Chapter 17: Tremors of the Unknown
A few days had passed since Quinn's proposal to Rhea, and it seemed she had wasted no time. Her influence was undeniable, and as Quinn had expected, she quickly gathered a small but potent group of allies. Now, on this quiet Sunday afternoon, they were meeting at a cafe on the outskirts of Meridian, far enough from the prying eyes of the academy but popular enough to blend in with the steady flow of students and locals.
The sun was high, casting warm rays over the bustling streets. Quinn sat at a corner table, his back to the wall, his eyes scanning the crowd. The cafe, filled with the hum of conversation and the clinking of cups, provided just enough cover for their meeting. Rhea had arrived earlier with two other figures in tow—her new recruits, the allies she had promised.
Quinn observed them silently, waiting as Rhea spoke.
"This is Anais and Jaren," Rhea introduced, her silver hair catching the light as she gestured to the two beside her. "They're not from noble houses, but they have their own skills. We'll need more than just noble backing if we want to make a real move."
Anais was a sharp-eyed girl with short, dark hair and a quiet intensity that told Quinn she was more than capable in a fight. She had the lean build of someone who preferred agility over brute strength. Her eyes lingered on Quinn for a moment, sizing him up, before she gave him a curt nod.
Jaren, on the other hand, was more imposing—a broad-shouldered young man who looked like he had seen his fair share of battles. His quiet demeanor didn't betray much, but Quinn sensed he was loyal, perhaps to a fault. The way he stood beside Rhea with an air of quiet protectiveness made Quinn wonder just how close their bond really was.
Quinn leaned back in his chair, nodding in acknowledgment. "Good to meet you both," he said, his voice calm. "We're going to need every bit of strength we can muster."
Rhea glanced around the table before continuing, "Anais has been gathering information from the student body—rumors, patterns, anything we can use. Jaren's been working with some of the more rebellious groups in the academy. They trust him, and we can use that to spread influence quietly."
Quinn nodded, satisfied with the additions. The group was growing, slowly but steadily, and with Rhea's connections and these new recruits, they had the potential to make real progress. But there was always the risk of exposure, and Quinn knew they had to be careful with every step they took.
"Good," Quinn replied. "We're starting to take shape. But remember, we're still in the shadows for now. No sudden moves until we've got more leverage."
Just as they were about to wrap up their discussion, the ground beneath them gave a sudden, violent tremble. The cups on the table rattled, the cafe's windows shook, and a few startled gasps erupted from the other patrons.
Quinn shot a glance at Rhea, who had already stiffened, her hand instinctively hovering near her side where he knew she kept a concealed blade. The tremor passed after a few seconds, but it left an unsettling silence in its wake.
"An earthquake?" Anais murmured, her brow furrowed.
"Strange," Jaren added, his deep voice laced with suspicion. "Meridian doesn't get earthquakes."
Quinn's instincts flared. Something was off, and he could feel it in the air. The tremor hadn't felt natural. And the timing—just as they were finishing their meeting—was too coincidental for his liking.
"We should dismiss," Quinn said, his tone sharp. "If this is more than a coincidence, we don't want to be caught together."
The group quickly gathered their things, exchanging brief nods of understanding before parting ways. Quinn stayed behind for a moment, his eyes scanning the streets once more. Something was coming, he could feel it in the depths of his bones.
---
Later that evening, Quinn was in his room, sitting on the floor with the journal open in front of him. The pages were worn, the text strange and cryptic, but he had been poring over it for days, trying to unlock its power. He could feel the potential inside, something ancient and potent, but every time he reached for it, it slipped just out of his grasp.
His mind kept drifting back to the earthquake. What had caused it? Why now? The more he thought about it, the more it gnawed at him.
As the moonlight filtered through his window, Quinn focused once more on the journal. He could feel something within its pages, almost as if it was alive, waiting for him to unlock its secrets.
A knock at the door broke his concentration, and before Quinn could even answer, Lazarus slipped inside, his figure a shadow in the dim room. His eyes glowed faintly in the low light, as if reflecting the power that coursed through him.
"Lazarus," Quinn greeted, not surprised by the sudden visit. "You felt it too, didn't you?"
"The earthquake?" Lazarus replied, his voice smooth and unhurried. "Yes. But it wasn't just an earthquake."
Quinn stood up, his mind immediately honing in on the unspoken implication. "What was it then?"
Lazarus stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "There's something going on underground, deep beneath the city. In the old mines beneath Meridian. There's a powerful government official down there—a corrupt one, deeply tied to the system we're trying to bring down."
"What's he doing there?" Quinn asked, his voice tense.
Lazarus shook his head. "I'm not sure. But whatever it is, it's dangerous. The tremor wasn't natural—it was caused by something, some force that he's tampering with. I don't know if it's a weapon or some kind of forbidden power, but I do know this: it's something the system doesn't want anyone to know about."
Quinn's mind raced. "You think I should investigate?"
Lazarus gave him a sharp look, the intensity in his eyes unmistakable. "I think you don't have much of a choice. If that official is up to something dangerous, it could affect everything we're working for. You need to find out what he's doing down there, and soon. But be careful, Holloway—whatever's going on in those mines, it's not something to take lightly."
Quinn nodded, already feeling the weight of this new task settling on his shoulders. The system was playing with something far more dangerous than he had anticipated, and now it was his job to uncover it.
As Lazarus turned to leave, he paused at the door. "And Quinn—don't let the journal distract you. It's important, but there are bigger forces at play right now. Keep your focus."
Quinn glanced down at the journal one last time before closing it with a sigh. Lazarus was right. He needed to keep his mind sharp. Whatever lay beneath the city of Meridian was far more pressing than the secrets locked inside those pages—for now.
---
As the night deepened, Quinn stood by the window, staring out at the academy. The earthquake had been the first sign. Something was stirring in the shadows, and he was about to descend into the heart of it.