And thus we're mired within the bower
of endless void, eternally dire,
from where none retreats but knows defeat,
eternal damnation's empty quire.
----------------------------------------
"An absolute, complete, utter, and undeniable failure."
The words fell like thunder from Zark'thul's lips. He loomed over the line of his Agents in the Tower's Command Room, his human guise shedding all pretense of calm. His eyes burned, and his voice shook with the rage of his ancient self, slipping past the confines of his mortal shell.
"Sir—" Agent Four began, but Zark'thul cut her off.
"Silence!"
Four winced.
Zark'thul prowled back and forth like a caged beast. "One, you were slow. Too slow."
One flinched, but he stood straight. "Understood."
"Two, your strikes were careless. Three, you missed one of the Echo Beasts. It was my mistake that ruined our harvest, but your sloppiness contributed to the failure."
Two and Three remained silent, but their eyes betrayed the sting of his words. He ignored it. He continued with his searing criticism, "Five, you hesitated. You were too late in deploying your traps. And Four—" He turned to her, eyes narrowed. "Your lack of initiative and poor positioning hindered Three. You need to stay closer to the vanguard and midline fighters."
Four didn't even nod this time; she stood motionless, her gaze cast down at the polished floor.
Zark'thul took a step back, his eyes boring into each Agent in turn. "You've grown complacent. Lazy. Unworthy of the resources I've provided."
Two finally spoke. "We've never had issues completing these missions, sir. Perhaps this one was too advanced—"
"Enough," he barked, the single word echoing through the Command Room. "You've had your time to speak. Now you listen."
The room fell into a tense silence.
Zark'thul paused, drawing a deep breath to compose himself. "This directive was different. I see that now. Perhaps I underestimated its complexity. Perhaps I overestimated your competence. I wanted you to feel challenged. I thought that the change of pace would make you better."
He paused again, shaking his head. "No excuses. No blame. Just facts. You all have grown... lax. That's all there is to it."
Zark'thul tapped at the screens, the data from their failed mission blooming into crisp clarity. "Look at the footage. Look at how you all moved. You were all sluggish, too reliant on your prior experiences and instincts. The Echo Beasts outmaneuvered you."
They watched in silence as the scene from the bog played out before them—their movements, the enemy's strikes, and Zark'thul's own struggles with the Aetherroot, all under the flickering lights. The footage revealed the stark truth: they hadn't been ready, and Zark'thul's mistake, while crucial, wasn't the sole reason for their defeat.
As the final images faded, hespoke again, his voice quieter but no less firm. "We're doing this directive again. And you will improve. I expect growth, not regression. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," they responded in unison.
He noticed they didn't meet his eyes, though. He had berated them, yet he wasn't wrong. He had watched the footage several times, and every time, it had only made him more upset. The way they had fought was unlike them.
Zark'thul had grown so used to their easy victories that he'd become blind to their faults.
"Back to your barracks," Zark'thul finally said. "No missions today. Or tomorrow."
The Agents moved off, their footsteps echoing softly in the spacious room. Zark'thul stood there, watching them disappear through the door. When they were gone, he sighed and turned to his screens, resuming his analysis.
The door opened again. This time, it was Elspeth.
She walked up beside him, her gaze flicking over the data scrolling across the screens.
"Sir," she said, her voice a calm counterpoint to his earlier outburst. "May I offer an observation?"
Zark'thul waved a hand dismissively. "Speak, Elspeth. What is it?"
"Their failure may not be solely their own. It could be an issue with your leadership."
He didn't immediately reply.
While he knew he wasn't entirely blameless, he was the one with all the knowledge, all the information. It was their job to follow his command.
So how could this be his fault?
His hands moved over the screens, pulling up more data, more footage. Finally, he spoke. "Elaborate."
"As I mentioned, sir," Elspeth continued, "there could be flaws in your approach. The way you prepared them, the way you executed the mission—it all factors into the final result."
"Get to the point, Elspeth. What am I missing?"
Her eyes, glowing softly, met his. "Sir, you might need to take a closer look at your methods. Your role isn't just to issue commands and expect results. You need to ensure they are prepared."
"I am doing that," he retorted sharply.
