A communication crystal pulsed red on Vaedon’s desk. His eyes opened, calm despite the urgency screaming across the room.

It was still dark, dawn creeping over the horizon. He rose from his bed and crossed the room in silence.

His steps softer than wool even as he touched the crystal. The message materialized in silver text hovering above the surface.

"Castor attacked Prince Auryn. Arrow to the chest. Attempt to avenge for his son Varent’s death---

He failed... The prince is wounded but alive. Castor retreated and situation contained."

Vaedon’s jaw tightened as he read. His fingers clenched the desk edge.

"Idiot!" The word came quiet yet venomous.

He moved to the window. Looked out over the area. Dawn creeping across rooftops. But most of the city was still asleep.

Attacked without informing me. Grief-stricken foolishness. The weakness I exploit in others. Now it’s bitten him.

Castor was Second Sword. A master tactician. Fought in sixteen campaigns. Won a majority of those battles. And now he’d thrown it all away for revenge.

For Varent...

The name surfaced in his mind. The dead Agent. Castor’s son.

How disappointing.

Vaedon’s hand rested on the windowsill. Fingers drummed once then twice. A tone soothing to all who heard as his thoughts travelled.

But...

He closed his eyes and an image surfaced in his mind.

The face was young with green eyes. And a smile that made the sun look gloomy. Laughter that made even him smile back. Small hand on his own, a show of complete trust.

Dalia...

The only person in this world he’d actually die for.

If anyone hurt you...

The thought formed before he could stop it.

Would I plan? Or would I burn everything?

He knew the answer and it was quite simple. Everything would turn to ash.

Strategy be damned. Networks be damned. He’d raze cities. Make the killer and everyone he ever knew beg for death that wouldn’t come. Recycling their suffering till the end of time.

A small bitter smile touched his lips.

"Grief makes fools of us all. Doesn’t it." He muttered. Eyes opened as the smile faded.

But I’d still be smarter about it than Castor.

I’d win...

He turned from the window. Looked at the message still hovering above the crystal.

That idiot failed. And now my little brother has leverage. Question is—what will he demand?

---

Vaedon moved to his desk. Slid into a chair as his fingers steepled.

What will my little brother ask for? He pondered deeply. Execution is the obvious choice. It was tradition and the actual price for treason.

That’s too simple. He paused. A waste of leverage.

Old Auryn would’ve screamed for blood and justice.

But this one...

He remembered Marten’s public execution. The theatrical nature that was reported. The hidden message behind the act and the dragon killer blade in his possession.

He’s learning. So not execution. Something else.

"Gold then? Reparations? Blood price?"

His fingers drummed the armrest. Stacking possible options.

Gold doesn’t build power. It buys comfort.

He needs more than comfort now. He needs strength.

After about a second the answer clicked. It was quite obvious once he thought through properly.

Territory..

That’s what I’d take. Castor’s eastern holdings. Expand Aurelia’s borders. Gain strategic advantage.

Vaedon’s fingers stopped and an uncomfortable realization settled in.

He is really thinking like me now. Becoming proactive.

He chuckled softly. Crimson eyes like frost.

If he’s learning to play the game instead of just reacting...

The word arose unwelcomed in his mind.

Then he’s becoming an unknown variable

He leaned back on the chair. "I hate the unknown,"

Unknown variables brings losses. I need to understand what he wants. What he’s becoming. Having to face another me is no fun.

His mind shifted. Formulating counter-strategies.

If he demands execution then i negotiate exile. Castor leaves, lives, powerless. Offer tribute to sweeten it. Keep Castor loyal.

His thoughts moved to the next measure.

Territory— He sighed. I’ll have to limit scope. Not all holdings. Just border regions. Offer alternatives. Gold plus trade routes plus political support.

He picked up a quill and ink to draft. Scribbling something down.

And if he demands something I can’t predict...

Vaedon’s breath slowed. His eyes manifesting a silver glint.

Then i adapt. Observe, and use it.

He looked toward the window. Dawn fully breaking as the city awakened.

"I need to be there. Personally." He soliloqized.

Castor was definitely too emotional to navigate this alone. Might escalate it again.

His eyes narrowed.

And I need to see what little brother does. Need to watch him play. Before it’s too late to control him.

Vaedon got up and immediately pulled a black silk shirt on. Hew complemented it with a leather vest and trousers from his wardrobe. He didn’t need ornaments or crests. He was Vaedon Ignisar.

