Threads of the Ouroboros

Kael barely has enough time to organize his thoughts before they are interrupted by a messenger clad in thick leather clothing and a white cape flowing down his back. He runs up to him yelling, panic etched on his face and his breath ragged in shallow breaths. Kael sits up as he sees this. A messenger. Did something bad happen already?

The panicking man speaks quickly, "The saints, where are they? I have an important message for them!" Kael stands up as he looks at the man's palling face. "Calm down, what happened?" He speaks even more desperately now. "No time–I have to see the saints quickly!" Kael nods and walks into the building telling the man to come up. His mind races with the different possibilities that might have happened.

And there aren't many.

He leads the man to the saints, who are standing outside of Zarik's room. Their faces grim by their comrades condition. Better for the messenger not to see him. They all look at me as i walk down the hall, but notices the man in tow next to me. He runs up to them before speaking again, "Saints, I have a terrible message from the Ormanthus kingdom! Their Kingdom has been attacked—!" He audibly gulped to push the rising panic back down. "--by a giant War Construct!"

A heavy silence falls.

Lucian's sharp eyes narrow, struggling to believe what he's hearing. "A War Construct?"

Aubrey with her anxious expression mutters "impossible, Ormanthus has some of the best defenses in this region…"

"They had defenses," the messenger corrects. "They have nowhere to launch their airships since the landing pads and warships were destroyed. All of it has been wiped out, luckily the elite guards were able to destroy it before any more damage could be done"

They all collectively let out a sigh of relief, but they couldn't relax yet. They all knew that something was off about this attack. Kaels gaze is distant as he thinks about the War Construct. First it was that purple Construct from before, and now a giant War Construct. This was definitely planned, but that brings up a lot of unanswered questions.

What are they planning for?

What is their goal?

Is it the God of Fate?

Is it the work of the other gods?

Kael sighs, unanswered questions continuing to swirl up in his head but he pushes them to the back of his head for now. The messenger continues, "The Ormanthus kingdom is prioritizing rebuilding. They need outside help to investigate what exactly happened. They don't have the manpower or resources to spare for a proper investigation." Once again, there's silence.

But it doesn't last long as Emilia speaks up, "Then we'll go"

Lucian nods, his sharp gaze shifting to the others. "Ormanthus is one of our strongest allies. If they're struggling to recover, then that means whatever hit them was far worse than we imagined. We can't ignore this."

Zarex crosses his arms, expression grim. "A War Construct that massive shouldn't have been able to get that close unnoticed. Something isn't right."

The others nod as the messenger nods as well,a smile forming on his face. Kael continues to watch. They all begin to head out, leaving the hospital. Kael follows behind, he never heard about an attack on Ormanthus in the previous timeline, so this is a new turn of events.

They walk out with purpose to their steps. Determined and steady. Seeing the four saints in front of him, chins held high. They were the hope of Persia and now the saviors of Ormanthus. Lucian and Emilia quickly head to the docks to prepare a boat while Aubrey and Zarex get supplies for the journey. I draw my sword, examining the black blade. It's slightly dulled on its side, etched in scratches. Scars. From all the battles I used it to fight in. I shift my gaze to the tip of the blade.

It's chipped off.

I stare at it, knowing I'll have to somehow fix it or make it better.

Then a thought crosses his mind.

Ormanthus. The kingdom of engineering known for its amazing creations. They can definitely fix this, and probably make it better. I put it back in its sheath as I walked down to the docks. Once he gets there, he sees Lucian and Emilia sitting on the boat waiting for us. I don't say anything as I step on board. The last time I saw them was when I left my home town a few days ago. Now that it's just us three on the ship. The atmosphere is a little tense.

And it's not from the War Constructs this time.

I lean on the edge of the ship, staring off into the distant sea. The vastness of it, the horizon blending into the sky, should have been calming.The last time I saw this was when I killed the God of Fate. Well, I'd like to believe I did. That I took his power and ended his reign, carving my own path from the mess he'd created. But it's not that simple. But his essence still resides in me, corrupting me from the inside while manipulating events on the outside. That damn god.

I clench my fist, furrowing my brows as I stare off into the distance. My rage slowly rises from the depths of my soul once more, but it's cut off by the sound of footsteps. I turn towards the noise to see Zarex and Aubrey carrying six bags. Five smaller bags and one large, which sounds like metal clanking together. Weapons probably. I can only assume it's filled with the gear we'll need for the journey ahead. Lucian walks over to the front of the boat where the captain is waiting, giving him the signal to set out. With a nod from the captain, the ship begins to pull away from the docks, the city fading into the background.

