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“When you called this a ‘city ark’, this wasn’t what I was expecting,” Anastasios stated good-naturedly as he stared at the enormous ark in front of him.

Beside him stood Leon, Eva—the Grand Druid—and the small number of attendants from their respective Empires who had agreed to follow them into the Nexus.  In total, their entourages together were less than fifty people.

“The ark is designed to build a city,” Leon explained, “not be a city.  That would be a bit beyond us, even now.”

From the cliffs, they watched as the city ark ran through several engine tests.  It was an enormous machine, larger even than two of the new carriers put together.  It compared favorably in size to many Thunderbird arks, if not in power—due to its role as a support ark, it was lightly armed and armored.

Nearly all arks designed to be flown on a plane were roughly arrowhead-shaped, with some longer and narrower and others shorter and wider.  The city ark almost broke that trend, trending so long and narrow that it almost appeared more like a cylinder than an arrowhead.  It had been built in multiple distinct sections, each one lined up behind the others and fitted together, with the majority of the crew quarters at the fore of the ark and the cargo and magical machinery located toward the rear.

Leon understood why the term ‘city ark’ made it seem like it was a city that flew, but in reality, the city ark was simply a massive cargo and transport ark.  The vast majority of what was being brought to the Nexus would be carried within the ark.  In fact, Anastasios, Eva, the Director, and many of the other more important people that Leon was bringing along on the expedition would be housed within the city ark.

After all, as much as he may trust Anastasios and Eva, war arks weren’t their place in his fleet.  They weren’t in his army and would probably get in the way more than help if they were located elsewhere in the fleet.  At least this way, Leon figured, they could protect the city ark, the expedition’s most important asset.

Further down the cliffs, Leon spied the Director standing with Penelope, watching the same tests.  In a large public ceremony three weeks prior to this test, the Director had formally handed his title and position over to Narses the White.  The Director was, in short, no longer ‘the Director’, though Leon was still having some trouble thinking of him by his name more than his former title.

“Given what’s been built so far,” Eva whispered, “I wouldn’t have been that surprised if you had built an ark into a city…”

Leon chuckled.  “I’m sure my people could build something like that, given enough time.”  He took a deep breath and asked the two with much greater gravity, “Are you ready?”

A smile crossed Anastasios’ aged face, while Eva looked up at the bright blue sky and laughed.

“We’re ready to move on from this world, Leon,” Anastasios replied.

“We’ve said our goodbyes, held our parties, and ensured the power of our descendants,” Eva added.  She shared a knowing look with Anastasios before continuing.  “In the many years we’ve been alive, outliving almost everyone we’ve ever known, we’ve ensured that we’re always ready to move on.  Though neither of us ever thought it would be like this!”

With a nod of understanding, Leon said, “Consider this your final chance to back out, then.  Once we set out, we’re not returning unless we run into severe trouble up there…”

Eva didn’t take even a moment to think; she launched herself into the air, cackling like a madwoman.  “Race you there, Ana!”

She dove for the city ark, its tests having completed.  The doors were opening, ready to accept the first passengers aboard.

“That woman,” Anastasios said in loving appreciation.  “I never would’ve thought to be so blessed as to face eternity with her.  The politics of our Empires never would’ve allowed it.”  He glanced at Leon.  “For this, more than anything else, Leon, you have my gratitude.  Now, if you’ll excuse me…”  Anastasios followed Eva’s lead and launched himself off the cliff toward the city ark.  Their attendants followed each of them in panic as they hurtled toward the ark that would bear them to the Nexus.

Now standing with only Gaius and a small contingent of Tempest Knights to keep him company, Leon breathed in the cool mountain air, closed his eyes, and let his magic senses sweep across the face of Aeterna, as had become his wont over the past month.  The plane that had been his home…  He would leave it in less than twenty-four hours.

Every city he could see, every river and valley, every mountain and plain, every desert and field and forest, he was determined to carve it all into his memory.

After but a moment, he returned his attention to where he was.  He started walking down the cliffside at no more than a mortal’s pace, reaching the Director and Penelope in only a few minutes.

“Leon!” the Director beamed as Leon joined them.  “I saw our two former Emperors heading for the ark!  Does that mean we’re ready to board?”

“It’s a bit premature by several hours,” Leon stated, “but if you want to board now, then go right ahead.”

The Director let a smile grace his lips.  “No, my old bones will do much better out here than they will in there.  I’ll enjoy the outdoors for as long as I can before cooping myself in that thing for however long it might take for us to reach the Nexus.”

A quiet surprised gasp escaped Leon’s lips, more than a little exaggerated on his part.  “The Director of Heaven’s Eye wanted to be outside?!  The same man who didn’t leave the Hexagon for decades?!  If the Ancestors rose from their graves I would be less surprised!”

“Cheeky brat,” the Director replied.  “And I’m no longer ‘the Director’, I will remind you.”

“Right, right, Icarius,” Leon responded.  He turned his eyes to Penelope.  “How about you?  Ready to board?”

She smirked.  “I’m ready to be done with this plane, that’s for sure.”

