The observatory Ignis lived in was large, connected to a small living space used by scientists of the past. He meditated beneath the geodesic dome, once a room used to study the weather and stars, now a greenhouse for some of Ignis’ plants. Soft light filtered in from above, and the pleasant scent of mint graced his nose whenever he inhaled deeply. Everyday after lunch he came here, enjoying the sun’s rays on his face and the peace and quiet, broken only by occasional birdsong.

At least, that’s how it used to be.

Now, as Ignis sat cross-legged and eyes closed, all he could hear was the distant sound of arguing. His eyebrow twitched in annoyance, and his eyes squeezed shut as he tried to maintain the fragile inner peace remaining inside of him.

Of course, the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching his location made him audibly sigh, the last remains of his calm broken by a shrill yell.

“Ignis! Kintsugi isn’t letting us set up in the laboratory.”

Finally opening his eyes, letting clear annoyance spread across his face, Ignis looked up to see Savant standing before him, hands on his hips and a big frown on his face.

Armel and Kintsugi trailed into the dome, remnants of a scuffle apparent on their skin and clothes. Ignis looked from them to Savant, sighing.

“Why do you need the lab?” Ignis asked, exasperated.

“For experiments, of course. The lab is the only place with enough room for my inventions, after all.”

Why did I agree to let these three stay here? Ignis beat himself up mentally, telling himself, Right. They’re fugitives of the law… curses. Struggling to his feet and stretching out the remaining bit of relaxation from his shoulders, he thought for a moment before saying, “I’ve got all of my potions and ingredients in the lab right now. But you can use the old storage room, if you’re okay with that.”

“Really?” Savant blinked. “If… that isn’t a problem.”

Ignis glanced over at Kintsugi, who was rapidly shaking his head. Sighing again, he nodded.

“Sure. Just give me a day, I’ll clear everything out.”

“Great! Thanks, Ignis! We can help after we finish sorting my stuff!” Savant saluted and strutted away. He grabbed Armel’s wrist on his way out, dragging him away from Kintsugi who stared in disbelief at Ignis.

They locked eyes for a long time before Kintsugi spoke up. “You know you don’t have to agree to everything Savant asks– uh, demands.”

Ignis looked down, nodding solemnly. “I know, but… they don’t have anywhere else to go. By the order of the queen, they’re supposed to be dead.”

“Yeah, well, I’m about to fulfill that order myself.”

“Kintsugi!”

“Fine, fine…” Kintsugi threw his hands up in surrender. “But still, you can refuse them some things at least.”

“I will, I will,” Ignis said, insisting. “Don’t worry, I can establish my own boundaries.”

Kintsugi folded his arms across his chest. “You’re right. I suppose I don’t need to remind you. It seems like I’m still trying to bodyguard you… as much as you need it.”

“Mmhmm” Ignis stretched out his arms, stooping to pick up his hat from the floor and placing it carefully on his head. “Anyways, bodyguard, mind lending me a hand? I’ve got some things I need to take out of storage.”

─── ♡ ♢ ☀︎ ✩ ☽ ♧ ♤ ───

In the dim lighting of Dr. Alde’s basement laboratory, the doctor sat tinkering with Syzygy’s portal machine. Meanwhile, Syzygy and Frankie were indulging themselves in a game of cards. Whatever game they were playing, Dr. Alde couldn’t say. He wasn’t paying too much attention to their conversation.

“This technology is less foreign to me than I thought it would be,” Dr. Alde mused, looking over at Syzygy and Frankie. Syzygy looked stressed, a hand on their forehead, while Frankie simply smiled cheekily. The two of them turned to Dr. Alde expectantly. He pointed to very tiny lettering on the base of the umbrella. “This language written on the side looks very similar to the ancient language we saw in the Stars Kingdom. Can you read it, Syzygy?”

Syzygy stood, moving to take a look. They shook their head. “No, I’m sorry. It’s just a common engraving used on these types of machines back in Cephoxa. No one knows what it means, not even the manufacturers. Just that portal devices all need it.”

Dr. Alde sighed. “I see. Do you think something is preventing the engraving from… working?”

“Maybe,” Syzygy picked up the umbrella and studied it. “I was flying pretty high when I fell. All I remember is that there was some weird shadowy bird in my peripheral before I began hurtling towards the ground! Luckily, I crashed through the roof of that castle.”

“It most likely got damaged in your crash.” Frankie pointed out. “If you knew what it meant, we could re-do it.”

“Right.” Dr. Alde nodded. “Then, perhaps it’s time to pay that “heretic” a visit. I have a feeling he knows what these symbols mean.”

“Who?”

“Savant.”

The formerly abandoned observatory was placed atop a cliffside, overlooking the ocean. It straddled the borders between the Hearts Kingdom and the Diamonds Kingdom, the latter of which took claim over the warm, terraced land that eventually melted into white sandy beaches. It was summer now, but nearing fall, so the ocean waves were beginning to lap higher and higher against the cliff face, leaving behind lines of salt.

A lightly placed path snaked its way up to the observatory. When it was bustling with astronomers and meteorologists and climatologists and oceanographers and many other researchers, there would have been a tram or carriage that bussed them to and from the base of the hill.

Nowadays, however, the observatory was populated by no one, save for the prodigy magician who now took on the moniker of Ignis Volare. But Ignis wasn’t the man Dr. Alde was searching for. Not today, at least.

As they made their way up the path to stand before the door, Dr. Alde—followed by Frankie and Syzygy—only needed to knock twice before the door swung open at a blinding speed.

