Heavy rain mixed with the harsh chemicals and metals refined in the artificial island dripped from the low-hanging clouds that concealed the sun’s piercing light. In this dreary weather, an assembly had been called upon made up of both men and women from the island itself and those foreign to this strange land. A partnership of sorts had been agreed upon by a lead scientist within the government of Talaz Lagaar and another figure, many of whom held in high regard, none other than the former general Konstantin Sokolov. An agreement to offer continued protection from what was to come on either party and the return of an artifact once in his possession back into the hands of the Talaz Lagaarian people. Serving the people of the mechanical island was something he had no issues with as they had commonly done so for him albeit for a hefty pricetag. The others that were set to come might have a harder time agreeing to these concessions, of course, they had little choice in the matter if they wanted to find sanctuary after what Kon had in mind for them all. Many of the members he had already spoken to at great length, others were unknowns, a troubling idea given the risks a potential spy might impose and yet he was confident beyond expectations. The Rune Knights would be hampered substantially by the loss of so many notable members and the efforts to bolster the numbers against such a lofty organization meant he needed to cast out a wider net if that meant snagging a few vipers then so be it. Much like his earlier encounters with potential members, documents were aplenty with members on all fronts scanning over every detail for anything to exploit. However much like an incomplete puzzle, Kon lacked all the pieces to fully flesh out a plan.

A two-pronged attack would be ideal, however, he could only really count a handful of people that he had spoken to individuals who would truly put their lives on the line not for Kon, but for the downfall of the Magic Council or at least the destabilisation of the organization within Fiore. He, himself had fewer and fewer reasons to call Fiore home these days, with this mechanical island better resembling his homeland of Bosco with freedoms offered to would-be mercenaries. Kon had never described him as one, but in the aftermath of plans moving forward, that would be the best name to give himself. Gone were the days when he would be at the leisure of armchair-sitting officials who would send him on wild goose chases across the globe. Experiences like the one in Sin made him fully realize that the best person to serve would be himself, something he would be doing with his separation from what he had spent the better part of a year reforming. The finality of this came in part from his decision to surrender the weapon manufactured through the very same artifact mentioned earlier to the Talaz Lagaarian scientists as a show of good faith and to retrofit it into something else, something more useful in the times ahead. Many of the curious characters were already well armed in one capacity or another so the need for more firepower wasn’t something he was overly concerned about but rather fortification, the need to protect their identities and themselves.

While he had already given the scientists a substantial amount of jewels only a few weeks ago, only money seemed to make them truly kick into high gear and manufacture anything of high volume to begin the prototyping stage. These elements were all that could keep Kon distracted as he began to question whether his decision to be so liberal with his invitation would lead to disaster but optimism and grit would keep his mind at ease, even as he looked out through the thick glass windows towards the distant Fractured Sky still resolute in the now. Offering an unequalled amount of power for the people of Talaz Lagaarian but for an undeniable cost best illustrated by the devastation it wrought down upon the people. The harsh reality was that nothing was going to stop the reality-warping machine from influencing the real world not even the descents of those that made the device in the first place. Kon had his touches with the void, with its effects still impacting him as Hirota lingered within his psyche alongside Miharu, the two constantly at odds with him and each other. Despite these interactions he held no hatred nor gratitude for the void, it was merely a tool that he had become accustomed to using relying upon the skills of Hirota, a refined beauty who held a blade in a past life instead of now wielding it through Kon. Recognizing at least in part the delicate situation that they were in at least until the stage was set, neither Miharu nor Hirota would be present for the foray that was to occur instead mulling with one another inside of his head, as he merely watched and waited for those he had invited and those who came as part of a discrete effort to invoke anarchy within the peace that the world in particular Fiore had found itself in for so many years now.

Nahla's presence outside of her home hadn't produced anything that would have anyone summoning her to any events, or to meet anyone important. With that being said she was surpised and very curious that she got a request to come all the way out to Talaz Lagaar. Nahla knew no one there and even coming this far was dangerous, but curiosity had gotten the best of her and she had Amon and Ashna with her so she didn't feel too afraid to answer the strange call. Dressed in a dark hooded cloak and nestled between her two aids, Nahla moved silenly to her destination, showing her invitation to whoever needed to see it and being led to who she assumed was the man who sent for her.

