“Red Rise could not work in such a such setting...” he told to himself.
He reached his office and closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment to collect his thoughts.
Sitting down, Gareth rested his elbows on the desk and pressed his fingertips together.
“What’s the move here?” he whispered.
His first instinct was to report this to someone higher up, but the thought made him pause.
Reporting it to the wrong person could result in him being silenced before he had a chance to make use of the knowledge.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
“Trade,” he muttered. The word rolled off his tongue with a certain satisfaction.
“This information is leverage. But who to trade with?”
The answer came almost immediately: Rud.
The man was resourceful, cunning, and most importantly, ambitious.
“They are enemies with Sylas, and other than Frost Elves and Dark Sickle, only the organization capable of having enough force enough to handle him.”
“At least for what I know.”
If anyone would see the value in this information, it was him. Rud had a reputation for knowing the right buttons to push and the right people to influence, making him a perfect candidate for Gareth’s plan.
A small, sly smile formed on Gareth’s lips.
He stood, pacing the room as he began to formulate his approach.
He couldn’t just blurt out the information. No, this had to be handled delicately.
Rud was no fool, and any misstep could turn the exchange against Gareth.
He stopped pacing and spoke to the empty room, rehearsing his words.
“Rud, I’ve come across something... unique. Something that could shift the balance of power aboard this ship and beyond.” He shook his head.
“No, too dramatic. Keep it simple.”
After a moment, he tried again.
“Rud, I’ve learned something about Sylas Sylind. Something that could be valuable to both of us. But it’s dangerous information. I need to know we’re on the same side before I share it.”
Satisfied with the phrasing, he grabbed his coat from the back of the chair and slipped it on.
His resolve was firm now—this was the best course of action.
Gareth opened the door and stepped into the corridor.
He passed groups of guards, their eyes darting nervously to every shadow, and civilians who clung together like frightened animals.
When he reached Rud’s door, he took a deep breath and knocked firmly.
The sound echoed in the quiet hallway, and after a moment, the door creaked open slightly.
A pair of sharp eyes peered out before the door opened fully, revealing Rud himself.
“Gareth,” Rud said,
Gareth entered and waited until the door was closed behind him before speaking.
“I have something important to discuss with you. Something... delicate.”
Rud raised an eyebrow and gestured to a chair. “Go on.”
Rud noticed that Gareth is not addressing him as "lord" or with respect, but he did not care for the time being.
----------------------
Gareth sat,
“This stays between us. No one else can know what I’m about to tell you.”
Rud smirked.
“You have my word. Now, what’s this about?”
Gareth hesitated for only a moment before saying,
“Sylas Sylind is capable of creating level three peak magical constructs.”
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Rud’s smirk vanished, replaced by a look of fear.
“What!”
“Explain yourself!”
Rud said, his voice weaker than usual because of fear.
Gareth took a deep breath and continued.
“Sylas is a creative mage that is capable of creating different kinds of magical constructs.
“Ares, one of the men we have detained at this time, is said to be a magical construct.”
“I felt it myself, that Ares-named figure or the construct at the level of three, and his energy levels should be around peak...”
Rud’s eyes narrowed.
“And you’re sure of this?”
“I’ve heard it directly from Heidrick.”
Gareth replied.
“And it makes sense. Think about it—how else could someone like Sylas rise so quickly, command so much power,
“If he can create beings like Ares, who’s to say he doesn’t have more of them hidden away?”
Rud sat back, his fingers steepled as he processed the information.
“If this is true, it changes everything. Sylas isn’t just a political or economic threat—he’s a threat to the natural order of magic.”
“Exactly,” Gareth said. “And that’s why I’ve come to you. This knowledge is too dangerous to keep to myself, but I can’t trust just anyone with it. I need someone who can use it wisely.”
Rud did not say it out loud but thought it from within.
“So, this is why Dark Father himself wanted to get close to him at first, and Third Circle valued him so much.”
