A shaman sat in deep meditation. It was her favorite spot, at a distance from Lamcada but still close enough to see the constant movement of lava and even feel the fraction of heat spewed by the planet's core. But today, Ronorrh was focused on different kinds of streams. The flows of elemental power were shifting, and Ronorrh, the youngest of the High Shamans, was ready to seize the advantage.

  Lamcada, the city of Fire, thrived near the mouth of an active volcano, where heat pulsed through the very ground like a living heartbeat. It was so cliche that they became the center of technology for the newly evolved enlightened civilization all these centuries ago. Ronorrh's influence, though, also had been a significant factor in that development. In the old world, she was a young engineer, making the first steps of her career, her head filled with grand ideas and designs.

  So, was it the fire that provided for the creation of enlightened tools, or was it Ronorrh who facilitated that process. And only used the old myths to bolster her status? Too many centuries had passed, to be sure.

  Ronorrh smiled, remembering the struggles and challenges of these first years. Life was much easier today. If… if they forgot about the dwindling flow of newly transcendent people. Even the exchange programs launched under her stewardship made less and less impact with every coming year.

  She tapped into the Source and spread her senses further away. Wentouk, Ziemrot, Veskai. Air, Earth, Water. And Fire for Lamcada. They weren't the only enlightened cities on the face of this planet. But they were the most powerful in this region.

  Ainorrh's game was still not obvious. But it wasn't a secret that she wanted this wildcard Aira to connect with the other elements. She wasn't even hiding that from the other High Shamans, openly requesting their assistance and the right of passage.

  Still, Ronorrh was sure that Ainorrh's plans were stretching beyond just planning a vacation trip for the outworlder. She was sure about that because that's how Ronorrh herself planned everything. She only needed to gain Aira's trust as soon as she was under her influence.

  Ainorrh had plans. She was playing a game of her own, bending traditions in favor of something new. The Air element shaman often spoke of change and adapting to the world beyond their cities. And she believed in finding a perfect tool to enact that change—Aira.

  So, who said this tool wouldn't fit Ronorrh's hand better?

  Ronorrh let out a slow breath, her fingers brushing against the polished obsidian surrounding her. The volcano wasn't rigid. It flowed. Now, with centuries of lifespan, the enlightened finally had a chance to experience what humans had never been able to grasp. The tectonic shifts of nature and planet. This spot, Ronorrh's favorite spot, was where Lamcada was founded all these hundreds of years ago. Nothing remained here to remind of that first settlement. All evidence buried under multiple layers of lava.

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  Now, it was a monument to the Fire affinity's flexibility and power. It was a monument to Ronorrh's will.

  She had no luxury of distant sight or magical foresight. Ronorrh had her senses boosted by the Source, but that wasn't enough for her game. However, she had something more reliable—spies. Eyes and ears among both the enlightened and humans. And her spies had brought her troubling and exciting news.

  Aira was wielding power beyond a single affinity. That answered some of the questions about how Ainorrh, blinded by ambition, sought to use her. To shape her into something more. It didn't help to figure out how she planned to control the outworlder. And that was something Ronorrh had to figure out as well. If she wanted to intercept Ainorrh's plans.

  It was funny how all the shamans still considered her to be the youngest and the most flippant of all of them. Technically, she was the youngest. But that wasn't the point. They looked down at her. Especially, Khanorrh.

  The High Shaman of Ziemrot was almost eighty years older than her. And it definitely was a significant difference during the Dawn of Enlightenment, when she just graduated from the university, and he was a century-old grumpy grandpa. But now they all had lived on the face of this planet for more than a half-millennium. She wasn't a child anymore. She had plenty of achievements before the enlightened community to be proud of. It was past time she was considered an equal among the members of the Concord of the Enlightened.

  Still, she had to be careful. Khanorrh was pretty much the same grumpy old guy from five centuries ago. Probably, when you had already lived a lifetime, it was hard to adapt and evolve. That was perhaps one of the reasons for all the bizarre decisions that set apart Ziemrot's approach to acquisitions. But Shanorrh of Veskai wasn't someone whose interests and habits Ronorrh could easily discard either. Especially considering the rumors…

  All figures had to be placed and played with thought and precision in this global tabletop game. And it was time for Ronorrh to begin making more overt moves. Soon, every shaman would be forced to show their hand. Ideally, Ronorrh would be the last one to do that.

  She stood up and turned on her heels. A person was waiting for her answer. They stood silently, not wanting to disturb the High Shaman's meditation.

  "You have your orders," Ronorrh said. "Ainorrh has grown reckless. Her pet outworlder must be... tested. If she falters, we have our proof. And if she does not... well, even that will tell us something."

  The figure gave a barely perceptible nod before leaving.

  Ronorrh exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the elemental flows shift ever so slightly. Whatever the outcome, she would not allow Ainorrh's ambitions to shatter what the enlightened had built. And if Aira indeed was something more than just an outsider... then she would ensure she was brought under control.

  Or removed.