Rufus wiped the sweat beading on his forehead with trembling fingers, his gaze darting between Kayden's cold stare and the shadows where the others stood watching. The room, though large and spacious,felt suffocating, thick with tension.
"So what is it that you want from me, exactly?" Rufus's voice came out smaller than he'd intended, barely above a whisper.
Kayden didn't bother with pleasantries. "Your resources,Your connections and your gold."
The noble's stomach dropped. He'd suspected this moment would come eventually....but hearing it spoken so plainly made his hands shake. "I can't be seen funding what you're doing. If the Divine Order catches wind of this..." He swallowed hard, tasting bile. "They don't just execute traitors. They make examples of them."
"You could always throw yourself on their mercy." Kayden's lips curved into something that barely resembled a smile. "The gods are merciful, aren't they? That's what the Order preaches."
Rufus felt his jaw clench involuntarily. This arrogant boy had no idea what he was asking. The Divine Order didn't just kill conspirators. They hunted down every blood relative, every business associate, everyone who'd ever shared a meal with the condemned. They called it purification. Rufus called it wholesale slaughter.
But then Kayden leaned forward, and his tone shifted from mockery to something almost reasonable. "This isn't charity, Lord Wainwright. We bring you relics...powerful ones. The kind that could set you up for life. In exchange, you fund our operations. Simple business."
Despite himself, Rufus felt his pulse quicken. The last relic they'd brought him had been extraordinary—a genuine Saint-Class artifact that had made his hands shake just holding it. The black market would go absolutely mad for something like that.
"You know what that relic was worth," Kayden continued, reading his expression perfectly. "And with your network of buyers, you'd make triple what I'd estimate. So we keep bringing you treasures like that, and you keep our cause funded. And to make things fair...you set the price. Fair exchange."
Rufus found himself caught between terror and greed, two emotions that had ruled his life for as long as he could remember. The smart thing would be to refuse, to send these dangerous young people away and pretend this meeting never happened. But that relic... The gods blood, the money it would bring.
The sound of steel sliding against leather cut through his internal debate. Kayden had drawn his sword just enough to let the obsidian blade catch the sun's light, and the sight of it made Rufus's blood turn to ice water.
"Of course," Darian said conversationally, "we could always pretend this conversation never took place. Your choice entirely."
Sweat was running down Rufus's temples now, stinging his eyes. His mind raced through possibilities, escape routes, ways to get out of this room alive. But he kept coming back to the bodies scattered around the chamber—evidence of what these people were capable of when crossed.
Finally, his survival instincts won out over his pride. "Fine," he said, his voice hoarse with defeat. "I'll agree to your terms. But I have conditions."
Kayden gave a stare colder than ice, but Rufus forced himself to continue. If he was going to damn himself, he might as well negotiate decent terms for his damnation.
"When this rebellion of yours comes to light....and it will, they always do. I want your word that I'll be protected. Not just me, but my family. My business partners." He took a shaky breath. "And I can afford one million gold crowns per month. That's my absolute limit."
The silence stretched like a taut wire. Carla watched their leader. Maria watched her student, both waiting to see how he'd respond to the demands of the noble.
Then Kayden gestured casually toward the corpses littering the floor. "You've seen what just one of us can accomplish in a single evening. If that doesn't reassure you about our protective capabilities, nothing will." He paused, considering. "As for the funding... I can work with that amount."
He extended his hand across the blood-stained table. "Do we have an agreement?"
Rufus stared at the offered hand for what felt like an eternity. This was it... the moment where he crossed a line he could never uncross. But looking at Kayden's face, at the casual way he'd gestured to the bodies, Rufus knew he didn't really have a choice. Not if he wanted to leave this room breathing.
He let a small sigh before he reached out and grasped Kayden's hand. "We have a deal."
---
"That went smoother than I expected," Carla commented as she tightened the straps on her saddle, her horse snorting impatiently beneath her.
"He even paid the first month upfront." She couldn't quite hide her grin. "Handed over a bag of coins like his life depended on it."
"It did," Darian replied matter-of-factly as he swung himself onto his mount. "Rich men always value one thing above their gold—their lives."
"But why did you tell him about our plan? We could've lied, and he'd have bought it," Carla asked, her eyes scanning his for answers.
Maria remained silent. She, too, wanted to know the reason behind her student's actions.
Kayden hesitated for a moment. "Certainly, we could've lied, and he might have believed us... but that would've put us in a bad spot later." He paused briefly, holding their attention. "If he ever found out our true purpose, he'd have reported it. So I came clean. That way, he can't expose us without implicating himself."
"Smart," Carla remarked before swinging onto her horse.
"Are we heading back now?" Carla asked, settling into her saddle.
"Soon. First, I need to collect something from the capital."
"Oh? What kind of something?"
