The next vision came ten minutes of travel later - and this time, the entire group reacted to the sight, judging from their cries of shock.<br/><br/>Here, he could see Nyrissa, kneeling on a stone slab in the middle of the clearing. Around her, four other nymphs stood, their bodies bleeding - still alive, but grievously wounded. And before her, and enormous ball of fire, like a miniature sun. He would barely make out Sena's whispered gasp, before the orb<em>spoke.</em>"The... Lantern King."<br/><br/>((Please imagine the following in about 40pt font, with as many textual effects as possible. I am reproducing it in actually legible format))<br/><br/>The voice is casual arrogance, a being that is so utterly self-assured of its own existence, that its opinions become facts, merely by speaking them. It drips with casual disdain and derision.<br/><br/>"Listen to me, child. You sought to steal power, a kingdom, a position above your meager station. I seek something simpler - an apology. As you sought to steal these things for yourself, so must you do again, a<em>thousand</em>times over. For a theft, a TRUE theft, must be practiced to be earned. It will be a lengthy task - and here is how it shall be measured."<br/><br/>The orb flares, slightly, and a golden chalice appears before Nyrissa's face.<br/><br/>"Make ruins of kingdoms. When each is dust, the grains shall gather in this vessel. When a thousand grains are gathered, bring it before us as an offering so that a<em>true</em>Eldest may sip from it. When that is done, your trespass shall be forgiven."<br/><br/>"But... where shall I find so many nations? It is--"<br/><br/>"An impossible task? Oh, no, no, no. Let your<em>unrequited</em>love guide you - it guided you to your first kingdom, did it not? And so it shall guide you to the last. Seek it. Hunt for it.<em>Lust</em>for it. Let the emptiness inside you become your deadliest weapon. It is NOT an impossible task. After all, what good is an apology if it cannot ever be given? Now, go!"<br/><br/>The image of Nyrissa and her attendants fades - but the glowing orb remains, unmoving. Floating in front of it, a simple-looking bastard sword, the hilt wrapped in thorned vines made of iron. "And, until that time, I shall ensure you do not have this," the orb said, with a smugness that likely sets everyone on edge.