The city tonight seed quieter than usual from the outside.
But inside, movent was beginning to stir.
Zaber didn’t know this for sure, but he was starting to guess.
Since morning, the streets had been busier than normal. More rchants. More rcenaries. Inns full. Even ordinary craftsn were whispering about new faces.
Four years.
Four years until the core erges.
A long ti for an ordinary person. But
For strategists, those who decide everything in advance—it’s the preparation phase.
Zaber stood on the inn’s roof, watching the city.
The city walls were ancient, showing marks of years. Watchtowers above every gate.
The eastern gate—the most important point.
Foreign groups had entered from there precisely. More likely than the other gates.
Zaber narrowed his eyes slightly.
Had the movent already begun?
Why had they co early?
For position.
For territory.
For control.
Those who co early gain an advantage. Is this thing so powerful that more individuals are interested than I thought?
At that mont, down below,
A group of rchants was passing on the street.
Their clothes ordinary.
But their walk—that of soldiers.
Heavy center.
Balanced steps.
Zaber smiled.
Maybe I should choose a position too, he thought.
There were at least seven external forces in the city. Zaber could distinguish them through spiritual vibrations with the help of his spiritual chain. While wandering the city, he had seen people and beast-people, elves, and representatives of other races who hid their presence, but their spiritual vibrations were different.
Three open.
The rest hidden.
He doesn’t know all of them yet.
But he feels it.
The air has changed, beco a bit heavier, like the pressure when soone is watching, but not from that gaze.
Down below, two warriors were conversing.
—Aurora Noir, does she really want to protect the city or sothing else?
—The second one lowered his voice, covering half his mouth with his hand.
Don’t speak loudly about this. Elite knights have a lot of authority. I hear she doesn’t like those who talk about her; your head will roll.
—Elite knights don’t co for nothing.
Aurora.
He paused in thought.
Her speech was short.
"Trust us." Be on our side.
That’s not an ordinary statent.
It was a warning about various groups coming to the city in the future, telling them to trust Aurora and stay on her side without joining them, but not many understood, he whispered.
This isn’t just a ga of free groups.
Major powers are also in motion.
Zaber descended.
He blended into the bustling street. Even though it was night, it was bustling, like preparation before a battle.
Zaber could move freely.
He wasn’t tied to a guild.
He doesn’t serve the kingdom.
He owes no one.
Independent. No one knows about his past, his real na. In his holand, those who knew him think he’s dead. Even his closest friend is mistaken; even the servants don’t know the fake na, and that’s the most dangerous state. For those around, not knowing who is standing next to you isn’t scary; the feelings that co from not knowing him and the endless scenarios that co to mind every ti you think don’t give peace, so Zaber lies and presents himself as soone, making himself not entirely mysterious but ordinary, which gives those around a sense of security, and that’s the most terrifying.
Passing through the city center, he turned north.
Here, old houses are more.
Fewer people.
Less attention.
He stopped for a mont.
He began to scan the surroundings; spiritual vibrations natural.
Because this city is the closest to the place where the core will appear, dangers increase as ti passes.
He headed outside the city.
The high hill beyond the wall.
From here, the city is visible, and the eastern gate too.
A strategic point.
No one here now.
But it won’t last long.
In four years, blood will be spilled for this place.
Zaber knelt on the ground.
He touched the soil with his hand.
Cold. But pleasant, like diving into water under the sun in sumr.
"I won’t protect the city."
"I won’t try to control the city either; anyway, with my level, I can’t do it yet. For now, waiting and continuing training is important," he whispered.
He waits for others to weaken each other.
The kingdom and independent forces clash.
rchants find traitors.
Groups check each other.
Distrust grows in the city.
And at that ti...
Zaber will be ready.
But there’s also an unexpected person.
Larden.
He left.
Why now precisely?
If positioning in the city has begun...
Then his leaving is also calculated.
"He wants to think for myself."
Or...
"He’s positioning on the other side."
This thought is colder.
If Larden is also choosing a position...
They might stand on opposite sides one day.
Zaber narrowed his eyes.
"Doesn’t matter."
He’s grateful to the master.
But not bound.
If their paths clash—
He’ll have to choose one.
He looked toward the city.
Bright with ruya and siamond.
Roofs ordinary.
rchants are buying land.
rcenaries are signing long-term contracts.
The kingdom sent elites.
Foreign groups are increasing.
And Zaber, whom no one even considers an ordinary warrior; they were thinking about positioning and expelling rivals.
Zaber was descending, among sparse trees, when suddenly three spiritual vibrations began to be felt.
Cloaked.
They were also watching the city.
They were also calculating.
For a mont.
One of them raised his head.
Gazes clashed.
Distance far.
But the feeling clear, like enemies looking at each other before a battle.
This isn’t an ordinary person.
They didn’t approach each other.
No one moved.
But both understood.
