Chapter Nine: Shadows of the Scribes
Night settled over Astra City like a heavy cloak, but the underground refuge was anything but quiet. Maps were spread across tables, hushed arguments filled the air, and every few minutes someone rushed in with new information about Scribe patrols sweeping the streets above.
Ryan sat on a wooden bench near the far wall, his arm resting on his knee. The black cracks beneath his skin pulsed faintly, glowing with a dim, unsettling light. He tried to ignore the pain, but it gnawed at him like a warning he didn't yet understand.
Liana sat beside him, her shoulder brushing his. "You're shaking," she said softly.
"I'm fine," Ryan lied.
"You're terrible at lying."
He managed a weak smile. "I'm learning."
Before she could respond, Seris approached, her expression grim. "We have a problem."
Kael and Mira followed behind her, both looking tense.
Ryan straightened. "What happened?"
Seris pointed to the map on the table. Several red markers had appeared since earlier. "The Scribes have expanded their search. They're not just looking for you anymore—they're hunting anyone connected to us."
Liana's eyes widened. "They know about the refuge?"
"Not yet," Seris said. "But they're getting close."
Kael crossed his arms. "We need to move before they corner us."
Mira shook her head. "Moving now is dangerous. The corruption in Ryan's arm is accelerating. If we push him too hard, the system might destabilize."
Ryan looked down at his arm. The cracks had spread past his shoulder.
"How long do I have?" he asked quietly.
Mira hesitated. "Hours. Maybe less."
A cold weight settled in Ryan's chest.
Seris stepped forward. "There's one option. A risky one."
Kael frowned. "Seris—"
"He deserves to know," she snapped.
She turned to Ryan. "There's a place outside the city. An old sanctuary built before the Scribes took control. It's said to hold remnants of the original Fateweavers—the ones who created the Mirror."
Ryan's breath caught. "And it can help me?"
"Maybe," Seris said. "If the legends are true, the sanctuary contains a way to stabilize your system… or at least slow the corruption."
Liana grabbed Ryan's hand. "Then we go."
Kael shook his head. "It's not that simple. The sanctuary is deep in the Whispering Forest. The Scribes avoid it for a reason."
Mira lowered her voice. "People say the forest bends fate itself. Paths shift. Time warps. Those who enter don't always return."
Ryan swallowed hard. "But it's my only chance."
Seris nodded. "We leave before dawn. The Scribes will be weakest then."
A chime echoed in Ryan's mind.
[New Quest: Reach the Sanctuary]
[Time Limit: 10 Hours]
[Warning: Corruption Level Critical]
Ryan stood, ignoring the pain shooting through his arm. "I'm ready."
Liana rose with him. "We're doing this together."
Seris gave a sharp nod. "Then gather your things. Once we step outside… every choice you make will matter."
Ryan looked toward the ceiling, imagining the city above—the Scribes searching, the Mirror glowing, destinies twisting in the dark.
For the first time, he felt the weight of what he had become.
A Fatebreaker.
And the world was starting to notice.