The few homes and businesses that hadn't already done so were dimming their lights, blending into the darkness. The capital city slept, eagerly awaiting the beginning of Maskiria Week. Although celebrated throughout Najta and the continent of Elvira, the one in Netzach was special.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nnhwBZ7zq
As the sun rose, an intense itinerary of processions, plays, historical reenactments, and other unique cultural events would take place without pause. Not even the tensions the city held with the Sulfnats of Ayaria had managed to deter the thousands of pilgrims and enthusiasts who, during those dates, visited from all over. For those seven days, Netzach became the center of the world.
However, not everyone closed their eyes. Hidden forces took advantage of the darkness to carry out their clandestine activities.
Positioned at strategic and well-guarded points, three undercover agents of the Order of Lebias had a privileged view of the same location: the Vallinton of the city, an inn that had agreed to accommodate unusual guests. The greenish light of the moon fell upon the faces of the warriors as they immersed themselves in a subtle trance. With their renowned skill of remote vision, they explored from that safe distance the interior of the establishment and its surroundings, in search of the slightest hint of suspicion.
Suddenly, they all snapped to attention: they had detected movement.
An Ayarian man emerged from the main door of the inn, discreetly glancing at his surroundings before proceeding. He was one of the former members of the dissolved Mining Guild of Netzach, better known as the MGN, whom their superior, General Zeham, had ordered them to spy on.
With their astral projections detached from their physical bodies, the agents followed the merchant's path like silent ghosts. He traversed several streets. Although he seemed a bit overwhelmed by the eerie solitude surrounding him and the scarce lighting, he kept his pace steady. Whatever it was, something had driven him to take the risk of venturing out during these late hours of the night, and the Order was determined to uncover it.
Through a telepathic link, the spies were responsible for keeping General Zeham informed about the progress of the operation.
Well. Don't lose sight of him, he transmitted that mental order to them in unison, from the organization's main headquarters: the Temple of Kajoak.
While his men carried out their mission, the general conducted a thorough analysis of the security planned for the capital city and its outskirts. A miniature but exact representation of the settlement, floating above a table like an ethereal image, made his task easier. Thanks to that relic, an inheritance from the founders of Netzach, he could clearly identify areas susceptible to enemy attack.
In the days leading up, the Order had received reports of Sulfnat reconnaissance groups lurking around Irug and Amianac, the two main nefeshic crystal deposits under Netzach's control. Initially, they dismissed it as a bluff, one of the many that Mugnatir used to send from time to time to intimidate them; but the corsair raid on the Niespalian city of Cirencre made them reconsider. So great had become the confidence of their armies to harass not only the borders of Renard's domains, but also those of the other kingdoms of the Vice Royalty League with ease.
Mugnatir had attempted to invade Netzach in the past, without success. Its impenetrable walls and its high-ranking nefeshic cannon batteries, known as "The Wrath of the Sky," had deterred any attempt to attack the city head-on. The borderlines of the rest of Najta's provinces, although not as fortified, remained well defended by the other Elvirian kingdoms assuming their control, making any large-scale incursion difficult. The Ayarian warlord had settled for defeating the Grian king on his own turf, the desert, seizing several valuable possessions there. Despite his successive military campaigns, Renard never managed to reclaim them.
The conflict between the two rulers, mutual archenemies, had been deadlocked at that stalemate for several years. Zeham had the premonition that it was soon to change; Mugnatir would put those imposed rules to the ultimate test.
This is our only chance. If we squander it, it will never come again. He sat in a chair in front of the spectral model before him, intertwining the fingers of both hands with anticipation. The Great Revival unfolded as expected, herecalled an important event he had helped organize that fading evening. Although he couldn't witness it, he was briefed on its unfolding. What really concerns me is that Tarburian. He could be a blessing for us, or a curse. As much as he may seem detached from Najta's political affairs, we cannot lower our guard with him. His neutrality, and above all, his idealism, could become a double-edged sword.
The false Abiyr that he and his companion, General Or, had encountered had become a source of uncertainty. He couldn't allow it to interfere with the events that were about to take place in the week.
