The stone rasped and cracked under the pinpoint force of his spell, carving out the final name of the fallen tributes: Aria Gracen. Cyprus straightened up, looking around at the great black monolith beneath his feet. Spiraling out from his feet were hundreds of names- those of every tribute slain in the Ritual throughout the centuries, as well as those of each soldier killed in the Battle of the Breaking. He sighed without making a sound.

"You finally finished it?" He looked up to see Tigaern approaching him, expression soft. He nodded mutely.  "And the crystalline patterns match the diagram I gave you?"

I am not an incompetent, Tig. After all, I am a Guar-

For the first time in years, his fingers faltered and froze. Miyu walked up beside him. 

"He says everything is in order, Tig. We're ready to proceed." Her hands formed Vasileian signs for Cyprus's eyes only: I know. You are not alone. 

"Good. Ellie brought me her ingredients yesterday, so in theory she won't even have to show up..."

A high whinny from above echoed through the misty dawn. After a moment, Elswyth dropped into their midst, landing with feline grace. Her eyes flickered from yellow slits to their usual green.

"You didn't really think I'd miss this, did you?" She asked. "I ought to be here, even if my part in the spell is complete. Unicorn hair for sanctity, phoenix feather for longevity, and elephant bone for memory. I assume they've already been incorporated into the memorial?"

Tigaern nodded. "Just last night, in fact. Everything's prepared. Miyu? Are you ready?"

For a moment the mist swirled while Miyu closed her eyes.

"It has been six months since I led children into a battle against a monster and their own nations. Whether or not I am ready is beside the point. They deserve this." 

The other Guardians nodded silently. She took a deep breath. "Essence of Essences. Thought made Word. Form by which all Forms are called."

A strong breeze began to blow, stirring the robes of the magi. The names of the fallen began to glitter in the rock.

"I am Miyu al Thea, and I implore you to touch this plane! Find now the names of the fallen, inscribed in stone and crystal, and bring forth that which they are when their names are called. Hear me, Name of Names, that which eternally orders itself! Consecrate the signs of essence carved within matter."

The mist itself shuddered. Miyu's voice echoed from invisible, impossible obstacles, ringing in the cool air. 

"Aakhyaa."

For a long moment, nothing happened. Then, with a gentle sigh, images began to take shape from the mist, gaining color and depth. Hundreds of people, silent and unmoving, stood upon the monolith- soldiers with their weapons cast aside, magi from a thousand years of ritual battle. Each was above a single, glowing name, which eventually faded along with them. As the last one faded, each Guardian bowed their head.

We are the Guardians of a broken Treaty. Do we have purpose? Is there even a reason for us anymore?

"Our Treaty is broken," Miyu replied quietly. "Still, we will guard the memory of the fallen: those before our time, those who perished at our hands, and those who struggled at our side."

"We will stay as one," Elswyth added. "We will work as one, and fight as one for the peace of Halyin. We will keep the balance, even if it should cost us our lives."

Tears dripped to the cool stone from every eye. Nonetheless, Tigaern was smiling.

"So it shall be."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Requirements

-You have totally free reign with this task, save for one caveat: one or more of the following things must task place within your entry.

1. You interact with one or more of your former fellow tributes.

2. You interact with one or more of the Guardians.

3. You visit the memorial stone for the fallen.

I'm extraordinarily proud of all of you, and I'm sure you'll give me entries that complement your characters to the degree they deserve. Good luck!

Due Date: Friday, January 29 at 10 PM EST