Befehlnadir looked across the endless orange fields. His eyes passed over the strange building, the distant apple trees, and Mt. Up High off in the distance.
The Iron Butler watched Befehlnadir stretch and recover from his fight against Nestres. Hylo's grunting became background noise as his attention fell solely on the tyrant.
"Okay, you're going to work harder on turning those hips at the right time. Now hit me!" Ether ordered.
In response, Hylo swung as hard as she could. Her sweat flung off her body on impact as her fist clashed against Ether's palm.
The noise brought the Iron Butler's attention back to the duo. He watched Hylo striking Ether again and again, each time growing weaker until she collapsed.
Ether quickly jumped on top of her, then planted a knee diagonally over her breasts. His fist rose high over his head, then he stopped.
His sweat dripped off his forehead and fell onto Hylo's face - the mark of a good training session. Ether got off her, choosing to sit beside his daughter instead.
Befehlnadir approached the group with a drowsy stride. "Where's Hitirus?"
"The - the big man is up... there." Ether answered.
Befehlnadir turned to face Mt. Up High. Where Hitirus kneeled down at the very top.
Winds gently moved his thick hair back and forth. Hitirus clasped his hands together, letting himself get frozen over by the mountain.
Every Thawed present within Hitirus prayed to the Nine. They wished for new meaning or guidance. Completely silencing the other sub-versions within Hitirus' mind.
***
[Brittle Ice Male]: Mighty Sixth Rule of Reality, please heed my prayer. I long for the day I travel east and visit your glorious mountains.
Vu-ichor's golden ridges expand far beyond such a feeble Thawed's eyes. To pray for a lifetime wandering the path would be to pray for god-hood. But I am praying for something different, oh wise time-maker.
I beg you for a time in my life where I can visit Vu-ichor's mountain range. If you allow, I'll walk with pride and stop every night to worship you, my caring Being.
Great entity of time, thread a web with your two front limbs, so large and mighty, wise beyond understanding, and lend me a period where I can see such beautiful heights.
Please, great Sixth Rule of Reality, give me this.
[Brittle Ice Female]: My precious Eighth Rule of Reality. As a humble creation living in your perfect world, I wish to indulge myself in my kind's history.
Rituals are complex things. Their names and uses all have depth. Yet their stories stay hidden for years until the mighty Sixth Rule of Reality cuts their thread and are forgotten forever.
But they don't have to be, my merciful Eighth Rule. Your spindly hands are precise when you deliver us from nothingness. So do not make a mistake and give me more than I ask for, my dearest ruler.
Grant me knowledge of Hicro's Symphonies. Their stories and truths. Deliver me the meaning behind Peria's Chasms and Cinter's Great Invention.
I beg you, mighty Eighth Rule of Reality.
[Melted Thawed Male]: Third Rule of Reality, it is me, one of your humble vessels. I searched for a time to beg for forgiveness.
And now I found it. When the all loving Fifth and Forth Rules of Reality delivered us to you, your intentions behind our design were firm. Nothing could ever change your view on us.
You had your design on what we were and weren't capable of. And rewarded those that proved to be successful experiments. Yet I, along with my neighbors, deny your natural order.
Please forgive us. We do not intend to break what you made of us. But it is our curse. If your loyal Servant sees it fit, smite us for dismissing your order.
[Melted Thawed Female]: Sweet Fourth Rule of Reality, great maker and un-maker.
Your throne is divine and vast, I am sure. With so much wealth and time, would it be possible to mold me a necklace made of pure magma?
I do not seek judgement, for your decision is yours to execute and mines to suffer.
I do not seek knowledge, for what you've given me should be cherished and respected.
I do not seek perfection, for what would rival your existence.
I do seek a necklace I can pray with, so that my voice would reach your mighty mind and hear my prayers.
[Thawed Male and Female]: Wise creators of infinite experiments, we speak your name in unison for a simple wish.
Our lives, long and burdened, have troubled us since birth. But we do not seek your pity because we are not worth it.
What we seek is peace in the end. Comfort in the never-ending slumber. We are not afraid of what is to come, but we are afraid of how it comes.
Death is an experience we'll only have once. So we beg you for a peaceful sleep. One where we rest by your celestial bodies as a form of harmony.
***
Hitirus opened his eyes once again. They fell down into his hands where a necklace burned bright red. His thumb ran over every forming stone.
"Perfect Rules of Reality, I thank you," Hitirus called out.
He slipped his head and neck through the opening, letting the entire piece weigh his shoulders down. Once they were in position, a sense of harmony and peace filled Hitirus.
Winds calmed and clouds parted. Rays of the forever-setting sun washed the peak of the mountain in its golden glory.
A faint figure loomed overhead, one that resembled a Sky Beast except much bigger. Hitirus smiled up at the forming Guardian.
Its wings reached up to Pareidolia's outer-limits, showing off its strength and beauty. The Guardian loomed down at Hitirus, then it stared at the ledge.
Hitirus rose from his praying position, then he turned and walked closer to the edge. A perfect path down appeared right before him, all he had to do was perform a Sky Beast's Descent.
With a small run and a confident jump, Hitirus' trip back down began.