Whispers of the forgotten

Chapter 12: Steam Trains and the Lost Pendant

A month had passed since Morpheus began his work as an official investigator, and he was beginning to feel the monotony of his daily routine. He still enjoyed the taste of hot coffee and strawberry cakes he bought every morning before heading to his work, but something deep within him kept stirring—an unsettling feeling of being lost. Little did he know that what lay ahead would be a true test of his intellect, will, and strength.

On that particular morning, he entered Gyrman's office, where the head investigator was seated behind his desk, buried in a pile of maps and documents. The room's atmosphere was grim, with sharp rays of sunlight filtering through the windows, casting harsh shadows on the individuals sitting in the corners as if time had frozen.

"Morpheus, there's a new mission in the city of Arkelia," Gyrman began, his voice calm but carrying an underlying seriousness Morpheus had come to expect. "A report came in about an attempted theft of an artifact from the Eternal Hope Church. The suspects are members of the Forgotten Ones."

"The Forgotten Ones?" Morpheus whispered to himself, recalling vague memories of this mysterious organization he knew little about. There were rumors that they sought to destroy sources of Aether in the world, but the details had always been unclear.

"Yes, and we now have a lead pointing to their presence in Arkelia. I want you to go there and investigate. But there's something else you need to know before you go."

Gyrman leaned forward slightly, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again. He gestured to an old painting on the wall, which displayed a strange symbol: a fusion of sacrifice and destruction. The symbol depicted a body suspended on a cross, surrounded by strands of blood, the agony it conveyed was palpable. Tiny details around the symbol pointed to ancient rituals, a blend of darkness and eternal life.

"This is their symbol," Gyrman said in a hushed tone. "The Forgotten Ones follow this iconography. It represents sacrifice and destruction in the pursuit of their mysterious goal. If you see this symbol in Arkelia, know that you're dealing with someone very dangerous."

Morpheus froze for a moment. The vision he had seen in his first dream began to take shape more clearly in his mind. There was an immense power behind this symbol, a dark force that could be more dangerous than anything he had encountered so far.

"I understand," Morpheus replied in a deep voice, his mind quickly processing the information. "I'll go now."

Before he left the office, Gyrman added, "Remember, Morpheus, this mission is more than just tracking. If you find any trace of their presence, eliminate them before they cause more chaos. These people don't play by the rules of life as we know it."

---

Soon after, Morpheus found himself aboard a steam-powered train, staring out the window. The massive train raced across the land, its engine roaring like a beast devouring everything in its path. In this world powered by steam technology, steam trains were one of the marvels of the age, regarded as a prestigious mode of transportation. The wheels of the train pressed firmly against the metal tracks, creating a rhythmic echo that harmonized with the gusts of wind hitting the windows.

Inside the train, the floors were made of treated pine wood, and heavy curtains fluttered in deep, dark colors. For Morpheus, this journey represented a brief respite from the constant strain of his work. His eyes gazed out the window, watching the landscape change as the train sped through rolling hills, dense forests, and, in the distance, the shimmering outlines of cities.

Arkelia, his destination, was located at the southernmost tip of the continent. It was one of the largest and most significant cities in the world, renowned for its blend of ancient architecture and the modern advancements brought by the steam age. The city attracted adventurers, traders, and scholars alike.

Outside the train, the sky above the continent was clouded with gray, and the streets stretched far into the horizon, with medieval towers emerging from the landscape, their designs standing out against the natural world.

"Arkelia…" Morpheus murmured to himself, a slight unease settling in his chest.

As the train continued its journey, Morpheus knew that his next mission would prove to be far more complicated than he had anticipated.

---

While he was watching the view from the train window, he suddenly collided with another person walking down the aisle. The force of the impact caused something to fall from the stranger's hand. Morpheus stepped back, startled, and saw a peculiar pendant lying on the floor, gleaming faintly in the dim light. Without hesitation, Morpheus picked up the pendant, noticing its striking design: a black crown surrounding red gemstones that glowed softly.

However, before he could inspect it further, the person who had dropped it quickly rushed away, disappearing into the crowd. Morpheus tried to follow, but the stranger had already vanished from sight. He wondered if this encounter held any deeper meaning than just a chance collision.

"A black crown with red gemstones…" Morpheus whispered to himself

He felt that this pendant might be the beginning of a larger mystery. Still, there were other details that caught his attention, like how the stranger had vanished so quickly, leading him to wonder if it was simply a random event or if it was somehow connected to the organization.

"I'll find out more once I reach Arkelia," Morpheus said quietly, slipping the pendant into his pocket as he turned his focus back to his mission.