"Are you?" Her tone was measured, diplomatic. She was questioning him without sounding like she was questioning him. "I have analyzed the situation, and the footage does not fully support your assessment."
Zark'thul looked at her, his expression darkening. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"
Elspeth moved closer, pointing at specific frames in the holographic display. "You assigned the task of harvesting the Aetherroot yourself, which may have led to the mission's failure. Perhaps a more suitable approach would have been to delegate the task to a capable Agent while you coordinated and oversaw the mission. Also, the Agents seemed... disconcerted by the change in mission type. Perhaps more communication and preparation could have better prepared them for this unexpected challenge."
He mulled over her words, the sting of failure still sharp in his mind. But he couldn't deny her logic.
His attention had been focused on his own task, not on his Agents. He had expected them to react instantly, seamlessly, as they had with the murk beasts. Yet, the mission had required a different set of skills and coordination. They were unaccustomed to this type of directive.
Perhaps Elspeth was right. Perhaps he could have prepared them better. But their sluggishness, their lack of initiative, their hesitation—those were on them.
He couldn't deny her point. Not entirely. But he wasn't ready to admit it aloud either.
"I see," Zark'thul said finally.
Elspeth paused, her head tilting slightly as if assessing him. "You might benefit from more training yourself, sir. In leadership."
Zark'thul bristled. "I am not in need of training, Elspeth," he snapped, his voice cutting through the silence. "What I need is efficiency. And what I don't need is back-talk."
"As your assistant, it is my duty to provide insights," she replied, her tone as steady as ever. "Your success is my primary directive. If you fail, the Tower fails. We are intertwined in that regard, sir."
A long, uncomfortable silence hung between them. Zark'thul glared at her, but her placid expression didn't falter. The only sound in the room was the soft hum of the screens and the faint echo of his breathing.
Finally, Zark'thul exhaled sharply through his nose, turning his gaze back to the screens. "Your counsel is noted."
She dipped her head, accepting his tacit acknowledgment. "Is there anything else I can assist you with, sir?"
"No, Elspeth." He dismissed her with a wave. "That'll be all."
She nodded once more before turning away. The door hissed shut behind her, leaving him alone.
Alone again. Except, not truly. The Tower's presence surrounded him, a constant reminder of his new reality. Of his duty.
Zark'thul closed his eyes, pushing down his anger and frustration. Elspeth was right—he knew that. But the idea of admitting his own shortcomings, of needing to learn, rankled him.
"Leadership training," he scoffed under his breath. The very idea grated on him.
He, an eldritch being who had traversed the cosmos, consumed entire galaxies, and commanded legions of lesser entities, needed to learn how to manage a handful of Agents? Absurd.
But the more he ruminated on it, the more his perspective shifted. Perhaps it wasn't a question of his capability, but of adaptation. He was no longer operating on the cosmic scale he was accustomed to. Instead, he was confined to the intricacies of this Tower, its rules, and its eccentricities.
The mission had shown that.
Maybe he did need to learn—to evolve—like the agents under his command.
----------------------------------------
Zark'thul overlooked the Darksheen Fens's monochromatic vista from a distant rise. Behind him, his Agents moved a step back to allow him his peace. The hillock sat somewhere between his current position and the bog itself. While it wasn't a very high point to observe from, his senses allowed for a much finer analysis of the region.
Directing his enhanced gaze into the Fens, he saw the ley lines undulating underneath the desolate pools and radiant flora. Their fluctuating nature wasn't clear at this distance, but their dance cast off flashes of brilliant, aquamarine illumination wherever they strode. These kaleidoscopic chrysanthemums of vivid light periodically exploded from the muck or murky waters, before fizzling into evanescence once more.
Here and there, the flickering wisps of several Echo Beasts emerged from the trees, briefly forming tangible shapes. As they phased through the ether, their nebulous bodies refracted light from the ground below. Soon, those beings dissolved, leaving the Darksheen Fens in relative calm once again.
Six hours to collect four Aetherroots. Each one had to be harvested during the five-minute dimming phase, which itself had a cooldown of an hour. Depending on how far apart each plant lay, the squad would need to travel quickly from place to place in order to make the deadline. Yet haste could jeopardize their caution.
