The Tamer's Guild in Eryndral, the capital of Lorentis, seemed cloaked in unease after Rohen Salis's betrayal. Although his escape had been days ago, the tension it left behind was palpable. Kaelron couldn't ignore the lingering suspicion in the air as he made his way through the dimly lit corridors.
Nyx walked beside him, her sharp gaze scanning their surroundings. Umbra, her black panther, prowled silently at her side, its glowing yellow eyes darting to the shadows.
"The Guild hasn't been the same since Rohen turned," she muttered. "People are either avoiding us or watching us too closely. It's almost like they're waiting for something."
Kaelron nodded, gripping his staff tightly. "It's hard to know who to trust. If Tasia's right about the cult infiltrating the Guild, there's no telling how far their influence goes."
The group regrouped in their quarters later that evening. Zerin leaned against a wall, casually flipping a coin between his fingers. Eryk sat by the window, his frost wolf, Frostbane, lying alertly at his feet.
Eryk broke the silence. "The cult's reach isn't just deep—it's calculated. Rohen's betrayal was only part of the plan. The way people are acting around us… it feels like they're testing us, waiting for us to slip up."
Nyx crossed her arms, her tone cold. "Agreed. We're being watched. They're probably hoping to find out what we've uncovered from the ledger."
Kaelron sighed, leaning against the table. "That ledger is the key. Tasia said the cult's network extends into the nobility, and this might tell us exactly who's involved. But we're running out of time. If they realize how much we know, they'll strike before we can act."
Zerin smirked, spinning his coin once more. "And here I thought sneaking into the Alverine estate would be the hard part."
Nyx placed the partially decoded ledger on the table. "I've been working on this. It's a complicated cipher, but I've managed to piece together fragments. Enough to know that the Alverines aren't acting alone."
Eryk's gaze sharpened. "Who else is involved?"
"The names aren't clear yet," Nyx replied, "but there's a mention of a gathering—a meeting of key players. If we can figure out where it's happening, we might be able to disrupt their plans."
Later that night, a knock at the door interrupted their discussion. Kaelron opened it to find a young tamer standing nervously, avoiding direct eye contact.
"Guildmaster Merrith wants to see you in her office," the tamer stammered before scurrying off.
The group exchanged wary glances.
"This feels off," Zerin said, pushing off the wall. "Why now?"
Eryk nodded. "It could be a trap."
Kaelron tightened his grip on his staff. "If it is, we'll deal with it. Let's go."
---
The Guildmaster's office was dimly lit when they arrived, the flickering light of a single lantern casting long shadows across the room. Tasia sat behind her desk, her expression a mix of weariness and determination.
"You've stirred up a hornet's nest," Tasia said bluntly as they entered. "The Alverines are already asking questions, and now the rest of the Guild is on edge."
Nyx crossed her arms. "You're the one who told us to investigate. Don't act like this is our fault."
Tasia sighed, rubbing her temples. "I know. And you've done well—too well, actually. That ledger you brought back? It's more dangerous than I realized."
Kaelron frowned. "What do you mean?"
Tasia's voice dropped, her tone grave. "The Alverines aren't the only ones tied to the cult. The ledger mentions multiple noble families, as well as high-ranking Guild members. If the Veilborn Order truly has its hooks in both the nobility and the Guild, it means their reach extends into the highest levels of power."
Eryk's fists clenched. "And what have you done about it?"
Tasia looked away. "I've tried to root them out, but it's not that simple. The cult's influence runs deep. They're patient, methodical. If I act without evidence, I risk turning the Guild against itself."
Kaelron stepped forward, his frustration evident. "Then what's your plan? We can't just sit here and wait for them to make the first move."
"There's a lead," Tasia said reluctantly. "The ledger mentions a gathering—a meeting of cult allies within the city. I don't know where it's happening, but if we can decode the rest of the ledger, it might tell us."
Before Kaelron could respond, the door to Tasia's office burst open. Several tamers stormed in, their weapons drawn.
Kaelron instinctively stepped in front of Tasia, his staff glowing faintly. "What is this?"
One of the tamers, a tall woman with a scar across her cheek, stepped forward. "You've gone too far. Hand over the ledger, or we'll take it by force."
Nyx drew her daggers, her stance defensive. "So much for subtlety."
Zerin smirked, already holding his blades. "I knew things were too quiet."
Eryk stood protectively in front of Frostbane, who growled low, its icy breath visible in the tense air.
Tasia looked genuinely shocked. "You're betraying the Guild?"
The scarred woman sneered. "Betrayal? You're the one who let these outsiders tear us apart. The Veilborn Order is the future, and you're too blind to see it."
Kaelron narrowed his eyes. "How many of you are there?"
"Enough," she replied, motioning for the tamers to attack.
The Guildmaster's office erupted into chaos as the traitorous tamers lunged forward, their weapons gleaming in the flickering light.
Kaelron reacted instinctively, raising his staff to block a blade aimed directly at him. The clash of steel against enchanted wood reverberated through the room. "Tasia, get behind us!" he shouted, positioning himself between her and the attackers.
