Avaris, the Gearsmith, sat on his throne at the heart of a grand foundry. Gears larger than a man turned slowly at his back, each tooth locking with a clank. Twin braziers cast flickering light across the polished floor, while the ringing of hammers and the roar of distant furnaces drummed a steady lullaby of industry.

  His orb, equal to him in height, floated before him. Its surface glowed with the faint shapes of his conclave mates’ squares. Avaris moved his hand through the swirling lights, directing his gaze to one entry that shone in a distinct gold hue. The name read simply: Kael. The Gearsmith leaned forward, resting his metal-clad elbows on the arms of his throne.

  “Interesting,” he said under his breath. A ring of cogs at his back spun lazily, reflecting in the dark lenses of his single eye.

  A knock sounded against the iron doors. Avaris shifted his orb aside with a flick of his fingers. The doors swung open to reveal a massive mechanical golem clad in layered armor. Pistons and rods moved in its limbs, and a faint hiss of steam echoed each step. It knelt on one metal knee, head bowed in deference.

  “Titanus,” Avaris greeted, the name echoing among the gears that lined the walls.

  The golem’s voice emanated from deep within. “It is done, Master. The ritual stands ready.”

  Avaris eyed the kneeling figure. “And the other matter?”

  Titanus’s chest plate slid open with a series of clicks. The golem produced a small sack from the cavity within, holding it out as if it were the most precious thing in existence. “It is all here,” Titanus said, his voice lacking emotion, though a faint whirring seemed to resonate with pride.

  Avaris leaned forward, taking the sack. He did not open it. He only let the weight of it settle in his gloved hand. Sparks from a nearby forge danced across the floor, casting long shadows over his armor.

  “Excellent,” the Gearsmith said. Smoke and the smell of burning coals lingered in the air, reminding him of the work that lay ahead. He turned to his orb one last time, letting the golden square in its depths linger in his sight. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

  ******

  Kael sat cross-legged on the earthen floor of his shelter, the Weapons Training Book spread out in front of him. His eyes traced the words, each page revealing combat techniques he had yet to fully comprehend. He was immersed in reading when, suddenly, Avaris's voice broke through his concentration.

  "Kael?"

  Kael sat up, setting the book aside. "Yes, Avaris?"

  "The ritual is ready," Avaris said, his tone measured but carrying a weight of finality. "Tomorrow will be the day."

  Tomorrow. It was finally here.

  "Are you ready?" Avaris asked.

  Kael didn’t hesitate. "I am," he said firmly. Kael reached for his Ice Sickle, which still had Avaris’s Ring of Frost attached to the hilt. "Umm... I wanted to return your ring, but it’s stuck on my sickle."

  Avaris’s gaze shifted to the Ice Sickle. He appraised it for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. "Impressive," he said quietly. "I didn’t expect you to craft a magical weapon so rare. Keep it," he added with a wave of his hand. "I have hundreds of those rings."

  Kael nodded, grateful for the gift, though part of him wondered what Avaris’s true motivations were. What was the Gearsmith’s angle in all of this?

  Avaris's voice broke his thoughts again, this time with a more serious tone. "There is one last favor I ask of you."

  Kael looked up. "What do you need?"

  A large sack began to materialize from Kael’s orb, its fabric shimmering faintly with an unnatural glow. Kael’s eyes narrowed as the sack grew larger, its presence ominous. He reached into it and pulled it open. His stomach twisted at the sight of what was inside. Human skulls. The grim contents seemed to mock him, the eyes of the dead staring blankly back at him.

  Avaris’s voice was cold and calculating. "I need your wisps, Kael. As many as you can summon. They will be a crucial part of our plans."

  Blue, his loyal wisp, fluttered up beside him, hovering curiously around the sack. Kael’s gaze softened. "Looks like Blue is going to have a lot of friends."

  He turned his attention back to his orb, reaching out for it with both hands. The power thrummed beneath his fingertips. The orb pulsed, and Kael focused, willing the wisps into existence. Slowly, they began to form, the first a tiny blue spark, and then another, and another, each one a glimmer of azure light.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  ******

  Lira soared through the air, the wind rushing past her as she pushed her mechanical wings to their limits. She muttered under her breath, urging herself to go faster, faster. Her hands gripped the massive spiked mace that she had grown so accustomed to, feeling the weight of it in her palms. The ground below her was a vast, open steppe, the earth cracked and dry beneath her feet, with scattered boulders jutting up from the dirt.

  With a sharp cry, Lira swung the mace downward, smashing a rock into pieces, sending fragments flying in every direction. Her spiders scurried around below, their many eyes reflecting the bits of dust that danced in the air. They couldn’t speak, but Lira could sense their admiration.

  I am getting stronger!

  The wind slowed as Lira glided to a gentle landing, the mechanical wings folding against her back with a soft hiss. Avaris’s voice reached her ears before she even fully touched the ground.

  "Have you used your personal skill point on flying as I asked?"

  Lira straightened, meeting his gaze from her orb as she landed with the mace still in hand, the weight of it no less imposing on the ground.

  "Yes," she answered.

