I nodded.“Why wouldn’t I? It’s literally a fact. Crack open any scrollbook and every account aligns.”
Quazar stared at me a long time without a word before simply turning away. I frowned. Why did I feel like I’d just flunked an exam? He went back to playing with his shadows, as Davithius prowled on.
“The Seal Gate is indeed in Barrenrock, formerly known as Namenthys.”
Davithius put his hands into the projection and spread them out as if he was tearing a long strand of feathers. The more he pulled his hands apart, the more the projection zoomed in. We went from overlooking the barren island, to narrowing on the spot I’d been in just weeks ago.
I narrowed my eyes, glaring at the Seal Gate. Even in this projection, it seemed massive. Davithius snapped his hand back, and the projection filled the entire cathedral. I sat up, my back ramrod straight. It felt like I was on Barrenrock all over again. I began breathing fast, my hands growing clammy.
“This was the first Gate created. It was made by Shadowlord Abbadani. We don’t pay much mind to the other two: the Trumpet Gate and the Vial Gate. Why is that?”
“That’s easy,” Ellabeth called out. “The Fallen from those realms don’t care about the empyrean or trying to invade. They’ve left us alone, so we leave them alone.”
“That’s right,” Davithius said, looking across the cathedral. “They stay on their side of the Gates, and we stay on ours. However, the Seal Gate is growing to be an increasing problem.”
I raised a brow.
“Defineproblem,Presbitari,” a male called out. I didn’t bother looking to see which Order they belonged to.
“An invasion one,” Davithius said with finality. “Fallen are not breaching the Gates, but their hèlborns are.”
“What?” another male called out. “Demons can’t cross without being given access fromourside. That’s not possible Presbitari.”
Davithius leveled a gaze at him. The male was sitting to the very back of Manna Order.
“You’re saying I’m an uneducated liar?”
I lowered my gaze. Davithius’s tone took the same one Papi did when he told us tokeep going, which effectively meant we’d better stop pushing him or our wings would suffer the consequences. My ears twitched. I hated second-hand embarrassment.
“No, Presbitari, of course not?—”
“Shut up and let him teach!” Tharic barked.
Silence fell. I rolled me eyes, but I kept quiet.
“As I said, the hèlborns are coming through, and they aren’t coming through alone. They’re bringing fiendish creatures with them that would spit out your bones and feast on your souls.”
“He’s talking about Spirit Harvesters, isn’t he?I asked down the bond before stopping myself.
“Are we back to talking again? I hadn’t realized.”
“For Infinite’s sake. You know what?—”
“It’s called a joke, Starling. Breathe. Yes, he’s talking about Spirit Harvesters. But they’re not the only problem.”
“This is why the Legions of Azarath Academy have been brought into Temple Efysis this Ascension cycle. More than ever,Disciples and Legionnaires must work together. Your ability to bond and defend against what is crossing the gate will determine if the empyrean stands or falls. If you can’t work together for the good of the empyrean, the Fallen will breach the gate and conquer us all.”
Ellabeth and I shared a look.
Manmi had taught me about perfecting my skills as an Incense Fuser. About the Starfellien Ascent. About standing my ground against males in the Order. About needing to maintain the spiritual morality of the empyrean. About hating evil and doing everything I could to Ascend and make a difference in the empyrean by serving the Temple for the rest of my life. Sheneversaid anything about me being trained to defend in war.
“You have all been assigned to your Order’s based on your ethèr and your lifelong abilities. All in Bond Order are fully equipped to help on the communal front of the war effort. The morale of Legions can make or break a war. Manna Order, you’re all equipped with sustaining the Legions. Tell me how many starving legions win wars?”
Silence.
“Exactly.” He turned to the side of Scroll and Incense Order.
“Scroll Order, you have the most powerful weapon to exist: The Holy Saccrent. You’re able to extrapolate the verses of its divine laws and morph them into weapons for the battlefront.”
