The council chamber was alive with debate, voices clashing like steel on steel. News of the machines—relentless, destructive constructs tearing through the Wastelands—had sent shockwaves through Ashenhold. King Marko presided over the heated discussion, his expression a mask of control that barely concealed the turmoil within.
Cassius stood beside him, hands clasped behind his back, struggling to appear calm under the weight of so many eyes. Across the chamber, Korvek and his warriors remained an imposing presence, their silence a sharp contrast to the councilors' fiery arguments.
---
Councilor Verran (pointing at Korvek):
"And what do the Wasteland Tribes know of these machines? How can we be sure they haven't brought this threat upon us?"
Korvek (coldly):
"We don't know what they are, but we've seen what they can do. You sit in your stone walls and judge us, but out there, it's survival. These machines don't spare anyone."
The room stilled at Korvek's tone, his words laced with raw anger. Cassius stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension.
Cassius:
"Blaming each other won't help. These machines are a danger to us all. We need to act—not as enemies, but as allies."
Korvek glanced at Cassius, his hard expression softening slightly.
King Marko (firmly):
"And what do you propose, Cassius?"
Cassius took a deep breath, meeting his father's gaze.
Cassius:
"A reconnaissance mission. If we're to fight these machines, we need to understand them first. Korvek's warriors know the Wastelands, and our scholars can uncover the machines' secrets. Together, we can find a way to stop them."
A murmur spread through the council. Some nodded in agreement, while others looked skeptical.
Councilor Lydia:
"It's a risk, but it might be our only chance."
Councilor Verran:
"And if it's a trap?"
Cassius (calmly):
"Then we'll deal with it. Sitting here debating won't save us."
King Marko studied his son for a long moment before nodding.
King Marko:
"Very well. But Elric will accompany you, and the mission will proceed with caution. This is your plan, Cassius—see it through."
Cassius swallowed hard, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders.
Cassius:
"I won't let you down."
---
The expedition departed at dawn. Cassius rode at the front alongside Korvek and Elric, with a mixed group of Ashenhold soldiers and Wasteland warriors following close behind. The alliance was uneasy, marked by quiet tension and wary glances.
As they ventured deeper into the Wastelands, the landscape became a desolate expanse of cracked earth and jagged rock. The air was heavy, carrying a faint metallic tang that seemed to cling to their skin.
Elric (to Cassius):
"The Wastelands weren't always like this. Once, it was fertile land, just like Ashenhold. Genesis's fall changed everything."
Cassius nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon.
Cassius:
"And now these machines are finishing what the collapse started."
Korvek grunted, his gaze fixed ahead.
Korvek:
"They're not finishing anything. They're searching. For what, I don't know—but it's not random destruction."
---
By midday, they reached the site of the machines' attack. The remains of a trading post lay scattered across the barren ground, the structures reduced to blackened husks. The air was filled with an unnatural hum, faint but unnerving.
Korvek (grimly):
"This was one of ours. They didn't leave anything behind."
Cassius dismounted, moving cautiously among the wreckage. He knelt beside a shard of metal embedded in the ground, its surface etched with strange symbols.
Cassius:
"Elric, look at this. It's the same as the relic."
Elric examined the shard, his brow furrowing.
Elric:
"It's not just similar—it's identical. Whatever these machines are, they're connected to Genesis, and to that relic."
A sudden grinding sound made everyone freeze. From the shadows of the ruined post, a towering machine emerged. Its body was a sleek amalgam of steel and light, its movements unnervingly precise.
Korvek (drawing his weapon):
"To arms!"
The battle was chaotic and brutal. The machine's strength was overwhelming, its glowing limbs slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. Cassius fought alongside the others, his blade striking sparks against its metallic hide.
It wasn't until Korvek's warriors managed to sever one of its limbs that the machine faltered, collapsing with a deafening crash.
---
Beyond the trading post, they discovered an ancient ruin partially unearthed by the machines. Inside, they found more of the strange symbols, along with a faintly glowing core extracted from the defeated construct.
Cassius (holding the core):
"It feels alive."
Elric:
"Alive or not, it's dangerous. We need to bring it back to Ashenhold."
Korvek watched them closely, his expression unreadable.
---
The group returned to Ashenhold under a shroud of uncertainty. While the council debated the implications of the core and the ruined machines, Cassius and the scholars focused on the relic.
As the core was placed near the relic, the sphere reacted violently, emitting pulses of light that filled the chamber. Symbols appeared across its surface, rearranging themselves into a map.
The projection showed an unfamiliar landscape, marked with faintly glowing points. At its center was a larger marker, pulsing steadily.
Scholar (in awe):
"A map... of Genesis?"
Cassius stared at the image, his mind racing.
Cassius:
"What is this place?"
The central marker grew brighter, its glow filling the room until the map vanished, leaving only silence.
A shadow moved at the door. Korvek stepped inside, his gaze fixed on the relic.
Korvek (gravely):
"I know that place."
Cassius turned to him, his heart pounding.
Cassius:
"Where is it?"
Korvek:
"It's where we found the relic. But it wasn't just buried—it was guarded."
The room fell silent.
Cassius (quietly):
"Guarded by what?"
Korvek:
"Machines."
Cassius felt the weight of the revelation settle over him. This wasn't just about defending Ashenhold—it was about uncovering the truth of Genesis itself.
The relic pulsed faintly, almost as if it had been listening.
Cassius (softly):
"What have we unleashed?"
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