Splash, splash, splash.

  Each of them stepped through a shallow pool, the water rippling with every movement.

  “This will be our camp from now on.”

  Torin scanned the area briefly before speaking, his voice carrying through the quiet meadow.

  Kael took a moment to look around.

  Stillwater Meadows was mostly flat, its terrain broken up only by the occasional scattering of small rocks. The ground was soft, damp in places where pools of clear water had gathered.

  Beside them stood a massive boulder, stretching as high as the treetops. Its surface was rough and uneven, completely covered in thick, deep green moss. The air around it carried a rich, earthy scent, the moisture in the moss making it smell like damp stone and fresh soil.

  It wouldn't just serve as a landmark, it was a practical spot to camp. The boulder would block most of the wind, making the night a little more comfortable, and the ground around it was slightly elevated, meaning they wouldn’t wake up in a puddle if it rained.

  With soft grass to rest on, fresh water nearby, and solid rock at their backs, it was as good a place as any to settle down.

  Without a word, the Luminaires began setting down their gear, settling into their temporary camp.

  Selene walked away from camp to erase any tracks they might have left behind, while Malric headed off to scout the area, mentally mapping out the terrain.

  Kael, on the other hand, simply sat down against the massive boulder, watching the two vanish into the distance before closing his eyes, seemingly resting. The grass beneath him was soft, making it easy to relax.

  A short distance away, Torin stood with his back against the boulder, scribbling away in his notebook as always. The faint sound of lead scraping against paper was the only thing breaking the quiet.

  A long while passed before Kael heard the soft scratching of the pen stop, followed by the quiet snap of a notebook closing.

  He opened his eyes, casting a brief glance at Torin before looking away again, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

  Torin exhaled, his voice breaking the silence.

  "I must admit, Daire. You’re an impressive individual. You’ve done well traveling with us as a mere mortal."

  There was a brief pause before he spoke again.

  "Too bad you don’t carry the blood of the Eireindaile family."

  He didn’t look at Kael as he spoke, his eyes fixed on the distance.

  Kael remained still, his expression unreadable. He hadn’t expected a remark like that. Praise, from Torin? A man who measured his words like a craftsman measured his cuts?

  Torin wasn’t one to hand out praise lightly. For him to say something like this… Kael must have left an impression over the past few months.

  Soon, Torin’s voice broke the silence again.

  “This is also why I believe you’ll be able to finish what you were hired for.”

  Kael’s interest piqued, and he turned to face Torin.

  Finally.

  After all this time, Torin was about to go into more detail about his role in this mission.

  “Tomorrow you’ll start to move toward Velthoria. From there, you’ll search for a woman named Syleena.”

  Torin didn’t say much more at first, but soon he started going into the details of the mission ahead.

  Kael listened, piecing everything together bit by bit.

  As he took it all in, his mind kicked into gear, already working through ideas and planning his next steps.

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  The woman the Eireindaile family had sent to Velthoria was their firstborn heir, a young woman only a year younger than Kael. Not only was she a direct descendant of the family, but she was also considered a genius among Luminaires.

  The family had invested heavily in her, ensuring she had the best resources, training, and knowledge to reach her full potential. She was their future, their carefully cultivated prodigy.

  That was precisely why she had been sent to Velthoria.

  For two years, she would serve both as a spy and as the official representative of the Eireindaile family—a trial that would test her political skills, adaptability, and ability to navigate the treacherous world of noble intrigue.

  Kael had expected someone important to be involved. After all, the Eireindaile family had poured an unusual amount of time and effort into this mission, going to lengths most noble families wouldn’t dare.

  But for it to be their young heir? That still caught him off guard.

  His expression remained unreadable, but beneath the surface, his mind tensed.

  He was learning too many secrets. And the more he knew, the more dangerous his position became.

  There would come a point when keeping him alive would be a greater risk than eliminating him.

  He would have to tread even more carefully from now on.

  Torin went over a few more details before the discussion came to an end. He explained the habits and routines that the young heir had been forced to ingrain into her daily life in case a situation like this ever arose.

  Things like visiting a specific café, sitting at a particular bench, shopping in certain places, and forming connections with select individuals. These habits were designed to leave behind traces if she were to disappear. They would ensure that people noticed her absence, that questions were asked, and that patterns were left behind for those searching for her.

  This system was meant for situations exactly like this.

  It was designed to help someone like Kael—a mercenary operating in silence, tasked with uncovering her whereabouts or making contact without drawing attention.

  This was, of course, a double-edged sword. If someone with ill intentions toward Syleena picked up on these traces, they could use them just as easily.

  But that was where Syleena’s own role came into play, and it was also the brilliance of the system.

  If she noticed someone tracking her, she could easily mislead them by subtly altering her habits or shifting her routine.

  After all, these so-called habits were never real to begin with. They were fabricated from the start, designed to serve as both breadcrumbs for allies and traps for those who sought to do her harm.

  As soon as Torin had finished explaining everything he deemed necessary, he fell silent, opening up his notebook once more and resuming his scribbling.

  Kael remained seated against the boulder. Without realizing it, he had drawn his knife from its sheath and was absentmindedly turning it over in his hand, his fingers tracing the blade's edge as he sank deep into thought.

  It wouldn’t be easy to move unnoticed in the city while asking around for someone, but he was confident in his skill.

  What really lingered in his mind was what came after.

  He had indeed learned too many secrets. The danger of the long journey to Velthoria paled in comparison to the risks that now surrounded him.

  He was not of noble blood, nor was he a member of any noble house. But he had a mind, and more importantly, he had experience. Some might call him cold-hearted, but so were the noble families. If he were in their position, he would have killed himself too.

  Looking at the situation from the outside, he was the perfect target for an assassination. He had no known family or close connections. He lived in seclusion, only emerging when there was work to be done. He moved with caution, ensuring that nothing was ever left behind in his wake.

  Before, he had been uncertain about what they would do to him once his role was finished. Now, he was almost certain. They would kill him.

  Kael’s gaze drifted toward the sky. Beautiful, puffy clouds of all shapes and forms floated high above, drifting wherever the wind carried them.

  He sighed inwardly.

  ‘Ah, what a bother.’

  Soon, Selene and Malric returned to the camp.

  Selene was her usual cheerful self, her golden hair swaying in the wind as she nearly skipped toward the campsite, as if she had just heard the greatest news—perhaps simply excited for the near future when they would get to rest while Kael handled his part in the city.

  Malric, on the other hand, walked with steady, measured steps. Slung over his shoulder was a freshly hunted animal, already skinned and gutted, with a deep wound marking the spot where an arrow had struck.

  Thud. With a heavy drop, Malric threw the animal onto the ground in the middle of the camp before pulling out his knife, ready to cut the meat with practiced precision.

  Meanwhile, Selene moved around, gathering sticks and branches to start a fire.

  "You alright?"

  Malric spoke casually, throwing Kael a quick glance before shifting his focus back to the carcass, his blade already slicing through the flesh with ease.

  "Yeah, just thinking about the future."

  Malric’s hand paused for a brief moment before he resumed cutting.

  "Don’t worry too much about it. You should be more than capable of handling it. And besides, if danger arises, don’t be afraid to turn back, approach from a different angle, or ask any of us for guidance. Prioritize your safety first. After all, if you die without gathering any information, this entire mission would be a failure."

  Kael remained silent, offering no response. He simply kept his gaze on the clouds, idly fiddling with the knife in his hand.

  Malric had obviously misunderstood his answer, but Kael saw no reason to correct him.