The victory over Caelum's agents had brought a brief calm, but Frank knew it would not last. In the quiet of Aurenfall, he pored over intelligence reports, looking for patterns, weaknesses, anything that could reveal Caelum's next move.
Elara entered, carrying two cups of tea. "You've been at it for hours," she said softly, placing one cup beside him.
Frank rubbed his eyes. "I can't afford to rest yet. He's planning something bigger… something I can't predict from the usual patterns."
Elara knelt beside him, her hand brushing against his. "Then we'll face it together. You're not alone in this."
Frank smiled faintly, grateful, but his mind was already racing.
THE CLUE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
The reports from various towns all bore a common thread: unusual activity around ancient ruins far to the north, near the borderlands. Mercenary deserters whispered of a figure commanding agents with a familiarity and ruthlessness that only someone intimately connected to the city and its history could have.
Frank's brow furrowed. "He's not just a mastermind controlling pawns… he knows our towns, our tactics, even our weaknesses. Someone who was… close. Or has studied us for years."
Elara's eyes widened. "You mean… he might have been part of the region before all this?"
Frank nodded grimly. "Either that, or he's been manipulating events from the shadows long before we even realized it. This isn't just power-seeking—it's personal."
THE PLAN TAKES SHAPE
Frank called Leo and Rhea to the council hall. "Caelum is escalating. The northern ruins are the next target. Whatever he's planning, it's bigger than supply raids or town intimidation. We need to strike first—recon, sabotage, anything to slow him down."
Rhea studied the maps. "These ruins are heavily guarded and full of traps. You'll need more than strength and speed. Strategy will win this fight."
Elara stepped forward, determination in her eyes. "Then let's prepare. Together."
Frank looked at her, admiration and resolve flooding his chest. "Together," he repeated. "Because this isn't just about towns or trade routes. This is about stopping him before more lives are lost… and before we uncover the full truth."
THE FORESHADOWING
Far to the north, in a shadowed fortress hidden among jagged cliffs, Caelum observed the reports of Frank and his allies. His expression was unreadable, but his thoughts were sharp, calculating.
"So, he begins to see… the pattern, the weakness. But he doesn't yet know me. He doesn't know the full measure of what I can do. Soon… the truth will force him to make a choice. Stand or break."
The wind whispered through the fortress halls, carrying the faint echoes of a challenge yet to come. And in Aurenfall, Frank stared at the maps, a fire in his eyes, unaware of how deeply personal this next battle would become.