The room was dimly lit, shadows pooling in the corners as the faint hum of a mana-powered generator filled the silence. Felix sat at the edge of a long metal table, his crimson eyes scanning the faces of Victoria's most trusted allies. Each of them radiated a mixture of tension and resolve. The stakes had never been higher, and they all knew it.
Victoria stood at the head of the table, her silver braid gleaming like a crown under the weak overhead light. She radiated confidence, her sharp features betraying no doubt as she addressed the room.
"This is it," Victoria said, her voice slicing through the silence with the authority of a ruler claiming her throne. The room seemed to hold its breath, the dim light casting sharp shadows over her silver braid as she stood at the head of the table. "We've waited long enough. The leadership of Ironstride is weak, fractured, and unfit to lead us into the future. It's time for a change, and we're the ones to make it happen."
A wave of murmurs swept through the group, some nodding eagerly, others glancing at each other with varying degrees of hesitation. Felix leaned back in his chair at the far end of the room, his crimson eyes scanning every reaction like a hawk watching its prey.
Bryce's name had been uttered with disdain too many times tonight for the room to hold neutrality any longer.
"We strike in three days," Victoria continued, her tone sharp and commanding. "Everything is in place. Bryce, Lena, and Malcolm won't know what hit them. By the time they realize what's happening, it'll already be over."
Felix rested his chin on his hand, keeping his expression carefully neutral. Inside, however, his mind raced, spinning calculations like a web of threads. Three days. Just enough time to shift the board.
"You really think this will work?" a deep voice broke through the low murmurs. It was Gareth, one of the newer additions to Victoria's inner circle, known more for his raw power than his subtlety. He leaned forward, his hands resting heavily on the table.
Victoria's eyes locked onto him, her gaze sharp enough to cut. "Do you doubt me, Gareth?"
"Not doubting you," Gareth said quickly, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I just want to know how we're going to take out Bryce without half the guild going apeshit the second they realize what's happening."
Victoria allowed a small smirk to cross her lips, her eyes gleaming with confidence. "Simple. We use their apathy against them. Bryce has done nothing but coast on his reputation for years. He doesn't have the respect he used to, not after the last mission fiasco."
Gareth grunted but nodded, conceding her point.
Lena, seated near the corner, crossed her arms. Her brow furrowed as she spoke. "And Malcolm? He's not as complacent as Bryce. He's old, sure, but he's sharp. If he gets even a whiff of this, he'll bolt."
Victoria's smirk widened. "That's why Malcolm won't be here. He's leaving for his so-called patrol the day before the strike. I've made sure of it."
"How?" Lena pressed, her skepticism clear.
"I told him I'd personally handle Bryce's next tantrum," Victoria replied smoothly. "He jumped at the chance to get out of the base. The old man thinks I'm on his side."
A ripple of laughter ran through the room, low and bitter. Felix noted how it lacked warmth—these weren't comrades sharing camaraderie. These were wolves preparing to devour their prey.
"And what about the others?" another voice asked, this time from Kayla, a lithe scout with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue. "There's more than just Bryce and Malcolm. Lena's right—people might freak out when this goes down."
Victoria turned her gaze to Kayla, her smirk fading into something colder. "Then we remind them why I'm the one taking over. Strength speaks louder than words in this guild. Once they see Bryce fall, they'll understand who's in charge. And if they don't..." She let the sentence hang, the unspoken threat heavy in the air.
Felix tilted his head slightly, studying the room. The hesitation was there, faint but present. Not everyone was fully on board yet, and that was a problem Victoria couldn't afford.
He decided to nudge things along.
"You're all missing the point," Felix said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. Every eye in the room turned to him, and he offered a small, foxlike smile. "This isn't about Bryce or Malcolm. It's about the future of Ironstride. Do you really think anyone will miss them once Victoria takes charge? They'll fall in line because they'll see what she's building—something stronger, something better."
Victoria's gaze flicked to Felix, her eyes gleaming with approval.
"He's right," she said, her tone firm. "This isn't just about taking out Bryce or Malcolm. This is about what comes after. Ironstride has been stuck in the past for too long, clinging to leaders who don't have the guts to do what needs to be done. That ends now."
