In a hidden hut nestled deep within a valley not far from the Iron River, the flickering light of small torches illuminated the interior.
The air was heavy with the scent of pine and the tension of everyone inside. Around the fireplace and a cooking pot filled with a simple meal, sat four figures: Jaxon, Ronan, Mira, and Finnan, eating their dinner.
Each carried the burden of what they had just experienced at the Iron River Bridge, yet they were bound by a fragile loyalty to the young man standing before them.
His body was tall, his posture graceful despite his simple clothes, his blue eyes gleaming with the intensity of much experience, belying his youthful face.
Kairos stepped forward, the crackling of the fire breaking the silence as he began to speak. His voice was steady and calm, radiating an authority that made everyone listen intently.
"You have all exceeded your limits," he began, his tone calm yet containing something that sent shivers down everyone's spines. "At the Iron Bridge, you all proved yourselves. The blood on your hands, the lives you took, that is the first price you pay for this cause."
Jaxon, clutching his newly cleaned short sword, nodded firmly. "Therion must be stopped. He overthrew legitimate power by deceit, and now he has begun to torment the people. I will do anything to end all this."
Hearing Jaxon's words, Kairos's gaze softened. He now sat down, facing all of them.
"Now I must be honest with you about who I am and why I am here."
He looked at them one by one; they now held a different enthusiasm than before, their bodies leaning forward to hear the story from the mysterious young man before them.
"I am not Remus. My name is Aerion Veridian, the youngest prince of the Veridian Dominion. Therion seized my father's throne by force. And Therion tried to kill me."
Everyone sitting gasped. Their faces were pale, even paler under the firelight.
"Prince Aerion?"
Kairos merely nodded, still wearing Aerion's mask. "Yes, a few days ago, I was still inside the Lyceum Arcana. But then Therion's people came to kill and burn the Lyceum, as you may have heard."
They all nodded, confirming the words of the young man who turned out to be an important figure in their country.
Ronan, who came from a noble family, frowned and asked timidly. "What can prove that you are Prince Aerion?"
Kairos smiled faintly and answered quickly. "I cannot prove it immediately, but my hair and eye color are characteristic of the Veridian royal family."
Before Ronan could ask further, Jaxon clenched his fist, his voice full of anger. "I heard Therion even killed Emperor Osiran with his own hands. And he also wanted to kill you yesterday?"
Finnan, who had now stopped stroking his bowstring, asked with a different enthusiasm than the others. "How did you escape from those who wanted to kill you?"
Kairos paused for a moment, then answered in a hoarse voice. "I managed to escape with the help of my mentor."
Everyone then fell silent, feeling the wave of emotion that Kairos emanated, which he deliberately drew from Aerion's true emotions. He silently glanced at all of them, satisfied to see that they all seemed to be swayed by his words.
Ronan, his hands still trembling, had not expected that the person he thought was the son of an ordinary nobleman was actually a prince; he now looked at Kairos with sympathetic eyes.
"So this is actually quite personal for you. Therion betrayed you and killed your father. Do you want revenge?"
"I want to know about my mother and my other siblings..." Kairos mumbled softly. "If they are alive, this is a rescue mission, not just revenge."
Ronan nodded. "Yes, I heard your whole family is being held in the dungeon, and they are still alive. I don't understand, he only had to wait to inherit the throne."
Jaxon stood up and said loudly. "Then we will ensure Therion falls. He cannot continue to rule with blood and betrayal."
Mira wiped tears from her cheeks and said with a slight sob. "I don't like bloodshed, but I heard that Therion is that cruel, and we must stop him."
Finnan grinned at them all and said, spinning an arrow in his hand. "I like this plan. If Therion loses his throne, and perhaps his head, it will sound fair."
Ronan took a deep breath and added. "I am not a soldier. But I will stand by your side, for Veridian."
Kairos looked at them with his blue eyes, which he made appear teary. "Thank you. I will make him regret failing to kill me. We will reclaim Veridian, not just for me, but for all that he has taken."
Everyone fell silent, with an intention now burning in their chests. Kairos observed them all and felt the change.
They were his first accomplices.
"Listen," Kairos suddenly spoke again in a calmer but more emphatic tone. "You will be my agents. Every one of your skills, every one of your sacrifices, will be part of what will become a new future in Veridian. So, I will test you, and forge you into unrivaled individuals."
"Now, after I have tested and observed all of you, I will divide our map of strengths among each of you."
He walked closer to them one by one. "Jaxon, you are the strength of this group. You will be the intermediary bridge between command and execution. I will give you greater responsibility."
Hearing these words, Jaxon nodded firmly.
"Finnan," Kairos turned to him. "You are our eyes and ears. Your skills will be key in reconnaissance and infiltration."
Finnan smiled proudly, accepting the praise.
"Mira," Kairos continued, gently holding both her hands, his blue eyes meeting hers. "You are our soul. You will care for us, heal our wounds, and give us hope. But do not let this sympathy cloud your judgment later."
Mira frowned slightly at his last sentence, but she nodded. She understood the meaning of the warning.
"And Ronan," Kairos finally faced the Count. "You are the brains of our group. You will analyze, plan, and essentially use words as your weapon. Your potential in diplomacy and strategy will be invaluable. And I will teach you how to use the enemy's weaknesses to our advantage."
Ronan swallowed hard and stared back at Kairos. He felt himself being drawn deeper into this world, a world he hated yet could not refuse.
"We will start with small missions," Kairos said, taking a portion of food for himself. "There are several Veridian outposts around here. We will attack them, one by one. We will start by gathering information, testing new tactics, and establishing our name."
He spooned soup into his mouth, chewed and swallowed, then said softly again. "Every fallen outpost is a step towards the capital. Every victory is a message to Therion, that Aerion has returned, and will claim what is rightfully his."