Sword of Fate

Chapter 12: MİRA SOLHEİT

From the second-floor window, Kael watched as Mira Solheit stepped out of her carriage.

She was a woman in her forties. Her black hair was pulled into a neat, tight bun, and while her traveling attire was modest, the quality of the fabric was unmistakable even from a distance.

The moment she stepped onto the ground, her eyes went to the manor’s entrance. Then they swept across the courtyard. Finally, they settled on the guards stationed at the gate.

Kael silently memorized the order. The entry point. The surroundings. Security. That wasn’t how an ordinary visitor behaved. It was the instinct of someone with training—identify the objective first, then assess every possible threat.

Careful...

No.

Careful enough that it had become second nature.

Kael stepped away from the window.

— ◆ —

The grand hall was as quiet as ever. A long oak table stretched through the room, surrounded by dark velvet chairs. Winter sunlight filtered through the tall windows, giving the hall a solemn yet orderly atmosphere.

Kael sat near one end of the table. Neither at the center nor completely off to the side. The ideal position for an observer.

The door opened. Mira Solheit walked in. Her first glance landed on Destan. The next shifted to the servants. Then it paused on Kael. Only for a brief moment.

It wasn’t a lingering stare, but neither was it casual. It was the gaze of someone accustomed to measuring people the instant they met them. "Your son?" she asked. Destan gave a slight nod.

"Yes. Kael. He enrolled at Ardenvast Academy this year."

Mira looked at Kael again.

"The student who earned a place in the Silver Class through the entrance examination..." she said. "And the one who ranked first in the first-semester standings."

"Word travels fast."

The corners of Mira’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Sometimes faster than it should."

Kael inclined his head politely. "It’s a pleasure to meet you... Ms. Solheit." One of her eyebrows rose almost imperceptibly.

Kael had chosen those words on purpose.

Ms.

Not Countess.

He wanted to know which she valued more—the title or the person. She didn’t correct him. She simply inclined her head in return before taking her seat. So titles weren’t what mattered today. The conversation was.

— ◆ —

The first few minutes unfolded exactly as expected. The journey. The worsening winter. This year’s enrollment at the Academy. Trade along the border regions. Kael paid none of it any attention. It was merely silence filling the space before the real discussion began. About fifteen minutes later, Mira set her teacup down.

"I’ve received the reports from the northern border."

Destan’s expression remained unchanged.

"So have I."

"The Imperial Council is concerned."

"I don’t see a concrete threat yet."

"Neither do we."

After a brief pause, she continued.

"But the reports aren’t coming from Ardenvast alone."

Kael’s attention sharpened. Other regions...

"The eastern border."

"The southern mountains."

"The northwestern garrisons."

Multiple locations. Separated by vast distances. This was no longer a local problem. Kael spoke before he even realized it. "What were the dates?" Mira turned her gaze toward him.

"What do you mean?"

"If those reports were submitted within the same time frame, then it’s possible a single incident is affecting multiple regions."

She studied him in silence for several seconds.

"Do they teach strategy at the Academy?"

"They do."

"Is that where you came to that conclusion?"

Kael gave a slight nod. "Partly."

"And the other part?"

"It’s difficult to explain isolated incidents without first seeing the bigger picture."

Silence settled over the room.

Mira’s eyes remained fixed on Kael.

At last, a slow smile spread across her face.

"You have an intelligent son."

This time, Destan merely inclined his head. He showed neither pride... Nor false humility.

He simply accepted the compliment.

As though it was exactly the conclusion he had expected her to reach.

As the meeting continued, the rhythm of the conversation began to change. It was no longer casual. Every question built upon the answer before it.

Mira Solheit wasn’t speaking at random. She was carefully steering the conversation, one step at a time. Destan answered each question in turn, but only with what was necessary—never less, never more.

Kael watched the exchange in silence. This wasn’t an exchange of information.

It was a silent game of chess, each trying to determine exactly how much the other knew.

— ◆ —

"How is the Academy treating you?" Mira asked after a while. "More educational than I expected," Kael replied.

"How so?"

"People teach you far more than books do."

A faint smile touched her lips.

"An interesting answer."

"I’m learning how to wield a sword," Kael continued. "But learning why people draw one is far more difficult."

This time, even Destan glanced at him for a brief moment. Mira noticed.

"Is that your own conclusion?"

"Yes."