The familiar sound of the water lapping against the hull and the creak of the ship's wood underfoot fills the air, but none of it does much to ease the storm swirling inside me.

The journey across the sea seemed endless. A blur of time stretching on as the days melded together. The sun rose and set in predictable cycles, but it did little to ground me, to remind me that the world still turned, that there was still something beyond the storm of thoughts that raged in my mind.

It wasn't just the weight of the God of Fate's lingering presence that gnawed at me. It wasn't even the shifting tides of power, the political maneuvering we'd left behind in Persia, or the challenges awaiting us in Ormanthus.

No.

It was the sense of inevitability—the sense that no matter where we went, no matter how far we ran, fate still had its hooks in us. And I, with my unending defiance, was just another pawn in the game. That thought alone clawed at me every moment spent staring at the expanse of water.

Emilia had noticed. She was always perceptive, that one.

"You're quiet," she said in the evening as she stood beside me on the deck, her voice soft but laced with concern. The wind tugged at her hair, sending it dancing around her face in the fading light.

I didn't answer.

I didn't want to.

The last thing I wanted was for her to see the chaos gnawing at my insides. She had enough to worry about—Zarik, the political unrest in Persia, the weight of the alliance they were trying to secure for them.

"I'm fine," I mutter, not quite looking at her.

She didn't push but I knew she wasn't convinced. Emilia had a way of seeing through the walls I built around myself. Still, she let it go. For the moment.

Lucian, on the other hand, was as sharp as ever. While the others went about their tasks, adjusting to the rhythm of the ship, Lucian would study the horizon, his mind forever calculating. Always planning, always assessing. I admired that about him—his ability to think, to stay calm even when the world was falling apart. He even made a few jokes that lightened the mood.

But even Lucian wasn't immune to the weight of the journey. We were all tired. The time at sea stretched longer than any of us had anticipated, and I could see it in their eyes.

Lucian's intensity had been tempered by the days spent aboard the ship, his sharpness slightly dulled, his eyes less focused. Emilia, too, seemed quieter than usual, the strain of leadership wearing on her despite her best efforts to remain composed.

Zarex, ever the stoic, had retreated into his own thoughts, the same way he always did when faced with uncertainty. Aubrey, always the pragmatic one, was busy with the supplies, checking and rechecking everything as though the success of the entire mission depended on whether or not the rations were properly stored.

And then there was me.

The ship felt too small, too confining. The salt of the sea, the constant motion beneath my feet, reminded me of how little control I had left in this world. The blade at my side, dulled and chipped, was a constant reminder of that. I'd made my choice to leave Persia, to pursue this path, but even now, as the days turned to weeks, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being led toward something darker than we could see.

Then, finally, the horizon began to change. The line between sea and sky blurred, fading into the jagged, mountainous outline of Ormanthus.

The sight was breathtaking.

Ormanthus. The kingdom of engineering, a marvel of both man and magic. A land where the cities were built with towering structures that seemed to defy the laws of nature, where metal and stone were shaped into creations of unimaginable complexity. The ship's arrival was greeted by the towering peaks of the mountains that circled the kingdom, a ring of protection from the outside world. The cliffs rose steeply, their rocky faces adorned with ancient carvings, like guardians watching over the land.

But it wasn't the mountains that caught my eye—it was the city itself. As we neared the port, I could see the grand engineering feats that dotted the landscape. Steam-powered machines whirred from distant factories, towering cranes moved cargo with mechanical precision, and the streets of the city below were a complex web of bridges and walkways, interwoven with metal pipes that seemed to pulse with life. But there was a noticeable large amount of cargo near the center of the city leading to one of the gates on the east side where the destruction was. Which was completely destroyed and they were in the midst of rebuilding.

As the boat arrives at the docs, we get a closer look at the destruction, building debris layered the ground, giant footsteps are embedded in the stone leading to the gate.

The ground is covered in dried blood.

Families were torn apart and loved ones are gone.

A single War Construct caused all this.

Aubrey, seeing this, audibly gasps in shock as she covers her mouth, witnessing the aftermath of carnage. Emilia and Lucian sharpen their gaze. They can try to hide it but I can tell they're sick to their stomachs. Zarex clenches his fist and grits his teeth in anger at the fact they couldn't save them. But Kael, he doesn't do anything.

He just stares.

Maybe because he's seen his fair share of blood and death. Or maybe he's just numb to all of this due to the God of Fates influence on him.

He doesn't know.

