The forts of the great Serv Hydro-circulator were strengthened by the greatest of materials. Its colossal pillars held up whatever belonged above, supporting a long structure that protruded itself from the stone wall and extended straight into the dark, endless ceiling.
Syuri, coming here for the very first time in her life, simply could not hide her awe for such magnificent architecture. Human marvels, they called them. She believed that liking such grandeur was in her genes, a remnant of the world before. The cold air here was crispier than any other places in the Sanctuary, fitting for the place where water was continuously pumped to all the lower canals.
She stood on the tallest ledge a person could stand while still being covered by a ceiling, looking down at the Sanctuary while holding her balance, gripping onto a giant pillar whose deep cracks acted as a natural handhold. A cool breeze of water droplets cleansed her face. It did not smell of decay and processed corpses like the center of the city, and breathing here was far easier. The facility stood at the extreme east of the Sanctuary, exactly opposite the grand gate, ruled entirely by the Lords of water and air, the Chromskt Voldomir Zodchiy family. They had been undeniable, loyal vassals to the Ryukzens for generations, but now she heard the rumors and saw the cracks of trust rusting along with the dying leadership of the city.
"Do you believe in them?" Syuri asked, her eyes still watching the distant lights of the Sanctuary from above.
"I do," said Klein Judeas, who stood in the safety of the inner stone wall, far away from the dangerous ledge. "Mikael was my friend. I was there before he was made silent."
Syuri stepped down from the ledge, her boots hitting the metal floor lightly as they continued their path into the darkness, lit only by the distant glow of the Sanctuary and several low footlights. The illumination was not enough to clear their doubts, but it was enough to guide them.
"He chose to obey Murad despite all of that? That is painful. It has to be," Syuri said.
"That is how men in the Sanctuary are conditioned to be, the nobles in particular," Klein replied, waving his hand as they followed the fading path.
"So how exactly is he on our side now?" Syuri asked.
"He isn't," Klein said. "Mikael only works for himself and his people."
"Much like us," she murmured.
The path lit by the footlights came to a sudden stop. Before them lay an impenetrable wall, identical to the outer borders of the Sanctuary, but this barrier was engraved with strange, geometric patterns. Lines intersected across the stone, and circles lit up with a dull glow, orange-brown with old rust. The heavy smell of biochemical oil seeped through the seams, though not enough to cause real annoyance.
"How do we enter this thing?" Klein asked, stepping forward to knock against the metal-reinforced stone.
"Primitive," Syuri chuckled.
She walked directly up to the wall, cleared her throat, and spoke into the cold air: "Voyna mechami prolivayet krov, slovami zhe — pobezhdayet."
Soon after she spoke the ancient phrase, the lighting in the circles and lines shifted. The orange bled into gradients of bright yellow, and finally into a cold, piercing blue before the mechanism beeped and blinked. It did not swing open like a normal door; instead, she walked straight toward the wall, and the heavy material opened in tiny fragments, peeling apart piece by piece like an irrational miracle.
"How did you—" Klein stumbled backward in shock.
"Mikael isn't just your friend, Klein," Syuri said, leading him through the shifting gap.
"Lord Mikael has been awaiting your arrival, White."
A woman wearing the midnight blue and silver colors of the Chromskt family welcomed them into the pristine interior. Klein looked around, deeply doubtful. He had never seen Mikael and Syuri together, even though he had been part of the expedition eleven years ago.
He caught Syuri's hand, stopping her in the middle of the hallway. "You have been talking to him? And you didn't think it was nice to discuss it with me?"
"To protect you," Syuri replied, turning her face toward him.
"If you trusted him enough, why did you even ask for my help?" Klein asked, his voice tightening.
"You are mistaken. Don't be rash," Syuri said gently. "I have talked to him, yes, but not enough. I still wanted your approval, Klein. I needed to know if you stood with me."
Klein wasn't entirely moved. Syuri noticed how much he focused on the concept of trust. He released her hand and followed her and the guide deeper into the stronghold.
"Was it him who told you about the private meeting at Bayt al Idris?" Klein asked.
"Yes, it was," Syuri said. "And more things have happened in our cooperation, things I could never easily tell you."
"Why?"
