We've Reached a Conclusion

Kael stepped into the room, the heavy oak doors creaking shut behind him. His boots stomped on the wooden floor.

The tension in the air was palpable, and every pair of eyes at the long round table followed him as he moved.

Lady Seraphina gestured gracefully to a chair positioned near the center of the table. "You may sit," she said. 

Kael hesitated for only a moment before taking the seat. The chair was softer than he'd expected, its cushions covered in deep blue velvet fabric embroidered with gold thread. 

The room was as impressive as the rest of the estate. The high ceiling bore a large crystal chandelier. The walls were lined with tall windows draped in dark curtains, allowing some sunlight to stream in. 

Seated around the table were several individuals, all dressed in fine clothing. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to suspicion, and Kael could feel the pressure of their scrutinizing him. 

"Thank you for joining us," Lady Seraphina began, her voice low but load enough for everyone to hear. "You've become quite the figure of interest in Raven Town." 

Kael offered a small nod, unsure of how to respond. 

"We'll get to the point," a man to Seraphina's right interjected. His gray beard was neatly trimmed, and his sharp eyes gave the impression that he was someone who misses nothing. "The guards found something... troubling in the bandits' hideout." 

Kael straightened, his curiosity piqued. "They were a lot of things. What did they find?" 

The man leaned forward, his fingers interlaced together. "Nothing. Or, more accurately, nothing intact. The hideout was burned to the ground." 

Kael frowned. "Burned? By whom?" 

"We were hoping you could shed some light on that," Lady Seraphina said. 

Kael shook his head. "It wasn't me. When I left, the hideout was still standing." 

"The fire wasn't the only issue," another voice chimed in, this time from a woman sitting farther down the table. Her dark hair was tied into a tight bun. "Some of the captives we rescued and the bandits captured were... unstable." 

"Unstable how?" Kael asked, leaning forward slightly. 

The woman's lips pressed into a thin line. "They refused to answer our questions. And those who did attempt to speak..." She hesitated, glancing at Lady Seraphina. 

"Exploded," Seraphina finished, her voice full of distaste. 

Kael blinked, disbelief flashing across his face. "Exploded? You mean they were...?" 

"Yes," the bearded man said grimly. "Their bodies were rigged somehow. Probably a precaution put in place by the bandits and whoever they work for, most likely, to ensure their silence. Whatever the Void Bandits are part of, they take their secrets very seriously." 

Kael's mind raced. The pieces were falling into place, but the picture that they formed was dark and twisted, not something he was sure he wanted to get into. 

Neo's voice murmured in his mind. "They're covering their tracks. Whoever they report to doesn't want anyone knowing what's really going on." 

Kael clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. "This is bigger than just bandits. They weren't just stealing supplies or causing chaos, they were experimenting. On people." 

The room fell silent, the seriousness of Kael's words sinking in. 

"What kind of experiments?" Lady Seraphina asked. 

Kael took a deep breath, steadying himself. "They were trying to control corruption. To create corrupted beings that could be commanded like soldiers. I saw it myself—humans twisted into monsters, their minds erased of any sanity. And they were succeeding." 

Gasps rippled around the table, Kael's revelation sending a chill through the room. 

"Corrupted that can be controlled?" the gray-bearded man repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's... unthinkable." 

Kael continued. "It's worse than unthinkable. They were planning to use those creatures to attack this town. To turn Raven Town into a breeding ground for more corruption." 

Lady Seraphina's expression darkened, her fingers tightening around the arms of her chair. "And the fragments? What role do they play in this?" 

Kael hesitated, then decided there was no point in holding back information. "The fragments are the key. They're using them to force the transformations, it's what turns the people corrupted.

But it's not just random, it's deliberate. They're targeting people with specific traits, experimenting on them to refine their methods." 

"Specific traits?" the woman with the bun asked while furrowing her brow. 

"Strength, resilience, adaptability," Kael listed. "They're looking for people who can survive the process. The ones who don't... well, they don't survive long enough to matter." 

The room fell silent again, what Kael revealed was pressing down on everyone present. 

"Why would they go to such lengths?" the gray-bearded man asked, his voice filled with a mix of fear and anger. "What could they possibly gain from this madness?" 

Kael's gaze stiffened. "Control, fear or Power. Whatever organization the Void Bandits are part of, they want to destabilize the world. They want to create chaos and use it to their advantage." 

Neo's voice cut through his thoughts. "And possibly to challenge the Celestials themselves." 

Kael didn't repeat her words aloud, but the implication sent a shiver down his spine. 

Lady Seraphina rose from her seat, her movements were graceful as she did. "This information is invaluable, Kael. But it raises more questions than it answers. We need to understand the full scope of this threat and who's pulling the strings." 

The room murmured in agreement, the tension in the air was thick enough to cut through with a blade. 

Kael exhaled slowly. "I'll do whatever I can to help. But we need to act fast. Whoever they are, they're not going to stop." 

Lady Seraphina nodded. "Then we must prepare for the worst." 

She turned to the others at the table and spoke in a resolute tone of voice. "Begin fortifying the town's defenses, increase patrols on the outskirts and the forest beyond the town. Send what we've found out to the King's council. And find out everything you can about these experiments—no matter what it takes." 

As the ministers and officials began to discuss logistics, Kael sat back in his chair, his mind still bewildered. 

Neo spoke in a quite voice. "Kael, there's something they're not telling you." 

He frowned. "What do you mean?" 

"Think about it," Neo said. "The fire, the captives exploding, someone's cleaning up the mess—and it's not just the bandits." 

Kael's heart sank as he realized she was right. Someone else was involved in this, someone with the power to cover their tracks so thoroughly. 

The room fell silent again as Lady Seraphina raised her hand. Her expression was grave, her eyes locked onto Kael. 

"We've reached a conclusion," she said, her voice carrying a dept that sent a chill down Kael's spine. 

Kael's breath was caught as he watched the grim faces around the table. Whatever conclusion they had reached, he knew it would change everything.