They left the central chamber with minds racing about five Anchors needed for merger, currently lost, locations completely unknown.
Draven led pack back through crystalline halls where rainbow light still danced across multifaceted surfaces and frost patterns glowed within walls. Beauty unchanged but perspective transformed.
Answers found, questions multiplied exponentially.
Malvorn's crystalline form walked beside him with earth communion extending automatically, already searching subconsciously, trying to detect Anchor signatures through planetary geology. Nothing yet, just stone and magma and tectonic plates, no glowing rods anywhere within range.
If they were even still on Theia.
That thought grew heavier with each step toward surface.
Velnar's voice broke contemplative silence as they moved through entrance hall. "We're assuming Anchors remain on Theia. But ruins showed they disappeared during merger attempt, right as dimensional alignment began."
Ancient scorpion form clicked thoughtfully. "Dimensional instability at that moment would have been catastrophic. If Anchors were physical objects in space between worlds, merger failure could have scattered them anywhere. Theia's surface. Earth's surface. Or..."
Pause heavy with implication. "Lost in dimensional void between realities. Floating in space. Ejected during catastrophic separation. If that happened, they might be unreachable. Gone forever."
Worst case scenario articulated.
Draven's chest tightened because he hadn't considered that possibility, but Velnar's experience recognized patterns as dimensional catastrophe rarely left things neatly positioned.
Sylvara's forest druid form glowed softly as nature magic processed logically. "Three possibilities. First: Anchors on Theia somewhere, difficult search but theoretically possible. Second: Anchors on Earth, requires dimensional travel, but gate exists so potentially accessible. Third: Anchors lost in dimensional void, effectively impossible to recover."
Analytical precision laid out options. "Without additional information, we can't determine which scenario is reality. All three equally plausible given catastrophic merger failure. We have objective, find Anchors, but no confirmed search location."
Uncertainty quantified as path forward remained unclear despite mission clarity.
They crossed threshold from crystalline interior to frozen exterior with temperature dropping immediately despite stable zone's warmth moments before as Northern wasteland's eternal winter reclaimed dominion.
Frostina's ice excavation was still visible with massive sections of relocated snow and ice creating elegant frozen formations around ruins entrance. Archway behind them glowed with rainbow refraction even in pale northern daylight.
Discovery made, knowledge gained, certainty lost.
Half-kilometer ahead, gate swirled silently as Frostina's elegant form circled it protectively.
Time to share findings and uncertainties.
***
As they walked across frozen landscape toward gate, Feyra's small voice offered optimistic perspective. "But maybe Anchors are safe somewhere! Maybe when merger started failing, someone protected them. Hid them intentionally so they wouldn't be destroyed. On Theia, on Earth, doesn't matter, just preserved and waiting to be found!"
Life element radiated hope despite circumstances. "Not lost in space. Not destroyed. Just hidden. Waiting for right people to discover them. That's us! We found the information. Now we find the Anchors!"
Hope balancing despair, possibility instead of impossibility.
Draven wanted to believe that version, preferring protected over lost forever.
Zor's Thunder Raven form glided overhead, purple lightning crackling faintly. "Even if Anchors survived intact, search parameters are overwhelming. If on Theia, entire planet. Continents, oceans, underground, mountains, forests. Millions of square kilometers. Years of searching minimum."
Sharp tactical assessment continued. "If on Earth, same scale, plus we need dimensional travel capability. Gate exists but only expels small objects currently. Can't send living searchers through. Limited reconnaissance."
Wings tilted as aerial predator's instinct calculated odds. "If in void, no search possible. Mission failure before beginning."
Three scenarios with two difficult and one impossible.
Malvorn's voice was grave. "We search regardless. However long it takes. But realistic assessment required, this could take decades."
Draven's mind churned through another troubling question as they approached halfway point to gate. "And we're assuming finding Anchors and enabling merger will stop Fate's Revenge. But ruins didn't explicitly state that."
Looking at Genesis Codex floating alongside. "We know failed merger caused curse. Logic suggests successful merger would end it. But that's speculation, not confirmed fact."
Uncomfortable realization settled. "What if we find all five Anchors, position them correctly, enable merger, and curse persists anyway? What if Fate's Revenge became independent phenomenon after initial trigger? What if we sacrifice everything for merger that doesn't solve the problem?"
Doubt crept deeper.
Genesis Codex pulsed but remained silent as even cosmic entities were uncertain.
Malvorn's crystalline hand settled on Draven's shoulder briefly. "We pursue what path we have. Merger failed, curse began, causation clear. Reversing failure logically addresses curse. Not guaranteed, but best theory available."
Earth Overlord's steady presence grounded them. "And even if curse persists after merger, reuniting Earth and Theia still achieves something. Two worlds becoming one. Humans gaining magic. Beasts reaching new potential. Both civilizations benefiting. Worth pursuing regardless of curse outcome."
Practical wisdom followed. "We search for Anchors. We enable merger if possible. We address curse through available means. Uncertainty doesn't erase responsibility."
Purpose maintained despite doubt.
***
They reached gate location where swirling clouds churned silently as dimensional bridge remained unchanged, stable, mysterious.
