EVAL’S POV

The candlelight flickered, casting long, jagged shadows on the wooden walls.

My mind was already weighed down by countless plans, strategies, and calculations.

Every move had to be precise.

Every step is needed to lead toward the greater goal.

But then I felt it.

A familiar tug of magic in the back of my mind.

“A connection spell... it is Arfa who sent me a message...”

I immediately straightened, my focus sharpening.

Arfa wouldn’t contact me unless it was urgent.

He was one of the few people I trusted not to waste my time with trivial matters.

If he was reaching out now, it meant something had gone wrong.

I exhaled, closing my eyes, and whispered,

“Link Open.”

The moment the words left my lips, the magic activated, and Arfa’s voice filled my mind.

He spoke methodically, carefully laying out each event.

I listened in complete silence.

My fingers, which had been lightly tapping against the chair’s surface, slowed before curling into a fist.

Marsil had been attacked.

Elenora had gone against my orders.

The irritation built within me like a slow-burning fire.

My breathing remained controlled, but my jaw tightened.

I had been clear to invite Marsil. Let him make his own choice.

Nothing more.

He was a mage with potential, someone who could be useful in the days to come.

But instead of following my command, Elenora had made a decision that was never hers to make.

She had attempted to kill him.

She had turned a potential ally into an enemy.

And worst of all, she had failed.

I leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees, processing every word Arfa said.

I had spent years crafting this movement, ensuring that each step was deliberate, each decision leading toward the greater goal.

Every piece had its place, every individual their role.

Yet now, thanks to Elenora’s impulsiveness, I had to adjust my plans.

Marsil had escaped.

He was alive.

And now, because of her, he had a reason to stand against us.

“That kid was an honest man, and his potential was off the charts.”

“I could not help but think Elenora is working against me...”

I sighed, but it did nothing to relieve the weight pressing down on my chest.

There was a time when mistakes could be tolerated, when I had the patience to let others learn from their failures.

But we were past that point.

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There was no more room for error.

I closed my eyes for a moment, my mind racing through possibilities.

What would Marsil do now?

Would he go into hiding?

Would he try to join Freedom of Amber out of spite?

No.

He was not a fool.

If anything, this situation would only harden him, push him to grow stronger at an even faster pace. He would not trust anyone so easily anymore not us, not them.

And that made him dangerous.

I could not afford to leave him alone.

The logical move would be to eliminate him before he became a problem.

That’s what the others would suggest.

That’s what someone like Arfa, or even other members, would argue for.

A loose end needed to be tied up before it unraveled into something uncontrollable.

But I knew better.

That was precisely why I wanted him on our side in the first place.

Had Elenora not interfered, I could have given him time and let him see things from our perspective. Now, however, that door may have closed forever.

I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples.

-

I got up from my chair.

As I paced back and forth across the dimly lit room, my thoughts raced.

I had spent time with him back in Grimrock Prison Mine.

We had worked together, survived together in that hellhole.

He was not a fool, nor was he a man who could be easily manipulated or swayed by honeyed words. He did not trust easily, and for good reason.

The very people Elenora feared he would join, the Freedom of Amber and the noble houses, were the ones who had put him in prison in the first place.

Why in all the damn world would he ever consider working with them?

Elenora acted out of paranoia.

She assumed Marsil was a risk without truly understanding him. She made an enemy out of someone who, if approached correctly, could have become one of our strongest allies.

“I know that I am thinking about the same things, but it is hard to find a great plan.”

“As a leader, others believe that I know everything and will make everything straight.”

“But it is not that easy...”

She thought she was protecting the cause.

Instead, she had made it weaker.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair before rubbing my temples.

I could not afford to let emotions cloud my judgment.

The damage was done.

The only question now was how to deal with the consequences.

And yet… I did not believe he would go running to the other side.

I needed more information. I needed someone I could trust to evaluate the situation, track Marsil’s movements, and ensure that if we were to act again, we did so correctly.

I stopped pacing, turned toward the door, and called out a name.

“Lindervind, come inside.”

Within a second, the wooden door creaked open.

A tall man stepped inside, his black coat flowing slightly as he moved.

He adjusted his thin-rimmed glasses, his sharp blue eyes meeting mine.

Lindervind was one of my most reliable people.

Not as loud or aggressive as some of my other subordinates, but far more effective.

Where men like Eduardo and women like Elenora relied on brute force or instinct, Lindervind was precise, analytical, and efficient.

He didn’t speak immediately.

He simply observed me, waiting for my command.

I let out a breath and gestured for him to sit, though he remained standing.

“There has been a development. A failure.”

Lindervind raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing, letting me continue.

“Elonora has disobeyed my orders.”

At this, his expression shifted ever so slightly, just the faintest hint of curiosity.

“She was supposed to bring Marsil to our side, to offer him a choice. Instead, she attempted to eliminate him.”

Lindervind adjusted his glasses, exhaling quietly through his nose.

“And she failed, I assume.”

“Yes,” I confirmed. “Marsil escaped. And now, thanks to her, we may have turned a neutral party into an enemy.”

Lindervind nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

“Then the question is… what is his next move?”

I crossed my arms, leaning against my desk.

“That is exactly what I need you to find out.”

Lindervind’s sharp eyes flickered with understanding.

“You want me to track him.”

I nodded.

“Discreetly. I need to know where he’s going, what he’s planning. Whether he still holds any lingering respect for me… or if he’s set on revenge.”

Lindervind was silent for a moment before speaking again.

“If he chooses to strike against us?”

I met his gaze.

“Then we will have no choice but to respond in kind.”

Another pause. Then, Lindervind nodded.

“Understood.”

I exhaled.

This was the best course of action I could take. I couldn’t afford another reckless move like Elenora’s.

Lindervind would follow Marsil, not to harm him, but to understand him.

Because in the end, I didn’t want to destroy Marsil.

I wanted to recruit him.

And if there was still a chance to do that, I would take it.