As word spread across the kingdom about the upcoming vote for the new king, a heavy air of uncertainty and intrigue settled over Arenthia. Cedric, the King's most trusted protector and current regent, knew that the kingdom stood on the edge of a precipice. While Duke Dorian Umbravane had been declared an enemy of the state for his role in King Magnus's death, the rules of succession still held. If enough dukes rallied behind him, there would be no legal way to stop him from ascending the throne.
Cedric couldn't allow that to happen.
To tip the scales, Cedric invoked the Old Ways—a tradition not used for generations. It was a tournament of strength and magic, where the houses of Arenthia would send their three finest warriors and magicians to compete. The house whose champions emerged victorious would be awarded an extra vote in the selection of the next king. As regent, Cedric had the authority to revive this ancient custom, and he hoped that by doing so, he could prevent a fractured vote from giving Umbravane a path to power.
The arena for this grand event was to be none other than the city of Icering, the capital of the district Frostspire. Known for its massive ice-forged coliseum, Icering was the only place in the kingdom that could host such a momentous competition. Cedric had already sent word to clear the city and prepare the arena for the grand spectacle, ensuring the tournament would draw the attention of all the dukes, and more importantly, solidify his plan.
Cedric counted on his own house's magicians—Elion, a blue magician capable of manipulating water with deadly precision, and Varya, a fierce red magician with the power of fire—to lead the charge for House Magnus. Both were among the strongest in the kingdom, but Cedric needed a third champion. His trusted knights were skilled, but he required someone extraordinary to secure victory.
He called for volunteers across the district and hired mercenaries, seeking out the best fighters who could join his ranks. Among those who answered the call, many were skilled warriors, but none stood out as the clear third candidate. Cedric knew time was running out. The tournament was set to begin in less than a fortnight, and the gathering of dukes for the vote would follow soon after.
Meanwhile, Torrack, still operating from the shadows, learned of Cedric's plan. Having infiltrated the royal forces after absorbing the dragon's power, Torrack found himself drawn to the intrigue surrounding the tournament. Though his loyalty to the kingdom was in question, his motives remained his own. He knew that the winner of this competition would hold immense power over the kingdom's future—and Torrack had never been one to let such an opportunity pass him by.
As Cedric prepared for the tournament, he also had to deal with the mounting pressure from the other dukes. Whispers of alliances and betrayals echoed through the halls of Sirco. Many dukes were fearful that Duke Umbravane's allies might still try to manipulate the vote. Even in exile, Umbravane's influence was felt, and Cedric feared that if the tournament failed to provide a decisive edge, the kingdom could fall into civil war.
Despite his confidence in his magicians, Cedric knew that House Umbravane had its own formidable warriors. If Dorian's supporters nominated skilled fighters to compete in the tournament, there was a real chance they could claim the extra vote and give Umbravane the edge he needed. The thought chilled Cedric, but he remained determined to see his plan through.
As Cedric's preparations for the tournament reached a fever pitch, an unexpected visitor arrived at his chambers—Torrack. The former mercenary, now a man of growing mystery, had been a thorn in Cedric's thoughts ever since his return. Torrack had infiltrated the army, manipulated events to his advantage, and survived encounters most men wouldn't. Yet, here he stood before Cedric, not as an adversary, but as a volunteer.
"I want to be your third man," Torrack declared without preamble, his voice calm but carrying the weight of his experience.
Cedric looked up from the maps and documents scattered across his desk, taken aback by the request. "You? Fight in the tournament?"
Torrack's eyes glimmered with a strange intensity. "I need to test myself against the best warriors and magicians this kingdom has to offer. Besides, you're short a third competitor, and I'm offering my services."
Cedric studied him carefully. The tournament was not only a fight for survival for House Magnus but for the future of the entire kingdom. The idea of Torrack fighting for them, a man who had saved Prince Aidan's life, was tempting. His reputation as a great warrior preceded him. However, Torrack's loyalties were never in question.
"Why now, Torrack?" Cedric asked, his tone measured. "You've been lying low for weeks. What's in this for you?"
Torrack leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "I have my reasons, but for now, consider this: with me, you might just win. Without me, you're taking a gamble."
Cedric weighed the risks. He knew that every duke would send their best fighters, and though he had faith in Elion and Varya, they couldn't afford any weaknesses. Torrack's power was different but undeniable, and with the stakes so high, Cedric found himself swayed.
"Very well," Cedric said slowly.
Torrack went ahead to icering, he had plans he needed to place in motion.