"Because, Klein, you are innocent. I cannot see you any differently from Akira in a sense. You were both shaped by the harsh, unyielding principles of this Sanctuary." She gasped slightly, then reached out to tap his shoulder. "Let us sinners set you free."
The insides of the wall were beautiful, even by Syuri's surface-dwelling standards. It was incredibly clean, without a single pinch of dust, and smelled faintly of lavender grown in indoor planters and watered by the Chromskt children. Yet, it was not a happy place. A happy place would be something like the world Syuri came from, where children only thought about what they would eat for lunch, not who they would have to consume to survive. Laughter here was nonexistent. There were indeed smiles that hid pain, but they were not true smiles born from a man watching his favorite girl dolling up for him. They were calculated smiles, used specifically as a communication tool to hide their deep sins.
The inner walls were white, or used to be, now fading into a greyish tone with orange speckles of rust at the seams. The lighting was far better than the lower rings, casting a blueish tint, and in some areas, dull shades of pink, red, and green caught the eye. Aside from the restless children working the planters, there were also adults present, fit and strong, yet looking too detached to die for the leadership, while the old happily enjoyed their hoarded wealth. But who could complain when their entire estate was enough food to survive for another five hundred cycles?
"Wait here, I will call Lord Mikael," the lady said, stepping behind a heavy set of curtains embroidered with the family symbol of four stars circling a ring.
Syuri and Klein stood in front of the threshold. Klein immediately tried to push the curtain aside, but Syuri caught his arm.
"Patience," she whispered.
"He needs to understand how urgent this is," Klein argued, trying to make his way inside regardless.
Before he could pull the fabric, a young girl of a similar height to Akira walked out. Her hands expertly pushed the curtains aside, carefully holding a heavy silver tea tray.
"Move aside," she said, her voice completely flat, devoid of any smile. Her purple eyes carried no glimmer of youth, sharing the dead stare common to everyone in the Sanctuary.
Syuri noted that this girl was different. Her pitch-black hair was perfectly groomed, a luxury common for nobles, but hers looked meticulously kept every single day. Syuri recognized her from the Summit. I will have to make Akira befriend her, she thought, a rare smile appearing internally.
The girl's name was Natasha. Syuri watched her rush toward the senior members of the Chromskt family sitting nearby. She knelt gracefully on the floor, using a traditional metal samovar to mix the hot water with various fluids, passing the tea in heavy metal holders to each member of the family council.
Syuri observed her, feeling a strange wave of nostalgia. Before she had a chance to speak to her, the heavy curtain moved once more. The woman from earlier crept out and held the fabric high for Mikael to enter the hall. He wore nothing but a tall, thick fur coat in the traditional family colors and wide sharovary trousers that billowed majestically as he moved.
Just as his punishment dictated, he made absolutely no noise. There was no sound of footsteps on the metal floors fashioned in old stone, and no sound when his hand rested on the pommel of the sharp kinzhal dagger at his belt.
Mikael Chromskt tapped the shoulder of the servant woman and pointed toward Natasha, his fingers performing a rapid sequence of silent symbols.
"Natasha! You are requested to aid your brother!" the woman called out. Like a soldier following an absolute command, Natasha nodded and skipped directly toward them.
Mikael signed again to the servant, and she walked back inside the room instantly. Syuri was surprised by their silent chemistry.
Natasha turned her gaze to the visitors, her voice serving as her brother's tongue. "My brother says he is delighted by your visit." She paused, watching her brother's hands shift again. "He also asks if you were spied upon."
Klein stepped in, wondering how Mikael could possibly know about the security risks, but Syuri held him back once more.
"Yes," Syuri answered directly. "By a dog of Nithefort. But he has been sent back to warm Murad Xie with our presence."
"Just as planned," Syuri muttered.
Klein and Natasha's faces twisted in confusion, trying to look between Syuri and Mikael for answers. The muted man did not let them speak; his fingers flashed another command.
"He says we should talk more within the Grand Voldomir Hall, on the roof," Natasha translated. Syuri nodded in agreement, signing a gesture of gratitude, while Klein remained visibly angry.
