The tension inside the Tamer's Guild branch in Eryndral was palpable, like a storm brewing just beneath the surface. Kaelron, Nyx, Zerin, Eryk, and Ignis sat in a quiet corner of the Guild's map room, their voices hushed as they poured over the evidence they had gathered. The coded parchment retrieved from the hidden storage room sat on the table between them, its cryptic symbols a frustrating reminder of the cult's elusive nature.
Tasia Merrith, the Guildmaster of Eryndral, had provided them with guarded support, though her wariness had become increasingly apparent. Kaelron could feel her eyes on them every time they crossed paths in the Guild's halls, her sharp gaze probing, questioning.
"I don't like this," Nyx muttered, breaking the silence. "Tasia's attitude has changed since we showed her the evidence. She's too quiet about it."
"She doesn't trust us," Zerin said, leaning back in his chair. "And honestly? I don't blame her. If the cult's got people inside the Guild, she's probably wondering if we're part of the problem."
Eryk, who had been studying the coded message intently, looked up. "It's not just Tasia who's watching us. I've noticed eyes on us ever since we walked in here—guards, tamers, even a few of the attendants. Someone's making sure we don't get too comfortable."
Kaelron frowned. "We need to figure out who we can trust. If there's a cult sympathizer in the Guild, they'll try to stop us from decoding that message—or worse."
Eryk nodded. "Then let me handle this. I've dealt with this kind of thing before—covert informants, double agents. If there's a traitor, I'll find them."
Nyx raised an eyebrow. "You're volunteering to play spy now?"
"I know how the Order operates," Eryk said calmly. "And I know how to dig them out. Let me do this."
Later that afternoon, Kaelron found himself in the Guild's training yard, watching as young tamers practiced with their beasts. Ignis perched beside him, her sharp eyes scanning the area for threats. The rhythmic clang of swords and the growls of sparring beasts filled the air, a stark contrast to the unease simmering beneath the Guild's surface.
As Kaelron turned to leave, he nearly collided with a man in a dark Guild uniform. The man's cold blue eyes narrowed as he looked Kaelron up and down.
"You're one of the outsiders," the man said, his tone clipped.
Kaelron tensed, sensing the hostility in his voice. "And you are?"
"Rohen Salis," the man replied. "Second-in-command to Guildmaster Tasia. I've been hearing a lot about you and your little group. Stirring up trouble, are we?"
Kaelron met his gaze evenly. "We're trying to stop the Veilborn Order from destroying the world. If that's what you call trouble, then fine."
Rohen's lip curled in a faint sneer. "You don't belong here. Whatever you're looking for, I suggest you find it quickly and leave. The Guild has its own problems to deal with."
Before Kaelron could respond, Rohen brushed past him, disappearing into the crowd. Ignis growled softly, her feathers ruffling.
Kaelron placed a hand on her shoulder. "I don't trust him either," he murmured.
---
Meanwhile, Eryk had slipped away from the group to conduct his own investigation. Moving through the Guild's halls with practiced ease, he blended in with the tamers, picking up snippets of conversation and observing the flow of activity.
His instincts led him to the supply wing, where he noticed an unusual number of guards stationed outside a locked room. Pretending to adjust his pack, Eryk lingered nearby, listening as the guards whispered among themselves.
"Rohen's orders," one of them muttered. "No one goes in unless he says so."
"What's in there anyway?" the other asked. "I heard it's just old records."
"Doesn't matter. We follow orders."
Eryk's eyes narrowed. Rohen was hiding something, and whatever it was, it was important enough to warrant extra security.
That night, Eryk returned to the group with his findings.
"Rohen's involved," he said bluntly, recounting what he had overheard. "There's a restricted room in the supply wing. Guards posted, no one allowed in without his say-so."
Nyx cursed under her breath. "I knew he was up to something."
"We need to check it out," Zerin said. "If Rohen's hiding something, it might be connected to the cult."
Before they could act, a commotion from the direction of the map room drew their attention. They exchanged a glance before rushing to investigate, arriving just in time to see Rohen leaving the room with a bundle of papers clutched in his hands.
"Hey!" Kaelron shouted.
Rohen froze, his expression darkening as he realized he'd been caught.
The silence was broken by a sudden burst of movement as Rohen lunged at Nyx, his sword slicing through the air. She parried the blow with practiced ease, forcing him back as Zerin moved to flank him.
Kaelron and Ignis joined the fray, the gryphon leaping at Rohen with a ferocious screech. The second-in-command ducked under her claws, rolling to his feet and swinging his blade at Kaelron.
Kaelron blocked the strike with his staff, the impact reverberating up his arms. "You can't win this, Rohen!" he shouted.
Rohen laughed bitterly. "Winning isn't the point."
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled a small vial to the ground. The glass shattered, releasing a cloud of black smoke that filled the room. Kaelron coughed, his vision obscured as he heard the sound of retreating footsteps.
When the smoke cleared, Rohen was gone.
---
The group regrouped in the now-chaotic map room, the stolen documents scattered across the floor. Nyx cursed, sheathing her blade. "He's one of them. There's no doubt now."
Eryk knelt by one of the remaining papers, his eyes scanning it intently. "These aren't just any records. They're tracking artifacts tied to the Primordial Bonds. Rohen wasn't just sabotaging us—he was trying to destroy evidence about their locations."
Kaelron clenched his fists. "We can't let him get away. If he's working with the cult, they'll know we're onto them."
"We need to act fast," Eryk said, his voice steady. "If Rohen has a way to contact the Order, he'll use it. We need to find out where he's gone and what he's planning before it's too late."
As the group left the map room, Kaelron couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The Guild, a place of safety and camaraderie, had become a battleground of secrets and shadows.
Somewhere in the distance, the faint sound of footsteps echoed through the halls, followed by the soft rustle of wings.
The Veilborn Order was watching. And their plans were far from finished.