An hour later, Rose and I stepped into the council chamber. Thankfully, I had swapped my suffocating formal attire for my more familiar combat gear—comfortable, practical, and ready for whatever came next. Rose, of course, had somehow managed to change into something both functional and unnecessarily stylish.
Kai was already there, leaning over a large map of the city and the surrounding territories. He looked up as we entered, a thoughtful frown on his face.
“Glad you two could make it,” he said, motioning us over to the map.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Rose said, sliding into a chair. “So, what’s on the agenda for the new generals?”
Kai sighed, rubbing his temples. “There’s a lot we need to figure out. The city’s rebuilding is going well, but there are still a few loose ends. More importantly, we need to deal with The Spider.”
That caught my attention. “What do you mean, ‘deal with The Spider’?”
Kai’s eyes darkened. “He’s been helping us, sure. But his motives? They’re not exactly clear. We don’t know what his real endgame is, and that’s a problem. We’re sitting on a throne of favors right now, and we need to figure out where we stand.”
Rose raised an eyebrow. “So… you’re thinking we need to pay him another visit?”
“Exactly,” Kai said. “We need to know what his actual plan is—and whether he’s on our side or just using us as pawns in whatever game he’s playing.”
I crossed my arms, feeling a familiar tension in the air. The Spider was an enigma, always lurking in the shadows, manipulating events from behind the scenes. He had helped us, sure, but trust? That was a whole other issue.
“And if we find out he’s not on our side?” I asked.
Kai’s jaw tightened. “Then we’ll have to figure out how to handle him.”
Rose leaned forward, her tone more serious now. “The Spider’s always had his own agenda. But if he’s playing both sides… that could be a disaster.”
“Exactly,” Kai said. “Which is why we can’t sit around and wait. I want to go see him. Soon.”
I felt my stomach twist. The last encounter with The Spider hadn’t exactly been pleasant. Sure, he had given us valuable information, but there was always the sense that he knew far more than he was letting on—and that he was always a step ahead.
Rose, ever the optimist, leaned back in her chair. “Well, at least it’ll be an interesting meeting. You know, nothing says ‘fun times’ like a chat with a mysterious, creepy guy who we know nothing about, and of course there's that other creepy guy Zephyr. He gives me the willies.”
I shot her a look. “You’re oddly excited about this.”
She grinned. “What can I say? I like a good mystery.”
Kai folded his arms, deep in thought. “Look, I don’t trust him, but we need information. He’s been right about everything so far. Whatever’s coming, he’s involved. The Spider knows something we don’t, and we can’t afford to be left in the dark.”
I sighed, leaning over the map. “Fine. But if we’re going to confront The Spider, we need to be prepared. What if he tries to trap us? Or worse—turns us against each other?”
Kai nodded, his expression grim. “We’ll be ready for that. I don’t plan on letting him get the upper hand.”
Rose stood, stretching her arms behind her head. “So, when do we head out?”
“As soon as possible,” Kai said. “We’ll need to keep it low profile—just the three of us. No guards, no fanfare.”
“Great,” I muttered. “A secret mission to meet with the shadowy figure who might be plotting our downfall. Sounds like a blast.”
Kai smiled faintly. “You’ll love it.”
Rose clapped her hands together, her excitement clear. “Alright, then. A visit to The Spider it is! I’ll start planning what to wear.”
I groaned, but there was a knot of anticipation forming in my chest. A confrontation with The Spider felt inevitable—like something that had been waiting in the shadows, just out of sight. And now, it seemed, we were about to step right into it.
As we left the council chamber, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this visit to The Spider would change everything. Whether for better or worse… that remained to be seen.
But one thing was clear—The Spider had more to reveal.
The tension lingered in the air as we prepared for our visit to The Spider. My nerves buzzed with anticipation and doubt as we readied ourselves for another encounter with the shadowy manipulator who held more cards than any of us were comfortable with.
The three of us met just outside the palace in the early hours of the morning, cloaked in simple travelers’ garb. No banners, no guards, no one to draw attention. Just us, the soon-to-be rulers of a city trying to figure out if we were allies or pawns in a much bigger game.
