The chamber was a grand hall, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings and glowing runes. The air was thick with tension, the weight of the impending discussion pressing down on everyone present. Around a massive circular table sat representatives of the most powerful factions in the realm: human nobles in opulent attire, mages in flowing robes, an elf dressed in pristine white, a dwarf clad in heavy armor, and a scaled merfolk clutching a trident. The atmosphere was charged, each figure exuding authority and unease in equal measure.
"Where's Malekith?" the dwarf, Barbos, growled, his voice echoing through the chamber. He slammed his fist on the table, the sound reverberating like a thunderclap. "Why is that damn winged bastard so late?"
The female elf, dressed in white, raised an eyebrow, her expression calm but laced with mild amusement. "You're still as uptight as ever, Barbos. Perhaps you should try meditation. It might help with that temper of yours."
Barbos glared at her, his bushy beard bristling. "If it hadn't been for this damn emergency gathering, my project wouldn't be delayed further. I've poured my resources into that damn wall. The longer I'm stuck here, the longer it takes for us to take the fight to those monsters."
The scaled merfolk, leaning casually against the table, chuckled. "Now, now, Barbos. If this meeting concludes swiftly, I'll give you three barrels of my finest Atlantean wine. How does that sound?"
Barbos's face flushed, and he coughed, clearly caught off guard. "I… I guess I outdid myself. If you say so, then I'll wait a bit longer."
Before the conversation could continue, a shadow passed over the chamber's large windows. The sound of massive wings flapping filled the air, and a moment later, a figure appeared on the balcony. It was Malekith, his black robes adorned with intricate purple designs that shimmered in the light. His wings, massive and draconic, folded and shrank into his back as he stepped into the chamber.
"I apologize for the delay, everyone," Malekith said, his voice calm but commanding. "Now, let us begin."
The room fell silent, all eyes turning to him. Malekith raised a hand, and a rolled parchment floated into the air, unfurling itself to reveal a detailed map of the Forbidden Ring. The northern region was highlighted, a pulsing red mark indicating the disturbance.
"As we all know," Malekith began, "there is a significant disturbance near the northern region of the Forbidden Ring. While we still lack concrete information, I have detected a massive mana signature emanating from the area. If we are facing a Titan-level Dark Beast, it is imperative that we act swiftly."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled leaders. "The Forest Elves have already volunteered to investigate. However, I suggest we send additional forces to support this endeavor. This is not a threat elimination mission—it is an investigation. If the Forest Elves fail to report back, we risk facing an unknown threat, and the wall to the east could be breached once more."
The tension in the room was palpable, fear and uncertainty etched on the faces of those present. After a moment, a human noble in his fifties stood up, his expression grave. "The Valvian Kingdom is willing to send a party of 30 knights and 50 levies to assist in this mission."
Another human, a cardinal dressed in white, rose to his feet. "The Holy Dominion of Solvaris will contribute 10 Paladins and 30 Holy Knights to this crusade."
A third figure stood, his presence commanding the room. He was an emperor, old but sturdy, his eyes sharp and his smile confident. "The Melloris Empire will send 20 Steelheart Bastions, 10 Titania Walkers, and 2 Steelguard Companies."
The noble and the cardinal exchanged tense glances, their lips tightening as they silently cursed the empire's overwhelming contribution. Malekith, however, merely sighed, a faint smile playing on his lips. Humans, he thought. Opportunistic as ever. Despite their differences, he couldn't help but admire their willingness to commit their forces, many of which were already stationed at the wall.
"Very well," Malekith said, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "The Dragon Clan will send 5 Wyvern Squadrons and 2 Dragons to oversee the operation."
A human mage, seated at the far end of the table, let out a weary sigh. "Then I, too, will participate in this endeavor," he said, his voice carrying the weight of centuries. "Archmage Sillorin will join the mission."
The room fell silent once more, the gravity of the situation settling over everyone. Malekith nodded, his expression solemn. "Then it is decided. We move swiftly and cautiously. May Gaia guide us."
