The Heavens Shall Fall

When the group reached the Companions, the colorful bird Siu had remembered from the first day was back, perched there, sitting on the main arch.

“Oh my!” it exclaimed, its voice resonating within Siu, Arya, and Marly, "That was a quick change. Ohohoho? Do we have a little genius in our ranks, hm?"

"I'm not little!" Arya growled, stomping on the ground, making everyone look at him.

"I always forget that Makela can talk through anyone who has a contract." Quillian muttered, making all the heads turn to him next, "She has been here since the establishment of the sect."

"..." Even Seloryn had her mouth fall agape, because this was news to her. A moment later, everyone looked at the bird, who just sat there, clearly basking in their shocked expressions.

"The thing is," Quillian added, "She refuses to take human form if she can avoid it, so only those with mutual contracts can hear her."

"Still jealous, little Quill?" The bird, Makela, asked with a loud laugh, which was enough for everyone to understand her meaning.

"Ah... Back then, when I first came here, I didn't realize she was an... Elder?" Siu said, turning back and forth between Quillian and Makela.

"She isn't, not really," Quillian muttered, looking at her, smacking his lips. "She has always been the current Sect Master's companion beast. That's what we know at least, but she holds no official power."

Once again, the bird didn't comment on it at all; it just sat there, looking like it was smiling, one eye staring at them. It was then that Bortan appeared, clearly hearing the noise Makela had made, wiping his hands on a cloth.

“Ah! My friends!" He laughed, "Back already? Are you here to visit Cinna? She has been pretty restless since getting back to her pen; now she wants to go out more, it seems.”

“No, nothing like that,” Siu said, making Bortan's smile falter a little, "We are here because of her," He added, placing a hand on Arya's shoulder.

“Oh,” Bortan said with surprise, measuring her. “Oh! I see, I see! Congratulations!”

“You know me?” Arya asked, sounding, once again, dejected, "What's up with everybody knowing me?! I am glad, I'm famous but... How will I trick anybody if they all know me?! Master," She looked at Siu with crossed hands, "Find someone whom I can tell that you kidnapped me from the outside world for dual cultivation."

"..." Nobody said much to that, at least, until Seloryn turned away, holding back a laugh, snorting into her palm, "Not funny," Siu grunted, and Bortan had the tact to switch topics.

“This is my field of expertise, Arya. I can tell from the eyes, mostly, because yours were unique in your original form, too.”

“Haaaah...” Arya shrugged in the end, "Oh well... I should have known my beauty would backfire one day."

"Um," Bortan’s body flinched for a moment, but his expression remained kind. “If you are here for her... I have to warn you," he leaned closer, speaking much more quietly, "Merra is in charge today. I can't really help you out with this, but... Oh well, please, come in. I'll come with you to make sure she doesn't go overboard.”

"I'll be damned if I know why she is like that," Siu said the moment he heard her name and felt his mood sink by a small but noticeable amount.

"Some bit—" Arya began, but Siu wrapped his hand before her mouth, muffling the rest.

"True," Makela called after them, making Arya throw a thumbs-up at her, her mouth still shut tight by Siu while they followed Bortan, heading deeper into the Companions.

When arriving, Merra stood near a stable, speaking with a servant while a small feathered lizard slept around her neck like a scarf. Naturally, she turned as they approached and, recognizing the faces, her eyes flicked over Siu, one of her eyelids twitching once.

"Another mission?" She asked, with just a tinge of haughtiness, that she held back thanks to Quillian's presence, although it was clear she did not know him. But she was at least recognizing senority.

“New form,” Siu said simply, "We are here to register her." He added, holding Arya before him, both of his hands on her shoulders.

"Hmph," Arya crossed her arms. “Yes. It's me. Arya.” She said proudly.

“Who?" Merra asked back, clearly to anger her, reaching for her tablet, tapping it, "Let's see... Ah, yes. Contracted companion Arya, mutual contract, registered under Elder Delia’s authority...” Even Siu knew this was just an act, exchanging a glance with Seloryn, who shook her head, telling him to just ignore it. It wasn't worth the effort of making a scene. “A human-form adjustment must be entered. Depending on stability, she may require a liability mark, restriction, and forced supervision.”

"No, I don't!" Arya frowned. “What does that... What does all that mean?”

