They all stood before the great spire, staring up at it in trepidation. Slowly their gazes fell upon the figure standing in front of it. He was small as always, though they knew his power was far greater than it seemed.
It appeared that he preferred his smaller, familiar form whenever he stood in front of the spire.

"How does it feel? Knowing yourselves." Abyss called.
"It feels weird." GB admitted.
"I feel just a bit different." Blue added.
"I don't know. I know who I am." Eragon lowered his head.
I am who I am. Shall we open the door? Saphira insisted.
"Right. Yes." He nodded, stepping aside and heading over.

GB squinted at him. "You were acting like a Judge there." He noted.
Abyss paused, then snorted. "That wasn't intentional- I- I'm not a judge. I never was in this life.."
They all glanced at him in varying levels of confusion.
"Do we even ask or will you not make sense?"
"I just remember my previous lifetimes." He shrugged, leaning back.

"So who will be saying their name first?"
I shall. Glaedr announced. If there is a trap, I might be able to spring it before it catches any of you.
"There isn't one." Abyss muttered, but didn't argue, everyone pulling back mentally to give the elder dragon some privacy.
No, you have told me your names. It is only right that you should know mine.

There was a shocked pause, then all four of them spoke at once.
Thank you, Ebrithil.

That said, his deep voice rumbled as he recited a spiel, full of love for his Rider, grief at his loss and yet eternal gratitude to find the forces of the world having unbent to allow Oromis to somehow exist beyond his death. And on it went, describing a life of a complex mind that was centuries old, difficult to grasp and yet understood all the same. The name stretched several sentences before coming to a stop, everyone watching for a change in the rock and finding nothing.

Saphira was next, pawing at the ground and snorting before tossing her name at the stone. Her love for Eragon too, was prominent, as were other aspects of herself. She was of fire, of beauty, a true dragon, a part of Alagaësia. But she was also full of an ache, tinged with the fact that she was still the last female of her kind, a mother of a hybrid race.

As silence fell, GB nervously stepped forward. Steeling himself, he took a breath and spoke. His name was of struggle, feeling lost and alone in a world that no felt like his own, tainted with the numbing agony of constant Reset after Reset, illuminated by brief patches of respite before it turned to being thrust into an alien world of pain, unable to go home, lost and broken until finding a will to fight back. To bite and snap. To burn all that would hurt him and hurt others.

His name spoke of his new fierceness, his anger, his love and loyalty to the one who saved him, helped him, guided him to where he was now. His name spoke of his devotion to protecting his yet unborn children, ready to die to give them a better world than anything he had known. His name spoke of his bond with Blue and connection to Loyalty. His name was unexpectedly grand while touched with humility, a trait unseen in dragons. It was.. a good name.

Eragon seemed shocked at it, mouth slightly open as Saphira blinked. Even though they seemed similar in age and were both students alongside each other, there was a vast difference in age between them. Saphira may be an adult by her race's standards, but she was still an infant by a skeleton's. The truth was.. off-putting.

It was then that Loyalty spoke up from within, choosing instead to speak with thoughts so as not to be overheard by any who might somehow listen. His name was.. bewildering. It spoke of his mind-bending nature as a deity, as himself, a being both in and part of everything in ways that were difficult to grasp. His name called him the teeth and claws of Unity, connected to but not synonymous with the other. His name was also unnervingly short despite clearly being an entity of incredible age. His name did not list accomplishments, as it was clear that nearly all things were in part due to him.

The ground shook slightly and wind gusted in the trees, grass rippling in the breeze as the name concluded, GB's wings glowing a faint teal before returning to normal. The name strummed somewhat inside each of all of them. He was there. He was Loyalty.

Blue stepped forward then, smiling. His name was grand, speaking of a being of honor, of justice, a creature of mercy with a sense of duty to others. He was a warrior of peace, fighting for kindness despite the atrocities battle brings upon oneself. He was a dragon, in part, carrying a child forever tied to his Soul- his identity. And he was the Voice of Unity, bringing the most unlikely of bonds about with his sheer persistence and belief. And he was still prideful yet humble, a paradox of self. He was no being of truth, allowing others to believe a falsehood under the guise of protecting them. His flaws were not nearly as many as virtues, but he was proud of them for they showed he was no perfect being- and that is where he found peace.