Kayden's smile held secrets. "Let's call it renovation supplies."
As they rode out of the merchant quarter, Kayden noticed the unusual quiet that had settled between his companions. Maria, typically sharp-tongued and quick with observations, seemed lost in her own thoughts. Her usual confident posture had given way to something more contemplative, almost melancholy.
---
**About six months earlier, in a forest clearing...**
The clash of steel rang through the trees as sparks flew from their colliding blades.
"You're telegraphing every move," Maria said, effortlessly deflecting Kayden's overhead strike. "Keep your back straight. Let the lux energy flow through your weapon—it's not just steel, it's part of you."
CLANG! CLANG!
Kayden stumbled backward and dropped to one knee, chest heaving. Sweat dripped from his hair onto the forest floor.
"Dead again," Maria observed, sheathing her blade with practiced ease. "In real combat, hesitation kills."
"Easy for you to say," Kayden panted. "You're not holding back."
Maria sighed, but before she could respond, Kayden moved with lightning speed. A heavy thud echoed from the treeline as he tackled someone out of the branches above.
"What the hell!" the intruder yelped as Kayden pinned her to the ground, his knee pressed against her back.
"You've been following us for some time now. Who are you and why are you spying on us?" Darian's voice had gone deadly cold.
"I have been following you, that I admit. But, I wasn't spying, I swear on my family's honor!"
"Let her up," Maria said quietly.
"You sure about that?"
"Even if she tries something stupid..." Maria's hand drifted to her sword hilt. "I'll handle it."
Kayden stepped back, but Maria's blade was instantly at the stranger's throat before she could even think about running.
"I find it disgusting when men rough up women," Maria said conversationally. "Fortunately for you, that moral code doesn't extend to my own actions. Name. Now."
The woman's eyes went wide with terror. "Carla. Carla Bryan, of House Bryan."
"A noble," Maria noted, pressing the blade slightly closer to pale skin. "How interesting. Why have you been following us around like a common spy?"
"I've been tracking your movements for weeks. I overheard some of your conversations... about the rebellion you're planning."
The temperature in the clearing seemed to drop ten degrees. Even the birds stopped singing.
"And what exactly do you intend to do with that information?" Maria's voice could have cut glass.
Carla looked down at the sword point hovering near her jugular, then back up at Maria's impassive face. "I want to join you."
*End flashback.*
---
Initially, Kayden had been convinced Carla was either a spy or completely insane. But over the following weeks, she'd proven herself capable, loyal, and surprisingly resourceful. Even Maria, who trusted approximately no one, had gradually....maybe...warmed to their unexpected recruit.
The capital city of Ignarion buzzed with its usual chaotic energy as they rode through the gates. Merchants shouted their wares, children darted between the horses' legs, and gossips clustered around every street corner trading rumors and speculation.
Kayden dismounted near a modest stall tucked between a bakery and a weapons shop, approaching the grizzled merchant behind the counter.
"George," he called out.
The older man turned and his weathered face split into a genuine smile. "Kayden! My most profitable customer. It's been a while. What brings you to our fair city today?"
George was more than just a merchant. He was a broker of information, rare goods, and impossible requests. Kayden had first met him years ago during his training with Maria, and the man's network of contacts never ceased to amaze him.
"Business, as usual," Darian said, lowering his voice meaningfully. "Do you have what I requested?"
Maria raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the secrecy.
George's expression grew serious. "Give me a moment."
He disappeared into the back of his stall and returned carrying a black cloth sack, which he placed carefully on the counter between them. The way he handled it suggested whatever was inside was both valuable and fragile.
"This wasn't easy to acquire," George said quietly. "Had to call in favors I've been saving for years."
"I'm impressed you managed it at all," Kayden replied, eyeing the mysterious package.
"Never underestimate the power of knowing the right people." George's grin returned briefly before fading into business mode. "But quality like this comes at a premium price."
"How much?"
"A hundred thousand."
"A hundred thousand? What the hell could be worth that much?" Maria snapped, obviously annoyed by her students actions
Carla remained silent but leaned forward, clearly fascinated by the exchange.
"Trust me, Master," Kayden said with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "It's worth every coin. I promise."
"What's in the damned sack?"
"I'll explain on our way back?"
Maria's scowl could have melted steel. "This had better be worth it, boy. Or you'll be doing Mountain Cultivation exercises until your legs fall off."
But Kayden was already counting out coins, his attention focused entirely on the mysterious package. "Yeah, yeah. No problem."
He peeked inside the sack briefly and couldn't suppress a satisfied grin. Perfect.
Maria and Carla cast him glances that spoke volumes about their shared curiosity and growing concern for Kayden's judgment.
"Well then," Kayden said as he secured the sack to his belt, "shall we head back? I believe I owe you guys an explanation."