“There, all done”

In the quiet workshop of Thaddeus and Elara, the clinking of tools ceased as Elara put the finishing touches on Emily's mechanical side. The dim light flickered off the metal surfaces, casting long shadows that danced in the corners of the room.

Elara stepped back, wiping her greasy hands on a rag, and with a satisfied smile, declared, "Come, test it out."

Emily, her eyes wide with anticipation, stood up hesitantly, her new mechanical limbs now whirring with sound. She took a few cautious steps, testing the delicate machinery, and then her face broke into a smile. She moved with grace and ease, her mechanical side functioning perfectly.

Overwhelmed with joy, Emily rushed forward and embraced Elara, whispering a heartfelt, "Thank you," into the kind artificer's ear.

Elara smiled at Emily's enthusiasm and patted her on the shoulder. "You're very welcome, dear. Now, go ahead and test it out. Make sure it feels just right."

As Emily bounded off to explore her newfound abilities, Alexia approached Elara, gratitude still shining in her eyes. "Thank you so much for fixing her. You've been a lifesaver."

Elara waved her hand dismissively. "No need for thanks. It's what I do.There’s a pride in the craft, our family has been doing this for centuries just like many others in this city. "

Alexia leaned against a cluttered workbench. "You and your grandfather seem to run quite an unusual workshop.I wouldn’t have found it if we hadn’t stumbled into this alleyway"

Elara chuckled, casting a fond glance toward the back where Thaddeus could be heard muttering to himself. "Oh, you have no idea. Our little shop has seen its share of oddities and wonders over the years."

Alexia raised an eyebrow, her interest growing. "Could you tell me more about your work and your family? If your family really has been doing this for a long time then it’s weird that your shop is so small"

"I'd rather not dwell on the past, you see. It's filled with memories, some not quite so pleasant." Elara's eyes took on a somewhat somber tone as she responded. “You know what there’s something I want to show you”

"Of course," Alexia replied with genuine interest. "I'd love to see whatever you're willing to share."

Thaddeus, who had been muttering in the corner, grumbled, "No one should lay eyes on it, Elara."

Elara shot her grandfather a stern look before turning back to Alexia. "Don't worry; you're trustworthy. Follow me."

Elara led the way, her footsteps echoing softly in the dimly lit corridor. Alexia followed closely, anticipation building with every step. The corridor twisted and turned, and just when Alexia thought they might be lost, Elara stopped before an ornate, engraved door. With a deft hand, she pushed it open, revealing a room bathed in soft, ambient light.

It stood large and proud. Its skeletal frame was exposed, revealing an network of gears, pistons, and cables. The steel plating that covered parts of it lay scattered around, awaiting assembly. Every detail, from its jointed limbs to its segmented torso, exuded a bright blue light.

One arm, adorned with a massive, articulated gauntlet, stretched outwards, as if frozen in the midst of a mighty strike. Another arm held a complex array of tools, as though it had been working on itself.

"It's an Automaton," Elara explained, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "There are many of them throughout the city, each serving various purposes, but none quite as substantial as this one."

Alexia recalled seeing something similar at the gates of the city. It guarded the gates, welcoming her and Ed in. However that was nothing compared to the thing in front of her.

Elara gestured toward the Automaton, inviting Alexia to come closer. "Would you like to see more? There's something truly special about this Automaton that not many are aware of."

Elara's eyes shone with enthusiasm as she explained, "You see, Alexia, what makes this Automaton truly exceptional is that it's designed to be piloted from the inside. It's not just a machine; it's a tool that can revolutionize how we build and create within the city. With this, workers can achieve feats that were previously unimaginable."

Alexia, however, couldn't help but voice her concerns. "But what if this power falls into the wrong hands? What if it's used to harm others or even the city itself?" She grew up watching men try to persuade her father to wage war to expand the kingdom and gain resources, she knew exactly what type of people are out there in the world. Those who are greedy, those who are wrathful, those who seek conquest above all else.

Elara dismissed her worries with a reassuring smile. "Oh, Alexia, you have quite the imagination! Our city is built on principles of order and harmony. We've never used our innovations for destruction. This Automaton is no different; it's here to improve our lives."

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Alexia thought for a second. Perhaps she was right, this city is certainly different from all the other kinds. I mean where else would you see something like this, a giant construct made of metal which you can control. She would have believed it was magic before thinking it was man made.

The Mech's head, still awaiting its final components, featured a visor-like cockpit with a glass canopy that allowed the pilot to see out while being protected from the elements. Elara had already climbed up the structure and entered the cockpit of the massive Automaton. From within, she extended a hand toward Alexia,

bubbling with excitement. "Come on,you've got to see this from the inside!" she exclaimed.

As Alexia stepped into the cockpit of the Automaton, she found herself surrounded by an array of complex machinery, gears, and levers. It was a marvel of engineering, and she couldn't help but be in awe of the design. She would have never saw something like this if she hadn’t ran away from the palace.

Elara, however, quickly brought her back to reality. "It's not finished yet," she admitted, her tone tinged with a hint of disappointment. "There's still work to be done before it's fully operational. But..."

She turned to Alexia with a mischievous glint in her eye. "How about a little test drive?" Elara suggested, practically begging for her to say yes.

With a hint of hesitation still lingering in her mind, Alexia nodded reluctantly. "Alright, but it has to be quick. Emily's waiting for me."

Elara flashed a bright smile and began manipulating the controls within the cockpit. The Automaton responded with a low hum as its systems powered up, and it slowly started to move.

Her stomach lurched, this was not going to be quick.

