This chamber within the old ruins under Aethelberg did not resemble a ruin.
Someone had once ruled here.
Not merely ruled.
Reigned.
The chamber stretched outward beneath the city like the throne room of a forgotten empire. Pillars of white stone rose toward a ceiling lost in darkness, each one carved with gold filigree. Scenes of ancient kings and queens whose names had long since been erased from history still decorated portions of the walls despite the passing centuries. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, sustained not by chains but by ancient formations that allowed them to float motionlessly in the air.
The room looked less like ancient wreckage and more like royalty had stepped outside for a moment and simply never returned.
Rivas disliked it.
Places carried meaning.
And this place felt like it was watching them.
Tonight the chamber was occupied. Not by kings but by conspirators which was arguably worse.
Some of those in attendance had arrived with a few personal guards who remained stationed outside the main hall. Artifacts designed to detect eavesdropping had been embedded into the walls. Anti-scrying artifacts shimmered faintly across the ceiling.
Nobody trusted anybody,that much was clear. Which was precisely why the arrangement worked.
The Revolution of Aerthos had brought them together. Their goals differed but for now their paths aligned.
Temporarily.
Across the circular table sat Igor Patrovsky. The hunchback looked as unpleasant as ever. Dark blue robes concealed most of his body, though his swollen face remained visible.
To his left sat Ki Lin Feng, Elegant, composed, dangerous.
Beside her sat Lord Baiden. The man's fingers tapped restlessly against the arm of his chair. Rivas noticed that he was anxious. Very anxious. It was unlike his usual conscientious demeanor
'Interesting.' Rivas thought.
Then there was the figure wrapped in mist. Mr. M.
His face was hidden, his form indistinct from the mist that moved in a way that defied even the light of the chamber. The moment one looked away they would forget the humanoid silhouette. Even the sound of his voice slipped from recollection the moment he was done speaking. Only the understanding of his actions remanined and even then, at times they too were blurry.
Nobody knew who he truly was. Nobody knew where he came from. And everyone wisely avoided asking.
Mr. M clasped his hands together.
"A rare congregation we have here. It is not often that the Hidden Patrons find themselves huddled in the dark of conspiracy."
Ki Lin Feng scoffed. "Spare me the pleasantries. I have no time for introductions. Get to the point."
Mr. M chuckled.
"Very well."
The mist around him shifted.
"Our plans have been discovered."
Silence followed.
Baiden frowned.
"What? What do you mean, 'discovered'?"
Rivas straightened slightly. Igor spoke before anyone else could.
"Lord Alaric Auro Dukker visited me."
That immediately captured everyone's attention.
"The relic recovery?" Baiden hissed, his anxiety leaking into his voice, turning it shrill.
"That was supposed to be a surgical strike, Igor! If he knows about that, he knows about everything!"
Ki Lin Feng clicked her tongue.
"I still fail to understand why we needed that operation." Her eyes narrowed.
"Pirates? Attacking the 7th Division with those... abominations? It drew entirely too much attention.We could have retrieved the relic ourselves without all the theatrics."
Igor chuckled, a jagged, wet sound.
"It provided excellent battle data."
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow.
"Data?"
"Yes, we learned how effective my creations are against elite Enforcers."
"And the pirates were merely an aesthetic choice to create create mystery." Mr. M added casually.
Baiden immediately snapped.
"An aesthetic choice?! What if the Enforcers had captured the relic?"
Mr. M remained unbothered.
"Regardless of which side gained access to the artifact, it would still have been within our grasp."
Rivas watched the exchange carefully. Baiden was frightened, driven by the fear of losing his investments or being discovered. Ki Lin Feng looked similarly uncomfortable though he was sure that she was merely being composed and the news had caused much more turmoil.
Rivas spoke for the first time, his voice smooth and cold. "We have yet to be informed what the artifact in question is."
Igor shifted in his seat.
"Other than the fact that we knew it was an incredibly powerful object that could aide our plans. We dont know what exactly it is. The researchers in the Vault undergo periodic memory wipes to prevent corruption and information leaks. However, I still have certain... sleepers within their ranks."
Lin Feng scoffed. "Sleepers? How many? And how reliable are they?"
Igor ignored the insult. "They are reliable. And based on what they have told me despite all effort, the battle data from the fight with the Seventh Division was wasted. The artifact we recovered was a... fluffy object. It seemed to hold no value whatsoever."
Baiden blinked.
"A what?"
"A fluffy object."
Ki Lin Feng stared.
"You are serious?"
"Unfortunately," Igor nodded.
"So it was a waste." Baiden said, momentarilystill before slamming his hand on the table.
"A waste! I am not funding a revolution for some 'fluffy thing'! I need results!"
Rivas's voice cut through the outburst like a blade.
"Calm yourself, Baiden."
The others looked toward him.
"The fact that the relic was a myth does not mean the mission was a failure. Now we know that the artifact is useless. And what I am looking for is not in the Vault."
