The light from the Lantern Spire had barely faded when the sky began to crack.
It started as a low hum.
Then the clouds parted—not from wind or weather, but from pressure. The very air bent in reverence—or fear.
Above Duskfall, three enormous constructs descended, silhouetted against the stars.
The Seraphim Engines.
They had not flown in an age.
Forgehouse - Upper Terrace
Altharion watched the massive forms slowly lower themselves into position over the city. Their wingspan stretched for miles, bodies built from celestial alloys and woven sigils. Their faces bore no expression—only masks of judgment.
Selene stood beside him, mouth slightly open.
"Are those… machines or gods?"
"Both," Altharion said. "They are the Dome's final answer. Weapons forged not from hate, but from order. They do not kill in rage. They purify."
Kael stumbled up the steps. "They've already begun targeting ley anchors. Four zones just blacked out."
Altharion turned to his people.
"Evacuate all surface wards. Move everyone to the underpaths. Now."
Duskfall - District Nine
The first strike came like the blink of a god.
A column of light erupted from the central engine's chest, obliterating an entire city block. Buildings melted. Magic collapsed. Memory unravelled.
But there were no screams.
Only silence.
Selene led the charge through the wreckage, pulling survivors out of the dust. Her arms bled. Her voice cracked.
Still, she shouted:
"Remember their names! Speak them!"
She turned to the sky.
"I WILL NOT LET YOU ERASE US!"
The engines did not reply.
Celestial Dome - Engine Control Spire
Helios stood before a ring of floating runes, his hands buried in the control nexus.
"Target their archive centers next," he ordered. "If they remember, they resist. If they resist, they endure."
One advisor hesitated. "High Speaker… there are children down there."
Helios didn't blink. "Children become rebels. Fire spreads. Cut the roots."
Forgehouse - War Room
Altharion slammed a fist into the table, shattering it.
"They don't want surrender. They want removal."
Kael spoke up. "Then we hit them first. Cut the engines off from their relay-beacons. If they lose signal—"
"They fall," Selene finished. "And if they fall…"
"They break," Altharion said. "But we'll need a way to reach them."
He looked up.
"To the Lantern Spire. Again."
Lantern Spire - Summit Platform
A modified glyph-cannon stood ready, charged with resonance magic and bound memory threads.
Selene adjusted the aim. Kael fed it coordinates.
Altharion touched the center rune. "Targeting relay beacon one. Fire."
The cannon roared.
A bolt of pure remembrance—wrapped in names, laughter, pain—struck the left engine's eye.
For a second, it froze.
Then screamed.
The sound was unnatural. Not mechanical. Not divine.
Human.
The engine crashed through the sky, trailing fire and fragmented prayers.
Underground - Hidden Refuge
Children clung to stone columns as the sky burned above.
A former Pale Choir agent, now unmasked, knelt with them.
He sang the old songs softly.
"My brother," he whispered. "His name was Thalen. He built wind-kites. He loved copper birds."
The children echoed, "Thalen, kite-maker, copper-bird dreamer."
And in that moment, something shifted.
The memory solidified.
Not even the Seraphim could erase it now.
Forgehouse - Nightfall
One engine destroyed. Two remained.
Altharion sat in silence, blood crusted on his brow.
"They think they're purging rot," he said. "But they're burning roots."
Selene knelt beside him. "Then let's give them something that doesn't burn."
He looked to the stars.
"Hope," he said.
"No," she corrected. "History."