Frostina landed gracefully as they approached, fifteen stories of sapphire elegance settling onto ice with wings folding with fluid precision. Snow swirled perpetually around her as frost bloomed along crystalline scales. Concentric ice-ring eyes focused on returning group.
"You've returned. What did Northern ruins reveal?"
Composed inquiry maintained regal bearing, but curiosity was evident beneath gentle authority.
Draven took breath, organizing thoughts because so much was discovered yet so much remained uncertain.
"We found answers. And more questions than we can currently address."
Draven explained discovery systematically about paintings showing two worlds, five glowing Anchors positioned between them as coordinate points, merger mechanism requiring their presence, successful outcome creating massive flourishing Super Earth.
Then the failure: Anchors disappearing right as merger began, catastrophic separation, curse erupting, both worlds suffering.
Current status: five Anchors lost with locations completely unknown.
Frostina's elegant head tilted slightly, processing information with strategic mind. "Five objects. Human-sized glowing rods. Required for dimensional merger. Currently scattered somewhere across what range?"
Concentric eyes narrowed analytically. "You said 'lost' but lost where? My territory? Other regions of Theia? Across entire planet? Beyond?"
The critical question as search parameters remained undefined.
And Draven had no certain answer, only speculation. "We don't know. Multiple theories. No confirmation."
Velnar presented first scenario. "Anchors might be scattered across Theia. Buried underground, hidden in wilderness, lost in ocean depths. Planetary search required, difficult but theoretically possible."
Sylvara added second. "Or they're on Earth. Merger connected both worlds, Anchors could have ended up on either side during catastrophic separation. Gate exists, proving dimensional travel possible, but we can't send living searchers through yet."
Zor stated third. "Or they're lost in dimensional void. Ejected into space between realities during merger failure. If so, effectively unreachable. Mission impossible."
Feyra's hopeful counter followed. "Or someone hid them intentionally! Protected them when merger failed. Waiting to be found by right people. Us!"
Four theories with wildly different implications.
Frostina's snow swirled more intensely as only outward sign of internal complexity processing. "So search location ranges from 'specific regions of Theia' to 'literally anywhere across two dimensions' to 'permanently inaccessible void' to 'deliberately concealed by unknown party.'"
Strategic mind quantified impossibility. "And you have no method to determine which scenario is reality."
Correct with no method, just speculation.
Draven added another complication. "And we're not certain finding Anchors will stop Fate's Revenge. Logic suggests it, failed merger caused curse, successful merger should end it. But ruins didn't explicitly confirm. Theory, not fact."
Frostina's concentric eyes reflected understanding. "So even if you locate all five Anchors, position them correctly, enable merger successfully, curse might persist. Entire quest potentially futile."
Harsh summary but accurate. "You're searching for objects of unknown location to solve problem through unconfirmed solution. Uncertainty compounded exponentially."
Exactly right.
Malvorn's voice remained steady. "Yet we search anyway. No alternative path available."
***
Frostina's wings rustled slightly as frost bloomed along sapphire scales while she processed overwhelming complexity. "My territory covers northern regions extensively. If Anchors are in frozen expanses, ice fields, glacial formations, my followers and I will search thoroughly."
Gentle authority offered resources. "Decades if necessary. However long required. Northern domain will be surveyed systematically."
Strategic mind was already planning approach. "But if Anchors are on Earth, or in void, or hidden by dimensional barriers, my ice cannot reach them. Search limitations acknowledged."
Realistic assessment as she committed within parameters while being honest about constraints. "I will do what can be done. Beyond that, uncertainty remains."
Best offer available given infinite unknowns.
They stood in circle before gate as swirling clouds behind them served as silent witness to impossible discussion.
Multiple theories with zero confirmations as mission was clear but path obscured completely.
Draven's frustration built despite newfound knowledge because discovery should have simplified things, but instead complexity exploded. "We know what we need. Five Anchors. We know why we need them. Enable merger. We just don't know where they are, how to find them, or if finding them actually solves anything."
Velnar's quiet response followed. "Then we start searching. And hope answers reveal themselves along the way."
Blind faith masquerading as strategy.
Discussion continued without resolution as questions multiplied, speculation spiraled, certainty remained elusive.
Where are Anchors? Unknown. How to find them? Unknown. Will merger stop curse? Unknown.
Just commitment to search despite overwhelming odds, despite lack of confirmation, despite infinite variables.
Genesis Codex pulsed quietly as Adhivar and Codex both processed information alongside them but offered no definitive answers as even cosmic entities were uncertain.
Unprecedented situation, uncharted territory, impossible mission.
And yet they would pursue it.
Movement appeared in distance as massive form emerged from southern sky.
Naelvorn returning.
Seven-story oceanic form flew toward gate location with bioluminescent teal markings visible even in pale northern light as massive serpentine presence was impossible to miss.
Ocean Overlord arrived as discussion reached no conclusion with timing coincidental but perfect, another perspective, another ally, another territory to search.
Frostina's visible exasperation flickered across elegant features. "And here comes chaos."
But beneath composed exterior was relief as alliance strengthened and resources multiplied.
Naelvorn's boisterous voice carried across ice. "BRO! What'd you find in those sparkly ruins?!"
Discussion continuing with answers still absent.
But allies gathering.
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