Kai jumped back just in time as Feroy’s spear slammed into the ground where he stood a breath ago. Fuck, it was too close. Without pause, the Knight wrenched the weapon free and stabbed forward. Kai brought his own spear up to parry, the clash of metal ringing sharply through the training ground.

Neither of them used mana techniques—not by mutual agreement, but out of necessity. Kai couldn’t tap into his magic while relying solely on his Enforcer abilities. And even without spells, it was obvious, Feroy held the advantage.

As Enforcers, both possessed bodies enhanced by mana, their strength and speed far beyond mortal limits. The mana coursed through their limbs passively, sustaining them even in stillness. But it was Feroy’s experience and raw power that made every strike feel like a killing blow. Kai felt it in every bone. He grit his teeth and refused to fall back on his spells. If he wanted to grow stronger, especially for what awaited him in the desert, he had to learn to fight without them.

Feroy launched two rapid strikes aimed at jarring Kai’s grip and disarming him. Kai blocked both, his arms shuddering under the impact. But the next blow came fast—An overhead stab aiming for his shoulder.

This time, he didn’t meet it with his spear.

He ducked low, twisting into a slide across the sand, and closed the distance in a blink. His spear cut toward Feroy’s legs.

The latter sprang back, barely avoiding the sweep, but that was the opening Kai needed. He surged forward, pressing the attack before Feroy could reset his stance. He knew better than to let the man use his longer reach to control the fight again.

Their spears clashed, a furious rhythm of strikes and counters. Feroy absorbed a hit to the shoulder and immediately twisted his weapon, using the shaft to redirect Kai’s next thrust and retaliating with a blow from the butt of his spear aimed at Kai’s temple.

But Kai was already moving. He twisted his head aside, letting the strike whistle past, then stepped in close. Feroy’s eyes widened as Kai grabbed the shaft of the spear mid-fight, yanking hard to pull him forward. When that didn’t work, Kai shifted tactics—tightened his grip and began pushing instead.

Feroy had already been pushing back with his own strength, so when Kai added sudden force, it threw the Knight off balance. He stumbled. Kai didn’t hesitate.

He darted in low, spear angled for a sweep—but Feroy wasn’t easy to catch off-guard. His head jerked back at the last second, and the spearhead struck the sand with a muted thud.

The sharp clap of hands drew Kai’s attention.

He turned his head slightly, catching sight of a small group gathered off to the side. Curious eyes watched from behind the low stone fencing of the training grounds—young boys with scuffed sandals, wide-eyed girls leaning on the rails, and a few adults standing just behind them with arms crossed.

The kids were the ones clapping, their awe unfiltered. The adults though looked less impressed, occasionally shushing them, but none had walked away.

They had found a quiet sparring ground near the hall earlier, but the clang of metal and the sheer presence of two foreigners crossing spears had drawn attention quickly. That had been an hour ago. The crowd had only grown since.

Kai let out a quiet breath and turned back to Feroy, offering him a hand.

The Knight took it with a hard smile as Kai said, “You’re holding yourself back.”

Feroy dusted himself off. “Can’t go all out on you, my lord. And what I’m holding back isn’t strength—it’s my flames. I’ve gotten too used to them.”

“Hmm. It’s the same with spells. The more we fight with them, the more they become like an organ—something you rely on without thinking. Trying to fight without them…” He rotated his shoulder with a wince, “…feels like using one arm when you have two.”

Feroy chuckled. “Exactly how I feel when I’m training the new recruits.”

Kai gave him a lopsided grin. “They’d probably just run away if you lit up your spear tip.”

That earned a short laugh from both of them. But as Kai turned his gaze back toward the crowd and the lengthening shadows behind them, the smile faded slightly. The sun was dipping low, painting the sand with shades of amber and crimson.

“It’s almost evening,” he said, brushing sand off his pants. “We should head back. Gareth should be back by now… and who knows maybe even Ansel.”

Feroy nodded, picking up his spear and brushing off the dust. As they turned to leave, he didn’t forget to give the kids a small wave, earning grins and excited murmurs in return. Kai followed suit, his own hand lifting in a casual gesture.

They seemed to admire warriors deeply—perhaps a product of the tribal culture here. Yet, as Kai glanced over the crowd once more, a thought nagged at him.

Despite the recent orc raid… despite the abductions… These children were smiling.

In most places, parents would have kept their young locked inside for weeks, maybe months. Fear would have lingered in the air. But here, the laughter still came easy. Were they used to it? Had the threat of orcs become something so common that it didn’t affect them?

It was possible but it was also extremely unsettling.

Shaking the thought aside, Kai and Feroy made their way toward the city hall. The upper floors were quieter, cooled by shaded stone and light breezes slipping through the open slits in the walls. There, near the far corridor, they spotted Claire and Gareth waiting.

The two straightened upon seeing them, dipping their heads in brief bows. Claire was the first to speak.

