There was a gasp, and The Steward flung himself there when he saw the state of the Mana Nexus. They had heard Gaia call to The Champions. They had trained their whole lives to heed this call. It had come not long ago and they had acted. Peace lasted, and Eras continued to slumber.
"She's grown too weak!" The Steward wailed from his hands and his knees. Their sparkling pools was faded, almost murky, and her what would be waters had receded.
The other kicked him in the side, "Rise, fool, and mourn when all is lost. We've yet a chance."
They peered into the pool. The first slowly drew himself to his feet. The second was deep in thought. If the Champions hadn't been formally called upon... Now was the time. The second turned to the man at her side. For a few moments they spoke of the call, of the best way to assemble, and they even began to bicker in regards to what exactly should be done about this.
The pool quaked. The Stewards snapped their full attention to the Mana Nexus. Deep at the center, down in the farthest depths, was a dark smudge. It sent chills up their spine. The weakening was palpable.
Not an hour later they had all assembled. Roughly one hundred of The Stewards of Gaia together was an impressive sight. Roughly one hundred robes of different sew, a carnival of fabric and design. Each hailed from a different culture throughout the planet of Gaia. Some were even from closed societies, here being the only outside glimpse anyone would ever gleam.
Combining their power with the Mana Nexus, they cast a great projection. It would land on the Champions of Gaia in turn, the World Spirit of Gaia herself appearing to them. She was a leaf in a tree, a whisper on the wind, a falling rock, the pattern of the rain. If you were lucky enough, she appeared to you in a dream. No matter the approach, the message was clear.
The Champions of Gaia were called upon.
A ripple of glitter undulated out across The Stewards, up and out and around and across the entire planet of Gaia. Almost invisible to the naked eye, but nonetheless a sign that Gaia wouldn't go down without a fight.