As he mulled over these thoughts, his lips had pressed tightly together in his seriousness.
If he opted to just delegate, his Agents could do the work, while he monitored the process... though that's not what he really wanted. Zark'thul yearned to complete these tasks on his own. To dig up the Aetherroots himself, to employ the knowledge that would assist him in his imminent tasks.
His lips scythed. Though that wasn't the most efficient method, was it? His lack of expertise had made him mess up that last Aetherroot, if nothing else. If one of his Agents who was a Support role—more deft, better capable of finesse—had extracted it, would the mission have failed? ...Or not?
No, Elspeth had been correct; he'd do more harm than good by sticking his hand into the task too deeply. Instead, his role would be to monitor, support, and relay the necessary information to them, coordinating their efforts, allowing his Agents to shine and perform as needed.
He turned towards Agent Four, her silver hair dangling long over her face, concealing everything save for her mouth, jaw, and neck. "You shall harvest the first one, Agent Four."
"Me?" she said. "But I don't—"
Zark'thul took out his AetherLink and panned the display toward her. "Watch."
And she did. The screen revealed a holographic rendering of hands slowly and patiently unwinding a knot. He didn't speak. No, he had Elspeth prepare a video tutorial instead.
Agent Four watched it a full three times in silence. Behind her, the other Agents did the same, absorbing the content alongside her. The sun crept past the horizon while they absorbed the instructions, casting the marshlands in a ruby light.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
When they were done, Zark'thul knew that he should instill some confidence in his team, given the berating he had so readily doled out last time. His lips unfurled slightly, and he attempted to smile at her. From the way her eyes crinkled nervously at the corners, however, he suspected that it wasn't the reassuring kind of smile.
For her part, though, Four just nodded with a mock, dazed bravado. "Understood... sir."
At the bottom of the rise, they entered the Darksheen Fens. With every step, their legs sank through the rich, black soil and became coated in the fine spray of mist that shrouded this swampy wasteland. As Zark'thul trudged deeper into the Fens, the once-palpable glow had already begun to dim and then diminish, plunging them all into a sea of shadows where every footprint, every slosh of their feet in the murk, and every labored breath seemed to echo tenfold.
"The waning phase is about to begin," he told them. "Expect Echo Beasts to wander freely, as last time."
Zark'thul pointed towards the nearby, visible light of the Aetherroot, lying dead center in the bog. This one, too, was set into a divot on the ground. They sloshed through the mud toward their first objective.
With a nod, Agent Four began unwinding the complex strands, unthreading each of the fibrous roots from the tightly interwoven knot. Even though her brow furrowed and her breathing became ragged, she maintained a level of carefulness while tackling the intricate puzzle of the Aetherroot.
"This time, we'll ignore the bonus objective," Zark'thul whispered. "Echo Beasts, if you see them notice us, I want you to trail away from Four. Her task is paramount."
The Agents nodded in sync. Good. At least they were still efficient.
Two pulled out her blades, and the other agents fell into battle readiness. After another minute, they could hear the eerie thrum of the Echo Beasts humming through the darkness. Their shapeless forms coalesced nearby, pale mists gliding menacingly at the edges of the squad's awareness.
Facing multiple threats at once would prove to be a challenge. The murk beasts had been simple creatures, governed only by instinct. These beasts... were different. They moved and struck in ways Zark'thul wasn't fully used to. Yet, at least.
One grunted, "Here they come."
Two hissed, "Time to play. Think you can keep up, One?"
"I can try to let you keep up, you mean, Two," One retorted.
In response, Three grimaced. Five suppressed a chuckle. Agent Four tried to grin as well, but her lips merely quivered—before returning to the task at hand.
Zark'thul silently noted their byplay without commenting. Was this some kind of coping mechanism they had, then? Perhaps it was...
But then a pair of Echo Beasts broke off from the rest and slid towards their position. One swiftly interposed himself between them and Agent Four, who remained intent on the Aetherroot's threads. In a fluid motion, he planted his feet and raised his shield to face the creatures. "Try me."
The two Echo Beasts coiled around One, hissing and spitting spectral froth that lingered in the air, evanescing and distorting the weak light that passed through the area.