Kai stood by his horse, tightening the reins with deliberate precision. He hadn’t said much since we left the council chamber, his expression locked in that familiar, brooding determination. The attitude I'd expect from the same person who forced him to be the patriarch. Rose, on the other hand, had her usual playful smirk on her face, clearly excited about the mystery ahead, while I kept running through a dozen scenarios of how this meeting could go wrong.
“Ready to face our favorite man of mystery?” Rose quipped, adjusting the leather straps on her gloves. “I’ve got a list of questions I’m dying to ask him.”
“Just remember,” Kai said, his voice low but firm, “this isn’t a social call. We need answers, not more riddles.”
I mounted my horse, casting a wary glance at Kai. “What if we don’t get the answers we want? What if The Spider’s been stringing us along this entire time?”
Kai looked at me, his jaw set in that stubborn way that told me he was thinking the same thing, though he’d never admit it. “Then we’ll have to reassess our next move. But one way or another, we’ll find out where he stands.”
“Reassess our move? Sure, Kai,” Rose chimed in with a laugh. “Let’s just hope that doesn’t involve running for our lives or getting caught in one of his webs.”
We rode silently through the darkened streets, the familiar tension lingering in the air. The visit to The Spider weighed heavily on all of us. There was something unsettling about the man—a mystery wrapped in layers of deception. The last time we had met, he had given us the tools we needed to survive the siege, but there had been no illusions about the price of that help. This time, we were returning to get answers, not favors.
I led the way considering I was the only person who I know of who trained with The Spider and the only one who knew where to locate him. The Spider made his home in the city’s underbelly, deep within the black market—a web of commerce and crime where no law existed but those that gold and fear could buy. The place was dangerous for even the most hardened criminals, let alone the would-be leaders of the city.
As we entered the market, it was like stepping into another world. The air was thick with smoke from burning incense and the smells of cooking food mixed with the stench of unwashed bodies. Crowds bustled around us—merchants haggling with buyers, thieves making deals in shadowed corners, and all manner of illicit activities taking place just out of sight. Every few steps, I caught people staring at us—some with curiosity, others with open hostility.
The Spider’s influence was everywhere, but we were heading straight to the source. His domain unlike where I trained with The Spider was well-known here—an underground den hidden beneath one of the larger market complexes. It was a place where only the truly desperate or foolish dared to go.
We stopped in front of a nondescript door tucked between two bustling stalls. No sign, no guards, nothing to indicate that the most powerful figure in the black market operated from behind it. But we knew better.
Kai dismounted and approached the door, knocking twice. It opened almost immediately, revealing a masked figure dressed in black—one of The Spider’s many agents, no doubt. The man gestured silently for us to enter.
Inside, the air grew colder, and the noise of the market faded away. We descended a series of stone steps, each one taking us deeper into the underground labyrinth that served as The Spider’s lair. The walls were lined with strange trinkets and relics, trophies from deals made and lives ruined.
Finally, we reached the heart of the den. The chamber was dimly lit by torches, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls. At the center of the room sat The Spider, a figure draped in a long black cloak, his face hidden behind an intricate mask. It was no ordinary mask—it gleamed in the low light, crafted from some dark, unknown metal with symbols etched into its surface. His eyes, though hidden, seemed to pierce through the mask, watching us with an unsettling stillness.
"Ah, the new Patriarch and his companions," The Spider said, his voice smooth and calm. “I’ve been expecting you.”
Kai took a step forward, his voice steady but edged with tension. “We need answers, Spider. You’ve helped us rebuild, but your motives are still a mystery. Whose side are you on?”
The Spider’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest of his chair. “My motives,” he said slowly, “are not as simple as sides. You see, power doesn’t belong to those who take thrones or build armies. It belongs to those who understand the game.”
Rose snorted, folding her arms. “So, what? We’re just pawns on your chessboard?”
The Spider tilted his head slightly, his mask gleaming in the flickering light. “Pawns? No. You are players, each with your own role to fulfill. But you must understand—there are other players, other forces at work here. My role is to ensure the game doesn’t end too soon.”
Kai’s jaw tightened. “And what does that mean for us? Are we supposed to trust you?”
