Chapter 10: The Calm Before the Storm
The forge chamber was silent now, the oppressive hum of the conduit replaced by an eerie stillness. The ornate mechanism above the platform continued to glow faintly, its gears settling into stillness. Lyssa Calder leaned against the edge of the platform, her shoulders heaving as she caught her breath. Elias stood nearby, his revolver still in hand, scanning the darkened corners of the chamber for any lingering threats.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air felt lighter, the heavy energy that had hung over the Underworks now dissipated. But the silence wasn't comforting—it was foreboding, the kind that came before the next disaster.
Elias holstered his gun and stepped toward Lyssa. "Is it done? For good?"
Lyssa nodded, though her expression remained guarded. "The conduit's power is sealed within the forge. Without it, Ouroboros won't be able to complete their ritual."
Elias frowned. "That doesn't mean they're done. They'll be looking for us—and they won't be happy when they find out we've ruined their plans."
Lyssa gave a wry smile. "Let them come. We've bought some time, at least."
Elias wasn't convinced. The Ouroboros Society didn't strike him as the kind of organization to let failure go unanswered. And if they were willing to send a construct like the Keeper to guard the path, they wouldn't hesitate to unleash something worse.
He glanced at the shattered remains of the Keeper, its lifeless body sprawled across the floor. The glow of its runes had faded entirely, but the intricate craftsmanship still fascinated him. It was a reminder of the lengths Ouroboros would go to achieve their goals—and the power they still wielded.
"We need to get out of here," Elias said, turning toward the exit. "The longer we stay, the more likely they'll send reinforcements."
Lyssa pushed herself off the platform and followed, her pack lighter now that the conduit was no longer in her possession. "Where do we go from here, investigator?"
Elias paused at the edge of the chamber, his mechanical arm clicking softly as he adjusted the strap of his satchel. "Back to the surface. We need to regroup, find out what Ouroboros will do next."
Lyssa raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think they'll stop to regroup? They'll come after us the second they realize the conduit is gone."
"They'll need time to figure out what happened," Elias said. "And if we're lucky, they'll waste some of it chasing ghosts in the Underworks."
Lyssa snorted. "I wouldn't count on luck."
---
The journey back through the Underworks was faster than the descent, though no less tense. Every sound, every echo in the tunnels set Elias's nerves on edge. Lyssa moved silently beside him, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness with practiced vigilance.
When they finally emerged into the cold night air of Eldoria, Elias allowed himself a moment of relief. The city was as grimy and chaotic as ever, the industrial skyline obscured by thick fog and the ever-present haze of smoke. But after the suffocating atmosphere of the Underworks, even Eldoria's grim streets felt like a reprieve.
Lyssa pulled her hood up, hiding her face as they slipped through the alleys. "What now?" she asked.
Elias led her toward a quiet corner of the Black Vein District, where an unassuming tavern stood half-hidden between crumbling buildings. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, the dim light and familiar smell of stale ale greeting him.
"This is your plan?" Lyssa asked, unimpressed.
Elias smirked faintly. "Safe enough, for now."
The tavern was nearly empty, save for a tired bartender polishing glasses behind the counter. Elias motioned for Lyssa to follow him to a booth in the back, where they could talk without being overheard.
Once they were seated, Elias leaned forward, his voice low. "We need to figure out what Ouroboros is planning next. The conduit was just one piece of the puzzle."
Lyssa folded her arms. "Their goal hasn't changed. They still want to breach the Veil. The shard you're carrying—" she gestured toward his satchel "—is the other piece they need. If they find you, they'll stop at nothing to take it."
Elias glanced at the satchel, the faint hum of the shard barely perceptible through the thick leather. "I can't destroy it, not without risking the same disaster as the conduit. So we need to find another way to stop them."
Lyssa hesitated, her fingers tapping against the table. "There might be a way. But it's dangerous."
Elias arched an eyebrow. "Dangerous seems to be our specialty. Spit it out."
"There's a man," Lyssa said. "A former Ouroboros alchemist who defected years ago. He knows more about their rituals and the Veil than anyone else alive. If anyone can help us destroy the shard without causing a catastrophe, it's him."
"And where do we find him?" Elias asked.
Lyssa's expression darkened. "He's not easy to reach. He went into hiding after he left Ouroboros. Last I heard, he's somewhere in the Mirelands."
Elias groaned. The Mirelands were a vast, swampy region on the outskirts of Eldoria—a treacherous, inhospitable place where only the desperate or the foolish dared to go.
"Of course he is," Elias muttered. "Because nothing about this job can ever be simple."
Lyssa smirked faintly. "If it were simple, you wouldn't be here."
Elias ignored the jab and leaned back in the booth, his mind already working through the logistics of the journey. The Mirelands were dangerous enough on their own, and with Ouroboros hunting them, the trip would be even worse. But if this alchemist had the answers they needed, it was a risk they had to take.
"We leave at dawn," Elias said. "Get some rest. It's going to be a long trip."
Lyssa nodded, though her expression remained wary. "You're awfully confident for a man carrying a target on his back."
Elias smirked. "Confidence has kept me alive this long. Let's hope it holds out."
---
The night passed in uneasy silence. Elias sat by the window of his rented room, his revolver resting on the table beside him as he watched the fog roll through the streets. The shard hummed faintly in his satchel, a constant reminder of the danger that followed them.
As dawn approached, Elias couldn't shake the feeling that the storm was far from over. The Ouroboros Society would come for them, sooner or later. And when they did, he intended to be ready.
The first light of morning crept over the horizon, and Elias rose from his chair. It was time to move. The Mirelands awaited, and with them, the answers they so desperately needed.
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