Prologue

"So 'hat there was the Arch Meridian," uttered Domm. He sat at the round dinner table finishing his lunch of wheat noodles. Slurping up the last bit he added, "If you ask me the Gal didn't sound as big and bad as most people say about her."

A young stout and foremost half dwarf-Half Fey, a beard of brownish red semi-covers his entire face. A slight dark fair skin complexion. Well known for his accented tone of speech.

I understood why Domm stated that comment as anybody who knows about the meridian, knows that they are Undergods, beings in the Void "You do know that the meridians aren't known for taking threats lightly, Domm Right?" Jayden asked him.

He gave me a coy smile before lifting his bowl and scarfing down the rest of the soup. Slamming the now empty bowl on the table and wiping his mouth on his sleeve he then responded, "Look man all's I'm saying is he didn't sound so tough no threat here." He looked about the room, "Hey Jayden where did Renfo go?"

I gave an obvious shrug and pointed towards the front door, "He left about 20 minutes ago and said something about getting supplied and signing up, but then again knowing him there is something more to that to-do list."

Domm leaned himself back in the chair he sat at, he was a Dwarf but looked nothing of it as only his father was a Greybeard Dwarf, he took after his mother she was an or in some areas a nature Sprite. So though he grew a beard it was short and less thick like most greybeards. He had little bulk to his body though still short he had muscle. He followed his father's way of fighting, than his mother's way though. He can wield a hammer 2 times bigger than himself with ease.

"So Domm you up for this year's battle." I queried

"Maybe, I'm still debating,"

"Debating on what,"

"On if it's worth it," when I gave him a confused look he continued, "Your Uncle is the current ruler right, well man he is a tyrant and like most, I don't want him to be ruler any longer. I mean he actually made it a rule that after death you are reincarnated in your old life or reborn in a new life. Not bad in my opinion, but to literally have people killed just to have them brought back to kill them again. It's out right evil."

Jordan a Half Human just looked over at Domm as he ate, the question of trying to size up a Meridian is usually a death sentence. "Are you trying to say you can take her?"

"Look man there are only 2 people I know of that actually know that guys' weakness and that's you and your brother Jalen. And frankly speaking your brother is an outlaw killing for sport so I'm not trying to work with him."

"Okay i see what you mean," I paused as the door swung open and in came Renfo.

"What did you sign up for?" I prodded him just as he tossed his bag upon the table top.

"Nah," he said, waving me off. He started reaching into his bag and pulled out a few pieces of parchment paper." But we will be all signing up as a group though." He handed me and Domm a form and we both started reading over them. It seems that there is a new way to clan up in the tournament this season. Instead of solo sign up and then add-listing your ally, you just have them sign up on your form.

"Hey, Renfo, it says here that we don't turn in the form that it's basically our license for the tournament, what does that mean exactly?" Domm chided in.

"It means exactly what it says," Renfo answered, pulling out a small card from his pocket. "You see when you sign your form it will transform into this so you can update it as you travel."

"Okay."

"When I spoke with the clerk up at the main guild house she stated that the meridians are going to be monitoring and even patrolling the world to make sure there is no false battles..." Renfo paused shrugging the thought, "but then again they can still only do so much that if slavers are nearby doing what they do they can't interfere or help anyone, that is not their job."

I again skimmed over the form studying the team aspects, no clan is finalized permanently you can add or remove as you travel, which is very convenient than having to go in search of a billboard or noticeboard or even having to find a guild house.

With that I started signing my form wherever I needed to fill out. It was a seemingly daunting task and in some points redundant, but nevertheless I finished with a final signature and it glowed and flared away leaving behind a small squared object. My License.

A slight glow and fade implied that Domm just finished as well. "ah finally finished," he gasped, picking up his card.

A rap at the door caused us all to wonder who it could be. I went over to open the door, and upon my first reaction when I saw the new guest I was shocked. It was a Meridian. She bowed at me before she walked in. I thought it rude that she didn't bother to ask me, but given who it was I bottled the thought.

"Greetings to you three my name is Cyrillina Prime Meridian of the Western Province. I have come to congratulate you upon your acceptance of the terms and conditions for the tournament." She paused to look at all of us. "As you all know this is an important event and may I add that there are new rulings to go about this season. For example the top Ten at the end of the tournament will be a part of the Post Tournament to become a New Meridian."

At that statement i was completely quizzed out as that was entirely new and different. "But what about leading and ruling Astrolia." I asked rather skeptically.

"The number one of course will have the choice to refuse the post tournament or join, if he or she joins then it follows in order who can rule Astrolia, up till rank 11." She answered, seating herself at the dining room table.

It was pretty awkward having a Meridian at our house, as in a sense it was like having an actual God or in this case Goddess at our house. Of course to be exact Meridians are not fully immortal they can die and not be reborn or resurrected. They are similar to what a Demi-God would, only they can live in and or reside in the Voidic-Rift Planes naturally which was very weird, that most higher beings did not like those of the Void.

We further discussed what the general rulings are and what to look out for. She also went on to finally explain her reasons for arrival, she is our manager for the tournament. She will watch over and travel with us throughout our journey to make sure we don't break laws or rules or cheat.

