Kaelen did not have to wait long.
He stood in the perfect darkness of his room, his breathing shallow, every sense straining. The Umbral energy within him, now a familiar cold current, seemed to resonate with the shadows, making him feel less like a boy hiding and more like a part of the darkness itself.
A soft, almost imperceptible click came from the door. It did not slide open. Instead, a section of the wall beside it, a panel he had assumed was a simple utility access, slid silently inward. A figure emerged, silhouetted against the dim light of the hallway for a fleeting second before the panel closed, returning the room to absolute black.
Kaelen's heart leapt into his throat. He pressed himself harder against the wall.
A low, melodic laugh echoed softly in the darkness. "There is no need to hide, little key. I am not here to harm you. Quite the opposite."
A light bloomed in the center of the room, emanating from a small, crystalline orb cupped in a woman's hand. It cast a warm, gentle glow, illuminating her.
She was beautiful, but in a way entirely different from Valeria. Where the Commander was stern lines and martial grace, this woman was all flowing curves and captivating elegance. She appeared to be in her late forties, with a timeless beauty that spoke of careful maintenance and immense wealth. Her hair, the color of dark wine, was arranged in an intricate series of curls that framed a face with keen, intelligent eyes and a sly, knowing smile. She wore robes of deep emerald green, edged with silver thread that shimmered in the orb's light. Her figure was voluptuous, her presence filling the room not with threat, but with an aura of intoxicating control.
"You are more intriguing than your file suggests," she said, her voice a smooth, captivating alto. "To not only receive my message but to have the foresight to respond in the dark… most of Valeria's new hounds would have been shouting for the guards by now."
Kaelen remained frozen, his mind racing. "Who are you?" he whispered, the words scraping from his dry throat.
She gave a slight, elegant shrug. "I have many names. To some, I am the Gilded Spider. To others, a mere merchant. You may call me Isolde." She took a slow step forward, her movements fluid and silent. "And I am, as my note promised, a friend. Or at least, I can be."
"The Commander said not to trust anyone," Kaelen said, parroting Valeria's warning, his voice gaining a sliver of strength.
Isolde's smile widened, a flash of perfect white teeth. "And she is right to tell you that. This city is a nest of vipers. But tell me, does the spider warn the fly about the wasp? Or does she simply ensure the fly remains in her web?" She gestured around the small room. "This is a very comfortable web. But a web, nonetheless."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "Valeria is a remarkable woman. A brilliant strategist. A powerful Awakened. But she sees the world in lines of battle and clear-cut orders. She sees you and thinks 'weapon.' A thing to be aimed. I," she said, tapping a finely manicured finger against her chin, "see a key. A key to locks no one has yet dared to open."
Kaelen's mind whirled. Her words mirrored the note perfectly. "What locks?"
"That is a discussion for another time, should we become better acquainted," Isolde said smoothly. "For now, I am here to offer you what Valeria will not: context. You have been thrown into the deep end of a very old, very complex game. The Commander will teach you how to swing a sword. I will teach you the rules of the board, and who the other players are."
She took another step closer. The scent of jasmine and something spicier, like amber, washed over him. "For instance, did you know your first Trial is already being planned? Valeria will push you toward a test of pure combat. It is what she knows. But there are other paths. Safer paths. The right word in the right ear, and the nature of a Trial can be… influenced."
The offer hung in the air, tantalizing and dangerous. She was offering him a way to cheat the system Valeria had just taught him to respect.
"Why?" Kaelen asked, his suspicion cutting through his fear. "Why would you help me?"
"Because, Kaelen, power is not just about strength or lifespan," Isolde said, her eyes glinting. "It is about influence. And an Umbral Aspect, rare and misunderstood, is a significant source of potential influence. Helping you is an investment. One I expect will yield a considerable return in loyalty… when the time is right."
She turned and walked back toward the hidden panel. "You do not need to decide tonight. Simply know that another option exists. When you have a question Valeria cannot or will not answer, remember my offer. Leave another message on the sill."
The panel slid open silently. She paused, looking back at him, her form framed in the dim light. "A final word of free advice, little key. Be careful with your dreams. This Citadel has ears, and even thoughts are not always private."
With that, she was gone. The panel closed without a sound, leaving Kaelen alone in the sudden, crushing darkness once more, the scent of jasmine and ambition lingering in the air. The Commander offered him a straight road to power and years. Isolde offered him a maze of secrets and shortcuts. Both roads were dangerous. And he now had to choose which one to walk first.