When the elf woman, V’aleirith, had sent word through a messenger, Kai’s curiosity had been piqued. Who would it be? The possibilities nagged at him, enough that he’d even decided to instruct Killian to keep an eye out for any elves skulking about in the city. Yet, despite his preparation, he hadn’t expected the answer to come in the form of Raven.

She had been there in front of his eyes, but he had completely forgotten about her.

Now, as Kai stepped into the meeting room, the air felt charged with unspoken tension. Francis stood at the corner of the table, flanked by the familiar faces of Gorak, the twins—Finn and Finnigan, and Raven. Her eyes followed his every move and there was something in them—hesitation, maybe even uneasiness.

They rose to their feet as one, bowing deeply. Kai nodded in acknowledgement, and let his eyes make contact with everyone present. “Sit,” he instructed, motioning to the chairs. As they obeyed, he lowered himself into his seat and got comfortable.

Though, it was hard to get comfortable as even the air held a tension that he couldn’t just ignore.

Francis wasted no time. “Lord Arzan,” he began, “Raven has—”

Kai held up a hand, cutting him off with a subtle shake of his head. His eyes fixed on Raven, their sharpness slicing through her nerves. “Speak,” he said simply.

The elf shifted in her chair, her hands clasping tightly in her lap. For a moment, it seemed she might falter, but she steadied herself with a deep breath. “Lord Arzan,” she began, her voice steady despite the weight of her words. “I’ve received a message from the matriarch of my tribe. It concerns you, and… for that reason, I’ve come seeking your understanding.”

Kai’s expression didn’t shift, but his mind worked quickly. “Matriarch?” he echoed softly, thinking back to the elf he had seen in his vision. “Would her name happen to be V’aleirith?”

The reaction was immediate. Raven’s dark eyes widened, the tension in her shoulders easing as disbelief and relief warred for dominance on her face. “You… you know of her?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her demeanour shifted visibly—where moments ago she had seemed tightly wound, now she appeared calmer, more at ease. Whatever Kai had just said had struck a chord.

Kai grimaced, leaning back slightly. “You weren’t the only one who received a message. I got one too.” His fingers tapped idly against the table. “At first, I thought it was just my mind playing tricks, but there were traces of her mana in the air afterwards. She talked about a messenger… and wanting me to come to the elf territory, Sylvastra.”

Raven’s eyes flickered with recognition, and she gave a small nod. She leaned a bit forward, and Kai took it as a sign that she understood the situation.

“That makes sense. I was tasked with guiding you, and if you’ve received the message too, then it might make things easier.” Her voice faltered slightly before she straightened in her seat. “Please, Lord Arzan, come with me. I don’t know the full extent of the matter, but if the matriarch is asking for your help, it’s of utmost importance.”

Francis shifted on the side, his lips parting as if to interject, but he hesitated and ultimately leaned back, his expression neutral. Whatever thoughts he had remained unsaid as he allowed the conversation to continue.

Kai’s gaze didn’t waver. “I understand that,” he said slowly, “but I have some questions first.” His eyes locked onto Raven’s. “Who exactly is V’aleirith?”

Raven’s posture stiffened slightly. “She’s the matriarch of my tribe,” she began carefully. “One of the ruling tribes of Sylvastra. Among all the tribes, she’s known as the Fate-Seer for her ability to divine the flow of events.”

Kai nodded, his expression thoughtful. “When I got the message, she mentioned a prophecy about an upcoming calamity—something that involves the Elder Tree. Do you know anything about that?”

The room fell into a heavy silence. Raven’s gaze dropped, and something passed through her eyes. After a moment, she shook her head, her voice low and tinged with regret. “I’m sorry, Lord Arzan. Prophecies are closely guarded secrets, known only to the elders themselves. They’re rarely shared because of fear of causing panic or misunderstanding.” She hesitated, then added softly, “When I left my tribe, I was barely considered an adult. I don’t have much knowledge of such things.”

Kai’s eyes narrowed slightly, but before he could speak, she continued, her tone shifting. “But… if it involves the Elder Tree, there might be something. The tree is sacred to my people. It’s tied to our history, our mana, and our survival. If the prophecy is about it…” She trailed off, and her eyes trailed downwards in a grim expression. “Then the matter is more urgent than I realized.”