“I just knew that he was some sort of a genius mage but not at this level.”
He then came back to the present and spoke.
Rud nodded slowly.
“And what do you want in return for this... revelation?”
“An alliance,”
Gareth said without hesitation.
“If we work together, we can leverage this information to protect ourselves and ensure Sylas doesn’t overstep his bounds.”
“We had an alliance, but it was more of a leash on my neck.”
Rud smiled and nodded.
“I understand. You have a deal.”
-
Revol stood in the center, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the cloaked figure before him.
Heidrick, standing off to the side, looked at the masked figure.
“Shaflis...” he muttered a name and then continued.
“This is an... asset I’m assigning to you, Revol,” he said, gesturing to the cloaked figure.
“A level three peak mage. Powerful, efficient, and bound by a slave mark, goes by the name of Shaflis...”
Revol’s eyes narrowed as he took a step closer to the figure, examining it with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
“A slave-marked mage of this level?” he muttered. “Why? I already have Guardians under my command with similar power.” Revol said.
“This one is different. Its abilities aren’t tailored for direct confrontation. It’s designed for shadowing, sneaking, and... assassination.”
Revol’s lips curled into a slight frown.
“Assassination,” he repeated, his tone flat.
“And what exactly am I supposed to do with it?”
Heidrick took a deep breath.
“Follow Gareth,” he said finally.
“Understand what he’s up to. Where he’s going, who he’s talking to, and—most importantly—what he plans to do with the knowledge he now holds.”
Revol raised an eyebrow.
“You think Gareth is a threat?”
“I think Gareth is different than he used to be, and that is dangerous,” Heidrick replied, his voice cold.
-------------------------------
Revol regarded the cloaked figure once more, the weight of Heidrick’s words settling over him. He had always known Gareth to be an honest and powerful man.
“It seems like the ambush of Gareth and the death of his men are not ended without any problems.”
“Judge Heidrick is a proper level five mage...”
“He may be able to see more than what I can see...”
Revol then turned his attention back to the cloaked figure, studying it for a moment longer. “And this... asset,” he said, his tone deliberate. “It’s loyal?”
Heidrick nodded.
“Completely. The slave mark ensures it cannot act against you or disobey a direct command.”
Revol stepped closer to the figure, his voice firm but calm.
“Show me your face.”
The figure’s hood lowered slightly, revealing a pale, angular visage devoid of emotion.
Its eyes glowed faintly with an unnatural light, and its expression was eerily blank.
Revol felt a chill run down his spine but masked it with a stoic demeanor.
“What’s your name?” Revol asked.
The figure’s voice was soft, almost mechanical. “Shalif... I am bound to serve.”
Revol frowned but said nothing.
He turned back to Heidrick.
“I’ll use it,” he said finally.
“But only because I trust your instincts, my judge.”
Without another word, Revol gestured for the cloaked figure to follow him.
Together, they exited the room, leaving Heidrick alone with his thoughts.
As they walked through the dim corridors of Blue Hope, Revol kept his pace steady, his mind racing.
He had never been entirely comfortable with the Sylind Family’s reliance on constructs and slave-marked individuals, but he understood the necessity.
They reached a quiet, secluded area of the ship, and Revol stopped, turning to face the cloaked figure. “Your orders are simple,” he said.
“You will shadow Gareth. Observe everything he does, every word he speaks, and report back to me. You will not engage unless I explicitly command it. Understood?”
The figure bowed slightly.
“Understood.”
“Good,” Revol said. “Then go. And remember—if you’re discovered, you’re to retreat immediately. No fighting, no explanations. Discretion is your priority.”
The figure nodded and disappeared into the shadows, its movements eerily silent.
Revol watched it vanish, a sense of unease settling over him.
“If he targeted me, I would have no chance to discover him at all...”
he said to himself and made his way back to his quarters,
Either way, Revol knew one thing for certain: the game was far from over, and the stakes had never been higher.