Kairo sat at the head of the table, his fingers resting against the armrest, his thoughts a storm behind calm eyes. Beside him, Shiri, the naga, slid silently forward, carrying trays stacked with roasted meat. His sinuous lower body glided across the floor without a sound, and soon the aroma of charred spices and rich fat filled the air. He began carefully setting down platters before the guests.
Lyra, the Horned Lord with flowing white hair that shimmered in the firelight, sat gracefully on one side of the table. Across from her, Claymond adjusted his gloves with habitual precision. Between them, Jacks, leaned back casually, though his sharp eyes betrayed an ever-present vigilance.
No one spoke. Only the faint scrape of Shiri's utensils against the plates and the crackle of firewood from the hearth dared to break the quiet.
Kairo stared at the meat before him but did not touch it. His mind churned with possibilities.
(Neutrality means safety for now… but suspicion from all sides later. Standing as their enemy? Risky. I'm not yet ready to clash with them, not when their combined strength might crush me before I grow. But joining them? That means binding myself to their politics, their goals, their wars.)
The silence stretched too long. Kairo finally exhaled, his voice even but edged with weight.
"…What are the benefits of joining this alliance of yours?"
Jacks raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Finally. I was starting to think we'd sit here all night staring at the meat." He leaned forward, tapping a finger on the table. "Guess we should've led with that."
Claymond adjusted his glasses, his tone polite yet faintly embarrassed. "Indeed. My apologies, Kairo. It was improper to arrive in your domain and delay clarifying such things."
He folded his hands neatly before him, posture perfect as though delivering a lecture. "If you join us, the first benefit is structural: we will aid you in constructing a Throne Room. A focal chamber designed for command and authority. It is not merely symbolic—it allows you to extend your will and orders directly across your domain. A battlefield can be directed from the safety of your seat, with far greater efficiency than relying on runners or lieutenants."
Kairo's brows rose slightly. A throne that allows command transmission? A war council chamber that grants me near-instant authority across my forces? That alone changes the balance of leadership.
"And that's only the first benefit," Lyra added smoothly, her voice carrying a calm yet commanding undertone. She leaned slightly forward, white horns catching the light. "The second is a gift—a tier two relic belonging to the Ratmen. Their craftsmanship is infamous in the ruins. They are unparalleled in spear techniques and archery. Such a relic would strengthen your army's range and discipline, providing you with specialized capabilities other ruins lords would kill for."
Kairo tapped his finger against the table, intrigued.
Claymond continued, "Thirdly, alliance protection. If any external threat moves against you—whether a wandering beast tide, a rival ruin lord, or even… less savory outsiders—you would not stand alone. The alliance would rally to your defense."
"And support goes both ways," Jacks chimed in, his grin sharp. "If you march for war, you won't just bring your own troops—you'll have ours beside you. Numbers matter. Sometimes reputation alone deters enemies."
Kairo studied them silently. The benefits piled up, one after another, yet he could not ignore the risks. Aligning with others always meant compromise. Always meant strings.
"And finally…" Jacks's grin widened. "If you join us now, you're not just another member tagging along later. You'd be recognized as one of the founding members of the Ruin Lord Alliance."
That caught Kairo's attention. His head lifted sharply. "Founding member?"
Lyra nodded once. "Yes. The alliance is young. Still forging its roots. It was not birthed centuries ago, but mere months."
Jacks added, "There are currently four of us who began it. We three sit here with you now. The fourth— he is currently on a mission."
Jacks continued,"The old man's a tier five! The strongest among the alliance members.:
The last words landed like a hammer blow.
Tier five.
The room seemed to pulse with the weight of it. Kairo's lips tightened, mind racing. (Tier five already. That is no trivial foe. To even ascend so far within the ruins marks him as monstrous. If such a man is allied with them, then their foundation is stronger than I assumed.)
Kairo leaned back in his chair, arms crossing as his eyes narrowed. "…So even you are still forming this alliance, here, within the ruins."
"Correct," Claymond said with a faint smile. "And that gives you a rare opportunity. To shape its course from the very beginning."
The fire crackled louder in the silence that followed.
Shiri, who had remained quiet, now slid the last platter onto the table. The naga proud of his cooking, spoke with a smile. "Please enjoy the meal." His smile carried a trace of confidence in kairo's decision as he slithered back to stand by his side.
Lyra was the first to break the tension. She lifted a slice of the roasted meat with elegant fingers, bit into it, and her expression softened in genuine surprise. "This… is remarkable." She glanced at Shiri, her tone uncharacteristically warm. "You prepared this?"
The naga flushed slightly, hearing praise of his cooking. "Yes, my lady."
"Your talent does you credit," Claymond agreed, carefully cutting into his portion and tasting it. His calm face betrayed rare delight. "Exquisite balance of flavor. Tenderness maintained despite the heavy fire. Impressive indeed."
Jacks, never one to mince words, tore into his meat with obvious enjoyment. "Damn! This is good. Better than half the cooks back at my own base." He shot Shiri a grin. "You're wasted as just a servant, naga. You could open a tavern and get rich."
Shiri's face deepened in color, embarrassed yet clearly pleased. Thank you… I am honored."
Kairo, however, barely touched his plate. His mind remained elsewhere, dissecting every word, every advantage, every hidden hook in their offer.
(Join them, and I gain protection, relics, command power. Stay neutral, and I risk being seen as unpredictable… perhaps even as a target to bring into line. Become their enemy outright? Foolish. Not yet. Not until I have strength that can shatter alliances on my own.)
He looked across the table. Lyra, calm yet clearly confident in her persuasion. Claymond, logical, steady, polite, but dangerous in his intellect. Jacks, sharp, brash, but perhaps the most honest in his bluntness. And beyond them… an unseen fourth, a tier five, waiting somewhere outside these ruins.
The decision crystallized.
Kairo straightened, his gaze firm, his voice carrying across the table with measured weight.
"…Very well. I will join the Ruin Lord Alliance."
The three lords exchanged quick glances, each smiling faintly in their own way.
"As a founding member," Kairo added, his eyes narrowing just enough to let them know this was not surrender, but a calculated choice.
Jacks let out a low whistle. "Knew you'd come around. Smart man."
Claymond inclined his head respectfully. "Your wisdom is evident, Kairo. Together, we will forge stability and power within these ruins."
Lyra's pale lips curved into a faint smile, her white hair glinting in the firelight. "Welcome, then. One of us."
Shiri looked between them all, eyes wide. The air itself seemed to shift, heavy with a new bond sealed not by blood or ritual, but by choice—and the consequences that would follow.
Kairo exhaled, tasting the weight of his own decision as surely as he would taste the meat before him. He knew alliances were as dangerous as they were beneficial. But for now, this was the path forward.