“A New Development”
Episode 12: To Herald a King
April 6, 2025
Circling the war table slowly, Korrin Vale studied the battlefield. There were many revealing details carved into its stone surface. Four separate armies stood in formation—remnants of a long-forgotten war. One that not even an elf might recall.
Near each army’s territory, a shallow slot had been carved into the stone—perfectly sized for a playing card. Each slot aligned with a compass etched into the stone’s edge.
Korrin leaned closer. The suits weren’t just fancy decoration. They were identities—kingdoms, rulers, legacies. He knew one for certain: the King of Clubs, ruling from the East. A land of fertile farmlands and long summer seasons, its grain and livestock traded across the realm. A peaceful place. It had always been that way.
He reached for the Clubs card, then paused. Too easy. The stakes were too high for guesses.
His arm trembled—not from fear, but from pain. The burns still flared with every movement. I can’t take many more mistakes like that.
He reached beneath his cloak, fingertips brushing the neck of a small glass vial. Inside, a familiar glimmer of healing tonic shimmered faintly.
One vial. That’s all I have.
Even if its magic worked, he knew it wouldn’t restore him completely.
Korrin clenched his jaw. He couldn’t afford to waste time—but he couldn’t move blindly, either.
Somewhere in this chamber were answers. The murals. The machines. Or perhaps something still hidden.
He had to choose.