He steps off the boat first, and onto the smooth wooden docks as he heads into the kingdom. The others glance at him, slightly questioning his indifference before following suit. He walks towards the gate, the saints following close behind. A guard positioned at his station walks up to them, recognizing them. "The council is waiting for you." The saints nod and follow the guard to a large fortified building near the plaza. It was made out of slick black metal that would be a struggle to pierce with my sword. Well, not like I can pierce anything right now.

The guard knocks on the door three times, pauses, and knocks 4 more times. After a moment, the large metal door opens, revealing an elite guard in a war suit. He signals the guard to go back to his post as he leads the group further into the fortified building. Lights lit up the inside of the hallway, leading to a door. "This will lead you to the meeting room," he says before turning around, walking back to guard the door.

Kael looks away from the man and at the door as Zarex reaches out and opens it, leading into a room with four people inside.

They are all sitting at a round table, three of them looking serious while the fourth, a nervous looking woman, sits near the door. They all turn to face the saints with recognizing faces. But once they land their eyes on me, their expression changes from recognition to curiosity and caution.

But they turn away from me and face the saints. One of the serious-looking council members, a man with sharp features and streaks of silver in his dark hair, leans forward. His fingers drum against the table, a steady rhythm that echoes in the tense silence.

"You already know why you're here," he says, his voice steady but laced with an edge of frustration. "A war construct didn't just wake up and decide to massacre our people. Someone summoned it—someone powerful. And we need to find out who."

Emilia crosses her arms. "Do you have any leads?"

The nervous woman near the door shifts uncomfortably. She hesitates before speaking. "We... we have a suspect," she says, glancing at the others as if seeking permission to continue.

The silver-haired man nods.

She takes a deep breath. "A mage. One of our own. He disappeared a day before the attack. His name is Vaelin. We believe he had help—no single person should have been able to summon something like that alone."

Zarex clenches his jaw. "And what makes you think he's the one responsible?"

The councilwoman swallows hard. "Because we found this."

She gestures to another council member, who pulls out a small, battered notebook and places it on the table. Its edges are burnt, and traces of dark energy cling to the leather cover.

Kael steps forward before the others can react, reaching for the book. He feels the lingering energy pulse against his fingers as he flips it open. The pages are covered in frantic scrawls—diagrams, arcane symbols, notes scribbled in a handwriting that becomes more erratic the further he reads.

At the bottom of one page, a single phrase stands out, written over and over in deep, jagged strokes.

"The gods will burn. The gods will burn. The gods will burn."

Kael's fingers tighten around the pages. Something about these words... they resonate. Not just in his mind, but deeper—like an echo of something he's already seen before.

The Saints exchange glances. Emilia narrows her eyes. "So you think he was part of some cult? Some rogue faction?"

The silver-haired councilman shakes his head. "That's what we need you to find out. We don't just want to know who did this. We want to know why. If there's more of them, if another attack is coming—we need answers."

All eyes turn to Zarex, his silence stretching a beat too long.

"Then let's go find them"

Before they could head out, Kael speaks. "What was going on before the attack happened?"

The serious looking man turns his gaze towards Kael, studying him before answering. "We were having an expo to showcase the inventions people had made."

Kael thinks for a second, still staring at the open notepad. "And I'm assuming they had to sign up to participate?" The man nods, "Of course, they wouldn't be able to just come in the middle of the expo to show their invention without signing up for it."

Kael nods, closing the notepad before placing it on the table. "Do you still have the papers of those who signed up for it? If we can gather the people who participated and question them we can both clear their names and gain new leads. And if any of them are missing, and hopefully not dead, then we can assume that they had something to do with it. It could be that Vaelin guy who signed under a false name. I also assume he wore something that covered his face if no one could recognize him since an expo as grand as that would have nobles and commoners alike who might recognize him."

The council members exchange glances, considering Kael's suggestion. The silver-haired man—who seems to be the highest authority here—nods slowly.

"We do," he confirms. "All participants had to submit their names, backgrounds, and descriptions of their inventions beforehand. It's a precaution to prevent fraud and sabotage." He gestures to one of the guards standing by the door. "Fetch the registry."

The guard bows slightly before exiting the room.

Lucian steps forward, arms crossed. "And the security measures during the expo? Were there any reports of strange activity before the attack?"

The nervous woman speaks again. "We had guards posted at every entrance. There were arcane detectors to prevent unauthorized magic use, but…" she hesitates, "…whoever did this either found a way around them or had inside help."

A tense silence follows.

Emilia sighs. "Great. So we're not just dealing with one rogue summoner. We might be dealing with an entire network."