Kai’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Raven hesitated before speaking, “There are whispers in every tribe that something is wrong with the Elder Tree. We used to hold yearly festivals, celebrating beneath its roots with dances and offerings. But for decades now, no one’s been allowed near the roots. The elders blocked access entirely. Many of us fear something is wrong with our life-giver, but they’re just whispers. We elves… we believe the Elder Tree to be all-powerful.”

Kai said nothing, but his mind churned. It’s not. The Elder Tree is dying, and the calamity is tied to it. He kept his expression neutral, though an uncomfortable weight pressed on him. The prophecy spoke of this, but I’m missing too many pieces to make sense of it. Stopping it feels absurd without the full picture, but I need information—and fast.

Letting out a slow breath, he calmed himself and looked at Raven. “I understand what you’re saying, and I know you’re telling the truth.” His gaze sharpened. “I’ve seen it myself. A vision, if you will. So… I’ll agree to come with you.”

Raven’s face lit up, a rare smile breaking through her composed self. “Thank you, Lord Arzan! We can leave right away—”

Kai raised a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. “I know you’re eager, but I’m a lord. I have responsibilities here. I’ll accompany you, but I need time to finish my tasks and speak with my aides.”

Raven’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly, but she nodded with understanding. “Of course, Lord Arzan.” She rose to leave, her companions following her lead. But just as they approached the door, Kai’s voice stopped them.

“Before we begin this journey,” he said, which made everyone turn around and look at Kai, waiting to see what he was about to say next. “I’d like to test your mana organs. I want to see if any of you have the potential to gain abilities like Killian and the others.”

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The room, which had been relatively quiet, stirred. Gorak and the twins, silent until now, shared glances before the mercenary leader finally spoke. “You would do that for us, Lord Arzan?”

Kai’s expression softened slightly. He wasn’t surprised by their reaction. He’d been fighting alongside them since the beast wave, and he knew they were aware of his methods. While they didn’t understand the intricacies of how he did it, they’d seen him take ordinary fighters—some without even the basic mana organs—and turn them into Enforcers wielding power that rivalled trained Mages.

“If you’re joining this journey, it will be gruelling,” Kai explained. “Every ounce of strength will matter. If you have the potential, I’ll ensure you gain the power to match the challenge ahead. That said…” His voice grew firm. “I’ll require your word to keep the methods behind this a secret from anyone else.”

Gorak bowed deeply. “If you can truly make me into a warrior like that, I give you my word, Lord Arzan.”

The twins mirrored his action, their voices ringing with sincerity. “So do we, Lord Arzan.”

Kai nodded, satisfied. “Good. Return here tomorrow morning. We’ll begin the tests then.”

With that, the group left the room.

Once they were out of the way, Kai turned towards Francis.

“I know you have a lot of questions. Let’s talk it out in the office. And well…” he paused seeing Francis’s frowned face. “Your work will increase once again with me not being here for a while.”

***

“Lord Arzan, I really don’t think you should leave the territory right now,” Francis said, folding his arms. “It’s going to be hard managing everything without you, and you know threats are on the horizon.”

Francis looked at him with a conflicted expression, his eyes firmly planted on him.

Kai exhaled slowly, nodding. His eyes raked around the office room and came back to Francis, feeling the depth of the situation. “I know that. It’s Lucian that’s the real problem.”

Francis’s lips tightened. “Not just him. With the aftermath of the beast wave, all eyes are on us. If you leave, I’m certain other nobles will sniff around to figure out where you’re going. And Duke Lucian… if he gets wind of your absence, he’ll undoubtedly make his move.”

Kai remained silent, his eyes drifting toward the map on the table. His fingers tapped non rhythmically against the wood as his gaze lingered on the Lancephil Kingdom and the marked location of the elf territory—deep to the east.

He kept staring at it for a while, looking at the areas they would have to traverse to get to Sylvastra.

Finally, a small smile curved up on Kai’s face as the idea crossed his mind. “I understand the risks, Francis, but it’s crucial I head to the elf territory. There’s too much at stake. For one, the resources—lightwood, druidic spells, and knowledge we don’t have access to—could give us a significant edge in the coming conflicts.” He glanced at Francis. “And if the elders there know how to refine mana organs further, we’ll need that. The benefits outweigh the risks.”