He shifted in place, glancing back at the others as Unity made himself heard.
The deity was of great power, one of the oldest, though never a creature of great maturity. He was skittish and fleeting, often found in moments of harmony, yet when his nerves are steeled, capable of great things. A being involved in mostly small moments, but each one holding great power and even joy. Through him, many things were possible. Through him, worlds were shaped. He was the Heart of Destiny, although the meaning of that name was lost to them. He was in all things, in the bonds of atoms into molecules, in the symbiosis of the bees and flowers, in the community efforts of ant colonies, the packs of gorillas, he was to be found.

There was another strong breeze, and for a moment everything felt a little closer, tighter, like a comforting embrace. Blue seemed to glow faintly, though not nearly as much as he had when he'd spoken his own name.
Then it was gone.

Eragon hesitantly stepped forward, Blue dipping back as the human listed his own name. It was full of grandeur and misgivings, ups and downs, a youth living an eventful life. It was considerably shorter than the others, but he was also still a child by their standards. He stepped away, self-conscious when he was already done. Blue simply patted him on the shoulder.
"It's a good name." He murmured aloud. The human smiled somewhat awkwardly at that.

Then Abyss came forth, taking a deep breath. The others paused, having momentarily forgotten that he would have to state his name as well.
And.. his was a strange one.

He was a being of morality. Of understanding. He believed in forgiveness much like Blue, but not always in the same kind of mercy. He believed in truth, no matter how painful. He believed in the understanding of self. He was observant, a watcher, a seer, the one who knows and yet does not know. He was a mortal that was not, a fused half to a being of memories and Souls.

Then a voice within him made itself known. A god, once broken, made whole. A gem littered in cracks that had begun to seal. The Soul of the Abyss, even as the skeleton that was and was not them was their Soul. A changeling, creature borne of unknowable waters and Evolution it/herself. It was a name full of complexities and paradoxes, and yet it had somehow felt like a run-on of Abyss. There had never been a clear end to his name and beginning to Soul. They had simply merged into one another.

At the end of the name, his scarves were afloat, glowing with watery light as he himself hovered off the ground, a strange shadow cast over the sky before he touched down again. Blinking, he looked back at them. His eyelights were wide, seeing more than they could know, yet they were faintly.. embarrassed. There seemed to be faint wisps of tendrils waving behind him before the illusions faded and the world was normal again- save for the hush that had fallen over it.
This was a creature of the existence beyond their own, standing in a body that should have been too small.

And yet, the door did not open. Abyss huffed, and suddenly his shadow lengthened, everyone recoiling in surprise as it tugged itself off the ground, becoming three-dimensional with wobbling white orbs on its face.
"What?" Limbo asked them.
"Psychí is my anchor to the physical part of this world."
"...Oh." Eragon noted, uncomprehending.

The shadow snorted, a hollow sound before he faced the spire. His name was also unexpectedly short, similar to the deities in being a creature of many, calling him a Shadow of Sanses, voice of the Void, bearer of Mystery. He was many who was one. He was a memory, he was a collection of fragments, an echo of personalities formed into a seeming whole. A someone who was noone.
In his paradoxical name and existence was his bond with Mystery, a deity hardly known.

With his name, all the skeletons found that they couldn't hold back shivering, somehow cold despite the overhead sun. His form became clearer, revealing details normally unseen in his translucence. Then he faded back to a regular shadow, though his thoughts were still there, yet another deity making itself known.
Mystery.

Yet this one was far more enigmatic than all the ones before. It/her self was built upon being something unknowable. Her name was short, but difficult to grasp at all- but all the same it made sense, because that was the essence of Mystery. Sense in the lack of sense. Mystery's very existence seemed to be a paradox, and trying to put it into words in a way that could be understood was foolish and impossible.