Three crouched lower and steadied her rifle, letting off two shots—one for each of the creatures—which punched two distinct holes in their smoky, nearly-white bodies. Her efforts dispersed them briefly, turning their amorphous forms into chaotic vapors that spiraled and eddied through the swamp mists.
Five finished setting up his traps near the position of One, who quickly backed away so as to not get caught in their blast radius. All the while, Two stayed further back with Three and Zark'thul, even if her hands itched on her blades.
"Just a few more strands, sir," Four murmured behind them, her fingers deftly working through the last of the knots.
Three barked out, "Incoming!" as another Echo Beast spiraled and gathered itself in the air.
Zark'thul aimed the pistol he had commandeered from Four earlier and shot the creature directly in its center of mass. It staggered, as Three sent out another salvo from her rifle, keeping it at bay. Five scurried off to the side, having quickly placed explosive traps around the area, anticipating their foes' approach.
Two looked lost without a target, but her hands stayed busy twirling her blades nevertheless. When her gaze briefly met Zark'thul's, she pursed her lips.
"Just two left," Four grunted as she pulled one last knot away, her words turning into a hiss through her teeth. She reached up and shook her head slightly, to brush away the tendrils of silver hair that had fallen over her face, obscuring her view.
One blocked a part of an Echo Beast that nearly trailed Four, using his shield as a protective barrier. Another one circled them, sending wisps of itself around in a confusing whirlwind. Before it could reconfigure, Agent Two quickly darted between them, letting her blade slash through its ephemeral form. Her keen edge shredded through the creature's ghostly body, dissipating it into thinning ribbons that faded away into the darkness.
"Nice strike, Two," Three shouted, before cocking her rifle. "Bring your shield around, One!"
As ordered, One repositioned his bulwark as the second and third creatures collided against it. Three took aim and fired, her shot penetrating through the phantom and exploding a trap set by Five. The detonation dispersed the Echo Beast, though not entirely.
Zark'thul kept an eye out for any other Echo Beasts while also checking on Four's progress. She was almost done.
"This is the last one!" shouted Four, as she disentangled the final thread. The Aetherroot bloomed to life in the wake of its separation, bathing everyone nearby in a gentle, kaleidoscopic radiance. "Success!"
"That's what I like to hear," Zark'thul replied. "Everyone, retreat."
They hopped from one dry patch to the next. Their footfalls echoed hollowly off the trunks of the gnarled trees dotting the landscape. They leaped across fallen logs, slippery with moss, and skidded down embankments. Mud splashed and caked on their bodies. In their wake, the luminescent fog seemed to curl around them like ethereal fingers.
A glance over his shoulder revealed that the Echo Beasts, though not quick enough to keep up with their movements, continued to stalk them. In their eerie, smoke-like forms, their undulating shapes spread throughout the air, subtly probing. It was hard to guess where they were until they fully reappeared into view.
"Where to, sir?" Agent Four asked as they approached the hillock they had observed the region from.
"We'll have to head all the way out there." Zark'thul gestured further southwest, to where the route displayed on the AetherLink had their next stop.
Agent Two fell in close to him. "So, back onto the muck we go, then," she commented.
"The plan remains the same," Zark'thul replied. "Scout the area. Track the movement of Echo Beasts. And while we wait for the next phase, decide our approach."
Two nodded, her gaze lingering on him for just a moment longer before she peeled off, joining her peers.
Zark'thul pressed forward. With the map guiding him, he descended back towards the bog, carefully picking his way through the murk, his Agents just behind him.
----------------------------------------
By the baleful bier's tolling bells
Midst a writhe of chortling horror
Creep we silent 'neath the gray
where never were we wanted.
Back amidst the swamp, they stood vigil beside the Aetherroot. Zark'thul's watch ticked down the minutes until the dimming phase was due to hit once more. Four put her hands on her knees to better lean in and examine the threads, though did not yet make a move to undo them.
"They're out there," One said quietly, his eyes scanning the murky water. He subtly adjusted his grip on his sword. Beside him, Two smirked, her blades resting lightly against her shoulders.
Nearby, Three had her rifle ready, its barrel tracking the shadowy movements of the Echo Beasts. "I see at least seven... No, make that eight."
