The manor was quiet when Ari and Finoria returned, the moonlight casting long shadows across the stone walls. The others were already resting, and the stillness of the night seemed almost unnaturally heavy.

“I guess that’s my cue to turn in,” Finoria said, her tone lighter now that they were back. She leaned against the doorframe, her warm brown eyes flicking to Ari. “Unless you need me for something else.”

“Get some rest,” Ari said evenly, though his tone held a faint softness.

Finoria grinned. “Don’t stay up too late, then. We’ve got another big day tomorrow.” With a final wink, she disappeared into her room, leaving Ari alone in the hall.

He stood there for a moment, letting the quiet settle over him, before heading to his own quarters. The room was simple, sparsely decorated save for the essentials. Ari had always preferred functionality over extravagance, and his space reflected that.

But as he approached his desk, something caught his attention.

A piece of parchment lay in the center of the desk, folded neatly but with no sign of how it had been delivered. There was no seal, no sign of intrusion—just the faint scent of smoke clinging to the edges.

Ari’s dark eyes narrowed as he picked up the note, unfolding it with deliberate care.

The message was written in sharp, angular script, the words brief but unmistakably pointed:

"You’ve been at the top for too long. Legends always fall. Be ready."

Ari’s grip tightened on the parchment, his gaze darkening as he scanned the words again. He didn’t recognize the handwriting, but the implication was clear—this wasn’t a simple warning.

It was a challenge.

The Morning After

The sun rose over the manor, its warm light spilling through the windows as the group gathered in the dining hall. Yuri was the first to notice Ari’s unusually tense demeanor.

“You’re quiet this morning,” she said, her green eyes narrowing. “More than usual, I mean.”

“I’m always quiet,” Ari replied, though his tone lacked its usual calmness.

Kimi tilted her head, her violet eyes studying him carefully. “Something’s bothering you.”

Finoria, seated beside him, leaned forward with a curious grin. “Let me guess—another overconfident rookie challenging you to a duel? Or is this about last night?”

Ari shook his head, placing the parchment on the table. “This.”

The group fell silent as they read the note, their expressions shifting from curiosity to concern.

“‘Legends always fall’?” Yuri repeated, her brow furrowing. “Who writes this kind of crap?”

“Someone with a death wish,” Finoria said bluntly, though her usual humor was absent.

“This isn’t random,” Kimi said softly, her gaze lingering on the parchment. “It’s too deliberate.”

“Exactly,” Ari said. “Whoever wrote this knows enough to get past our defenses and leave it unnoticed. That’s not something just anyone can do.”

“So, what?” Yuri asked, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “Someone’s jealous? Trying to scare us?”

“Or testing us,” Kimi suggested, her tone thoughtful.

Finoria frowned, leaning back in her chair. “Whatever it is, they’re clearly trying to rattle us. But it’s going to take a lot more than a creepy note to do that.”

Ari’s gaze remained fixed on the parchment. “It’s not about the note. It’s about what comes next.”

The group exchanged glances, the weight of his words sinking in.

An Unexpected Visitor

Before the conversation could continue, a knock echoed through the dining hall. The group turned as a servant entered, bowing slightly before speaking.

“Apologies for the interruption,” he said, his voice steady. “But there’s someone here to see you. He claims it’s urgent.”

“Who is it?” Ari asked, his tone sharp.

The servant hesitated. “He wouldn’t give his name, sir. But he insisted it concerns… the message.”

The group stiffened, their attention snapping back to the parchment.

“Convenient timing,” Finoria muttered, her hand resting instinctively on her side, where her shield usually hung.

“Let’s hear him out,” Kimi said, though her serene tone was edged with caution.

“Agreed,” Ari said, rising from his seat. “Bring him in.”

The servant nodded and disappeared down the hall. Moments later, a tall, hooded figure stepped into the room. His movements were slow but deliberate, and the faint clink of armor beneath his cloak suggested he wasn’t unarmed.

Yuri immediately tensed, her green eyes narrowing. “Who are you?”

The man pulled back his hood, revealing a weathered face marked by a jagged scar across his cheek. His eyes, a piercing gray, scanned the group with calculated precision before settling on Ari.

“My name is Varrek,” he said, his voice gravelly but steady. “And I bring a warning.”

“We’ve already had one of those,” Finoria said, gesturing to the parchment. “You’re late.”

Varrek didn’t smile. “That note was just the beginning. There are others—powerful ones—who want to see you fall.”

Ari’s gaze didn’t waver. “And you’re here because?”

“Because I know what they’re planning,” Varrek said, stepping closer. “And because I know the ones coming for you.”

The group exchanged tense glances, the weight of his words settling heavily in the room.

“Why should we trust you?” Yuri asked, her tone sharp.

Varrek met her gaze, unflinching. “Because I used to be one of them.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

A New Threat

Ari stepped forward, his dark eyes fixed on Varrek. “Explain.”

Varrek nodded, his expression grim. “There’s a group—a coalition of powerful warriors and mages—who’ve grown tired of living in your shadow. They see your legend as a threat, something that needs to be erased to make room for the next generation.”

“And you were part of this?” Kimi asked, her voice calm but sharp.

“I was,” Varrek admitted. “But I left when I realized how far they were willing to go. This isn’t about proving themselves—it’s about destroying everything you’ve built.”

Yuri folded her arms, her glare unrelenting. “So, you’re what? A traitor to them, or a spy for us?”

“Neither,” Varrek said. “I’m a survivor. And if you want to stay on top, you’ll need me.”

Finoria smirked faintly. “Bold claim for someone who just walked into our house uninvited.”

Ari raised a hand, silencing the brewing argument. “What do they want?”

“Simple,” Varrek said. “To make you fall. They don’t care how. And they won’t stop until they do.”

The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of the revelation pressing down on them all. For the first time in years, a new challenge had appeared on the horizon—not one of strength, but of strategy and survival.

And Ari knew one thing for certain: he wasn’t going to let them succeed.