Francis didn’t look convinced. “Even if that’s true, the gazes following us won’t relent. If you disappear, it will raise questions we can’t afford to answer. And without you, Duke Lucian might start whatever he’s planning early.”

A small smirk tugged at Kai’s lips. “I’ve thought of that and I have a plan.”

Francis raised an eyebrow. “What is it, Lord Arzan?”

Kai leaned forward, tracing a finger on the map toward the west of the elf territory. “Duke Blackwood’s contingent is still here, correct?”

“Yes,” Francis said cautiously.

“Good. Blackwood’s territory lies south of the elven lands. Close enough that travelling with his people won’t draw as much suspicion. If I hide myself and leave with them, I would be able to travel easily and no one would know I’m not in Veralt.”

Francis frowned. “That might cover some of the scrutiny, but what about the city? If you suddenly stop showing your face here, the rumours won’t take long to spread.”

Kai nodded, as though expecting the question. “Which is why we’ll use a doppelganger.”

Francis blinked. “A doppelganger?”

Kai smirked. “We’ll find someone with a similar build and face shape. Dress him in my robes, put him in carriages, and let him make appearances in the city every week. He won’t need to interact much—just be seen. It’ll be enough to keep suspicions at bay.”

Francis rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath before looking back at Kai. “You make it sound simple, but finding someone convincing enough—”

“It won’t be hard,” Kai interrupted. “We don’t need perfection, just someone passable from a distance. Most people won’t get close enough to notice the difference. Besides, it’s temporary. By the time anyone starts asking questions, I’ll already be back.”

Francis sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair. “You’re putting a lot on the line with this plan.”

Kai’s gaze hardened. “I’m putting everything on the line. But if we don’t take these risks now, we’ll have nothing left when the real storm hits.”

After a moment of silence, Francis gave a reluctant nod. “I can arrange for that,” he said, but his brows furrowed as he added, “But, Lord Arzan… is it really necessary?”

The old man, though seemed to have understood the situation, still battled with completely giving in to Kai’s idea.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stood, moving toward the window. The late afternoon sun covered the city in a golden glow but his gaze was far away.

“I’m sorry, Francis. I know what you’re thinking. But yes, it’s necessary. And I don’t want to repeat myself again.” He turned his head slightly, enough for Francis to catch the glint of determination in his eyes. “I care for this territory. You know that. But the only way we stand a chance against Lucian—or the stronger powers aiming at us—is more power. If I can establish a connection with Sylvastra and gain what I’m after, we might quash Lucian without suffering any significant losses.”

His words hung thick in the air, heavy with conviction, but inwardly, his thoughts spiraled further. Not just that, he admitted to himself. If the prophecy is true… if the elder is right, this world is already teetering on the edge of ruin.

The image of the Elder Tree flickered in his mind, its roots choked by dead mana. If the whispers Raven had mentioned were accurate, this calamity wasn’t just a problem for the elves—it was a threat to the world. Falling to dead mana… was this always envisioned? Kai clenched his jaw. And somehow, I’m supposed to be the key to stopping it. But how?

He exhaled sharply, fingers gripping the windowsill. Back in his previous life, during humanity’s final stand, he’d never borne this weight alone. His master had been there, guiding him, and countless others had fought alongside him. Now, though, it felt like everything rested squarely on his shoulders.

The thought gnawed at him until he shook his head, forcing himself to focus. “No,” he murmured, his voice low enough that Francis couldn’t hear him. “I’m not alone. I have others—Killian, Francis…” He paused, mentally listing a few more names. But even as he tried to convince himself, the truth lingered. They don’t know what’s coming. Only I do.

And that was the problem. If Kai wanted them to be more than just allies—if he wanted true companions—he couldn’t keep them in the dark forever. But am I ready to tell them? Everything?

His lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t think so.

A frown settled on his face as his master’s voice echoed in his mind, clear and steady, as if the man were standing beside him again. “Kai, sometimes you have to hide the truth—not because you want to, but because you’re unsure how others will react. In those moments, evaluate the person. If you trust them, then tell them. But only when the time is right. Trust doesn’t mean they’ll agree—it means you believe they’ll handle the truth.”

Was this the right time? Kai let the question linger, it didn’t need answers right away. It followed him for the rest of the day, a quiet, persistent itch in the back of his mind.

***

A/N – You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon.

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