The investigation party entered the village at dusk. The usual movement in the village slowed as Alyssa and her team passed through. Conversations quieted as eyes followed them. Simply because of what they were carrying.
Two of the lieutenants bore the weight of the bound figure between them. Even restrained, it looked out of place in many ways. Too smooth and uniform not akin to this world.
"What is that?" someone whispered.
No one answered as they all marveled at the figure, the question lingered longer than it should have.
Alyssa did not stop to answer any of these questions. She led her team straight toward the central tree and the chamber beneath it.
---
Inside the Council Chambers, the doors opened, however Jennifer was already there waiting patiently for results.
She stood near the center of the room, hands behind her back. Her gaze moved from Alyssa to the restrained figure without visible surprise.
"At least you found something, whatever that may be" she said with confusion.
"Yes, capturing it was a hassle though, but we have concluded that this...might be responsible " Alyssa replied.
They lowered it onto the stone floor slowly. The vines remained tight around its limbs as Jennifer stepped closer. For a moment, she did not touch it just yet.
She simply observed. "Any more information about the situation?" she said.
Alyssa spoke plainly. "Eh–yes we found it near the site of the guardian's death. It observed us from a distance without attacking. Then it fled upon us discovering it."
"You pursued it through the forest?."
"Yes, but it waa pretty fast." Alyssa replied, Jennifer nodded once.
"Any other signs of life, it might have not been alone judging from its manner?" she asked.
"None thay we could find," Alyssa said. "I would say though it doesn't breathe or r—react normally."
One of the lieutenants added, "Its body is… solid like iron, definitely not flesh, plus theres no warmth, its exterior is cold for some reason."
Jennifer crouched near it with more questions than answers. She extended her hand slowly and placed her palm against its arm.
Her expression did not change. "Cold indeed, let me check if theres any magical residue" she said. She closed her eyes briefly.
A faint green glow formed around her hand as she channeled energy into the contact point.
The glow spread slightly across the figure's surface—then stopped with no feedback or resistance.
She opened her eyes again. "No natural energy flow or magic, it might not even be a puppet belonging to a alchemist, or the magical user is quite proficient in hiding their trace" she said.
"That means, its not a living construct right?" one of the lieutenants asked.
She stood and spoke. "Bring the detectors, I need to know more of whats at play here."
---
A set of druidic instruments was placed around the figure. Small carved stones. A bowl filled with water. Thin rods etched with runes.
Jennifer activated them one by one. The stones dimmed, and the water remained still however the rods did not react.
Silence filled the chamber. "Its not registering," Jennifer said with shock she tried to hide immediately.
"As what?" Alyssa asked. Jennifer looked at the figure again.
"As anything, not a human, or a beast, definitely not Druid or elves, this thing doesn't exist!"
That answer settled heavily. One of the lieutenants spoke. "Wait, so If it's not alive… and not magic or any known creature…"
"Then it is something else entirely, this matter has become even more serious than i enticipated, gosh what a headache." Jennifer finished.
Alyssa paced slowly around it. "It has to be soom kind of a tool," she said after a moment. "Or a construct. Created with methods we do not use."
"The human kingdoms?" someone suggested.
"Possibly."
Alyssa's gaze sharpened slightly. "If they've begun making things like this…—"
Jennifer nodded and continued on her behalf. "Then they are testing boundaries and probably building surveillance on us, they need to be stopped"
Jennifer looked at the restrained figure again with determination, "We do not destroy it, we study it, and assess its capabilities " she continued. "Carefully. It may tell us who sent it—and why."
No one argued and Alyssa gave a small nod. Jennifer gestured toward the lieutenants.
"Move it to the lower chamber. Isolate it. No one interacts with it alone. Dismissed"
They lifted it again and began moving it.
In the Lower Chamber, the figure was placed against a stone wall, the bindings were reinforced and the room was sealed.
A guard was stationed outside as One by one, they left, however Inside the Chamber for a long time nothing changed or moved
Then—A faint glint appeared beneath the surface of the Droids chest.