"Most students are eager to learn how to fight first."

"Learning how to fight is the easy part."

After a brief pause, Kael added,

"Learning who you’re fighting... takes much longer."

Silence lingered in the room. Mira slowly set her teacup back on the table.

"I see."

— ◆ —

The meeting lasted for nearly an hour. When the conversation finally came to an end, Mira rose from her seat. Destan stood as well, intending to escort her to the door. Out of courtesy, Kael got to his feet. Just a few steps from the exit, Mira stopped. This time, she turned directly toward him. "Eiran mentioned you."

Kael’s expression remained unchanged. "Did he?"

"He said the two of you have been working together."

"From time to time."

"Do you get along?"

Kael considered the question. "Yes."

"That’s all?"

"Eiran enjoys observing people."

"That’s true."

"I enjoy thinking."

She fell silent for a few seconds. "So neither of you finds the other boring."

A subtle smile appeared on Kael’s lips. "Not yet."

For the first time, Mira smiled with genuine warmth. "Give him my regards."

"I will."

She gave a slight nod.

"We’ll meet again, Kael."

"Most likely."

For a few more seconds, Mira Solheit simply looked at him. As if making one final assessment. Then she turned and walked out of the hall. The door closed softly behind her.

Silence reclaimed the room. Kael looked out the window. As the carriage rolled away across the courtyard, only one thought remained in his mind.

Eiran is watching me.

And I’m watching him.

His mother knows that.

This balance... won’t last much longer.

— ◆ —

The grand hall fell silent once more. Destan stood by the window for a long time, watching the carriage disappear into the distance. He didn’t speak until the sound of its wheels had completely faded away.

Kael waited. At last, without turning around, Destan spoke. "What do you think?"

Kael took a moment before answering.

"The Empire knows something," he said at last. "But it hasn’t pieced together the whole truth yet."

Destan remained silent. Kael continued.

"Mira Solheit didn’t come here to share information. She came to gather it. Every question she asked was meant to confirm something she already suspected."

"Go on."

"And it’s not just the north." Kael recalled the map in his mind. "Similar reports are coming from the eastern border, the southern mountains, and the northwestern garrisons. This is no longer a local problem."

Destan slowly turned to face him.

"Good."

Kael chose his next words carefully. "There’s something else."

"Go ahead."

"Eiran."

Destan’s expression didn’t change.

"His mother works for the Empire. He’s at the Academy. The same family is gathering information from two different places."

"Your conclusion?"

"They’re either serving both sides..."

A brief silence followed.

"...or they’re trying to maintain a balance between them."

"Which is more dangerous?"

This time, Kael thought for longer. "The balance."

"Why?"

"Because the moment balance breaks... everyone is forced to choose a side."

Silence settled over the room again. Destan turned and walked back to his desk. "When you return to the Academy, continue observing Eiran Solheit."

"Yes."

"But don’t see him as an enemy."

Kael looked up.

For the first time, Destan met his eyes directly.

"Not yet."

Kael gave a slight nod. "I understand."

Not yet.

Those two words carried more weight than an entire conversation.

— ◆ —

The next morning, before dawn had fully broken, Kael was ready to leave the manor.

Livia was waiting for him in the courtyard.

As always, she looked calm and impeccably composed. She held a small leather-covered box in her hands.

"Young Master."

Kael accepted the box. "What is this?"

"His Grace had it prepared for you."

"Thank you."

Livia inclined her head.

"Have a safe journey."

— ◆ —

About half an hour after leaving the manor, Kael opened the box.

Inside lay a small gray stone. At first glance, it looked completely ordinary.

The moment Kael activated his Aether Perception, however, he felt steady waves of energy radiating from within it.

An Aether Stone...

Beneath it rested a neatly folded note. It bore Destan’s familiar, angular handwriting.

Only a single line was written.

"Kayvan is teaching you the sword. I intend to prepare you for the future. When the time comes."

Kael stared at the note in silence for a long while. Then he folded it carefully and placed it back inside the box.

His father had never been a man who expressed his feelings through long speeches.

But sometimes...

A single sentence carried more weight than dozens left unsaid.

Kael placed the box inside his bag. The road back to the Academy stretched out before him.

Behind him lay questions still waiting for answers.

Ahead of him...

An unknown future that grew larger with every passing day.

— ◆ —

— End of Chapter 12 —