[b]"Oh and Master I didn't escape its destruction it is still very much alive at least for now [i]inside that thing that ate it.[/i][/b] 

Lao's neck and back cracked as he whipped himself back towards Alister. His face read with a mix of emotions, none of them well or settled: his lips were pursed, holding back an outburst of anger; his eyes, however, read with a fear and concern that few of his students had ever seen in him. "I'm sorry," he said, shaking himself out. He walked slowly closer towards. "Did you just say 'the thing that' ate it?" 

"That's what it sounded like to me." Ghave had spoken up once more, with a snide remark. "Maybe you should get your ears che--." 

Ghave silenced himself at the silent command of a priest. The one seated in the middle of the trio rose to his feet. "Not now Ghave," he spoke calmly. Pacing towards Lao, he continued speaking, now less calmly. "Lao, you know what this means. You've known it to be true for some time now. The three of us can feel it in your Heart... We can also feel that you've not shared much about with your students." 

"It had been nothing more than a paranoia!" Lao snapped, spinning around and snapping back at the priest. "A paranoia caused by old, dark memories. We took care of that problem years ago; we made plans to ensure that our provisions would hold." 

"But they haven't held," the priest on the right intervened, not missing a beat. "The prison you and the other Master's conjured up for the World Eater has been breaking. It's reach is growing. It's swallowed several worlds on the Light's periphery."

"And now it's reached in so far as Avalon." Now it was the left priest speaking; he too moved from the table to join his companion. "It's only a matter of time before it reaches the inner worlds."

"Until recently the prison and seals had held quite strong," the middle priest pressed on. "But something is causing it all to come undone. The power of the Light Masters is waning without warning." 

With a deep sigh, Lao finally managed to accept the priests' and Alister's telling as truth. "So, tell me: have you informed any of the others?" 

The priests stood silent for nearly a full minute. Tension built in the room as they looked amongst themselves and the others in the room, as though looking for an answer foreign minds. At last, it was the middle priest who spoke up. "We have not. We came directly to you. We feared that if the World Eater continued its trend of consumption, we wouldn't have time to mobilize the other Light Masters. They'd have been swallowed up as soon as they readied themselves for battle, and there wouldn't have been time to call for aid." 

"So we came directly to you," the right priest explained, sounding more like a military tactician than a man of faith. "We felt that if we told you first, you would be able to consolidate a resistance more quickly." 

"Old Bastion was once the mighty stronghold of the Light Masters," the left priest said. "What better place to bring the Masters to than here?" 

"All due respect," Lao said, now noticeably annoyed at the priests, "it would have been easier to send the others here. I'd have much rather dealt with them telling me of this than a trio of strangers. However, your visit is appreciated nonetheless. If there's nothing more for you to tell me, you may go in peace." 

"Of course," the middle priest bowed out. "Our journey here has been one of length. We will rest here for now; but don't expect to see us before we depart. We would prefer our visit remain between us those in this room, and young Victor." 

"Speaking of which," the left priest mused, staring at the door to the room." 

Sure enough, not a second later, the door came open. Victor stood a shadow against the light from the hall. Suddenly, though, realizing he had just intruded on something important, he made to withdraw from the room. "Sorry. Sorry Master Lao. I should have know you would be busy here." 

"No no!" Lao dished over to the doorway, blocking the closing door and pulling open against Victor's attempt to close it. "We were actually just about to leave. What was it that you wanted from me?" 

"Oh. Uh. Right. You see Master, there's someone else here calling for you. Well, he was calling for a 'Keyblade Master said to reside in this castle.' So that could only mean you." 

"Where is this young man?" 

"Down in the Hall. We gave him some of what was left of breakfast. Oh yeah... He's another Keybearer." 

"Pertinent information, Victor." Lao looked to the priests and the other apprentices, bowing to the former as he addressed the room. "Iris, Alister: come. Men of Wisdom, thank you. Ghave... do as you will." He exited into the hall, where Victor remained waiting. "Bring me to him," Loa ordered. Victor setting a brisk pace, the Keybearers made their return to the main hall.