The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh foliage through the palace gardens. Evolis stood at the edge of the training grounds, idly running a hand through his hair as he waited. The sky was a dull gray, hinting at an incoming drizzle, but the world still felt strangely still.
He heard the soft footsteps before he saw her.
Aeliana approached with her usual grace, her silver hair swaying gently in the morning breeze. She wore a simple yet elegant traveling outfit, far less adorned than her royal attire, meant for mobility rather than ceremony. Her expression was composed, but Evolis didn't miss the subtle way her fingers tightened around the edges of her sleeves.
It had been three days since the King's summons. Three days since they had been given their mission. Three days since...
The kiss.
Evolis smirked. "Morning, Princess. You're late."
Aeliana arched a brow. "You're early."
"I'm always early." He shrugged, the corner of his lips twitching. "Good habit."
She folded her arms, eyeing him carefully. "We haven't talked since that night."
Evolis blinked, caught slightly off guard by how direct she was. He hadn't been avoiding the topic on purpose—it just… hadn't come up. And, if he was being honest, he wasn't entirely sure what to say about it. Teasing Aeliana was second nature, but defining whatever had happened between them? That was something else entirely.
He recovered quickly, flashing her an easy grin. "I figured you'd bring it up when you were ready."
Aeliana scoffed, shaking her head. "Unbelievable."
Evolis tilted his head. "What?"
Her eyes flickered with something unreadable, and for a moment, he thought she might say something more. Instead, she exhaled and looked away. "Nothing."
Evolis studied her for a second longer before deciding to push his luck. "So, what's the verdict? You regret it?" His tone was light, teasing, but a part of him was genuinely curious.
Aeliana's gaze snapped back to his, sharp and unwavering. "No."
That response came quicker than he expected. Evolis blinked, opening his mouth to respond, but she stepped forward before he could say anything.
"But you," she said, voice quiet but firm, "haven't thought about it at all, have you?"
That caught him off guard. "Of course, I—"
She narrowed her eyes, cutting him off. "You tease, you smirk, you act like it was nothing more than a fleeting moment, but you don't actually acknowledge what it means."
Evolis hesitated, not because he disagreed, but because… she wasn't wrong.
He hadn't really thought about it. Not in the way she probably had. He had enjoyed it—of course he had—but his mind had been occupied with training, with the mission, with preparing for war. And maybe, just maybe, he had assumed she was the same. That it didn't need to be anything more than what it was.
Aeliana exhaled, shaking her head. "Forget it."
Evolis rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling like he had missed something important. "Aeliana—"
"We have a mission," she interrupted, brushing past him. "Let's focus on that."
There was something final in her tone that made Evolis frown, but he didn't press. Instead, he fell into step beside her, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
Maybe he was overthinking it.
Maybe things were fine.
Or maybe, for the first time, he had completely misread the situation.
They walked in silence until they reached the inner halls of the palace, where their third operative was waiting.
And for the first time since that night by the lake, Evolis found himself wondering if he had made a mistake.
Because the man standing before them was nothing like what he had expected.
Leaning lazily against one of the marble pillars, arms crossed and an easy smirk playing at his lips, was a man who radiated an almost careless confidence. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and clad in light leather armor reinforced with enchanted silver threads. A long, dark coat hung loosely over his frame, clearly tailored for both mobility and subtlety. His dark auburn hair was messy, tousled as if he'd just rolled out of bed, and his sharp silver eyes gleamed with amusement as they flicked between Evolis and Aeliana.
But it wasn't his appearance that unsettled Evolis.
It was the sheer weight of his presence.
Even standing still, even doing nothing, the man's Etherion was oppressive, vast, refined. A Grandmaster Stage warrior. The very air around him vibrated, as if the world itself acknowledged his strength. Evolis had encountered strong opponents before—but this was different. This wasn't someone who had just trained hard. This was someone who had lived through battle after battle and come out the other side laughing.
"Well, well," the man finally drawled, pushing himself off the pillar and giving them a once-over. "So these are the two bright-eyed warriors I'm supposed to be babysitting."
Aeliana's brows twitched. "Babysitting?"
The man grinned. "What, did I say something wrong, Princess?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly at the casual way he addressed her, but before she could retort, he turned to Evolis, sizing him up with a slow, almost lazy glance.
"And you must be the human anomaly," he mused. "Heard a lot about you, kid."
Evolis folded his arms, unimpressed. "Funny. I can't say the same about you."
The man barked a laugh. "Ouch. Wounded. And here I thought we were gonna be best friends."
Aeliana pinched the bridge of her nose. "Can we at least know your name before you start testing our patience?"
"Name's Orion," the man said easily, giving a half-hearted salute. "Orion Vale, former Shadowblade of Veylith, current wandering pain in the ass, and your new best friend for this mission."
Evolis arched a brow. "Shadowblade?"
Orion's grin widened. "Oh, so you have heard of me."
Aeliana's expression darkened slightly. "You were part of the King's covert forces."
"Was," Orion corrected, shrugging. "Retired. Got tired of all the rules. Too much bowing, not enough stabbing."