Acting now is useless anyway; they need to avoid drawing attention.
This ti ripens the competition.
Zaber bypassed them and approached the city wall from another path.
Returning inside.
Eyes cold. Expressionless face, but inside not so.
The wind gently stirred his black hair. As he walked on the city road, gazes increased around; at first glance, no one, but they are definitely there—observers at a level invisible with an ordinary glance.
As Zaber walked forward without stopping, his thoughts tangled.
Maybe I’ll make a little noise. Interesting, are they ready for unfortunate incidents? While they’re preparing for a hidden war, I’ll give them a visible battle, he thought.
Movent is stronger toward the eastern gate.
Now everyone is taking these steps; first step—rooting.
As Zaber walked through the inn streets, near the city center, strange spiritual vibrations ca; Zaber felt spiritual vibrations like this—from living beings, hot or cold based on spirit, heavy or light pressure based on powers.
This ti the pressure was much heavier.
Even the air.
This wasn’t an ordinary warrior’s pressure; this was soone much stronger.
Aurora.
She stood at the edge of the square.
Compact armor with white and yellow stripes, white sword in hand. Sword in sheath, but its presence was felt.
She’s not alone.
Knights around her.
But they behind.
Aurora in front.
She was watching the streets.
Just looking seemingly.
Actually not so simple.
Zaber hid and watched from afar; the central square could be reached from five streets; Zaber was in one of them, curiously with head turned aside, eye corner. Watching. If he looked directly with attention, Aurora would definitely sense it, just like before.
The city belongs to the kingdom, but only on paper; the city is divided into territories by rchants, adventurers, hired soldiers; the authority benefits greatly from this and doesn’t interfere; if it interfered, it couldn’t agree with the city either, but now the kingdom needs the city; this isn’t open occupation.
They establish order.
They cover control with law.
But the goal is to sideline the others.
At that mont, Aurora stopped.
She slowly turned her head.
Her gaze fell on Zaber, whose face was turned to the wall in one of the streets.
Aurora’s eyes narrowed for a mont.
She said nothing.
Signaled no one.
But her thoughts tangled.
This man watched twice, but very weak; it would be better if he attacked faster, she thought.
Zaber smiled silently inside.
Not paying attention to , huh?
That’s good.
A good rival won’t be boring.
Aurora slowly removed the glove from her hand.
To the knight beside her, in a low voice:
—Double-check the northern sector.
—Yes, ma’am.
Order short.
Clear.
No extra words.
Zaber understood.
This isn’t a general order.
This is a response to him.
Attack, or I won’t do it myself.
He retreated.
Unhurriedly.
Now isn’t the ti to reveal.
Outside the city.
In the forest.
The three cloaked gathered again.
—The kingdom moved fast, —said the first.
—Sending elites was expected, —replied the second.
—The problem isn’t the elite, —the third smiled slowly. —The problem is other players.
—Did you sense?
—Yes.
—He sensed us too.
For a mont, they looked at each other.
—It will be interesting, —said the first. —He wasn’t ordinary; if he were ordinary, he wouldn’t retreat calmly.
—Who knows, doesn’t matter to .
They stood looking toward the city.
This isn’t just territory.
This is the future center.
Zaber returned to the inn.
Alone in his room.
Magical lamp’s shadow fell on the wall.
He sat, reviewing today’s movents, spotting his mistakes.
The kingdom positioned.
External groups scattered.
Hidden forces watching.
So power balance is forming.
Fighting at this stage is foolishness.
Hiding at this stage is advantage.
He closed his eyes.
Checked his inner senses.
Spiritual chain calm.
If a big clash happens—
He won’t survive.
This isn’t uncertainty; this is analysis.
Without emotion.
Not without calculation.
The door knocked.
Zaber raised his head.
Silent.
Knocked a second ti.
He stood up.
Opened the door.
No one outside.
A small sealed paper on the floor.
He bent and picked it up.
Seal foreign.
Not kingdom’s.
Not guild’s.
Seems like ordinary rchant’s.
But not. Strange.
He returned to the room, broke the seal.
Inside, just one sentence.
It was the right decision; I hope you are a worthy rival.
Zaber’s gaze didn’t change, no reaction.
This ssage could only be sent by two kinds of people.
Those watching him or those wanting to watch.
He slowly tore the paper.
He had already entered the ga, but he didn’t know the rules, nor who they were, nor how strong those against him were.
He went to the window and looked outside.
The city dark.
Just like spiders building a nest.
Aurora stood on the palace balcony, looking at ruya and siamond.
Do I have to protect the city because I was chosen? Knights preserve justice, but sotis to break; what kind of knight am I? If I complete this mission, I can enter the heroes’ team; they said it’s written in my destiny, but who decided my destiny?
Friends, what do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comnts. Don’t forget to add this novel to your library. Power Stones and Golden Tickets help Chapters co out faster and give great motivation
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