They all stepped further into the manor's dimly lit chambers, the room shivered with unspoken plans.
Viscount Kael Draylen led Aric down the narrow corridor, their footsteps muffled by the crumbling stone beneath them.
Aric's sharp eyes flicked over the makeshift base the Covenant had built within the fallen manor, noting the shadows that seemed to cling to every corner.
Flickers of candlelight illuminated faces buried in scrolls, maps, and cryptic letters. This was no grand palace of power—it was something much more dangerous.
Kael glanced back at him, his voice low and deliberate, the tone of a man who had learned long ago not to trust easily.
"It's time you understand what the Covenant's been preparing. We've been patient, watching the others fight amongst themselves, while we've been working in silence."
Aric folded his arms, giving a curt nod. Your next journey awaits at empire
"Let's hear it."
Eliron, always quick with a word, leaned back, a sly grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"You're playing in a den of vipers, Your Highness. If you're going to win the race for the throne, you'll need more than just strength. You'll need to turn the snakes against each other."
Aric raised an eyebrow, motioning for him to continue.
Eliron's voice became more serious. "The Iron Circle, Silver Dawn, and the others—they all rely on the Imperial Court's power. But the court's nothing but a rotting corpse propped up by bloated egos. We've been... encouraging a little infighting. Whispers here, a scandal there. Soon enough, they'll tear themselves apart."
Aric's lips twitched into a thin smile. He liked the sound of that—but he needed something more in line with his immediate plans.
"And the Church?"
Syenna nodded. "And it begins with taking down the Church. Once their influence is gone, you can reshape the faith. Create something new, something loyal to you. The people will need a beacon after the old one is gone."
Aric's eyes flickered with thought. He imagined it—a new empire, forged in fire, with him at the center of it all. But first, they would need to burn away the old.
"And what of your... symbols?" Aric asked, his voice quiet but steady. "Your ideology."
Kael glanced at the others before answering, his voice low. "The Ashen Covenant isn't just a name. We believe that for something new to rise, something old must be burned to the ground. Like the phoenix from the ashes. We've chosen you, Aric, because you're the spark. You're what's going to ignite the fire that purifies this empire."
Aric didn't respond right away. Instead, he looked around the room—the faces of his loyal conspirators, the weight of their ambitions pressing in on him. He could feel the power building beneath the surface.
"And if I fail?" Aric asked, testing their resolve.
Kael's smile didn't falter.
"Then we all fall. But I don't think you will. We've been waiting too long for this moment. You won't fall, because we won't let you."
The room fell into a heavy silence, their shared purpose binding them tighter than any oath.
Aric straightened, the flicker of something dangerous lighting up his eyes. "Then we burn it all. But on my terms. Slowly, carefully. We make sure nothing rises from the ashes unless it answers to me."
Kael's nod was subtle but filled with understanding. "Agreed."
"So we start by destroying the church?" Syenna asked.
"No, we start by finding it"
Aric's eyes narrowed with a plan.