Candence turned to Atticus, his expression tense. Fort Echohelm wasn't designed for luxury. It was a battle zone, functional, fortified, and practical. Yet, they had gone to great lengths to accommodate someone of Atticus's status.
Atticus's gaze shifted to Vyn, lingering just long enough to make the aged man visibly uncomfortable.
"It has been a pleasant experience. Thank you for your concern," Atticus said evenly, his tone calm. Then, with a slight pause, he asked, "By the way, how long have you been stationed here?"
The commanders exchanged surprised glances. Atticus's focus on Vyn was unexpected.
Vyn quickly composed himself. "I've served at Fort Echohelm for decades now," he began, but Candence interrupted.
"Vyn is one of our most trusted strategists," Candence said. "He's been here longer than I have, and his counsel has been invaluable to the fort's operations."
Atticus nodded slightly, his expression unreadable.
Vyn offered a polite smile. "We're glad everything is to your liking, Apex Atticus." He hesitated briefly before continuing. "To better serve you, it would help to understand the purpose of your visit. The situation at the fortress has grown increasingly dangerous, especially with the recent hostilities from the Vampyros race."
At the mention of the Vampyros, the atmosphere shifted. The commanders' expressions hardened, their discomfort evident.
"They've been attacking the fort?" Atticus asked calmly.
"Not directly," Vyn admitted. "But we've lost several scouting parties in recent months. All evidence points to the Vampyros, though they deny any involvement."
Atticus's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind working quickly. 'He's trying to gauge my intentions.'
"That's fine," Atticus said dismissively. "I can handle myself. Don't worry." His gaze shifted to Candence. "Speaking of those scouting parties, I'd like to join one."
The table froze.
Candence's eyes widened in shock, and the other commanders exchanged incredulous looks.
"Outside the border is dangerous," Candence said quickly, trying to dissuade him. "It's completely lawless. Anything could happen out there."
The last thing anyone wanted was for Atticus to die on their watch. The consequences would be catastrophic for them all.
Atticus's gaze locked onto Candence's, unmoving and unrelenting. The fortress commander hesitated, his words faltering. Just from Atticus's expression, he knew there was no refusing this request.
With a resigned sigh, Candence nodded. "Very well. I'll arrange it."
Seeing no further matters to discuss, Atticus stood, offering the table a brief nod. The commanders rose in unison, bowing slightly as he left the room.
The moment the door closed behind him, the tension in the room finally broke.
Candence leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily. "He's… something else."
Vyn stroked his beard, his expression unreadable. "Yes, he is."
The commanders silently nodded, their exhaled breaths showing their shared relief.
After dinner, Atticus returned to his room.
"I still think you should've just killed him," Ozeroth's voice echoed in his mind.
Atticus scoffed. "Oh, now you have something to say?"
But Ozeroth went silent again, leaving Atticus to shake his head.
'If my actions earlier weren't clear, they are now. He knows I suspect something. Let's see how he responds.'
With that thought, Atticus meditated in the stillness of his room, centering himself before falling into a deep sleep.
The next day arrived quickly. As Atticus walked through the fortress, he was joined by an overly excited Lyric.
"Apex Atticus! Isn't this fortress amazing? It's been standing for over a century! The Resonara warriors have such strict routines. They start training at dawn and patrol in shifts to ensure we're always ready for an attack. Oh, and the wall defense systems? They're top-tier!"
Lyric's voice was filled with enthusiasm, his words spilling out rapidly.
Lyric didn't stop talking, pointing out various structures and explaining their purposes. He even shared stories about past border skirmishes.
'He talks too much,' Atticus thought, sighing inwardly. Just yesterday, the boy had been too shy to speak.
But things had changed. After Atticus left his room, he had run into Lyric again. Despite a few awkward moments, Lyric eventually showed his excitable side.
Yet, a faint smile crossed Atticus's face. Lyric's enthusiasm wasn't annoying, it was refreshing. His admiration felt genuine, his mind pure and untainted.
Eventually, Lyric stopped in front of a tall building integrated into the fortress wall, facing the border.
"I want to show you something!" Lyric exclaimed, his excitement intense.
Atticus followed him inside. They took an elevator to the top floor, entering a control room bustling with activity. The room was filled with segmented stations, each with screens displaying live feeds of the border.
As Atticus stepped inside, the energy in the room shifted. The warriors manning the stations immediately noticed his presence. They stood and bowed deeply.
"Apex Atticus," they greeted in unison.
Atticus acknowledged them with a slight nod, his gaze scanning the room before following Lyric to a large screen.
"This is my station," Lyric said proudly, gesturing to the screen. "I usually monitor the perimeter after training. My father doesn't let me patrol the border yet, especially now, with the Vampyros acting up and all the weird movements…"
Atticus's eyes flickered. "Weird movements?"
Lyric froze, his face paling as though he had just said something forbidden. "N-no, it's nothing. Just a slip of the tongue!" he stammered, attempting to backtrack.
But Atticus wasn't buying it.
"Tell me," he said, his tone firm and commanding.
Lyric tensed, the weight of Atticus's authority too overwhelming to resist. His eyes darted nervously around the room.
Atticus raised a hand, creating an air and space barrier around them to block all sound from escaping. His gaze was sharp. "Speak."
Lyric sighed, his shoulders slumping. "It started months ago. The Vampyros have been crossing into our territory more frequently. At first, it was just small groups. But then we noticed a pattern. It feels like they're searching for something. I tried telling my father, but he wouldn't believe me. Master Vyn convinced him it was just the Vampyros asserting dominance. But I know they're after something."
Atticus's mind raced. This could be a coincidence, but he wasn't naive. He had to take it seriously.
'Could they be after the same thing I'm searching for? If so, it must be important.'
He released the barrier, his gaze softening slightly as he noticed Lyric's panicked expression. "You did well to tell me. Stay calm, and don't speak of this to anyone else."
Lyric nodded, relieved but still visibly shaken.
Before Atticus could leave, a fortress warrior entered the control room, bowing deeply.
"Apex Atticus, the commander has requested your presence in the main hall."
Atticus's expression flickered.
'It's time,' he thought, before nodding to the warrior and making his way out.