Kael's fingers tap idly on the table. "If Vaelin was involved, he might not have been working alone. A war construct isn't just some random summon—you need deep knowledge, resources, and time to prepare something like that." His dark eyes flick to the council. "I assume you've already checked for missing blueprints or stolen research?"

The silver-haired man's expression darkens. "We did." He exhales sharply, his patience clearly thinning. "And yes—several classified documents on construct schematics went missing months ago. We believed it was an isolated incident at the time. Now, it's clear that wasn't the case."

Before anyone can respond, the guard returns, carrying a thick stack of papers bound in a heavy leather folder. He places it on the table with a dull thud.

"Here is the registry."

Zarex wastes no time flipping it open, scanning the pages. Names, professions, and detailed descriptions of projects are neatly listed in rows. The others gather around as he turns each page.

Then, his hand pauses.

A name has been crossed out with thick ink. Unlike the others, this entry has no project description.

Lucian frowns. "That's odd. Why would someone sign up, only to back out at the last minute?"

Kael leans in, scanning the blotched-out name. Faint traces of letters are still visible beneath the ink.

A single letter stands out.

V.

His expression hardens. "We need to find out who this was."

The silver-haired man gestures to the guard. "Bring in the event organizers. They'll know more about this."

As the guard rushes off, Kael straightens. The pieces of the puzzle are slowly falling into place, but something still gnaws at him.

Whoever summoned that construct knew exactly what they were doing.

He closes his eyes, going into deep thought about the possibilities of what could have happened. He must have had help from immensely powerful mages like Emilia who are experts in dark magic. Maybe there's still a lingering essence of the magic that was used to form the construct, and we could use that to trace where it came from. And if we can't do that then we can surely use it to find out how it works. Maybe these blueprints are what he used to make the device.

A very intelligent person indeed

Kael opens his eyes as the guard walks in with the event organizers. The event organizers enter cautiously, their faces a mixture of tension and fatigue. They're dressed in fine, but slightly disheveled clothing, no doubt from long hours of dealing with the aftermath of the attack. One of them, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a neatly trimmed beard, steps forward.

"I assume you need information regarding the expo?" His voice is steady, but there's a weight behind it—like he's bracing himself for whatever comes next.

Kael doesn't waste time. "Yes. We need details on a specific participant." He gestures toward the registry, tapping the ink-blotted name. "This one. Who was it?"

The man leans forward, squinting at the page. His lips tighten. "Ah… yes. That entry belonged to a last-minute applicant. They signed up under the name Valen Stroud, but… something about them felt off."

Lucian narrows his eyes. "What do you mean 'off'?"

The man exhales. "For one, they paid the entry fee in full but refused to give many details about their invention. Just said it was an 'automated combat mechanism.' We didn't think much of it at the time—some inventors like to keep their work secret until unveiling—but they also never removed their cloak, and their voice sounded… distorted. Almost like they were using magic to mask it."

Aubrey tenses. "And none of that raised red flags?"

A second organizer, a younger woman with tied-back auburn hair, speaks up. "It did. But they had proper credentials—an old guild license. And they never actually participated. The morning of the expo, we got a message saying they had withdrawn. No explanation. By the time we tried to verify their information, the attack had already begun."

Zarex's jaw tightens. "So they were here, but they never intended to present anything. They just needed an excuse to be near the event."

Emilia crosses her arms. "And if they were using a false identity, then the guild license they provided was either stolen or forged."

Zarex flips to another page in the registry, running his fingers along the text. "You mentioned that the construct summoning may have left behind traces of magic." He glances at Emilia. "Can you detect anything?"

Emilia's expression hardens. "Possibly. Dark magic lingers longer than most other types. If there are any remnants left near the attack site, I can use them to track its origin."

Lucian nods. "Then that's our next move."

The silver-haired councilman folds his hands together. "You have my permission to investigate the site, but be warned—we've already had people searching the area. If there's anything left to find, you'll have to be thorough."

Emilia smirks faintly. "We intend to be."

Kael grabs the notepad before glancing at the woman near the door. She's tall, with toned arms—likely from working on heavy machinery. But something about her presence doesn't sit right with him.

Why is she here?

He keeps his gaze on her, studying her posture, the way she subtly shifts her weight. When she finally looks up and meets his eyes, she flinches, startled.

Kael doesn't break eye contact. There's something off about her presence. The other organizers had spoken, given their accounts, and yet she had remained silent—hovering near the door as if she didn't belong.

She quickly looks away, fidgeting with the cuff of her sleeve. A nervous tick.

Kael steps closer. "You. What's your role here?"

