There stood a woman, floating in the air, dressed in an elegant white dress. She had green hair and brown eyes, and there rested a crown made of branches on top her head. It was the Goddess Cyrus, Goddess of life and wild. She looked and smiled kindly towards the three. Nearly everyone was put at ease in the sight of her except Nova who didn’t look too surprised by her appearance. Nova spoke to Finn, while not diverting her attention from Cyrus, “This is the person you were talking about, isn’t it Finn?”

Finn looked at her in surprise, “How did you know that?”

Nova clenched her fists, “I know her all too well, and how she loves to be cryptic whenever she speaks.”

Cyrus didn’t pay mind to Nova’s comment, “I’m sorry for not greeting you earlier, but it seemed you were already in your own engagements when I arrived. Forgive me, I didn’t want to interfere.”

“Why are we here Cyrus? I haven’t seen or heard from you in years.”

“It has been a long time hasn’t it lady An-.”

Nova interrupted, “Drop the formalities, and just answer my question.”

The Goddess seemed slightly surprised from the bold reaction and then her face returned to its original smile, “Very well then, first I’d like to thank you Mr. Vitae for accompanying lady… young Nova.”

He scratched his head, “Just doing what you asked.”

Cyrus gave a slight bow of her head to Finn and then finally looked to Tyse, “Mr. Werner, your bravery have served these two well. Wouldn’t you say so, Pyrium?”

Tyse looked confused when she said that, but suddenly Tyse then felt power rush from his body, making him feel weak. The shields and glow disappeared from him as they seemed to have flowed out of his body and formed a flame beside Cyrus. The fire formed a body of another woman, of familiar features, then the grouped recognized that this body of flame was Pyrium in her true form. Pyrium spoke, “Bravery perhaps, but he has so much to learn.”

Nova felt some solace, seeing Pyrium again, knowing that all of her efforts to rescue the Goddess was not in vain. Nova was going to ask Cyrus again why they were gathered here, but then held back, looking at them in an impatient stare instead. Cyrus spoke, “It is no mistake that the three of you have been brought here today. These are dark times and the Legion has shown no remorse, setting out to conquer the heavens.”

Pyrium spoke after her, “You have all seen what the Legion can do first hand. Now it seems nowhere is safe from their reach as they try to expand. They threaten the very balance of this world if left unchecked.”

Cyrus continued her thought, “That is why we have chosen you three to become our champions to fight the empire. End the conflict in this unending conquest of theirs.”

Finn and Tyse looked honored and excited to be hearing this, but Nova looked unamused by the proposal, “Yeah, well why not choose different champions instead of us?” Nova said.

Cyrus replied, “Well who better then you three?” She looked at each of them as she addressed them, “Finnis, the righteous theif. Tyse, the tragic mancer. Novus, the-.”

“Can it.” Nova interrupted, “I am not who you say I am.”

Cyrus looked somewhat hurt from the reaction and then carried on, “Very well. We need you three to stand the test of these dark times, in opposition to this threat.”

“We cannot allow another tragedy such as this to occur again.” Pyrium said, gesturing towards the destruction around them, “What do you say?”

Nova spoke first before the others can say anything, “You said the Legion is doing this to expand. It sounds like they are trying to benefit their people, doesn’t it?

Pyrium replied, “To you it may sound like that. However…” the Goddess looked to Tyse, “Well, tell her what happened in the past when humans over expanded, Mr. Werner. I know of all of that which you have learned during my time giving you power.”

Everyone looked to Tyse as he took a step back, not used to this kind of attention. “Well…” He said, “In the Old Age, humanity may have been at the peak of technological advances before Year Zero, but it was at the cost of pollution and decline in the populations of animals. Furthermore, there was famine and energy crises, trying to cater to the large amounts of people. In a sense, humankind would destroy itself and the world if Gods Arrow never came. Even today it isn’t long until we end up in the exact same place.”

The group went quiet, until Cyrus spoke again, “Well then Nova. I can already assume that your two acquaintances would agree to take up this task, but what about you? What do you say?”

Nova looked at Finn and Tyse, who both looked back, curious in her answer. Nova scoffed, “It’s not my problem, so find someone else to be your champion. I’m not going to be a part of this any longer.”

Cyrus and Pyrium looked unsurprised by the answer, and so Cyrus only sighed and replied back to Nova, “Perhaps you believe in your convictions now, but I’ll give you a chance to change your mind. I’ll return in three days for a final answer, maybe then your companions here can convince you until then.”

Nova raised a brow suspicious of her response, “Is that it?”

Cyrus continued, “Well not quite. I will provide you help in your travels.” Cyrus waved her hand across open air, making the winds whistle at her command. Then after a few moments of nothing happening, the group can hear galloping. Besides where Cyrus waved, appeared three wild horses. “I believe you have friends in Tas, Nova.” Cyrus said, “If you ride by horse you should be able to arrive in three days.”

“How convenient.” Nova scoffed.

“However.” Cyrus said, “Before I depart, Nova, be sure to tell them about what happened.”

Nova raised an eyebrow and the others exchanged glances behind her in curiosity, “Tell them what?” Nova asked.

Cyrus gave a slight smile, “Tell them what happened nine years ago in Anvil. Tell them what happened to Clara.”

Nova flinched as she said those words. She was mixed with feelings of shock, anger, and grief. She hasn’t heard of that name in years. Cyrus disappeared in a flash of light, blinding the group temporarily, and as they looked around they couldn’t find any traces of her. Tyse and Finn looked at each other and then at Nova who just stood there with her head hung low. Finn tried to get her attention to ask her what Cyrus was saying about nine years ago. Nova ignored him and got onto a horse, “Let’s get moving.” She said, “It’s a three day ride from here on.”

She manages to have the horse walk, as if it already knew where to go and what to do. Pyrium was still in her fiery form, but didn’t say a word as she returned to her dormant stage inside Tyse. Tyse shuddered as it happened, disturbed by the thought of a god living inside of him. Tyse nudged Finn on the elbow asking, “You think we should keep asking her about it?”

Finn looked at him for a second and then frowned as he mounted a horse, “Let’s just go.” He said and Tyse followed his lead as the horse took them to their destination.