[center]-=-=Charred Citadel=-=-[/center]

The birdlike being before Kosara and Akoni shrugged nonchalantly when the latter demanded an answer from him.  Neither the half-demon nor the human sorcerer ruffled his feathers, though their arrival marked the first non-Watcher presence Eeliot remembered in years.  Twiddling the fingers of one hand, he bemoaned, “Alas, there is nobody to love them.  I, as their sovereign, may do with them whatever I please!  Though wouldn’t it be just fantastic if things were all nice and orderly?  Someone should get on that.”  Eeliot rose to his talons, coming to a head shorter than Akoni, and his eyes showed the smile that his rigid beak did not.  “Hey, how’s the weather up there?”  Making a show of looking up at him, the self-proclaimed King of Knowledge circled around toward a table.  On it lay a multi-pack of juice boxes, absurd in their normalcy, and from which Eeliot selected one.  Either not caring or not remembering the visitors, he pecked a hole in his juice box before sticking his beak inside to drink.  Finally, Kosara’s question regained his attention.  “Find books?” he mumbled into his juice box before slurping and licking his beak.  “Ah!  Scrumptious.  Anyway, you find books in a bookstore.  Or a house.  We don’t have any here though.  Terrible luck!  And it’s so far to the Third Kingdom…”  

If anything, Panoptos expected Wrath’s Firebrand form to be released with an explosion and surrounded at all times with a blazing firestorm.  Instead, the Nephilim surprised him by keeping a very firm grip on his powered-up form, and then by physically massaging the inert Molten Core thereafter.  [i]Oh, dear.  Looks like he took me a bit too literally.  Say, maybe that’s something I can use.[/i]  Out loud, the great Watcher commented, [color=50C878]”That was just a turn of phrase, you know.  A good charbroil would work better than patting it down.”[/color]  That said, the transformed body of Wrath positively beat with heat.  The air itself distorted for several centimeters around the lit parts of him, and even the red or brown stone seemed apt to permanently burn an unwise hand.  Wrath’s efforts began to show in the core; the black dust clogging its arteries like fatty plaque visibly heated up, sparking like fireside embers.

The arrival of Kyle soonafter, accompanied by a servant Watcher, drew Panoptos’ attention.  He watched as the cyborg, coaxed by his companion, transformed in a fearsome industrial blaze into a monster part magma and part metal.  Perhaps even more so than Wrath, Kyle radiated intimidation and fortitude.  By Panoptos’ estimation, only the strongest of blunt weapons would be able to crack that exoskeleton; any sort of cutting edge would merely slide off if it did not break or melt immediately.  He called, [color=50C878]”Yes, yes, we’re all very proud of doing the thing everyone can do.  Get over here and kickstart this heart, would you?  The savage has been keeping it warm for you.”[/color]

With two firebrands working on it, the Molten Core did not take long at all to blaze to life.  Its first beat resounded through the dungeon, afterward becoming a rhythmic undertone, and magically-charged lava flowed through the great transparent veins to every room in the place, providing light for the citadel’s new tenants and power for the various machines littering its halls.

[color=50C878]”Well!  Looks like the blessing worked at least.  Enjoy the heat while it lasts,”[/color] Panoptos told the two, who were both no longer transformed and most likely exhausted.  [color=50C878]”Your first mission starts in less than eight hours, I’ll bet.  Find some corner in the castle to call your own.  The Watchers can fetch basic furnishings for you if stone floor’s not to your taste.  So long!”[/color]  After a patronizing bow he floated off.