Kael sat back in his chair, his mind racing as the murmurs around the table grew louder. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, a storm of fear and unease brewing among the gathered officials.
Lady Seraphina stood at the head of the table, her calm presence barely masking the urgency of the discussion.
"Kael," she began, her tone even, "your revelations have brought us closer to understanding the threat we face. But they also force us to consider..."
She hesitated, her gaze sweeping across the room. "...uncomfortable possibilities."
Kael narrowed his eyes, leaning forward. "What kind of possibilities?"
The gray-bearded man, who Kael had learned was Minister Alden, cleared his throat. "You said the Void Bandits weren't acting alone, correct? That they were part of something larger."
"Yes," Kael replied, keeping his voice steady. "It's obvious. The way they operated, their resources, their methods. it's too organized for just a group of rogue criminals."
Alden nodded grimly. "Then it stands to reason that someone—or something is orchestrating their actions. And if that's true, it raises the question: how far does this organization's influence reach? Could they already have eyes and ears... here?"
The words hung in the air, heavy and ominous. A sense of unease spread through the room as the officials exchanged wary glances.
Neo's voice echoed in Kael's mind. "They're right to be cautious. Trust is a luxury they can't afford."
Kael frowned, his fingers tightening around the arms of his chair. "If they have infiltrators here, what's stopping them from striking again? Or sabotaging your efforts to defend the town?"
Lady Seraphina's expression darkened. "That's precisely the concern. And it's why we must act with both urgency and caution. We cannot risk another attack, especially if it comes from within."
A younger official, a man with tousled brown hair and a nervous demeanor, spoke up. "But how can we even begin to root them out? If they're rooted in the town—"
"Enough," Lady Seraphina interrupted, her voice firm but not unkind.
"Speculation will get us nowhere. We'll investigate thoroughly, but for now, we must focus on what we do know."
She turned to Kael, her gaze sharp and piercing. "You said they were experimenting on people. That their goal was to create controllable corrupted. What else did you find in the hideout?"
Kael took a deep breath, forcing himself to recall the grim details. "I found their plans for Raven Town.
They intended to overrun the outskirts first, to force the town's leaders into submission. Then they would use the population for more experiments—turning them into corrupted soldiers or worse."
"...And then, starting from this town ...Take over the kingdom from the inside"
The room fell deathly silent, the horror of Kael's words sinking in. Even Lady Seraphina's composure faltered, her lips tightening.
"And the fragments?" Alden asked, his sharp gaze locking onto Kael. "What role do they play in all this? And where are they getting them?"
Kael froze for a moment, his mind racing. The pressure of the room's attention bore down on him, and he hesitated, glancing inward.
Neo's voice cut through the haze of his thoughts, calm and steady. "Tell them what you know. They deserve to understand the scale of this."
Taking a deep breath, Kael began. "The fragments—they're the foundation of everything. They're using them not just to corrupt people but to fuel their experiments."
"It's not just random shards—they're choosing fragments deliberately, ones that resonate with specific traits. And I don't think they're just scavenging them. They're collecting them systematically."
The room buzzed with whispers, the significance of his words causing unease.
"Systematically?" Alden pressed. "How? These fragments fell from the stars, scattered across the land. They're not exactly easy to find."
Kael nodded grimly. "That's true for most people. But this group... they've figured out something we haven't. When I was in the hideout, I saw ledgers and maps. Locations marked with precision—places where fragments were being harvested."
"Harvested?" Evelyn interjected, her tone sharp with disbelief. "That's absurd. Fragments aren't crops. They can't just be collected like grain."
Kael's jaw tightened. "I really don't know but I don't think they're doing it alone. They've got help, resources, tools. I saw machines... devices that seemed designed to extract fragments from the land where they've embedded."
"Some of those devices were crude, but others were... advanced, beyond anything I've ever seen."
Lady Seraphina leaned forward, her expression unreadable. "Are you saying they have access to technology that we don't?"
"Or maybe knowledge," Kael said. "Maybe both. And it's not just the fragments they find naturally. I overheard something while I was there. Something about 'calling the stars.' They mentioned targeting areas where the fragments are more likely to fall."
The room erupted into murmurs again, the ministers exchanging shocked and fearful glances.
Kael chose not to tell them everything and not to bring up the Skybreakers and their mission but instead to make them and the void bandits seem like one group.
"Calling the stars?" Evelyn repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You're suggesting they've found a way to influence celestial phenomena? That's impossible. The fragments fall randomly, as they always have since the sky shattered 3 months ago. To suggest otherwise would mean they've..."
"Found a way to control it," Kael finished for her, his voice hard.
"Or at least influence it. The maps I saw weren't just markings of where fragments had already fallen—they were predictions. It would seem that they're tracking the patterns of celestial activity, and they're targeting areas before fragments even land."
Alden slammed his hand on the table, his expression a mix of fury and disbelief. "This isn't just madness—it's sacrilege! The fragments are sacred remnants of the stars, gifts of constellations from the Gods themselves. To manipulate them like this..."
"Is exactly why they're so dangerous," Kael interrupted, his voice cutting through the noise. "This isn't just about power. Whoever they are, they're trying to control the fragments. And they're succeeding."
Lady Seraphina's expression darkened, her fingers gripping the edge of the table. "Then they're not just exploiting the fragments—they're desecrating them."
Kael nodded. "Exactly. And if they're willing to go this far, there's no telling what they'll do next."
The tension in the room deepened, the implications of Kael's words sending a chill through everyone present.
Neo's voice broke through Kael's thoughts. "They're scared. And they should be. This changes everything."
Lady Seraphina's voice cut through the silence, her tone cold and determined. "Then we'll counter. If they've found a way to manipulate fragments, we'll find a way to counter it."
"Minister Evelyn, I want our scholars on this immediately. Study everything we know about fragments. Find their weaknesses, their limits, anything we can use. And report this to the royal capital as soon as possible."
Evelyn nodded sharply. "It will be done."
"And the town's defenses?" Alden asked. "If another attack comes—"
"They won't," Seraphina said, her voice carrying a certain dept. "Not if we're ready."
She turned to Kael, her expression softening slightly. "You've already done more for this town than we could have asked, Kael. But, while you are still here, I must ask for your help again. Your knowledge, your abilities—they could be the key to stopping this threat."
Kael met her gaze, his resolve hardening. "Whatever it takes to help, I'll do it."
Seraphina inclined her head, gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you."
The meeting continued for what felt like hours, the ministers and officials debating strategies, assigning tasks, and planning for every possible scenario.
Kael listened intently, contributing where he could but mostly paying attention to the situation.
As the discussions began to wind down, Lady Seraphina rose from her seat, her movements graceful as always.
"Before we adjourn," she said, her voice giving a hint of finality, "there's one more matter to address."
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to her.
She looked directly at Kael, her expression unreadable. "Kael Reed, your actions have not only saved this town and kingdom but also uncovered a threat far greater than we could have imagined. Your bravery, determination, and skill have earned you our deepest gratitude."
Kael shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unused to such formal praise.
Seraphina's lips curved into a faint smile, but her eyes remained serious. "Which is why I believe it's only fitting that we offer you a reward for your service."