The night air was cold against Astra's skin as they followed Korin through the dense outskirts of the Forgotten Forest. The sounds of the Titan's pursuit had faded, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the occasional creak of dormant machines hidden in the shadows. Astra clutched the broken failsafe tightly, its faint glow pulsing in time with the ticking in their chest.
They stopped in a small clearing, where Korin knelt to examine the device under the faint light of the moon. He removed a small set of tools from his belt and began prying open the failsafe's outer casing, muttering under his breath.
"Can you fix it?" Astra asked, their voice barely above a whisper.
Korin glanced up, his sharp eyes catching the moonlight. "I can stabilize it, but it won't be enough to fully sever your Core's connection to the Chronosphere. Not without a stronger Aetherium source."
"A stronger source?" Astra frowned. "Where are we supposed to find that?"
Korin didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured toward the horizon, where the faint glow of the Rusted City lit up the night sky. "The Council of Tides has been hoarding Aetherium for years. If anyone has what we need, it's them."
---
As they set off toward the city, Astra's thoughts churned. The Council of Tides was a shadowy group that controlled the flow of Aetherium throughout the Rusted City. They were the city's rulers, its protectors—or so they claimed. But Korin's tone left no doubt about his opinion of them.
"They know more than they let on," Korin said as they walked. "The Council was there when the Clockmaker disappeared. They buried his work, erased his name from history. But they didn't destroy everything. They kept what they thought they could use."
"And they've been hiding it ever since," Astra finished, their frustration evident.
Korin nodded. "If they find out you're tied to the Clockmaker, they'll either use you—or destroy you."
"Great," Astra muttered. "So we're going straight into the hands of the people who'd rather I didn't exist."
"Pretty much," Korin said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "But don't worry. They won't see us coming."
---
By the time they reached the Rusted City, the streets were eerily quiet. The towering clock towers loomed like silent sentinels, their massive gears ticking softly in the darkness. The air was heavy with the scent of oil and ozone, and the faint hum of Aetherium-powered machinery filled the silence.
Korin led Astra through a series of hidden passageways, avoiding the main roads and the ever-watchful eyes of the city's automated guards. They finally emerged in a narrow alley near the Council's headquarters, a massive, fortress-like structure that glowed faintly with blue Aetherium light.
"This is it," Korin whispered, crouching behind a stack of crates. "The Council's archives are inside. If there's any record of the Clockmaker—or a stronger Aetherium source—it'll be there."
Astra peered around the corner, their heart—or Core—ticking faster as they took in the building's imposing facade. "How are we supposed to get inside? There's no way they'll just let us waltz in."
"They don't have to," Korin said, pulling a small, spherical device from his belt. He twisted its base, and it began to emit a faint, rhythmic pulse. "This'll scramble their sensors long enough for us to slip past. But we'll need to move fast."
---
Inside the Council's headquarters, the air was cold and sterile, a sharp contrast to the chaotic warmth of the streets outside. The walls were lined with glowing panels, their surfaces etched with intricate designs that pulsed faintly with Aetherium energy.
Korin led the way, his movements quick and precise. Astra followed closely, their eyes darting nervously as they passed rows of dormant automatons standing sentinel along the corridors. The ticking in their chest grew louder, syncing with the hum of the machines.
"Why is it doing that?" Astra whispered, clutching their chest.
"The Core is reacting to the Aetherium," Korin explained, his voice low. "This place is saturated with it. The Council built their headquarters on one of the largest Aetherium veins in the city. That's why we're here."
They reached a large, vaulted room at the heart of the building. Massive shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with ancient tomes, blueprints, and glowing vials of Aetherium. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, upon which rested a crystal-like shard that radiated a brilliant blue light.
"There it is," Korin said, his eyes fixed on the shard. "That's what we need."
Astra hesitated, their gaze flicking between the shard and the rows of ominous automatons lining the walls. "This feels too easy."
"It won't be," Korin said grimly. "The moment we take that shard, the whole place will know we're here."
"Then why are we doing this?" Astra asked, their voice rising with frustration. "What's the point if we're just going to get caught?"
"Because it's the only way," Korin said, his voice steady. "Without that shard, the failsafe won't work. And if the failsafe doesn't work, the Chronosphere activates. Do you understand?"
Astra swallowed hard, their chest tightening. "Fine. Let's do it."
---
Korin moved quickly, dismantling the protective casing around the shard with practiced ease. The room was eerily quiet, the only sound the faint hum of the shard's energy and the steady ticking of Astra's Core.
As Korin lifted the shard from its pedestal, an alarm blared, shattering the silence. The automatons lining the walls sprang to life, their glowing eyes locking onto Astra and Korin.
"Time to go!" Korin shouted, shoving the shard into his bag.
The automatons charged, their movements swift and mechanical. Astra's hands tingled as the warmth spread through their veins, the ticking in their chest reaching a fever pitch. Without thinking, they thrust their hands forward, and a burst of golden light erupted from their palms, slamming into the nearest automaton and sending it crashing into the wall.
"Nice trick," Korin said, grabbing Astra's arm and pulling them toward the exit. "But don't stop running!"
They sprinted through the corridors, the automatons in relentless pursuit. The sound of grinding metal and heavy footsteps echoed behind them, growing louder with every second.
As they reached the exit, Korin hurled another explosive device, the blast sending a shockwave through the building. The automatons faltered, their movements jerky and uncoordinated, but they didn't stop.
"Keep moving!" Korin shouted, shoving Astra through the door.
They burst into the cold night air, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they darted into the maze of alleyways. The alarms blared behind them, but the sound of pursuit grew fainter as they put more distance between themselves and the Council's headquarters.
Finally, they stopped in a hidden alcove, their backs pressed against the cold stone walls. Korin pulled the shard from his bag, its brilliant blue light illuminating the exhaustion on his face.
"That was… intense," Astra said, their voice shaking.
"It's only going to get worse," Korin said, his tone grim. "But now we have what we need."
Astra stared at the shard, its light reflecting in their wide eyes. The ticking in their chest was quieter now, but its presence was a constant reminder of the weight they carried.
"Let's hope it's enough," Astra said, their voice steady despite the fear bubbling beneath the surface.
Korin nodded. "It has to be."
---