Cyoc turned to face Roch as his expression stiffened, turning grim, “So do you understand what you must do?”

“Yes,” Roch replied, his head lowered as he obeyed his new orders. “I will take the boy to Direfell and train him under the false claim that he will be one of my soldiers. I’ll keep him safe within the city until he is stronger. I’ll have him prepared for whatever fate you have for him.”

“Good, very good,” Cyoc chortled out, “Ah, and take that little faun creature with him, it seems we can take advantage of that relationship to get what we want.”

“The faun?” Roch thought back to Droh for a moment, “Are you sure he won’t be a liability? He’s untrained and unpredictable…”

“Are you saying you’re unable to predict the actions of a sniveling creature like that? To be concerned over the actions of a mouse does not fit your role as a giant. Step down without worry, as even the largest of waves from that creature would only reach your feet.”

“I… suppose so,” Roch sighed.

“Oh and remember… never speak of what is beneath this tower, nor of what his fate holds for him in the future. We will mold him into the weapon he was designed for, but his mind is still fragile and weak. Overwhelm him, and we may find him broken beyond repair.”

“What if he has questions… perhaps not about fate, but about this world you claim he comes from?”

“Figure it out. I assume I can trust you to at least not break him, right? Oh yes, and the device he used to contact that disgusting little clan leader… have a fresh charge prepared for it. He needs something familiar, something he believes he can trust.”

Roch still wasn’t fully convinced, but he knew better than to voice his concerns openly in a situation like this. “Very well, mentor.” He lowered his head and tightened his arm down across his chest, lowering himself at nearly a ninety-degree angle from the hip. “Your will shall be done. I will take the boy and that faun creature back to Direfell and have his skills refined.”

“Wonderful,” Cyoc finally showed a warm expression as he no longer questioned the loyalty of his companion. He knew that Roch wouldn’t openly act against him, but he had always been concerned over his true intentions. With this, he believed that he could at least reliably leave things in his hands for the time being.

It didn’t hurt that Reimar remained within Direfell, and would help oversee everything in case of Roch’s betrayal.

Things were turning out well, and his plot was continuing as planned without any delay. That was truly something to admire, especially within a world as hectic and crazed as Midnight.

✶ ✶ ✶

“Twenty-nine, thirty, thirty-one,” Deus slowly counted up with each exhale as he found himself with nothing to do inside this small damp room. The sound of rattling could be heard from outside, accompanied by the occasional stomping of boots.

He had already forgotten how many times he’s restarted his count, but it had surely been quite a few times so far.

“Hah,” he sighed, “I wonder what’s going to happen to me… what’s going to happen to Droh…”

The door to his room slowly creaked open as only a moment ago the sound of old metallic keys could be heard scraping against the outside. An old shaky man peered his head through the opening as his eyes fell upon Deus.

With a slow exhale the man worded, “I’ve been told to retrieve you, please follow me and bring your things.”

“Ah,” Deus was giddy to move again. He lifted himself up, tossing away all his previous thoughts as he grabbed for his bag of supplies that he had prepared before everything had begun.

Deus took one final glance around the room he had waited in. The walls were dark and rustic, with the occasional spot of old brown rust of the metal patched throughout the walls and ceiling.

It wasn’t a pleasant room, and yet Deus almost felt pity at the thought of leaving it. Inside that room he could be alone, he could think, he could take a moment to truly ponder what had happened.

Now, however, he knew he was being whisked away to another place, and would find the idea of peace and quiet to be a shallow and distant thing.

The old guard slowly muttered out as he led Deus through the corridor, “Keep close to me, otherwise, you may find yourself lost without a guide. I’ve been instructed to bring you to the top, seems you’ll be leaving us soon.”

“Leaving? You mean the tower?”

“Exactly so,” the man nodded, “Seems you’re being taken along with the higher-ups. Any more than that and I’d only be guessing.”

“I see… well, I suppose I couldn’t just sit around here without expecting anything to happen.” Deus took a moment to ready himself as he gave a quick thanks to the old guard for helping keep him in the know.

They very quickly arrived atop the tower once more, the open air of Midnight invading their senses as the crimson sky sat, looming overhead.

It was ever-present and almost malevolent, as if some ancient demon lurked within the darkness of the world, watching each and every step of all its inhabitants.

Even the rays of light that cascaded down from the single lone black star that sat above the sky seemed heavy, burning at the flesh.

While everything was happening, Deus had hardly noticed it, but now that he had a moment of peace and quiet he once more came to the realization that the world of Midnight was a horrifying place. One created simply for slaughter, or even worse, from slaughter.

“Droh!” Deus shouted out as he eyed the small faun who had accompanied him throughout his entire journey thus far. Droh had been brought alongside him, to his satisfaction. It seemed that wherever Deus was going, Droh would follow him.

Was this a mere token of good faith, or something else?

“Deus!” Droh rushed over to his friends' side, jumping up and falling into Deus’ arms as he gave his companion a tight squeeze. Because of Droh’s small size and stature, it was rather easy for Deus to hold him up and put him back down.

Worryingly, Droh said, “I thought you had already left this place, I thought I was left behind.”

“Of course not, I told you, we’re friends…” Deus reassured him, “I’d put up a fight if they tried to separate us, you can count on that.”

Droh collected himself as he looked around, only now did he realize that quite a few soldiers had surrounded them.

“What’s happening?”

Deus twisted around to look, “I’m not sure, but I think we’re leaving this tower… seems that was the reason why we were brought here, that is.”

“Oh,” Droh whimpered out, “Headed where I wonder…”

“Long time no see,” a voice cut in from behind them. A woman and a man approached them, parting through the soldiers and stepping forward toward them. “Have you gathered all of your things? We’re heading back to Direfell for the time being, seems we’ve got new orders.”

“Lady Evelien,” Deus called out toward her, “So it’s you.”

Stood to Evelien’s side was the familiar looking Reinout, quite the beast of a man. He grunted out between his heavy breath, “It seems you’re both allowed to live a little while longer, congratulations. Such a shame, though, as I’d been looking forward to snapping you both into two.”

“Enough of that,” a third voice ordered from behind them, masked by a heavy black cloak.

“Captain, sir…” Evelien and Reinout both lowered themselves to a ninety-degree angle as they saluted, their heads aimed downward so as to show subservience.

“Get aboard the ship, we’re leaving now,” Roch instructed the two of them, only to turn his attention toward Deus and Droh afterward.

“You two as well, we’re heading back, and you both will be accompanying me. Get aboard my ship and behave yourselves, we’ve got quite the journey ahead of us.”

Roch turned his gaze upward, facing both the crimson sky and the black star that loomed overhead. His voice wandered, slowly trailing off as he thought silently to himself.

At his command, the array of soldiers quickly began moving, causing a sort of hustle and bustle atop the tower as heavy crates and machinery were loaded onto the ship and moved throughout the platforms that sat around.

Roch stood alone as everyone else had already begun acting. Deus and Droh were escorted onto his ship by Evelien and Reinout, while their master Androma already found himself comfortable within his own quarters.

He sighed to himself, whispering silently so only he himself could hear.

“Here marks the beginning of a new journey. A long journey, one that will most likely reforge both Midnight and even the Ether as a whole. I’m not sure what is to become of me, but I won’t simply roll over and obey so cowardly. I think it’s time for me to start involving myself in these affairs, to stop being such a bystander.”

He slowly exhaled his breath, blowing out into the sky.

“You want a God? I’ll give you a God.”