Gran, standing behind Sylas, frowned.
“Supervisory? Sounds like you’re asking for control over our territory.”
Langlis’s smile faltered, but he quickly recovered.
“Not at all! Think of it as a partnership. My organization has resources and expertise that could alleviate the burden from your hands.”
Suntuzel leaned in,
“And what’s your cut in all of this, Langlis? Surely you’re not offering this out of pure generosity.”
Langlis hesitated before replying,
“A fair percentage of the increased trade revenue. Say, twenty percent?”
Machivel chuckled softly,
“Twenty percent. Generous of you—to yourself.”
Sylas raised a hand,
“Langlis, I’ll take your proposal under consideration. But I hope you understand that Rudmer Island is currently... volatile. It may not be the best time for sweeping changes.”
Langlis nodded,
“Of course, Lord Sylas. I trust you’ll make the best decision.”
As Langlis moved on to another group, Sylas turned to Gran.
“Keep an eye on him. He’s not just here to make deals.”
Gran nodded.
“Agreed. I’ll have our people watch his movements after the banquet.”
Meanwhile, Suntuzel scanned the room,
“It’s a show tonight. Everyone’s playing their part, but you can feel the tension."
Machivel added,
“And yet, no one’s making the first move. Curious, isn’t it?."
Sylas smirked.
“They’re all waiting for someone else to tip their hand. Let them."
Nearby, Heidrick approached, his whiskey glass still in hand.
“Lord Sylas,” he greeted, his voice booming over the hum of conversation.
“A pleasure to see you here tonight. I trust you’re enjoying the festivities?”
Sylas inclined his head.
“Captain Heidrick. Your hospitality is commendable as always.”
Heidrick laughed, clapping Sylas on the shoulder.
“Good to hear. Though I suspect you’re not here just for the food and drink.”
Sylas’s smile didn’t falter.
“Who among us is?”
Heidrick’s laughter boomed again, but his eyes sharpened.
“A fair point. Just remember, Sylas, my guards are here to keep the peace."
Sylas nodded, his tone reassuring.
“Of course. Chaos isn’t in my best interest.”
As Heidrick moved on, Suntuzel leaned closer to Sylas.
“He doesn’t trust anyone, does he?”
“Nor should he,” Sylas replied. “He is also basically threatening all the major powers not to create problems."
Gran crossed his arms.
“Do you think anyone here knows who cast that spell in the Practice Room?”
“Some might suspect,” Sylas said. “But no one will admit it. Not yet.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
The group fell silent for a moment, their attention shifting to the other prominent figures in the room.
Rud sat at a table in the corner, flanked by his dark-robed mages.
Veronica of the Third Circle mingled near the center of the room, her laughter carrying over the din.
And at another table, Oprein of Dark Sickle sipped from a goblet, his expression unreadable.
“They’re all here,” Machivel remarked.
“The players in this little game. The question is, who will make the first move?”
Sylas’s eyes glinted.
“Whoever it is, they’ll regret it.”
-
-
The banquet hall’s atmosphere shifted the moment Heidrick rose from his seat at the head of the room.
His towering figure, clad in a sharp military uniform adorned with insignias of his authority, commanded instant attention.
He clapped his hands once, and a resonating wave of energy rippled through the room, causing glasses to tremble and lights to flicker momentarily. Conversations ceased as every head turned to him.
Heidrick’s face held a composed, almost playful smile as he scanned the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice deep and resonant, carrying effortlessly through the hall.
“It has been ten days since we embarked on this voyage…"
The room fell silent, save for the occasional clink of silverware being hastily set down.
Sylas, sitting at his table, leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he observed the captain.
Heidrick continued,
“The seas have been kind, and the journey calm—for the most part.”
He allowed a brief pause, his smile unwavering as if daring someone to disagree.
“Let us keep it that way. This ship, the Blue Hope, is a vessel of order, opportunity, and progress. I trust that each of you will honor the agreements that bind us, spoken or unspoken.”
The crowd shifted uneasily, some nodding in agreement while others avoided eye contact.
“And so,” Heidrick concluded, raising his glass,
“Let us set aside our worries for tonight. Celebrate, enjoy, and remember: the sea watches, and so do I. Do something I don't like; even your organization, behind your back, cannot stop me from taking your little lives…”
Heidrick threatened every mage, every power on the ship like it was nothing.
Heidrick’s gaze lingered on the room for a moment longer, his expression unreadable, before he raised his hand in a brief, dismissive gesture.
“Have fun, everyone,” he said simply, then turned and strode toward a door at the back of the hall, disappearing into the corridor that led to his barracks.
As soon as Heidrick left, the energy in the room seemed to shift back to cautious conversation and hushed whispers.
At Sylas’s table, the tension hung thick in the air.
Sylas leaned forward slightly, a small, amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
“Now that,” he murmured, “is a man worth watching.”
Machivel tilted his head, his sharp features reflecting curiosity. “Why do you say that, my lord? Heidrick is just a man—a powerful one, perhaps, but a man nonetheless.”
Sylas turned his gaze to Machivel.
“Intuition, Machivel. That, and the fact that he’s level five.”
Suntuzel leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “But levels aren’t everything,” he countered.
Sylas chuckled softly,
“It’s not just his level. It’s the way he carries himself. That wave of energy he sent out earlier—it wasn’t just for show. It was a statement.
"He wanted everyone here to know that this ship, his ship, is under his control. Level Five Mage is also too different and something more than just levels."
"After Level Five, the mages have different kinds of attacks and defenses and are too unpredictable in most cases. If he really wants, he can really kill everyone on this ship, including us…”
Machivel frowned, tapping a finger against his chin.
Gran nodded in agreement.
“And the way the room responded. Even the most arrogant of the big players here seemed to flinch, if only for a moment.”
Suntuzel arched an eyebrow.
“You’re all reading too much into this. He’s a captain with authority, sure, but he’s not invincible.”
Sylas smirked, his gaze lingering on the door through which Heidrick had exited.
“Invincible? No. But formidable? Without a doubt. If it ever comes to a confrontation, Suntuzel, I’d rather not be the one testing the limits of his power.”
Machivel leaned forward, lowering his voice.
“Do you think he suspects something? That explosion in the practice room was no small event, and tensions between organizations are rising by the hour.”
Sylas’s smile faded slightly,
“Heidrick is too clever not to suspect something. But whether he knows who’s responsible is another matter.”
Gran, his hands resting on the table.
“If he does, he’s keeping it close to his chest. But one thing’s clear—Heidrick isn’t someone who lets chaos fester for long. He’ll act, and when he does, it won’t be subtle.”
Suntuzel tilted his head, his eyes narrowing.
“Then we’d better make sure we’re not in his line of fire when that happens.”
Sylas raised his glass in a mock toast.
“Agreed. Let’s play our cards carefully. Heidrick is a piece on this board that no one can afford to ignore.”
The group sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their thoughts.
Around them, the banquet continued, with laughter and conversations masking the underlying tension that permeated the air.
“Do you think the others feel the same way about Heidrick?” Machivel asked looking at Sylas.
“Oh, they do. That’s why they’re all being so careful tonight."
Gran’s expression darkened.
“But how long can this fragile peace last? Sooner or later, someone’s going to make a move. And when they do...”
Suntuzel finished his sentence, his voice low and cold. “It’ll be a bloodbath.”
Sylas nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over the room.
“Yes."