"Kairos" Cassius called as soon as he entered kairos's office
"Xandros is here" he said
Kairos looked at him without a word and simply sighed
"Take me to him" he said standing to his feet
Cassius nodded and led the way towards the meeting room. Xandros turned around from where he stood and looked at Kairos with his hand placed behind him.
"Please take a seat" Kairos offered sitting opposite him. He grabbed a pressure jug and poured in tea into the two tea cups before then.
"You don't have to be so hospitable" Xandros said showing a faint smile that didn't reach the corner of his eyes
"I'm not doing this for you but for master..."
"She doesn't like to be called that" Xandros said cutting him short
"Why have you come?" Kairos asked bringing the cup of tea to his lips
"She's left the mountains" Xandros said calmly and Kairos spat his tea with his eyes becoming widely open
"What?" He asked "she wouldn't do such a thing" Kairos said convincing himself that Maze wouldn't be so stupid.
"Here take a look," Xandros said and tossed the letter that Maze had given him right in front of him.
Kairos quickly tour open the letter and read through it, he was shocked he wasn't expecting this from Mazikeen.
"What!" Kairos screamed "why did you let her leave?" He asked glaring at Xandros
"It's too dangerous for her alone"
"She wouldn't listen to me and I can't stop her, this is her destiny calling her, stopping her would only cause more trouble for us all" Xandros said
Kairos stared at the letter, He slammed the paper down on the table and looked at Xandros with burning intensity.
"She's walking into a death trap!" Kairos snapped. "You were there! How could you let her leave?"
Xandros met his gaze calmly. "You think I didn't try? She's determined. She's stronger than you give her credit for, but stubbornness is her greatest flaw."
Kairos leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This isn't about her strength or stubbornness, Xandros. This is about Maximus. He'll see her as a threat. A direct threat."
"That's exactly why we can't abandon her," Xandros replied firmly. "If Maximus gets to her before we do, he'll use her powers against all of us or worse, kill her to prevent her from uniting the realms."
Kairos sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Do you even understand what you're asking of me? You want me to put my men, my realm, at risk for a war that isn't even ours."
Xandros raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it? You know as well as I do that the balance between the realms has been shattered for centuries. If Mazikeen gets her powers, it won't just save her realm, it'll save us all."
Kairos's jaw tightened. "And what if she fails? What if we die fighting for her, and she's not the savior we think she is?"
"Then at least we'll know we fought for something greater than ourselves," Xandros said, his voice steady. "You've lived for centuries, Kairos. Don't tell me you're content with the way things are. The vampires might be safe behind their walls for now, but how long do you think that'll last if the realms collapse into chaos?"
Kairos looked away, his fingers drumming on the table. "You always were good with words," he muttered. "Fine. I'll rally my men. But this isn't about belief in her. It's about survival."
"Call it whatever you want," Xandros said, smirking faintly. "As long as you're with us when the time comes."
Kairos leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Don't get cocky. If she gets herself killed, this alliance will crumble faster than it started."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Xandros said, sipping his tea.
~~~~
Thorold walked along the riverside, the distant cry of a young voice piercing the serenity. He froze, his chest tightening. "A child? Here?" he muttered, glancing at Ethan, who was already on alert.
They followed the sound until they found a little girl sprawled on the ground, her frail body trembling. Thorold knelt beside her, his sharp eyes immediately catching the wound on her leg. The dark, swirling energy radiating from it made his stomach churn.
"This…" Thorold murmured, his hand hovering over the wound.
Ethan crouched beside him. "Dark energy." He said looking at the wound on her legs
"It's the same with that of the imposter who attacked Mazikeen." Thorold said looking at Ethan, his jaw tightening. "How did this make its way into our realm?"
Ethan didn't reply, his face grim.
"Take her to the healer. Quickly," Thorold ordered, standing.
Ethan nodded, motioning to the guards nearby. "Get her to the healer, now."
Once they were alone, Ethan turned to Thorold. "What are you thinking?"
Thorold exhaled sharply. "This energy shouldn't exist here. Someone is behind it, and I need to know who."
"I'll start tracing its origin," Ethan promised.
Thorold nodded but remained silent, his gaze fixed on the rippling water.
After a pause, he said, "Vesper came to me last night."
Ethan raised a brow. "What did he say?"
"Mazikeen left the mountains today."
Ethan sighed, shaking his head. "I knew she wouldn't stay."
"She's determined, but it worries me," Thorold admitted, his tone low. He picked up a pebble and tossed it into the river. "Tell Anna I need to speak with her."
"Consider it done," Ethan replied, his eyes narrowing. "You seem tense."
"I'm fine," Thorold said curtly.
Ethan smirked faintly. "Sure you are."
Thorold didn't respond, letting the silence fall between them. Ethan could see he was worried but he had known Thorold for hundreds of years and if there was one thing he could say about him, it would be the fact that Thorold doesn't show or share his worry with anyone, he would rather keep it to himself. He has always been one to keep to himself and not let others know how he felt or whatever his going through, all he cared about was the peace, unity and safety of the realm and that of Maze as well.