Carter led Kai through the ivory-gated courtyard and into the palace proper. Kai had expected extravagance, but what he found was sothing beyond even that.
The palace wasn’t just large. It was vast. Its size rivaled any structure Kai had ever seen, including the Thesiones Academy, and the Halls of Sorcery.
The ceilings arched like cathedral dos, adorned with murals that moved subtly if you looked long enough, depictions of kings at war, saints ascending, and monstrous creatures caged beneath divine light.
Mari talked about it once as children. Taught to her by father Aldric: The gods ca down to save everyone from Rapture. That seems to be when the start of the five hundred years of history began.
’The necromancer purge...’
Kai continued following Carter through the palace grounds.
Servants swept endlessly polished floors that mirrored chandeliers above like still water. Every corner glead, every corridor was curated as if royalty might walk by at any mont.
It slled of lavender oil, ink, and nothingness.
Carter remained quiet as they passed through hallway after hallway, until Kai froze mid-step.
She was there.
Right in front of him.
Kleo.
’I guess she managed to get that job while I was away. Smart girl.’
Wearing a plain maid’s outfit, she stood on a small stool, dusting the grotesque portrait of a half-naked, rosy-cheeked man eating grapes off a golden platter. Her hair was pulled back in a simple bun, but Kai could see her ears twitching slightly, her Sightcaller instincts always alert. She hadn’t seen him yet.
But surely she felt sothing with him nearby.
Kai swallowed thickly. He wore a different face now, thanks to illusion magic and weeks of refinent.
His now sharp, angular face resembled that of elegant elves, but this world had no such thing. Although, if Kai were to remove the illusion on just his pointed ears, he’d resemble one perfectly.
His golden wavy hair and silver eyes added to the elf-like illusion.
The facade wouldn’t fool her, though.
Not Kleo.
Not soone whose soul he’d touched. Her senses were too sharp. Her instincts too good.
He forced himself to keep walking.
"Don’t linger," Carter whispered as they moved past her. "Servants notice things."
They crossed into the east wing, where the towering main palace gave way to separate, lesser buildings arranged around an elaborate marble fountain. Sprays of water caught the afternoon sun, scattering rainbows in all directions.
"Here is where nobles not directly tied to the royal bloodline live," Carter explained. "Well, those with favour or money, anyway."
He gestured toward a red building nestled at the far end of the wing. It stood apart from the others, both physically and in style. Where most of the smaller palaces bore pastel tones and delicate carvings, this one was proud and bold. Red brick. Gold-trimd windows. Statues of lions at the entrance.
"This one’s different," Kai said.
"Yes. House Eldridge has always preferred to stand out."
’Eldridge... That na sounds familiar.’
Carter turned to him, his expression unreadable.
"Be on your best behaviour. Speak when spoken to. Introduce yourself as soon as you feel the mont is right. And don’t lie unnecessarily."
Kai nodded.
A butler inside the red mansion moved to greet them, but Carter waved him off with a subtle motion of authority. They proceeded down a narrow hallway that slled of cedarwood and old cigars. At the end stood a double door with iron hinges and an eagle crest.
Carter knocked twice.
"Co in," a voice answered.
They stepped inside.
The man awaiting them was exactly what Kai expected from a noble. Everything about him scread wealth and bloodline. He wore a velvet suit the sa deep red as the house itself, embroidered with golden thread and lined with fur at the collar. His beard was well-kept, short and silvered, and his fingers glittered with jeweled rings. In one hand, he held a balloon glass filled with amber liquid, most likely brandy. His aura was controlled, but sharp, like a dagger beneath fine silk.
Kai felt the control over the imnse magical power hidden within the man and smiled subtly.
Carter coughed softly, and Kai stepped forward.
He bowed low, to show his utmost respect to his superior.
"Alex Trunsdale, descendant of Angelica Trunsdale," he said smoothly. "It is an honour to et you."
The noble raised a bushy brow.
"Angelica Trunsdale? The battle tactician? Todd Emberbane’s old master?" He leaned forward with interest. "I hadn’t known she had descendants. Carter, my boy! Even with the princess dead, you still manage to prove yourself more than a dog chasing ghosts!"
Carter didn’t flinch.
Kai, on the other hand, masked his irritation behind a shallow smile. A dog chasing ghosts... He let the insult slide.
He forced a chuckle and looked up.
"I only learned of it recently. My great-grandmother left an heirloom to her son when he was sent to an orphanage—my grandfather. A knife. Simple, rusty now, but embedded with her magic. It only activated when he passed on. Her words were stored in the blade."
The noble’s eyes narrowed. "And your parents?"
"Perished in a fire, many years ago. My grandmother followed shortly after. My grandfather died a month ago. I’m all that remains of the Trunsdale line, sadly."
He paused and looked down, dabbing a phantom tear from his cheek with a handkerchief he didn’t need.
The noble studied him for a long mont. Then, with a pleased sigh, turned to Carter and offered a small nod of approval.
"Well, then! I suppose we’re fortunate that you crossed paths with our faithful Carter, here. Allow to formally introduce myself. I am Graham Eldridge, second cousin to the king’s advisor and steward of House Eldridge. You’ll be tutoring my daughter, Naia, in her magical studies and history. Thesiones Academy is... insufficient for her needs and she requires additional study."
"Naia," Kai repeated. The na rang faintly in his ears, like a chord unresolved.
’Of course. That’s where I’d heard the na Eldridge before. It’s Naia’s last na! Do I tell her who I am? Would she believe ? Should she? Or worse, soone else? I wonder if she misses .’
"She’s bright," Graham continued. "Too bright, if I’m honest. Has trouble keeping her mouth shut around the wrong people. Best keep her busy with lessons."
Carter gave Kai a aningful glance. He’d delivered him this far. Now it was up to Kai to play the role, and not get killed doing it.
Kai bowed once more.
"It will be my honour."
Outside, the sky was beginning to darken.
But inside Kai, sothing darker still stirred, a sense of movent. As if sothing had shifted in the fabric of his fate. Sothing irreversible.
The ga had begun.
He just had to make sure he didn’t lose his grip on the board before he had all of his pieces arranged.
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