Baiden groaned and turned on him, his eyes blazing.
"What are you saying? Are you still going on about that dream of yours? That divine mandate you claim to have received?"
Rivas's temper flared. His grey eyes went cold, and his voice dropped to a near-whisper.
"Watch your tongue, Baiden. We may be allies in this endeavor, but do not mistake that for friendship. This is a temporary alliance to elevate our Houses above the mediocrity of the Zeppelin line. I could slit your throat and be done with you—patron of the Sixth Prince or not."
He allowed his gaze to drift to Ki Lin Feng. "I am the primary sponsor of the Second Prince. My claim is the most legitimate. You are merely children playing with crown-proxies."
Ki Lin Feng didn't flinch. "I sponsor the Third Prince. Do not pretend your moral high ground is anything other than a steeper cliff to fall from, Rivas."
Mr. M cleared his throat, the sound sharp as a guillotine. "Gentlemen, Lady, please. Your egos are distracting us from the impending threat. Let us stop comparing sizes and return to the topic at hand."
Rivas leaned back, exhaling. He thought of the fragment his god asked him to retriev as a sign of devotion. If it wasn't in the Vault, it had to be within the inner sanctum of the Zeppelin palace. A much more volatile target, but one that provided a clearer path to the throne.
Igor resumed speaking.
"I did not give Lord Alaric much information. He did not directly accuse me but he was fishing. He is a crafty individual. He has picked up a scent and won't stop sniffing like the dog he is."
Lin Feng nodded. "My spies have confirmed that he met with King Aldirk several days ago. He is closer to the throne than any of us. If he learns the truth—"
"Then we are finished," Baiden finished grimly burying his face in his hands.
Ki Lin Feng leaned forward, fingers interlocking until her knuckles turned white.
"Alaric is the most dangerous variable currently in play."
Everyone knew it.
Nobody argued.
"The fact that he knows details from the Veridian operation means he is working closely with Captain Emma Gable."
Several expressions darkened.
Mr. M nodded.
"A dangerous combination."
"Unfortunately."
"If Heidi or Genji become involved then matters become considerably worse." Lin Feng added.
"Doubtful," Rivas said, his voice calm again.
"Fortunately, based on Igor's description he possesses only suspicion, not proof. If we play this right, we can cast enough shadows to lead him away from the truth. We can frame the Revolutionists as the sole culprits."
Baiden's expression shifted. "Can we use Lord Kingsley Amberose?"
Rivas shook his head. "Amberose harbors hatred for Alaric, yes. But he is not a fool. His pride has prevented us from using him as a backer, and it would prevent him from moving against Alaric without ironclad proof."
Ki Lin Feng tilted her head.
"What about the children?"
That received more consideration.
"Possible." Rivas considered.
"But the setup would need to be flawless. If Alaric detects a connection to the wider conspiracy he will by all means act."
Baiden frowned. "At the expense of his own blood?"
Rivas chuckled, a cold, humorless sound. "You speak as if we do not know who Alaric is. He would sacrifice the world for his family. We need to be certain before we move."
Ki Lin Feng nodded.
"Agreed. And according to him those children are exceptional."
Baiden snorted. "You believe that nonsense?"
"I do not believe it," Ki Lin Feng interrupted. "But what that girl did in the council chamber..."
Her voice trailed off as she remembered the evil intent Jamie cast at them in the council roomthat day.
"Alaric Dukker is not a liar. If he says his children are extraordinary, then they are." she concluded simply.
Mr. M observed the conversation for a few moments before speaking.
"In the end the Revolution remains our shield."
His fingers tapped lightly against the table. Before he could speak again, the door opened suddenly and a figure walked through, startling the gathered Lords. The lights flickered as a man walked inside.
The Revolutionary walked barefoot, his movements erratic, humming a discordant, tuneless melody. He wore a cloak fashioned from a horrifying mosaic of stolen banners, noble silks, and peasant rags. A white porcelain mask covered his face.
Rivas immediately felt irritation.
This man—this "Ghost"—was the leader of the Revolution. He was supposed to be on a mission to infiltrate the Forbidden Vault and secure an arsenal for the Hydrangea Festival.
Ki Lin Feng stood. "What are you doing here? You were supposed to be—"
The Revolutionary didn't answer. He leaped onto the table with a dancer's grace, his bare feet silent on the mahogany. He walked across the table in a circle, his cloak trailing behind him, until he reached the center.
Past Igor. Past Baiden. Past Ki Lin Feng. Past Mr. M. Nobody stopped him.
Then he dropped into a cross-legged sitting position, his posture that of a child at storytime. For a long moment, he was silent.
Then he sighed, a long, dramatic exhalation that seemed to deflate his entire frame and lay back on the table.
"The mission failed," he said, his voice light and whimsical, utterly at odds with the weight of his words.
The room went deathly still.
"What do you mean, failed?" Rivas whispered.