The scent of spices, ink, and fresh parchment filled the air as Cassia sat in the corner of a dimly lit teahouse, her fingers tracing the rim of a ceramic cup. The marketplace outside buzzed with life, but inside, the world felt quieter—just how she liked it when she needed to think.
The morning had been long, spent in the gilded halls of Velmora's merchant guild. Cassia had been present among the powerful men who made their fortunes through silk, grain, and silver. To them, she was just another ambitious woman trying to earn her place in their world. But Cassia was more than that. She was biding her time, carefully playing the part of a humble merchant, waiting for her moment to strike.
Her mind drifted to her uncle, the last of her noble family, whose influence in the emperor's court kept their name alive. His role in the empire was one of quiet power, and he had raised Cassia in his shadow, teaching her the art of discretion. But today, she wasn't just playing the role of a dutiful niece. She was a woman with a purpose, driven by secrets she would die to uncover.
Across from her, an older man with sharp, calculating eyes sipped his tea. Magister Severus, a figure who had long been part of Velmora's underworld, was a man who always knew the pulse of the city. He had connections that stretched from the docks to the imperial court. If anyone had the information Cassia sought, it was him.
"You're bold for someone so young," Severus said, swirling his tea. His voice had a gravelly undertone, like the rustle of dried parchment. "A noblewoman playing merchant. Tell me, Cassia, does your uncle know you're here?"
Cassia smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. She had learned long ago that a single reaction could cost her more than coin. Instead, she lifted her tea cup and took a slow sip, waiting for him to continue.
"My uncle does not dictate my business, Magister," she replied calmly, meeting his gaze squarely.
Severus chuckled, his lips twisting in amusement. "No, I suppose not. He's a wise man. Loyal to the empire… or so they say." He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "But we both know loyalty is an expensive thing in Velmora."
Cassia didn't flinch. She was no stranger to veiled threats. Instead, she kept her focus sharp, her hands steady as they rested on the table. "And you believe loyalty can be bought?"
Severus's grin deepened. "In Velmora? Everything has its price, my dear. Even loyalty."
She tapped the edge of her cup, her fingers gliding over the smooth surface. The conversation was becoming tiresome, but there was something he had that she needed—something that could change the course of everything.
Before she could respond, Severus's tone shifted, becoming more sinister. "Tell me, Cassia, what is it you're really after? Information on the merchant guilds? Or perhaps something more?"
Cassia's eyes narrowed imperceptibly. He was probing, but he wasn't wrong. The guilds were one part of her plan, but there was something deeper, something more personal.
"I have an interest in history," she said, her voice smooth and unyielding.
Severus raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "History? A dangerous thing to pursue in a world that's constantly rewriting it."
Cassia's gaze softened as she took another sip of her tea, playing the part of the naïve, innocent merchant. But inside, her mind was racing. "You're right. History is never as simple as it seems."
For a long moment, Severus remained silent, studying her with a piercing intensity. He seemed to weigh his words carefully, choosing them as though they were coins to be spent wisely.
"Word is, the guilds are shifting their alliances," he said at last, his voice dropping lower. "A certain prince is rumored to be watching them closely. Someone powerful. Someone who has no tolerance for betrayal."
Cassia's heart skipped, but she remained perfectly composed. She could feel the tension in the air, like a taut rope ready to snap. "A prince?" she asked, feigning surprise. "Which prince?"
Severus leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving hers. "Does it matter?" He flicked a hand dismissively. "The truth is, someone in your position ought to tread carefully. The empire is not as stable as it once was. The guilds are not just trading goods, Cassia. They are trading something far more dangerous—secrets, lies, alliances that could shift the very foundation of Velmora."
Cassia had expected this. She had come to Severus for a reason, and now it was clear that the secrets he held were far more important than just merchant affairs. She needed to know what this prince—this unknown figure—meant for her plan.
With a flick of his wrist, Severus reached into his robes and pulled out a small, folded parchment. The paper was old, the ink faded with time, but Cassia could still make out the shape of the name written upon it.
"A name, Cassia. That's what you're looking for, isn't it?" Severus's voice had an edge to it now, a knowing smile playing at his lips.
Cassia remained calm. "A name, yes," she said softly, her fingers already itching to take the parchment. She wasn't sure why, but this felt like a turning point. This was the clue she needed. The missing link that could unravel the story of her family's fall.
Severus slid the parchment across the table toward her. "Take it. But remember, the price of information is always high."
Without hesitation, Cassia took the parchment, unfolding it carefully. Her eyes scanned the faded letters—Aurelian Varro.
The name struck her like a blow to the chest. It was the name she had been searching for, the one she had been told to forget. Her family had been linked to that name—tied to the destruction that had torn apart her life. But why was it resurfacing now?
She closed the parchment with a slow, deliberate motion. "And what is the price of this name?"
Severus's smile deepened. "A favor, of course. One I will call upon when the time is right."
Cassia's heart raced, but her face remained unreadable. This was more than just a business transaction. This was the beginning of something far bigger than she had anticipated.
Outside, the streets of Aurellia stretched out like a web, full of life and hidden dangers. In the shadows, a man in scholarly robes lingered, his sharp gaze fixed on the figure of Cassia as she left the teahouse.
Lucius had been tracking the movements of the merchant guilds for weeks, but it wasn't until now that he felt the stirrings of something far more significant. He had not anticipated a woman like Cassia—clever, poised, and dangerous in her own way.
He watched her disappear into the crowd, a feeling settling in his chest that this meeting, this woman, would play a pivotal role in everything to come.
And in the Blood of Velmora, deep within the shadows of the empire, secrets that had long been buried were stirring, ready to rise to the surface once more.
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