Jade

  The moment we stepped into the village, the oppressive silence was shattered by a voice that dripped with false warmth.

  "Well, well. What a delightful surprise."

  I turned, my heart dropping as Oz stepped forward from the gathered Fiam Clan. His sharp grin stretched across his face, mocking and unnerving. He moved with a predator's grace, his dark, predatory eyes scanning us one by one until they landed on Emberes.

  "Ah, Emberes," Oz said, his tone laced with mockery. "I see the rumors are true. A new Guar Knight among us. How splendid." His eyes gleamed as they roved over Emberes' gleaming armor. "The youngest in history, no less. And to think, it was you who managed to best me before. A fluke, I'm sure."

  Emberes didn't flinch, his posture calm but firm. "Your defeat wasn't a fluke," he said simply, his voice steady. "It was your arrogance that cost you."

  Oz chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Perhaps. But we'll see if that confidence holds the next time our blades cross."

  Before Oz could press further, another figure emerged from the crowd. Jans, the leader of the Fiam Clan, stepped forward, his presence commanding despite the shadow of fear lingering in his eyes.

  "Hue Belfour," Jans said, addressing Hue directly. His voice was steady, but there was a wariness there—a caution that betrayed his true feelings. "How did you know we'd be here so quickly? Did your father send you?"

  Hue's expression didn't falter, though I could see the flicker of unease behind his eyes. He straightened, adopting the same commanding presence his father often wielded. "Of course, my father sent me," Hue said, his tone sharp and unwavering. "Do you think he wouldn't notice your movements? You're still tethered to Belfour, Jans. You left, but you've never truly been free of him."

  Jans hesitated, his jaw tightening. I could see the conflict warring within him. Despite their defiance, the Fiam Clan still held a deep fear and respect for the King, and Hue was exploiting it perfectly.

  "Don't mistake this for submission," Jans said finally, though his words lacked conviction.

  Hue offered a thin smile. "Call it whatever you want, Jans. But we both know whose name holds power here."

  As Jans shifted uncomfortably, Oz stepped forward again, his focus still locked on Emberes. "I have no interest in petty threats or politics," Oz said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But I do find this encounter... interesting."

  He turned his attention to Hue, his grin widening. "So, you're a Liche. It all makes sense now."

  The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. My heart skipped a beat as I saw Hue stiffen, his face betraying a flicker of shock.

  Oz's grin turned predatory. "I wonder," he mused, his tone casual but cutting, "did your precious King ever tell you the truth about your father?"

  Hue's silence was answer enough, and Oz chuckled darkly. "Of course not. Why would he? After all, King Belfour is the one who killed him."

  I shot Hue a sharp look—part disbelief, part vindication. I'd told him not to trust the King, but this wasn't the way I'd wanted him to learn. Still, I didn't trust Oz, either. His words were meant to wound, to sow discord.

  "Don't listen to him, Hue," I said, my voice firm. "He's trying to manipulate you."

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Oz smirked at me. "Perhaps. But that doesn't make it any less true, does it?"

  The tension in the air was palpable, and before anyone could react, Thornton surged forward.

  "Enough!" he shouted, drawing his weapon and charging at Oz.

  "Thornton, no!" I yelled, but it was too late.

  Emberes moved like lightning, intercepting Thornton before he could reach Oz. With a single motion, he knocked Thornton's weapon aside and held him back.

  "Stop," Emberes commanded, his voice sharp.

  Thornton struggled against Emberes' grip but froze when he saw Oz, who had raised a hand glowing with a dark, malevolent energy. Whatever he'd been preparing would have obliterated Thornton in an instant.

  Oz lowered his hand slowly, his grin never wavering. "Diplomacy, my friends," he said mockingly. "Let's solve this like civilized people, shall we? No blood needs to be shed today—on either side."

  Emberes released Thornton, who stepped back reluctantly, his breathing heavy.

  Oz's smile faltered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the group. "We're not your enemies today. Let's keep it that way. We'll stay here tonight, and by morning, we'll be gone. The Fiam Clan will head to the Crea Kingdom. You can continue your little quest to Canu Village."

  Hue hesitated, his expression unreadable, but finally, he nodded. "Agreed."

  Oz inclined his head, his grin returning. "Wise choice. Perhaps there's hope for you yet, Liche."

  The Fiam Clan began to disperse, moving to the outskirts of the village to set up camp. The uneasy truce hung in the air like a storm cloud, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over.

  As we gathered to discuss our next steps, my mind raced with questions. What was Oz's game? Why had the Fiam Clan chosen now to reappear? And most importantly, how much of what Oz said was true?

  One thing was certain: the answers wouldn't come easily.

  The Fiam tribe set up their tents on the outskirts of the village, careful to avoid the homes of the villagers. Their presence was too imposing, and they didn't want to intimidate the locals further. The villagers, upon recognizing Hue, bowed in reverence, their faces a mix of awe and fear. The tension in the air was palpable, but there was a mutual understanding that Oz, while dangerous, had not lied to them yet.

  We all felt it—the unease, the ever-present question of why we were here and what was happening. Oz's cryptic words about the King and Hue's lineage still lingered in my mind, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than what we'd been told. I looked at Thornton and saw the same worry reflected in his eyes.

  "Thornton," I said, stepping closer to him, lowering my voice. "What were you thinking, rushing in like that? You nearly got yourself killed."

  He didn't answer at first, his gaze shifting toward the Fiam clan, who were now busy setting up camp. But then, in that way of his, he finally spoke, a grin tugging at his lips. "I wasn't thinking, clearly."

  I shook my head, irritated and relieved at the same time. "You should've been more careful."

  Before he could respond, I dropped my voice even lower. "There's something else. When you and Hue were in the coma, I spoke to the King. He told me about our parents."

  Thornton's eyes immediately focused on me, his expression shifting from lighthearted to serious. "Our parents?"

  I nodded. "They were warriors, both of them. Our father, Kael, helped train the Guar Knights. Our mother, Seraya, was just as fierce, though she always sought peace before resorting to violence. The King says they would be proud of me."

  I felt a lump form in my throat. The words felt foreign, and yet they resonated deeply. My parents, warriors of the kingdom, had left me behind. Their legacy was alive within me, in every fight, every decision I made.

  "Jade, that's... a lot," Thornton muttered, his voice quiet. "I can't imagine what that must feel like."

  "I didn't know them, Thornton. Not really. But knowing that they were real, that they mattered... it means something. It means more than I expected." I took a deep breath and looked away. "I just needed you to know. It's part of the reason why I can't just sit by anymore."

  Before Thornton could respond, I heard a sharp sound—a burst of wind, a ripple in the air. The tension in the village heightened in an instant. I wasn't the only one to notice.

  "What's that?" Thornton whispered.

  Without warning, a new portal flared open in front of us. We all jumped into battle positions, anticipation and confusion mixing in the air. The villagers scrambled for cover, and the Fiam clan turned to face us, their weapons half-drawn.

  "We have to be ready," Emberes said, his voice low. He stood at the front, eyes scanning the surroundings, his hand on the hilt of his blade.

  Before anyone could speak, another figure stepped through the portal, their shape flickering like a shadow. Our hearts raced, and we braced for what was to come.

  The portal shimmered, and we saw a silhouette moving toward us. Just as it fully materialized, the figure stepped into the light, revealing itself in full form...