Asandria found herself on the balcony of de'Mist manor again, watching Orion rose on the edges of Draco at Altair on the eastern part of Sky Kingdoms with darkness evaporating around it. The familiar sounds of the city greeted her as always, she saw gardeners chatting idly as they go about their duties, horses' metal hooves clicked the stone-tiled roads rushing elites and ladies of Betelgeuse to their businesses. Betelgeuse's mode of transport was horses and horses were mostly for elites, the rest of the city use their feet to walk to their destinations. People were terrified of Spiral Pulser, they didn't show it here in the city because of Celestial powered lights which burn during the night, but they were no travelers, and if they travel, they use ships because as ruthless as Spiral Pulser was, it had never set its foot on the sea. Asandria didn't understand its nature nor did the Order of Relics share their discoveries.

It didn't matter with Order, Watchers have to do what they pleased. This was their nature, that's what they have learned at Timeless Halls.

Asandria had not been sleeping for the third time, skipping resting hours, she devout her time in studying. She felt none of the fatigue. Celestial kept her alert, a calm lake inside her body. There was an urgency to her studies, to find the truth about the Rings of Fortune, not for the Vulcans' sake, the sake of Betelgeuse was merit enough. The sake of Scorpius.

I had always dreamed of traveling around Sky Kingdoms, to see the white beaches of Crux, the exotic city of Rigel, and strange cities at Vela. My Pa always went through a fit when I mention venturing into the Spiral Pulser. He was terrified of the night like most people at Sky Kingdoms, but I had a burning desire. The Sky Kingdoms tugged me and its touch get stronger by the day.

Ma was supportive like any doting mother. She used to whisper to my ears on different occasions, 'take the rings with you. I am certain you will meet someone who values them.'

Asandria recalled the first words she read from Luke Stoneheart's chronicle. After a conversation she had with the Banker, she went to the Sanctuary and with Lourdes' help they searched the book the Banker recommended, they found easily in the historical section, and for the past three days she been reading it and rereading it just in case she had missed some information.

'Those dull old rings have no value,' I told Ma. Sky Kingdoms valued starlings and Moonstone only. Regardless, the rings were our family gems and for generations, we treasured them like a pure Moonstone. There were parts of Stoneheart and I knew I cannot roam freely across Sky Kingdoms without some of them. I made a mental note to take at least three when I set forth.

Luke Stoneheart ended up not taking only three rings but all ten of them, however, Asandria didn't want to duly on the future part of the chronicle. Not as yet. Now it was time to think.

Watchers and Vulcans still avoid each other in Betelgeuse. Watchers were ready to strike in a moment's notice if they feel the Way of Life had been violated. The Way of Life had been drafted in the early days of Origin to prevent another Ithamar Rage, to keep Vulcans in check and denied them power. That was thousands of years ago. Vulcans no longer care how the Way of Life was designed or the reasons behind it. They only care about survival and embracing death. Their lives were brief and they only concern themselves with death.

The Way of Life forbids Vulcans to channel Radiation into flames where there was a civilian, it also forbids civilians to use the pure red-orange flames: the forbidden flames. However, the Way of Life was not really what chained Vulcans, she learned there was another way that kept Vulcans in their shackles. It was the main reason she was not a Watcher, and ever since then she never set foot at Polaris again. Watchers were not innocent as common folks whispered; Asandria often wonders who started the wars before the Origin. She shook her head as she felt it swelling. She had not had a headache in the century, nonetheless, she was certain she was not suffering such a weakness. The matters of the world before Origin always had that effect on her.

So much was lost to Sky Kingdoms, but the world had no five moons before the Origin.

"Greetings Great Aunt."

Asandria turned around sharply, unconsciously touching more Celestial. She didn't hear footsteps approaching, her mind was wrapped in ancient history she was barely surviving in the current world.

Oslo stood before her, his face calm as always. He was wearing his silk purple ropes with black markings, his hands joined on his back. He preferred the robes to the latest elites' fashion. Such an interesting man.

"Any news from Ruben?" Asandria asked.

"Yes, the steelsmiths said the rings are compositions of Moonstone, iron, and some traces of copper, however, the Moonstone, as you have known, cannot be the thread which they find strange it too. In conclusion, the Rings of Fortune are not blacksteel."

Asandria had somewhat ranked all the Ministers in regards to the matters of the rings and surprisingly all await for her to give orders. She did what was expected of her, she gave orders and the first order was finding the composition of the rings, what made them. She wanted to learn if the steelsmith will find any trace of metal they have not yet discovered. There was no such luck as yet.

"Do you believe that blacksteel is real?" Asandria asked without taking her eyes from Oslo.

"I believe in the well-being of Betelgeuse and its inhabitants. I carry Father's dream; if there is any chance some Vulcans can be saved I should at least make certain I try to save them. As yet I don't believe in myths but my beliefs are not subject of the matter," Oslo replied.

"I don't think the Banker meant any harm, however, Daylight will be upon us and some Vulcans' veins will be full with Radiation to a bursting limit and we don't know what they are capable of. I am not trusting them as yet."

