Yvaine swallowed hard, her hand instinctively tightening on the staff at her side. The fear was clear on her face, but a desperate anger was also visible. Lira felt a sudden chill in the air, a sense of danger stronger than any she had faced so far.
"Expecting us?" Lira challenged her voice firm despite her unease. "How could you expect us?"
Malaki chuckled a burst of dry, humorless laughter. "My dear, Samuel is not as subtle as he believes. His presence, his return...every Outworlder has a different essence. The moment he stepped his foot back into this kingdom, I could feel him." Malaki's gaze sharpened. "And the moment the palace barriers failed, I knew his objective. It was only a matter of time before he came for me. But this is an unexpected turn of events."
He then looked at Lira, his smile unwavering. "And who might you be, young girl?"
"Lira," she uttered, holding her staff tight.
"Ahhh," Malaki purred, his eyes assessing her. "A girl with a unique essence like yours, working with an Outworlder. You are misguided." He paused. "Join me. You have unlimited talent. Right now you are still fragile, but I can change that."
"What are you doing to those children?" Yvaine demanded, stepping forward, her fear momentarily forgotten. Her voice trembled with rage. "Why are you keeping them in cages? Why are you doing this to the Outworlders?"
"You know I hate being interrupted...young girl," Malaki declared, his smile now a thin line.
Malaki's smile did not falter for long. He turned slowly, gesturing around the chamber. It was vast, with ornate carvings on the walls depicting celestial bodies and ancient ritual depictions. In the center was a large, glowing altar. "This is not simply 'keeping them'," he responded, his tone turning instructional. "This is a sacred duty. These 'Outworlders', as you call them, are not people in the way you understand. They are vessels. Pure conduits. Their very essence, their life force, is a bridge."
"A bridge to what?" Lira pressed, disgusted by his casual tone. She remembered the starved, terrified faces in the cages outside.
"To the Divine," Malaki answered, his voice gaining a chilling fervor. His eyes seemed to glow faintly. "The Gods want to take over Samuel's world. This realm is dying, you see. We need to migrate, but our gods do not have the essence to do so. So they summon the people from that world into our own. And we sacrifice them to the god. Then the god takes their essence. Once we gather enough, we can enter their world."
"By sacrificing children?" Yvaine spat arrogantly, her voice laced with rage. "Innocent children, stolen from other worlds?"
"Sacrifice is a strong word...my dear," Malaki corrected, his voice still unnervingly calm. "We offer. It's a transaction. A necessary exchange for the well-being of millions of our people. These children are not 'innocent' in the way you mean. They are born with a unique imprint, a natural connection to cosmic forces that allows them to serve this higher purpose. They are destined for this. It is their honor, even if they do not comprehend it."
"Honor?" Lira scoffed, her anger rising. "They are starving! They are terrified! They have 'brands of ownership' that kill them if they try to leave!"
"Ah, the brand," Malaki said, his smile widening slightly. "A simple, yet elegant solution. You see, their essence is volatile. If it were to disperse prematurely, before the full extraction ritual, it would be a wasted offering. The brand ensures their essence remains bound to our control, connected to the High Priest, to me. If they were to stray, the connection would sever, and the energy would dissipate. Their physical bodies cannot contain that essence without its intended purpose. It is a safeguard."
"So you're saying they're just batteries?" Yvaine demanded, her face pale with revulsion. "Living batteries for your gods?"
"A crude analogy, but not entirely inaccurate," Malaki conceded, his tone still remarkably unbothered. "They are the purest form of energy, a direct line to their realm called "Earth." Samuel's group, for instance, provided an immense surge. It brought us one of the purest essences. His sister, Emma, was particularly potent. A powerful conduit. It was a shame Samuel interfered." He shook his head, a feigned look of regret.
Lira felt a cold dread settle in her stomach. He was speaking of these horrific acts as if they were mundane transactions, a necessary part of a grand, desperate plan.
"And what about my sister?" Yvaine questioned, her voice stuttering. "Is she one of those 'vessels'?"
Malaki looked at Yvaine, a glint in his eyes. "Ah, Yvaine. Such loyalty. Yes, your sister is here. She is special. Her essence is intertwined with Samuel's own escape. She helped him, you see, unknowingly. A miscalculation on our part, but she has her use. Her essence is even more valuable now. She is currently being prepared for a different ritual. A grand welcome for Samuel. So please be patient with us."
"You monster!" Yvaine screamed, pulling her staff into a defensive stance. "You're going to kill her!"
"She will achieve her true purpose," Malaki uttered calmly, his gaze shifting from Yvaine to Lira. "Just as you, a Sovereign-Born, have a purpose. Your unique essence, connected to the Goddess IRA, but has the essence of a different goddess...makes you a fascinating anomaly. I sensed your presence. The vibrations of your travel, the very nature of your power. Perhaps, a new kind of conduit. A rare opportunity."
He took a step towards Lira, his smile now chilling. "Samuel believes he can destroy us. He believes vengeance will bring him peace. But he is a fool. He fights against the cosmic order. And his emotional attachments, like his attachment to you, are his greatest weakness. He sent you, his new weakness, straight into my hands."
Lira raised her staff, pointing it at him. "Don't come any closer. I was against the idea of all this at first. But now I understand Samuel. And he will stop this madness."
"Stop?" Malaki laughed, a booming sound that echoed through the chamber. "You stand in the heart of my power. You are within the very center of the celestial connection. Your tiny, untrained powers are nothing here. Your sister, Yvaine, might have some small knowledge of our mechanisms and taught you... but against true celestial power, you are merely insects."
He extended a hand, and the air around him crackled with essence. "You sought answers. Now you have them. And now, you will serve your purpose."
The floor beneath Lira and Yvaine began to glow faintly, arcane symbols. Chains of burning energy erupted from the ground, lashing out at them, aimed at binding them...