-

Gareth motioned to the guards outside the room, signaling the end of the conversation.

As they stepped in to escort the young man away, Gareth spoke one final time, his voice cold and unyielding.

“Think long and hard about your next move. Because trust me, this is only the beginning.”

-

Captain Heidrick leaned back in his oversized chair.

His desk was cluttered with reports, maps, and scattered documents.

He picked up a report with a raised brow before setting it down with a smirk.

Turning his gaze to his second-in-command, Revol Rudiment, he gestured with the glowing tip of his cigar.

“Well, Revol, what’s your take on all this mess? Ferlo, the engine room, these big-shot mages... quite a week we’re having, eh?”

Revol coughed politely into his fist before responding.

“A mess, indeed, Captain.” He adjusted his glasses, his expression serious.

“The young man we’ve got in custody—the one Gareth interrogated—he’s almost certainly the assassin responsible for Ferlo’s death. Gareth’s team is putting together the final pieces as we speak. If all goes according to plan, we’ll have concrete proof in two or three days.”

Heidrick exhaled a cloud of smoke, his smile widening.

“Good. Ferlo’s death has stirred up quite the hornet’s nest. The sooner we pin it on someone, the sooner we can calm these waters. What about the Level 2 Engine Room?”

Revol nodded bristly.

“Repairs are already underway. Should be fully operational within the day. No lasting damage to the ship’s systems, thankfully, but the incident has made people nervous.”

Heidrick chuckled, taking another deep puff from his cigar.

“Nervous? They should be. A worm-like magical creature takes a bite out of our engine, causing an explosion, and no one knows who conjured it. If I were a passenger, I’d be nervous too.”

Revol hesitated, then leaned forward slightly.

“Captain, if I may, this worm—it’s not just a random act of sabotage. I believe it’s the work of one of the high-level organizations on board. Whoever conjured it has resources and skill well beyond the reach of these small-time thugs.”

Heidrick’s eyes narrowed as he tapped ash from his cigar into a small tray.

“You think it’s a message? Or just a distraction?”

“Both, perhaps,” Revol replied.

“The timing is too convenient. Ferlo’s assassination, the worm attack, and now we’re seeing hidden mages from all the major organizations moving into the practice room. They’re not just there to investigate—they’re positioning themselves.”

Heidrick nodded slowly, considering this. “And what do you think they’re after?”

Revol smiled faintly, his tone measured.

“Power, Captain. Control. Ferlo was small fry compared to what’s coming. Mark my words, in a week’s time, someone far more significant than Ferlo will die.”

The captain leaned forward, resting his cigar on the edge of the ashtray.

“You’re that certain, are you?”

“Yes,” Revol said simply.

Heidrick studied him for a moment before sitting back again.

“Alright, then. Let’s assume you’re right. What’s our move?”

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“Stay neutral,” Revol said immediately.

“We can’t afford to take sides in this conflict, not when we don’t know the full extent of what’s happening. Our priority should be maintaining order on the ship and protecting its systems."

Heidrick stroked his chin thoughtfully. “And what about the guards?"

Revol hesitated before answering.

“Our guards are well-trained, but they’re not mages. If this escalates into open conflict between high-level magic users, our forces will be outmatched.”

The captain frowned, reaching for his cigar again.

“Then we’ll need to be proactive. Double the patrols in critical areas—engine rooms, the practice room, and anywhere else these organizations might target. And make sure our own machines are on standby. I want them ready to act if things go south.”

Revol nodded, making a mental note.

“Understood, Captain.”

Heidrick took another puff of his cigar, exhaling slowly.

"Anything else I should know?”

Revol’s smile returned, faint but noticeable.

“Well, there is one more thing. Rumor has it that almost all mages of the high-level organizations and families are working on a new defensive spell. The death of Ferlo gave them ideas. They became clearly aware that the mages of enemies may use curses and haunting types of spells.”

“Of course, it is just a rumor.”

Heidrick raised an eyebrow. “A defensive spell against curses and haunting, you say?”

“They’d be foolish not to; defensive spells are most important in this place, considering we are stopping them from attacking each other directly.”

The captain leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling as he processed this. “One week, huh? That’s your estimate?”

Revol nodded.

“Give or take a day. The pieces are already in motion.”

Heidrick sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Alright, then. We’ll do what we can to keep the peace. Our orders to not take sides."

Revol stood, his posture crisp.

“I know my captain..."

As he turned to leave, Heidrick called out to him.

“Revol.”

The second-in-command paused, glancing back.

The captain smiled faintly, his cigar glowing in the dim light.

"Good work.”

Revol returned the smile, a rare moment of camaraderie between the two.

“Thank you, Captain.”

With that, he left the room, leaving Heidrick alone with his thoughts.

The captain stared at the reports on his desk.

“One week. Let’s see if we can make it through without sinking the whole damn ship.”

-

Sylas leaned back in his chair.

Gran, sipping his tea, broke the silence first.

“So, Lord Sylas, what’s the plan moving forward? Things are getting… lively.”

Sylas smirked,

“I don’t want to micromanage, Gran. Each of you has your strengths and insights. I’ll set the targets, but I expect all of you to figure out the approaches. Strategy should come from the ground up.”

Gran raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly forward.

“You’re trusting us to decide on the details, then?”

“Exactly,” Sylas replied.

“I don’t need to dictate every move. You know the enemy just as well as I do, if not better in some cases."

"Besides, I value creativity, and I’ve seen what happens when generals stick too rigidly to one man’s vision.”

Gran nodded slowly, swirling his tea.

“Fair enough. So, where do you want us to focus?”

Sylas’s expression turned serious.

“Start with the ones who are moving openly. Eldalis has been getting bolder, and now there’s this chaos with the Level Two engine explosion. These distractions aren’t random—they’re calculated moves by someone. Your job is to figure out who gains the most from this and act accordingly.”

Gran’s lips twitched into a small smile.

“And here I thought you’d already deduced that yourself.”

Sylas chuckled, a low, almost predatory sound.

“I have my theories. But theories aren’t facts, and I don’t deal in guesses when it comes to execution. I need confirmation, and that’s where you come in.”

Gran set his cup down, folding his hands thoughtfully.

“Alright. I’ll prioritize uncovering the mastermind behind the engine sabotage and their motives. And if Eldalis moves further into our territory, we’ll respond accordingly.”

“Good,” Sylas said, his tone approving. “Also, I want each of you to maintain plausible deniability. If anyone outside this room gets too curious about our activities, they should find nothing but dead ends and misinformation. Right now, I think Eldalis is the one who is responsible for the ship engine problem, but I am not going to tell what their real purpose is."

Gran’s smile widened slightly.

“You don’t make it easy for us, do you?”

“I don’t need to,” Sylas replied with a smirk. “You’re all more than capable. That’s why you’re here.”

Gran chuckled, shaking his head. “Fair enough. Anything else?”

Sylas’s gaze turned distant for a moment before he refocused on Gran.

“Just one thing. No loose ends, Gran. None.”

Gran nodded firmly. “Understood.”