"This... this is far easier than I thought it would be," I say.
"Naturally, did you really think I would come here without a plan?" Aurelia says.
"Pay attention, Lord Gaoh is closing the gap on Vorenia again, put up some more walls," Lia says.
After I ran ahead of everyone else, Aurelia teleported over to me with Vorenia and Lia, but quickly grabbed me and Lia and teleported away, telling Vorenia to run around. According to Aurelia, so long as Vorenia keeps him distracted, one of Aurelia's abilities can keep us hidden so long as we don't make any sudden movements or loud sounds.
At first, I was unsure if Vorenia could survive, but she has shown to be rather capable, to be able to outpace the big bear is certainly impressive, even with the barriers Aurelia puts up and the walls I erect to slow him down. Although he would probably catch up without our help, Vorenia could still probably outrun him if the conditions were right.
"This has been going on for a couple of hours now, do you think we should have someone swap places with her?" Lia asks.
"And who is fast enough to actually do it?" Aurelia says and seeing how there is no answer, she continues, "that's what I thought. Besides, Lord Gaoh should be calming down soon, probably within an hour or two."
Just as she said, after around an hour and twenty minutes, Gaoh's eyes regain their clarity and he himself was slowing down before eventually coming to a halt. Seeing the opportunity, we run over and meet up with the Vorenia who has collapsed in tears, clinging to Aurelia. She whispered something into Vorenia's ear which cheers her up, but I pay it little attention as my eyes are focused on the approaching giant black bear.
"It's been a while, Smelly Bear, I've got a favour to ask," Aurelia says as we all look in horror at what she just called him.
"Smelly Bear..." if he gets angry over that, no matter how fast we are, at this range we're dead meat, but surprisingly, he doesn't get angry and continues, "it has certainly been a long time since this great bear has been addressed as such. Not since your mother has died have I been called that. Speak, what is it you want of me."
"In a few days, my Uncle will by marching an army upwards from the south in rebellion as an attempt to secure the throne for himself. I want to ask for your assistance."
"I have no intention to leave the mountain and the surrounding plains for such a trivial reason."
"I am aware, but they will be passing through your domain and we intend to stall them there. Since the battle will take place--"
"I was not done speaking. While normally I do not leave the mountain and plains, the last time I did so was to attend the Rite of Passing when your mother died. There I spoke with the soul of your mother. She had warned through foresight that leaving the Sanctuary would result in an early death, but in her passing, she had no regrets about it, but she was worried. Worried over the inheritance on your father's side and made me promise to just once to assist her if a problem occurs in regards to the Imperial Throne. On the account of your mother, you will have my assistance in this matter, but do not count on it again."
"Thank you... can I ask, just what was her last words?"
"She hoped that her daughter would do as she pleases and lives her life to the fullest. Make of it what you will."
"That sounds like something she'd say. Anyways, give me a moment, I need to have my doppelganger move our forces over to the Mountain of Storms," Aurelia says as she walks away.
"Sooo, I know this probably isn't the best time considering the conversation so far, but I've been wondering for a while, why do you randomly go berserk?" I ask.
"Really, you chose now of all times to ask," Lia says while rolling her eyes.
"Since you are vaguely connected, I shall tell you. A curse from the Bane of Man," Gaoh says.
The other three look a little confused over the name, but I recognise it, "Catoblepas, the Bane of Man, one of the four Heralds."
"As expected, you are aware. Not too surprising since the now dead candidate for the next Catoblepas is the one responsible for the extinction of the Spirit Dragons. But this curse comes from the previous Catoblepas. A joint effort between myself and the other Sacred Beast to take him down, and as the one who dealt the final blow, I was left with a curse the reduces my senses and sanity to nothing for half a day. Over the years it has gotten better and only affects me once every ten days. But since then, we have chosen to leave the other Heralds be and do what we can prevent the candidates from completing their evolution. My covenant with you being one of the methods we choose. Of course, sometimes they can remain hidden until its too late like with the emergence of the Land Ravager."
"Now dead? Did you kill him?" I ask.
"Not me, but others. I shall return to my abode for now. When the time arises, the young Eithgar knows how to call for me."
With a loud roar, just like what we saw a while ago, lightning strikes the ground and he begins to climb the unseen Stairs of Wind, leaving us behind.
"Alright, I've got everything ready. The Legates and the soldiers we can muster are on their way here. We will be meeting them in the plains just beyond the mountain. Afterwards, we will wrap around to the western side of the mountain and prepare some fortifications."
With the big bear gone, we make our way out from the mountain as we prepare to meet up with the rest of our troops.