“Definitive,” Leon observed.  “I like it, but can’t help but wonder why?”

Penelope shrugged.  “Maybe it’s my father hyping it up more than it should’ve been, but maybe it’s also because I’ve just been bored here on Aeterna for so long!  I’m not looking forward to this journey, but I want to see what this Nexus place looks like!  I want to see what we’ll get up to there!  And… maybe it’s all this sitting around that’s making me anxious!  You’d better have work for us, Leon!  I don’t want to be sitting on my ass for so long that it goes soft!”

Leon clapped her and Icarius on the shoulder and laughed.  “I’ll have plenty for you two to do, no need to worry about that.  For now, take however much time you want, so long as you get onboard the ark within the next eight hours.  It’s taking off in twelve, and they want everyone onboard before then.”

“Yes, yes, we remember,” Icarius said with some played-up annoyance.  “Just let us get some more mountain air, first.”

“We’re fine, Leon,” Penelope responded.  “No need to worry about us.”

“Well,” Leon replied.  “Then I won’t!”  He began walking away but paused after only a few steps and said over his shoulders, “Don’t be late!  I’m not turning around if you get left behind!”

The former Director of Heaven’s Eye scoffing was the only response he heard as he resumed walking down the cliff.

As he walked, he looked down at the city ark again.  There was a large crowd waiting to be let in—thousands in total.  Closer to the front, he could see places of honor reserved for certain people.

Emilie, Ajax, and their families, including Emilie’s harem.  Accommodating all of them had sent some of Leon’s logistics officers into conniptions, but room had been allocated for them.  Leon almost wanted to know how they might’ve reacted if they’d had to set aside enough room and resources for Emilie’s harem as it had been when they left the Bull Kingdom, as it had been much larger back then—some of Emilie’s husbands and concubines hadn’t gone past the first-tier and had passed away in the decades since then, with Emilie herself slowing down greatly in taking lovers, possibly as a result of these deaths.  Her harem was, consequently, only about half as large as it had been seventy years ago.

Ajax, on the other hand, only had half a dozen wives who needed room, which Leon’s people found much more palatable.

Not too far away from them stood Alix’s parents.  They were old, only surviving this long thanks to miraculously reaching the third-tier despite having been civilians who hadn’t focused on magic back in the Bull Kingdom.  They wouldn’t linger for long in the land of the living, but while they did, Alix was determined to give them the best life she could.

Justin, too, waited somewhere in the crowd, but as was his wont over these past decades, he was being as subtle as he could be, fading into the crowd and remaining out of sight.

Many other noncombatants flanked or stood behind them.  Very few of them had awoken bloodlines.  Of the slightly more than twenty thousand people joining Leon’s expedition, only about five thousand—five hundred from each Tribe—who had Inherited Bloodlines were with them, and nearly all of them were part of Leon’s central army.

This was, in part, by design, though Leon had framed it as more of a need to ensure that he didn’t too greatly weaken the Kingdom remaining on Aeterna rather than a desire to ensure there would always remain a place for those without awoken bloodlines in his Kingdom, no matter where it was.

Several larger-than-normal giants stood by as well, their bronze bodies practically radiating magic.  Leon was glad that they were flying in the city ark since they had packed hundreds of other giants in their bodies with them, and his one experience transporting Rakos and the entire giant race had been difficult enough.

Nowhere did Leon see any other of the races that made up his Kingdom, few in number though they were.  Tikos and its tree sprites were remaining behind until Leon secured his position in the Nexus, while Maia’s river nymphs would be joining him in Bolt in Shadow.  Fortunately, they could remain merged with water until they reached their destination, largely removing the need to find them sufficient room aboard the ark—a single private bath would suffice, though Leon didn’t think it would be too comfortable, especially since the river nymph population had practically exploded ever since Maia reigned in their rather murderous post-coital tendencies.  In a surprise for no one, it turned out that the race almost exclusively made up of gorgeous women found more mates when they didn’t have a reputation for indulging in post-coital murder.

Leon watched them slowly begin boarding the city ark, notably after Anastasios and Eva had already boarded.  He noted Icarius and Penelope walking down the cliff behind him, but they exchanged no words, only a few brief looks of acknowledgment.  He stayed there watching thousands of people leaving their lives behind to join him on this first expedition to the Nexus, taking a huge risk to lay the groundwork for others to follow in greater safety.

While Leon also knew that they were taking this risk for their Tribes and Clans, it didn’t escape his attention that if it weren’t for him and the legacy of his Clan, they wouldn’t be doing this now.  They might’ve gone on to live long, fulfilling lives on Kataigida.

He also suspected that if it weren’t for him, some of them may have died in the war with the Sunlit Empire, especially since it was his relationship with Ilion and Evergold that kept their respective Empires out of it.  Were it not for his Clan, however, they may have never been born on Aeterna at all.

