Far out in space, the shrouding of the Earth is seen by the forces of the Central Sun. Word travels back to the Central Sun's sphere, and an order goes out telepathically to key leaders. Dorothea releases Lito, leaving him in her bed. She gets up to prepare for the next step in the Earth campaign.
Back on Earth, a group of five Central Sun servitors hold up in the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, and they wait as they were separately ordered as all the rest of the servants of the Central Sun retreat eastward. The ones left waiting in the Armory guard an old codex, the 42-Line Bible Leonie used and collected from the scene of Ailuros and Leonie's return to Earth.
On the Isle of Women, Dorothea makes preparations. Once everyone is aware of the plan of action, she makes her way to Leonie's room, entering without announcement. Leonie, awake and sitting quietly to themselves asks, "What is it?"
"It's time to return to Earth and complete your mission, the mission for which you were born."
Dorothea approaches Leonie, placing her hand on Leonie's face. Tendrils of light emerge from each fingertip from underneath Dorothea's nails and the tendrils caress Leonie's face before entering Leonie through her eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth.
From Leonie's memory Dorothea pulls up Leonie using the 42-Line Bible to open a portal, and she projects the scene out into Leonie's room. The result of the spell recast under the light of the Central Sun is the reopening of the portal, with a portal to Earth emerging once more from Leonie's chest.
Leonie as consumed by the portal stands in their room, and Dorothea says without a glance toward the door, "Lito, thank you for arriving on time. Did you bring Iníon?"
"Yes," Lito responds from the doorway, "and we are fully dressed and ready for combat as you ordered."
"Good. It will just be the three of you going to Earth through this portal given the nature of it. Only those who passed through with its initial opening may pass through it again."
"Shall we reopen the portal once more once through?" Lito asks.
"It won't work," Dorothea answers, "We can send Leonie back through once more like this, but the blowback will destroy the book used to open the portal."
Lito grimaces, "That book is a priceless piece."
"The dangers of using such things for active rituals."
"How will we open the way for you?"
Dorothea smiles, "You already know the answer to that question."
Lito's eyes grow wide, but he regains his composure and ushering a trepidatious Iníon into Leonie's room stands before the portal to Earth. With a salute Lito enters the portal, Iníon in tow. Once the other two are through, Dorothea places her hand on Leonie's portal-body, tendrils are pulled out from her by the force of the gateway.
"It's time for you to return home Leonie." Dorothea's tendrils pull at something unseen, and Leonie collapses in upon themselves, shrinking down to a single point in space before disappearing altogether.
Back on Earth, the 42-Line Bible swings itself open, and from the book a projection emerges. That projection gains material, ripping open into a portal. Emerging from the gateway Lito and Iníon step into the Armory.
A few moments after their safe arrival, the portal takes a more human form, solidifying into Leonie before the gateway itself coalesces into Leonie's heart, collapsing into nothing. When the portal finally closes, the 42-Line Bible begins charring, burning away.
The five servitors waiting in the Armory greet Lito and Iníon, and while two servitors attempt to secure the immolating bible Lito turns around and speaks to Leonie, "I apologize for the sudden rude wake up, but it's time to get ready."
Leonie hears Lito's words in a stupor, but as they find their way out of the haze of their own mind, Leonie summons the mantle with armor and spear. Leonie takes one look around at the Armory they now find themselves in once more and de-summons the spear.
"I've been here before." Leonie says.
"Yes?" Lito responds.
"What . . . I must complete my mission."
"So must we all." Lito answers.
As the bible burns away to nothing, the servitors give up on attempting to save the book, returning to speak with Lito. Lito says to them, "Don't worry, you never could save the book. We will pierce the shroud . . . another way."
The five servitors accept Lito's words. One of them steps forward, greeting Lito, "I am Oran, and we were instructed to place ourselves under the command of the Knight who stepped through the portal."
"I'm Lito. I am the one you waited for. We have a mission and you shall accompany us."
"What is the mission, if I may ask?" Says Oran.
"A ritual is now performed improperly. We must take control of the site and ritual and ensure its completion in a proper way." Answers Lito.
The five servitors nod in understanding. Iníon approaches Lito and asks, "Will I . . . have to fight?"
"It is very likely, yes." Lito says, "But I'll be there by your side. Nothing bad will happen to you."
Iníon smiles as Lito frowns. Lito thinks about his last night with Dorothea.
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