The Guild Syndicate headquarters in Nova Haven was rarely quiet, but today, the air thrummed with urgency. The bounty on Elias Varian had gone out only the day before, yet the repercussions were already being felt across Earth and Elysium. Inside the command hall, High Enforcer Lysan stood before a massive holographic display, his piercing eyes scanning every detail of Elias's profile.
The image floating before him was all too familiar: Elias's disheveled hair, his sharp but distracted gaze, and the thin, dark veins creeping up one side of his neck that hinted at Void corruption. Beneath his profile, a staggering bounty was listed.
**"Elias Varian: Wanted for unauthorized Void experimentation, destabilization of a Soulforge Gateway, and endangerment of the Soulweave System. DEAD OR ALIVE — 5 Million Aether Units."**
Lysan's jaw was set as he addressed the gathered Syndicate officers. "This is not just a manhunt. Elias Varian is a threat to the balance of both worlds. If the Void has taken root in him and he remains unchecked, the damage could collapse more than just Gateways—it could destabilize the Soulweave itself."
The officers exchanged uneasy glances. Even for the Guild Syndicate, Void-related incidents were rare and dangerous, and the implications of a Void-infused human had sent ripples through the Syndicate's leadership.
Velis, the Guild Archivist, stepped forward, her expression calm but her tone clipped as she projected additional data. "Preliminary investigations into Elias's disappearance show no signs of his arrival at the designated Gateway in Elysium's central hub. Logs confirm his entry on Earth's side, but after crossing the threshold, his signal vanished."
"Vanished?" Lysan frowned. "Gateways don't just let people travel through. Unless…"
"Unless something interfered," Velis finished. She swiped through more data, bringing up chaotic energy readings around the Gateway Elias had used. "There were traces of Void energy at the site. It's possible he destabilized the Gateway during transit."
"Then he's dead," one of the officers muttered. "No one survives a Gateway, especially not with Void signatures involved."
Lysan's sharp gaze cut through the room. "Don't assume. If Elias is alive, he's a danger. If he's dead, the Void energy within him could still wreak havoc. Either way, we need answers and containment."
Far from the Guild's headquarters, in an unassuming house in Nova Haven's quieter districts, two figures sat under heavy scrutiny. Mira and Darius Varian, Elias's parents, had been summoned for questioning shortly after the bounty was announced. Though retired Dawnbuilders, their former positions in Elysium's infrastructure made them prime targets for the Guild's investigators.
A pair of Guild Enforcers stood behind them, armed but silent, as a stern-looking interrogator paced the room. The interrogator, a man named Kael, had a reputation for his cold precision in extracting truths.
"Let's try this again," Kael said, his voice smooth but with an edge of menace. "Your son, Elias. What do you know about his Void experiments?"
Mira's lips tightened, but her gaze didn't waver. "He didn't share the details with us. Elias was always independent, even as a child."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Independent enough to destabilize a Gateway and disappear?"
"We don't know where he is," Darius interjected, his tone firm but calm. "After he left Earth for Elysium, we lost contact."
"So you admit you knew about his experiments?"
Mira's hand tightened into a fist on her lap. "He was researching stabilization methods. You're twisting his work into something it wasn't."
Kael smirked, leaning forward. "Stabilization? Is that what you call working with Void energy? You can't seriously believe that meddling with the Void was just innocent research."
Darius glared at him. "The Guild Syndicate has always feared what it doesn't understand. My son wasn't reckless—he was exploring possibilities. The only reason you care now is because of the instability at the Gateways, and you're scrambling for a scapegoat."
Kael's expression darkened, but before he could respond, Velis's holographic projection appeared in the room. "That's enough, Kael. Stand down."
The interrogator stiffened but obeyed, stepping back as Velis's calm voice filled the room. "Mira. Darius. Whether or not you knew exactly what Elias was doing, you must understand the position this puts you in. If you're hiding anything—anything at all—it will cost you."
Mira's shoulders straightened. "We told you the truth. If my son is alive, I hope he stays far away from all of you."
Velis regarded her for a moment before nodding. "For your sake, I hope you're right."
Somewhere deep in Elysium, in the shadow of an old ruin, two figures sat around a dimly lit table. Orin, a rogue with sharp eyes and a sharper tongue, leaned back in his chair, his gaze flickering toward Liora, the alchemist who had worked closely with Elias before his disappearance.
"Let's break it down," Orin said, tapping his fingers against the table. "Elias stepped through that Gateway, and now he's either dead, lost, or hiding. Which one do you think it is?"
Liora frowned, her fingers working quickly to crush herbs into a powder. "Elias doesn't hide. If he's alive, he's somewhere in Elysium."
"Right. But where?" Orin raised an eyebrow. "The Guild's got every major region on lockdown. There aren't many places he could go without being spotted."
Liora hesitated, her movements slowing. "There are places the Guild doesn't reach." She glanced up at Orin, her voice lower now. "Ruins. Forests. Remote villages. If he survived the Void corruption, he wouldn't go anywhere obvious. He'd need time to… recover."
Orin's eyes narrowed. "So you're saying he's just hiding out in the woods somewhere? Great. That narrows it down to half of Elysium."
"I'm saying it's possible," Liora countered. "If anyone could survive the Void, it's Elias. But finding him…" She trailed off, frustration flickering across her face. "I don't know where to start."
Orin sighed, rubbing his temples. "So we wait. And hope the Guild doesn't find him first."
Deep within the Unbound's secret hideout, a group of hooded figures gathered around a jagged Void shard, its violet energy casting eerie light across the dark chamber. Their leader, a tall figure shrouded in shadow, spoke in a voice that carried both authority and madness.
"Elias Varian has touched the Void and lived," the leader said. "Whether by accident or design, he is the key to the gateway between worlds. We must find him before the Guild does."
One of the acolytes stepped forward hesitantly. "But we don't know where he is. The Void leaves no trace."
The leader raised a hand, silencing her. "The Void whispers to those who listen. He cannot hide forever."
The air thickened with tension as the leader's gaze swept across the room. "We are not the only ones moving. The Guild hunts him for their reasons. We hunt him for ours. And when we find him, the bridge will be ours to command."
The acolytes bowed, their voices rising in a low chant as the Void shard pulsed ominously.
Back in Nova Haven, High Enforcer Lysan stood in his office, staring out the window at the bustling city below. The Guild Syndicate had mobilized its forces, but the whispers of growing instability in the Gateways haunted him.
Velis entered the room, her expression grim. "Another Void breach near the southern Gateways. Small, but… concerning."
Lysan's jaw tightened. "It's him. It has to be."
Velis hesitated. "We don't know that for sure."
"Find out," Lysan said coldly. "Because if Elias Varian is still alive, the Void isn't just a danger. It's a weapon."
The bounty notice flickered on his desk, Elias's face staring back at him. Somewhere out there, the rogue Bridger was alive—or dead.
And either way, the world would never be the same.