The Spider leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Trust, Patriarch, is a fragile thing. I offer you guidance, not loyalty. My allegiance is to balance. Chaos breeds opportunity, and opportunity is the currency of those who move in the shadows.”
The Spider chuckled, a low, dark sound that echoed off the stone walls. “Oh, you’ve already played into my hands, Patriarch. But do not worry. As long as our interests align, I will remain your ally. Just remember... I am not your enemy. Not yet.”
Rose, ever the bold one, stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she addressed him. “You talk in riddles, Spider. If you’re so powerful, why don’t you show us the ‘power’ you claim to have? I’m sick of this riddle game.”
The room fell silent, and for a moment, The Spider remained still, his masked face turned toward her. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he raised his hands and snapped his fingers.
It seemed like nothing had happened, but Rose began to scream closing her eyes. She got down on all fours rocking side to side like she had reverted to becoming a baby.
As Rose writhed on the floor, her eyes tightly shut, the tension in the room thickened. Kai and I stood frozen, our minds racing. There was no visible attack, no shadowy figures, just Rose—a proud and unshakable warrior—reduced to a panicked, trembling mess.
Kai took a step toward her, his sword gripped tightly, his voice low and dangerous. "What did you do to her, Spider?"
I mirrored his movement, my hand instinctively reaching for my own weapon. I couldn’t take my eyes off Rose, who had collapsed to the ground, rocking back and forth like she was caught in some horrible nightmare.
The Spider merely tilted his head, his voice as calm as ever. "Calm yourselves, children. Your friend is fine. I simply gave her a taste of what it would be like should she insult me again. Nothing more." He waved his hand dismissively as if the entire situation were beneath him.
"Undo it," I snapped, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. "Now."
The Spider leaned back in his chair, the eerie glow of his mask catching the flickering torchlight. "She will recover soon enough. But let this be a lesson—you asked for a demonstration of my power, and I’ve given you one. Power isn’t always about brute force. Sometimes, it's about controlling what you cannot see, what you cannot understand." His voice carried the weight of a predator speaking to prey, fully aware of his own superiority.
Kai glanced at me, his jaw clenched. He didn’t like being cornered, not like this. But we couldn’t afford to antagonize The Spider any more than we already had. Slowly, I crouched next to Rose, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Rose," I said softly, "it's alright. You're safe. It's not real."
Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and wild, but she stopped rocking. She blinked rapidly, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as the fear slowly ebbed away. "What… what the hell just happened?" she muttered, her voice shaky but regaining its usual edge.
"You were in a trance," I said, helping her to her feet. "It wasn’t real, but it felt real."
Rose shot a murderous glare at The Spider, her fists clenched, though she looked pale and shaken. "Next time, I’ll show you a taste of my power."
The Spider let out a soft chuckle. "Your fire is admirable, General Rose. But remember—there are forces at play that you do not yet comprehend."
Kai took a deep breath, sheathing his sword. "We’ll play your game, for now. But know this—we’re not your puppets, and if we find out you’re working against us, we will stop you."
The Spider inclined his head slightly. "Of course, Patriarch. But remember, I am not your enemy… unless you make me one."
With that, he gestured toward the door. "Go now. I’ve given you the answers you sought, though you may not realize it yet. There is much more to come, and time is running short. You have a kingdom to rebuild, after all."
We turned to leave, though I could feel The Spider’s gaze on us the entire time. Rose shot one last defiant glance back before we ascended the stone steps and left his lair.
Once we were out of earshot, Kai exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Well, that went about as well as I expected."
Rose, still pale but regaining her bravado, cracked a grin. "Yeah, I’m fine, thanks for asking. Next time, I’m taking the lead in dealing with him. Maybe he’ll appreciate a little more fire."
I chuckled softly, though the knot in my stomach remained. "We got some answers, at least. But I’m not sure if we can trust him."
Kai nodded grimly. "No, we can’t. But we’ll have to work with him—for now."
As we mounted our horses and rode back toward the city, the weight of the encounter settled heavily on all of us. The Spider had shown us a glimpse of his power, and it was clear that we were still far from understanding his true intentions.
But one thing was certain—this game, whatever it was, was far from over.
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-To be Continued 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdkoGMJtcb
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