The view from the Grand Voldomir Hall was second to none. It hosted several massive stone pillars that held up a thick ceiling, each column deeply engraved with designs representing the history of humanity, ancient arts, and forgotten music. Outside, there were no walls to block the freezing winds, and a mist of water droplets continuously swept through the open air. However, the hot tea made of Iomery leaves was warm enough to be a true luxury. The table was long, requiring Natasha to walk a full circle to pour the liquid for everyone before she finally sat by Mikael's side, ready to translate his every movement.
Klein slammed his hands over the table, the wood groaning under the impact. "Tell me everything that you hid from me."
"Patience," Syuri said, taking a slow sip. "I will tell you everything before we begin our strike."
She explained the days leading up to the Harvest, detailing how she knew this specific cycle would be the catalyst for a major change. She revealed how she had prepared a secret letter, sending it to Klein and her direct allies, but also to potential others who shared their hidden ideologies.
Klein looked down at his reflection in the dark tea. "I regret everything that letter asked me to do."
Syuri placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did what was crucial, Klein. What was necessary." She turned her eyes toward the muted lord. "And one of the families I specifically targeted with that letter was the Chromskt family. I knew about Mikael from the expedition eleven years ago. A skilled soldier, but more importantly, a man who shared a dangerous curiosity."
"I have never seen you two speak a single word to each other," Klein questioned, his eyes darting between them.
"Curious minds come together in reason, Klein, not dialogues," Syuri replied.
The answer was entirely unsatisfactory for the young soldier. "That still doesn't clear my suspicions. Why would a noble, out of nowhere, choose the path of absolute treachery against the crown?" Klein asked, glaring directly at Mikael.
"It wasn't a sudden choice," Syuri said. "Isn't that right, Mikael? The silent one?"
She pressed for an answer. Mikael gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"My brother agrees with her," Natasha stated, her eyes locked on her brother's hands.
Syuri continued, laying out the history of a man who had doubted the sanitized records taught by the Askardyan ledgers and enforced by Murad Xie Ryukzen. It started with the grandest lie of all: the gates. Klein had been present at the summit; he had heard the revelation about there being several other passages that were sealed, offering another route to the surface. But what hit him like a physical blow were Syuri's next words. She revealed that the Chromskt family had known it all along, as their entire industrial territory was built directly on top of the ancient seal used to close the eastern gate.
"So you mean we are currently—" Klein started, his breath catching.
"Yes. We are standing directly on top of what you would call a gate," Syuri said.
Klein clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. "To hide that truth, Murad tortured and mutilated a young Mikael when he found the records."
From that day onward, Mikael's trust toward the leadership had shattered. He had spent years collecting every piece of forbidden information regarding the Sanctuary's history. The documents provided at the summit were just the tip of the iceberg, Syuri explained. There existed countless more stories that no citizen could imagine. When the time was right, it was Mikael who had alerted Syuri about the summit, providing the evidence to challenge Murad in front of all the other families, proving that the Chief should have killed him rather than merely muting him.
Hearing the depth of the conspiracy made Natasha shiver, her hands barely holding her robes together. Klein sat back, his expression darkening as he processed the scope of the treason.
"And what about alerting Murad Xie through Waeyn Nithefort?" Klein asked, leaning forward.
"To lure Murad in," Syuri told him. "To force a deal that neither party can reject, making it mutually beneficial for Mikael, for us, and for the future of the children."
Mikael let out a silent smirk. Natasha went quiet for a moment as her brother's fingers moved again.
"My brother praises your courage, Klein, and what you have done for the outer rings," Natasha said. "He believes in your cause, but he does not rely on faith alone." She watched the shifting fingers. "He wants to see the outside world, to reject a falling Sanctuary that is already dying, and to give me a better life away from these walls."
As soon as Natasha finished reading her brother's thoughts, she turned sharply toward him, her voice dropping its professional tone. "I am fine, Lord Brother. I do not want to make an enemy out of Murad for my sake."
The howling winds crushed against the carved pillars, sweeping across the table. Klein maintained his fierce suspicion. Syuri noticed it; Klein was a man incapable of hiding his distrust.
"I've known you for a long time, Mikael," Klein said, glaring across the table. "Prove to me that you are truly with us. Give me something real."
