She brought out a closed fist, and brought a single finger up, “One, he knew about our mystery guest, but he did not expect to find him here. He was shocked when he saw him in the convoy.”

Nana absently rubbed the cracked medallion with her other hand, “Scarvros was just coming from Trion, that tells me details of our mystery guest must be pretty widespread because Scarvros role in the family causes him to spend most if his time dealing with family matters, and he does not concern himself with matters outside his jurisdiction.”

“I know that man for a long time, he’s like a weasel, and he keeps to the family compound most of his life slowly accumulating power, and he detested concerning himself with matters outside his station.”

“if he knows our mystery guest, it all points to the fact that he must be very popular in Trion at the moment, and it must be very recently, he has a month or two because before the calamity I had a great channel to the events happening in the Empire.”

“So who is our mystery guest that details about him had reached even Scarvros?”

She brought up her second finger, “Scarvros recognized him and refused to tell me of his findings, while pretending he had other commitments. Bah, the man knows I’m not in favor presently, and I’m sure we are the last convoy he attended to.”

“His haste back to the Underground City, only leads me to the most likely conclusion. What is capable of being so popular it reaches the ears of Scarvros, while also stops he from telling the truth about it, while hurrying to reach the Underground City?”

Circe stroked the jaws, “I can only think of one thing, Nana.”

“Yes, my dear. There must be a bounty on the head of our mystery guest and for such a bounty to tempt a Dominator of Scarvros station, it must be a particularly high-ranking bounty.”

Circe’s face went white, “Nana you cannot mean…”

Nana nodded, her face holding more grim lines, and suddenly, she appeared ancient, all the lines of her harsh life imprinting itself on her body in a single moment,

“Scarvros must have let his intentions slip, or our mystery guest is aware that he is being hunted, and he chooses to keep his identity a secret for as much as possible, which all led to the death of Scarvros. So, we need to do as he asks, and slow down the convoy, or I see no reason why he would keep us alive. Clearly he wishes to delay his return to civilization as long as possible if he is recovering from an injury or making other plans.”

“Nana, I don’t understand, if you believe this man is still injured, and he could kill Scarvros, how powerful must he be? Do we truly have no chance against him?”

“That is something I hope we don’t discover by ourselves at the moment, else we are doomed. My dear, follow his instructions and slow down the speed of the convoy. Our reduced speed would soon be detected if we don’t stick to schedule, and it would be investigated, by that time we would make a move.”

“Okay, I will do as you ask. I believe that means I can no longer recruit him.” Circe smiled self-deprecatingly

Nana smiled, “Oh, my dear. Always take everything I say with a pinch of salt. These are all speculations on my part, Circe. I may be wrong, so don’t count your eggs yet, we could be in a perilous situation or this may be a misunderstanding. But first, I need to speak with Rico, our survival might depend on him. We should hope for the best, but prepare for the worse.”

“Nana, don’t tell me you’re not thinking what’s on my mind right now?”

“If he is the one?”

“well, it fits, if you go by the old prophecy.”

“Your source is less than stellar, Circe, Is it the same prophecy that speaks of screaming moons and talking tea cups?”

“Nana, I know details of such events are hidden from all. But it would not be the first time foreign gods invaded the Empire?”

“Well if he’s a god, if he is Erohim, we shall know soon enough. Scarvros is a favorite of your father. He would not let the slight pass for long. The next period of time could be very dangerous for us. We need to take care.”

“Of course Nana. How many vials of Battle Stimulant do you have in stock.” Circe suddenly asked.

“Do you think…”

“Yes, this is the only thing he has requested for, in addition to general knowledge about the Empire he had only requested for the Battle Stimulants.”

“I understand, Circe, I shall gather our stocks, and we should plan how we would dispense it.”

“Has he given any indication if he fancies any man or woman in the convoy apart from the family with him?”

“Not that I know of. I will surely keep an eye out.”

“Okay, in your discussion with my stupid brother, make sure you warn him about playing stupid games with him, for I fear the words he spoke of beating Rico to death with his own limb were not just mindless threats.”

“Certainly. I will see to it.”

Circe watched as Nana retrieved the isolation runes and left her office, her eyes were deep wells of mystery, and it was unknown where her thoughts were about.

®

He picked up the Spatial ring first and his mind entered inside. The space inside was far smaller than his bracelet, about the size of a single room, and indeed it had four walls like a cube made of a material similar to brown stone, and it was packed full. And unlike the Spatial bracelet, this one did not have its antigravity properties

He saw piles of Battle Stimulants of the highest grade, and a variety of wines in various sparkling colors, clearly his fondness for wine had been noted.

He selected a bottle, and popped the cork, his new Empyrean senses allowed him to savor the wine more deeply even without tasting it. So many senses came together to create a taste that was so wholesome that he sighed in pleasure after the first drop hit his tongue.

He had been doing himself a real disservice when he limited his senses. Taking another healthy swallow, he suddenly had a thought, and then he manifested a single grain of his new black–purple Aether on his palm and directed it towards the wine.

The wine froze instantly before expanding and destroying the bottle, Rowan held it in midair with his Telekinesis, and watched as the wine seemed to bloom into many icy crystals large enough to cover the entire room.

With an effort of will, Rowan compressed the still growing mass of ice into a ball and walked to the window where he chucked it far into the horizon.

He stroked his jaw and he deliberated on this new form of his Aether and how it would affect his Ability Runes, especially his flames. He determined to experiment with them next in order to find out, but he should handle what was in front of him first.

Checking out the Battle Stimulant that had taken up a tenth of the room, he swept his gaze through each individual bottle.

They had been neatly arranged in a transparent foam like material in a pile of hundred, and there were twenty foams like this, meaning a total of 2,000 Battle Stimulants, most likely it was most of their stock.

To anyone else this might be a lifetime stock of Battle Stimulant, but for him, it was roughly 20,000,000 energy value, not enough to even fill the gap between his teeth, but he liked the taste, and the crunch, so that had to count for something.