Elric gazed up at the Tower of Oculus, even more amazed by it's size up close than when he saw it from afar in Falke.  When word had come that the Monks of Ekilore had a prophecy and requested emissaries of the nations to hear the prophecy and thus change the fate of their world, Elric had immediately requested permission from Lord Dunston Hawke to travel to Ekilore as an emissary of Falke.  Like all the soldiers of Falke, he had heard the rumors of Miraheim mobilizing for war and the civil unrest in Ethora and the quarrels within Raelus and Palaven, and so much more that could portend the collapse of the world as we know it.  With so much turmoil in the world, even a glimmer of hope would be welcome, and a prophecy from the shadowy, but respected, Monks of Ekilore was so much more than a glimmer of hope - it was a beacon, a light in the darkness.  And so, with the blessings of both Lord Dunston Hawke, and King Frederick Highclaw III, Elric had journeyed to Ekilore on a mission to save the world from catastrophe.

The journey to Ekilore had been rather uneventful.  He had traveled on horseback from the garrison at Skyfall to the port at Falcon Peak, and from there he had boarded a ship bound for Ekilore.  The tossing of the ship on the waves had unsettled Elric's stomach at first, but after one short bout of seasickness, the queasiness subsided and the rest of the voyage had passed quietly, the ship aimed always at the Tower of Oculus, seeming to rise out of the sea even before the island came into view.

Finally, the ship docked at the island and Elric disembarked, taking a moment to marvel at the massive tower before he grew uneasy with the insignia of the monks that seemed to be watching him.  He stepped forward and the massive iron door to the massive building opened.  Stepping inside, Elric was greeted by a Eunuch who led him to a golden platform in the center of the Grand Library that Elric found himself in.  Elric stood in awe of the vast collection of books and art housed in the library.  He had never seen so many books and artwork in his life, and he was certain that some of the pieces contained in this library were the only one of their kind, or at least the only surviving one of their kind.  He gazed around him at the massive library as he followed the Eunuch onto the platform.  Once Elric had joined him, the Eunuch pulled a lever and the platform rose up, giving Elric a view of all the books and paintings and murals that resided in the Grand Library.  Elric would have commented on the amazing vastness of the library and the tomes and works of art it contained, but the room's sheer vastness left him speechless.

Finally, the platform stopped in an empty stone room that seemed to serve no other purpose than as an antechamber between the library and the room beyond the iron door.  The Eunuch opened the iron door, and Elric was greeted by a strong wind.  Looking through the door, Elric could see the reason for the wind: this section of staircase had no outer wall; it was completely open to the elements.  Looking out from the stairs, Elric could see the entirety of the lands of Aerion laid out in the distance on the sea below.  From such a high vantage point, many of the landforms of the continent were indistinguishable, and cities and villages and other human dwellings could not be made out at all, but remembering his geography, Elric could tell exactly where the borders of each nation were.  He kept himself close to the wall as he followed the Eunuch up the stairs, constantly glancing out at the breathtaking scene laid out below.  Finally, he reached the archway over the iron door that led to the observatory of the Monks of Ekilore.  Here he would wait for the monks to summon him to their presence, a bit of nervousness showing on his face, wondering what prophecy the monks had to speak to him.

Elric leaned against the wall and waited.  One other person had arrived before him - a military man much like Elric himself, judging by the man's armor.  Elric recognized the sigil of House Reigncliff on the spaulders of the man's armor, marking him as Ethorian.  Elric regarded him silently, his gaze, as usual, hidden in the shadow cast by the hawk helmet of the High Dragoon, making it impossible for the man to tell if Elric even was looking at him or merely gazing idly as he waited for the monks to receive them.