The council chamber buzzed with voices—some arguing, others murmuring in cautious agreement. Aether sat still, absorbing every word, every shift in expression.
This was where everything had gone wrong in his past life. Where his father had unknowingly walked into a carefully spun web of deceit. Where Velheim's downfall had begun.
But this time, Aether wouldn't let history repeat itself.
His father, King Hadrian Velius, sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding respect even in the midst of debate. To his right was Lord Renhardt, the Minister of War, a veteran with a scar running down his cheek—a man Aether knew had secretly conspired with Velheim's enemies. To Hadrian's left sat Duke Altharia, Selene's father, a loyalist who had been one of the first to die in the coming war.
Aether kept his expression neutral, but inside, he was burning.
"How can we ignore the rising threat to the east?" Renhardt spoke, his voice carrying across the hall. "The Sovereign Empire has been moving their forces. We must fortify our borders before it's too late."
Aether knew this speech well. It was the opening move of Renhardt's deception. By exaggerating the threat from the east, he would push for unnecessary military expansion, draining Velheim's resources and leaving them vulnerable to the true enemy.
King Hadrian stroked his beard. "You believe they mean to attack?"
Renhardt nodded. "There have been reports. Small skirmishes along the border. Their forces are mobilizing."
Aether spoke before he could stop himself. "And yet, there are no confirmed witnesses."
Silence fell over the chamber. Renhardt's gaze snapped to Aether, sharp and calculating. "What are you suggesting, Prince Aether?"
Aether met his eyes without flinching. "That we investigate before acting rashly. Committing resources to a war that might not happen would weaken our defenses elsewhere. It could be exactly what our true enemies want."
He didn't blink. Renhardt was good at hiding his emotions, but Aether saw the flicker of unease in his eyes. He wasn't expecting opposition—especially not from a prince who had been known for his recklessness in the past.
Hadrian exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting between Aether and Renhardt. "The prince raises a valid point. We will send scouts for confirmation before making a decision."
Renhardt hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
Aether relaxed, but only slightly. This was just the first step.
Later that evening…
Aether walked through the palace corridors, the weight of the day pressing on his shoulders. He had changed one event, but that wasn't enough. He needed to find allies. People who could help him rewrite fate.
"Aether."
He turned at the sound of Selene's voice. She leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, her silver hair catching the candlelight.
"You were different today," she said, studying him. "You never cared about council meetings before."
Aether hesitated. He had to be careful. If he changed too much, too fast, people would become suspicious.
"I'm just trying to be better," he said, offering a small smirk. "Surprised?"
Selene arched an eyebrow. "A little. But it's a good change."
There was something else in her eyes—curiosity, maybe even admiration. In his past life, he had always taken her presence for granted. He had never realized how much she had cared until it was too late.
"Walk with me?" he asked.
She nodded, and they strolled through the palace gardens. The night air was cool, the scent of blooming roses lingering around them. It was peaceful. A stark contrast to the destruction he knew was coming.
"Tell me, Selene," Aether said. "If you knew something terrible was going to happen, but no one else believed you, what would you do?"
Selene frowned, tilting her head. "I'd find a way to prove it."
Aether smiled. That was exactly what he planned to do.
The Following Night—Secret Meeting
Aether moved quietly through the darkened streets of Velheim, his hood drawn low. He had sent a discreet message earlier that day, summoning a group of trusted individuals—people who, in his past life, had been either ignored or underestimated. This time, he would bring them together before it was too late.
The meeting place was an abandoned warehouse near the city's edge. Inside, four figures waited.
Darius, a former knight stripped of his title after refusing a corrupt order.
Lena, a rogue information broker with ties to the underworld.
Viktor, a scholar who had once uncovered the first signs of the coming apocalypse—only to be silenced.
And Selene, who had followed him despite his insistence that she stay out of it.
She crossed her arms. "Did you really think I wouldn't figure out what you were up to?"
Aether sighed. "You're impossible."
She smirked. "And you're predictable. Now, what's this about?"
Aether exhaled. "I'm going to tell you something insane. And I need you to believe me."
He looked at each of them in turn. The people who, in his past life, had been scattered and powerless. This time, they would be the foundation of his new path.
And so, he began to speak.