Chapter 27: The City of Secrets
The city loomed ahead, its towering spires stretching up into the sky, casting long shadows across the land. The gates, once imposing and strong, now seemed almost inviting, like a shelter from the storm that was brewing. Yet, as Tara, Emrick, and Kael approached the city, the weight of the world seemed to settle even more heavily on their shoulders.
The Council had always been a place of power, of decision-making, but now it felt more like a gathering of survivors, clinging to what little order remained in a world that had been irrevocably changed.
Tara's mind was far from the city's gleaming walls. She was already deep in thought, pondering the revelations they had uncovered. The First, the gods, the seal—they were all pieces of a much larger puzzle, one that they hadn't even begun to fully understand. And time was running out.
The gates opened slowly as they approached, a guard stepping forward to greet them. His eyes widened as he recognized Tara, his hand instinctively moving to his weapon. Tara held up a hand, signaling for him to lower it.
"We need to speak with the Council," she said, her voice steady, but edged with urgency.
The guard hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Of course, Lady Tara. The Council is expecting you."
They were led through the city, the streets bustling with people trying to resume their lives after the chaos of the gods' fall. Markets had reopened, families had begun to rebuild, but there was an underlying tension in the air. A wariness that everyone shared. The gods may have been defeated, but the threat was far from over.
As they entered the council chambers, Tara felt a familiar chill. The room was grand, with high ceilings and large windows that allowed the light to flood in. At the far end of the room, seated in their respective thrones, were the Council members—men and women who had once held immense power, now looking smaller in the wake of the gods' destruction. Their expressions were a mix of weariness and apprehension.
Tara stepped forward, her eyes sweeping over the faces of the Council. "We need information. The First is still a threat, and we need to understand its origins. We need to know what it truly is."
The head of the Council, an elderly woman named Lady Jara, leaned forward. Her gaze was sharp, though her body was frail with age. "You have our attention, Tara," she said, her voice grave. "But you know as well as we do that the gods took much of their knowledge with them. The First is... something beyond our understanding."
Tara shook her head. "I understand that, but we need to know everything you do know. The gods feared it for a reason. We can't wait until it's too late."
Emrick stepped forward, his tone calm but insistent. "We need your help, Lady Jara. The First is more than a mere force of destruction. It's something ancient—something that could reshape the world if we don't stop it."
Lady Jara exchanged a look with the other members of the Council. A moment of silent communication passed between them before she spoke again.
"There are stories. Ancient tales passed down through the generations, but they are fragmented, incomplete. They speak of a time before the gods—the time of the First." She paused, her eyes narrowing. "But these are only myths. Even the gods themselves never spoke of it in full."
Tara's frustration bubbled to the surface. "We don't have time for myths. We need facts. We need to know what the gods were hiding from us."
Kael, who had been standing off to the side, his arms crossed, finally spoke. "Isn't there any record? Any hidden scrolls or forbidden texts that might shed light on this?"
Lady Jara's gaze softened as she looked at Kael. "There are. But they are sealed. Locked away in the deepest archives, guarded by ancient wards and protections. Only a handful of individuals were ever allowed access to them, and they have long since vanished."
Tara's eyes narrowed. "Then we go to the archives."
The Council members exchanged uneasy glances. "You cannot just walk into the archives," one of them warned. "It's a place of great danger, filled with traps and safeguards. Many have died trying to access its secrets."
"I don't care about the dangers," Tara said, her voice cold with determination. "If those archives hold the key to stopping the First, we'll find a way inside."
Lady Jara studied Tara's face for a long moment, her eyes filled with a mixture of respect and sorrow. "Very well. But know this—there are those who do not want the truth to be found. There are forces in this world that have their own reasons for keeping certain secrets buried. You will face more than just the First on your journey."
Tara didn't flinch. "I've faced worse."
Emrick put a hand on her shoulder, offering silent support. "We'll be ready."
The council chamber fell silent, the weight of the decision settling over them like a heavy fog. There was no turning back now. Tara had made her choice. The journey to the archives would be their next step—into the heart of the city's darkest secrets.