Before the tournament, Torrack had more pressing matters to attend to. He had asked Kaelith, his closest companion, to accompany him to a blacksmith in Icering. They were there to modify the chest plate he had recovered from the fallen general, the same chest plate that had withstood blows and enhanced the general's combat abilities.
The blacksmith, a stout and grizzled man with soot-covered arms, studied the chest plate for a long moment before speaking. "This is no ordinary piece of armor. It's imbued with magic, forged by a master. I can resize it for your companion here," he gestured toward Kaelith, "but as for the sword... that's beyond my skill. You'll need a mage-blacksmith to alter it without losing its properties."
Torrack nodded, unsurprised but satisfied that at least the chest plate could be adapted. "Do what you can with it. Make it fit her, and change the color to dark green. It's her favorite."
Kaelith stood quietly beside Torrack, her eyes flickering between the chest plate and Torrack. She hadn't expected him to take such an interest in her armor, let alone request something specifically tailored to her. The gesture wasn't lost on her, though she said nothing at the time.
The blacksmith worked quickly, and by the end of the day, the chest plate was ready. It was a sleek dark green, expertly resized to Kaelith's frame, without losing any of its magical properties. When Torrack handed it to her, Kaelith was taken aback.
"This... is for me?" she asked, eyes wide as she examined the armor.
"Yes," Torrack answered. "I had it adapted to your size. And the color… I know you like green."
Kaelith smiled, her face softening as she ran her fingers over the armor's surface. "It's perfect. But… what does it do?"
Torrack shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. The general I fought used it, and it seemed to make him stronger and faster when he pressed this button." He pointed to a small engraved mark on the chest plate. "I want you to test it. See how it works for you."
Kaelith's curiosity was piqued, but she was still hesitant. "Test it? How?"
"Attack me," Torrack said, his tone casual, as if the request was as simple as asking for a drink of water.
"Attack you?" Kaelith was startled. "Why?"
Torrack smirked. "You can't hurt me. I'll just dodge or heal. I want to see what happens when you use the chest plate."
Kaelith hesitated but eventually nodded. She closed her eyes, calling upon her magic to control the trees around them. Two large branches broke free from nearby trees and moved swiftly toward Torrack, aiming to trap him. But Torrack was faster than she could see. In the blink of an eye, he had dodged the attack, standing a few feet away, completely unharmed.
"Hmm. Not strong enough," Torrack muttered. "Press the button and try again."
Kaelith glanced down at the button on her chest plate. With a deep breath, she pressed it. Instantly, she felt a surge of energy coursing through her body. Her aura flared, and the magic within her seemed to amplify. She called upon the trees once more, but this time, the effect was overwhelming.
Every tree around her seemed to respond to her command. Branches twisted and extended at alarming speed, all converging on Torrack. If he had been anyone else, he would have been caught in an instant, torn apart by the sheer force of the attack. But Torrack was faster than ever, moving like a blur to avoid the onslaught of branches.
Kaelith's heart raced, and sweat dripped from her brow. She had never felt so powerful, but the energy drain was immense. As the attack ended, she collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath. Her vision swam, and her legs gave out, sending her to the ground.
Before she hit the dirt, Torrack was there, catching her in his arms.
"Kaelith!" he said, concern breaking through his usual stoic demeanor.
Kaelith blinked up at him, her breathing labored but steady. "That... was intense. I've never... done anything like that before."
Torrack nodded, watching her carefully. "Looks like we figured out what the chest plate does. It enhances your magic, but at a cost. It drained your energy to increase your abilities. That attack was much stronger than anything I've seen from you."
Kaelith smiled weakly, pride mixing with exhaustion. "Even if I can only use it once in a fight... it's still something. A last resort."
Torrack helped her to her feet, his hand lingering on her shoulder for a moment longer than necessary. "It'll be useful. But you'll need to build your strength if you want to use it more than once."
Kaelith, despite her fatigue, felt a surge of excitement. She had a new weapon at her disposal, one that could turn the tide in battle. She glanced down at the dark green chest plate, admiring how it fit perfectly. Then, with a small laugh, she said, "Maybe I'll dye my hair to match."
Torrack chuckled, shaking his head. "Let's focus on your magic first."
Kaelith nodded, but her mind was already racing with ideas. She couldn't wait to test the chest plate further, to push her limits and see what she could achieve. But for now, exhaustion overtook her, and she slumped against Torrack's chest, her breathing steady as she drifted into sleep.
Torrack, cradling her gently, looked down at the unconscious woman in his arms. For the first time in a long while, he felt a strange sense of responsibility.