The chamber fell silent as Malekith held up the silver, rectangular artifact. Its surface gleamed under the light of the glowing runes, its advanced design starkly out of place in the ancient hall. All eyes were fixed on it, the air thick with anticipation and curiosity.
"Before you all go," Malekith began, his voice steady but carrying a weight of importance, "I have some very important news to share. My daughter, Carmina—who is as stubborn as her mother, I might add—" he paused, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the gravity of the situation, "was exploring the Dark Region and found this."
He held the artifact higher, ensuring everyone could see it clearly. "I believe this is what the ancient texts refer to as a 'hard drive.' If the legends are true, this could contain knowledge or technology far beyond our current understanding. I suggest we reestablish the Alliance Joint Research Facility to study this artifact. If we can decipher its contents, it may prove invaluable to Ealdania as a whole."
The emperor, the noble, and the cardinal leaned forward, their eyes narrowing as they studied the artifact. The rest of the chamber's occupants murmured among themselves, the implications of Malekith's words sinking in.
Barbos, the dwarf, was the first to break the silence. He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, and let out a heavy sigh. "I've worked on a similar shard artifact," he said, his voice gruff but tinged with excitement. "It was made of the same material—immune to high temperatures, nearly indestructible. I've been trying to figure out its purpose for years, but so far, I've got nothing."
The Archmage Sillorin, who had remained quiet until now, interjected. "I, too, have encountered such material," he said, his tone thoughtful. "It absorbs mana, rendering most spells useless against it. Years ago, we attempted to overload a shard with arcane energy. The result was… catastrophic. It released an explosive burst of energy in one direction, nearly destroying the research facility. I believe this material might have been part of some kind of advanced armor or shielding."
The room buzzed with murmurs as the leaders processed this information. The artifact in Malekith's hand suddenly seemed even more significant, its potential implications staggering.
Then Triton, the scaled merfolk, stood up. His trident clinked softly against the floor as he moved, his expression solemn. "I suppose I can no longer keep this secret," he said, his voice carrying a note of resignation. "If this knowledge can help us understand the nature of the Dark Region, then I will share it."
He reached into a shell at his side and opened it, revealing a small, glowing orb. With a wave of his hand, the orb projected a holographic image into the air. The image showed a massive, metallic structure, larger than any castle, its form sleek and arrow-like. The material was unmistakably the same as the artifact Malekith held. The machine was partially buried in the ocean floor, surrounded by corals and seaweed, its surface corroded but still intact.
"I found this… thing," Triton said, gesturing to the hologram. "Deep in the trenches, where no one dares to venture. I tried to strike it with my full power, but the blow was reflected back at me. I was severely injured and barely made it back alive. I've kept this discovery a secret, even from my own family and people. But now, I believe it's time to reveal the truth."
The room was utterly silent, the weight of Triton's revelation pressing down on everyone. The hologram of the sunken starship—for that was what it clearly was—hovered in the air, its design both alien and awe-inspiring.
Malekith's eyes narrowed as he studied the image. "This changes everything," he said, his voice low. "If these artifacts and structures are connected, they could be remnants of a civilization far more advanced than our own. A civilization that may have fallen to the very darkness we now face."
The emperor leaned forward, his expression grim. "If that's the case, then we must uncover the truth. The Alliance Joint Research Facility must be reestablished immediately. We cannot afford to ignore this."
The cardinal nodded in agreement. "The Holy Dominion will contribute resources to this endeavor. If these artifacts hold the key to defeating the Dark Beasts, then it is our duty to pursue this knowledge."
Barbos grunted, his eyes still fixed on the hologram. "I'll dedicate my best engineers to the project. If anyone can crack the secrets of that material, it's us."
Triton closed the shell, the hologram disappearing as he sat back down. "I'll provide access to the location of the machine," he said. "But I warn you—it's dangerous. Whatever that thing is, it's not meant to be trifled with."
Malekith nodded, his expression resolute. "Then it's settled. We will pool our resources and knowledge to uncover the secrets of these artifacts. The fate of Ealdania may depend on it."