[The Garden] Praeceptor of the Reliquiae

[Nox]

Meeting with the Ascendancy so soon would likely be questioned. That's three in a few weeks. 
 
So. I know I just met with the Ascendancy but I need to request another. I've been in contact with the New Atharim. The Praeceptor of the Reliquiae, the self proclaimed New Regus of the New Atharim wants to meet with you. A new er, with me as his face puppet.

It wasn't long before Nox got a reply.  And not just from anyone, but the Ascendancy himself.
 
Why in the world would I want to meet with the Regus?

He is not the Regus. His name is Eliot Languex, an obsolete son of an Atharim benefactor who like us can channel. He wants to do things differently here in Moscow and wants your sign off. I wasn't planning on telling you this now. But I figured the truth sooner rather than later might gain him that meeting. He's willing to risk his life for the meeting. He's at least serious

And what is this Praeceptor of the Reliquiae?

The presumed leader of a new faction of Atharim I assume. One moving into this new age of gods and men. Working together? I guess.

What do you think he wants?

Well considering he wants me to be the face of this new Atharim, I think he's looking for a more transparent Atharim. Not killing human's outright because he's one of us. He's not like the last Reguses. He's a godling. If he wants me, that means he beleives like I do. He knows of the cases I've taken, and those I've refused. I don't know the full plan, but I think he wants to move the Atharim in a new direction. With your help.

The final message received was not anything of text, but two passes for himself and Eliot Languex to the Garden, with date, time and coordinates.  Lucky them.

[Nox]

Nox dug a little deeper into Eliot Languex once he got home. He knew way more than Eliot would think he knew now. Sage had been a wonderful help as had Sky. It was nice having an information junkie as a best friend. He owed Sage his life in more ways than one.

It was still a surprise to him that he wasn't angry with him. Not even a little and Sage didn't quite understand it. Nox didn't really understand it himself. It was easier to be angry with Hayden. Maybe because he could take it out physically on Hayden and Sage was a different story.

His life had surely changed. The people he thought meant the most to him meant less than he thought and others who should me less meant more. He was finding it hard to live with out Hayden or Oriena. And neither of them wanted more. That's mostly what he was mad at Hayden about. Hayden wanted him to feel, to be present, but Hayden didn't want to be present with him. At least not in the same way. And it pissed him off.

It shouldn't because the very thing Hayden accepted was the very thing that Raffe hated about him. And that was a whole can of worms he didn't want to think about. So it was just easier to be pissed off with Hayden. Not that he was talking much to Hayden. He seemed to understand that he didn't want to talk to him right now. Which was also pissing him off.

Feelings sucked!!

But it didn't matter anyway he had a meeting to get to. He knew Eliot would expect him to dress right for the job. Except he also told him to be himself. So Nox wore what he always wore, though there were no holes in his jeans or shirt, and he wore a perfectly fine hoodie, though he truly missed his. But it was with Raffe where the fuck he was. Totally didn't want to think about it, so Nox pushed it out of his head too.

He didn't wanna think. Didn't wanna feel, but here he was full powered up and feeling everything. But he was still grateful to feel the love from the kids who depended on him. They were the only thing that made feeling again worth anything.

Nox could have walked. Could have taken the subway and walked the rest of the way but instead he called a car and paid for it and they dropped him off outside the Garden, where he waited in the cold for Eliot to show up. There was no way in hell Eliot was getting inside without him at his side. He would be surprised if he even got in, but the Ascendancy had set the meeting so there it was. He was going to be sitting between two very opposite teams, both for whom he worked for.

[Ascendancy]

The Dominions had already been briefed. The reason for this rare convocation carried weight enough to silence questions, not that anyone would dare question the Ascendancy's orders. To meet with a member of the Atharim was unusual. To meet with one of their self-proclaimed leaders was unprecedented.

The Garden was a secret base of operations, but today the business of the site was silenced. Civilians were rarely permitted, and only then by exceptional mandate. Eliot was a channeler, but how strong and skilled, Nikolai had no idea. He barely trusted Nox, and that trust had been forged through trial and time, ground out like steel on a whetstone. That it existed at all bordered on miraculous. To expect another miracle now would be foolish.

The meeting would take place beneath the open sky, exposed to the elements, on a stretch of open yard that felt as ceremonial as it was strategic. Staff and soldiers had been ordered from view. Even the equipment was relocated. Only wind moved, and even that seemed hesitant. In the distance, a storm was building like a mountain deciding whether to walk.

Nikolai was waiting, flanked by the three Dominions, their line stiff and silent, like specters conjured from a forgotten age. All four wore matching woolen coats of deep charcoal, collars rimmed with thick black fur. Nikolai’s coat bore the double crescent pin of his station, its gold and orange glinting dully in the grey light. Fur-lined gloves hid his hands, and atop his head rested an Ushanka, its flaps folded up atop his head. He cut a stark figure with his expression alone, but his eyes ere like frozen coals beneath the fur brim. He stood not like a man awaiting parley, but like one prepared to withstand a siege.

But he was willing to meet it nonetheless.