“It means,” Merra said smoothly, “that until we confirm you are safe in your new body, your movement through certain sect areas may be limited. Maybe we will have to hold you here for a few days to check that everything is in order.”

Hearing that, Arya’s ears went flat, and Siu’s eyes narrowed instantly.

"No." Siu said at once, glaring at her, his voice flat and emotionless, "Don't even think about it."

"Rules are rules," Merra continued as if she had not noticed the shift. “It is standard procedure for unstable transformations; otherwise, she could hurt herself and you, too. By the data, she changed way too quickly. This is not normal, meaning she can be very unstable and dangerous.”

“She is not unstable,” Siu said.

“Well," Merra smiled at him, looking up from the tablet, "That remains to be tested. We will begin with a basic obedience-response test, then restraint tolerance, then pressure exposure, then—”

“Fuck you,” Siu said so suddenly and so quickly that now everyone was looking at him, while Arya just leaned back, enjoying the way he stood behind her, both hands holding her.

"What did you say?" Merra also looked at him, feeling like she had just been slapped.

"I said," Siu kept his voice calm, mouthing both words very sternly. “Fuck. You.”

“YOU—!”

"Look," Bortan stepped between them, a bit panicky. “Handler Merra, given this is a mutual contract and Elder Delia’s original registration—”

“I am aware,” Merra said, taking a deep breath as the lizard on his neck woke up, glaring at Siu. “Which is why I am being careful.”

"Really?" Quillian leaned on his cane, looking at her over his glasses. “Careful or difficult?”

"..." Merra’s smile wasn't honest when she looked at him. “Senior, with respect, the Companions cannot simply accept a transformed beast walking freely through the sect because her master says she is safe.”

"Oi!" Arya hissed, too. “I am right here.”

"Yes," Merra glanced at her. “That is part of the issue.”

The feathered lizard around her neck, when its eyes met Arya's, suddenly decided that, in that moment, survival for it meant staying asleep. Without hesitation, it quickly closed down both of them, going limp, surprising its owner.

"Hmph," With a shake of her head, Merra placed two fingers on the metallic tablet, pressing down, making it light up in a bluish color, “Well then! Registration adjustment. Contracted companion... Name... Arya. Current state: partial human form. Stability... Hm, unknown. Initiating provisional restriction—”

The tablet flashed in her hand just then, so brightly that it surprised everybody, and Merra's fingers stopped mid-movement. Then the light on the tablet turned pale green, then silver, then deep blue, before an ominous, low chime rang from it. Even Bortan flinched when hearing it, and Merra’s fingers lifted from its surface in a snap, as if it had become hot.

"Authority... override?" She stuttered, reading the appearing message, before she pressed her fingers down again. "Access... denied?!" She tried a second sequence quickly, followed by a third when the blue light reappeared, and an actual voice came from out of it.

"Registration sealed under Hollow Song authority. Wait for the authorized High Elder to arrive."

Bortan’s eyes widened, gulping as he threw a look at Siu, who was also surprised by the sudden events.

"Suspicious..." Seloryn said jokingly, whispering to him, making Siu grimace, because it was clear the sect was paying close attention to the things he was involved in. Which apparently meant Arya's registration, too.

It was only five more seconds later when they saw a woman walk towards them. She was tall, broad-hipped, and someone who dwarfed even Arya's gifts in her Moon Form. Naturally, it was Elder Delia, or, as Siu now learned... High Elder. Which made sense if she was in charge of the Companions. Every servant bowed as she walked forward, the bells attached to her horns constantly chiming, stopping directly next to the group. The moment she did so, Bortan bowed deepest, smiling as he did, while Merra went pale, bending her back.

"Elder Delia,” she said at once, after she straightened out.

"I am taking it over from here," Delia said, her gaze passing over Merra without apparent anger, then she looked at Siu, smiling. “Long time no see, Siu.”

"Indeed," Siu bowed, cupping his hands. “Elder Delia.”

“Handler Merra,” Delia continued, now gazing at Arya, her smile widening.

“Yes, Elder.”

“Why were you attempting to place a restriction mark on a companion under my seal?”

"I..." Merra swallowed, but she felt like the air got stuck in her throat. “Just... Standard caution, Elder. A newly transformed companion may present risk if—”

“This one is under a mutual contract that I helped to establish.” She added, not even looking at her, "Are you saying I made a mistake?"

