[attr="class","opmindblurb1"]The Homunculus‘ breakout from the institute had left behind chaos, confusion and several bystanders injured and casualties. Upon landing somewhere in the middle of Altair’s bustling streets near the arts district, it had released a surge of magic that left behind a massive crater. Many of those caught in the blast had died, while others were injured. Only a couple dozen had made it out unscathed, as if by sheer miracle. [break][break]

The incident at the institute had already been cause for the council to take action. While an investigative squad was taking a look at the institute, a larger squadron had been sent out to search for the supposed perpetrator. That it was a Homunculus was yet to be discovered by Eos. After all, such ideas, while interesting to discuss, were against the law to research. The attempted creation of one was completely unheard of in the last two centuries. While tales and legends about artificial humans created by magic were ingrained in Eos’ culture, these myths were treated fantasy. The product of stories crafted to scare children, at most.[break][break]

The second incident had immediately forced the council to spring into action. Several Knights had been activated and were moving towards the origin of the newly created chaos in the midst of Altair. The ground zero of the blast had taken out a large city block, not quite a mile wide but close to it, and the casualties were estimated to be in the several thousands. In addition to a squadron with around 500 soldiers, the Captain of Fersen had also been drafted to lead this troop. Originally in Altair to handle the transferal of a large batch of criminals for the Trench, she was the closest to the catastrophe and was ordered to move swiftly.

Arriving at the cause of all the mayhem, the council orders were clear. Act fast, act swiftly. Considering the level of destruction, it was clear the threat was imminent. In the span of maybe 30 minutes, the monster had injured and killed several institute members, destroyed a large part of institute grounds and followed this up by wiping out an entire district block and killing several thousands of civilians.[break][break]

But while the eyes of the public saw the Homunculus as nothing but a threat, the inner workings of the creature were manifesting. It was capable of thought. It possessed previously ingrained knowledge. It knew what humans were. It could understand language and think words. It possessed feelings, but its empathy was still developing. It couldn’t seem to understand the destruction it has caused. It didn’t understand pain yet, but it for all intents and purposes, it was aware. A living creature.[break][break]

And before the threat of the council’s army encircling it, the creature lashed out once more, albeit at a much more reasonable scale. A blast of magic that would leave behind a crater on impact, forceful enough to tear away any barriers or defenses, and lethal enough to kill surged from its arm, that it swung in a whip like motion from overhead.