Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Despite being startled by Elder Mary's sudden appearance, she was more of an ally than a problem. She didn't give them a whole new plan, nor did she tell them a completely crucial piece of information that would change everything, but she did give them information they didn't already have, such as the context behind Týr's exile.

This new information would be useful not for finding him, but for when they did.

Kaizen bowed his head slightly, as if thanking Maria. Then he raised his head, looked around and said:

"So that's it, I think we've achieved what we came here for. Maria, thank you for sharing this knowledge with us. Now we know a little more about Týr and his reasons for going into exile in Niflheim. Vorian, thank you for helping us get here, I won't forget it," said Kaizen, addressing the Elders with respect.

Maria nodded, and so did Vorian.

"Finding Týr may be a challenge, but you have much more than you did before." Vorian said. "If he's in Niflheim and you can go there, maybe you'll actually find him, or he'll find you first, after all, his presence is not easily ignored, Kaizen."

Smiling slightly, Kaizen thanked him with a nod. Then his gaze went straight to Alina.

"Is everything ready?" he asked, anticipating his next move.

Alina nodded, understanding the silent message. She turned to the Elders, bowed her head slightly, thanking them for their valuable information, and then addressed her companions. "Time to leave, but first, we all need to stay together. I'll bring Og'tharoz, Andrew and Xisrith here."

Alina raised her hands to chest height to start the teleportation process. The room seemed to vibrate momentarily, and in a matter of seconds, Og'tharoz, Andrew and Xisrith appeared in the center of the library, their gazes confused as they adapted to the sudden change of environment.

Og'tharoz, with his imposing stature and dark armor, looked around, examining the library with curiosity, and quickly understood everything when he saw Kaizen.

Andrew adjusted his helmet, which had almost fallen off his head with the sudden tug, and looked at the dusty books with interest.

Xisrith was alert and when he saw the two figures behind Kaizen, he immediately put one of his hands on the sheath of his katana.

"Is it all over?"

"Yes, we didn't get what we really wanted, but we got a very good lead."

Vorian, who was standing a little away, quickly approached the assembled group with an astonished expression. "What... what have you done? The magic of that teleportation... it will alert everyone in the Citadel that you're here!" Vorian's voice carried a tone of urgency. "They'll crucify me for this!"

Just then, a distant noise echoed in the library, a growing murmur that indicated the unrest spreading through the Citadel. The Sentinels, alerted by the intrusive and unknown mana, began to move en masse towards the secret library.

Og'tharoz, his gloomy armor gleaming in the dim light of the library, rose to his full height, an aura of danger emanating from him like a living shadow. His eyes flashed and his hands clenched into tight fists. Next to him, Xisrith was ready to draw her weapon at any sign of threat.

Vorian tried to approach Kaizen, trying to explain the gravity of what was happening, his words laden with despair and alarm, but to Og'tharoz and Xisrith, he still represented an imminent danger. Their warrior instincts alerted them to the possibility of betrayal, and their bodies prepared for combat, stepping in front of the Elder.

"Don't take another step, Vorian," growled Og'tharoz. "Any further movement and you will regret it."

Xisrith remained in a defensive position, because she didn't stand much of a chance against an Elder, except that she was still willing to fight.

Vorian recoiled at the obvious hostility, his hands raised in surrender. "You don't understand, it's not just the Sentinels who are coming! The other Elders will soon be here!"

Vorian's voice echoed in the library, but Kaizen remained unperturbed. His eyes fixed on the door of the session they were in. He didn't flinch or despair at Vorian's warning. With a decisive gesture, Kaizen turned his back to the Elders and the door, ignoring the tension that permeated the air.

His muscles tightening, he stretched out his hand in front of him, as if he could shape reality itself to his will. A stream of magical energy began to form around his outstretched palm, shimmering with ethereal shades of blue and violet.

Og'tharoz and Xisrith exchanged quick glances, a mutual understanding of the situation passing between them. Despite their distrust of Vorian, they trusted Kaizen completely and were willing to follow him to the ends of the earth if necessary.

The sounds of the Sentinels were getting closer. They were already inside the library and as their movements were brute, they were knocking over several shelves, causing rumbling, like the distant roar of an impending storm. Time was a scarce resource now, and Kaizen knew better than to waste it.

With a fluid movement, the magical energy around Kaizen's outstretched hand began to intensify, forming a pulsating spiral of light and shadow, and a crack in reality formed before them, a passage beyond Olaynore.

"Enter," said Kaizen, his voice firm and unwavering. "There's no time to lose."

Jayaa, Alina and Andrew didn't even hesitate, they were the first to go to Midgard. Og'tharoz and Xisrith also advanced without hesitation, their imposing figures standing out against the iridescent glow of the rift. With determined steps, they crossed the barrier between the worlds, plunging into the rift.

The Sentinels were almost upon them now, and were banging hard against the door of the session, making the whole room shake.

However, before crossing the rift as well, Kaizen looked back and said to Vorian:

"Tell the other Elders that you were already here and that you were responsible for preventing us from achieving anything. They'll certainly believe it. Also, thank you for everything, I won't forget what you did for me and I appreciate your loyalty to Olaynore."

Kaizen then passed through the rift and returned to Midgard, once and for all leaving behind the majestic white halls of the Citadel of the Magi and replacing them with the wooden walls of his store, which not by chance seemed so small now.