Ari sat in his study, the early morning light spilling through the window. The faint scent of dew lingered in the air, a sharp contrast to the cold fury still simmering in his chest after his confrontation with Seris. He had left her council shattered and shaken, but he knew her type—resilient, cunning, and unwilling to back down.

The others didn’t know what he had done, and for now, that was how it needed to stay.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

“Come in,” Ari said, his voice steady.

The door creaked open, and Kimi stepped inside, her silver hair gleaming in the morning light. She carried a small tray with tea and bread, her violet eyes studying him with quiet intensity.

“You didn’t sleep,” she said softly, setting the tray on his desk.

Ari didn’t answer immediately, his gaze flicking to the steaming cup of tea before returning to her. “I had things to think about.”

“You always do,” Kimi replied, her tone gentle but edged with concern.

Ari leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes fixed on her. “What’s on your mind?”

“You,” Kimi said simply. She sat across from him, her hands folded neatly in her lap. “You’ve been distant. More than usual.”

“I’m focused,” Ari said.

“On what?” Kimi pressed, her voice soft but unyielding. “We’re all preparing for what’s coming, but you... you’ve been carrying something heavier. I can feel it.”

Ari hesitated, his dark eyes searching hers. He could see the worry beneath her serene exterior, the unspoken fear that he was taking on too much alone.

“I’m doing what needs to be done,” he said finally. “That’s all you need to know.”

Kimi frowned, her calm composure breaking slightly. “We’re a team, Ari. You don’t have to shoulder everything by yourself.”

“I know,” Ari said, his voice quieter now. “But this is different.”

Before Kimi could respond, a loud crash echoed from the training grounds outside.

The Unexpected Visitor

Ari and Kimi moved quickly, stepping out onto the manor’s grounds where Yuri and Finoria were already gathered.

“What the hell?” Yuri muttered, her daggers in hand as she stared at the scene before them.

In the center of the training grounds stood a lone figure—a woman clad in dark leather armor, her short black hair framing sharp, angular features. She carried a pair of curved swords, the blades glinting in the sunlight.

“Another one of Seris’s lackeys?” Finoria asked, her shield raised.

The woman smiled faintly, her piercing gray eyes locking onto Ari. “Not a lackey. A messenger.”

“A messenger with swords,” Yuri said dryly. “Real subtle.”

The woman ignored her, stepping forward. “I have a message for Ari. Directly from Seris.”

Ari stepped into the open, his presence commanding and cold. “Say it.”

“She commends your boldness,” the woman said, her tone calm. “And she wants you to know that the next time we meet, it won’t be on your terms. It will be on hers.”

“Tell her I’ll be waiting,” Ari said, his voice steady but sharp.

The woman tilted her head, her faint smile widening. “You don’t understand. This isn’t a negotiation. Seris has already made her move.”

Ari’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

The woman’s smile turned colder. “Your friends are strong, but even the strongest walls have cracks. Seris will find them. And when she does, you won’t be able to stop her.”

Ari moved faster than anyone could react, closing the distance between them in an instant. His hand shot out, gripping the woman’s throat and lifting her off the ground with effortless strength.

“You just made your last mistake,” Ari said, his voice low and cold.

The woman’s smile didn’t falter, even as she struggled against his grip. “You can kill me, Ari. But it won’t change anything. The cracks are already there.”

Ari’s grip tightened, his dark eyes gleaming with a chilling intensity. “I won’t let her touch them.”

The woman let out a strained laugh, her voice rasping. “You can’t protect them forever.”

Before Ari could respond, Kimi stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. “Ari. Don’t.”

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. After a long moment, he released the woman, letting her collapse to the ground.

“Leave,” Ari said, his tone final. “And tell Seris that if she comes for my team, I’ll destroy her.”

The woman coughed, rising to her feet with unsteady movements. She smirked faintly, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. “I’ll deliver your message.”

Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving the group in tense silence.

The Cracks in the Foundation

As the group returned to the manor, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension.

“You’re not telling us everything,” Yuri said, her green eyes narrowing as she addressed Ari.

“I don’t have to,” Ari replied bluntly.

Kimi frowned, her serene demeanor cracking. “Ari, we’re with you. But we can’t fight if we don’t know what we’re up against.”

“You’ll know what you need to when the time comes,” Ari said, his tone cold.

Finoria crossed her arms, her warm brown eyes flashing with frustration. “You’re shutting us out. Again. How are we supposed to protect each other if you keep doing this?”

Ari met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “You don’t need to protect me. I’ll protect you. That’s all that matters.”

The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling over them.

“We’re not just your team, Ari,” Kimi said softly. “We’re your family. Stop treating us like we’re liabilities.”

Ari didn’t respond, his dark eyes fixed on the horizon beyond the window.

For all their strength, for all their resolve, the cracks Seris had spoken of were already forming.

And Ari knew he had to stop them before they broke everything he held dear.