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Chapter 21
Calvenne was nothing more than a puppet tugged by invisible strings.
The markets had lost their luster, private militias prowled like hungry beasts, and distrust seeped even into the homes of common folk.
All of this, Kael had orchestrated… but the shadow of the bounty loomed above him like a threat he could not ignore.
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An Evening of Confidences
In the narrow room of a discreet inn, Selene watched Kael remove his mask of shadow, revealing the face altered by his illusion.
She finally asked the question she had never dared to voice before:
> "Who were you… before all this?"
Kael held her gaze, a faint smile curving his lips.
> "A man destroyed by heroes. A man who learned that light is often more cruel than shadow."
Selene stayed silent, though her eyes betrayed a swirl of emotions: compassion, curiosity, and perhaps… the slightest trace of doubt.
Kael leaned in, his voice softer, almost intimate.
> "And you, Selene? What do you hope to find by following me?"
She turned away, whispering:
> "A place where I don't have to hide."
A flicker of satisfaction lit Kael's eyes. That was what he wanted to hear.
Each word was another thread wrapped tightly around her will.
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The Cracks Widen
Meanwhile, the city slid further into chaos.
The Merchant Council accused one another of corruption, while certain nobles had already fled Calvenne in secret.
The City Guard sold their protection to the highest bidder, abandoning the poor districts to the claws of criminals.
From his little shop of rare items, Kael subtly fanned every fire.
A contract delivered here, a rumor whispered there… he no longer even needed to push.
The factions tore each other apart on their own.
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The Shadows of the Bounty
One evening, crossing a deserted alley, Kael sensed a presence.
He feigned indifference, continuing forward, but every nerve in his body was alert.
Three figures emerged from the shadows, weapons gleaming in the dim light.
> "Seems the bounty is dragging rats out of their holes," Kael said, his tone calm and cutting.
One of them chuckled darkly.
> "Doesn't matter who you really are. Your face is on the notices, and that price… worth more than your life."
Kael raised his hand.
A wave of illusions spilled forth, turning the alley into a nightmarish labyrinth.
The hunters panicked, slashing at phantoms, striking each other down as terror hollowed their eyes.
Kael stood and watched as they fell, one by one.
When silence returned, he whispered:
> "Amateurs. The real ones will come soon enough."
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An Invisible Thread
Back at their refuge, Kael said nothing about the attack.
Yet Selene studied him for a long moment, as if she had guessed something.
> "You're hiding too much, Kael."
He replied evenly:
> "Everyone hides something. Secrets are what keep us alive."
She didn't answer.
But in her eyes, Kael felt an invisible thread tighten—fragile, delicate… one that could snap at any moment.
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