CHAPTER 86: YOU’RE COMING WITH ME TO EMPIRE.

Ethan turned to leave the office, satisfied that the meeting with Selene was done. He was halfway

to the door when her crisp voice cut through the hush like a blade.

"Ethan."

He paused mid-step and looked back. "Yes, Swordmaster?"

Selene’s eyes, sharp as polished steel, held his in a steady gaze. She leaned back in her chair and

laced her fingers together, a faint smirk tugging at one corner of her lips.

"I want you to come with me to the Empire."

Ethan blinked. "The Empire?"

Selene nodded, her tone growing more formal. "There’s a summit being convened. All the major

forces will be present — nobles, grandmasters, swordmasters, representatives of the Top Fifteen,

all the mage tower masters... every significant power in the Empire. It’s not optional. We’re

required to appear."

Ethan raised a brow. Mage tower masters? His mind immediately went to a familiar name.

Velexaria...

The thought slipped through him like a warm current. He hadn’t seen Velexaria in ages, not since

the last time their paths had crossed during a joint operation in the east.

She’d been a tempest of power and sarcasm, and he couldn’t deny the curiosity simmering in him at the idea of meeting her again.

"That’ll be... interesting," Ethan said carefully.

Selene tilted her head, one elegant brow lifting. "Interesting? Try politically hazardous. Every

faction will be jockeying for influence. Secrets will spill, alliances will shift, and more than a few blades might find new homes in people’s backs. So stay sharp."

He smirked faintly. "I’ve been told I’m pretty good with a sword."

Selene let out a quick laugh, the tension in the room easing for a moment. Then her voice

hardened. "I’m not joking, Ethan. There’s something bigger behind all this chaos in Duskwatch. I

want you there, eyes and ears open."

Ethan’s smirk faded, replaced by a sober expression. "Understood. When do we leave?"

Selene stood and gathered a few scrolls from her desk. "Tomorrow morning. At dawn. Don’t be

late."

Ethan gave a respectful nod. "I’ll be ready."

He turned on his heel and left the room, the weight of new responsibilities pressing against his

shoulders. Outside the Swordmaster’s quarters, the fortress corridors seemed quieter, as though

the stone walls themselves were listening.

The thought of Velexaria lingered in his mind as he made his way back into the streets of

Duskwatch City. It wasn’t affection, exactly — more a professional respect mingled with the spark

of old memories. Either way, it meant that the coming days would be anything but dull.

By the time Ethan arrived at the inn, dusk was falling like a violet curtain over the city. Lanterns

glowed along the streets, casting warm pools of light.

He climbed the wooden stairs two at a time and stopped outside his team’s room.

From inside, a distinct thud rattled the door, followed by a muffled yell.

"I’m gonna rip your damn hair out, you blood-sucking harlot!"

"Try it, barbarian. I’ll shove your greatsword where the sun doesn’t shine!"

Ethan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Gods help me..."

He pushed the door open and stepped into utter chaos.

Reyna and Liora were practically nose-to-nose, hair wild, eyes blazing. Liora’s cloak was half off

her shoulders, one pale arm raised as though she was about to hurl a chair.

Reyna, meanwhile, had grabbed a wooden table leg and was brandishing it like a club.

In the middle of the room lay Daniel, sprawled flat on his back, groaning softly. His hair was a

mess, and one of his boots was missing.

"Please... no more... I don’t even know whose side I’m on anymore..." Daniel whimpered.

"STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU!" Ethan shouted.

Reyna froze, table leg held aloft. Liora blinked and slowly lowered her arm.

"Oh. Hi, Ethan," Reyna said cheerfully, as if she hadn’t just been about to commit homicide. "We

was just... talkin’."

"Yeah, talkin’," Liora echoed, glaring murderously at Reyna. "With fists."

Ethan crossed his arms, expression flat. "I could hear you from the street. Daniel, get up."

Daniel rolled over, wheezing. "Huh... when did you come back...? Wait... Ethan, why’re we goin’

anywhere? I’m still tryin’ to get the taste of floorboards out of my mouth."

Ethan raised a finger. "Before we get to that—"

He took a moment, dragging a chair over and sitting down, studying his teammates one by one.

Reyna was still holding the table leg like a battle standard, Liora looked like she’d just walked out

of a battlefield, and Daniel was nursing what might have been the early stages of a black eye.

"Okay. Here’s the situation," Ethan said. "Selene’s summoned me to the Empire. There’s a summit

happening — the biggest gathering of powerful figures we’ve seen in a long time. Nobles,

grandmasters, swordmasters, the Top Fifteen... and mage tower masters."

"Ooooh," Reyna said, eyes glinting. "A big bloody brawl in fancy clothes. My favorite."

"It’s not a brawl," Ethan snapped. Then he added, more honestly: "Hopefully. It’s politics. But

there’s more. There’s a chance this might tie into whatever’s been going on here. The rituals, the

symbols... it’s connected. I’m sure of it."

Liora folded her arms, lips curling into a smirk. "So. We’re about to wade into a den of

backstabbing nobles and arrogant magic-users. Sounds delightful."

Daniel blinked several times, slowly pushing himself upright. "Wait... Empire empire? Like, capital

city empire? As in... the place with fancy carriages and people who look at us like we smell bad?"

Ethan gave him a dry look. "Yes. That empire."

Reyna lowered the table leg, finally, and planted her hands on her hips. "So when do we leave?"

Ethan inhaled deeply. "Tomorrow morning. Crack of dawn."

Daniel blinked again, dazed. "Tomorrow...? Can I... maybe... stay here instead? I just... I’m still

bleedin’ from today, mate."

Reyna reached down and hauled him up by the scruff of his shirt. "Ye’re comin’, Daniel. Ain’t no

way I’m sittin’ in some fancy palace without a meat shield."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Daniel mumbled, dusting himself off.

Ethan couldn’t help but laugh. Despite the chaos, this was his team. Insane, violent, sometimes

exasperating... but his. He leaned back in his chair and gave a tired grin.

"Get some rest. We leave at dawn."

The words hung in the room, charged with the weight of whatever awaited them in the Empire.

As his companions slowly settled down, Ethan stared out the window toward the city lights blazing

against the night sky.

So many questions still hung unanswered. But tomorrow... perhaps a few would find their

answers.