Mikael matched his energy, his crystal purple eyes staring directly into Klein's.
"Enough, Klein. This alliance is our best bet," Syuri tried to calm him, but Klein refused to break eye contact.
"Klein is right," Natasha interfered, her voice trembling slightly as she interpreted her brother's sudden movement. "My brother says that to gain your absolute trust, he will show you the deepest secret of the Sanctuary, a piece of forbidden knowledge that would turn a free man into a slave."
Syuri spoke further, filling the silence with the contents of Mikael's hidden letters. She detailed things that the general public had been made to forget. After each generation, the Askardyan family would erase a part of the common history, limiting the knowledge to their own vaults, completely hidden even from Murad Xie. Mikael had found the remnants in the earliest, unedited writings.
There used to be far more than eight families; there were ten at its peak, and more before the sealing. The family of Raphylin had been long extinct, their cause completely removed from the ledgers. The family of Cosmurin shared an identical fate, erased from existence. And speaking of brutality, even the gentle Ozdari family, which had been mentioned in several early structural sources, was entirely wiped out, and no one knew why.
Klein connected the pieces in his mind. "They rebelled?" he asked.
"Maybe, or maybe they simply refused to comply," Syuri said, her voice dropping into a lower, more serious register. "But there was one family that openly fought, a bloodline whose trust had long diminished until they could no longer be integrated." She paused. "Idex Ryukzen."
The family that had been the closest living relative to the Xie Ryukzen line had been wiped entirely from the Sanctuary during the tyrannical reign of Rainne Xie Ryukzen. Klein gripped his own wrist tightly; even learning that name felt like an immediate threat to their lives.
"If Murad and his lineage aren't kept in check, his powers may well wipe out the family of Chromskt Voldomir Zodchiy next," Klein said, the reality clicking into place. "Hence his alliance with us."
"Now you understand me," Natasha said, relaying her brother's silent confirmation. Syuri felt the revelation had finally anchored their fragile trust.
After the midnight tea had concluded, Mikael led Syuri and Klein toward the deepest section of the Serv Hydro-circulator. It was within walking distance, connected directly to the Grand Voldomir Hall by a bridge that stretched out over the flushing, violent force of the water—a terrifying drop for a fragile human body. But Mikael ignored the bridge, choosing a safer, hidden path that cut directly through the interior walls.
"As promised... this is the greatest secret of the Sanctuary," Natasha said, conveying her brother's silent gestures.
He guided them to a narrow, doorless frame. It opened directly into a vast, cavernous expanse filled with massive cogs, turning gears, the heavy sound of grinding metal, and the sharp sting of biochemical oil.
"The doors, the pumps, and all the technologies of the Fort are powered by this," Natasha translated.
Klein and Syuri exchanged a heavy look, then stepped through the frame to follow him inside.
***
The massive cogs, wheels, and electrical wiring of the lower facility came to an end. The footlights stood as the only guide where the thick cables converged into a single, giant structure housed inside a massive dome that spun slowly, continuously, with a heavy mechanical grind. At the center stood a colossal obelisk. It was grey, smooth, and admirable, the lights within its surface blinking in a pattern that looked exactly like breathing. In and out. Slow. Rhythmic.
And then, beneath the hum of water moving through the stone walls, they all heard it. A faint, deep sound of knocking. Like a hammer hitting the earth from deep below, or a massive, rhythmic thud.
A heartbeat.
The obelisk was the size of a tall man, and the spinning dome surrounding it was as large as an estate. Facing the structure was a flight of narrow metal stairs. They climbed it upon Mikael's silent gesture.
"This one secret was unknown to even the common members of the Chromskt family for generations," Natasha whispered, her eyes tracking her brother's silent form.
They stood directly next to the obelisk. Mikael drew his hand across the smooth, cold surface, his fingers finding a small metallic ring pressed into the stone. He pushed it back with a firm click.
With a small, virescent light and a sudden mist that carried a sharp, metallic smell, the obelisk separated itself. The stone halves drew back in complete silence, revealing what lay within.
A beating, living heart.
