The Melody woke Sio in the night and beckoned her outside. Before Sio knew it, she was outside Dr. Tausidi's clinic. She entered through the front door, as it was open, but Dr. Tausidi was nowhere to be seen. Sio, as though in a trance, walked down the hallway to the clinic's resonance chamber where she saw Kivtius. Kivtius was in a meditative state when Sio snuck into the clinic to see him. Instead of being surprised when he became aware of Sio's presence, he simply exited his chamber and patted the stool next to him as if he were expecting her arrival.
"What troubles you, Dunestrider?"
"Ava. She is guilty of two horrible things, but I fear she will not face justice."
"True, young one. She is responsible for the death of Algodon and the death of Iridia Yuka." Kivtius stood motionless as he spoke, a towering figure glistening with iridescent light that seemed to come from within. "What is it you wish of me?"
"You are–were Algodon. Isn't there something you can do?" Sio took the seat next to Kivtius. The Melody guided her words; she was not entirely sure she was in control, but she spoke what she wanted to speak as though free. Freer than she had ever been. Her words had a weight to them, she felt them growing a sort of power.
"What I can do, Dunestrider, is offer you your justice. What is it you wish of me?" He repeated his question, and Sio felt her voice carry a weight that it had never carried before. Authority. The Melody in her head seeped into her mouth. She spoke.
"I want the truth of the death of my grandmother, and that of my parents, to be revealed." Sio's voice seemed to echo all across the room. Kivtius knelt as thought following some ritual then stood once more, ever imposing. The light within him shimmered brightly for a moment, then retreated. Something shifted in the air around them. Sio heard the Melody once more quite loudly then it subsided to a hush. Kivtius pointed to a drawer within the room, and Sio went to it. Upon opening it she saw the pickaxe that delivered a devastating blow to Algodon, the very one that transformed him into Kivtius.
"Present that to the trial, Dunestrider. All will be well." Then Kivtius entered his chamber, exhausted. Morning light bathed the room in full bloom as though midday. How long had Sio been there? She didn't have time to wonder. At first light would be the trial. She was already late, it seemed. She took the pickaxe from the drawer, and ran.
–
As she ran toward the village center, a large crowd preceded her, she pushed passed everyone with urgency. She spotted the break in the center of the crowd and caught a glimpse of Auburn who seemed to be presenting evidence. Otheyo was seated behind him looking furious. She pushed through the crowd even harder. Tomak was standing in the centre watching as a woman approached Lurio and took off her mask. The crowd gasped. She spoke, and all eyes were on Otheyo. Sio broke through to the center just as the sundial on the floor struck noon, she placed the pickaxe down and light bounced off of it but instead of a thin beam a wider beam had displayed figures. Something shifted in the air and suddenly all were overcome with a vision as though transported to the past.
There distinctly was Atka, Xio, Ava and Otheyo approaching the Obelisk, Atka and Xio immediately were placed in a trancelike state. Otheyo touched the Obelisk and turned to Ava shouting something. Ava stood, but did not move. Otheyo turned and grabbed a pickaxe and struck the Obelisk, causing Atka and Xio to crumple to the floor. Ava ran toward them, but Otheyo taking the pickaxe from the Obelisk, struck Ava down. A bright light engulfed them, then Otheyo was gone. Atka, Xio, and Ava were in the sanctuary cave. Ava watched as Atka and Xio never awoke.
The vision shifted to the mines, and through the perspective of the pickaxe, Ava was seen interacting with the water hydraulics as she damaged them, causing them to become unstable. The vision shifted once more to piles of salt covering Iridia Yuka and to Auburn, who tried so desperately to get her out of the collapsing mine. Then the vision ended, and all were brought to the present moment.
Some people were screaming, not understanding what they saw. Most others were looking around at each other to see how Tomak would react. Tomak, to his credit, appeared composed, but shaken. In a swift motion of his hand, Tomak signaled for both Otheyo and Ava to be taken away, but when looking for Otheyo, he could not be found.
Sio, too, was missing.