SolInvictus

Chapter 16:

Sol Invictus loved leading the Story Tellers. He loved reaching back into history and Remembering the tales of ages long past. He enjoyed the way the dragons' eyes would widen and nostrils flared when he spoke of how the heroes of old would soar in the clouds and battle ancient enemies. When he wove an image of Yakuri the Gold scanning the sky for enemies, he could see his audience narrow their eyes as though scanning the clouds themselves. As he retold the story of Vermatiaxis, the Ebony Guardian and how he held off a herd of wild beasts that threatened dozens of unhatched eggs, Sol Invictus could feel the approving thump of dragon tails on the hard packed earth.

As his Tale continued, Sol Invictus gathered their excitement and energy, a willing gift to a Story Teller, and smoothly wove them into balls of Light. He released them into the wind, where they drifted upwards to join the other points of Light in the sky. Each one would float in air, invisible to the eye, but ready to heal, strengthen or empower a dragon should it be needed. With the Weaves of the Story already enhancing his eyes, he could see thousands of points of Light already above and he knew that a similar number would rest below the ground, encircling the Arcane Isles in a sphere.

The second defense should the globe of Light fall.

"Technically, it is a third line of defense, dear brother," Ambruxley called out through mind speech, "The Globe is the first, the Echo Army surrounding the Globe both inside and outside of it is the second, and the Story Teller Sky Lights are the third."

Sol Invictus shared a smile with his dearest clutchmate, "Yes, you are correct, echo of my heart. How goes the Champions?"

Pride and happiness swelled through their connection. "Very good! We are now gathering our Claw Weaves and positioning them throughout the Isles. If a dragon, even a newly born hatchling needs help, they can instantly carry with them the power, bites and slashes of a hundred other dragons. The weaves know when to help and will answer any call from a dragon within the Isles. By the time we are done, there will be a Ghost Army ready to help. Even a single dragon could command them and defend the Isle by himself if he needed to."

"Have the other elemental clans followed the Isle's lead?" Sol Invictus asked.

"As far as I know, they have but are taking different approaches depending on their dragon god, of course. I believe the followers of the Plaguebringer have adjusted the air so that it will turn toxic and burn any shadow invaders to their land. Quite effective, I've heard."

"So that is what the Arcane Masters were speaking of," Sol Invictus thought back, "I had heard that they were incorporating another, wider Sphere of Light that would deprive any Shadow invaders of magic and would destroy them."

"It's actually even more powerful than that. Some of the invaders would be incinerated upon contacting the globe of Light, but the more powerful ones would find themselves Unwoven and Rewoven as Avatars of the Arcanist, mighty demigods that would fight on our behalf."

"Will that work?"

"It already has, dear brother, it already has."