Splash. Splash. Splash.
Each of them stepped through the shallow pool, the water rippling gently with every motion.
"This will be our camp from now on," Torin said, his voice cutting through the quiet serenity of the meadow.
Kael took a moment to glance around.
Stillwater Meadows was mostly flat, broken only by the occasional scatter of smooth stones. The ground beneath their feet was soft, slightly damp where the pools of crystal-clear water had gathered.
Towering beside them was a massive boulder, rising as high as the surrounding treetops. Its surface was uneven and rugged, cloaked in a thick layer of deep green moss. The scent of fresh soil and damp stone filled the air, earthy and cool from the lingering moisture.
But it wasn't just a landmark, it was practical. The boulder would shield them from the wind, making the night more bearable. And the slightly raised ground at its base meant they wouldn't wake in standing water if it rained.
Soft grass beneath them, clean water nearby, solid stone at their backs, it was about as ideal as a campsite could get.
Without a word, the Luminaires moved into motion, each going their way to start setting up camp.
Selene quietly slipped away, retracing their path to erase any signs of their passage. Malric disappeared into the meadow, scouting the perimeter and memorizing the terrain.
Kael simply sat down, resting his back against the mossy boulder. He watched the others disappear into the distance, then closed his eyes, his body sinking slightly into the grass.
Not far away, Torin leaned against the same boulder, scribbling steadily in his ever-present notebook. The soft scratch of lead on paper was the only sound cutting through the stillness.
Time passed slowly.
Eventually, the scratching stopped, followed by the quiet snap of a notebook closing.
Kael's eyes opened.
He gave Torin a brief glance, then looked away again, his gaze steady on the horizon.
A pause hung in the air before Torin finally spoke.
"I must admit, Daire. You're an impressive individual. You've done well traveling with us as a mere mortal."
He slid the pen into the inner pocket of his coat.
It's a shame," Torin murmured. "If only your blood ran Eireindaile.
Torin didn't look at Kael. His eyes remained fixed on some distant point, as if the thought didn't require his full attention.
Kael didn't respond. He sat motionless, his face unreadable. Praise from Torin, measured, calculative Torin, was not something given freely. Every word the man spoke was chosen with purpose.
Which meant Kael had left an impression. And that mattered.
The silence between them stretched, then broke again.
"This is also why I believe you'll be able to finish what you were hired for."
Kael's eyes shifted. His head turned.
Finally.
After all this time, Torin was about to go into more detail about his role in this mission.
"Tomorrow you'll begin moving toward Velthoria. From there, your objective is a woman named Syleena."
He didn't elaborate immediately, but after yet another pause, he began laying out the details with clinical precision.
Kael listened in silence, absorbing each point, letting the pieces fall into place in his mind.
As the information settled, his thoughts began to churn, ideas forming, contingencies branching, the edges of a new strategy already taking shape.
Syleena.
She wasn't just anyone. The woman stationed in Velthoria under the Eireindaile banner was their firstborn heir. Young, only a year below Kael in age, but already standing at the forefront of the next generation.
More than just a descendant, she was their most prized investment. A Luminaire of rare talent, shaped by endless resources, molded by elite instructors, armed with knowledge few could ever access. She was the embodiment of the Eireindaile future.
And that was exactly why they had sent her to Velthoria.
For two years, she would serve both as a spy and as the official representative of the Eireindaile family, a trial that would test her political skills, adaptability, and ability to navigate the treacherous world of noble intrigue.
Kael had expected someone important to be involved. After all, the Eireindaile family had poured an unusual amount of time and effort into this mission, going to lengths most noble families wouldn't dare.
But for it to be their young heir? That caught him off guard.
'Not good.'
His face gave nothing away, but beneath the calm, something in his mind coiled tight.
He was starting to learn too much. And in a world like theirs, knowledge was currency, but also a blade. The more he knew, the thinner the line became between asset and liability.
