“I’ve heard whispers from our traders to Maht. Their world seems so different from ours. Here in T’lantis, we breathe our faith like air, see divinity dance in every shadow and sunrise. But in the north, they cage their gods in parchment and protocol, trap revelation between pages of dusty tomes. To us, this is as incomprehensible as snow falling on summer seas.”

  – Calypso Mare, Sacred Scrolls versus Sacred Souls: A Study of North and South

  Tarene descended into the dank, dim-lit stairway, deep beneath the polished surfaces of Kel. Humidity clung to her like a heavy garment, the air redolent with the musky scent of earth and mildew. Each step she took echoed through the age-old tunnel, the only audible sound in the profound stillness.

  But the darkness, so dense and thick, was not unfamiliar to the Minister of Faith. It had become more of a companion than an enemy these days. A silent witness to the unfolding of a plan years in the making. She had ventured into this underbelly of her Ministry more times than she cared to count by now. Behind her, the flickering torchlight danced on the stone walls, casting long and grim shadows that threatened to consume the stairway. Unfazed by the eerie glow, she continued her descent.

  At long last, the steep flight of stairs ended, opening into an enormous, torch-lit chamber. It was still damp, still not very comfortable, but at least there was more light. In the room’s heart sat an unassuming object—a silver orb, its blue-tinted surface untouched by time, gleaming under the light of the flickering flames. Connected to the orb, like arteries to a heart, was a circular array of complex machinery. Tubes and wires snaked their way between the two.

  Like a tumor, the technology looked out of place amidst the ancient stonework of the chamber. She hoped her colleagues from Innovation knew what they were doing. To Tarene, this whole thing always served as a stark reminder of the strange amalgamation of the old and new that was Kel. She stepped into the center of the room and traced her fingers over the orb’s smooth surface, an odd glint entering her hard eyes as she examined her surroundings.

  In one corner of the chamber, inside an iron cage, an almost nude man sat cross-legged among chains. What might look like an ordinary scene—by some standards, at least—was distorted by a closer look. It was the man’s skin. His tone fluctuated like a living kaleidoscope, cascading through the visible spectrum in a mesmerizing display. Slightly unsteady, Tarene noticed that it was not restricted to his body. Everything the man touched—clothes, chains, even the iron bars of his cage—shifted colors in dizzying waves. Yet, despite the enchanting display, his eyes held an unnerving emptiness, the only place where colors did not dance.

  Tarene approached the cage. The man seemed torn from his thoughts and glanced up at her, the kaleidoscope of colors coming to an abrupt halt as it settled on a chilling shade of blue. He barely acknowledged her presence, gaze still distant and dispassionate.

  Before she could utter a word, a voice emerged from the shadows, cutting through the silence of the chamber. “Minister,” Norgus greeted her as he stepped into the torchlight, his form materializing from the gloom. “So good to see you again.”

  “Norgus,” Tarene nodded and kept her face impassive. “It appears everything is in place. Shall we proceed with the testing? I cannot stay long.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  If Norgus was put off by her briskness, he gave no sign. Instead, a small smile crept onto the man’s face as his eyes gleamed with anticipation. “By all means, Minister. Let’s begin, shall we? Time to unveil the fruits of our labor.”

  “Please, Norgus,” Tarene gestured toward the silver orb. “Do us the honors.”

  The man approached the machinery, his hands deftly maneuvering the intricate controls. Tarene stepped to the edge of the chamber and waited. As he worked, the room filled with an almost tangible hum. The silver orb began to glow, illuminating the cavernous chamber. It almost seemed like a glob of mercury now, gentle ripples undulating on its surface.

  “I’ve always found this process the most fascinating bit,” Norgus noted and his gaze locked onto the chained Elevated. Tarene followed suit, carefully observing the man in the cage. By now, they were getting it to work more often than not. She had to admit that Norgus had made remarkable progress. Tarene knew it had been the right call to save the man from execution.

  When Norgus activated the argent orb, the captive’s multicolored skin dimmed suddenly. His vibrant hues seemed to somehow dull, until there was just the light brown of his natural skin that remained. The air in the chamber had grown heavy, laden with a pungent note of ozone that filled Tarene’s nostrils.

  Norgus paused, shaking his head in wonder, as a disbelieving grin spread on his crinkled face. “The ability to harness an Elevated’s power. A leash on the very gods! Who’d have thought that the key to it all would lie hidden in some forgotten ruins? Practically just in front of our doorstep!”

  “It’s a necessary precaution,” Tarene gave a curt nod, but her attention was focused on the man in the cage. “The Elevated are useful, yes, but we must be able to control their powers, for everyone’s sake. There can be no stability otherwise.”

  “How do you feel now?” she called out to the captive, her voice echoing against the stone walls. “Describe it to us.”

  The Elevated looked up. Fatigue washed over his previously expressionless face. “I feel drained... can’t change anything. What’s happening to me? What have you done?”

  As if to demonstrate, he reached out and touched the iron bars of his cage. Where previously they would have taken on a myriad of colors, they now remained steadfastly cold and grey. Tarene and Norgus exchanged a triumphant look.

  “Excellent,” Norgus muttered and a satisfied grin stretched across his face. He made his way back to Tarene and stopped the orb’s mechanisms with a swift flick of a switch.

  The Elevated slumped back. A sigh escaped his lips as the room returned to its previous state. Gradually, the luminescence from the orb faded, and the room fell into a hushed silence as the machinery ceased its hum. Colors bloomed again across the chest of the chained man.

  “Remarkable,” Tarene said as her eyes lingered on the now inert orb. “It’s really true. This device can neutralize an Elevated’s powers, like the texts said. It’s exactly what we need.”

  Norgus nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes, it seems our efforts have finally borne fruit. And this time it didn’t even kill the guy.”

  Tarene paused to consider the implications. “With this, we can control the Elevated completely. Not only ours, but perhaps even those in the south. Make sure they don’t pose a threat to society. To Kel.”

  “Of course, of course,” Norgus agreed. Then his eyes flicked back to the shining orb. “And imagine what else we can do with this technology, Minister.”

  “Yes, indeed,” a tight smile curled around the corners of Tarene’s lips. “I believe it’s time to start mass production. Our world is about to change, Norgus.” For a moment, she held his gaze, hanging on a thought. Then she turned and walked toward the stairs, Norgus’ gaze glued to her receding back.

  Behind her, the old man turned to survey the scene in the chamber with a satisfied expression. A chilling sight, heralding a new era. The chained Elevated merely watched, his dulled eyes reflecting the flickering torchlight, as the cruel dance of power and control played out before him.

  Just another cog in the great machine of the Tetrarchy.