Ignis roared, her wings flaring wide. Though her flames were suppressed, her sheer size and strength created a powerful deterrent as she swiped at the nearest attacker with her talons, sending them crashing into the wall.
Nyx darted forward, her daggers glinting as she deflected a strike aimed at Kaelron. "Umbra, now!" she commanded. The black panther leapt with uncanny grace, its claws raking across the chest of an attacker who staggered back, clutching at their armor.
Kaelron shifted his stance, using his staff to parry another strike. He pivoted smoothly, sweeping the staff low to knock the attacker off balance. As they fell, Ignis struck with a quick slash of her talons, incapacitating them.
Nyx moved with deadly efficiency, her daggers a blur as she fended off two attackers at once. Umbra stayed close, darting in and out of the fray, slashing at exposed limbs and forcing the attackers to stumble.
To Kaelron's left, Zerin was already in motion. His twin daggers flickered like silver lightning, parrying blows and countering with precise, debilitating strikes. "This is getting lively!" he quipped, sidestepping a wide swing and retaliating with a quick jab to his opponent's shoulder.
Eryk and Frostbane held the right flank. Frostbane growled low, its icy breath misting the air as it lunged at an attacker. Its powerful jaws locked onto the tamer's arm, forcing them to drop their sword. Eryk's whip cracked sharply, wrapping around another attacker's leg and pulling them to the ground.
"They're too coordinated!" Eryk shouted. "This wasn't improvised—they've been planning this!"
Kaelron blocked another strike, the force of the blow vibrating up his arms. "Then we'll show them why it was a mistake to come after us!"
One of the attackers, a tall woman with a scar across her cheek, barked out orders. "Forget the fight—grab the ledger!"
Kaelron's eyes darted to the table where the partially decoded ledger lay. Two tamers broke away from the melee, making a beeline for the documents.
"Ignis, stop them!" Kaelron called.
The gryphon launched herself toward the table, her talons slamming into the ground in front of the attackers. She let out a piercing screech, her powerful wings beating to create a gust of wind that forced them back.
Nyx threw one of her daggers, the blade embedding itself in the shoulder of one tamer. The attacker cried out and fell, clutching at the wound. Umbra darted forward, snapping at the other's heels and driving them further from the table.
Zerin slipped past the remaining attackers, his movements fluid as he intercepted another tamer heading for the ledger. His dagger flashed, cutting the strap of their weapon before he struck them with the hilt, knocking them unconscious.
Meanwhile, Frostbane and Eryk worked in tandem to keep the attackers at bay. The frost wolf circled its prey, its icy breath creating slick patches on the floor that caused two tamers to lose their footing.
Eryk's whip lashed out, catching one of the disarmed tamers around the wrist. With a sharp tug, he pulled them forward and delivered a swift elbow strike, knocking them out cold. "Stay down," he muttered, glancing at Frostbane. "Good work."
Frostbane growled low, its sharp eyes watching for any remaining threats.
Kaelron stepped into the fray, his staff a blur as he parried blow after blow. He avoided using flames, mindful of the enclosed space and the Guildmaster's proximity. Instead, he focused on precision strikes, using the enchanted strength of his staff to disarm and disable his opponents.
The scarred woman locked eyes with him, raising her sword. "You're wasting your time. The Veilborn Order will succeed, with or without your interference."
Kaelron spun his staff, deflecting her strike and stepping forward to deliver a hard jab to her midsection. "You're not leaving here with that ledger," he said, his voice calm but firm.
The woman staggered back but recovered quickly, raising her sword again. Before she could attack, Ignis lunged between them, her talons slamming into the floor. The woman hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she backed away.
Realizing her forces were faltering, the scarred woman shouted, "Fall back! Regroup outside!"
The remaining attackers moved toward the door, their retreat covered by a barrage of thrown daggers and hastily drawn shields.
Nyx started after them, but Kaelron stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Let them go. They'll regroup and come back, but not before we're gone."
Nyx's gaze lingered on the retreating figures before she nodded. "Fine. But this isn't over."
As the last of the attackers disappeared into the night, the group surveyed the damage. The room was in disarray, with overturned furniture and scattered papers littering the floor.
Tasia stepped forward, her face pale but resolute. "You need to leave. The Guild isn't safe anymore. If the cult has infiltrated us this deeply, they'll stop at nothing to recover that ledger."
Kaelron nodded. "We'll leave tonight. Velathris might not be safer, but we have to keep moving."
Nyx picked up the ledger, carefully folding the documents and placing them in her satchel. "We'll finish decoding this. If the cult thinks they can stop us, they're in for a surprise."
Eryk knelt beside Frostbane, scratching the wolf's ears. "And if they come after us again, we'll be ready."
Kaelron placed a hand on Ignis's shoulder, meeting Tasia's gaze. "Thank you for everything. Stay safe."
Tasia gave a small nod. "And you, Kaelron. The fate of the Primordial Bonds might rest with you now."
As the group left the Guild under cover of darkness, Kaelron couldn't shake the feeling of eyes watching them from the shadows. Somewhere in Eryndral, the Veilborn Order was already regrouping, their plans moving forward.
But Kaelron was resolute. The fight for the Primordial Bonds wasn't over—not yet.