Chapter 19
The fire crackled in the dim light, its glow casting long shadows across the stone walls. Aloy sat across from Olin, her fingers tightening around her bow as she studied him.
He had always been a conflicted man—trapped between his guilt and his fear.
Now, he looked even more worn, his shoulders hunched, the weight of his choices dragging him down like an anchor.
"I have to go," he said, voice rough.
Aloy narrowed her eyes. "Go where?"
Olin hesitated before tapping the side of his temple.His Focus flickered to life, projecting a grainyholographic image between them.
A woman. A child. Bound. Their faces were streakedwith dirt, their eyes filled with quiet terror.
"My family," he whispered. "The Eclipse took them. They're using them to control me, that's why I had no choice in the Nora lands."
Aloy frowned, her stomach twisting at the sight.
"They're being held somewhere South of Meridian," Olin continued. "Near the old world ruins,I don't have an exact location. I need to get them back."
She studied him for a long moment. "And then?"
Olin exhaled. "Then I'll find them somewhere safe they can live. Somewhere the Eclipse will never reach them, Then I'll appear before your Matriarchs to be judged."
For the first time, there was something in his eyes other than fear. Resolve.
Aloy nodded. "Then go, But if I have to come find you to bring you to be judged by the Matriarchs expect a few bones to be broken."
He hesitated, as if searching for words, then simply gave a grateful nod before stepping into the darkness.
The fire crackled.
Aloy let out a breath, adjusting her gear.
She had her own battle ahead.
Aloy had been traveling for hours, moving through rugged terrain, weaving between abandoned ruins and the remnants of roads fractured by time. The land here was different from the jungles of the Sundom or the craggy passes of the Sacred Lands. It was colder, quieter, the wind howling through skeletal skyscrapers that jutted toward the sky.
She was following the lead she'd gotten from Sylens and Adal after they deciphered information from the previous Digsite and the glyphs that she scanned using her focus .
The Focus on her temple flickered to life as she approached the coordinates she'd gotten. The Eclipse cult was digging for something out here—another site of ancient importance. If it was anything like the places she had already found, there would be secrets buried beneath the ruins, truths waiting to be unearthed.
She paused at the edge of a snow-covered ridge, her breath misting in the cold air. Below her lay the digsite—a massive excavation pit carved into the earth.From here, she could see Eclipse soldiers patrolling the perimeter, their dark armor blending into theruins. Corrupted machines skulked in the shadows,their eyes burning red, the telltale tendrils of HADES' influence writhing along their frames.
But what caught her attention most wasn't thesoldiers or the machines.
It was the tower looming in the background, its silhouette jagged and broken, yet still standingagainst time. Hanging from its rusted facade was a sign, barely legible, its letters faded but unmistakable :
"FARO INDUSTRIES."
This wasn't just another ruin. This was a piece of the puzzle.
She adjusted her grip on her bow and crouched lower, surveying the forces below.
"Who said this was gonna be easy?"
---
Adal in Meridian
Meridian was never silent.
The city breathed like a living thing, its streets pulsing with the footsteps of merchants, artisans, and travelers. Metal clanked from Osram forges, spices filled the air in the open market, and laughter echoed from the taverns. But today, a different kind of noise had spread through the city.
Whispers….
Adal walked through the upper district, where the nobles and high-ranking merchants gathered. He moved deliberately, blending in with the crowd. He wasn't looking for supplies or shelter—he waslistening.
"Ersa is missing," one voice murmured.
"Captured? Dead?" another questioned.
"They say she walked into a trap. The Vanguard is in chaos without her."
Adal stopped beside a fruit stand, his fingers grazing an overripe peach as he processed what he had just heard.
Ersa, Captain of the Vanguard, taken?
If that was true, then Meridian's military power had just lost its most fearless warrior. And if the Sun-King hadn't acted yet, then either he didn't know or he had no leads.
Adal turned away from the market and made his way to the elevator that led down to the Industrial District. The massive structure groaned as its gears engaged, slowly lowering him to the streets below.
From here, the view of Meridian's underbelly stretched before him—Osram workshops, their furnaces glowing like embers in the dusk, traders bartering with rugged travelers, the humming energy of a city built on both tradition and ingenuity.
He ignored the voices, the chaos, the distractions. He had what he needed. It was time to return to the base.
---
Adal's Base
Adal's base was hidden deep in the wilds, perched on a cliffside, its ruins half-consumed by nature. From here, he could see for miles, past the broken lands and into the wilderness beyond.
Above, Glinthawks circled lazily, their metallic wings reflecting the dying light of the sun. A Stormbird rested on a rocky outcrop nearby, its sharp gaze scanning the valley below. It was a dangerous place, but he preferred it that way,prevented anyone from entering.
Inside, he activated his Focus, the soft hum of technology filling the space before a glowing figure materialized before him—Sylens.
"You don't call unless you need something," Sylens said dryly.
Adal smirked. "Still as sharp as ever."
"Don't waste my time."
Adal crossed his arms. "I need to know—do you have any contacts in Meridian? Nobles, influential figures?"
Sylens was silent for a beat before responding. "Minor nobles. A few merchants. But nothing substantial enough to get you an audience with the Sun-King himself."
"Not what I'm after," Adal muttered. "Ersa is missing. Captured. Maybe dead."
Sylens arched a brow. "And why should that concern you?"
Adal exhaled. "Because she's valuable. If I save her, she owes me. If I let her rot, I lose an opportunity."
"Ah," Sylens said, amusement creeping into his tone."She could be useful in getting closer to the Sun King , and that opens a whole new door of opportunity ."
"That's why I wanted to meet the King , to get a formal commission, But oh well I guess it's the hard way then ." He said
"Well we'll see where it goes " and cut the transmission
The wind was picking up, sending a chill through the air as Adal moved through the base, He found Alana practicing with her spear on one hand and a shield like bracer on her other hand .
He smirked, walking up behind her. "You look like you're preparing for war."
She turned, raising an eyebrow. "When aren't we?"
Adal leaned against a nearby rock, watching her."How do you feel about… a little field trip?"
Alana crossed her arms. "Where to?"
"West," he said simply. "I'm not exactly sure yet , near the border."
She frowned. "That's Eclipse territory."
"Exactly."
A slow, knowing smile crept across her lips. "You found something, didn't you?"
Adal gave her a short nod.
Alana studied him for a moment, then adjusted the strap on her shoulder. "Alright," she said. "Let's go."
Above them, the Stormbird spread its wings, letting out a metallic screech as it took flight.
---
Back at the dig site, Aloy remained crouched, her sharp eyes scanning the Eclipse forces below. Dozens of them, armed to the teeth. Machines twisted by corruption patrolled in tight formations.
The tower loomed beyond them, Faro's name still etched in its bones.
Aloy exhaled, gripping her bow.
"Who said this was gonna be easy?"