The door slowly creaked open, revealing a stone stairwell into a deep dark. Each step was rough with scrapes and chunks missing from the stone, like an old dungeon. Moss coated each surface, growing in the cracks between each rock. There was a slow drip of water collecting, dripping from cracks above. “Right, makes sense. Of course there’s a mediaeval staircase in a factory; oh Vas, you silly, silly guy, you should’ve thought about that, he muttered to himself.
Vas would admit that curiosity got the better of him, and what he found in that basement would become a turning point, a shock to the heart. The battery for the stagnant clock. He headed down, not knowing what would happen.
“Haah, it’s too dark down here. What was the light spell again??! They teach that basic technique in school…The teachers were right! I shouldn’t have flunked class,” Vas complained the moment he took a single step closer.
Thankfully for him and unfortunately for the factory owner. Large parts of the factory were set ablaze after the parasite rampaged. Providing a new way for Vas to see the basement. He thought it was fitting that he would descend down the dungeon-like basement using a makeshift torch.
The torch provided warmth and light as he descended down the basement. Each step felt like it was a hundred; he thought he must’ve been walking for hours. Every single stone began to look the same, all blurring into the same piece of rock… “This is looping…” Vas sighed.
Vas decided to test his theory by rummaging in his pockets and finding anything he could drop; the first thing he pulled out was a Silver Bullet branded pen. It dropped onto the step below him, and he continued thudding down each step.
Somehow, despite walking further down, he had ended up at the same exact spot as last time, with the pen still there.
“This is an issue,” Vas would describe.
“This can’t possibly be infinite; there isn’t a single technique this strong. Otherwise, I’ve signed my own death! Vas, the genius, the CEO! Died to goddamn stairs.” He shouted, shaking his fist in the air. He was trapped in a pitch-black staircase that was looping, and the sputtering flame on the torch won’t last forever.
How does he eat? Or even worse, how does he drink?
Two hours later.
The same stairs.
The same deep abyss staring back at him.
Vas Sabry had walked down the steps for what felt like an eternity, each loop only driving him more and more insane; it was never-ending. The same step, the same pattern in the rocks, the same drip of water from above. Each. Time.
Walking both up the steps and down didn’t change a thing; he ended at the same place each time. The once raging flame had now begun to die down, leaving only more of the void to take its place.
Five hours trapped in the staircase.
“What technique could even make this?!” Vas shouted. “Is this Mirro Assembly’s fault?” He questioned. Though, something just occurred to Vas. He doesn't feel thirst or hunger; it must’ve been at least 7 hours without eating or drinking.
Each step now just adds to the overexhaustion to him; 5 hours later, and he’s considering just sitting down; his legs are tired, and he doesn’t know what to do anymore.
Eight hours trapped in the staircase.
Blood.
The colour of red painted across each stone as if it were an art gallery. The same blood dripped from the knuckles of Vas’ hand. Was this just a dream? Then surely he would wake up if he felt pain, but nothing.
The torch was long extinguished with nothing but the void; the warmth of fresh blood splattered everywhere and the stone stairs.
The lack of light wasn’t a problem anymore; however, for the entirety of the eight hours he had been walking, the layout of the stairs was ingrained into his mind at this point. It was enough to drive anyone insane, so it’s a wonder that Vas still retained any semblance of himself.
Blood continued to drip the same as he continued to walk. He kept walking, walking, walking, walking, walking, walking, and more walking. Blood dripped, dripped, and poured. Yet it was still unchanging.
Ten hours trapped in the staircase.
Ring.
Ring...Ring...
He could’ve sworn his phone was ringing, but upon quickly checking, nearly dropping his phone in the process, There were no missed calls, no signal either. The time on the phone had been frozen since he entered. “10:00 PM”
“I don’t even know what the time is anymore; is it even passing? Sigh, I just want this done with.” Vas muttered. Frozen in stasis, his mind began to drift.
