The heavy silence that followed their escape was only broken by Cassius's uncertain voice. He turned to the cloaked man who had led them away from the ruins, his grip still tight around the relic.
Cassius: "Who… who are you?"
The man pulled back his hood, revealing a sharp, weathered face and silver hair. His eyes, filled with both wisdom and battle-worn exhaustion, studied them closely.
Varcen: "I am Varcen."
Elric's expression changed immediately. His body stiffened as he stepped forward, placing a fist over his heart in a gesture of respect.
Elric: "Commander Varcen…"
The older warrior shook his head slightly.
Varcen(with a small smirk): "Not a commander anymore."
Elric(nods): "Still… it is an honor."
Varcen glanced at him, an amused glint in his eye.
Korvek watched their exchange, arms crossed. He gave a low grunt.
Korvek: "So you two know each other."
Elric(nodding): "More than that. Varcen was one of Marko's finest. A respected warrior and strategist."
Varcen exhaled sharply.
Varcen: "That was a long time ago. Enough about the past. Marko...the King. How is he?"
Elric's face grew somber.
Elric : "He endures, as he always does. But things have changed. The machines have returned."
Varcen's expression darkened slightly.
Varcen(looking at Cassius): "You are Cassius...son of King Marko, right?"
Cassius nods
Varcen : "What were you three doing in the ruins?"
Elric: "We were following leads. But what about you? What brings you here?"
Varcen exhaled sharply.
Varcen: "My men noticed movement in this region. The machines have been growing restless. Then I found you battling that monster." (pauses, then lowers his voice slightly) "A few days ago, machines attacked my camp. We fought them off, but the way they moved… it was different. Organized."
Elric exchanged a glance with Korvek.
Elric: "We've seen the same thing."
Varcen gave a slow nod, then turned on his heel.
Varcen: "Come. It's not safe out here. I will take you to my camp."
Cassius tightened his chest and asked Varcen.
Cassius : "But why?"
Varcen(glancing at the relic): "You'll understand soon enough."
---
As they walked, remnants of the battlefield faded into the distance. The road was quiet, save for the crackling of torches and occasional how of the wind.
Cassius turned to Elric.
Cassius : "Who is he?"
Elric(glancing at Varcen, then back at Cassius): "He was one of King Marko's finest commanders. Fought in the war. He led men into battle and rarely lost."
Varcen chuckled at Elric's words.
Varcen(smirking) : "Rarely? You flatter me, Elric. But I see you haven't lost your edge. Still as swift as ever."
Elric smiled at Varcen's words.
Elric : "And I see you still keep that old stance."
---
They traveled through the ruins, following Varcen's lead. As they approached the camp, Cassius could see rows of makeshift barricades, worn-down structures repurposed into shelters, and torches lighting the area. The camp was larger than he expected.
Inside, hundreds of people—men, women, and children—moved about, some tending to weapons, others resting. There were wounded being treated, guards standing watch, and the occasional hum of a power generator struggling to keep running.
Elric : "A mercenary band?"
Varcen(nodding) : " Of sorts. We fight against the machines, protect the villages that can't defend themselves. These people? They've all lost something. This place is all they have left."
Cassius observed them all. His gaze then landed on an elderly man, sitting near the center of the camp, watching them with an unreadable expression. Something about the man felt… familiar.
Varcen slowed his pace and gestured toward the elder.
Varcen: "That is my father, Tiberius."
Cassius met the old man's gaze. For a brief moment, it felt like Tiberius was looking at something beyond just him—at the relic.
Tiberius's eyes narrowed slightly. Then, he gave a slow nod. Cassius, out of instinct, bowed his head in return.
Varcen turned to Elric.
Varcen: "You must be tired. Rest in your chambers. There's much to discuss, but for now, regain your strength."
---
Hours later, inside a dimly lit chamber, Cassius sat with the relic on the table before him. His thoughts were still racing from everything that had happened.
A knock at the door.
Varcen entered, followed by Elric and Korvek. His gaze was steady.
Varcen: "Cassius… I have a request."
Cassius straightened.
Varcen: "Activate the relic."
Cassius tensed.
Cassius: "Why?"
Elric(calmly): "Because whatever truth it holds… we need to see it."
Cassius held the relic tightly, feeling its cool, metallic surface against his palm. The weight of Varcen's and Elric's gazes made his chest tighten. He had only seen the relic react once before, and even then, it had felt like something beyond his control.
Cassius (thinking): Why does this feel so important? What if I activate it, and something happens that I can't undo?
He looked at the swirling patterns on its surface. Were they shifting slightly, as if anticipating his touch? His fingers hovered over the core.
Korvek: "Well? It's just a piece of metal, right?"
Cassius glanced up at Elric, whose face was unreadable, and Varcen, who watched with a quiet intensity.
Cassius: They know something… something I don't.
Taking a slow breath, he clenched his jaw and pressed his palm firmly against the relic. The moment he did, the air grew heavier, and the glow flared to life.
The relic began to glow.
The chamber was suddenly bathed in an intense light, its glow stronger than before. Strange symbols formed in the air, shifting and rearranging themselves. A voice—distorted, ancient—spoke.
Relic's Message: "This war… is brutal.The cycle must end."
Cassius gasped as visions flooded his mind—blurry images of battlefields, armored figures, sigils he did not recognize, the clashing of steel, the screams of the fallen. He felt the weight of a history he did not yet understand.
Then, the light vanished.
Cassius gripped his head, his breath ragged.
Cassius(panting): "What… what does this mean?"
Silence filled the room. Varcen and Elric exchanged a knowing glance—one filled with concern.
Varcen took a deep breath before speaking.
Varcen: "We must meet King Marko."
As Varcen's words settled, Cassius felt a strange unease creeping into his thoughts. Meet King Marko? It made sense—his father had always been at the heart of Genesis's struggles—but why did it feel like more than that?
The relic's glow had long since faded, but its message lingered in his mind. This war… is brutal. Those words echoed in his chest like a warning from the past. The flickering images of armored figures, the battlefields drenched in smoke and blood—they felt distant yet eerily familiar.
He clenched his fists, his pulse quickening. Something was missing. Something he wasn't seeing.
Cassius glanced at Elric and Korvek. The grim expressions on their faces only deepened his unease. They knew more than they were saying.
Varcen(breaking the silence): "We leave at dawn."
Cassius barely nodded, his thoughts spiraling. The weight of the relic, the mystery of the Catalyst, the war… and now, an audience with his father.
Yet, for the first time, he wasn't sure if he was ready to hear what awaited him.
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