After stepping out of the chambers, I felt the cold air hit my face, a stark contrast to the tense heat inside the palace. It was hard to believe that in just a few moments, we had witnessed Tadeos being stripped of his power and exiled. His downfall was swift, and Nadea's authority was absolute. But even though Tadeos was gone, the weight of the upcoming mission pressed heavily on me. I still had to inform the squad about the deal in two days.

As I walked towards the courtyard, I saw Silvana standing there, waiting. She leaned against one of the stone columns, her eyes scanning the entrance as if expecting someone. The moment she saw me, her expression softened, and her eyes lit up as though she hadn’t seen me in years. There was a brief warmth there, almost a look that someone might reserve for a long-lost friend or... something more. But it wasn’t me she was focused on, not really.

Before I could say a word, she stepped closer, her voice soft but eager. "So, you were with her, weren't you? Nadea?" she asked, almost breathless.

I chuckled at her eagerness. “Yeah, I was.”

Silvana looked at me like she was waiting for a revelation, her usual composed self now replaced with a raw curiosity that took me by surprise. "Tell me everything. What’s she like? Is she as fierce as they say?"

Her excitement caught me off guard, and I couldn’t help but smile. It suddenly made sense why she was looking at me like that. The awe in her eyes wasn’t for me—it was for Nadea. She had been too stunned to say anything earlier when we passed by her on our way to Jalmyrys, but now, her fascination was evident.

"I’d love to chat about Nadea, but I’ve got a lot on my plate right now," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Tasks are piling up for the mercenaries: we need to recruit 15 more men, gather supplies, and I’ve got to check on troop payments also we have a meeting with Nadea in 2 days.”

Silvana crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "How about a deal then? You tell me more about her, and I’ll take care of some of those tasks for you."

I blinked, surprised. "You’d do that?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, though her eyes still gleamed with determination. "I’m serious. I can help with recruiting. Besides, it'll free you up to do the rest. And... maybe you could also try to bring me to one of her meetings"

I laughed. It was an offer too tempting to pass up—especially with the recruitment deadline looming. "Alright, deal. But you better be good at picking people. We need reliable fighters, not just any drunks off the streets."

Silvana gave a mock salute, her smile broadening. “You’ll see, I’ve got an eye for talent.”

As we walked through the bustling streets of Jalmyrys, I began to tell her more about Nadea—the real Nadea, not just the stories circulating among soldiers and villagers. "She’s... intense. The kind of person who doesn't waste words or tolerate failure. She called out Tadeos for all his incompetence and took charge without breaking a sweat. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Silvana’s eyes widened as I spoke, hanging onto every word. "That sounds exactly like her. I knew she’d be strong... but hearing it from you makes it real. She's everything I imagined."

"I suppose so," I said with a shrug. "But she’s also not someone to cross. You could feel the tension in the air when she entered the room like everyone knew they were in the presence of real power. Tadeos didn’t stand a chance against her."

"Of course, he didn’t," Silvana replied, almost scoffing at the thought. "He was a coward, hiding behind his title while the city suffered. Nadea is a real leader, someone who’s willing to get her hands dirty if needed."

I nodded in agreement. “Yeah, and speaking of getting things done, I’ll need to head to the supply market and check on the funds. Make sure we’ve got enough for the next few weeks. You think you can handle recruiting while I do that?”

She flashed me a confident smile. “You’ll have your men by the time you're done. Just make sure you keep your end of the deal and tell me more about Nadea.”

As I left Silvana to handle the recruitment, I made my way through the crowded streets of Jalmyrys. The city was bustling with activity, merchants haggling with customers, children running through the alleyways, and the distinct smell of spices and roasted meat hanging in the air. It was moments like this that reminded me how different this world was from the one I came from.

The marketplace was as busy as ever, filled with vendors selling everything from weapons to food supplies. I checked in with a few suppliers, confirming our orders for rations, arrows, and basic medical supplies. As the quartermaster, it was my job to ensure that our mercenary band had what they needed to function—without it, we’d be finished before our next mission even began.

As I haggled over prices and inspected goods, my thoughts drifted back to Nadea. The way she had taken control of the palace was impressive, yes, but also dangerous. She was sharp, calculating, and knew how to wield her power effectively. But there was also something unsettling about how easily she dismissed Tadeos, sending him away like he was nothing more than a nuisance. That kind of cold efficiency... made me wonder if she would treat us the same way if we ever failed her.

Once I had secured the necessary supplies and confirmed payments, I headed back to meet up with Silvana. True to her word, she had managed to recruit a few potential mercenaries. They were rough around the edges, but they looked capable enough.

“Well?” she asked, arms crossed, a proud look on her face. “What do you think? Did I deliver or what?”

I gave her a nod of approval. “Not bad. We’ll see how they handle themselves in the field, but for now, they’ll do also I only see 4 men didn't I tell you to get 15 men anyways leave it we have one more day we will be able to do it.”

We made our way back to the inn, the sun setting behind us. As we walked, I could see the excitement still bubbling beneath Silvana’s calm exterior. She was eager to learn more about Nadea and the idea of meeting her in person thrilled her.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. "Alright, alright, I’ll tell you more. And I’ll try to get you into that meeting. But just remember, She’s powerful, yes, but she’s also ruthless. You don’t want to be on her bad side.”

Silvana grinned, unfazed. “I’ll take my chances. Power like hers... it's worth understanding."

With the recruitment handled and the supplies secured, we returned to the inn, ready to rest and prepare for the next steps. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear—Nadea’s influence over this city was only just the beginning, and we were now a part of whatever came next.