" Nahla Sutekh, Child of Set, Is in your -- "

Amon's voice was front and center as he introduced Nahla. The young woman removed her hood as she moved forward, her face serene, her hand held up to stop Amon from speaking any further.

" Thank you Amon, that will be all. " Nahla's voice filled the space between her and the people in front of her. She stood tall, as tall as someone her height could stand, with her back straight and her chin slightly tilted upwards to look the others in the eyes. " I don't know why I was invited here, but I'm sure I'll find out. " A smile spread over her face as the marks on her cheeks tingled, Set was pleased.

"Even now, after all this time, it's hard to say I'm sorry."

These were the only words Ikanbi of the sands had written in her letter back home. It was annoying, really, what she'd had to go through so far. How tedious, meticulous, grueling, exhausting. Gauss then it would be to wrap the wounds with, her heart would have ached with sadness except it couldn't, she'd lost the ability.

She had wondered from time to time what it would feel like to be sad again but she'd never felt it even once since putting on the collar of restraint. She read through her notes at her desk for a little while after that. She really couldn't think of anything else to write down. She wasn't sad, she couldn't feel it, but, she was mad. Livid, even. Her brow furrowed with a headache as she sat at the desk and rubbed her temples for a moment.

Really though, what was she supposed to do? She still had to wait for the others to gather, but, for now she would just tail Kon and follow him to the meeting place. That was always an easy enough way to figure out exactly where to go, a fun little trick she'd figured out while navigating around the flying fortress.

The man with a plan always knew where he was going.

She glanced at the clock on her desk, 2:03 am. "Really?" She had said aloud to noone in particular except she supposed the clock and desk itself. "How bout that."

She got up and turned on the radio, a nice little tune began to play as she hopped in the shower, stipping down out of practically everything and taking a good wash.



Some time later Ikanbi tailed Kon to the meeting place, staying not terribly far enough behind him so as to not be particularly annoying.



313

Scanning the room curiosity took hold as one person in particular held Kon’s attention far longer than they really should have, not because of their strength or reputation but sheer presence, he didn’t know who they were and yet he saw a commonality that he could exploit within them almost immediately. Like many within his growing collective, this stranger held a bronze complexion betraying their nationality almost immediately as either Stellan or Desiertian, both cultures who held sore spots with the Magic Council and by extension the Rune Knights. Holding his artificial tongue to bring them to their attention, Kon simply waited for his audience to grow, his patience being rewarded as introductions from third parties revealed this bronze statuette as Nahla Sutekh, allowing a short, sweet smile to reveal his amusement from his assumption as Rhea revealed themselves as the would-be recruit for this child of divinity. It was strange to think that so many members were from those lands and while he did speak Desiertian, the pains of miscommunication with Stellan members would become all too apparent if they began to spread their influence into the land.

Numbers continued to grow with members highlighting a disconnect with the stagnancy of the present, Kon had almost begun to bring words to his plans instead he came to a standstill as a series of sparks revealed the presence of the powerful figure he met only a month ago. Holding an unmistakable and truly unique power, Zerutod announced himself in all but name to those who knew of his identity that was typically concealed behind the fool's facade. The flairs and sparks of the whimsical magic that Zerutod controlled left Kon with a surprising level of anxiety, they had already illustrated a hatred towards the Magic Council, however, they were still more than capable of bringing their ploy to an end by simply revealing their treasonous intent. With others lying in wait already devoting themselves to the cause within the Era district of Fiore, Kon found himself amongst those ready and present to form what would be the foundation of the Chaos he sought to sow within the order that he as part of the Rune Knights. Treason would have been such a contradictory action for someone who, months ago, loyally served the organization, and yet in that time so much had changed. His loyalties had become skewed and twisted thanks in part to the whispers of Miharu and Hirota but equally to the inaction of those who claimed to be his brothers and sisters.

