Chapter 3: Shadows Beneath the Festival

That very same night of the festival, on levicita’s control infrastructures, the steady vibration of Aeris’ levicita cores resonated through the lower levels, a mechanical heartbeat that kept the floating island aloft. In this shadowed labyrinth of pipes and control panels, the air was heavy with the scent of oil and the faint hiss of steam escaping from pressure valves. It was a stark contrast to the vibrant festival above, where music and laughter echoed through the night.

Two figures moved with precision through the maze of pipes and control panels, dodging all security measures, their black hooded robes blending seamlessly with the darkness. They spoke in hushed tones, their voices barely audible above the mechanical symphony around them.

“This is the main control terminal,” the taller of the two said, gesturing toward a glowing console embedded in the wall. Their voice was low and gravelly, distorted slightly by the modulation device built into the hood. “From here, we can reroute the gravitational modulation streams and adjust the water release trajectory.”

The shorter figure stepped closer, their movements fluid and deliberate. They pulled a slim device from beneath their robe, its surface glinting faintly in the dim light. “Are the projections verified?” their voice was softer, but no less cold. “We can't afford any mistakes. If this doesn’t go as planned—”

“It will,” the taller one interrupted, a note of irritation creeping into their tone. “I’ve run the simulations. The system will direct the water discharge over Aelith Shore—”

“Not Aelith Shore,” the shorter figure interjected sharply. “The governors expect it to reach Aelith Shore. That’s precisely why we’re here—to ensure it doesn’t.”

A tense silence hung between them as the taller figure keyed in a sequence on the console, the display shifting to reveal a glowing three-dimensional map of Operientes Solem. Aelith Shore was highlighted—a sprawling region of cracked earth and parched farmland on the surface below Aeris. It was a desperate place, its people reliant on the periodic water releases from the islands above to sustain what little agriculture they could manage.

The taller figure let out a slow breath, their gloved hand hovering over the controls. “And instead? You want the water to fall over...?”

“Iskar Reaches and Calla Veil,” the shorter one said firmly, pointing to two glittering isles on the map. The islands were among the wealthiest in the Operientes Solem collective, their lush greenery and shimmering architecture a stark contrast to the barren surface below.

A faint chuckle escaped the taller figure. “Of course. Let the already rich grow richer. A bold move.”

“Boldness is necessary,” the shorter figure replied, their voice steely. “We’ve been pushed to the margins for too long, forced to watch as the upper echelons hoard resources meant for all of us. A single drop of water to Iskar and Calla will ignite the powder keg. The surface will see it as betrayal. And the rift between the elite and the opposition within the islands will widen.”

“And when the inevitable chaos unfolds?” the taller figure asked, their tone skeptical. “When Aelith Shore revolts, and the administrators scramble to maintain order?”

“Then we position ourselves to seize the reins of change,” the shorter figure said, their voice brimming with quiet conviction. “This is about more than water. It’s about shattering the illusion of unity. Operientes Solem is a house of cards. A single, deliberate gust will bring it down.”

The taller figure hesitated for a fraction of a second, their hand hovering over the final command. “And if this gust backfires? If the cards collapse in a way we can’t control?”

“Then we rebuild,” the shorter figure said simply, stepping closer to place a hand over the other’s. “But we won’t rebuild on their terms. Now, do it.”

With a resigned nod, the taller figure entered the override code. The map flickered, and the trajectory of the water discharge shifted, the glowing line curving away from Aelith Shore and toward the pristine floating isles of Iskar Reaches and Calla Veil.

“It’s done,” the taller figure said, their voice quieter now, as if weighed down by the enormity of their actions.

“Good,” the shorter figure replied, their tone unwavering. “Now we leave. The fallout will begin soon enough.”

They turned and disappeared into the shadows as silently as they had arrived, leaving the console to hum quietly in their wake. Above, the Festival of Aeris continued unabated, its revelers blissfully unaware of the storm brewing below their feet.