An unknown amount of time later.
He stopped walking; exhaustion had gotten to him, his legs gave out, and he collapsed on the ground. Sitting barely upright on one of the stairs.
“Damn it all!” Vas shouted, slamming his fist onto the stone once again, splattering the same blood, which had now dried on the walls.
Spiral, spiral, and more spirals. Stone, stone, and more stone. Walk and walk until your legs give up. Cry, weep. Nothing changes the situation. Forgive, forget, and make amends in your head; nothing will save you now, dear Vas.
You tried to run again; oh, how far you ran indeed. You ran until you couldn’t anymore, until that pain in your heart and lungs was too much to bear. You left everyone Vas, surely this is your rightful punishment?
It is all your fault after all.
Living in that penthouse, with riches on riches, so much money that one couldn’t even fathom your vast wealth. Yet you were empty still.
Give up, Vas; it’s time you end your sad, sorrowful tale once and for all.
“...Serpent.” Vas mutters yet again as he sees the passing silhouette of someone on the stairs below him.
“No. You’re the one who ran. You left us all Serpent and… It happened, the red night! If you had been with us still!!-- Then how many people would’ve lived that day? Vas shouted, using his only remaining strength to shout.
Vas stared at the silhouette for some time; she didn’t talk, but Vas could tell she was there. Maybe he was too far gone, but his heart told him otherwise; that serpent was truly here. Breathing.
“Keep going. Keep running. Don’t stop, not even if you hurt again. One day, I promise, you’ll find your way. You’ll find a path where you can walk, where you can take your time and enjoy the path. You can find a path where you don’t have to run.“ Serpent whispered just loud enough for Vas to hear.
He stayed silent.
“The same words you told me before you left.“ He sighed, with a slight smile on his face. “I’ve always wondered if I'm just clinging onto a small hope, a sliver of hope that you were still alive.” Vas mutters.
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Something fell out of his pocket. Strange; there was nothing in there earlier. Vas picks it up, stains of red coating his hand. It was a letter, a bloodied and tattered one at that. Vas held it up to his eye; he could barely see anything, but somehow, like Serpent’s silhouette, he could see what it said.
“Dear whomever this may reach. This is a formal invitation to The Assembly. Whatever your truest, most innate desire is, it shall be found here. Welcome to The Assembly.” The latter stated, at the bottom, was a signature that Vas couldn’t believe.“ - Dendera Sabry, the Assistant.”
“...Sabry.” Vas looked closer; he was sure that was written. “Someone from the Sabry clan. It’s a shame I know nothing about my own family.” Vas exhaled.
He decided to start walking one last time, with this invitation of sorts in his pocket. “How do you even expect someone to get there? Sure, you’ve invited me, but that’s pointless if there’s no information about where it is?!” Vas shouted as he walked down.
Suddenly, the torch relit aflame, and there was a door.
Finally, Vas had reached the bottom and was greeted with a metal door.
“Hah… Haha… Damn it, I’m not even sure if I should open this door; what if it’s just more repeating rooms?” shuddered Vas.
He reminded himself of those words Serpent told him; he thought about it for a moment, his hand trembling over the handle. Surely, the correct path is to walk through here? Otherwise, he would’ve failed this ‘challenge’ of sorts.
The handle was pulled down, and the door swung wide open…
Behind the door, and the seemingly infinite staircase, was another entire factory. It looked completely different from the one above.
“Perfect harmony,” Vas described upon seeing the assembly lines. Everything worked like clockwork. Machines and almost soulless people both collaborating, a perfect union of machine and life.
Not a single speck of dust or any rust was in this factory. It was almost… beautiful. Above the assembly line was a second floor, much like the factory above, but this one contained even more lines.
On the wall above the assembly line was a large logo, “MIRRO ASSEMBLY,” combined with its logo. The logo of Mirror Assembly was a mirror with a machine in its reflection.
