The dining hall was steeped in tension as Varrek’s words lingered in the air. His revelation about the coalition of warriors and mages sent a ripple through the group, each member processing the threat in their own way.

Yuri was the first to speak, her voice sharp and direct. “So, let me get this straight. There’s a group of so-called heroes out there who think they can just… erase Ari? Do they have any idea what they’re up against?”

“They’re not fools,” Varrek said, his gray eyes steady. “They know exactly what they’re up against. That’s why they’re planning carefully. They won’t come at you head-on—they know that’s suicide.”

“Cowards,” Yuri muttered, crossing her arms.

“It’s not cowardice,” Kimi said softly, her violet eyes narrowing. “It’s strategy. If they’re not attacking directly, it means they’re trying to weaken us first—turn people against us, find weaknesses.”

Finoria leaned back in her chair, her hand resting on the edge of the table as she studied Varrek. “And what makes you so sure they’ll even try? Ari’s been untouchable for years. What’s changed?”

“They’ve grown impatient,” Varrek replied. “And ambitious. They believe the world can’t move forward as long as your legend overshadows everyone else.”

Ari, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke. His voice was calm but firm, cutting through the rising tension like a blade. “And you think we’ll just sit here and wait for them to make the first move?”

Varrek hesitated, then shook his head. “No. That’s why I’m here. To help you stop them before they strike.”

Yuri scoffed. “Help us? Why would we trust someone who admits to being part of the problem?”

“I walked away,” Varrek said, his tone quiet but resolute. “Because I saw what they were willing to do. I didn’t sign up to tear people down out of envy. But they have no limits—they’ll go after your allies, your reputation, even innocent lives if it means destabilizing you.”

“Lovely,” Finoria said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, we’re not just fighting warriors—we’re fighting manipulators.”

Ari’s gaze sharpened. “Do you know their plans? Their members?”

“I know enough,” Varrek said, meeting Ari’s eyes. “But I can’t promise I know everything. They’re careful about keeping information compartmentalized.”

Yuri’s fingers drummed against the table, her frustration clear. “This just keeps getting better and better.”

“Where are they now?” Kimi asked, her tone deceptively calm.

Varrek hesitated, then spoke. “They operate out of a hidden base in the eastern mountains. I don’t know the exact location, but I can point you in the right direction. It’s heavily warded—getting in won’t be easy.”

Ari leaned back slightly, his dark eyes thoughtful. “And if we take the fight to them, what happens to you? They’ll see you as a traitor.”

“They already do,” Varrek said simply. “That’s why I came here. Staying on my own wasn’t an option anymore.”

Yuri frowned, her green eyes skeptical. “And how do we know this isn’t some elaborate trap?”

“You don’t,” Varrek admitted. “But if I wanted to trap you, there are easier ways than walking into your home unarmed.”

Yuri opened her mouth to retort, but Ari raised a hand to stop her.

“We’ll deal with him later,” Ari said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “For now, we focus on the threat.”

A Plan in Motion

After Varrek was escorted to a secure guest room under watch, the group reconvened in Ari’s study to discuss their next move.

“This whole thing stinks,” Yuri said, pacing the room. “Even if he’s telling the truth, how do we know he’s not leaving out something important? What if this is a setup?”

“We’ll stay cautious,” Ari replied, his tone even. “But we can’t ignore the possibility that he’s right. If there’s even a chance this group is real, we need to be ready.”

Kimi, seated near the window, rested her chin in her hand. “If they’re as careful as he says, attacking their base might not be the best option. We’d be walking into a trap.”

“So, what do we do?” Finoria asked, her voice unusually serious.

“We gather information,” Ari said. “If Varrek’s telling the truth, we can use him to lead us to the group’s weaknesses. But we don’t act until we’re sure.”

Yuri frowned but nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But the moment he slips up, I’m calling it.”

“Agreed,” Ari said.

“What about the rest of us?” Finoria asked, leaning forward. “Do we just wait around while you two play detective?”

“No,” Ari replied, meeting her gaze. “We prepare. If this group comes for us, I want all of you at your best.”

Finoria grinned, the tension in her posture easing slightly. “Now that, I can handle.”

“I’ll look into magical defenses,” Kimi said. “If they’re trying to undermine us, we’ll need to fortify the manor.”

“And I’ll handle the perimeter,” Yuri added. “If anyone gets close, they’ll regret it.”

Ari nodded, a faint hint of pride flickering in his eyes as he looked at his team. “Good. Let’s get to work.”

In the Shadows

Late that night, as the manor fell into silence, Ari stood alone in his study, the parchment from earlier resting on his desk. His sharp eyes studied the words, his mind turning over the possibilities.

Varrek’s arrival had thrown them into unfamiliar territory, and the threat of this new group loomed like a storm on the horizon.

But Ari wasn’t afraid.

He had faced greater challenges before, and no matter how calculated or careful these enemies were, he knew one thing for certain:

Legends didn’t fall because others wanted them to.

They fell because they gave up.

And Ari had no intention of giving up.