“Lord Arzan,” she said, voice crisp. “A man came by earlier. He said the council have requested to meet with you tonight. They will send escorts for us.”

Kai raised a brow, then smiled faintly. “Good. Seems they’re not planning to waste time.” He folded his arms loosely. “Looks like the kids we rescued did their job.”

“Yes. I saw one of them running toward one of the larger homes. Likely belonging to one of the tribal leaders,” Gareth said. “I suspect Ansel spoke to his brother about what happened. That likely reached the council and the youths confirmed it. They’ve probably already pieced together some of our strength.”

“Let’s hope they take that knowledge well—see us as potential allies, not threats. And know that they won’t be able to subdue us if they try. Otherwise, they’ll start playing power games, thinking they have authority over us.” He let out a quiet breath and leaned against the wall. He glanced out the open slit beside him, watching the dusty wind spiral outside.

Before coming here, he’d planned for a different approach. He had wanted to find Ansel’s brother or father, rally them, and use their influence to bring the rest of the tribes under one banner. That was the strategy.

But this council… it wasn’t in the plan. Kai didn’t even know such a thing existed.

“I believe at least two members of the council will try to test us,” Gareth said, pulling Kai’s attention back to him.

Kai arched his brow. “You got the information I asked of you?”

Gareth smirked. “I did. About the council and its leaders.”

Kai wanted to ask all the questions in his mind right there, but he knew talking about sensitive matters in the corridor was a bad choice. So without a word, they moved to his room.

Once inside, Kai raised a hand and whispered words under his breath as a spell structure formed. Immediately, a faint wind stirred in the corners of the room, swirling until it formed a soft curtain. Just a simple first-circle ward—easy to cast, easy to maintain. He doubted anyone was listening in, but he wasn’t willing to risk it.

He took the edge of the bed, while Gareth sat in a nearby chair. Claire stood near the door with her arms folded, looking more confident than she had been in her role as just a maid.

“It’s called the Council of the Five Tribes. This place used to be the land of Rahzets, Ansel’s tribe, but the council changed it,” Gareth began. “Few years back, nearby tribes decided to build this city together—partly to increase their odds of survival, partly to unify strength. That’s when the council was formed.”

Kai nodded, having guessed this part.

“Since we’re technically in Rahzet territory, the Rahzet tribe holds more sway,” Gareth continued. “But the others have been catching up fast. They’ve been quietly slipping more of their Sand Knights into key positions—guards, trade houses, even temple administration. Bit by bit, influence spreads.”

“Power invites politics,” Kai murmured. “That kind of structure always breeds friction.”

Gareth gave a grim smile. “Exactly. And out of the five council members, two stand out. In opposite ways.” He leaned forward slightly. “The woman we saw earlier—Maari. She’s head of the Zahran tribe. Smallest of the five, but almost all her people are hardened fighters. Sand Knights with survival etched into their bones. Maari’s reputation is clear—she’ll do anything to protect her tribe. Even if it means turning the others into enemies.”

Kai remembered her cold eyes and stern posture. In the brief moment they had met eyes, she had looked at him not with fear, but with calculation.

“And the second?” he asked.

“Adil Rafiq. Leader of the Khareem tribe. A peak Rank 2 Sand Knight and, frankly, the most dangerous one on the council. He talks about unity, honor, and cooperation—but every tribe has a story about him betraying someone behind the scenes during the years the tribes were against each other.”

Kai’s gaze narrowed.

“They say he let his own father be taken during an orc raid to secure his rise to power,” Gareth continued. “No one’s proven it, but no one’s dismissed it either. He’s crafty, patient, and always thinking five steps ahead. He’s not just a warrior like Maari—he’s also a strategist. That makes him more dangerous.”

Kai exhaled a long breath. “So we’re dealing with a council full of subtle warzones. Maari sees us as either an opportunity or a threat. Adil will treat us like pawns or rivals.” He sighed and rubbed his temple. “That’s… problematic.” He paused, then added, “Tell me about the rest of them. And anything else we should know.”

Gareth gave a nod and leaned back in his chair. “The other three council members aren’t like Maari or Adil. They’re not particularly strong, nor are they cunning enough to scheme behind closed doors. They’re just tribal leaders doing their best to protect their people—men and women caught in a system that rewards those with teeth. Most of their actions come from a place of caution and survival, not ambition.”

Kai absorbed the information quietly. In a way, that made them the easiest to work with. He had hoped from the start that showing his strength—openly, without shame—would set the tone. He didn’t believe in hiding what he and his party were capable of. Not here, not in a land shaped by survival and power. If the council saw just how wide the gap between them was, maybe they’d think twice before trying anything foolish.

And if they didn’t? Then it was better to stomp those thoughts in infancy—before they grew into something harder to kill. After Gareth finished his explanation, Kai remained quiet for a few breaths, thinking over everything. Then two questions rose to the top.