Vas was caught up with the pure beauty of this factory; he was captivated after seeing something so amazing after being trapped in the dark for who knows how long. Something had snapped him out of it…
It’s all a facade.
“I remember this. Though, I thought they weren’t around anymore...” recalled Vas.
He reminded himself of Hyunsoo’s words. This factory may be considered a work of art by itself, but it’s no longer around. It was just a fleeting memory.
But, Vas decided he was going to exploit this memory.
Who knows? A perfect recreation of a once-gone company. How many secrets lurk underneath? If Hyunsoo was correct, that would mean a gold mine of company secrets is near him.
Sure, the company itself is gone. However, to most people in the world, the trade secrets and classified files are worth far more than anything the company held. Companies are only worth how much they can hide and extort.
So even if ‘Mirro Assembly’ is no more, their secrets are still buried. Which means their true company worth still stands.
And Vas will exploit that.
Each company has their own ‘Authority.’ Whether that be a company authority or one held by a higher up. They are the next step up in the essence tree, being even stronger than techniques. Authorities are named literally, being able to give yourself a certain percentage of control over the universe. Having your authority be known to the country is certainly a bad fate.
Which is why Vas was surprised when Cathodic was so willing to hand it over to Vas; if he wasn’t slightly afraid, he could’ve sold it to a fixer.
Fixers are a more illegal kind of agent who specialise in reverse engineering techniques.
Essentially, agents are people who take on contract jobs; these can be anything from saving a cat in a tree to killing an entire group of people. Agents are typically fighting each other for a promotion or fighting other agents from a rival company. Fixers, on the other hand, are ultra-specific agents who use illegal methods to reverse-engineer techniques and authorities.
Technically, murder is illegal according to the VISC Enforcers, but it is such a rampant crime that they don’t bother to even address it. You’ll expect to be arrested if you’re in a small town or city, but once you’re in a big city, you’re pretty much free from the law.
That is, if you don’t piss VISC off.
They are the shadow puppeteers; no one knows much about them, but everyone knows enough to stay out of the way of them and their enforcers. Fixers risk their very existence to their art.
Once upon a time, there was a company that broke several VISC laws. No problem; they’ll just pay a hefty fine and move on, but they kept breaking more laws. More specifically, they broke the law regarding a detonation of a Saint-Class Technique, the strongest there is. They tore up declarations and letters and thought that they ruled the world. So VISC sent a single enforcer… and not a single member of that company is now alive.
No one has ever lived to see an enforcer to know what they even are.
Vas continued walking down the factory, hoping to find something of worth; in the distance was an elevator with a single light above in a narrow corridor.
“Surely, they don't have an infinite elevator… Who am I kidding?! Of course there’s going to be an infinite elevator.” Vas shouted as he walked towards the elevator.
The elevator was warm and was decorated with a luxury type of wood found in the northern parts of Eluthorn; this wood was also named “Eluthorn.” It was valued for its dark, rich colour and a slight blue tint.
“What kind of company was Mirro Assembly? This is all too fancy for just a factory—” Vas wonders as he looks at the elevator buttons.
“Basement 110.”
“Is this a sick joke? Damn it, this elevator may as well be infinite.”
Vas reluctantly presses the button to take him to the lowest basement. He figured that the “true” secrets would be at the bottom, where it would’ve been the most guarded.
The elevator hummed and buzzed as it descended. Vas took the opportunity to sit down, with his back to the wall and facing the entrance. He held a gun in his hand, and his eyes bore a full concentration; whatever was down here… He would face it.
Some time later…
Vas was rudely jolted awake by the opening of the elevator door. Revealing sparsely illuminated corridors with an ominous silence. It was quiet, almost on the verge of peaceful but also strange. It’s a factory, and he was on the 110th floor, but Vas expected at least some noise.
“I suppose this is where the secrets would be.” Vas mutters as he steps forth. “It’s cold here.” He notes as he shivers. With each breath, clouds of frost formed.