“Yes, Elder." She answered automatically, before panicking, "I mean, no, no, of course not! Not in a million years!”

“She was registered before an Elder’s obelisk. Should I call him back, too, to give a proper assessment?”

“No, Elder,” Merra answered, barely able to stay standing.

"Then..." Delia finally turned her full attention to the handler. “Why were you entering tests into the report, usually made for Binding Contracts?”

"..."

“The tests she requires are mostly to help her sense her new powers much more clearly," Delia said after breaking eye contact, "Bortan, yes?" She asked, making him cup his hands and not, "Relieve Merra until further notice. As for little Arya, I will conduct the assessment myself.”

"Elder..." Merra’s hands tightened on the edge of the tablet. “Elder, I can prepare the chamber—”

“You may prepare nothing.” Delia’s voice remained gentle, but the way she spoke it was clear; her decisions were final. “You may update the record after I provide the result and assist Bortan with his work.”

"..." Without a word for a moment, Merra simply bowed lower. “Yes, Elder.”

Finishing with that part, Delia turned back to the group, watching them with a smile.

“Hello, Quillian. Good to see you still around. Did you find any solution to your problem yet?"

"Elder." He bowed, remaining as such for a second or two before straightening back. "No, I did not."

"Mhm... I am still hoping you will. You would have made a great Elder yourself."

"Thank you." He said quietly, and Siu could see some tears forming in the old man's eyes, quickly wiping them away.

"Hmm... Silver Flute." She then added, watching Seloryn, who quickly cupped her hands.

"I am honored that my name is known to you," Seloryn answered solemnly.

"I like keeping an eye on the Paragon List. You may accompany them if Siu permits it.”

"Elder?" Siu blinked. “If I permit it?”

"Naturally," Delia smiled at him. “Arya is your companion. Her dignity and performance are not public property; if you both agree to let them witness the test, they can come.”

"I do!" Arya’s ears lifted fully, “They can come, they are my friends!”

“Mhm." Delia chuckled, turning around, "Then follow me.”

As they left the stable, Siu glanced back once, watching Merra stand very still, holding the tablet, face pale and eyes lowered... and he felt like smiling. It felt very satisfying.

Ten minutes later, deeper into the Companions' valley, they were entering a very strange testing 'room.' It was different than what any of them had expected. Siu had imagined a testing room like the one he knew: a stone floor, reinforced walls, formations carved into hard surfaces, the usual. Instead, Delia led them into a quiet, enclosed garden.

There was a ceiling, yes, but it was high and domed, the glass between its supports letting through the sun's rays, sometimes breaking them into colorful rainbows. Below their feet, soft, vivid green grass covered the floor, and not that far away, smooth stones surrounded a shallow pond. As they looked around, white flowers grew along the edge of the room, and Siu could not see any formations, yet he was sure they were here somewhere.

“This chamber will be perfect, because it can simulate both midday and midnight. Not perfectly, but enough for what we need.” While speaking, Delia moved to the center of the grass and gestured for Arya to stand before her. “Come, child.”

Arya hesitated, exchanging a glance with Siu, but then obeyed, hopping over, looking curiously up at Delia.

“Let's see what your powers really are, under the sun,” Delia said, and clapped her hands, and as she did so, the chamber brightened considerably. “How do you feel?” Delia asked.

“Small.” Arya pouted.

“That is the body." Delia chuckled, "Focus. What about the power in you?”

Arya’s eyes narrowed before closing them and taking a deep breath. Siu felt her searching inward through the bond, and because Arya was not that keen on meditating, it was a clumsy effort. But... it was working.

“Hot,” Arya said suddenly. “I mean, I am hot, but now, it's hot-hot. Fire hot.”

“I know which hot you meant." Delia chuckled, "Show me. Don't worry about things, just let it manifest."

Arya lifted one hand, her eyes still closed, but nothing happened, making her furrow her brows, starting to concentrate more, and then, finally, a flash burst from her palm, making everyone cover their eyes, unable to keep looking at her.

"Weird." Arya said at once, eyes still closed, "It was easier to do before..."