Language was an important tool for determining one’s past, present and future alongside their affinity both current and previous with accents being an unavoidable reality with the continued conversation, which would he use to call his assemble, Boscoi? His mother tongue, a language that soaked in the blood of countless fallen men, women and children alike, no that would not do, Fiore? His adopted language which he had taken more familiarity than his original, no, speaking using a country’s language that was beneath the boot of the organization was the opposite of his intentions, Joyan? No one spoke it and it held no gravity to the cause, Desiertian and Stellan were no better candidates as while those within the crowd were natives to the country, Kon wanted them to be on equal standing and chose a language unmistakably alien to almost everyone in the building, Talaz Lagaarian, commonly mistaken for Boscoi or Joyan owing to their shared heritage and brutalist verbiage. “Thank you for being here, Nahla, Rhea, Ikanbi and yes you as well Zerutod, there’s no need for theatrics, you were all invited either by myself directly or through others in which case you harbour a continued and deep-seated resentment towards the Magic Council, whether it's from a personal vindication or a general desire to change society at large, I promise I will aid you in your cause, you might be asking why am I speaking this strange language, we are in Talaz Lagaar after all and they have offered us a safe point of harbour both for the present and following the aftermath of whatever it is we do in the coming weeks. It is for this reason I will be speaking formally in this hybrid tongue.” Owing to the speed at which he spoke and a foreign language that would be alien to most within the area, translators were stationed who served as diplomats for the scientists and mechanics of this artificial island expressing his words into the neighbouring countries' languages as though they were his own, even possessing his own voice which was a curious feeling all of its own, hearing your voice speak over itself in different languages from multiple different people.

Tap... Tap...

Silently the elven maiden listened to the speech of the being that had once been man, but now was closer to machine than anything she had seen before. Yet, listening to his words made her curious, how despite his nature she felt he was more 'human' than most men she had met in recent days.

Aye, even since her return to the world of the living with Nasira's aid Lothwen felt alienated, not just toward humanity but the living in general. Perhaps it was a consequence of her lich-like state. Even now she felt the power of the flower pulse lightly, so close to the origins of a rift that had once led into the void.

The scientist at her side had been translating his words, although it was a language foreign to most. After all not many spoke the language of the wood elves, and even fewer were able to communicate in her true language. Perhaps that was why when she ushered a whisper from her lips even the translator seemed perplexed for a moment.

"lofty ambitions make for lovely dreams, yet without a concrete plan and the power to carry them out, that is what they will remain..."

It were words spoken in Elvarin, the language of the high elves, the ones she held her roots with before she had become reborn as a Lich. Yet she shook her head, her expression remaining calm. A part of her had longed for the decision to have stayed with Nasira, to have missed this meeting and instead cuddle away in the safety of isolation. But that would change little, it would neither allow her to see society changed, or her revenge to reach its fulfillment.

She turned toward the scientist who had been in charge of translating for her and spoke, her voice still as soft and gentle as a spring breeze: "Can you please translate for me? I shall try to continue to speak in Val'Elvarin."

It took a moment as she decided to address the man's initial speech. "You are not wrong, I do harbor some resentment toward mankind and the civilization it build. Despite all their advancements and power their justice is flawed, their leaders growing weak by inaction and its champions blinded by greed and self-serving ambitions."

She paused for a moment, recalling the stories she had heard and the state of towns like Baska and Oak that were in such a peculiar state. Not to mention her memory of the human slave-traders that plagued her homeland was yet another thought that lingered.

"Yet as I stated earlier: lofty ambitions make for wonderful dreams, but without the power and a concrete plan to carry them to fulfillment, they will stay just that: dreams. So to you I ask, how do you intend to bring forth this change?"

After a moment, when the translator finished speaking she decided to speak to the crowd directly, this time adopting a clearer dialect of Fiorian.

"I am Lothwen, of Athalran... at least..." She felt the flower pulse lightly again, the vines of it gently trailing along her skin. "I was, till your kin murdered me."

And with these words the elven maiden finished her introduction.