Evolis exchanged a glance with Aeliana. A rogue operative. A Grandmaster Stage warrior who had willingly left the elite ranks of Veylith's assassins. That alone made him dangerous.
Orion seemed to read their thoughts because his smirk deepened. "Relax, kids. I wouldn't be here if the King didn't trust me." Then, after a pause, he added, "Mostly."
Aeliana crossed her arms. "And what exactly is your role in all this?"
"Simple," Orion said, tilting his head toward the corridor leading out of the hall. "You two are strong, sure. Talented, even. But infiltration isn't just about fighting—it's about surviving. Blending in. Learning to become the enemy before they realize you're not one of them. That's where I come in."
Evolis narrowed his eyes. "And we're just supposed to trust you?"
Orion chuckled. "Nope. But you don't have a choice."
There was an infuriating certainty in his voice, but Evolis didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he studied the man carefully. Beneath the cocky demeanor, there was something else. Something sharp. Orion was no fool. He was testing them, weighing their reactions, already learning how they worked just by watching.
Aeliana sighed. "Fine. Just don't get in our way."
Orion grinned. "I like you already, Princess."
She scowled. "Don't call me that."
"Noted, Princess."
Evolis exhaled through his nose. This mission was already shaping up to be a headache.
Orion stretched lazily. "Alright, lovebirds, let's get moving. We've got disguises to prepare, identities to establish, and a whole lot of sneaking around to do."
Aeliana blinked. "Lovebirds?"
Orion winked. "You two have the tension of a tragic romance novel. It's cute."
Evolis resisted the urge to sigh.
This was going to be a long mission.
Orion, still grinning like this was all a game to him, motioned for them to follow as he led them down a narrow corridor branching away from the throne room. Unlike the grand halls of Veylith's palace, this passage was more discreet—no towering stained glass, no intricate tapestries, just stone walls carved with quiet runes meant to dampen sound.
"Alright, let's talk details," Orion said as they walked. "Your disguises, your roles, and most importantly, how we're getting in without getting skewered."
Evolis shot him a look. "We're listening."
"Good, because you'll need every ounce of your brain power for this," Orion quipped before turning serious. "We're heading toward the western front first, an area where the Dark Elves have been pressing hard. Veylith's forces are holding them back for now, but things are getting dicey. We'll start by moving among the outer skirmishers, picking up intelligence and identifying key figures in their command structure."
Aeliana nodded. "And once we have that information?"
"Then we go deeper," Orion said simply. "We infiltrate a Dark Elven warband posing as mercenaries. It's not uncommon for them to hire outsiders—mostly deserters, rogues, and sell-swords willing to fight for coin."
Evolis frowned. "And how exactly are we supposed to convince them we're mercenaries?"
Orion smirked. "With the right look, the right story, and just the right amount of reckless bravado." He snapped his fingers, and a moment later, a nearby chamber door creaked open. Inside, neatly laid out on a large table, were three sets of armor and clothing, dark leathers reinforced with obsidian-threaded plates, adorned with jagged, almost tribal markings.
Dark Elf attire.
Aeliana stepped forward, her fingers brushing the material. "This will work?"
"Oh, it'll do more than work," Orion said, picking up one of the sets and flipping it over. "See these markings? They're insignias belonging to a fallen mercenary company, The Black Veil. They were wiped out in an old border skirmish years ago, but the Dark Elves don't keep close records on dead mercs. We'll be using their name, claiming to be surviving members looking to join up for the right price."
Evolis tilted his head. "And if someone recognizes that they were wiped out?"
"Then we improvise," Orion said easily. "Or kill them before they ask too many questions."
Aeliana exhaled through her nose. "Of course."
Orion turned toward Evolis, his silver eyes glinting with amusement. "And if we're going to be blending in perfectly, you'll need to lose that sword, kid." He whistled, nodding toward the hilt at Evolis' side. "Never seen such fine artistry in my life, and I guarantee neither have the Dark Elves. You'll stick out like a sore thumb."
Evolis scowled but knew he had a point.
With a flick of his wrist, space wavered beside him, forming a fractured black rift. He reached out and placed his sword inside, watching as the interdimensional crack sealed itself seamlessly.
"Neat trick, kiddo," Orion remarked, giving him two thumbs up. "I'm almost jealous."
Evolis smirked. "Almost?"
Orion shrugged. "I prefer to keep my things where I can see 'em."
Aeliana eyed the space crack thoughtfully before shaking her head. "So, the plan is to slip in, blend as mercenaries, gather information, and find out why the Dark Elves have suddenly become a problem?"
"That's the gist of it," Orion confirmed. "We'll need to get in fast, earn their trust, and climb the ranks without drawing too much attention. The real challenge isn't just sneaking in—it's staying in. One wrong move, and we're corpses before the sun sets."
Evolis exhaled. "Sounds simple enough."
Orion let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, kid, you have no idea."
Aeliana crossed her arms. "And when do we leave?"
Orion's smirk faded slightly, his gaze turning sharp. "At dawn. So get some rest, get your heads straight, and get ready."
Evolis and Aeliana exchanged a glance.
The war had begun. But for them, the real battle was just about to start.