I suppose that’s one way of looking at it, [Liem muses.] Maybe you’d be better off seeking whoever shared this place with the Advocate; they could be the navigator allowing us to reach this reality, so to speak, even if the Oracle provided the means. In the same way the Sunbeams are meant to guide the Meridian back to their own worlds, to allow them to be plucked from the void.

[He’d think a single Oracle wouldn’t be capable of actually bringing fallen worlds back for a trial like this, particularly considering he’s almost certain the first two worlds shown to them were those of Zenites, but he’s been given to understand that the Timestream is a mutable thing. Perhaps the worlds they are visiting are only mirrors of the ones that were already destroyed, just distant enough from their native realities to have escaped Oblivion’s hunger until now.

When they come to the door, Liem glances at Matt, noting his pointing finger. The muffled sound of scraping and thumping from beyond makes it clear that the stairway is indeed occupied.]

Stay well behind me, [he advises.] If there’s a manageable number inside, we can head down after they’re dispatched. Otherwise, we’re better off trying to seal the door.

[He’s going to open it, unless Matt has strong feelings to the contrary.]