’t spoken much since we left.” She asked him.

  “No it’s fine, really.” He smiled. “Thank you, but it’s just been a long day.”

  Livia gazed at him. She focused intently on him. It was her way of letting him know she knew he was hiding something.

  “I’m being honest.” He laughed. “It’s not everyday you get to learn about magic wielding furtives being a normal thing in the past in a building that seemed to have a life of its own, now is it?”

  “Hmm.” Livia replied. “I guess you have a point.”

  She gave him a kiss on his forehead and put her head on his shoulder.

  “We’ll weather the storm together.” She said to him.

  He put his head on hers.

  “We will.”

  Corin did not know if he had been able to convince Livia. She was right. There was something that had been bothering him. When he had been looking at the statues and the associated characters. There could be no mistaking it. There was no way he knew how it could be possible but he understood what the characters in front of the female statue said. He knew that it didn’t make sense but the name was clear as day, as if he had understood those characters innately. It was a name he had heard many times.

  Jokasta.