That thought set off a whole chain of what-ifs in Leon’s head that he had to clamp down on.  Regardless of why, all those people down below boarding the city ark were making a tremendous sacrifice based solely on his desire to reach the Nexus.  No matter his justifications, he couldn’t help but feel the enormous responsibility of just their lives and livelihoods settling around him.  He also felt that same responsibility for all those he was leaving behind.  He didn’t know how long he might be gone, how long the journey may take, how easy it may be to return or for Aeterna to send reinforcements.

This expedition was his responsibility.  He’d decided to take the risk.  That meant that its success or failure would reflect upon him.  He had to do everything he could to make it a success.  Anything else, holding anything back, would only dishonor the sacrifice all of these people were making.  It would make his Ancestors turn away from him in shame.

‘Or maybe it wouldn’t…’ Leon darkly mused, his thoughts turning to the Storm Kings he’d read about from the archives delivered by Keeper from the old palaces in Sentinel lands.  Suffice it to say, he doubted many of them would’ve been that broken-hearted if millions died for their personal glory, let alone billions for the glory of the Clan.

“Leon,” Gaius whispered, “we should probably get moving…”

Leon blinked, his thoughts returning to the present.  Indeed, he’d spent several hours watching his people board the city ark, and he was running out of time.

“Right,” he stated.  “Let’s go.”

Bolt in Shadow hovered not too far away, most of his friends and family aboard.  His friends’ families were more spread out across the fleet, but nearly all of them were still joining them.  Only Red wasn’t onboard yet, and that was simply because she was taking one last flight with Nidar and Astar before the journey began and they were locked in the ark for who knew how long.

Leon, Gaius, and the contingent of Tempest Knights with them took flight and made for the Thunderbird Clan heavy cruiser.  For a moment, Leon indulged in a fantasy of reaching the Nexus in Storm Herald, Jason Keraunos’ personal ark.  Unfortunately, it was still too heavily damaged to fly, and would only be fixed if Leon could find the requisite resources in the Nexus and send them back to Aeterna.

‘That ark will fly again,’ Leon silently vowed.

As he approached, Red, Nidar, and Astar assumed human form and followed him inside, though none looked particularly pleased about doing so.  At least they did so without complaint.

Once inside, Leon walked through the ark’s halls until he reached the bridge, where Anshu was busy running the bridge crew through some last-second diagnostics.  When he saw Leon enter, however, Anshu turned away from them and reported, “All systems are ready, Leon!  We’re good to go!”

“That’s what I want to hear, Anshu!” Leon called back.  Addressing the rest of the bridge crew, he loudly asked, “Is everyone feeling ready?  Feeling good?  No one partied too hard before we left?  Should we have some buckets on standby for anyone who might’ve overindulged?”  Some polite laughter filled the room, but no one spoke up about any problems.  Leon nodded in satisfaction and, addressing Anshu again, asked, “Do you still have the location of the natural portal?”

Anshu nodded.  Ambrose had followed through and given Leon a memory crystal with the location of a natural ingress portal.  Naturally, Leon made sure that not only did Anshu get a look at it, but all of the other ark captains got it as well.  If anyone got lost, they could either return to Aeterna or try to continue to the portal, depending on their situation.

“Then I’ll be on the observation deck,” Leon said, and after Anshu acknowledged his statement, Leon turned around and left the bridge.

The observation deck was one of the larger rooms aboard the ark.  It wasn’t open, but it did have advanced projections that covered the walls showing everything outside in near-perfect detail.  That was where Leon’s friends, family, and close advisors were waiting for him.

Upon arrival, he found Elise, Maia, Valeria, and Cassandra there.  Several of Cassandra’s guards were present, as were a few Tempest Knights.  The rest of Cassandra’s guards were in their quarters aboard the ark, while three hundred more Tempest Knights were either on Bolt in Shadow or aboard the city ark.

All of his former retinue were there as well, save for Anshu.  Red had come here upon boarding, joining Anna, Helen, Marcus, Alcander, Alix, and now Gaius.  Anna and Alcander’s spouses were present, too.

Joining them were a couple dozen eighth and ninth-tier elders from the Tribes, though the Jaguar was the only tenth-tier mage present from that social group.  Other elders were joining the expedition too, but like with his retainers’ families, they were spread out across the fleet.

Finally, standing by himself and staring out at Aeterna was Clear Day, the tau looking out over the world he’d lived on for longer than Leon knew.

Leon found himself the center of attention as he walked in, and he fielded many congratulations and well wishes as he walked further into the room to stand with his ladies.  There had been many wild going-away parties thrown all over Kataigida during the past month, and Leon had attended some in every Tribal capital on the island; he was quite sick of hearing those well-wishes by now.

There, on the observation deck, Leon waited for the moment to come when he would leave Aeterna.  Perhaps he would come back one day, but this still felt permanent.  Never again would Aeterna be his home.  His home now lay in the Nexus, or perhaps among the stars, in the old planes of his Clan.

That same feeling of melancholy slowly spread from him to the others, and when the moment for Bolt in Shadow to rise into the Void came, the atmosphere within the observation room was tense and quiet.  They were only assembling the fleet in the Void and still had a few hours left, but the point of no return was hurtling toward them.

Only a few hours more, and it would be upon them.

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