Home, At Last
Victory was bittersweet, and the work was not yet finished. While a number of Glace's siblings had finally been saved, both from the Empire and from the aether-twisting grasp of the Telophoroi's hideous towers, too many had been lost. They were twisted too far beyond anyone's ability to save them, or their body's were entirely destroyed by time, elements, and neglect in addition to their aether being altered. There were now, perhaps, fewer than half their ilk remaining. The flight away from Yanxia was one of exhausted silence but a lack of tension, except for a few. Terra Shield's life still hung by a thread, and Mother - no, Lillium - hovered close at hand in case his status changed. Maker's Spark and Ceruleum Flower stayed close to a hesitantly dozing Glace, the former as much as from the grief of losing her birth twin as it was from spending so much of her power on helping Terra come back to some inkling of stability. Flower had seen some of the most terrifying things her innocent mind could ever begin to imagine and bravely stood up to help her Siblings recover.
As for the others, they were mixed between hard sleep and staring off into oblivion, trying to process everything that happened. Some were reluctant to sleep, too afraid that this was all a reprieve from a months' long nightmare that they would quickly find themselves immersed back into upon waking. It was a feeling Glace knew all too well, and he couldn't blame them for their restlessness. He only hoped that what awaited them after a few bells worth of flight in Caelric's airship would help to put them more at ease. By the time they were over the Dravanian Hinterlands, the first hues of morning light were rising over the mountain peaks. Their destination, however, was not Idyllshire but somewhere below, partially obscured in the rolling mists of the Orn Wild.
Untouched by many and unclaimed by any jurisdiction, the Orn Wild offered both freedom and security from those who might have survived the Empire and come hunting. The deep valley offered incredible potential and resources: Fresh water and air, fertile earth, sunlight and untainted rain, and plentiful prey for the hunting. There were trees for wood and craft, stone and metal for smithing.
The sanctuary itself was dotted with dwellings which were clearly inspired by those the Sharlayan's left behind in the Hinterlands. Glace found their design to be rather ingenious, and in the case of the sanctuary it was integrated as yet another layer of defense. The round shape allowed water to flow around them in case of flooding, and wind in case the gales became exceptionally strong. The curve meant less resistance against the force of elements where flatter walls could more easily be broken down. Too, if someone did come looking for them, the architecture might bear enough resemblance to the Sharlayans' to cast doubt on their quarry being present. The dwellings were all different sizes to take into account the variety of residents and their needs, but all were uniform in features to start with. Basic furnishings were present, supplies were stocked in each as soon as the Goblins knew the Colossus Project survivors were on their way, and water filtration and heat systems were activated. The occupants could modify their new homes in whatever way best suited them later. In the middle of all of this an empty space yet to be filled by what will eventually be an aetheryte of their own, built from the parts left in the abandoned aetheryte factory, above. Just as soon as the Goblins could find the proper schematics to make it happen... Upon landing, they were greeted by the very Goblins that had helped to build the place so accurately to the specifications they were given. Though a few of the Siblings expressed concern, these were quickly put to rest when their presence was explained and food was offered. This was where their new lives and freedom could finally begin, but their battles were not yet over.