Lyra's ascent in the Conclave's bureaucracy was meteoric. In less than a week, the skilled Elf had presented the report on the "Traitor Arcanist" with such precision and conviction that Grand Commander Valerius had promoted her to Chief Custodian of Archives. Ren's safety net was firmly woven.
Ren found himself in his study at late hours of the night, away from the Paladins' gaze. He wore dark civilian clothes, not his Commander armor. On the obsidian table, a small, rough, unpolished black metal object vibrated with an energy his Forged Light abhorred: it was the communicator binding him to the Ash Queen.
The pulse was urgent. Ren activated the device, forcing a professional coldness.
"Commander Ren," he said.
The Queen's voice, deep and resonant, didn't bother with greetings.
"Your influence is established. It's time to pay your debt."
"Tell me your objective," Ren replied, feeling the Shadow's grip on his soul, reminding him he wasn't an ally but a coerced slave.
"The Altar of Memories," the Queen ordered. "It's an insignificant relic beneath the Main Library. It contains the original history of the native races. The Light has suppressed it, but it still emits a subconscious psychic wave awakening Elves and other races in Aethelgard. I need it broken, Commander. Permanently."
Ren felt a pang of alarm. Destroying that Altar wouldn't just cause political chaos; it would extinguish the last spark of cultural resistance within Aethelgard. This would benefit the Queen by weakening the Light, but also eliminate any hope of a native alliance against her.
"It's a strategically low-priority objective, Your Majesty. An unnecessary risk."
"Don't tell me what's necessary. This is an order. The Bond Magic ensures you'll do as told. Your brother is my pupil. A mistake, and he'll pay the price for your insubordination. Now. I need the destruction to appear like a high-level Shadow terrorism act, complex enough for the Light to blame the Elf Mages and fracture their alliance."
The Queen cut communication, leaving Ren alone with his mission's gravity. Sabotage, lies, and the sacrifice of innocent lives. His political ascent had come at the cost of his own morality.
The Thread of Betrayal
Ren knew he couldn't use brute force; that would expose his Light Magic. He needed infiltration and magical precision only the Archives Custody could offer. He headed to the custodians' private quarters and found Lyra in her small dwelling, studying scrolls.
She jumped up seeing him.
"Commander, is something wrong?" Lyra asked.
"We have a problem. The Ash Queen gave me an order," Ren was direct. He couldn't tell her the truth but had to appeal to her ambition and hatred of the Conclave.
"She wants me to destroy a minor relic, the Altar of Memories. If I do, she'll give me information on how to recover Kaito."
"The Altar of Memories? But..." Lyra covered her mouth with her hand. "That Altar is the only reason some of my sisters still have a sense of identity. If destroyed, the Paladins will use it to justify total purge."
"That's the truth, Lyra. But the destruction must appear like an attack by the Free Elemental Mages who hate the Conclave. Not the Shadows. If it looks like Shadows, I'm the culprit."
Ren moved closer, his eyes locked on hers, using his charm and position to force loyalty.
"I need you to access the Elemental Mages' database, locate their most distinctive magic signature and implant it at the explosion site. This will deflect blame. It's a risk, but it gives me power to keep ascending and eventually free you and your people."
Lyra bit her lip. The act was complete betrayal of her own race, incriminating the last resisters. But the reward of influence was too great, and fear of Ren palpable.
"I'll need Master-level access. Valerius will deny it."
"You'll have it," Ren handed her a small crystal charged with his own Forged Light Essence. "Use it to overload the door control system. I'll be downstairs waiting for the signal. If you fail, Lyra, not only will I fall. The Conclave will blame you for the Arcanist leak. You'll be alone."
The threat was key. Ren had elevated her to the top, and now the only way not to fall into the abyss was to obey.
"Done, Commander," Lyra said, taking the crystal with trembling hands.
Sabotage Under the Light
At midnight, Ren was in the Altar of Memories' chamber, a dim, dusty room protected only by the oldest, most obsolete magical barriers. He waited.
Ten minutes later, he felt a power pulse. Not Chaos, but a very specific, raw Elemental Magic signature: the one Lyra had implanted. The moment was now.
Ren channeled the Rune Leaf Magic, the same power Kaito was learning to counter. He unleashed a controlled explosion directly at the Altar's center.
It wasn't a high-power blast but a Light resonance that clashed with the ancient relic. The Altar of Memories shattered with a broken crystal sound.
As the dust settled, Ren felt the Ash Queen's Ash Bond tug. The link wasn't pain but satisfaction.
Well done, commander. Your loyalty is rewarded. Now, clean your trail.
Ren hurried out, leaving behind the ruins and the magic signature incriminating the Elves. The next day, the purge would begin. Ren had secured his political position but lost part of his soul and strengthened the Queen.