  "And the bracelets of giant strength?"

  Lira lifted her mace with ease, the weight seeming almost trivial in her hands now. She swung it around in a wide arc, the force of the movement causing the air to ripple. "They’re working better than I thought," she said, a hint of pride slipping into her voice. "I feel unstoppable."

  Avaris nodded, a rare flash of approval crossing his face. "Good," he said, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Rest up. Tomorrow is the ritual. Be ready."

  ******

  Lyanna stood at the edge of Highhaven, her eyes narrowed against the wind that whipped through her dark hair. Below her, the sprawling wooden city stretched out, its towers rising like great trees, their branches intertwined with the very clouds. The fae had returned in droves, flitting through the streets and above the rooftops, their wings shimmering with iridescent hues. Their purpose was clear, to protect their homeland, to shield Highhaven from the threat that loomed on the horizon.

  She had just received word from Terrance in Newvale, the ceasefire still holding, for now. Lyanna sighed, hoping that the peace could endure. For the first time in years, she felt a flicker of hope that the cycle of war and bloodshed could truly end. Perhaps Newvale could avoid the same fate that had befallen so many others.

  Her eyes, sharp with the power of Eyes of the Forest, scanned the distance. Beyond the edge of the horizon, something new had risen. It was a mechanical structure, something unnatural to the natural world. Towering, impossibly tall, its jagged steel beams rising higher and higher into the sky. It wasn’t as tall as Highhaven itself, nor as vast as the ancient trees that surrounded it, but it stood out in a way that sent a chill through Lyanna’s chest.

  A steel skull crowned the top of the structure, gleaming in the sunlight, an unmistakable symbol of power. Lyanna knew immediately what it meant.

  "That’s his domain," Lyanna murmured to herself, her voice barely a whisper. "Avaris, the Gearsmith."

  Oluru stepped up beside her, his eyes following her gaze. The white cloak he wore swayed slightly in the wind, the colors blending with the surrounding forest. Unlike Lyanna, who was light-footed and agile in the air, Oluru’s heavy steps grounded him firmly to the earth, his presence as solid as the trees themselves. He too had seen the rise of the mechanical monstrosity.

  "Avaris," he said, his voice low, thoughtful. "The man whose power we cannot fathom."

  Lyanna nodded, her gaze fixed on the mechanical monstrosity in the distance. "I’ve used Eyes of the Forest," she said quietly, "and I see nothing. No creatures, no monsters, nothing alive in that square except him. It’s as if his world is made entirely of metal and stone."

  Oluru’s face darkened, and his voice was tinged with unease. "Avaris is a loner. A master of machines, not of creatures. His golems, his machines, are his only company. He doesn’t need living summons or beasts to control his domain." He paused, letting the words settle in the air. "That also means we cannot truly understand his power. Power we can't see."

  Lyanna gazed out over the great expanse of Highhaven, her thoughts churned, restless, but even her seasoned heart could not shake the weight of what she had learned.

  "The square remains Gold level," she muttered, more to herself than to Oluru, who stood beside her, arms crossed, his gaze fixed firmly on the mechanical monstrosity in the distance. "Could he truly be so dangerous?"

  "There hasn’t been a platinum level square in over a century," Oluru replied, his voice quiet but resolute. "Maybe the Masters are too afraid of Ascension, or maybe there aren't enough Gold level Masters. But whatever the reason, Avaris is dangerous.”

  They had shared many moments like this over the years, their quiet conversations often offering solace in the face of adversity. Today, though, the silence between them was heavy with expectation.

  "I wish I could have congratulated you on better terms," Lyanna said finally softly, her voice carrying the weight of unspoken words. She turned to look at Oluru, her eyes glancing at his white cloak. "Guardian of Highhaven, brother. You've earned it.”

  Oluru smiled, the same easy grin that had always brought comfort in the darkest of times. "Thanks, Lyanna," he said, nudging her with his elbow playfully. "You know I never wanted it this way. Still, I’m honored." His expression shifted then, the weight of his new responsibilities settling on his shoulders like the mantle it was.

  But there was no time for lightheartedness today.

  He looked at her seriously, his eyes reflecting the same steely resolve that had made him the man he was. "You’re going to have to lead the charge, Lyanna. Out there. I’ll stay here at Mother Crystal, working from afar. I will use my magic to aid you, but you’re the one who’ll have to face the brunt of this."

  "I will do everything in my power to protect Highhaven, Oluru. I would die a thousand times over to keep our people and Highhaven safe."

  "I know you would. But I hope it doesn’t come to that."

  Lyanna took a deep breath, feeling the sharp sting of both fear and resolve settling in her bones. "It won’t. We will be ready. Whatever comes next, we will face it together. And we will win."

  ******

  Square: Unknown

  Master: Kael

  Difficulty: Introductory

  Conclave: Clockwork Assembly

  Treasure: 1020 Gold

  Residents: 4 Ice Slimes Lvl 1

  8 Green Slimes Lvl 1

  1 Green Slime Lvl 2

  31 Will-o-wisp Lvl 1

  Kills: 10 (Ready For Ascension)