“You didn’t find anything on the orc attacks?” he asked. “Also how’d you even get to learn all this? Even for a Watcher, this is more than I expected.”

Gareth gave a faint smile. “All I heard were fragments. Whispers. The orcs attacked a few hours before we got here, caught several tribals off guard, burned parts of the outer city, and killed a few Sand Knights. The ones they took weren’t random either—mostly relatives of council members and Sand Knights. No one knows why.

“As for how I got the information… I ran into Ansel. He was walking through his brother’s compound. We spoke, and he told me what he could. He’s planning to be at the council meeting tonight—he’ll act as a bridge between us and them.”

Immediately, Kai felt tension roll off his shoulders. Ansel was still doing his best to stick to the original plan. That much, he trusted. The man was loyal and never went back on his word.

“Good,” Kai said. “That means it all comes down to the meeting, then.”

Feroy, who had remained silent till now, spoke up. “So what’s the approach?”

Kai looked between them and shrugged lightly. “We go in straight. No games. No masking our purpose. We show strength, not arrogance—and hope the council has enough wisdom not to act like they’re better than us.”

Claire snorted softly from the wall. “That’s asking a lot, Lord Arzan. People tend to underestimate you and overestimate themselves.”

Kai smirked. “Yeah. But it’ll be much easier if no one decides to be arrogant for once.”

***

Despite all of Kai’s hopes, it seemed like he was destined to deal with arrogant fools after all.

He sat in a wide stone hall in Khalid’s estate—Chosen because it was the biggest building in the city, taller than even the city hall—as the moonlight filtered in through lattice windows. In front of him stood the five council leaders of the desert tribes, seated on raised chairs behind a long table marked with tribal patterns. Behind Kai stood Claire, Feroy, and Ansel.

Each council leader had brought along two Sand Knights of their own, posted at the sides of the chamber with swords and spears grounded, eyes sharp. Their wariness wasn’t concealed. Kai could feel the weight of their gazes on him, as though expecting him to leap across the room and strike someone down.

Good. Let them be cautious. That, at least, was earned. But anger stirred inside him—low and rising—as one of the councilmen talked.

Adil Rafiq.

The very man Gareth had warned him about. And the moment he opened his mouth, Kai understood why.

“Count Arzan of Lancephil,” Adil said, his tone rich with condescension, “I’ve heard a few things about you. Tales of your ‘exploits’ in your distant kingdom. But I don’t think you truly understand the mistake you’ve made, coming into tribal lands uninvited.” His voice turned colder. “You were not granted entry into our city. And whatever business you imagine having in the Ashari Desert… I advise you abandon it. The tribes will not support an outsider meddling in our affairs.”

Kai didn’t speak right away. He could feel the muscles in his jaw tightening, could sense Claire and Feroy shift slightly behind him. Even the other council members looked uncomfortable, but none spoke up—likely waiting to see how he would respond. All of a sudden, he felt like they were testing him.

Adil continued, “You entered our city during the orc attack. But that is no different from what bandits do—arrive during chaos and pretend to have good intentions, when all they want is leverage.”

The words rang through the chamber.

Feroy took a step forward, eyes blazing. “Watch your tongue.”

Adil turned his head with a mocking smile. “And what if I don’t? This isn’t your estate, knight. This is tribal ground. You don’t give orders here.”

Kai lifted a hand. Feroy stopped instantly. Still calm on the surface, Kai fixed his gaze on Adil, his voice level and cold.

“I believe,” he said, “you’ve misunderstood something.”

“Huh? Do tell me.” Adil raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. “What exactly have I misunderstood?”

Kai leaned forward. “Your capabilities.”

The councilman frowned, just slightly. Clearly, he hadn’t expected that answer. Kai smiled, but without any warmth.

“I see what you’re trying to do,” he said, eyes fixed on Adil like a blade poised mid-air. “You want to agitate me. Push for a reaction. Then give the signal. Call in the Sand Knights you’ve hidden throughout this estate—probably surrounding the building even now. You think that if I lose my temper, you’ll have justification to banish me. Or maybe worse. And if things go your way, you get to keep whatever I’ve brought with me. My weapons. My accessories. That, councilman, is what robbers do.”

The air grew colder. Even the guards at the wall seemed to still. Kai’s eyes swept across the room slowly, lingering on each council member, one by one. His voice dropped a notch.

“Let me clarify something, so there are no more misunderstandings. I am not here to request anything of you. If you choose to help me, then it will be to your benefit. But understand—requests are only made between equals.”

He let that hang in the air for a heartbeat.

“And even with all your Sand Knights combined, you still fall short in that regard.”

The tension in the room crackled now, like flint to tinder. Kai didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t have to, his words did the job. “So let’s have a straightforward conversation,” he said, settling back. “I don’t want to show off my strength tonight.”

The implication was clear. If they forced his hand, they would see blood.

***

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