Chapter 24: Shadows of Conspiracy
The forest whispered around them, the tall trees casting shadows across their path as they made their way back to the camp. Jin-Seong could feel the weight of the day's battle pulling on him, but his mind raced with thoughts of Avenis's words and what they truly meant. The constellations, their supposed allies, might be the true enemy.
As they approached their campsite, the firelight flickered, revealing only Lily and Joon, who had been absent in the recent skirmishes. They sat by the fire, their expressions tight with concern. The sight of Jin-Seong and the others returning with weary, battle-worn faces told them something had gone terribly wrong.
Lily stood, her eyes narrowing as she saw the state of the group. "You all look like you've been through hell."
"That's because we have," So-Ra muttered, dropping onto a log near the fire. She laid her sword beside her, its blade dulled from battle. "Avenis is dead."
Joon's eyes widened slightly at the news, but it was Lily who stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "What happened? Avenis was supposed to be one of the strongest among the Hero Council. How did you manage it?"
Jin-Seong sat down next to the fire, rubbing his temple. "It wasn't easy. But before he died, Avenis revealed something much worse. The Hero Council isn't acting alone. They're being manipulated by constellations—possibly all of them."
Lily's expression darkened. "Manipulated? By the very constellations that give us power?"
"Exactly," Jin-Seong said, his voice edged with frustration. "The constellations have been pulling the strings, using the Hero Council to further their own agenda. We're just their pawns."
So-Ra crossed her arms, leaning back against the log. "If Avenis was telling the truth, it means everything we've been fighting for—everything we believed in—is built on a lie."
Joon looked thoughtful, rubbing his chin as he processed the news. "So, what's next? We can't trust the constellations, and without them, we're left powerless. But we can't exactly break the contracts we have with them either."
"We don't need to break the contracts," Jin-Seong said, looking up at the stars above. "We need to find out which constellations are behind this and which ones, if any, we can still trust. Not all of them may be in on this conspiracy."
Lily nodded slowly. "That's the smart move. But how do we figure out which constellations are involved?"
Jin-Seong glanced at her. "You know anyone in your network who might have information on this?"
A mischievous grin spread across Lily's face. "I thought you'd never ask. I know just the guy. His name's Darian. He runs an underground information network in Crescentis. If anyone knows about the constellations' secret dealings, it's him."
"Crescentis?" So-Ra interjected, her eyes narrowing. "That's deep in Hero Council territory. We'd be walking straight into the enemy's den."
Lily shrugged. "Since when has that stopped us? Darian's our best shot at getting answers. We'll have to be careful, but if we want to learn the truth about the constellations, Crescentis is where we need to go."
Jin-Seong weighed the risks. Crescentis was dangerous territory, especially after what they'd just uncovered about the Hero Council. But if Darian could provide the information they needed, it was a risk worth taking.
"We'll leave for Crescentis at first light," Jin-Seong decided. "But we move carefully. We can't afford to draw attention."
Lily's grin widened. "Oh, I like this plan."
Joon, always the cautious one, frowned. "We should be prepared for anything. The Hero Council will have eyes everywhere in Crescentis, and if they're really backed by the constellations, we'll be dealing with more than just political power."
Jin-Seong nodded, his mind already racing with strategies. "We'll keep a low profile. First, we gather the information. Then we decide our next move."
As the fire crackled and the night deepened, the group settled in to rest. But Jin-Seong found himself staring up at the night sky, his thoughts heavy. The stars twinkled innocently above, but now they felt distant, unfamiliar. The constellation Ara, once a beacon of strength for him, seemed cold and indifferent.
He couldn't shake the feeling that they were all being watched.