"So, do you accept the alliance Ren Xuan"
Kael Vyran asked with a smile as he looked at the man sitting opposite of him.
Ren Xuan glanced at Kael with a calm expression and took a sip from a cup of mead before placing it back onto the table. "What do I stand to gain?… helping you to become emperor, in exchange for your protection and aid. The chances of you succeeding even with my help, are almost laughable" Ren Xuan chuckled slightly as he glanced at the 4 masked poeple standing behind Kael, judging by their builds 3 men and a woman.
The whole tavern became alert, as the people around sensed the tension between the two parties.
Kael's smile became strained as he looked into Ren Xuans black and grey eyes "It's not impossible Ren Xuan, I have my ambitions, I don't expect for someone like you… to understand" Kael glanced at his black and white hair before continuing "You have many who wish for your head, rightfully so, and I offer you my protection, I'd say that's enough"
Ren Xuan shook his head with a calm smile, and stood up pushing his chair back "Unless you can offer me more, I don't wish to get involved in politics" Ren Xuan looked at Kael for a moment longer before nodding to him and walking towards the door.
But before Ren Xuan could leave, a masked figure stood in his way, standing in the way of the tavern door and looking down at him. Ren Xuan only smiled and looked back at Kael.
Kael stood up from his chair with a small chuckle and walked slowly towards the stairs of the tavern as the people around watched, the outcome of their interaction becoming clear to them all as they picked up their belongings and ran out, the large masked man allowing them through.
Kael opened the door once he reached up the stairs, revealing a old man, with a large grey beard and long grey hair to his shoulders, looking at him as he sat behind his desk.
Kael took a a seat opposite of him, and took a ring out and passed it to him.
"Yes? Sir Kael what's this for?" The old man's gruff voice sounded out as he held the ring in his hand, he glanced at the it taking note of green gem at its centre, before glancing back at Kael with a raised eyebrow.
Kael clasped his hands together and looked as he smiled "Consider it compensation for the damage that's gonna be done to your tavern, 600 gold coins"
The old tavern master looked at him with the same raised eyebrow as he glanced away from him for a moment then back "I'm sure you know, even if half of my tavern gets destroyed, it'll only be 150 gold coins at most. What do you really want?"
Kael chuckled his fingers tapping onto the hardwood of the desk "I know who you really are…retired general of the empire, Galen Thaddeus"
The tavern master's eyes narrowed "How do you know me boy?" He stood up and held out his hand and a long sword appeared in his hand.
Kael smile faded seeing the sword but his calm eyes was still locked on the tavern master's "why does that matter" he glanced back at the sword before looking back up into the tavern masters eyes "They say the soul weapon, is a symbolic influence of someone's future personality and character, what do you think about being my sword?"
Galen scoffed and raised his chin his eyes narrowing further his hand tightening on the hilt further "Who do you think you are boy? The last time I was a sword for someone I was stabbed in the back, my son cursed with no mana, my wife assassinated"
Kael simply leaned back on the chair "The storage ring doesn't just have 600 gold coins. It has the cure for your sons illness"
The long sword instantly disappeared from his hands as he placed the ring on his finger quickly with desperate intensity as Kael watched with a widening smile.
Galen then slit the finger of his other hand and pressed his finger against the green gem smearing it on and closed his eyes, trying to access the rings contents but after a while it didn't work as he looked at Kael.
"What have you done?" He looked at Kael and asked firmly.
Kael accessed his own storage ring and took out a a paper with details of a contract "sign the contract"
Galen looked at Kael for a moment and read the contents of the contract before nodding and signing it "There I am your sword now".
Kael smiled and nodded and and poked his finger with a needle and let the blood drip on the storage ring on Galens finger "Happy doing with business with you, general"
***
"Move" Ren Xuan said coldly as he looked at the large masked man standing in his way.
"Master's orders don't take it personally" he pushed Ren Xuan back sending him a few steps back as the other three masked figures surrounded him with the large one.