As he pondered what actions to take regarding it, the Ayarian merchant his subordinates were spying on continued on his way. He passed by a tavern, which remained open with a clamor of drunken voices and cacophonous music spilling outside. The merchant's eagerness to distance himself from that den made him overlook some of its patrons, who let go of their beers with disdain upon noticing his presence.
"What's a puny heretic doing in our neighborhood?" thought one of them out loud, accompanied by two colleagues with identical reactions. All three wore blue bandanas on their foreheads and ribbons of the same color on their arms, displaying a unique emblem.
Without wasting any more time, the men exchanged knowing looks and got up, leaving a generous tip on the bar before hurrying out. They were on the trail of that undesirable they had just seen passing by the street. They turned the corner where they had seen him turn, soon spotting him. Unbeknownst to him, they were gradually catching up.
General, we have a problem.
Some Rings of Eh-Nam are following our man.
The Order's agents telepathically informed Zeham, attentive to every moment of this compromising situation. The intrusion of these Rings, militiamen employed by the kingdom of Grianz as a tool of intimidation over the civilian population—especially those who dissented from His Majesty—promised nothing good.
Zeham frowned. Has the guildsman noticed those Rings?
No... for now, he's unaware they're after him, the agents replied.
Then, they witnessed how the three ruffians grinned sinisterly and brandished their weapons: axes and short swords. Their intentions were worse than they had imagined, and they knew that, thanks to the kingdom's protection, they could carry them out with impunity.
It looks like they're going to rob him.
And then kill him.
The agents alerted next. Zeham remained silent for a few seconds. They had to act quickly, but effectively. The criminal whims of those bandits were about to ruin the organization's objective of unveiling, through that Ayarian, the masterminds behind an emerging conspiracy.
Ariel, go out and distract those Rings immediately. Do everything you can to keep that guildsman from finding out what's happening. If we alert him, the operation will be ruined. Zeham instructed one of his agents, calling her by her code name.
She prepared to carry out the instruction. She established the point where she would teleport using instant transmission.
But just as she gathered the necessary nefesh to execute the technique...
"Ah?!” She felt a sudden headache. From that moment on, every time she tried to visualize the area where the Rings and the Ayarian should be, her mind went blank.
I can't use instant transmission! Ariel communicated, unable to hide her perplexity in her telepathic message.
Something very strange is happening. Remote vision is no longer working for me.
Neither for me. I only get a blank image.
Her companions added, equally puzzled. Something or someone was managing to sabotage their powers.
They've put a 'White Veil' on us. Zeham realized immediately, fascinated. For years, whenever the Order tried to use remote viewing over Ayaria's main cities and military bases, they encountered this anomaly that prevented them from scrutinizing them. Any attempt to overcome this blockade was fruitless and resulted in migraines. Because of its characteristic effect of blanking the minds of the Order's warriors, it was dubbed the "White Veil."
A shiver ran down the general's spine. This was the first time in history that they had detected this phenomenon within Netzach. That could only mean one thing.
General!
Our remote vision has returned to normal!
The agents alerted, greatly relieved to find that this unsettling interruption vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived.
We've lost the guildsman!
He and the Rings following him have vanished!
They announced shortly after, agitated. The streets were deserted, as if the earth had swallowed up those men who moments before had been perfectly marked.
Go investigate the neighborhood. Arrest any suspicious individuals you find, Zeham ordered them, maintaining his cool composure. It's a fact now that we have Sulfnat infiltrators operating there. Be cautious.
Understood! The subordinates obeyed the instruction. They suspended any communication as they mobilized.
Zeham stood up, directing his pupils towards the section of the intangible model corresponding to the old quarter of the city: the sector where they had last seen the former guildsman and the Rings before losing them.
It has begun.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgockm991f
That incident was the work of the group of conspirators who, undoubtedly, had made contact with the Ayarian. The latter was still alive, protected by his new benefactors. The leader of the Order of Lebias didn't need to find the bodies of the Rings to know their fate.
With that showdown in the shadows, the battle for Netzach had begun.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWMHTy6YRd
