Evengarde could kill Zi'eer if he wanted to.
Well, technically, he can't, since he does want Zi'eer dead but still hasn't done anything to make that happen.
In terms of physical prowess, Evengrade had the upper hand against Zi'eer, for the most part. His mastery over the gale was utterly superior to that of others. His resonance with the song was the deepest a mortal could have—his soul practically breathing hymns of the gale. His eyes peered into the wind like the eye of a tempest, predicting actions and intent even before one's song would fluctuate the slightest bit. He wasn't called the most skilled galebreather of the present epoch for nothing, after all.
Yet, killing Zi'eer wasn't the main thing he wasn't worried about—it was the aftermath. He wasn't confident that he would be able to handle the consequences that would be brought by the power vacuum within Etris.
The vigils weren't the only faction waiting to pounce, after all.
The central authority was waiting right across the Etrean Sea. Their forces were insurmountable, tens of thousands—perhaps hundreds of thousands—of men were at their disposal, ready to be thrown at whatever island they needed to conquer. The harrowing sight of a thousand armored vessels perching over the horizon and titanic armaments hurling projectiles of destruction flashed through his mind.
Once they catch wind of the Lord Regent's death, nothing will stop them from conquering the entirety of the Etrean Luminant. That included the Isles of Vigil, too. Not even the greatest galebreather—not even the greatest user of any attunement would be able to stop them.
If it came down to it, Evengarde would rather die by his sword than suffer under their tyrannical reign.
It was a good thing that the Central-Eastern luminant gate was inoperable. Since all living luminants—north, east, west, and central—were separated by the practically impenetrable voidsea, forces of the Central Luminant were unable to cross into the Eastern Luminant without their fleet disappearing within its fog. Interluminary gates were the only way for ships and travelers to cross luminants. Such gates were operated by lightkeepers; they were able to use special tones of the song and protect ships traveling between luminants.
However, internal corruption has stymied major projects and halted the maintenance of existing infrastructure. That was the reason the Central-Eastern interluminary gate was out of commission… among other reasons. However, the Central Authority had already established a base of operations in the Eastern luminant.
So that's why he's been hesitant to kill Zi'eer. It wasn't because he couldn't, it was because he shouldn't.
But right now, he was doing what he could until a solution could be found to this dilemma. From previous missions he had sent Valerie on, Evengarde found that Zi'eer seemed to be interested in the Forge of Sin and its properties. He may have even gone as far as to send his contractors to go fetch it—though all efforts were in vain.
Evengarde needed someone to find the Forge of Sin first. A strategic advantage in a battle of silence was gold. Originally, he had planned to send Valerie, but with her condition… he needed someone else to do it.
He feared that Zi'eer might've planted something within her mind.
"Quies, are you willing to secure the Forge of Sin?"
He didn't sugarcoat his statement.
Quies stood in front of Evengarde, contemplating what this decision would bring him.
"Can I… think about that decision?"
"You may. That wasn't the primary reason I brought you here in the first place, even."
Walking with steps that were light as air, Evengarde made his way towards the exit of the room and gestured to Quies.
"Come."
Without looking back, he knew that Quies would follow him. A second later, he did.
Eventually, the two were walking side by side along the edge of the training room, nearing the door. Turning to enter the quaint doorway, Evengarde said in a quieter tone:
"Quies, I understand your hatred for that man."
"Why? What did he do to you?"
He looked upon Quies with eyes that had glimpsed at the terrors of the world.
Evengarde could sense the hatred this young bloodrender had for the fourth prophet. He didn't know exactly what he could have done to him, but he knew that this hatred was pure and true.
He, too, shared the same feeling towards the lord Regent, if not stronger. He just didn't let it show.
"I was present during the civil war, Quies, maybe a little younger than you currently. I saw what he did. I saw the buildings burn."
"Oh."
Maestro Evengarde Rest wasn't some pretentious young boy pampered and raised to become a master swordsman. No, he was a direct witness to the atrocity that was the civil war of Etris.
It was a battle between the ministry and everyone else. Back then, a different person had taken the title of Maestro at the isle of vigil. He, too, fought against the Ministry's invasion, though he did so through questionable means. That event was the turning point in Evengarde's life—the moment where he lost his sovereignty. Sovereignty… was something he was still fighting for to this day.
The two walked down the long corridor embedded within the cliffs of Vigil. Eventually, Evengarde stopped.
"Quies, if I may ask, how proficient are you with a sword?"
Turning, he went to open a hidden door embedded within the wall.
"I want to see you fight."