Standing before them was the young girl, Ignis’ assistant, Ginger, looking up at them through her round frame glasses with an expression that was a mix of shock and awe.

“Ah, the magister’s master!” Ginger breathed, holding the door open wider. “Come in, come in! I’ll go grab him!”

“No need.” Dr. Alde held a hand up politely. “I’m not here for Igo– uh, Ignis today. Actually, I’m looking for Professor Savant.”

Ginger suddenly froze, her eyes darting around nervously. Dr. Alde chuckled.

“Don’t worry, I’m not here to turn him in or arrest him.” Dr. Alde motioned to Syzygy, who procured their umbrella and handed it over. “I just want him to take a look at this umbrella. I believe—given his ability to gain access to the Stars Kingdom—that he may have at least a small idea of what these words mean.”

“O-of course. Um… let me go ask and see if uh…” Ginger’s voice trailed off as she waddled away.

Not even a minute later, the echoing sound of metal crashing and a door flinging open could be heard down the hall. Quick footsteps—metal plates clacking on cold tile—tapped down the hallway until Savant skidded into view before them. His normally messy, light hair was even messier than before, his clothes wrinkled and unkempt. His visor glasses nearly slid off the bridge of his nose as he tried to readjust them with too much force.

Savant caught his breath before calling out, “D-Dr. Alde! You’re here to see me?”

Dr. Alde laughed to himself, thinking, Surely I’m not special enough for this type of idolatry, before nodding and gesturing with the umbrella. “I believe you may be able to translate this, no?”

Professor Savant had begun to set up shop in one of the smaller rooms of the observatory. Objects were scattered on the floor, most of them semi-assembled or semi-dismantled. The mess of Savant’s workspace drastically contrasted the organization of Dr. Alde’s, although most of his lab’s neatness was thanks to Frankie’s dutiful cleaning.

In the corner, Armel was reclining on a small bed, watching them curiously. He held a hefty book in his hand, perhaps thousands of pages long.

“Caritas, what-” Armel began before correcting himself upon receiving a small glare from the professor. “Sorry. Savant, what are they doing here?”

Savant huffed. “They have asked for my help with translating the writing here on this, uh… umbrella?”

“Portal device.”

“...right…” Savant studied it quizzically. Finally, he cleared his throat and guided the other three to his desk, littered with tablets—much like the ones from the Stars Kingdom—and papers. “This shouldn’t take long. It’s a very simple word.”

“Oh, really?” Dr. Alde leaned in closer, curious.

Savant picked up a pen, setting the umbrella on the desk and pulling a piece of paper already lingered with notes and chicken scratch closer. Then, he began writing slowly as the other three stood over him.

F-A-Z-V-Q-A-T-O. Syzygy glanced up at Dr. Alde and Frankie, inquiring, “What does that mean? Faz-vuh-qa-to?”

“Wormhole…” Savant said questioningly, before repeating it once more with confidence. “This language—known as Primordial—is the language of the gods. Somehow, the King of Stars learned Primordial and I, in turn, learned it from his diary entries. It’s said that the word of the gods was once considered law and their written words were almost as powerful, too.”

“Interesting,” Dr. Alde murmured. “Do you have a theory on how we can repair this umbrella?”

Savant turned it over in his hands, before nodding. “Of course. Primordial is a language imbued with magic. Something is just severing the power of the words from the receptor. Give me a week- no, a few days, and I think I can crack it.”

Dr. Alde nodded, looking towards Syzygy. “Are you alright with leaving your device here with Professor Savant?”

Eyeing Savant carefully, Syzygy finally nodded, their gills bouncing up and down as their head moved. “That’s fine. I think I can trust Savant.”

“Fantastic!” Savant interjected. “I promise I’ll keep in touch. Do you guys have a phone I can ring?”

The three of them stared blankly at Savant.

“None of you?” he pouted, before running a hand through his hair and rising to his feet, pacing the lab and peeking into various boxes. “I suppose that’s alright. They only released a couple years ago, not everyone’s gonna have one yet…”

“Savant, they’re in the crate under our bed,” Armel piped up, his eyes still trained on the book he was reading. Savant quickly paced over to him, getting on all fours to drag out a box from beneath the bedframe. He pulled out three rectangular objects before rising back to his feet, brushing off his pants. He quickly entered his number into each one before handing them out.

“Here. One for each of you. Consider it a gift from me.” Savant placed his hands on his hips proudly. “I’ll be in touch with you as soon as I’m done.”

“Thank you, Savant.” Dr. Alde said curtly, accepting the phone. He examined the screen, sleek and sturdy in design. On the back was a logo, shaped like an S with straight lines, and smaller lettering underneath it. Primordial. Dr. Alde looked back up at Savant, smiling cheekily, “I see you’ve experimented with using Primordial yourself.”

Savant’s face flushed. “Ah, yes, well… might as well?”

“I suppose,” Dr. Alde nodded. “The mark of a true genius is how well they can use the information they already have readily available. Alright, Frankie. Syzygy. Let’s go home.”

Without another word, they pocketed the phones and waved goodbye, filing out of the room and returning back to Dr. Alde’s. Savant fiddled with his fingers as he watched them go before turning back to Armel and sitting down next to him on the bed, leaning back and reclining across Armel’s legs. Savant let out a heavy sigh.

“Happy?” Armel asked, looking up from his book.

Savant tilted his head to look over at Armel, nodding. “Yeah.”

“I’m glad."