After a long silence, Kaiden managed to push himself up, sitting on the edge of the bed. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The battle—he hadn't won that easily. He'd pushed himself to his limits and beyond. The taste of victory was bitter, knowing he had crossed another line.
His mind was still haunted by the fight. That man's face, twisted in anger and pride... but Kaiden couldn't shake the image of his own hands, covered in blood. It felt like a part of him had changed, but he couldn't pinpoint when or how. Still, there was no going back. He knew that.
But as the thoughts weighed on him, something else—someone else—entered his mind. Kasir.
Kaiden's thoughts were interrupted by a voice, calling his name from downstairs. It wasn't Elira's, and it wasn't the usual noise from the inn.
"Kaiden."
Kaiden's gaze shifted towards the door. A man stood there, smiling warmly, his aura radiating an odd, almost cheerful presence. There was something about him that felt... familiar, but Kaiden couldn't place it. The man, noticing his gaze, took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with knowing.
"You must be Kaiden," the man said, his voice calm but firm.
Kaiden turned, eyeing the stranger warily. "Do I know you?"
The man chuckled softly, his smile never faltering. "No, not yet. But allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Kasir, of the Kasir Household."
Kaiden froze. The name sent a chill through him, his thoughts immediately going to the manipulative nobles—the ones who controlled so much from the shadows. The same men who had a hand in every fight Kaiden had been a part of.
Lord Kasir's eyes gleamed as he continued, his voice smooth. "I've heard quite a bit about you, Kaiden. You've been making quite the impression. But I wanted to speak with you about something important."
Kaiden narrowed his eyes. "What do you want from me?"
Kasir's smile widened, but there was a hidden sharpness behind it. "I want you to join me. I want you to leave Seris and become one of my allies. Together, we can reshape this land."
Kaiden's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unreadable. "I'm a slave to Seris. I can't just leave her. I'm bound to her."
Kasir's smile faltered, just for a moment. But he quickly regained composure. "No mark... that's surprising." He muttered under his breath, though Kaiden didn't catch it.
The conversation was cut short by the sound of a door creaking open downstairs. Kaiden stood up abruptly, feeling the weight of the situation press down on him.
"Enough of this. I've got a match later," Kaiden said, his tone flat as he brushed past Kasir.
Kasir didn't stop him but gave a small nod. "Of course. But remember, Kaiden. I'm offering you a future. Don't let it slip away."
With that, Kaiden exited the room, his mind swirling with thoughts. Was Kasir really someone he should be wary of, or was it all part of a game? The idea of having control over his own fate, of not being a slave, was tempting... but for now, he needed to focus on surviving.
At the coliseum, Kaiden arrived to find the registrar waiting for him. "We're giving you some time to heal, Kaiden. You're a valuable fighter, but we thought it best you get some rest after the fight yesterday."
Kaiden nodded, though he didn't feel quite as grateful as he should. Instead, his mind was elsewhere, contemplating his next move. He entered the training room, but as he did, a sudden sense of unease washed over him.
Before he could process it fully, three masked figures emerged from the shadows, their movements swift and precise. Assassins. They came at him in unison, but Kaiden's body moved before his mind could catch up. The flow surged through him, and with a few fluid strikes, two of them were already incapacitated. The third, however, managed to get a few blows in before Kaiden disarmed him.
As the man fell to the ground, Kaiden ripped off his mask, only to be met with a chilling realization. The same rose tattoo. Kaiden's eyes widened. This was no coincidence. These were the same people Kasir controlled.
Before Kaiden could react, the two remaining assassins vanished, and the first one exploded into a cloud of smoke. His last words echoed in Kaiden's mind, but before he could make sense of it, he bolted towards the inn.
When Kaiden arrived back at the inn, his heart dropped. The building was in flames. Smoke billowed into the sky, and there was no sign of Elira. Panic gripped his chest as he ran toward the inn, his heart racing.
"ELIRA!" Kaiden screamed, but there was no answer.
The building was a ruin. Nothing remained but the smoldering remnants of a place he had come to think of as home.
Far away, in a darkened room, Lord Kasir stood, his hands covered in blood, humming a low and eerie tune. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "It's only just beginning, Kaiden. You'll learn... you'll learn that this world is full of chains you can't see."
And with that, Kasir wiped his hands clean, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.