It was suspended in the dark interior of the machine, held by nothing visible, throbbing with an absolute, terrifying weight. It was not a mechanical pump; it was not mimicking life. It was alive in the way a biological body is alive, wet and dark, radiating an unnatural warmth into the freezing air.
Syuri's eyes opened wide, her breath catching in her throat. No words came out of her. Klein's battle reflexes completely failed him; his hand rested on the pommel of his blades, but his fingers had forgotten how to grip it. The color entirely left his face.
Natasha shared the same horror. She seized her brother's heavy fur sleeve, gripping it so tight her knuckles turned white, her teeth grinding together as she stared at the pulsing flesh.
Only Mikael showed no emotion, no surprise. He stood perfectly still, signaling toward his sister to speak, to pass the forbidden information, but Natasha was too stunned to speak. Her voice was entirely gone, her throat working silently.
Syuri stepped closer, the rhythmic thud echoing in her chest. The heart was beating with every passing second. She instinctively held her palm flat against her own sternum, feeling her own pulse accelerate until it matched the exact rhythm of the machine.
"It's alive?" Syuri gasped, her voice a low whisper.
"Yes, and old," Natasha whimpered, finally forcing the words out. "My brother says... he found the beating heart once, five years ago, right after he was muted by the Chief. He has kept it a secret from the entire Sanctuary until now."
Syuri couldn't stop staring at the dark, pulsing muscle. It was her first time seeing something like this. It was true she had seen plenty of hearts drenched in blood during the expeditions, but none that beat with the exact same rhythm as her own body.
"It is good that you kept it hidden for so long," Syuri said, her green eyes reflecting the dull light of the chamber.
Mikael nodded slowly.
"Muting you was a twisted mercy to preserve a fertile noble line, but revealing this would have had you and your entire family replaced, thrown into the Dain like the people before you," Syuri continued, her voice hardening.
"I don't think Murad has much of his youth left to enforce another purge," Klein argued, though his eyes never left the obelisk.
"It wasn't Murad who originally urged to keep the existence of multiple gates hidden," Natasha said, her voice trembling as she translated Mikael's rapid hand movements. "It was the great families themselves. Askardya knew. They chose the lie."
Syuri's face darkened, a cold anger building inside her. Those liars, she thought. At the summit, the Askardyans had stood in the room wearing the faces of victims, their entire performance built on calculated grief, playing the part of wronged scholars while hiding the literal anatomy of the world.
"but i can assure you..neither Murad Xie nor the other families knows about the existence of the heart", natasha continued.
Klein stepped between them, taking a final look at the beating heart. "How does showing us this nightmare prove your trust to the rebellion?"
Natasha observed her brother, taking a few seconds to react. Syuri noticed her sudden hesitation, the panic rising in the girl's purple eyes.
"The heart does not just beat out of vanity," Natasha said, her voice cracking. "The rhythm of this heart is what orders the flow of water through the entire eastern sector. It is the literal core of the Serv Hydro-circulator."
She paused, her breath becoming shallower as she turned her eyes completely away from her brother, staring directly into Syuri.
"My life is completely innocent in this," Natasha gulped, her fingers shaking. "If my knowledge about this core were to become public to the family council, I would be executed by the state, or worse. My brother has made his choice, but my life... my life is now in your hands."
Syuri backed down, her heel catching the edge of the narrow metal stairs. She looked at Mikael with sudden disgust. "You brought your own sister into this as collateral?"
Klein stepped up, his expression cold. "It's a good bargain, Syuri. It ensures he can never betray us to Murad without killing his own blood."
Natasha started panicking entirely. She gasped, clamping her hands together and violently pushing her grip away from her brother's fur coat.
"Why, Lord Brother?" The words came out with sharp pain from her lips.
Syuri watched the innocent girl break. It did not remind her of her son Akira, but of her younger self, betrayed entirely by the person she trusted most in the world.
"I will free myself!" Natasha cried out, backing toward the stairs. "Brother! I will go to the elders! I will tell the family council that you are a traitor and that you conspired with the heretics!" She pointed a shaking finger at Syuri, her eyes wide with manic terror. "I have heard the stories about you! You wretched, outsider woman!"