He dressed himself quickly. Had done so since childhood. Even when royalty demanded attendants. He has never trusted hands he didn’t control near his throat.

While dressing. A knock came at the door. Vaedon looked in that direction and immediately whoever was behind understood.

The door opened and a young dwarf stepped inside. He had orange beard braided with silver rings. Eyes sharp and experienced despite his age. He had scars everywhere, a retainer’s pin fastened to his collar.

Leoric was the young dwarf he’d chose personally as a retainer.

Dragons kept dwarves or elves close. Tradition as old as the empire. Loyalty forged in fire and stone.

Leoric was no different, he had served House Ignisar for sixty years and counting.

"My lord." Leoric’s voice was coarse.

"What troubles you?"

"Castor situation." Vaedon fastened his belt. "I’m going east."

Leoric’s eyes narrowed, looking outside. "Now?"

"Yes." Vaedon raised a brow.

The dwarf’s expression didn’t change. Had seen Vaedon do impossible things before.

"How long?"

"I’ll be there by noon."

Leoric absorbed this. Three days by carriage. Half a day by dragon flight if pushed. Noon meant something else entirely.

His talent?. He thought

"Exactly what you’re thinking." Vaedon spoke with a smirk, reading the dwarf’s mind.

Leoric nodded once. "You have to keep track of the cost sire"

"I know."

The dwarf moved to the desk. Gathered papers, letters, seals. Organized them efficiently. He picked up what Vaedon scribbled down earlier.

"You’ll negotiate?"

"If he’s smart enough to let me."

Leoric’s hands stopped. He looked up, met Vaedon’s eyes.

"And if the Third Prince surprises you?"

Vaedon’s expression didn’t change. A smirk on his face.

"Nothing surprises me Leo." He shrugged.

Leoric studied him. He didn’t doubt Vaedon for a second.

"I’ll take care of things here while you’re gone my lord"

"Of course." Vaedon replied while walking out.

The dwarf moved toward the door and opened it for Vaedon. He pointed towards his temple reminding Vaedon of something.

Vaedon’s jaw tightened slightly. He tapped at the red crystal on his head.

"I know."

Leoric nodded and walked behind Vaedon. The light of dawn slowly streamed through the windows in the hall.

Little brother’s learning to think. The pawn is remembering he is a king

He reached the courtyard. The weight of uncertainty still on his shoulders.

He reached the centre of the courtyard. And mana surged around him. Air pressure changed even while reality bent.

Space distorted around him. Gravity itself recognizing a new master.

The courtyard stones cracked beneath his feet. Spiderweb fractures spreading outward.

The pressure built slowly

Until—

BOOM

He launched. Not flying. Not levitating. Instead falling forward instead of down. Gravity reoriented around him. Pulling him toward his destination at impossible speeds.

Stone and dust exploded outward. The wind howling and by the time anyone could see clearly again.

He was gone.

Blur across the sky. Faster than any horse. Any carriage. Any dragon in flight.

Gravity bending to his will as he raced east. Toward Castor’s region. Toward whatever his little brother had planned.

The landscape blurred beneath him. Fields. Forests. Rivers reduced to silver threads. Dawn was breaking across the world as he raced the sun eastward.

Little brother!

The thought formed even as distance consumed itself.

[Hours later. Afternoon sun high overhead.]

Aurelia Province. Auryn’s chambers.

Auryn sat calmly on the edge of his bed. He was alone with his thoughts after Lyra left earlier.

His thoughts came in methodically. Plotting while reading into the characters of the novel.

Vaedon will have heard by now. How his little pawn failed.He’ll come. Because it’s what I’d do.

His jaw tightened to the fact their minds are more alike than he would want to admit.

Borin had visited earlier. Brought reports about Castor’s estate was showing no sight of its lord.

Coward.

But also smart. Attacking had been emotional. Hiding was survival instinct kicking back in.

Too late though.

Auryn looked at maps spread across his desk. Castor’s territory marked in red.

Time to stop planning---

His eyes fixed on the mountains. Same peaks from childhood. Different perspective now.

---And make him pay.

His target wasn’t just Castor. The entire system that allowed this. He moved to his desk despite the pain. A clean parchment was there alongside Ink and Seal.

Time to write a message Vaedon can’t ignore.