The Inner-Sanctum
Hao Xuan walked up beside him only to see a dark red and black color being mixed into the clouds. It was slowly polluting the entire sea, spreading its influence every which way.
"That's Maymun's doing," Mendax solemnly explained, "In a matter of few centuries his powers have grown beyond what any of us were capable of predicting. But...since that demented hag is going through all this trouble for you, I'm guessing you both have a plan?"
He looked to Hao Xuan for answers but his expressionless face told him everything he needed to.
"Good. Don't trust anyone, not until it's too late to change anything."
[Not even you?]
"Especially me," he cracked a smile and moved over to the stone platform, gesturing for him to join.
When Hao Xuan got on, the nine dials making up the outer rim of the platform began to rotate and the space around them started to slowly melt away.