The faint blue glow of the system notification lingered in Noel’s vision, its neat letters waiting for his attention:
[Mission: Find the 5th Pillar and deal with him. Completed, congratulations!!!]
Reward available — claim now?
He didn’t move to claim it. As always, there would be ti for that later — when things were calm. Right now, they were anything but.
Footsteps approached, and Nicolas erged from the shadows of the narrow street. His sharp eyes moved from Noel to the figure sprawled beneath him. "What happened? I’m assuming this is Torwan," he said. "How did you manage to catch him?"
"Honestly?" Noel kept his tone even. "When I found him, he was already on the ground like this. I just followed Noir’s scent... though she seed to be chasing sothing else just monts ago. Do you know anything about that, Torwan?"
The dwarf below him let out a pained growl. "I don’t know, you son of a bitch. Get off ."
Noel stepped down from his chest — only to plant his boot on a fresh wound instead. He pressed down, twisting slowly.
Torwan scread, the sound echoing off the stone walls. "Aaaaaaaaaaah! Stop it, you bastard!"
"I don’t think you should be talking like that to soone from the Estermont family," Noel replied, his voice calm but sharp.
"You think I didn’t know that?!" Torwan spat. "Why do you think I gave sothing stronger to your opponent that day? I wanted him to kill you!"
"That’s enough for now," Nicolas said firmly, stepping closer. "We’ll take him to King Alveron IV’s castle. He should still be there, even if his troops have already been sent out. I can deliver the ssage at the sa ti."
Noel didn’t object. Nicolas placed a hand on Torwan’s shoulder, the other gripping Noel’s arm, and in an instant the air around them twisted. The narrow street vanished, replaced by the high stone walls and dim lighting of a private chamber in the castle. Noir padded in behind them, her claws clicking against the polished floor.
Nicolas raised two fingers, tracing a quick sigil in the air. "The ssage is sent," he said, glancing at Noel. "Alveron knows we’re here. He’ll co soon."
Then his gaze shifted to Torwan. "So... shall we begin?"
"Go to hell," Torwan snapped, glaring up at him. "I’m not telling you bastards a thing."
Noel moved closer, lowering his voice so only Nicolas could hear. "Can you teleport again? Bring Balthor here."
Nicolas arched a brow but didn’t ask questions. Torwan’s eyes flickered with confusion — he clearly didn’t realize his brother knew anything about this. Without a word, Nicolas vanished, leaving the room to Noel, Torwan, and the quiet, watchful form of Noir.
The silence between them stretched, broken only by Noir’s slow, steady breathing. Noel’s eyes narrowed, his voice low and edged.
"You know... because of people like you, those I care about are always the ones who end up suffering. I’d like to know why, Torwan of Tharvaldur. Why did you do all this? You killed your own father to put a puppet on the throne so you could pull the strings. You manipulated the kingdom for profit. Why Kaelith? Why did you help him cross from Velmora? Why Alya? Why everything?"
Torwan smirked despite the pain, a bitter laugh spilling out. "Wow, kid... ahahaha. You almost know more than I do. Which one of them talked? Alya or Kaelith?"
"No one," Noel said flatly. "I just know. And I’ll also know if you’re lying."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, rune-etched pendant, letting the dim light catch its surface. "I took this from your brother’s shop in Valon, back when he left without warning. This little item? It doesn’t let you lie. And since you can’t move right now, using it will be easy."
’I still rember when Elyra used this on .’
Noel pressed the artifact against Torwan’s chest. It pulsed once, faintly, and a subtle pressure filled the air. The enchantnt was active — three questions, three truths.
Torwan’s eyes hardened. "You think I’ll answer? Forget it."
Noel ignored him. "First question: What is your group’s goal?"
Torwan’s lips moved against his will. "To bring soone from another dinsion here."
"I see..." Noel’s eyes narrowed further. "Second question: Where are the other four Pillars?"
Torwan’s jaw clenched, but the words still ca out. "The Fourth and Third the twins are in Valor. The Second is on the islands... and the First Pillar is in Tharvaldur. Always has been."
’What!? How can the First Pillar be here? Isn’t it too soon for soone that strong to appear? I’ve already derailed the original novel’s plot, but... co to think of it, he hasn’t done anything yet.’
"Third question," Noel continued, his tone sharper. "Who left you unable to walk?"
Torwan’s face twisted into a snarl. "IT WAS THAT CRAZY BASTARD — THE FIRST MOTHERFUCKER! Said my ti was over... I won’t forget that bastard."
’Why would the First Pillar do sothing that actually helps us? Did he just get rid of Torwan because he was no longer useful?’
Noel’s eyes narrowed. "Why did the First Pillar—"
"Fuck you, kid," Torwan cut in. "You’ve already screwed enough. I’m done talking."
Noel clicked his tongue. ’Tch. That’s all I’m getting.’
The air shimred, and Nicolas stepped back into the room — this ti with Balthor at his side. The younger dwarf’s heavy boots thudded against the stone floor as his eyes locked on the man bound before him.
Torwan’s smirk faded. His gaze swept over Balthor, taking in the familiar features beneath the unkempt beard, the way his stance hadn’t changed since their youth. This was the first ti they faced each other without masks, without aliases, without the pretense of distance.
Balthor didn’t speak. Neither did Torwan.
For several long seconds, they simply stared at one another — years of betrayal, resentnt, and blood-soaked history hanging between them like a blade. Noir’s tail flicked once, the only sound in the room.
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