There would come a time, perhaps soon, when keeping him alive would pose a greater risk than getting rid of him.
He scoffed inwardly. 'So that's how it is.'
Torin continued speaking, unfazed, walking him through the final details.
He explained the habits and routines that the young heir had been forced to ingrain into her daily life in case a situation like this ever arose.
Things like visiting a specific café, sitting at a particular bench, shopping in certain places, and forming connections with select individuals. These habits were designed to leave behind traces if she were to disappear. They would ensure that people noticed her absence, that questions were asked, and that patterns were left behind for those searching for her.
This system was meant for situations exactly like this.
It was designed to help someone like Kael, a mercenary operating in silence, tasked with uncovering her whereabouts or making contact without drawing attention.
This was, of course, a double-edged sword. If someone with ill intentions toward Syleena picked up on these traces, they could use them just as easily.
But that was where Syleena's own role came into play, and it was also the brilliance of the system.
If she noticed someone tracking her, she could easily mislead them by subtly altering her habits or shifting her routine.
After all, these so-called habits were never real to begin with. They were fabricated from the start, designed to serve as both breadcrumbs for allies and traps for those who sought to do her harm.
As soon as Torin had finished explaining everything he deemed necessary, he fell silent, opening up his notebook once more and resuming his scribbling.
Kael remained seated against the boulder. Without realizing it, he had drawn his knife from its sheath and was absentmindedly turning it over in his hand, his fingers tracing the blade's edge as he sank deep into thought.
It wouldn't be easy to move unnoticed in the city while asking around for someone, but Kael wasn't worried. He trusted his ability to remain unseen, blending into the background was second nature by now.
What truly lingered in his thoughts was what came after.
He had learned too much. The dangers of the journey to Velthoria were nothing compared to the weight of the secrets now pressing in around him.
He wasn't noble. He had no family crest, no lineage to shield him. But he had something just as valuable, a sharp mind, and the cold patience that came from surviving long enough to know when to act and when to disappear.
Some might call him heartless, but he knew better. So were the noble families. If he were in their place, he would have done the same. Eliminate the liability before it became a threat.
There was no bitterness in the thought, just quiet understanding. The rules of this world were cruel, but they were consistent.
Seen from a distance, he was the perfect target for erasure. No family to speak of. No deep-rooted alliances. A shadow that moved when needed, and vanished just as easily. When the task was done, who would miss him?
Once, he'd wondered whether they might let him walk away. Now, he was almost certain, they wouldn't.
His gaze rose slowly to the sky above, where clouds drifted in lazy procession, shapeless and free, unburdened by purpose or consequence.
He exhaled through his nose, the breath quiet, almost amused.
'Ah… what a bother.'
Not long after, Selene and Malric returned to the camp.
Selene was her usual cheerful self, golden hair swaying gently in the breeze as she all but skipped across the clearing. She looked as though she had just heard the best news in the world, perhaps simply excited for the days ahead, when she would get to rest while Kael carried out his part in the city.
Malric, in contrast, moved with without hurry. Slung over his shoulder was a freshly hunted animal, already skinned and gutted, a single deep wound marking where an arrow had pierced clean through.
Thud.Malric dropped the carcass in the middle of the camp before drawing his knife. He crouched beside it, hands steady, the blade already working through the meat.
"You alright?"
Malric spoke without looking up, his voice casual as he threw Kael a brief glance.
Kael stopped turning the knife in his hand before responding.
"Yeah. Just thinking about the future."
Malric's hand paused, only for a moment, before he returned to his work.
"Don't worry too much about it. You should be more than capable of handling it. And besides, if danger arises, don't be afraid to turn back, approach from a different angle, or ask any of us for guidance. Prioritize your safety first. After all, if you die without gathering any information, this entire mission would be a failure."
Kael remained silent, offering no response. He simply kept his gaze on the clouds, idly fiddling with the knife in his hand.
Malric had obviously misunderstood his answer, but Kael saw no reason to correct him.