Kaz took slow, confident steps up to the Fortune Teller, a grin on his face as he prepared to boast about his achievements in pursuit of his mission.

“And that's that,” Kaz gloated, crossing his arms. “I removed all information of the stolen artifact and the ensuing war from the Tree of Knowledge, thus ending that silly conflict. That will make it easier for me to slip through the cracks without anyone raising their brows at me.”

The hooded figure gave a slight nod, a low hum sounding out in response. “Very well. Good work, Kaz. The less chaos and uncertainty there is in the world, the easier you can work from behind the scenes.”

Kaz felt a sense of satisfaction as he spoke with the hooded figure, the low hum of the Fortune Teller’s acknowledgment echoing in the silence. Hearing the figure's words of praise, Kaz's grin widened.

"Hmph, that's right," he said, his voice dripping with pride. "It was no problem at all. I've always been quite skilled at working through the shadows, you know. No one will even realize I was the one who cleaned up after that little war."

He leaned against the wall, folding his arms across his chest.

The Fortune Teller continued to hum, their head tilted down so that the shadows from their hood concealed their face even further. Kaz could feel the figure assessing him with a calm and collected gaze, their demeanor as composed as the flame of the soothing candlelight filling the room.

"Indeed, Kaz," the figure nodded slowly. "You have a talent for working in the shadows, a skill that is invaluable to your endeavors. But remember, the more you erase the chaos in the world, the more the forces of Light will resist your work.”

Kaz let out a scoff and rolled his eyes. "Tch, the forces of Light," he said with disdain, his voice laced with derision. "They think they're so righteous, always trying to impose their order and control. It's such an inconvenience."

He pushed himself away from the wall and stood up straight, his arms still folded across his chest. "But they won't be a problem for much longer. I have something in mind that will make sure they won't be interfering with my plans any time soon.”

The Fortune Teller lifted their head slightly, their interest piqued by Kaz's words. Despite their hidden face, Kaz could feel the figure's gaze locked on him, waiting for him to continue.

"Oh? Something in mind, you say?" The figure said, their voice low and smooth. "And what kind of plan is this that would make the forces of Light no longer a threat?”

Kaz smirked, his confidence growing as he spoke. "It's a little project I've been working on for a while now," he said, his voice taking on a slightly devious tone. "I've been researching and gathering information on the forces of Light. Everything from their weaknesses to their methods. And I've come up with some very interesting things. Things that I can use against them, should I need to.”

"Interesting," they said, their voice low and contemplative. "You've been gathering information on the forces of Light, searching for their weaknesses. That is a useful tactic. But be careful not to underestimate them. They are not ignorant. They are aware of your plans and movements just as you are of theirs.”

"Hmph, you don't need to remind me of that," he said, scoffing. "I'm fully aware that the forces of Light are on high alert, trying to keep track of my every move. But they're foolishly underestimating me if they think they can stop what I have planned.”

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"Kaz, do not let your arrogance blind you. The forces of Light are powerful, and they have resources you have never even thought of. Do not underestimate them, for that would be your downfall."

They paused for a moment, their head tilting slightly as if regarding Kaz with a thoughtful expression. "You may be powerful, but hubris is the downfall of even the greatest of men. You're not still working alone, are you?"

Kaz snorted, waving a hand dismissively. "Of course not. I'm still working with the Cabal to get to what I need. Damn that quirky bunch.”

The Fortune Teller let out another hum, their voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "The Cabal, hmm? A motley crew, if I ever saw one."

Kaz let out a scoff, his grin twisted into a smirk. "Hmph, that's one way of putting them, I suppose. They're a real handful, that's for damn sure. Especially that Nyx chick. She's always got her nose in my business.”

"I see. From what I've observed, Nyx does indeed have a habit of being a bit nosey, doesn't she? Always asking questions, always wanting to know more. She's a bit bothersome, isn't she?"

