Defiance of the Fall

The surroundings exploded in a chaotic mix of Faith and Space. Zac was unscathed, finding himself standing in the middle of a shallow crater fifty meters across. Beyond was a sea of orange complemented by nine pillars grasping for infinity. The new environment came with the influx of memories he'd hoped for. The shared state with Terea Wendimar had ended, replaced by his normal twinned existence.

Even so, the grief of parting with his 'father' lingered. It even intensified after the memories were transferred to his Draugr side to experience. It was impossible not to be touched by the love and concern Kristvan Wendimar had shown. It made Zac think of his real father—Robert Atwood, not the biological father that Leandra mentioned.

A small book appeared in Zac's left hand. Being made from mortal materials, it didn't emit a speck of spirituality. It was the diary he'd found in Greenworth, journaling Robert's final days. Its edges were worn by now, and it was only a matter of time before the pages would start to yellow. Staying inside a Spatial Ring couldn't completely halt the passage of time.

Zac sighed and put away the diary. It was hard to believe decades had passed since he last saw his father. His image was still fresh in Zac's mind, but how long would that last? Most of his memories from his life before the integration had grown hazy, like a dream before he awakened. Would Robert Atwood fade like his book, severing another link to mortality?

He turned his attention to the item in his other hand. It was the Wendimar Clan Seal, and its existence presented hard-to-answer questions. It was real to the touch, and it exuded a deep, unmistakable aura. It was Imperial Fate. Zac could picture generation after generation of Wendimar Clan leaders carrying the seal, each successor adding to its spirituality through conviction and service.

The seal resonated with something within Zac's body. It was a radiant ball of light that emerged from his chest, growing into the face of a stalwart woman sharing more than a few traits with Kristvan Wendimar. At the same time, she was slightly different from the Terea Wendimar of Zac’s memories.

There was antiquity in her gaze, one you wouldn't expect to see in a Hegemon or even Monarch. Without the light emitting any aura, Zac suspected this Terea was one who lived after the scene he'd witnessed. Someone who had survived the calamity and risen to transcendent heights. Zac smiled. It looked like Kristvan Wendimar's wish had come true.

'Thank you…' Terea said, her ethereal voice seemingly coming from a distant past.

"I'm glad I could help," Zac said, knowing exactly what she was talking about.