Zaek walked the perimeter of the manor, his boots crunching softly on the half-frozen earth. The trees around him stood bare, skeletal fingers clawing at the gray sky, showing only the faintest signs of winter’s surrender.

  ?"It’s like they’ve got two men chasing me at all times. Do they take turns?" he muttered to the wind. "I wonder what the poor soul who listens to me snore all night thinks of his assignment."

  ?He let out a low, dry chuckle.

  ?"Still, Sylas is more cautious than I gave him credit for. I’m flattered."

  ?His eyes darted to the periphery. One robed figure stood half-hidden behind an ancient oak; another lingered closer to the manor walls, blending into the stone. Both watched him with the intensity of hawks.

  ?Different faces than yesterday’s watchers.

  ?It was no small feat, Zaek thought, keeping an eye on him when this place was already crawling with the King’s spies. The shadows of this estate were getting crowded.

  ?He paused mid-stride and looked up at the pale expanse of the sky.

  ?And yet, my old friend, you let one lead slip.

  ?Ursus.

  ?There was no doubt something was happening there. Whatever Sylas was hiding—whatever rot lay at the foundation of this family—it had to be connected to that place.

  ?After a moment, Zaek’s sharp expression went slack. His shoulders slumped with theatrical boredom.

  ?"Still so dull," he sighed aloud, for the benefit of his audience. "Here I am, digging through his dirty laundry like a spy or something."

  ?As he scanned the clouds, a flicker of movement caught his eye.

  ?A bird descended. It was unlike any creature native to the north. Its feathers shimmered with deep iridescent blue, streaked by faint black markings. It had the broad wings and long, elegant tail of a southern quetzal.

  ?When it perched on a nearby branch, it fixed him with large yellow eyes framed by long black lashes that glimmered like captured starlight. It wrapped its wings tightly around its body, studying him in silence.

  ?"That’s me. You found the right address," Zaek said, beckoning it closer with a lazy wave.

  ?The bird didn’t move. Its gaze was sharp, cautious, intelligent.

  ?"This damn creature…" he muttered under his breath. "Just like its master."

  ?Finally, it spread its wings and swooped down, landing neatly on his outstretched arm. Its talons gripped his coat.

  ?"About time."

  ?Zaek calmly untied the small scroll from its leg. He read the message in a single glance, his face betraying nothing. Then he patted the bird’s head and gestured for it to leave.

  ?It took flight instantly, a streak of blue vanishing into the gray sky.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  ?"What do you take me for? One of your personal informants?" he grumbled, tearing the note into confetti-sized pieces. "I’m just poking around."

  ?He opened his hand, letting the wind scatter the fragments into the snow.

  ?His thoughts drifted to the boy he had seen earlier. Cassian.

  ?And he worries about Aelira... Zaek thought, his eyes narrowing. It wouldn’t take much for a viper like Cassian to wrap her around his finger.

  ?"This is too much work for this old body," he groaned, turning back toward the manor.

  Aelira sat in the garden, her posture straight and her focus absolute.

  ?She was working on her mana enchantment. It was a delicate process—like spinning thread from light.

  ?It’s getting better each day, she thought, a quiet pride warming her chest. The key isn’t to force it—it’s to let it flow, like water finding its own path.

  ?It wasn’t so different from casting a spell. The only difference was that here, she guided the flow inward, saturating her entire body instead of shaping it into a projectile.

  ?Crunch.

  ?The soft sound of footsteps on gravel pulled her from her trance.

  ?She looked up to see a familiar figure approaching. Hands clasped behind his back, a placid smile plastered on his face.

  ?"Cassian?"

  ?"Hello, little cousin." His wave was casual, but his eyes swept across the empty garden with calculating precision. "All alone? Where are your keepers?"

  ?"Sensei is… somewhere. And Aisha asked to leave for a while. They don’t stay with me the whole time anyway."

  ?"You shouldn’t allow that," Cassian said lightly. "She is your nanny; her place is by your side at all times."

  ?"I don’t really mind," Aelira replied honestly.

  ?Cassian’s smile tightened for the briefest fraction of a second before smoothing back into its usual warmth. It was like watching a ripple on a pond vanish.

  ?"In any case, I came to thank you. You handled our grandfather perfectly."

  ?"Oh… it was nothing. You said there was a problem with the sword, so…"

  ?"Indeed. A problem he cannot learn of—not yet. You did well."

  ?"I suppose," Aelira murmured. The praise felt hollow, heavy. A shadow crossed her face. "I wanted to ask you something. About what you said… before the duel."

  ?"Hm? I thought you didn’t care."

  ?His words hit harder than she expected. After all, I did shout it…

  ?"It’s not that I don’t care," she said defensively. "I just… got caught up in the moment."

  ?"I know," he said, his tone airy. "I’m just teasing you."

  ?Teasing me? she thought, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach. He’s cruel about it, too.

  ?She studied him carefully.

  ?What kind of person is he, really? We’ve barely spoken. And he always wears that same unnerving smile…

  ?He tilted his head, his voice laced with false concern. "Something wrong?"

  ?"No. I was just thinking that I don’t really know you."

  ?He feigned surprise, a hand going to his chest. "You don’t know about me?"

  ?"We’re cousins, but I have no idea who you truly are."

  ?"You can learn about me later," he said, smiling faintly. "For now, you had a question."

  ?"Ah, yes. You said Lysric had to win to end the arguments. Why—"

  ?"Forgive me, but you misunderstand."

  ?His smile didn’t waver, but the temperature in the garden seemed to drop. His dark green eyes sharpened, cold and piercing as shattered glass.

  ?"What we have now isn’t peace. It’s merely the silence before the storm. You should have lost that day. My stance hasn’t changed—you must relinquish your title to Lysric."

  ?Aelira stiffened.

  ?"I don’t agree," she said, her voice firm despite the chill running down her spine. "The hero should be the one who deserves it."

  ?"You say exactly what I imagined you would," he mused, looking at her as one looks at a bug in a jar. "But you’ll understand soon enough."

  ?The threat in his voice was unmistakable. Not a warning—a promise.

  ?Aelira met his gaze, her own eyes hardening with defiance.

  ?Just as the silence between them grew taut enough to snap, a voice cut through the air.

  ?"Yo. What are you two whispering about? Don’t tell me you’re trying to bully my hardworking student."

  ?"Sensei."

  ?Zaek’s sudden arrival shattered one tension only to forge another—colder, sharper—between him and Cassian.

  ?"Not at all," Cassian said smoothly, turning to face him. "We were just having a chat. I was about to leave. No need to worry."

  ?"I see. See you later, then."

  ?"See you later."

  ?Zaek watched him go, his eyes narrowing into slits.

  ?Is he already making a move on Aelira? What’s his endgame?

  ?He sighed, scratching his head. I’m getting too old for this.

  ?Aelira watched Cassian’s retreating back, a chill settling deep in her chest.

  ?He wasn’t just arrogant or manipulative.

  ?He was dangerous.