[The Outer Settlements]
The tension between the two cohorts was palpable, a crackling static in the air that drew the eyes of nearby scavengers. Klaus stood his ground, his smirk unchanging, while Artemis remained a statue of icy composure.
Finally, it was Caster who broke the silence, his voice measured and diplomatic. "Klaus, regardless of your personal feelings, you should not have spoken to Lady Changing Star in such a manner. She is a beacon for many in this hellhole."
Klaus didn't miss a beat, interrupting with a sharp laugh. "Your Pathfinder—that dirty huntress over there—spouted similar things to Artemis just moments ago. Yet here you are, lecturing me on manners? Hypocrisy seems to be the only thing you guys are truly elite at."
Caster stiffened, his gaze shifting briefly to Effie. He lowered his head slightly. "I apologize on behalf of Huntress Athena's bluntness."
Klaus gave a mock-gracious nod, but Effie wasn't finished. She stepped forward, her muscular frame imposing. "So, what are you doing here, Klaus? Last I heard, you were working under Genma. Since when did you become a lapdog for a disgraced princess and a shadow-dweller?"
"I left," Klaus replied simply, his eyes flashing. "And I joined this group because I wished to. I left Genma because I wished to. I bow to no one, Effie. It's as simple as that."
Artemis, observing the exchange, realized there was a history between these two—a shared past of hunts and perhaps betrayal. She stepped forward, cutting through the bickering. "So, what is it you actually want? You didn't stop us just to trade insults."
It was Nephis who spoke then, her silver eyes fixated on Artemis. "We were searching for your group. We need to discuss an alliance for a future hunt. Can we speak to your leaders alone?"
Klaus glanced at the sun, then back at the Changing Star. "Well, Alista isn't here, and neither is our scout. How about we meet sometime later? We'll find you."
Without waiting for a response, Klaus and Artemis turned and walked away, leaving the Changing Star's cohort standing in the dust.
[The Lodge - Nephis's HQ]
Nephis led her team back to their regular meeting room. The air was heavy with the weight of her calculations.
"So," Nephis began, looking at her companions. "What do you think about that team? For our next major hunt, we need external support to manage the numbers. Can we trust them?"
Cassie leaned on her staff, her sightless eyes staring into the distance. "Klaus's Attribute is unique. He brings life to the inanimate. It's a versatile power, but his soul is clouded. Effie, you know him best. Is he reliable?"
Effie sighed, leaning against the stone wall. "He's strong. We used to be in the same cohort back in the early days, before the Shore broke us apart. After our group disbanded, we hunted together for a while. Then the idiot left to join Gunlaug's group. Now he's back, apparently serving the 'Blood Emperor.' He's a wild card, but a capable one."
Sunny, who had been listening with a scowl, finally spoke up. "Why are we even considering partnering with them? Alista is a walking omen of trouble, and Klaus is a loud-mouthed prick."
Nephis looked at Sunny, her expression unreadable. "We need to fight a large-scale target. A secondary team would provide the necessary distraction and firepower. More importantly, we need to assess their strength. If they are going to be in this settlement, I need to know exactly what they are capable of."
The discussion continued, mapping out contingencies and potential betrayal. Eventually, the room cleared, leaving only Sunny and Nephis.
"Is this alliance really necessary?" Sunny asked, his voice low.
"Yes," Nephis replied. "If there is a division among the strong, Gunlaug wins by default. I cannot allow that."
Sunny didn't like it—he didn't like anyone in that group, especially the way Alista looked through him—but he didn't argue. He left to return to his own shadows.
Nephis watched him go, her mind drifting to Alista Tudor. 'I need to convince the Blood Emperor to join my side,' she thought. 'If I have him, the throne of the Bright Castle is as good as mine. He defeated me once in the Academy... I wonder how much stronger he has become.'
She wasn't his friend, but she respected his strength. He was the only one who had ever rejected her offer for a spar after defeating her. He was either her strongest potential ally or her most dangerous enemy.
'Let's see how the Blood Emperor responds to my invitation,' she mused.
[The Secret Meeting Room]
Alista and Fors returned from the Bright Castle. Fors was in a high mood, having collected her winnings and successfully gambled for more shards, while Alista was preoccupied with the alliance Seishan had tentatively agreed to.
They were met immediately by Klaus and Artemis.
"Alista, Fors," Artemis said, her voice unusually sharp. "We need to talk. Now."
Klaus led them into their reinforced room and recounted the encounter with Nephis's cohort. Alista listened, his brow furrowing as Klaus described the insults and Nephis's request for a meeting.
"What is your opinion?" Alista asked, looking at his teammates.
"We can take them," Artemis said confidently. "She is the heir of the Immortal Flame, but she is still just a Sleeper. We have the advantage in versatility."
Klaus shook his head. "I'm not interested. Something is clearly off about her—it feels like walking into a trap disguised as a helping hand."
Alista turned to Fors. "Can we speak alone for a moment?"
Klaus and Artemis stepped out. Alista looked at his oldest friend. "What do you think, Fors?"
"She wants to assess you," Fors said bluntly. "She wants to see your abilities so she can fit you into one of her 'grand plans.' I hate it. It feels like being a piece on a board."
"I hate it too," Alista admitted. "But we need to weigh the benefits. I'll ask Gwen what her instincts say."
[Klaus's Quarters]
Klaus retreated to his room. It was a minimalist space, devoid of the luxuries common in the Castle. As he sat on his bed, a small badger—a real animal, not a nightmare creature—scurried across the floor.
"Howdy, badger," Klaus murmured.
He summoned his runes, his eyes lingering on the red text of his Flaw.
Flaw: [Forbidden Truth]
Description: [You have been granted glimpses of the future, yet you are cursed to never speak of them.]
Klaus had initially been thrilled by the power, but it had quickly become a nightmare. He had seen things—horrible things and cant even warn anyone about it
In one particular vision, he had seen Sunny and Cassie sailing a boat across a dark sea. He had heard Cassie explaining her massive, intricate plan to cut the strings of fate, boasting how Sunny was dancing in her palms the whole time. He had seen them releasing a monster named Mordret.
But the vision that burned in his soul was the death of Saint Cormac. Klaus's breath hitched. Cormac was his brother—the only family he had left. And in the shifting shadows of his visions, he saw that the actions of the people currently asking for an alliance were the very ones responsible for his brother's demise.
He knew the truth, and he was forbidden from speaking it.
Klaus looked at the badger and clenched his fist. The Changing Star wanted an alliance? Over his dead body.