Sanctum Building, Sam.

All the exploration ships containing the Sanctuary and Malveria crew had arrived in Farpoint. Einar and Sam had gathered all their troops as well. Temporarily, the dungeon entry was paused, and all the adventurer parties inside the dungeons, if they could reach them, were called back.

Something was going on in the Sanctum. People of Sanctuary were not fools. They could see signs of unrest. For now, Sam did not spread any news. To be honest, he himself did not know what would happen. It was better not to put people in danger for no reason.

It was clear that Highswords and even the golem would not go without a fight. The Gods will most likely use their followers to reach them. The battle will take place outside Sanctuary, without the involvement of Sanctuary's people. If they were truly forced to act, Sam had certain instructions from Damian for emergencies.

The waygates had been stopped as well. The gates of Sanctuary were open, though, so people could still use their frames or runic motors to travel. The Helix 3.0-class ships were still running, so transportation was not an issue.

The unrest in the city had started spreading rumors, and many private news and entertainment channels were debating and speculating.

Now they only needed to wait.

Around midday, Grace called him back to their private sanctum floor to have lunch. His son had returned from the academy as well. Lucian had decided to let all the kids go after half a day of classes. Travelling to other countries might get tricky once someone comes asking for the awakened.

Sam had too many things to take care of, but Grace insisted he come because many of their friends were present in the Sanctum building, and she had organized a little lunch get-together. She asked to bring Elias and the metal man as well.

The Highswords had taken their awakened back to their island. They promised to return whenever asked; they said so before leaving without prompting. If they decided to leave, Sam knew he couldn't do much. They knew what would happen to Sanctuary if they did so. He still hadn't received any words from Astraea, so he was under no obligation yet.

They arrived at the lower floor, which was his private residence. The upper floor, which used to belong to Damian once, was converted into the official Keeper's office. No outsider or sanctum official was allowed to enter his private place. This is where Grace and his kids lived after all.

"Father! Can you tell this insolent fool that I am the first?" His eldest, Rhydan, yelled, pointing at Orian the second he entered the room with Elias and the metal man.

"Uncle El!" Orian came running as well. "How come you are here?"

Both children noticed the golem at the same time, and their childish faces were full of curiosity and slight fear of the unknown. But it was Lucian's daughter, usually the sensible one, who walked near the golem and politely asked,

"Uhm, Hello, sir, I am Altheia Goldilocks."

The two boys positioned themselves to her left and right, as if they had suddenly become her guards. In reality, though, they squeezed Altheia from both sides, leaving her annoyed and uncomfortable.

"Hello! I am Asher." The Golem replied with a smile and bent down to match her height.

"Are you like Chief Jacob?" Orian asked.

"Stupid! That's rude to ask." Rhydan butted in.

"Leave us alone!" Altheia pushed the two away with the most feral expression, then resumed her polite act. "Don't mind them, Sir Asher. These two are fools."

Sam smiled and moved near to his wife and others seated at the large table. Vidalia, Lucian, Einar, Evrin, and Souldealer had already arrived before him. Little Kaelen jumped out of Grace's lap and jumped into his as Sam took his seat. Sam's mood instantly brightened. He lifted the guy and rubbed his little nose with his. Sparks of cyan lightning travelled from Sam's head to Kaelen and circled back.

The mischievous toddler chuckled sweetly.

It was truly strange. For some reason, Kaelen could assert minor control over the lightning coursing in Sam's own body. It was a special connection between him and Kaelen. Something both Rhydan and Grace envied greatly.

They had no clear answer for why their kids had such differences, even before their kids had their first jobs. Damian and other more scholarly folks theorized that it was maybe a natural progression. Children of Espers were always slightly different; some even inherited some version of their parents' jobs, like Alex and his sister.

For Damian.. well, he was not entirely human. Neither of his children was probably human either. Like Shadowborn, they had some innate abilities from birth.

"Any message from him?" Sam asked.

He had left contacting Damian entirely to Vidalia and others. The white-haired elf's expressions shifted a little towards uncertainty.

"No, waygates don't work. The dungeon isn't letting anyone enter either. Unless he does something to come out, I believe the answers to their fate will only be revealed when the new dungeon stabilizes." The Lady of house Sunblade replied.

"So three hours at best and two days at worst," Einar concluded.

Suddenly, Lucian's sigh while holding a drink caught all attention. Without meeting anyone's eyes, she said,

"I don't think I will ever be able to look upon the two kingdoms with mercy if they take Highswords. Without Landbreaker, they will not make it."

"After this, there will be no negotiations or deals. If they go through this, which they will most likely do, it will be a clear separation of the mainland." Souldealer added.

"Let's not talk about that for a while and enjoy the lunch." Grace clapped once as if waking all of them up.

Sam smiled, "Yes, let's leave that for later."

They chatted about simpler things. Happy things.

However, somewhere in between, his son Rhydan turned towards him, looked him in the eyes, and said,

"Why can't Sir Asher live with us like Chief Jacob? Why does he have to go?"

All hands stopped. All three kids were looking at him with eyes full of hope. For the first time in a decade, Sam had no idea what to say. Neither as a father nor as a keeper. The answer in his head made no sense. What was he to say? 'They have to die so we can live?'

"Rhydan, I have to go because I also have a home where my friends are waiting for me." The golem, no, Asher was the one who broke the oppressive silence.

The three children of six glanced at the man of metal, their eyes made it clear they did not believe that answer. Sam remembered his own thought when he was five.

'They understand more than they let on.'

"Lord keeper protects, right?" Rhydan asked. "Father, won't you protect Sir Asher?"

"I will do all I can," Sam replied.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

———

Sanctum Building, Ilvanya.

'Go. Do as told.'

Ilvanya closed her eyes and cursed her fate. A moment of heavy silence, only the sound of her breathing echoed. Then she opened her eyes. The decision was made.

She hated doing that. This was one of the reasons she had retired in the first place.

She activated her receiver and sent a message to all Eldoris exploration leaders. A direct command from their queen.

Retreat.

With a weary heart, Ilvanya gathered all sanctum heads and said it directly,

"The gods have decided. All awakened will die. Sanctuary will be split into three parts, and all of the mainland except Eldoris will be marching for Sanctuary soon."