Unlike the top floor, this one was derelict. Cold and dark. As Vas continued to walk further into the corridor, he noticed even more. Shelves and tables thrown down, shattered glass and red stains. That’s when Vas realised that something happened here.
“Did Mirror Assembly collapse from the inside? I’ve heard of factions inside of corporations but not to this scale—?! Did they break VISC code, and they sent an enforcer?” Vas wondered.
Light.
Light came out from the edge of the corridor. It flickered on and off as a faint beep could be heard. It happened out of the blue, like Vas stepping forward had triggered something to activate. Maybe it was remnants of this place coming back with each step.
Around the corner, he peeked. The surface of the walls was freezing, beyond what Vas could even describe as ‘cold.’ It was a temperature that he hadn't felt before, yet somehow, he could keep his hands there. Despite feeling how cold it was, his body didn’t react to it the way he would expect.
His eyes darted around the corner, immediately looking for any danger, but he couldn’t find any. Then, his eyes locked in on an old-looking terminal. It has fallen over, shining its light onto the wall. Wire strung around and piled together as if it were a spider’s web.
Vas stepped towards the terminal, a red liquid splattered across its screen. He grabbed hold of the massive hunk of machinery and readjusted it. The terminal’s light was bright blue, projecting itself onto the wall.
In the wall, a faint message could be made out: “WE BECOME ONE. REUNITED, REASCENDED.” The faintest of words could be made out, only if Vas squinted. Almost like an afterimage. Vas did a double-take, looking at the terminal again, but no message was displayed on it.
“You became one?” Vas mutters; he then realises that this wasn’t an afterimage…
“BY THE AUTHORITY, WE ASCENDED TO EVEN GREATER HEIGHTS” The message displayed.
“An authority, huh…“ Vas questions while gripping the Cathodic Authority in his hand; he decides to ask the question.
“What happened to this place?” He asks.
“GRAND WINTER. ENFORCER. OH, THE BLOOD THAT POURED OUT. IT WAS NECESSARY; SACRIFICES HAD TO BE MADE.” The message replied to Vas.
He was talking to this computer.
“And who are you?” He asked.
“WE ARE SIMILAR, PEOPLE TRYING TO RUN. WE RAN AWAY FROM THE WORLD, BUT THEY CAUGHT US. VISC IS ALWAYS FASTER. OH, THE SLAUGHTER, IT WAS HORRIFIC. CO-WORKERS, ENEMIES, ALL DIDN’T MATTER. WE ALL DIED THAT DAY TOGETHER.” The message displayed.
“VAS SABRY. FOUNDER OF SILVER BULLET. THEY WILL ONLY EXERT MORE CONTROL. OUT OF TIME, IN SIGHT, THEY WILL STRIKE AGAIN. NO ONE CAN HARM AN ENFORCER.” The message told him immediately after.
“Are you on the computer?” Vas asked.
“NOT QUITE. FABRICATION. UPLOADED CONSCIOUSNESS, CONFINED TO MACHINE. TAKE ME OUT, LET ME BREATHE THE AIR, ONE LAST TIME.”
“Sure. I can do that, but I’ll never go against VISC. I’d rather they just kill me than struggle and settle for the lesser punishment.” Vas stated that before reaching over to the terminal, he saw some sort of memory card and took it out.
“VISC is such a pain…” Vas sighs.
Vas put the memory card into his pocket and then continued walking down but was caught off guard when the computer turned back on.
“THE SITE OF THE MALICE. RETURN THERE. OCTOBER 10TH ”was the final message before it turned off.
“15 days… And Zeno? I was there for the Zeno disaster.“ Vas questions, but he decides that he’ll head there.
He was correct; he found a secret of the company. Sure, it wasn’t a secret he could sell or one he had proof of immediately, but he had a lead. Vas made his own theory with this lead, that the Assembly may have had a part in the collapse of Zeno and even further, may have been the reason for The Grand Winter.