Five busied himself by setting another trap close to their position. The explosive device glistened in the fading luminescence of the Darksheen Fens as he activated it. "Set," he announced.
Zark'thul had initially expected Four to show some kind of nervousness, especially considering this was her first time, but instead, her demeanor surprised him. Though her silver hair hung over her features in a sort of shroud, what little he could see of her expression was placid, her jaw set. Only a slight tightness in her shoulders hinted at the importance of her task.
"Everyone's ready, sir," Five added quietly as he moved to stand beside Four. "Just on your mark."
Zark'thul nodded, checking his AetherLink screen one final time. The dimming phase would begin soon, along with the luminescence decay that signaled their opportunity to harvest the Aetherroot.
Ten seconds remained on the countdown, then five.
Four was already crouched low, her fingers poised over the glowing, aquamarine threads.
Then the device buzzed softly—the alarm for the dimming phase.
"Go," Zark'thul said, his voice measured and steady. Immediately, Four began working the knots, her movements deft and precise despite the trembling in her hands.
The lights of the Darksheen Fens dimmed around them, reducing their immediate surroundings to obscure shapes and shadows.
"Here they come." Agent One announced, his shield held at the ready. Their line of sight had diminished as well, relying mostly on Zark'thul to describe their enemies' locations.
Three engaged a shape in the darkness to his left, letting loose with a burst of gunfire from her rifle. The sharp barks of her weapon echoed off the water, sending ripples cascading across its surface. With each burst, the muzzle flare illuminated the silhouette of an Echo Beast writhing in the murk.
After their previous encounter, Zark'thul had already planned out how he would contribute to this skirmish. If Three had better positioning and range with her rifle, then his pistol would be of more use dealing with closer-range threats. As a phantom reached toward him, its nebulous form wavering in the scant light, he drew his sidearm and fired. The shot cut through the mist and dispersed the creature into thin, gaseous streamers.
Their struggles only brought him a thin smile. Good. His reflexes remained keen.
Two zipped past him. Her dual blades reflected the meager luminescence, like spectral claws as she leapt into action. In the air, she twisted her body and brought one of her blades down onto an Echo Beast. It emitted an eerie shriek. Inky, smoky plumes roiled off its form from her attack, evaporating into the stale air.
While her blades alone did little, the combination of her cuts with everyone else's shots was enough to at least deter the Echo Beasts for the moment.
Then Five, from his position to the right, spoke up. "Eight o'clock, Agent Three."
Zark'thul whipped his head over to the direction Five had indicated, just in time to spot a third beast gliding through the knee-high water. Its long, undulating appendages carved swathes of liquid in its wake, darkening the surface.
He took aim and fired, disrupting the creature's advance. Three pivoted on her heel, pointing the barrel of her rifle towards the source of the splash and unleashing another round of shots. Her bullets ripped through the murky air, cutting into the Echo Beast's phantom shape, rupturing it momentarily.
During that skirmish, Agent Four worked swiftly, her hands weaving through the intricate web of threads, careful to not miss a single tangle or knot. If she did, the Aetherroot would shrivel and die. Just like his own...
The scattered battles raged around him.
As his Agents continued their clash against the Echo Beasts, Zark'thul observed the beasts' behaviors from the corners of his eyes. From their past encounter, he understood their abilities better. First, their keen senses were quick to detect their presence and position. He still had yet to parse out what ability these entities possessed to perceive their surroundings. Did they have eyes? Ears? Or something else?
Second, they seemed to prioritize disrupting any attempts to harvest the Aetherroot. When they discovered Agent Four in the midst of untangling the luminous plant, their attack strategy shifted. Those nebulous shapes circling the squad made a beeline for her position. This tendency acted in his favor, since their single-mindedness allowed his squad to push back against them more easily.
Agent One let out a grunt as he batted away one of the Echo Beasts' thrashing appendages with his shield. The creature snarled in protest, its shape morphing erratically as it reeled back.
Zark'thul fired another round at an oncoming enemy, dispelling its corporeal form for the moment.
"Focus on protecting Four," he called out to them. "We'll survive this."
"You know what, boss?" Three commented through her heavy breathing. She quickly slid a new magazine into her weapon. "I kinda like the sound of that!"
