Part 2 - Once again, Night

Nearly everyone had filed out of the room, already on their way to complete their assigned missions. As the door slid shut with a soft hiss, I was left alone with Lorelei, the silence heavy between us.

She tapped the table lightly, breaking the quiet. "Now that they're gone, I'll explain what you need to do. The others already have a clear idea, so you're the last one left."

Lorelei's finger danced over the holographic screen, zooming in on a specific village. "Fortunately for you, The Third is believed to be on this same island." The screen shifted to display a small, isolated village on the far side of the island. A line drew itself between my location and the village, but an ominous large circle loomed between the two points, cutting across the path.

I frowned. "What's that big circle?" I asked, pointing to it.

"That," Lorelei began, her tone indifferent, "is the capital of Minleth, Elosyn. The Soul Prodigy, Soren Fellmoor, resides there. Even though the sun doesn't rise for long on this island, Soren has a way of knowing where each person is. His senses are attuned to magic. If someone uses magic that isn't soul-based, he'll likely notice... and investigate." Her voice remained detached as she adjusted the screen, marking a new route for me to take, one that skirted the edges of the capital.

My eyes widened as I processed her words. "What? Then how are we all here without him noticing? Wouldn't he be constantly checking?"

Lorelei's attention remained on the map, "Yes, under normal circumstances, he would have detected us long ago. But we've been able to use this base efficiently for one reason—Elias' invention." She tugged at her own cloak, letting the fabric fall softly around her. "This cloak doesn't just shield you from magical attacks. It hides your magic entirely. Without it, Soren would have already been on our trail."

I looked down at the cloak I wore, then back at her.

Lorelei's gaze sharpened, her eyes boring into mine with deadly seriousness. "Listen to me very carefully," she said, her voice like a knife. "Do not—under any circumstances—take this cloak off. Ever. Not for any reason."

The gravity of her words sent a chill down my spine. Her stare was cold, merciless, and absolute, making it clear that one mistake could cost me everything.

"Here." Lorelei slid a small printout across the table, her fingers lingering on it briefly. "Follow this route. And if you happen to cross paths with The Third, keep your guard up. The Left Hand... they tend to get physical." She said it so casually, as if violence was just another part of their routine.

I swallowed hard, feeling a knot form in my throat as I stared down at the print. It was a winding path that detoured around Elosyn, taking me through a few smaller villages. It looked straightforward enough, but something told me there'd be complications.

"Lorelei," I called out, my voice firmer than I expected as my eyes locked onto hers. "I'll do it... but only if you answer my questions."

Her eyebrows lifted ever so slightly, a hint of curiosity flickering in her otherwise calm expression. "What is it?" she asked, her tone unreadable.

My gaze dropped to the floor, my thoughts swirling. I took a deep breath and looked back at her. "Tell me what your plans are... for the Ebony Apostles. What are your real goals?"

For a moment, Lorelei simply stared at me, her silence thickening the air between us. Then, she blinked slowly. "We... Ebony Apostles desire a better future for the world. And we will do anything to achieve that goal. We are the saviours this world needs."

She stood up, the holographic screen disappearing as she moved towards the door, giving me no time to retaliate.

Just before the door slid shut, she peered over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing slightly as she gave me one last instruction. "And one more thing... don't reveal your identity to anyone. Only the Ebony Apostles should know who you really are." Then the door sealed with a hiss, leaving me alone.

As if triggered by her departure, a soft pop echoed from the table. A small hidden compartment lifted, revealing a mask—a half face respirator. The sides were equipped with air-purifying filters, and the grey material had subtle hints of crimson near the base.

I hesitated for a moment, then reached for it, my fingers brushing against the cool surface. Turning it over in my hands, I inspected the padding underneath. There were layers of cushioning, designed for comfort during prolonged wear, but what caught my eye was the intricate network of mechanical parts hidden beneath. Tiny wires and components lined the inside, all too complex for me to fully comprehend.

Did Elias make this...?

I ran my fingers over the mask, its cold, metallic feel grounding me in the reality of what was to come. This wasn't just a disguise—this was a new identity.

I made my way down the dimly lit hallway, my footsteps echoing softly off the cold, metal floor. At the end of the corridor, an elevator waited—a small, nondescript box, its sole button glowing faintly. There was only one direction to go: up.

The others must've left already...

I tapped the button and stood back, impatiently tapping my foot. "Why is it taking so long?" I muttered to myself.

Finally, with a soft click, the doors slid open, revealing a plain metal interior, as unremarkable as everything else in the base. Two buttons—exit or return to the base. No need to think. I pressed the exit button, and the doors shut with a quiet hiss.

The elevator groaned and jerked into motion, the ride bumpy as it ascended. I leaned against the wall, trying to steady myself. "I'll finally get to see the Sun, huh?" I whispered.

Despite the grim mission ahead, I couldn't help but feel a small flutter of anticipation. The idea of leaving that underground torturous prison, even for a task as grim as this one, felt liberating.

The doors slid open, and my heart rose, ready to bask in the sunlight for the first time in what felt like forever... But instead, I was greeted by a vast stretch of darkness. A barren land sprawled out before me, shadowed under a sky of swirling ash and dust. The only light in sight was far off in the distance—probably from Elosyn, the capital.

I sighed heavily, my shoulders slumping as the disappointment hit. "You've got to be kidding me..." I groaned, rubbing a hand across my face in frustration.

As the elevator silently sank back into the ground, blending into the dust-ridden ground, I scanned the desolate landscape. Sand and debris whipped through the air in sporadic gusts. No walls, no protection—Elosyn stood out as a city exposed to the elements, unlike Zephyr's fortified capital.

"Guess the walls are just a Zephyr thing," I muttered, squinting into the distance.

The more I looked, the more I noticed: small, scattered villages dotted the land, barely holding together. Each one looked like it barely housed twenty people, huddled against the harsh environment. It was a pitiful sight.

Why don't they just band together?

It made no sense to be so isolated in a place this hostile.

With a resigned sigh, I pulled my cloak tighter around me, feeling the weight of the mask in my pack. The mission had barely begun, and already, it felt like I was walking through a wasteland.

"Cough... cough... Dust...," I muttered, squinting against the dry wind as I scrambled to pull out my mask.

With one quick motion, I slipped the band over my head and adjusted it snugly around my face. The padded layers sealed in, cutting off the biting air. Finally, I took in a deep breath—filtered, clean.

"Finally, I can breathe without choking on this crap," I sighed, my relief short-lived as I heard my own voice. It sounded... off. Deeper. I paused for a moment, speaking again just to confirm.

"Wait... is this a voice changer?"

My words came out distorted, almost unrecognisable. I let out a frustrated sigh, the altered sound of it echoing back at me in that low deep tone.

Of course, Elias would add something like this.