Chapter 15: Shadows at the Table

In the dimly lit chamber beneath the crumbling ruins of an old levicite refinery, four figures sat around a circular table.

Two stand servants were there too, cloaked and hooded, they were the ones that sabotaged the LCC terminat to let the water flow to the Fortune Islands. They stood at the edges of the meeting like silent sentinels. The shorter of the two shifted her weight subtly, her sharp eyes darting beneath the shadow of her hood. This was Tessa, Fin Valtheris’s loyal secretary—or so she appeared by day. Now, her cunning and cold efficiency served a far darker purpose.

Beside her was her accomplice, a tall, gaunt man with a scar bisecting all his face and head known only as Auren, he was a shadow in every sense—a figure who moved unseen, his actions leaving chaos in their wake.

The rulers of the meeting were, Madam Elenora Miren, matriarch of the powerful Miren family in the Tharvannis region of the Earthlands. Her piercing green eyes seemed to weigh every person in the room, as though gauging their usefulness. She carried herself with an air of regal authority, her voice smooth but edged with menace.

Beside her sat Rykesh Farlin, leader of the merchant guilds that controlled trade between Operientes Solem and the Earthlands. His rotund figure was draped in opulent silks, his fingers adorned with glittering rings that reflected his immense wealth. He was a man of appetites, but his cunning mind was sharper than most gave him credit for.

Opposite them, Kael Torson, the principal shareholder of the Outer Continent’s levicita mines, leaned back in his chair. His lanky frame and hollow cheeks gave him a ghostly appearance. Unlike the others, his expression held a flicker of unease as he absently tapped his long, bony fingers against the table.

Finally, at the head of the table sat the most unnerving presence: Ava Lyssan, a girl who couldn’t have been older than twelve. She reclined in a floating chair that emitted a soft steam as it adjusted to her frail movements. Her skeletal frame seemed too fragile for her to even stand, her sunken eyes ringed by dark circles. But when she spoke, her voice—high-pitched and trembling—held a chilling authority that demanded obedience.

“Operientes Solem remains too stable,” Ava said, her voice quivering but resolute. Her thin fingers drummed against the arm of her chair. “Stability breeds complacency. Complacency leaves us where we are—without the leverage we need.”

Elenora Miren smiled faintly, her expression unreadable. “Indeed, child. But chaos must be wielded carefully. A wildfire burns indiscriminately.”

Ava’s lips twitched, as though amused by the subtle rebuke. “Then let’s ensure our fire burns only what it should.” Her gaze shifted to Rykesh. “The trade guilds are in position, I presume?”

Rykesh inclined his head. “My merchants are prepared to spread dissent among the border settlements. We’ll create shortages, stir desperation. A hungry populace is an angry one.”

Elenora leaned forward. “Good. And what of our... agents within Aeris? The festival disruption was a useful start, but it’s far from enough. The Levicita Control Center must remain unstable. We need people asking the right questions—and finding the wrong answers.”

Tessa, silent until now, stepped closer to the table. Her voice was measured, cold. “Leave that to me. The operatives inside the LCC are already in position. Their loyalty is… absolute.”

Kael Torson’s voice cut through the room, low and hesitant. “This is dangerous. You’re all too eager to pull the strings tighter. If this spirals out of control, we’ll be the ones caught in the fallout.”

Rykesh laughed, the sound rich and mocking. “And yet you sit here, Kael, with the rest of us. Profiting from the chaos. Spare us your moral posturing.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed, his tapping fingers pausing. “I sit here because you need levicita, and I control its flow from the Outer Continent. But I won’t watch my investments burn for your ambition.”

Ava’s frail form leaned forward in her chair, her sunken eyes locking onto Kael. “Ambition? No, Mr. Torson. This is inevitability. Operientes Solem will crumble under its own weight. All we’re doing is… helping it along.”

The tension in the room was palpable as Kael’s lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t respond.

Elenora, ever the diplomat, broke the silence with a serene smile. “Let’s not lose sight of our shared goals. We move to the next phase, yes?”

Rykesh nodded. “The merchants will escalate tensions. Raids on supply convoys, perhaps an incident at the levicita docks. That should be enough to stoke resentment between Aeris and the Earthlands.”

Ava’s hollow gaze shifted to Elenora. “And the girl? Can we count on your little bird again?”

Elenora’s smile turned sharp, predatory. “The Veyne girl? Of course. She’s completely unaware of how tightly her strings are tied. The poor thing values her freedom far too much to realize she’s still in her gilded cage.”

The room echoed with soft laughter, save for Kael, who looked away, his unease growing.

Tessa stepped back, her role as a silent observer complete for now. Auren remained silent, though his sharp eyes swept over the gathered conspirators, committing every detail to memory.

Ava leaned back in her floating chair, her lips curling into a faint smile. “Then it’s decided. Chaos shall reign, and when the dust settles, we’ll pick up the pieces.”