The woman tenses, then clears her throat. "I—I'm one of the engineers assigned to oversee security measures at the expo. My team was responsible for ensuring that all machinery being presented met safety standards."

That explains the muscle. Engineering in Ormanthus wasn't just a matter of blueprints and theory—it was hands-on, demanding, and often grueling work. But that wasn't what bothered him.

"If that's the case, then you must've interacted with all the participants before the event. Did you meet this 'Valen Stroud' in person?"

She hesitates. "No… not directly. I was supposed to, but when I went to inspect his submission, I was told he had already withdrawn. I never saw his face."

"Convenient," Lucian mutters.

Kael narrows his eyes. "And yet, you're the only one here who hasn't spoken until now." He watches as her fingers tighten around the hem of her sleeve. "Why?"

She shifts uncomfortably. "I—I didn't think I had anything useful to say."

Liar.

Before Kael can press further, Zarex steps in. "Whether you think it's useful or not, we'll decide that. If you know something—anything—you need to tell us."

The woman exhales sharply, rubbing her temples. "Fine. Look… I don't know who Valen Stroud really is. But I do know that whoever they were, they didn't work alone."

Emilia's eyes sharpen. "What do you mean?"

The woman swallows hard. "Two nights before the expo, I was finishing up some maintenance near the central workshop. I heard voices—whispers, hurried footsteps. When I went to check, I saw two figures leaving through the back entrance. One of them was definitely wearing a long cloak."

Kael crosses his arms. "And the other?"

She shakes her head. "I only caught a glimpse, but they weren't dressed like an inventor. More like… a noble. Or a high-ranking official."

The room falls silent for a moment.

A noble.

That changed things. If someone with power in Ormanthus was involved, this wasn't just an attack—it was an inside job.

Kael exhales, gripping the notepad tighter. "We're going to need a list of every noble who attended the expo."

The woman nods. "I can get that for you. But if what you're saying is true… we might be looking at something far worse than just an outsider attacking us."

Kael glances down at the symbol on the notepad. "I know."

He turns on his heel. "Get us that list. We'll handle the rest."

As the group strides out the room, the tension in the air is thick enough to cut. Kael couldn't help but notice the golden symbol on the front of the notepad.

An Ouroboros symbol.

Kael continues walking, looking up at Zarex in front of him. "Zarex," he calls, voice even but weighted.

He doesnt turn around yet, but he still responds. "What?"

Kael holds up the notepad. "Do you remember the symbol that was on the cube we saw at Alderwick village?"

Zarex's pace falters slightly. He turns fully, eyes narrowing in thought.."Yeah, it was a snake eating its tail, I think it was called an ouroboros."

His gaze drops down to the notepad in Kaels hand.

His eyes widened in shock.

It's the same symbol.

Kael's mind races, but his expression remains carefully neutral. The Ouroboros symbol, the same one they'd seen at Alderwick village, was now linked to the destruction in Ormanthus. He feels the sting of realization—the enemy's influence might stretch further than they thought, connecting these events in ways he couldn't yet understand.

He looks at Zarex, meeting his eyes. "This symbol... it's not just a coincidence."

Zarex, his voice low, barely above a murmur, nods. "No. It's part of something bigger. I've seen this before—at Alderwick, but also in the ruins of the old kingdom. But... why now? Why this place?"

Kael doesn't answer, not yet. His eyes shift ahead, focusing on the path leading out of the fort. They had a mission—to track down whoever was behind the summoning of the War Construct. But this... this symbol tied everything together in a way he couldn't ignore.

"Well get answers one way or another," Kael says, an unnerving, cold calm emitting from his voice. Zarex nods. "But first, we need to find out who else was involved in the expo. The list is a start."

Emilia, walking close behind, speaks up, her voice sharp. "And if any of them are connected to this symbol... we can't ignore the possibility that they were part of something larger. Someone's been pulling the strings here."

Lucian looks over his shoulder, adding his insight, "This isn't just an attack on Ormanthus. This could be the first of many. They're testing their strength."

Kael glances down at the notepad again, the Ouroboros almost taunting him. He doesn't say anything though. He just knows that that damn god has something to do with it. The God of Fate. He's certain of it now.

Kael's jaw tightens as a dark thought forms. Is this his game? Has Fate's hand been guiding him all along? Testing him, twisting the threads of his life just to see how far he'd go?

Zarex's voice breaks through his thoughts. "Kael? You're thinking too much. We've got a lead now. The list of nobles is a start."

Kael blinks, momentarily snapping out of his trance. He looks up at Zarex with an unreadable expression before nodding, and stepping into the city's streets.