"And what makes you think we want to be tailed by you?" Renfo blurted out.

After providing a look of absolute irritation she stood heading for the door. Opening it she looked back slightly in Renfo's direction, "you make it sound as though you have a choice in the matter, now to end our chat might I remind you don't leave without me or well heh I'll let you just find out." And with that she left out the door.

"Well that's just great so we have a babysitter to tag along with us, who would design a rule like this." Renfo chided.

It did seem a little weird that this was a new thing and truth be told I don't even believe that there are enough Meridians to monitor every group. "Well it can't be that bad," chimed Domm. He sounded pretty calm for a dwarf. "she was pretty nice looking."

"Yup that's it see you guys in the morning." Renfo said, getting up and heading up towards his bedroom.

"What I was just saying she was cute," Domm called out. To his avail he got no response and then turned to me," what about you Jordan, what do you think of the meridian?"

He asked me like I'd be into the idea of being with a Meridian. "She was pretty decent, I mean for a Meridian," I paused the idea and stared out the window.

It was dark out and then I remembered something, without a thought to it I got up and headed out the front door.

"Hey," Domm yelled.

But I did not respond. I had to be somewhere in a few minutes and I was running late. Jogging at a decent pace, I turned to see that I was being followed by Domm. He seemed to have an annoyed look on his face. So I chose to not send him away. I continued onward to my destination. The High seer. I recently had a dream about a person that I've never seen or met and I wanted to learn more. That is what the seers do; they have special abilities to extract or implant within the boundaries of the dreams.

The face of the unknown person is always obscured or blurry so I could never pinpoint who I'm dreaming of. That is why the seer is going to assist me to force my slumber and remove all of the fog so I may have more lucidity in my dreams.

I ran for a good fifteen minutes up into town. The lamp posts around the streets were lit brightly. Despite the time of night it was still busy as people and adventurers alike were preparing for the start of the tournament.

I stopped to look about the area, not long after a panting Domm ran up beside me. Dwarf stamina is not something to be proud of, and in Domm's case he can swing a hammer double his size with ease but if you ask him to run an errand don't expect him to actually run.

"Why..did..you..run..off..like..that," Domm, gasping in between breaths very irritated at the fact he had to run without warning.

"Oh sorry I had forgot i had an appointment with the high seer."

"The high seer?" Domm repeated. Raising an eyebrow to what he just heard as it isn't a normal thing to have a set appointment with the High Seer. "You have an appointment with the high Seer."

Not paying attention I spotted the Seer Tempora Building and made my way towards it, "Well actually Domm, 'she' wanted to see me before the tournament began. She said there was something important that had to be told to me."

Again I knew that Domm's' mind was trying to figure out how the High Seer or any Seer would tell someone something unless you go to them in the Tempora, as they can't speak verbally nor can they depart the Tempora. "Okay now I'm confused because I thought that they can't speak?" Domm questioned.

Rather than responding to my friend's Dwarven ignorance, I just pointed to my head.

"Oh, she came to you in your head," he paused. "Wait when did this happen you didn't tell me or Renfo about this."

We had arrived at the entrance which had two stone arch beings at both ends to it, standing at attention they both wielded weapons that a being of the void would have.

Reaching out to enter the building the eyes of both statues began to glow and threw their weapons in front of me causing me to halt my advance.

"You have no access to the Tempora at this hour leave now," the statue on the right spoke.

"I was told to come at this time before i began the tournament by the High Seer herself in my dream." I explained.

While still taking a few steps back to get my spacing, just in case these things were about to attack. Voidic beings aren't known for fair battles and there being two of them against me and Domm we'd die for sure or worse get trapped in the Riftic Plane.

"Our records do not show you, so again leave now this is your last warning." Growled the right statue turning his weapon towards me.

This was getting out of hand fast but I couldn't leave as one can become cursed for failure to adhere to a Seers' request, the higher ranking the more severe.

"Look man, I think we should go." Domm said. And i knew he was frightened as any Dwarf was headstrong at least till first loss of blood or near death situation.

Not wanting to put my friend in too much danger or life based chaos caused me to raise my hands in retreat. "Okay we are leaving." I insisted, but I still held my sight on them in case they would charge at us anyways.

When we got to a decently safe distance of 15 feet away we turned away and started to head home.

"Halt!" A voice shot through my mind like lightning and I stopped right on the spot. Looking over I noticed Domm heard it too as he was glancing about looking for the voice's owner. The only thing about that is if it was pure magic Domm would be looking around for ages. "I humbly do apologize for the inconvenience, but please do not leave. We have much to discuss and very little time, Young Guardian Jordan Walker." It was then I knew who was talking. "Yes It is me again the Arch Seer Jyzabelle. With that said, I welcome you to my chamber."

Before I could react to all that was transpiring my eyes began to fog as my body began to wisp away in a graying mist of light, it felt as though my body was being disassembled. Never have I ever felt this yet I felt no pain. Then finally my consciousness began to fade through blinded eyes until I felt nothing and all was gone.