Before she could rush down the first step, Mikael's hand cut through the cold air. With a swift, vice-like grip, his fingers clamped tightly around her small wrist. He said absolutely nothing. He could not, and he did not even dare to look at her face. His eyes stayed fixed forward, staring into the dark machinery.
"Let her go!" Syuri protested, lunging forward to tear the girl away from his grip.
But Klein caught Syuri's arm, holding her back with absolute physical force. "He has proven our trust, Syuri. We cannot afford sentiment right now. We need to focus on what comes next."
Syuri stopped struggling. She looked at Natasha's face, at the raw terror that had stopped performing and become a permanent scar, and then she looked away. There were no tears left in her eyes, but the heavy guilt settled deep beneath her chest. She stood still, holding the emotion down, before pressing her hand firmly against Klein's arm.
"Are all men in this Sanctuary the same?" she whispered.
Klein was quiet for a long moment, the deep, heavy thud of the biological heart filling the silence where his answer should have been.
"Yes," he said finally, his eyes fixed on the core. "And that is exactly what we are here to change." Klein said, harder to keep an eye contact with Syuri and exchanging his face with the girl.
the rhythm of the beating heart lingered. After he had shown the secret, he held his hand out, and the casing covered the heart as the obelisk returned to its former self. Syuri and Klein watched as it happened, but Natasha had turned her head away, cold and frightened.
Mikael made several attempts at shaking the girl's arm, Syuri noted, but she was trembling enough to keep her head turned away and eyes closed shut. Syuri signaled Mikael, her eyes furious, to leave the poor girl alone, and if he had to talk, to be patient with her. Upon her silent request, Mikael let go of the girl's arm. Just as Natasha noticed, she quickly tried to run away, but Syuri stood in front of her and knelt down to eye level.
"Even if we all fail, I will never let anyone harm you," Syuri said, their eyes connecting.
"I won't trust you... you are pulling our family into a mess," she said.
Syuri understood and slowly stroked the girl's head. With the first touch, Natasha's eyes twitched; she flinched a bit in fear, but with the second stroke, her eyes slowly began to open up.
"You are a good child," she stroked again. "Help us translate what Mikael says... I will protect you even from your brother." Syuri gave a cold stare at Mikael, breaking the connection with the girl's purple eyes. All the while, the rhythm of the heartbeat matched all of theirs.
Natasha turned around. "I will do this, brother... but do not speak of my name in front of the Chief ever! And know I won't stay a hostage!" she whimpered she gave a small glance to Syuri. "I still wont trust you...crazy woman" Natasha said.
Syuri had a bit of a smile. Mikael nodded and started moving his hands.
Watching those motions, Natasha conversed. "Even if Murad knew about her... I would never let my sister be met with harm," Natasha translated. She looked back at Mikael as he continued. "There is a reason Murad hasn't touched me all these years after I was muted, my brother says."
Syuri carefully observed the next words.
"The heart is only one of the organs. To the North of the Hydro-circulator lie the Oxygen Plants and filters owned by me," Natasha said.
"You don't say," Syuri said, clenching her fist in excitement.
"Lungs for breathing, kidneys for water purifying. Intestines, stomach, and windpipe for the Dain... all organs scattered and in use by the Sanctuary for centuries." Natasha paused to observe. "And somewhere... there is a brain," she finished.
"The Sanctuary... it is alive?" Klein asked. "Likley" Syuri said. "More Importantly..does it think?" Syuri took some time to think questions flooded her mind. Its too..hard to believe
"Body parts of a human... how hasn't it decayed or died? It has been here for centuries," Syuri asked.
Natasha relayed, "Murad knows I can control how much oxygen I channel to the Sanctuary... because I can control the beating of the heart, and that dulls the rest."
Syuri's face brightened up. She bit her thumbnail, looking as if she had an idea. "Murad... it will take him time to reach here from Nithefort's warnings." Syuri walked back and forth. Klein watched the pattern.
"What are you getting at?" Then he stopped for a moment, as if he too understood what it meant.
"Let us continue this in our soldiers' presence," Mikael suggested, with a short smile on his face which Syuri could match with hers. "We either kill the Chief... or we die trying," Natasha read from Mikael.
"We will all live and return to the surface," Syuri replied. "And the boy's corpse.. we will take it"