"You're sure this is the diagram, Ellie?"

"This is what the cryptomancers recovered from the lab, ma'am. According to the notes, this diagram is built into Ammet's eyes. I haven't taken a solid look at it yet." 

Miyu al Thea sighed and rubbed her forehead. "My head hurts just looking at it. I'm still exhausted from sustaining the charm earlier, and all these symbols are blurring together."

"Maybe you should take a nap, ma'am. It's almost dawn, and you haven't slept at all. By the way, I finished surveying the island- only two tributes failed the Trial of the Heart. Alegria's body was found dead in the jungle, and Branwen from Lirima threw herself into the volcano. It took a while to interrogate the squirrels and confirm her identity, so we're running a bit behind."

The door to Miyu's elegant dwelling opened, and Tigaern stepped inside, the slowly lightening sky outlining him. "Morning, ladies. How did you sleep?"

"Hilarious," Miyu snapped. "Get over here- we need another set of eyes to examine this spell. The symbols seem to be associated with psychomancy, but beyond that I can't make heads nor tails of it."

"Good morning to you too, sunshine," Tig replied, crossing the room to examine the gently glowing lines of the diagram. "Huh. This is pretty convoluted. Strange, though; that energy chain reminds me of something. It's not something you normally see in mind magic..."

A slight tremble ran through the ground. Elswyth frowned and looked around, but Tig and Miyu took no notice.

"The power anchors are new to me as well- the symbols there are closer to zoomancy. Maybe Ammet was supposed to be the energy source? I swear I've seen this before. Somewhere in Craorag."

"A creature that broadcasts a spell from its eyes?" Miyu asked. "I didn't even know that kind of thing was possible. Ellie, what are your thoughts?"

"Something isn't right," Elswyth whispered. "I can't put my finger on it, but something's wrong here. Lady Miyu, Tig, put away the diagram for a moment. Do we have any geomancers left?"

"Not to my knowledge," Miyu replied. "Unless you count Cyprus. Why? Is someone charming the earth?"

"I felt energy go by a few seconds ago. There's no way a control freak like Cyprus would let that much leak out of a spell. Hold on. I'm going to scry for a moment." She closed her eyes, murmuring a quiet incantation.

"The Sunya Mirror!" Tigaern exclaimed. "Of course! There was a cursed mirror a few years ago on some nobleman's estate. I was on the team that destroyed it- but I got the chance to analyze the structure before we torched the thing. Anyone who saw their own reflection in the mirror had their soul extracted and body possessed by the mirror spirit. I remember we had to fight off their bodies just to get to the thing. This spell is almost identical-"

The ground rumbled audibly. Tig paused- and Cyprus burst through the door, eyes wide and hair hanging loose. He started signing rapidly at Miyu.

"Cyprus, slow down a little," she exclaimed. "I can't understand you. Something about the island?"

"Lady Miyu..." Elswyth opened her eyes, with a tremble in her voice. "We have a problem."

"I know that, dear. Just a moment. Cyprus, what do you mean the island is breaking?" Tig froze.

"Breaking? The island is breaking?"

"Lady Miyu, I really think you want to know this," Elswyth insisted.

"In a second, Ellie. Cyprus says something is very wrong with the magical binding at the center of the island. That spell has been in place since the Treaty was signed, and the integrity of the island itself is tied to it. For heaven's sake, Cyprus, spare me the details and get to the point already!"

"The Treaty has been broken!" Elswyth screamed.

There was silence in the dwelling. The ground shifted again, louder this time.

"I was watching the Vasileian capital when I saw troops leaving the city. They were armed for war. The same thing was happening in Aavayoh and Lirima. Something seemed off about the commanders of all three armies. I couldn't get the owl I was inhabiting to fly any closer." 

"Halyin is at war?" Tig whispered, eyes wide. "For the first time in over a millennium?"

"If the Treaty has been broken, the binding holding the island together will shatter," Miyu said. "The island isn't safe anymore. We need to get everyone out." 

Cyprus signed something at her. Miyu shook her head. "I know it will interfere with the Ritual. The Ritual stopped mattering the moment the Treaty was broken. We aren't Guardians any more- we're just magi. And ten children are on a rapidly deteriorating island. We have to save them." 

"How much time can you buy us, Cyprus?" Tig asked quickly. "Ellie, wake up the tributes as fast as you can. They need to get moving." Ellie ran out the door as Cyprus frowned, kneeling and touching the ground. After a moment, he signed a quick sentence at Miyu.

"He says fifteen minutes until the island starts to sink, if he tries to slow it down. We need to be off this island by then."

"Miyu, get us some kind of boat. I'll try to help Cyprus slow things down."

The ground shook again, and another magical pulse exploded from the volcano. Tig nearly fell before he recovered his balance. 

"Let's get off this rock before it decides to get rid of us first."

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

Requirements

-The Treaty keeping Halyin at peace has been broken. The Trials are over. The island of the Guardians is sinking into the ocean.

-Get to the ship that Miyu has prepared at the site where you were left on the island.

-If you are still on the island after fifteen minutes have passed, it will break apart and sink into the ocean. You will drown, obviously.

Kills: One in-entry, two in any combination of in-entry kills and ballot deaths. Six tributes will go up for votes this round. Four will be eliminated.

Due Date: Friday, January 8 at 10 PM GMT