Kaz grunted, his hands now on his hips. "Bothersome is an understatement. She's a real pain in my ass, always asking questions and pestering me about my plans and my methods. I'm starting to think she suspects something about me.”

"Oh, it's quite possible she does suspect something. She's more perceptive than she lets on. I wouldn't put it past her to have figured out at least a part of your plan."

Kaz's smirk turned into a frown, his eyes narrowing. "Hmph, she would, wouldn't she? That raven-haired pest, she knows nothing.”

"You seem quite frustrated with her, Kaz. She really does get under your skin, doesn't she?"

"Of course, she does. She's such a pain, always getting in my way, asking questions, and trying to figure out my plans. It drives me nuts. I'd rather not have her around, but the rest of the Cabal would be like chickens running around with their heads cut off if anything were to happen to her.”

"Yes, I can imagine. She does play an important role in the Cabal, keeping them all in check and focused on their goals. The Cabal would most definitely fall apart without her. But let me ask you this, Kaz: is there a Cabal member that you are actually fond of?”

Kaz's eyes widened in slight surprise at the Fortune Teller's question. He had never considered such a thing before. "Fond of...?" he repeated, his voice low and contemplative. "I... I've never really considered that before. They're all so different, and they can be such a pain in my ass sometimes. But… I suppose there is one member that I can tolerate more than the others…”

"Oh, really? And who might that be, Kaz?"

Kaz was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on a point somewhere in the distance. Finally, he let out a huff and spoke. "Gabrielle," he said, his voice low. "I suppose you can say that I'm the most fond of her. She's a good fighter, she stays in her own lane, and she's one of the few members of the Cabal that doesn't make me want to rip my hair out.”

"Ah, Gabrielle. I can see why you would be fond of her. She is a formidable fighter, no denying that. And her ability to stay out of others' business is a rare trait indeed. Quite impressive for someone as fiery as she is. But I sense there's more to it than that. There's something about Gabrielle that's special to you, isn't there?”

Kaz was caught off-guard by the Fortune Teller's perceptive observation. He had tried to keep his feelings for Gabrielle a secret, even from himself, but the Fortune Teller seemed to have picked up on it anyway. He gritted his teeth and looked away, his face set in a scowl.

"Don't get the wrong idea," he grumbled, his voice low. "I'm not some lovesick idiot. I don't have any special feelings for Gabrielle, if that's what you're insinuating. It's her strength and potential. I have a soft spot for people that show promise, and out of the group, she has the most potential. And yet, she's not an asshat about it.”

"Ahh, I see. So you're not a lovesick puppy then, just a pragmatic man who sees potential in others. And you see the most potential in Gabrielle in terms of strength and skill. Is that it?"

Kaz huffed. "Yes, yes, that's it. Don't read too much into it. I'm not some emotional fool that falls for the first pretty face he sees.”

The Fortune Teller chuckled again, their voice holding a bit of mirth. "Of course, of course. I wouldn't dream of assuming such a thing, Kaz. You're a man who sees the world as it is, and you don't let your emotions get in the way of your goals. But I sense there's something else there, something you're not willing to admit even to yourself. Is there a bit more to your feelings towards Gabrielle than simply admiration for her strength?”

Kaz's brow furrowed, his irritation growing at the Fortune Teller's insistence on this topic. He let out a scoff and shook his head. "You're wrong," he said, his voice firm and stubborn. "There's nothing there, alright? I don't have any romantic feelings for Gabrielle. I've never even thought of her in that way. And I never will. So drop it. I think I left my fridge running, see ya later."

Without another word, Kaz teleported away in the blink of an eye, leaving the Fortune Teller all alone in the candlelit room.

The Fortune Teller's shoulders sagged slightly as they watched Kaz vanish, a sigh escaping from their lips. "You can't run from your own feelings forever, Kaz," they muttered to themselves, their voice low and quiet.

They knew that Kaz's denial of any emotional connection to Gabrielle, or anyone for that matter, was just a facade. But they also knew that he wasn't ready to confront those feelings. Not yet.