Part 2

Hours later, Eigengrau and Vordea were done designing the divine barrier. The runes were extremely complex, and it was at least 17 overlapping divine casting circles.

"Can we even cast this?" Vordea asked, looking at it.

"Yes, but only in a specific order. If this works as planned, you will never be able to fully enter the mortal plane except at the very end of the kalpa to bring about the end. You will only be able to use your avatar and your tentacles."

"Wait, how big is this spell going to be?" Vordea said, realizing just how big some of these runes will have to be.

"...shit." Eigengrau said. She realized it would be at least the size of a continent, so they would need help drawing it.

"So who's helping us, Eigen?" Vordea said. "Sirene obviously, but who else? We need someone who can use divine casting circles."

"Who else? Neptis Celeste." Eigengrau said, smiling. She then left briefly and returned with a bewildered Neptis, who was more confused than mad.

"Oh, it’s you two." Neptis said when she saw who grabbed her. "What do you want now?"

Vordea pointed at the spell drawing. "We need to cast this spell but it can’t be drawn with only 2 users."

Neptis looked at the drawing. Runes of binding, restriction, reality anchors, and runes she had never even seen before all overlapped each other into a multi-layer spell. Every single casting circle was a high level divine circlescircle that were considered theoretical by most mages.

"What in the fuck is this?" Neptis asked. "Spells don’t work this way you maniacs."

"It is a very special power limiter spell, if you must know." Eigengrau answered. "And I am not a maniac."

"What's this for?" Neptis asked. "Actually no, who's this for?" She continued, correcting herself.

"Me." Vordea answered.

"You're sealing yourself again? So you've found your next High Priest?"

"No. This is about preventing a potential future from coming to pass. It will prevent Vordea from ever fully entering the mortal plane until the end of the kalpa." Eigengrau explained, pointing at a few key runes. "When the reality anchors expire at the end of time, Vordea will be able to enter and consume it all."

"So what's in it for me? I don't do stuff for free, especially not for you maniacs." Neptis asked, crossing her arms.

"We'll get to payment later, first we need Sirene." Vordea answered. "Eigen, if you would?"

Eigengrau wink and vanished, then reappeared less than a second later with Sirene.

"Apprentice, we have a spell that needs 4 casters to draw." Eigengrau stated.

"It would be nice if you asked me first." Sirene replied with a sigh. "So it must be a secret, if you've got me and Neptis instead of any other Gods. Spill it."

Eigengrau and Vordea went over the details and the plan with Sirene, who nodded and asked a couple questions about the runes and casting order.

"Okay, Neptis, you'll draw the north-west reality anchor in Tostein. I'll handle the casting circles themselves with All Stop. Vordea, you draw the north reality anchor in Faenluna, and Eigengrau will handle the southern one in Whitemire. Once I draw the final anchor in Dragonpost, the spell will cast." Sirene said, laying out the plan.

The three of them nodded, and Eigengrau took Neptis to Tostein, before going to Whitemire. Vordea stepped to Faenluna, and then it was just Sirene.

"Time slows, time crawls, time doesn't move at all." Sirene said, beginning to cast All Stop. "All are bound, none escape. All stop!"

As she finished, time itself halted, and she got to work. She carefully drew the continent spanning casting circles, ignoring everything in her way, along with all the minor runes along the way with expert precision. Once she was done, she made her way to Dragonpost, and cancelled All Stop. After waiting ten minutes to be certain, she drew the final reality anchor, and the ground began to shake.

"Oh dear. Was that supposed to happen?" Sirene asked out loud as she steadied herself. Before she could look around, she found herself back in the black void Eigengrau had taken her to earlier.

"Good news Sirene, it worked!" Vordea said enthusiastically. "I can't project beyond an Avatar onto Karand now."

"What's the bad news? I felt all that shaking."

"We caused a continent wide Earthquake." Eigengrau flatly stated. "Neptis considered the chaos caused to be payment for services rendered and declined to return here."

"Should I be worried about any personal consequences?" Sirene asked. "What if the other Gods find out I helped you with something?"

"What are they going to do to us, Sirene? We're Primals!" Vordea said, laughing. "No, you'll be fine, little mage."

Sirene raised an eyebrow, but motioned to Eigengrau, who took her back to Karand. After Eigengrau returned alone, Vordea was much more serious.

"Eigen, thank you." She said.

"Thank you?"

"For helping me prevent the path not walked from becoming otherwise." Vordea answered. "Now, please go, I have a lot to think about."

Eigengrau left without another word, and Vordea floated motionless in the void for a long time, wondering if she should ever mantle a purview ever again. So many of them were so dangerous when mantled, now that she started thinking about it. Insanity nearly doomed everyone, and the others weren't much better. She wished she had the ability to walk through time like Eigengrau in order to take back bad ideas, but also suspected it also wasn't as foolproof as it seemed.