With the faction gathered, it was time to take their first step.
Zayn stood at the head of the table, his golden eyes scanning each of his newly assembled allies. This was not just about words anymore—this was about action.
Elara leaned back, arms crossed, an amused glint in her violet eyes. "So? What's our first move, oh fearless leader?"
Zayn smirked. "We make a statement."
Raiden cracked his knuckles. "Let me guess. You want to tear someone apart?"
Zayn chuckled, shaking his head. "Not this time."
He placed a small, weathered piece of parchment on the table. The others leaned in to see it. A name was scrawled across the page in faded ink:
Lord Varyn Deimos.
Varian's relaxed posture shifted, his expression darkening. "The Minister of Shadows?"
Elara arched an eyebrow. "Interesting choice."
Raiden frowned. "He's nothing but a glorified spymaster."
Zayn's gaze hardened. "He's the Empire's eyes and ears. Every rebellion, every faction, every threat—he snuffs them out before they can ever take root. He controls the underworld, the mercenaries, the bounty hunters. If we're going to survive, he has to go first."
Varian let out a low whistle. "Taking down the Empire's most paranoid man. Bold."
Elara tapped her fingers against the table, deep in thought. "You must already have a plan."
Zayn nodded. "We kill him. But not just kill him—we make it known that we did it. We send a message."
Raiden grinned. "I like it."
Varian, however, wasn't convinced. He studied Zayn carefully, the flickering torchlight casting deep shadows across his sharp features. "Varyn Deimos didn't survive this long by being reckless. He surrounds himself with spies, traps, and contingencies. You don't kill a man like him with brute force."
Zayn's smirk widened. "Which is why we won't."
Zayn leaned over the table, placing a map before them. The parchment was old, marked with scribbled notes and intricate pathways. "Varyn rarely stays in one place for long. He rotates between five different strongholds, each more fortified than the last."
He pointed to a location circled in red. "A week from now, he will be in Blackthorn Manor. It's the least guarded of his safehouses, but that's only because he believes it to be untouchable."
Elara studied the map. "Magical wards?"
Zayn nodded. "A network of them. Scrying runes, shadow-detection glyphs, and a teleportation anchor in case he needs a quick escape."
Raiden crossed his arms. "So, we destroy the manor?"
Elara scoffed. "No. We neutralize his advantages."
Zayn turned to Elara. "How quickly can you disrupt his scrying networks?"
Elara exhaled through her nose. "If I can access one of his relay hubs, I can shut down his magical surveillance for a few hours. But I'll need a distraction."
Zayn glanced at Raiden. "Think you can create one?"
Raiden's grin was all teeth. "Just tell me how loud you need it."
Zayn smirked. "I was thinking something catastrophic."
Raiden's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Consider it done."
Zayn then turned to Varian. "And you. You'll be the one who finishes the job."
Varian tilted his head. "You trust me with that?"
Zayn's golden eyes gleamed. "You were meant for this."
For a moment, Varian was silent. Then, with a slow, almost imperceptible nod, he said, "Then let's see if I live up to your expectations."
Blackthorn Manor sat deep within the heart of the Duskwither Forest, a sprawling labyrinth of twisted trees and perpetual twilight. The dense foliage swallowed sound, making it the perfect hiding place for those who wished to disappear. Shadows stretched long beneath the moonlight, and the very air seemed to hum with an eerie stillness.
The manor itself was a fortress, nestled atop a cliffside, overlooking the valley below. Built from ancient black stone, its towering spires jutted into the sky like jagged teeth. A single, winding path led to the entrance, guarded by elite sentries, while the surrounding woods were riddled with concealed traps, both magical and mundane.
But that was not the only reason Zayn had chosen this place to strike.
The Emperor's illegitimate child was rumored to be escaping into the forest.
Varyn would be personally overseeing the search, pulling forces away from his usual defenses. It was an opportunity too perfect to ignore.
Zayn exhaled. This was it. The first strike. The moment the Empire would begin to feel the tremors of what was coming.
He looked at each of them in turn.
"We move in one week. Be ready."