So instead, their minds were left bewildered and the shadows around them lengthened, the strange shadow-birds shrieking in the trees as eyes shone from the darkness.

In the hushed pause as the world held its breath, yet another voice rose up.
Right. Oromis. He was still there, mind locked away in an endlessly round crystal created by Abyss/Soul. His name was much like Glaedr's, a fragment of Alagaësia's history, full of elements they themselves had yet to know. His love for his dragon, his prestige as an elder of the old order, his sorrow at the fall of the Riders and at his own failures. His name finished and all was quiet.

They waited a moment before a change became apparent. A long, dark line had appeared in the wall, utterly silent as a truly massive set of doors simply opened, gleaming with protective glyphs along their lengths, the inner sides dark and smooth. They opened into an enormous tunnel that sloped downward, scraping grass and detritus aside before rumbling to a stop, the silence returning.

Everyone stared at the dark hole, apprehensive.
Abyss was the first to step closer, walking up to the gate without fear. He stopped at the edge, looking back. "Well?"
This place should not exist. Glaedr rumbled.
Indeed, someone would have known of such a tunnel being built. Unless it was created before the Riders settled upon Vroengard, thus making it ancient indeed. Oromis added thoughtfully.

"But it does exist, and it is not nearly as ancient as that. Memories were purged to protect this place." Abyss replied, glancing back down into the depths. "Come on. They're waiting." He strode inside.

Everyone else shared a look with one another, then hesitantly followed. As they entered the great tunnel, the doors behind them whistled faintly as they swung around, closing behind them.
"Ah- no no no!" Eragon panicked, turning back.
"Naina hvitr!" He summoned light, revealing the smooth stone as he beat on it.

"Eragon." Blue called softly.
"Blast it, we should have used a log or a boulder to wedge them open!" The human lamented.
Eragon. GB spoke.
"What?" He turned to face them.
If we have to, we can always break them down. Saphira pointed out.
That I very much doubt. Glaedr noted suspiciously.

"I think it is okay." Blue spoke up, looking back down the tunnel at the waiting Abyss.
"Besides, if it becomes necessary we can simply teleport out. No destruction needed. Though I doubt that will be needed." He started walking down, GB shyly following.
We have to push forward. The skeleblaster added, quickly gaining confidence in his stride.

That urged the other two into following, Eragon adjusting the glow into a werelight hanging from the ceiling. The walls were smooth and bare, flowing into the floor as if melted. This indicated that the tunnel was likely the work of elves.

It continued deeper, never changing direction nor slope. At some point it was obvious that they were no longer beneath the Rock of Kuthian and they had gone somewhere below the mountain behind it. Still, straight and unchanging it went, burrowing still deeper.

Eventually they noticed an orange light pooling from below, and Abyss perked up, moving faster as Eragon shut off the light. The small, fluffy one seemed eager to reach their destination, the air growing warmer.

What is it that lies ahead of us? Saphira finally asked.
"What, asking me to ruin the surprise? After this long building up the suspense? I wouldn't want to steal their thunder!" He grinned, skipping backwards- a difficult feat when going down such a steep slope.
Abyss, it seems prudent to know. Oromis pressed.

The small one paused, staring at the saddlebags where the gems were currently kept.
He then spoke somewhat slowly.
"Umaroth is waiting."
With that, he turned, hopped up, scarves bursting into wings before he glided down into the distant chamber.
The teachers were left silent and stunned.

"Do you know Umaroth?" Eragon asked. "Who was he? The name sounds familiar, but.."
Hurry. Both elf and dragon suddenly urged.
Do not keep him waiting. Glaedr added.
How can he be alive?

Everyone started speedwalking, half rushing down the slope towards a strange, enormous black arch covered in sculpted glyphs.
Wait. This too may be a trap. The elf warned.
ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ɴᴏ ᴛʀᴀᴘ. Loyalty spoke.
ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍꜱᴇʟᴠᴇꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ꜱᴇᴇ.

