Outer Spacetime is more than just the veil existence of Prime 5. Sure, it is all the same universe, but Outer Spacetime is the manifestation of all the matter that beings of lower spacetime cannot perceive with the eye.
Sao-Reyne never enjoyed attaining Outer Spacetime because the colors of that exotic view of space made his eyes ache. The First Wizard had summoned him to Theron many times, and after the Transverse appeared and then left to fulfill her destiny, he was summoned to Wazad’s Emporium.
“I have not heard from you in a long time,” Sao-Reyne said. “The universe is full of dangers.”
“And you have done Wazad’s part in facing them,” the First Wazad said. He is an adorable old man who smiles brightly with his tan face, so much so that when he smiles, his eyes are just slits above his round cheeks. Even though the first Wazad is ancient, his skin is smooth and unblemished, like he is made of stone, but the stark whiteness of the long hair on his head that drapes his shoulders and his facial hair, make him look older. He also wears a robe or cloak that opens in the front to reveal his simple shirt and slacks of light fabric underneath. There are golden accents in the First Wazad’s hair and clothing.
Sao-Reyne wears his skintight golden uniform and his large tail lashes nervously at the space behind him. The First Wazad is a large man and Sao-Reyne is always slightly nervous in his presence, though the First Wazad has never questioned Sao-Reyne’s competency or the decisions he’s made as the Wazad of lower spacetime.
“I have summoned you to ask for your assistance. There are two beings of lower spacetime who have settled in the region of Arada and they are causing problems. I know that you have interacted with Wazad the Transverse and the other beings who traveled with her to lower spacetime from a different space time. You were part of the effort that resulted in Omega permanently residing in Outer Spacetime.”
“I hope that hasn’t been an issue for the denizens of this existence,” Sao-Reyne says, hoping that he has not been summoned to be reprimanded.
The First Wazad laughs loudly. “The Omega is just a dark cloud in Outer Spacetime. There were dark clouds and storms on Ame-tsuchi for a while and the Kami were angry, but it has moved on and largely darkens unoccupied space. The lower spacetimers on Arada, though, are devouring mystical crops and stinking up whole regions of Arada, making it uninhabitable for the Loa. Do you know anything about these beings?”
The First Wazad lifts both of his hands with the pointer fingers high and the other fingers arch as a golden mist issues from his palms to recreate scenes from Arada. Sao-Reyne immediately recognizes the Daemon Kilmo, who is surrounded in a pale green aura that makes the brown-skinned Loa retch and vomit, and Cotta, who is eating his way through a grove of green bushes with tropical leaves and deep red flowers.
“I thought the Mmoatia and the Aerphim had neutralized the Daemon threat, but I guess these two never returned to lower spacetime after the Head was unknowingly banished here.”
“So you do know these lower spacetimers? Very good. I would like for you to go to Arada and bring them to Theron before the Loa kill them.”
“If they are a nuisance, maybe it is best that the Loa kill them,” Sao-Reyne says.
“Tara has requested them,” the First Wazad says, “and I don’t like to anger Tara if I can avoid it. She is the only one of the Mao Ri who scares me, but only because Garoa isn’t prone to violence.”
“What does she plan to do with them?” Sao-Reyne asks. “And couldn’t you easily portal them from Arada to Theron?”
“I hope that you do not blindly cast portals across billions of lightyears,” the First Wazad said with a chuckle. “I am well equipped to do it, but even I don’t do it flippantly. Besides, the power of the Loa and Arada as a location has very high levels of arcana that make remote casting extremely difficult. So, go there, port them here, and I can send you back to lower spacetime.”
“Whatever you say,” Sao-Reyne says and his long tail traces patterns in space to cast a portal. “You will have to lend me your knowledge of Outer Spacetime to locate it. I have never been to Arada.”
The First Wazad lifts his right hand that seems to be led by his outstretched pointer finger and he shoots a golden blast at Sao-Reyne’s head to impart the knowledge he needs. He casts the portal with his tail and a golden oval appears behind him, then he floats backwards through the portal that closes once he has passed through it. After a few minutes, a golden oval appears and the Daemon tumble out of it, followed by Sao-Reyne.
“The Loa thank you for ridding their world of these things,” Sao-Reyne explains, “but they are convinced that you sent them there and I was just retrieving them for you. They are not happy. I think I heard rumblings of confrontation between the Loa and the Therosi.”
“I will handle it,” the First Wazad says as he lifts a hand to send Sao-Reyne back to lower spacetime.
“I don’t know if that will work,” Sao-Reyne says and he drops the uniform that he manifests with his powers. His furry chest is singed in the shape of a smoking heart brand. “Grand Brigitte marked me. I’m pretty sure that means…” Before he could finish, Sao-Reyne’s body began to elongate, like he was being stretched across space, and then he disappeared.
“Why is nothing ever simple?” the First Wazad says as he moves his fingers to send the Daemon to Tara’s lair. “I guess I have to go get him.”
“Can we please stop?” Maria says with exasperation. She is tired after her trip around Outer Spacetime as she and her companions make their way back to Juoil, the end of the Aifyn Line and the home of the Ice Prince.
“Its not that much further to Aifyn,” the Ice Prince says. His face is pained as he struggles to keep up with Maria while he holds a sleeping Garoa in both hands. She refused to travel without a nap after their successful journey on the cosmic Wynds of Outer Spacetime and Maria insisted that he carry her because the Ice Prince insisted that they return to Juoil to recuperate before Maria and Garoa returned to Theron.
“I won’t make it,” Maria says angrily and she stops to hover in space. She has to expend a lot of energy to appear weightless as she does floating before an exhausted Ice Prince. Goara is sleeping peacefully. “Aren’t we right over Halfyn? We are stopping here. You won’t make it to Aifyn either carrying Garoa. And she won’t be happy if you drop her. We’re going,” Maria says and flies toward the planet Halfyn that is a large sphere in the distance.
The Ice Prince reluctantly follows and he leads Maria to the windy fields of the Western hemisphere where they land. Maria sinks to her knees under the intense gravity and the Ice Prince lays Garoa on the study grasses that support her weight easily. She seems to float on top of the grass.
“The Halfyn Heir won’t be here,” the Ice Prince says, looking around them skeptically. “We should rest up and move along.”
Maria is already lying on the tips of the blades of grass in the dense field. “You were going to risk dropping Garoa to avoid running into the Halfyn Heir?”
“I don’t know about you, but I don’t like making people sad if I can avoid it,” the Ice Prince says, “and running into him on his homeworld will only stir up feelings and memories of my deceit. He doesn’t deserve that.”
Maria is sleeping soundly by the time he finishes speaking and he smiles at her, then curls up next to her to sleep as well. But then a breeze kicks up and it causes the Ice Prince to sit up. Soon, he feels currents of Wynds approaching and the chaos in the field would have woken Maria and Garoa under normal circumstances, but they are both too exhausted to be stirred.
The Ice Prince covers his face as the Ryder of the Wynds arrives to their location and descends on the field in front of him. As the chaos disperses, the Ice Prince is shocked to see the Halfyn Heir on a sturdy Wynd.
“I am no longer deficient,” the Halfyn Heir says eagerly and he gets close enough to the Ice Prince on his Wynd to grab the Prince’s hand and kiss it delicately.
The Ice Prince has no energy to protest and he falls asleep before he can respond.
The Halfyn Heir looks at the Ice Prince and his friends with concern and then he takes them all back to his family’s fortress.
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