Barely visible, a small point of light, It flickered once, then stabilized. A pattern formed of digital numerals akin to countdown unnoticed.
-------
Later That Night —The bustling tavern was quieter than usual.
Alyssa sat at a corner table with a mug in front of her. She had not touched it much. The liquid inside had gone warm as alot was on her mind.
Her friends did not share her mood. "So it moved, in a wierd synchronized pattern?" one of them asked.
"I mean, yea–"
"And you're telling me it wasn't breathing or had any sign of life?" the young boy continued with relentless questions.
"That sounds like a Puppet to me, could be one of those Alchemists from the humans, I heard their getting better at turning creatures into abomination for fodder." Another young lady added
"That doesn't make sense though, that thing looks too smooth and well structurd like a human, to be like those abominations." Said a larger muscular Druid with an age hanging loosely from his back.
"Look bro It doesn't have to, abomination or not the humams are evolving their techniques and we should too."
Another leaned forward, chick's flushes red like tomatoes due to being intoxicated.
"Maybe it's a cursed construct. S-something from the *blurp* old ruins."
"Or a fuckin weapon," someone else added. "From the human kingdoms."
Alyssa did not respond immediately. She stared into the mug. "It doesn't have any magic, not a single fuckin trace" she said.
"Everything has magic Alyssa," one of them said. "Not this." The young lady interjected, pouring more alcohol into hee mug.
They exchanged looks. Speculating while arguing over possibilities they didn't understand.
Then—A sound cut through the night, like a sharp crack. Followed by a deep, violent blast.
*BOOOOOM*
The entire tavern shook, Mugs fell as wood creaked. Alyssa was already on her feet.
"F–fuck, it came from outside," she stuttered as she hastily grabbed her weapon along with her friends who immediately sobered up.
---
Flames were already rising when they stepped out. A building near the inner circle burned intensely, fire climbing through its structure faster than it should.
Alyssa recognized the building immediately, it was the council Chamber. "No...That's where they took it," she said.
She didn't wait and immediately ran as others followed. The heat hit before they reached it like a strong force. The structure collapsed inward with a shower of sparks and burning debris.
"Water, get it out!" someone shouted.
But it was already too late. Alyssa moved closer, covering her face as smoke filled the air. When the flames began to die down enough to approach, they started clearing debris.
Charred wood and shattered stone with only blackened remains. One of the lieutenants pf the council pulled back part of the collapsed frame.
Then stopped. "Ah shit, everybody try not to look, its pretty bad," he said quietly covering his nose.
But Alyssa standing close had already seen the researchers assigned here with charred burnt bodies
They hadn't escaped in time, the fire had taken them before the collapse.
"The construct, where is it!" she said. She looked around quickly and they searched the ruble.
"Shit It's gone, theres nothing here" someone said.
Due to the explosion the Villagers Awakened as more people arrived at the scene. Voices rose and confusion turned into fear, then into seething anger, from the direction of the central chambers, figures emerged.
Jennifer and her lieutenants, and behind them, her Father. They moved quickly toward the scene. Jennifer stopped just short of the burned structure.
Her eyes moved across the damage, The recovered bodies and absence of the construct.
"What happened?" she asked with restraint in her voice.
No one answered immediately. Alyssa stepped forward. "There was an explosion," she said.
Jennifer looked at her. "And the construct Alyssa?"
Alyssa shook her head once with hesitation,"It's not here."
Her father stepped closer to the remains and studied the burn patterns. The way the structure had collapsed.
"This was not accidental," he concluded but Jennifer already knew that as she had planted surveillance devices in the room.
Her gaze hardened slightly. "Clear the area," she ordered. "No one touches anything else."
The lieutenants moved immediately, pushing people back and establishing space around the site. The fire continued to smolder as the night air carried the scent of ash.
Jennifer stood still for a moment longer. Then she spoke, quietly but clearly. "This was not a tool.!"
The surrounding crowd did not disagreed. She looked toward the dark forest beyond the village.
"It was a message sent by our enemies who seek death!."
Alyssa followed her gaze. Her grip tightened slightly. Whatever they had captured—It had not been the source but a means for destruction.