Chapter 46: The Web of Lies
Tara stood at the edge of the camp, the wind biting at her skin as her thoughts spiraled out of control. Obsidian's words were like poison, sinking deep into her mind. The idea of a new game, a game with rules they had barely begun to understand, threatened to unravel everything they had built.
She turned to see Emrick and Kael approaching, both men looking equally troubled. Their expressions were grim, and Tara knew they were all thinking the same thing. The peace they had fought for might already be slipping through their fingers, just as they had feared.
"What do we know about him?" Tara asked, her voice tense. She was done with uncertainty—Obsidian had made his move, and now they had to prepare for whatever came next.
Emrick's eyes narrowed, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Not much. He didn't exactly offer up his history willingly. But we know one thing—he's no ordinary person. He's been hiding in the shadows for a long time, pulling strings we didn't even know existed."
"And he's tied to the old gods," Kael added, his voice tight. "This isn't just some rogue faction; this is bigger. He's not working alone. There are others, just like him, waiting for the right moment to strike."
Tara turned away, her hands clenched at her sides. "Then we need to strike first."
Emrick's voice softened. "We can't go after him blindly. Obsidian is dangerous. We need to find out who his allies are, what his resources are, and most importantly, what he's planning next. Charging into the unknown will only make us vulnerable."
"Agreed," Kael said, his eyes hard. "But we can't wait too long. The longer we let him plan, the more dangerous he becomes. We need information, and we need it now."
Tara's mind raced. She knew Emrick was right—they couldn't take Obsidian head-on without a solid plan. But at the same time, the urgency of the situation was suffocating. Every moment they wasted allowed Obsidian to gain more ground.
"We'll send scouts," Tara decided. "Track down his movements, find out who's supporting him, and figure out where he's hiding. We can't afford to wait for him to come to us. We go to him."
Kael nodded. "I'll take a small team and head to the nearest settlement. We'll see if we can gather any intel on Obsidian's associates. He's been around longer than he's letting on, and someone must know about him."
Emrick gave a sharp nod. "I'll contact the allies we have. The ones who've been keeping their distance since Ludicar's fall. They might be the key to understanding what's really going on."
Tara looked at both of them, her gaze unwavering. "We'll move quickly, and we'll do this together. No one gets left behind. We're not just fighting for survival anymore—we're fighting for the future of this world."
As they prepared to depart, Tara felt a familiar weight settle over her. It was the same feeling she had had when they first set out on their journey to the Forgotten Vale. Back then, they had been uncertain, unsure of what lay ahead. Now, that uncertainty was even more oppressive. They weren't just facing the remnants of an ancient world; they were up against something far darker, something that threatened to tear apart the fragile peace they had built.
"We'll find him," Kael said quietly as he looked back at her. "And we'll stop him."
Tara nodded, but deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that Obsidian's game was already underway—and they were only seeing the first move.
---
Days passed as Tara's group scoured the region, gathering intelligence and tracking down any trace of Obsidian's influence. The land was still healing, but beneath the surface, something darker was festering. Whispers of strange gatherings in the dead of night, cryptic symbols carved into trees, and mysterious figures lurking in the shadows all pointed to the same thing: Obsidian's reach was growing.
Finally, the scouts returned with something concrete—a lead. A small town to the north had been acting strangely, with several of its leaders disappearing over the past few weeks. The people there had been behaving oddly, almost as though they were under some sort of compulsion. And the most troubling part was that a group of unknown individuals had been seen moving in and out of the town at all hours, always cloaked, always masked.
"That's it," Tara said, her voice low. "Obsidian's pulling strings again. We have to get there before whatever he's planning reaches its climax."
Kael, who had been inspecting the report, looked up. "What do you think he's doing? What's the end game here?"
Tara clenched her fists. "I don't know. But I can't shake the feeling that this is about more than just power. Obsidian wants something deeper—something that goes beyond the gods and their games. He wants to shape the future, control it, and the only way to do that is by manipulating those around him."
"I don't like the sound of that," Emrick muttered. "We can't let him succeed. If he's taking control of people like this, it could spread. And if he's doing it now, he's already had time to build a following."
Tara stood tall, a sense of purpose rising within her. "Then we'll break the web before it can spread any further. We need to move fast—no more waiting around."
They gathered their gear quickly and set off toward the town, their resolve hardening with each step.
---
When they arrived, the town was eerily quiet. The streets were deserted, and the buildings appeared to be in disrepair, as if something—or someone—had taken a toll on the once-thriving community. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and even the animals seemed to avoid the place.
"We need to be careful," Kael whispered as they crept through the empty streets. "There's something wrong here. It's like they're all just… waiting."
Tara nodded, her senses on high alert. "Stay close. Don't trust anything."
They moved deeper into the town, until they reached the central square. There, they saw it—an altar, carved with the same symbols Obsidian had used, standing ominously in the middle of the square. Around it were figures cloaked in dark robes, their faces obscured.
And standing before them, bathed in the dim light of the dying sun, was a single figure—a man with an unsettling, familiar presence.
Obsidian.
He turned slowly as they approached, his lips curling into that same cold smile.
"I've been expecting you," he said, his voice smooth and calm. "You're too late, you know. The game has already begun."
Tara's heart pounded in her chest as the full weight of the situation became clear. This was no longer just about power—it was about control, manipulation, and a struggle for the very heart of the world itself.
The game had begun, and this time, the stakes were higher than they had ever been.