Two scoffed at her. "Yeah. Dying's overrated, Three."
A shrill growl punctuated her words as Two brought her dual blades down on another Echo Beast. "Boss, maybe you should fire off some more orders," she called out to him. Her words carried the hint of a jest, but as she stepped back to avoid a swipe from the writhing mists, there was a certain appreciation in her tone.
While Two appeared the most animated and lively of the bunch, everyone seemed to react to their foes with a better ease than the previous encounter. None of the Agents froze up. None hesitated. Even Agent Four, despite the obvious fear lingering in her mind, nonetheless calmly worked on the Aetherroot's extraction.
"Got it!" Four shouted after a moment, yanking the last threads free and clutching the radiant plant triumphantly to her chest. She scrambled away from the divot to get as far from the creatures that had nearly caught her, safely tucking the Aetherroot inside the rucksack at her side.
At her declaration, the surrounding Agents repositioned around her.
"Go," he told them, firing his gun in rapid succession. The air buzzed with the frenetic hum of the pistol.
Nearby, Five ran past an Echo Beast and triggered his explosives. The trap released a potent blast, sending waves rippling across the dark swamp water. Shrapnel and the concussive force tore through the already scattered mists of an Echo Beast's form. Its nebulous shape fragmented and whirled in a frenzy of disrupted particles, fading into obscurity once more.
With the path now clear, they made a swift exit. No more Echo Beasts appeared behind them.
Two nodded at him as she jogged alongside. "Nicely done, boss."
He responded with a silent nod back, allowing himself a small smile.
----------------------------------------
[Directive 1-2: Harvest Aetherroot from the Darksheen Fens Complete!] Reward: 100 EXP, 10 Quintessence Shards, 1 Basic Experience Core, 4x Aetherroot, 1x Iron Breastplate (+20 DEF)
A series of images splashed across his AetherLink's screen, detailing different plant anatomy and terms, as well as instructions on how to mill, refine, and process the materials. Zark'thul scrolled past all those to access a notification detailing his rewards, before deactivating the screen and slipping it back into his jacket.
They exited the portal, returning back to the Nexus Room. Like always, Elspeth greeted them by the entryway.
"Welcome back, sir," Elspeth said with a subtle bow, her black suit sharp amidst the sterile gray environment. "Another mission success. Congratulations are in order. Do you wish to engage in another Directive, or—"
"Agents, return to the barracks," Zark'thul ordered. He peered over his shoulder at the four of them.
To his surprise, the Agents hadn't collapsed in a heap. Though their postures were fatigued and their bodysuits and faces were plastered in muck, they appeared more relaxed than before. Agent Four clutched the backpack at her side with a wan smile.
"Get yourselves cleaned up and rested," he added. "I'll do the same. Take the time to debrief."
"Understood," they acknowledged in sync.
As she passed him, Agent Two paused. Her lustrous hair was soaked and disheveled, dangling down her face like dripping, silver threads. Though, Two still gave him her usual grin. "See ya in a bit, boss." And then she continued walking alongside her teammates.
Two's carefree nature took him off guard, but she at least remained focused when necessary. That mattered.
Only when they disappeared past the corridors did he turn his attention to Elspeth once more, who still stood dutifully nearby. She peered at the mud caked over his body as well, before looking him in the eye again.
Zark'thul met her gaze. A wry smile played at the corner of his lips. "Do you still think I need leadership training now?"
Her stoic mask broke into a soft smile of her own. "I believe your performance showed improvement, sir. Leadership is an ongoing learning process. However, you did well, today."
Her non-answer frustrated him, but at least she didn't persist in her thinking. That was enough to appease him for now. Besides, it had felt satisfying to prove her wrong.
"Any other reports?" He was, in truth, looking forward to a shower and a fresh change of clothes. Despite not viewing his current form in high regard, he still wished to present himself in the best manner possible while inhabiting this body.
She gave a curt nod. "One."
"Oh?"
"I recommend recruiting another batch of Agents sooner rather than later, sir. It will greatly expedite the rate of your progress in the Tower and ensure more safety and stability for both the Agents and yourself."
That had been in his plans anyway. "Noted."