Aric stood near a table, examining a map of the empire with deliberate precision. Around him, the soft murmur of his trusted circle filled the space. Each word exchanged was part of a larger game, a puzzle Aric had carefully crafted, piece by piece.
Serina entered, her steps light but purposeful. "The Guardians of the Flame have sent word," she said, her tone sharp with satisfaction. "They're willing to meet."
Aric's lips curved upward. "It begins, then. Serina, prepare the necessary assurances for their leader. We'll present ourselves as saviors, not usurpers. Hitoshi, you'll join me. They'll trust the wisdom of an elder."
Hitoshi looked up from where he sat, his face calm, his hands folded over his cane. "Of course. A gentle nudge here, a carefully chosen word there. The Guardians will see the wisdom of allying with you."
"And what of the High Inquisitor and High Priest?" Serina asked.
"They'll come," Aric replied, his tone smooth and assured. "Everyone does when they've got nowhere else to turn. But for now, we focus on the Guardians. Their loyalty will tip the balance within the Church."
---
The meeting with the Guardians of the Flame took place in an old monastery on the outskirts of the capital. The building had long been abandoned by the Church, its grand halls reduced to echoes of their former glory.
Moss crept up the stone walls, and the air carried a faint chill, but to Aric, it felt perfect—isolated, quiet, and far from prying eyes.
The Guardians' leader, Commander Aelric Marsten, stood at the center of the room, his posture stiff and his expression unreadable. He was a man of few words, known for his unwavering devotion to the Church's militaristic traditions. Around him stood half a dozen of his trusted officers, each armed and watchful.
Aric stepped forward, flanked by Hitoshi and Serina. He wore no crown of Byzeth Kingship, no insignia of his royalty, only a simple black cloak that allowed his sharp gaze to take center stage. His voice, when he spoke, was calm yet commanding.
"Commander Marsten," Aric said, inclining his head slightly. "I thank you for granting me this audience. The faith you and your men have upheld is one of the few remaining pillars of integrity within the Church."
Marsten's eyes narrowed slightly. "Speak plainly, Prince Aric. You're not here to flatter me."
Aric smiled faintly.
Levos let out a dry laugh. "I trust no one, Dorim. But what choice do we have? Without his support, the Church would collapse entirely."
Dorim was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Perhaps you're right. If we align ourselves with him, at least we'll have a chance to rebuild."
Levos nodded, his expression grim. "Then it's decided. The Church submits to the fourth prince."
---
While Aric secured his foothold within the Church, the Iron Circle convened in secret to discuss the recent upheaval. They met in the grand hall of House Rothval, its towering stone pillars and gilded tapestries a stark contrast to the tension that hung in the air.
Duke Garamond Rothval sat at the head of the table, his thick brows furrowed as he listened to the heated debate unfolding before him. Beside him sat Lord Firael, his fingers drumming impatiently on the polished wood, and across from them, Lady Zerin, her sharp eyes narrowing as she observed the others.
"The Church's power is crumbling before our eyes," Lord Firael said, his voice tinged with frustration. "The people no longer trust them, and without that trust, they are nothing."
"And yet," Lady Zerin interjected, "Prince Aric seems to thrive amidst the chaos. His donations to the Church have not gone unnoticed."
Garamond's expression darkened. "You think this is his doing?"
Zerin nodded. "He's clever, more so than we gave him credit for. While we distanced ourselves from the Church, he stepped in to fill the void. Now, he holds the leash."
Firael scowled. "Then we've made a mistake."
"Perhaps," Garamond said slowly, his voice heavy with thought. "But mistakes can be corrected. If Aric seeks to undermine us through the Church, we must remind him that the Iron Circle is not so easily displaced."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words settled over them. The Iron Circle had underestimated the Forgotten Prince once.
They would not do so again.