"We have Watchers for that," Oslo said automatically.

"If Watchers get involved we will end up indebted to them and we certainly don't need that," Asandria said shaking her head in disagreement.

"What do you know about Watchers which some of us don't know?"

Ah, the same question as the past few days; are we growing impatient Oslo?

During the years of Peter's time as a Minister Asandria was the one who often decides what was supposed to be done by Vulcans' who were approaching madness. She didn't know what caused the madness until those years, she often thought it was Valcan's uncontrollable rage; that's what she learned at Timeless Halls. But it was not their rage, their madness was because of excess usage of Radiation, their body had used up so much Radiation their mind can no longer control it. The sense of will often crumble.

The decree was for Watchers, officially around Sky Kingdoms excluding Barren Lands, nonetheless, at Betelgeuse it was hers. She didn't need a chain to touch Celestial. However, it raises questions and Peter couldn't answer them, he only knew Asandria wanted to deal with Vulcans' madness than Watchers who have been doing it for thousands of years. Peter wanted to know why she would put herself in danger of dealing with Radiation and why she didn't have the chain for a Watcher.

The first time she killed a Vulcan it was not her choice, it was a command, this time she made it her choice.

"There is a storm brewing, Oslo. I can feel aching deep in my bones, I looked at the sky and see no trace of it but it's coming," Asandria said softly.

Oslo's knee eyes studied her. He didn't say anything for a long moment.

Asandria had a little faith that Oslo might see what was happening. Events at Hamal were enough to deduce a hypothesis, she didn't know as yet which kind of storm was brewing; she was certain, however, there was a storm brewing. One of the most influential Vulcan was at Betelgeuse seeking an old metal, a very old metal. There was also a rumor, a rumor which was growing strength, about Orders' politics at Timeless Halls. It was too soon to say but Asandria was certain it was about Watchers which were killed at Hamal.

"Probably," Oslo replied, unconcerned. "However, there is a matter I am finding interesting about our guest Kepnes."

Oslo paused enough to rally Asandria's interest. Oslo rarely said anything about Vulcans other than what Asandria already knew, he offers no opinions of his own. Finally, there was something Asandria waiting for.

"Everywhere he went he always take the young Vulcans with him. From Ruben's investigation, he had discovered the young Vulcans are not the strongest, in fact, they knew nothing about fighting. An army of twenty Vulcans and he had to choose the weakest from them. It seems a bit strange for me."

You old fox, I knew you were not a perfect host for nothing, Asandria thought with a smile.

She had thought Madese will be the one spending more time with the Banker; Ruben was very unlikely but after learning the Banker had been sighted with Ruben, Asandria knew there was something he might want. Ruben was doing the same thing the Banker was doing to them, sighting any weaknesses.

There is probably more Ruben learned which he didn't tell Oslo, I think I should visit him very soon.

However, there was something wrong with what Oslo had said to her. Yes, the Banker always goes about with Jakob and Pitt, but no, the lads were not weak, they were far from it; they were the Banker's most valuable procession and that's the reason he was always with them.

"Don't concern yourself with Vulcans at the moment," Asandria said. "We still have the upper hand, the blacksteel they want can only be found and claimed by us. The Banker won't try anything to dim his chances of buying one of the original rings, however, we have to make sure the Watchers don't provoke them."

"Aram has the citywatch in high alert, a show of force seemed to be working so far. How is the research? Luke Stoneheart had said anything useful as yet?"

After Asandria dined with the Banker she told Oslo all about it, the story the Banker told her. Their brief conversation about the War of Light is slowly drifting to how the Rings of Fortune have made their way to Betelgeuse. Moreover, Oslo was familiar with Jeremy Stoneheart after he had read all histories the city has to offer about him, he even offered to reread some of the histories to verify if Jeremy didn't speak about the Rings of Fortune. Asandria decided she will stick with Luke Stoneheart hoping to catch the glimpse of blacksteel. She was still hoping.

I have been to Iron City only once. When I left my small town, Wynad the first place I had to visit again was Iron City, the city made of steel and glasses. There was no better place to sell the rings than Iron City.

"I am afraid I need more time," Asandria replied sadly. Even without resting she still had nothing concrete, she was not giving up, however, she didn't think it will be challenging.

"Kepnes should be forthcoming then, we almost like we are running research for him."

Asandria nodded. "He is holding something back. He doesn't trust us which is clever for him."

"Will, you be able to find for me where he was for the past six months?" Asandria added as a thought occurred to her. She had been too focused on blacksteel, she had ignored the Vulcan himself. Ah, stars above, she might be going senile.

"I have already done that. I am sure I have the full report three days after Daylight," Oslo replied.

"That's wonderful Oslo!" Asandria exclaimed. "Would you care to have a meal with me? We will talk more about my discovery, you might find something I have missed."

Oslo smiled lightly. "I was worried about you skipping meals, you cannot live by the grace of Celestial only."

Asandria laughed, she told Oslo she had spent two weeks without having a meal while she was training at Timeless Halls. Oslo followed closely behind as Asandria told him about her training at Timeless Halls.