~~

He staggered back from the gruesome scene, his face contorted in disgust and horror. The massive Sandstalker lay before them, its once towering form now reduced to a mangled and bloody mess. The ground was soaked in crimson, the air heavy with the metallic scent of blood, and the carcass was strewn with a nightmarish display of entrails and organs.

Unable to contain himself any longer, Ed doubled over and retched violently, his stomach emptying its contents onto the already gruesome terrain. His body convulsed as he continued to vomit, and his face grew pale from the overwhelming shock of the sight.

Clayton, though grim and battle-worn himself, approached Ed. He patted Ed on the back in a reassuring manner, even though his own hands were smeared with the blood of their fallen foe. This was a terrible day for both of them, he understood that.

Ed's stomach twisted and churned, and he stumbled away from the carnage, retching violently. His face turned a sickly shade of green as he heaved again and again, unable to control his body's response to the gruesome sight. This was strange, he had seen his fair share of bodies before but why does this particular corpse bother him so much?

Clayton wiped his blood-soaked hands on his trousers and turned to face Aric, the caravan master. Both of them wore expressions of exhaustion mixed with a hint of despair. The once-mighty caravan was now reduced to a smoldering wreck, and their fellow travelers lay scattered across the dunes, either dead or wounded.

Aric let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping as he surveyed the scene. "Well, Clayton," he began with a heavy heart, "I reckon we're in quite a predicament here. My caravan's done for, and we've lost good people today."

Clayton nodded in agreement,“It's a grim situation we find ourselves in. But at least we're alive."

Aric's gaze shifted to the horizon, where the setting sun cast long shadows across the desert. "Alive, yes, but stranded in the middle of the Depraved Wasted. We can't stay here, that's for sure. And I doubt we can make it back to Gear Gate or Sandhaven on foot."

Clayton ran a hand through his hair, he considered their options. "You're right,we need to find someplace safe and recuperate. I say that but where can we go? This desert doesn't exactly offer much in the way of shelter."

Aric's eyes widened as he saw Ed collapse onto the sand. He ran past Clayton and knelt beside Ed, observing the alarming changes in his appearance. Ed's face, once tanned from days in the desert sun, now bore a sickly, purple hue. His veins pulsed visibly under his skin, a stark contrast to his usual rugged appearance.

"By the spirits," Aric muttered,"This looks like poison, Clayton. I've seen it before, back when I traveled through the Eastern Desert. It's deadly."

Clayton rushed to his friends side and examined him "Poisoned? But that Sandstalker didn't bite or sting him. How could he be poisoned?"

Aric's gaze shifted from Ed to the Sandstalker's lifeless form. "I've seen my share of Sandstalkers, Clayton, but this one… it was clearly different. I've heard tales of mutated creatures out in the desert, ones that developed new tricks to survive. This Sandstalker must have secreted poison through those ridges on its back. When Ed touched it, he got poisoned."

Clayton's eyes widened in realization. "Damn it, I should have known those ridges looked suspicious. But why didn't I get poisoned? I touched them

“I was wearing gloves so I never came into direct contact with it” he looked towards the black leathery pairs enveloping his hands. Clayton clenched his fists, "Do you know anything about this poison? How to counteract it?"

Aric shook his head, his voice tinged with frustration. "I'm no expert in poisons, Clayton. We're in the middle of the desert, far from any help. We don't even know the antidote. All I know is that we need to act fast."

They both looked down at Ed, who was gasping for breath, his face growing paler by the second. Clayton gritted his teeth, his resolve hardening. "We can't just sit here. We have to find a way to neutralize the poison, or Ed won't make it."

Aric nodded in agreement. "Agreed, but how? We need something to counteract the venom. Perhaps there's a desert plant or herb that could help."

The desert sands seemed to stop moving entirely as a figure approached them. Dressed in flowing white robes that seemed to shimmer in the unforgiving sunlight, he bore a crown of thorns upon his head.

With measured grace, the figure knelt beside Ed, his presence exuding an otherworldly aura. Gently, he touched Ed's forehead, and a subtle, golden light radiated from his fingertips. Ed's lifeless pallor slowly began to regain its natural hue, and his labored breathing grew steadier.

The figure muttered softly to himself, as if whispering ancient incantations. "You were tainted by the poison, but you are now purified. Your soul has been cleansed."

Clayton, his voice trembling with awe and disbelief, found the courage to speak. "Who... who are you?"

"I am known as Theophilus, the Bringer of Renewal," he replied in a voice as melodious as the wind's whisper. "I wander these desolate lands, seeking those in need of purification."

Aric, still trembling from the encounter, spoke up with reverence in his voice. "You're one of the Deities, aren't you?"

He nodded, his thorn-crowned head tilting slightly. "Indeed, I am a Deity, though I do not seek the adoration or worship that others might crave. I am here for a purpose, as is everything in this world."

Theophilius turned his attention back to Ed, who was now breathing normally, his color fully restored. "The price for this healing is not measured in coins or possessions but in your actions," he declared solemnly. "If one is healed he must also endure suffering. Ed, must now face a great trial, for his life has been spared for a reason. The choice is yours to make."

Clayton turned to Ed, who was still recovering, and realized that he could not make the decision for him. However he wanted him to live most of all. He sighed and spoke to Theophilus. "We accept your offer. Ed will undertake this trial. However I request that I share this trial with him if it might ease his burdens"

The Deity inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Very well. I shall grant him the strength to continue, and his journey shall begin. You shall join him as well"

As they watched, Theophilus raised his hands, and a radiant light enveloped Ed. In a matter of seconds he was back to his normal self. Clayton looked somberly at Ed as he slowly awoke. It was not his choice to make and yet he decided his life for him.

His hands were quivering. What had he done?