Before letting the man go, I asked him more questions.

I need to know more to survive.

His explanation made sense, but it also left me with more questions than answers.

“I had assumed my enemies wanted me dead because of something I had done, but the truth was more troubling: my potential was what made me a target.”

“I wasn’t dangerous to them now, but I could be. “

And that was enough reason for them to try and snuff me out before I became a problem.

I let out a slow breath.

My gaze sharpened as I focused on the mage in front of me.

“So, what’s the real issue here?”

“Why are people so afraid of my connection to Eval Morningstar? Why is his name enough to put a target on my back?”

The mage hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. I could see the internal struggle in his eyes.

He wasn’t sure how much to say, but he also knew that withholding information wasn’t in his best interest.

After a few moments, he sighed, nodding to himself before meeting my gaze.

“It’s a long story,” he admitted.

“But if you really want to know, I’ll tell you what I can.”

I gave him a slow nod, signaling for him to continue.

“The battle between Freedom of Amber and Eval Morningstar didn’t start overnight,”

“It’s not some petty rivalry or a simple dispute over resources. It’s a war over something much bigger; I would say it is about power to change and authority.”

“What do you mean?”

The mage exhaled sharply.

“Freedom of Amber and their allies hold power through magic. They control magical organizations, schools, and research institutions. They have influence over noble families, trade routes, and even the governance of entire regions. But more than that, they’ve positioned themselves as the arbiters of who gets to wield power and how that power is used. To them, magic is the foundation of civilization, and they believe only those who truly understand it should be in charge.”

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I narrowed my eyes.

“And Eval disagrees?”

The mage let out a dry chuckle. “Disagreeing is putting it lightly. Eval Morningstar doesn’t just want to challenge the system—they want to dismantle it entirely. He believes the current power structure is flawed, that magic should serve people rather than rule over them. He wants to create a system where nobility and magical organizations don’t dictate the fate of the common people. He wants to take authority away from the powerful and redistribute it in a way that makes sense to him.”

I leaned back slightly.

So that was the real reason Eval was feared.

It wasn’t just about his personal strength or the influence he had; it was about his ideology.

He wasn’t just another player in the game; he wanted to flip the entire board.

“Freedom of Amber and their allies don’t like that idea.”

The mage smirked.

“Not even a little. To them, Eval isn’t just a rebel—he’s a threat to everything they’ve built. He’s trying to rewrite the rules of the world, and if he succeeds, a lot of powerful people stand to lose everything.”

I considered that for a moment.

If what the mage was saying was true, then Eval wasn’t just some rogue mage.

“So, if Eval wins, what happens?”

The mage shrugged.

“That depends. Some say he wants to create a new ruling system, one where power is earned rather than inherited. Others believe he wants to erase the lines between nobility, commoners, and mages entirely. There are even those who think he’s just a madman with a dream too big for his own good. But regardless of what his true intentions are, one thing is certain—if he gets his way, the world will never be the same.”

I rubbed my temple, my mind working through everything I had just learned.

“And where do I fit into all of this? Why am I a problem for your side?”

The mage gave me a long, assessing look before answering.

“That I have already said, because you have potential and you had a connection to Eval and spent much time with him in the Grimrock Mine Prison,” he said simply.

“Right now, you might not be strong enough to shift the tide of battle. But given time, given the right circumstances… you could be. And people like you who don’t belong to any faction, people who grow stronger without being controlled, are unpredictable. That makes you dangerous.”

“You said before that you don’t know exactly who ordered my execution,” I said, my voice thoughtful. “But you do know that Freedom of Amber is involved.”

The mage nodded.

“That’s right. And if you want my advice? You should leave this whole thing behind while you still can. Walk away. Disappear. Because if you keep going down this path, you’re going to find yourself in the middle of something far bigger than you realize.”

I met his gaze, my expression unreadable.

Disappearing wasn’t an option.

Not anymore.

I had already come too far.

If my enemies saw me as a threat, then I had two choices: run and hide… or become the very thing they feared.

I already knew my answer.

I stood up, stretching my limbs. The mage watched me warily, unsure of what I would do next.

“I appreciate the information,” I said, my tone calm. “But I have no intention of running.”

The mage let out a quiet sigh. “Then you’d better be ready for what’s coming.”

I gave him a small, knowing smile.

“I always am.”