"But it was weaker, too," Delia said, her eyes perfectly shielded against Arya's 'attack' by her own powers. "You will have to start properly cultivating now, like everyone else, if you want to improve. Now... keep doing it, until you start feeling exhausted."

Arya, once again, furrowing her brows, began drawing on it, and the first few flashes were wild and powerful. One of them completely lit the whole enclosure. One then flew off her palm, veered to the side, and struck a flowerbed, where it scattered into harmless sparks. In the end, they began shrinking, and because of that, everyone could finally keep looking at Arya. They noticed that when she made those flashes, there were blurry afterimages of her appearing randomly at certain distances from her original body.

"Okay, that will do," Delia nodded suddenly, stopping her. “Your form in this version is clearly light-based... Wonderful.”

“Not fire?” Arya asked.

"No." Delia said, shaking her head, "Even if you feel hot, it's not because of the fire. Your powers are based on the light, the sun's light, and, as far as I know, the moon's. So, let's test that next."

With a clap, the chamber dimmed at once as the temperature dropped, and above the pond, a suspended disk appeared, imitating the full moon. It only took a few more moments before they were cast into darkness, as if night had arrived from nowhere.

Arya went still at once, and her robes shimmered, letting the light coming from her body get through them. The dark blue cloth deepened until it nearly matched the shade of midnight, adjusting the seams and lengths of the fabric as Arya’s body began to grow, taking on her mature form.

"Oh yeah!" Arya looked down at herself, her voice sounding also much more mature, “I’m back.”

"..." Siu rubbed his forehead. “Please do not start...”

“Come on, Master,” she trilled like a bird, shaking her bottom at him, "I can feel that you like it!"

“No joke.” Seloryn muttered, leaning over to Siu, "I also have to say, she looks way too beautiful. Tsk! The number of guys who are going to be jealous of you is going to be off the charts."

"Thank you!" Arya giggled, covering her mouth while laughing, making Seloryn just shrug.

"Interesting," Delia spoke up, her eyes bright, "How... interesting."

"...?" Seloryn’s expression changed, just like the others, because apparently, the High Elder saw something they did not.

"What is it?" Arya asked, also curious.

"First," Delia raised a hand, "Repeat the same thing as before."

"Haaah..." She sighed. “Fine.”

She closed her eyes, and then, the edges of her body softened, her dark hair blending in with the dim chamber first. It was then followed by her robe and body, swallowing the moonlight. Her golden-silver eyes remained visible longest, before Arya simply blended into the darkness, barely even visible anymore. Then, out of nowhere, another Arya stepped out from behind Delia, straight from her dim, barely visible shadow, cast by the moonlight.

“Can it attack?” Quillian asked, unable to hold back.

“No,” Delia said before Arya could try. “Do not force it.”

Naturally, Arya still tried, but the moment the shadow moved and touched Delia, it dissipated on its own. It clearly was just an illusion, having no real, tangible weight behind it, just as shadows themselves were weightless. In the end, the moon began dimming, and sunlight returned, turning Arya back to her tinier form, making the girl pout, but at least she didn't throw a tantrum before Delia.

“Her aspects are separate at the moment," Delia began, speaking to all but mainly to Arya, "While the sun is out, her abilities are all about confusion and distractions, while in the moonlight, she can pretty much disappear. But...”

“But?” Siu asked.

"I can sense that there is something more to this." Delia smiled faintly. “It is not complete. The separation between abilities like this indicates that they are incomplete. As a cultivator, we have our powers at OUR disposal and not vice versa.”

"I don't get it," Arya’s ears twitched.

"It means," Delia continued, looking at her, “There is a place between them, a point where the two forms can be merged, and you can access both. That will be your cultivation, little Arya, to reach that point.”

"Master... I don't get it..." Arya said again, this time, through their bond.

“Train the halves first." Delia said again, probably hearing her words, "As for your registration, it should be updated by now.” She chuckled, straightening her back and manifesting a silver sash from nowhere, handing it to Arya, who tied it across her chest diagonally, marking her as an Inner Disciple. “Here.”

"Master!" Arya turned to Siu with a beaming grin, "Are you proud?"

"Naturally." He answered, reaching out and rubbing her head.

"Then let's go and—" She began, finished by Quillian.

"and train!"

"Huh?" Arya flinched, grimacing, "No! Let's go and eat! I'm starving!"