"Is this Everfell?"
"Yes."
Nyori frowned in confusion. "I thought that Leilavin was in control here."
Riodran's face seemed amused. "Can one control the ocean or command the stars in the sky? Leilavin styles herself a master of Everfell, but in truth she only controls her Threshold, the small apportionment that she claims for her own. Everfell itself is as vast as every dream of every being in every world."
Nyori tried to grasp the concept. "I thought Everfell was a world of visions. But if I could enter physically, then—"
Riodran leaned forward, holding Nyori fast with his gaze. "It is a plane of existence where many minds touch to shape its landscape. You must realize that your Inner mind is much more powerful and less restricted than your Outer mind. Most of humanity cannot touch Everfell save for dreaming, when the Inner mind is less restricted. They are safe in their dreams, but to enter physically exposes one to many dangers. Yes, it is an actual location. A world between worlds where the unfettered mind can encounter endless possibilities. Time holds no sway here, so the past can be observed. Slivers of the future revealed. All of what you call visions are simply reflections of this place.
"Once we traversed it freely, but we had to abandon it when we departed from your world. Leilavin reconstructed her Threshold so no one could enter without her knowledge. Physical access to Everfell has been barred for ages. It was only through a cunningly placed loophole that you were able to enter. The trap lay inside of the Eye, waiting all this time to be sprung."
Nyori lowered her head "I did not mean to."
His expression was gentle. "Of course not. Never believe that you are to blame for actions beyond your control."
Something in his voice fed her, ridding her of her doubts. "So is Everfell where your people reside then?"
"Again, no. This is not Nolavani, where my people dwell. There are several places of convergence in Everfell where mentors can communicate with their charges. Ayna assisted me in drawing you here, but in time you may be able to focus the Discipline yourself."
Nyori's questions continued to surface. "I've been trying to understand what happened. I know that time ceases to exist here, but outside of Everfell it continues. If I took Eymunder from Alaric in the past, then history was altered by my actions. But nothing seems different. Why is the world still unchanged?"
Riodran gently stroked Kusagra's heavy mane. "Because time does not change, dear Nyori. Only yourselves. What you call history is simply a remembrance of events that have transpired, and a faulty remembrance at that when it comes to human perspective. When you touched the past, you altered time, true enough. But individuals are mere pebbles, Nyori. Time is a raging river. Were you to shift or remove a pebble, does the river change its flow?
"No, but—"
"But more than one pebble was affected, is what you were about to say." He smiled. "And in that you are correct. Subtle changes. The river of time still flows despite many subtle changes, which is why your world is still recognizable. But at the same time, it has been changed, noticeably altered if you know where to look."
Nyori wet her lips. She finally arrived at the question she was afraid to ask. "Mistress Ayna said that Alaric…the Pale Lord wanted Eymunder more than anything. Enough to kill for it. Why?"
Riodran eyed the tubular container at her waist as though the thick leather was no bar for him to see it. "You have been taught of the two energies that all Crafts and Disciplines siphon from."
"Yes. Eler, the energy from living things. And Aether, the energy from the heavens."
Riodran nodded. "Heavenly bodies, to be sure. What you call the sun and the stars, although that is a very simple translation. Eymunder is an elemental fusorb that harnesses Eler, the living energy. It can amplify the talents of one trained in Apokrypy, and is useful for the arts of healing and amplifying physical gifts. Alaric believes that Eymunder is the only thing that can cure him and his people of their curse to feed on humans to live."
Nyori shivered. "Can it?"
The light dimmed as Riodran frowned in thought. "I cannot say. Much remains in shadow at the moment, as though a game is being played outside of immediate events." His eyes shimmered as he looked beyond. "I fear that Stygan manipulates events somehow."
Nyori gasped. The chamber span about in dizzy blurs. She would have fallen had not Ayna caught her. Nyori leaned against her mentor as though her bones were feathers.
"She has been here too long." Anya's voice was muffled as though she spoke from a distance. Nyori clung to her for fear she would float away like chaff in the wind.
A bright presence she knew to be Riodran approached, and she felt his hand upon her brow. Heat rippled through her, soothing as the sun upon rose petals. "I am sending you back now, dear Nyori, for you were unprepared for this journey. I am sorry for that. But not all is lost, for you have Eymunder to protect you, and I have unlocked it so that you can access its secrets.
"Know this: Stygan is imprisoned, but he can touch this world through his Acolytes — fingers of his hand who serve him devotedly. You have already met one of them: Leilavin. She no longer serves him, but that makes her all the more dangerous. The last time she emerged from Everfell she created the Reavers to burn the world of the akhkharu, for they rebelled against her authority and overthrew her station of power. Now they stir anew, and thunder sounds on the wind as the Night Mare approaches. The Reaver stands at the center of the maelstrom. And now, my dear one, so do you."
"AND NOW, MY DEAR ONE, so do you…"
Nyori's eyes opened to glowing specks of light. For a moment she was unsure if she was awake or dreaming. She remembered the tiny Glyphs and realized she was back in the ruins of Asfrior. At once she felt the stifling sensation of isolation and the sorrowful remembrance of Nando and Ironhide.
A humming noise interrupted her grief. It emanated from Eymunder, which vibrated slightly in her open hand. Nyori awkwardly rose, flexing muscles tender from sleeping on the shattered floor. The shadows of the ancient pillars nearly swallowed her as she examined the glassy wand closer.
She almost dropped the rod when it abruptly vibrated and effused with pale, bluish light. It waned and stretched, growing in length until it morphed into a staff as tall as she. The golden orb glowed, shoving shadows across the colossal chamber.
"The staff of Eymunder is yours to wield, Nyori Sharlin. But you have little time to learn its uses." The masculine voice seemed to come from all around, echoing among the pillars in the massive chamber. The orb pulsed with every spoken word, animating the surrounding shadows. Nyori realized the voice came from Eymunder itself.
"How is it that you can speak?"
The orb pulsated. "The sphere of amber that tops the staff is a well of preservation. Riodran has unlocked it. I have stored information inside that will aid you in understanding the use of Eymunder."
Nyori brought the staff closer, bathing her face in the golden light. "Who are you?"
"Who I was is the more pertinent question. I was Teranse, called the Reader, although Theurgist would be a more accurate description since Theurgy is the study of Apokrypy. As one of the Five Sages, I was the last wielder of Eymunder. I infused Eymunder with basic knowledge of Apokrypy, the language of power. It is yours to serve as a foundation for your time as Eymunder's bearer."
"I don't understand—"
The light rippled. "You will, Nyori. Open your Inner mind."