They paused before the archway, staring at the flat grey floor beyond, illuminated in a warm glow, hot air billowing around them, smelling of sulfur.
Finally, they stepped down.

First and foremost appeared the metal human with a dragon's head, clothed only in a segmented loincloth, holding a metal shield in left hand, glittering Rider's blade in his right, unmoving. Behind him were rings in the walls, two tiers, covered in dark shapes while behind the walls glittered with multicolored gems. A broad pit sat in the floor in the middle of the room, a fiery light emanating from it. Behind the humanoid was a throne with their outline upon it.

The figure strode forward, feet clanking heavily on the floor. Stopping thirty feet away from them, they caught a glimpse of carmine flames in empty sockets before they threw back their head and roared. It echoed, splintering off the walls until it sounded like many small dragons bellowing at them.

Seconds later they were all suddenly enveloped in a consciousness full of voices, all shouting, crying, demanding attention as they ripped each one of their minds into pieces. Only Unity and Loyalty were unaffected, placid, knowing, allowing themselves to be seen and split and unharmed by the experience. They only wished their vessels to be treated gently.

There was nothing any of the mortals could do except follow as the chattering voices commanded wordlessly. Memories came up unbidden, scrolled through thoughtlessly as their bodies were manipulated into poses like empty dolls. It was a horrifying experience, made all the more unsettling by the lack of opposition from the deities that were fully capable of fighting back.

None of them were allowed enough self-awareness to realize that the deities simply sensed no malevolent intent, only their own distant alarm- emotions muted under the weight of the synchronized minds. It just scoured their minds impersonally, stretching out their sense of time into hours when in reality it was merely minutes.

Eragon and Saphira were released first, stumbling as they recovered, dragon snapping as the human all but collapsed with a gasp. The teachers went next, reeling and gathering themselves. The other pair were held for a painful minute longer before Blue abruptly dropped to the ground, barely caught by Abyss as the small one hugged him, GB rasping as he tripped and fell on the disgruntled Saphira. She growled, shoving him off and watching as he slumped to the floor.
Blue was shivering.

Our apologies, Saphira. Our apologies, Istalrífreohr. Our apologies, Eragon, Eldgath, deities Loyalty and Unity. We had to be sure of your intentions. Welcome to the Vault of Souls. Long have we waited for you. And welcome to you as well, Rider and cousin. We are glad you are still alive, though in part through strange circumstances. Take now your memories, and know that your task is at long last complete!

With those words of the unknown voice, power jolted through the old dragon and elf, the Eldunarí roaring mentally with so much force it hurt, flooded with emotion- regret, disbelief, loss, and most importantly, joy.

Blue was partly shut off from it all, GB shivering and glancing at him in concern.
Abyss quietly stepped back as burning icy eyelights rested upon him.
"You know I've been manipulated against my will before." He stated in a dead voice.
"I know." Abyss looked away. Blue moved further away, agony in his lights as he regarded the room.

"I.. understand your reasons for what you did. You are right to be concerned. However, I.. I do not have a pleasant past when it comes to being controlled without my consent. I.. yes, I believe you saw as much. It is called Overwrite."
We apologize greatly, Uniter, but it is unavoidable.
"Will it happen again?"
It will not.
"... Alright. I just wanted to know."

It was then that he flinched as a talon clasped around his shoulders, glancing at the stunned GB before noticing the walls. Dozens of alcoves covered them, each fitted with differently colored and sized gemstones, all aglow, lit from within. Yet more, on the rows below were numerous ovoid stony shapes, all just a little too familiar to be mistaken for anything else.

You are not mistaken, hatchlings and fledges. Nor do your eyes deceive you. We are the secret hope of our race. Here lie our hearts of hearts- the last free Eldunarí in the land- and here lie the eggs that we have guarded for over a century. The voice confirmed.

"...Abyss." Blue spoke flatly.
"Yeah?"
"Is this why you had to leave the Varden?"
"Yeah.."
"..I see. Abyss?"
"What?"
"I think I have a skullache."
"Oh."