She straightened, drawing the blade from her side with a smooth motion. The polished steel caught the light, gleaming ominously as she held it aloft.
"This blade," she said, her voice ringing out, "is now the symbol of Ironstride's strength."
The room was silent, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone.
"So I ask you now," Victoria continued, her gaze sweeping over the room, "who stands with me? Who will help me build the future Ironstride deserves?"
There was a beat of silence, and then Gareth stood, his chair scraping against the floor. "You've got my axe," he said simply, his deep voice carrying a note of conviction.
Kayla was next, rising smoothly to her feet. "Count me in. Someone needs to keep you all from screwing this up."
One by one, the others stood, each swearing their loyalty to Victoria. Felix remained seated, his foxlike smile widening as he watched the scene unfold.
Victoria turned to him, her blade still raised. "And you, Felix?" she asked, her voice softer now but no less commanding. "Will you stand with me?"
Felix rose slowly, his movements deliberate. He stepped forward, stopping just short of the table as he met her gaze. "Always," he said, his tone smooth and unwavering.
Victoria smiled, lowering her blade slightly as she turned to address the room. "Then it's decided. In three days, Ironstride will belong to us."
The room erupted into cheers and shouts of approval, the tension melting away as the group solidified their unity. Victoria raised her blade again, the gesture met with a resounding cry:
"To the new Ironstride!"
+
Victoria's piercing gaze shifted to him, her voice softening but losing none of its intensity. "Felix."
He straightened slightly, his foxlike smile faint but present. "Yes, Victoria?"
Her eyes locked onto his, unwavering. "You've been my greatest asset. Without your strategies, we wouldn't have gotten this far. But you're more than just my strategist." She stepped closer, resting a hand on his arm. Her grip was firm, possessive.
"You're my partner," she said, her voice low but carrying weight. "When this is over, you'll be at my side, where you belong."
The room fell silent, her declaration hanging heavy in the air. Felix felt the weight of every gaze turning toward him, the unspoken question in their eyes: Is he loyal?
Felix nodded slowly, his expression carefully crafted to exude a mix of humility and resolve. "Of course, Victoria. I'm with you, always."
Her hand lingered on his arm for a moment longer before she returned to her place at the head of the table. Felix allowed himself a quick glance at the others. Some looked relieved, others wary. One or two exchanged brief glances, their expressions unreadable.
System Notification:
Reputation Points: +20 (Confirmed loyalty in Victoria's eyes)
Quest Progress: "Support or Sabotage Victoria's Takeover" - 75% complete
Hidden Objective Progress: "Approach Amelia Cross" - 25% complete
Victoria clapped her hands together, drawing the group's attention back to her. "The timeline is set. We'll move at midnight."
A few chuckles rose from the table, but Felix remained silent, his mind turning over the possibilities. Three days. Enough time to shift the board but not enough to make mistakes. Every move has to count.
As the meeting drew to a close, Victoria's gaze found his again. She gestured subtly, a command he didn't dare ignore. Felix rose and followed her as the others began to leave, their hushed conversations filling the room.
+
Victoria led him to a quieter corner of the base, her steps purposeful. When they stopped, she turned to him, her expression softer now but no less intense.
"You've been remarkable, Felix," she said, her voice low. "I couldn't have done this without you."
Felix tilted his head slightly, his foxlike smile returning. "You give me too much credit."
She stepped closer, her presence commanding even in the intimate space. "No, I don't. You've done more for me than anyone else in this guild. You've made me believe that I can truly take Ironstride and turn it into something great."
Her hand reached out, brushing against his cheek. Felix remained still, his expression unreadable as her touch lingered. "With you, I'll be unstoppable," she whispered.
Before he could respond, Victoria leaned in, her lips capturing his in a fierce, possessive kiss. Felix allowed it, though his mind churned with calculations. Her obsession is growing. This is dangerous, but it's also exactly what I need.
When she finally pulled back, her blue eyes burned with determination. "Three days, Felix. Stay close. I'll need you more than ever."
He nodded, his voice steady. "Of course."
Victoria smiled, satisfied, before turning and walking away. As her figure disappeared down the corridor, Felix let out a slow breath, his smile fading into something colder, sharper.
System Notification:
Obsession Level Critical: Victoria Cross. Be wary.