Events were winding down with the very brutal branding of the Templar extremist. Akoni had the lingering thought to observe the rest of the event, but thought against it. The citadel awaited, and with it a series of "amenities" and "faculties." Would there be an armory with devil and angel arms? A healing well? A library with knowledge and eldritch lore untold? There was only one way to know for certain. The entire experience made Akoni feel like he was in his twenties again, or at least it would if his attitude were somewhat more optimistic and he didn't have that pain in the ass arthritis. That dumbass Snider may have been, well, a dumbass, but between the two of them Snider had the better body. Lucky him. Or maybe it was the 15 year difference. Akoni was still a whole generation older. Either way he began heading to the citadel in hopes of being the first to find its secrets.
Naturally that meant someone else had the same idea. Wrath walked with him, keeping pace, and even started with small talk. Just... Why? Did the nephilim confuse Akoni's gratitude for friendliness? Bah. The old Mage decided, for now, to humor the creature by his side. Didn't mean he had to be happy about it.
"If you'd have asked me that more than twenty years ago, I'd have told you I was destined to be here. If you asked me this morning, I'd have ignored the question and told you to get out of my face." Never breaking stride, Akoni snapped. The book hanging from his side floated in front of both their faces, turning to a page depicting the World Tree, the Tree of Life. "I developed my Gatewalk Magic by studying this. From a book, in captivity. I never had the chance to study the real thing. The Third Kingdom is the only realm in existence the Tree does not reside in. When I think of what I can do with the real thing... Ah, you don't want to hear an old man's ramblings."
The book ceased to levitate, falling back to his side. He then gazed up at the citadel in the distance and growled deep in irritation and impatience. "If you want to get there fast, put your hand on my shoulder. Train's leaving the station." Akoni only gave Wrath a couple seconds to decide, then set himself upon the shortest path to his destination. At hyper speeds he propelled through the air using Surge.
Leaves