"I like surprises when they''re useful. Like how you handled the mission. You proved resourceful, loyal, and, let''s be honest, entertaining.
And about earlier, not many could go toe-to-toe with Lorryll and live to tell the tale, let alone without a scratch."
He shrugged, though her praise stirred something in him. "I just did what needed to be done. That''s all."
"And that''s exactly why I''m interested in you," she said, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone.
Her words caught him off guard, and she seemed to enjoy his momentary loss ofposure. "You''ve got potential, Jolthar. And I want to see how far that potential can go."
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Is this about my ce in your unit, or something else?"
Maena chuckled again, stepping back slightly but letting her gaze linger. "A bit of both, perhaps.
Let''s just say I want you to stick around. There''s something about you that feels… different. And different can be valuable."
She turned, heading toward the door but pausing to nce back at him. "Report to my office tomorrow. I''ve got ns, and you''ll be a part of them."
With that, she left, the sound of her boots echoing faintly in the corridor.
Jolthar remained where he stood for a moment, her words reying in his mind. There was a mixture of intrigue and warning in her tone, and he couldn''t quite ce her intentions.
Still, her praise felt genuine, even ifced with a certain calcted charm.
He shook his head and finished the milk in one long gulp before setting the cup down and grabbing his coat.
The encounter with Maena left him restless, and there was something he''d been meaning to do.
He made his way to the n''s grand library, his boots tapping against the polished stone floors.
While he was heading towards the library, he came across a young woman, in her twenties, dressed in a floral gown with silver snow hair. Her long hair was left freely, adding to the ethereal aura she exuded. Her soft caracel skin and oval-shaped face caught his attention, and he couldn''t help but be intrigued by her presence.
She walked towards him, followed by two maidservants. Jolthar recognized her immediately. She was the eldest daughter of the patriarch; her name was Isorabe. Just like her name, she was certainly a beautiful youngdy, Jolthar thought.
He watched her walk past him, and she didn''t even bat an eye at him. What he got were the res from the maidservants, probably the result of his lingering gaze.
He shook his head, watching her leave the corridor. From his memories, he had no memory of having any talks with her, nor did she spare a nce at him even in the past.
Then a thought crossed his mind: what if he married her? He could get significant hold in the n. And going by the marriage thing in n, she was his cousin, so he had a chance.
Putting the thought at the back of his mind, he resumed his walk to the library.
The library was a vast, cavernous hall lined with towering shelves of books and scrolls, illuminated by faintly glowing crystals embedded in the walls. The scent of old parchment and leather bindings filled the air as Jolthar navigated the maze of aisles. He approached a sectionbelled n Records, his eyes scanning the spines for anything that might hold the information he sought.
He wanted to know more about the n''s assets and the details of its members, particrly the knights.
Jolthar''s mind churned with ideas and suspicions—his future ns might depend on how well he understood the n''s internal workings. His fingertips brushed across the books, pausing asionally to pull out a volume or a scroll.
As he worked, a faint noise caught his attention—the soft scuff of a boot against stone.
He froze, his ears straining to catch any further sound. The library was supposed to be empty at this hour. Carefully, he set the book aside and peered into the dimly lit aisle, his hand instinctively moving toward the dagger at his belt. But after a tense moment, the sound faded, leaving him alone once more.
Jolthar exhaled slowly, brushing off the momentary paranoia. He returned to the ledgers, his mind focused on piecing together the threads of the n''s power structure.
Whatever ns Maena had for him, whatever ambitions he harboured for himself—understanding the Kaezr n would be the key to navigating the treacherous waters ahead.
After that, he returned to his room and slept through the night.
-
Next morning,
Jolthar made his way through the dimly lit corridors of the Kaezr estate, his boots echoing softly against the polished stone floors.
He was now heading towards Maena''s office. His encounter with Maena yesterday still lingered in his mind, her words an intriguing mix of praise and hidden intentions.
He yawned, stretching his hands as the night''s sleep wasn''t enough.
As he approached the doorway, he heard faint voices. Pausing briefly, he recognized one of them—it was Eran. Jolthar straightened and stepped into the room.
Maena and Eran were seated at the central table, poring over maps and documents.
Eran, with his chiselled jawline and ever-present calm demeanour, nced up as Jolthar entered, offering a curt nod. His attire was practical—dark leather armour marked with the Kaezr crest, suggesting readiness for action.
Maena looked up as well, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Ah, Jolthar. Perfect timing," she said, motioning for him to step closer.
"What''s going on?" Jolthar asked, his gaze shifting between them.
Maena leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "There''s a mission that requires immediate attention. It''s rtively straightforward, so I won''t be apanying you this time. You''ll be going with Eran." Explore more stories with empire
Jolthar''s brow furrowed slightly. "What''s the mission?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Eran stepped forward, his voice steady and direct. "We''ve beenmissioned by the Jowaryan tribe in Daryen Valley. They''re long-time allies of the n, so it''s important to handle this properly. It''s not aplicated task, but it does require a certain level of tact."