Chapter 26: A Deal in Amaris

The following days were a blur for Calen, his mind spiraling with the events of that fateful night. He had tried contacting Livra repeatedly, but there was no response. Calls went unanswered, and messages vanished into the void. He cursed himself—he should have told her he’d seen Sienna before Livra noticed. Now it was painfully clear why she refused to talk to him.

Adding to his anxiety was the gnawing suspicion that his friend Rion had committed a murder. There were no leads on his whereabouts. Every attempt to reach him ended with the same maddening silence; his communicator couldn’t even pick up a signal.

Sienna, however, had reached out. As always, her timing was impeccable, her mercurial moods catching him off guard yet again.

Her message read:

"Forgive me for the way I pushed you away. I left, and you moved on, and when I needed someone, you were there, ready to help me through one of the darkest times of my life. I didn’t appreciate it then, but I see it now. As always, I took you for granted, Calen. I’m in love with you, and I don’t care if it’s too late to admit it."

Calen hadn’t replied. How could he? His feelings for Sienna still lingered—he couldn’t deny that. But things were different now. He was seeing Livra, who clearly needed him, and Sienna’s fickle affections were a trap he couldn’t allow himself to fall into again. She’d been his world once, but her inconsistency had burned him too many times.

As much as it tore him apart, he knew his response would have to be a rejection. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to send it. Not yet. Livra and Rion came first—they needed him now.

For days, he wandered through the streets of Aeris, chasing any thread that might lead him to either of them. He’d even hoped to cross paths with Balthar Drik, dreading what might happen if the dangerous man found Livra before he did. But all his efforts were in vain until the Administrator, Valtheris, summoned him to his office.

“Sit down,” Valtheris said curtly as Calen entered.

They hadn’t spoken since the disastrous night of Rion’s disappearance.

“Are you finally going to explain what the hell is going on?” Calen demanded, his frustration boiling over.

“Calm yourself, boy,” Valtheris replied, his voice cold and commanding. “The air in this city is already thick with tension. Don’t make it worse with your tantrums.”

The rebuke cut through Calen’s anger like a blade. He bit back his retort, letting the older man’s words settle. Valtheris had always been a figure he respected—a self-made man with a no-nonsense attitude that Calen couldn’t help but admire.

“I’ve been gathering information,” Valtheris continued, his tone heavy with implication. “And after speaking with the magistrates, I’ve uncovered something.”

“What is it?” Calen asked, leaning forward.

“It doesn’t concern you, boy. Leave it alone. This is far beyond your capabilities. You’re not the hero of some grand tale, understand? You’re just another fly buzzing around this glitter-covered shit of an island,” Valtheris snapped, his patience wearing thin.

The words struck like a blow to Calen’s pride. Leave it alone? Forget about Rion, the friend who had been his steadfast ally through every hardship in Aeris? How could Valtheris even suggest such a thing?

“I’m not leaving this alone,” Calen said, his voice rising. “You may think I’m insignificant, but Rion is my friend. I’ll find him, and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

“Of course you’d say that, you fool,” Valtheris replied with a wry smile. “That’s why I’m about to tell you something—on one condition. What I’m about to say doesn’t leave this room. Not a word, not even to Tessa. Understood?”

Calen hesitated, then nodded. “Understood.”

Valtheris leaned back in his chair, his expression grave. “The murder that night was just the beginning. It was the first in a series of assassinations targeting some of the most powerful figures in the Earthlands. Magistrate Arion Vosca contacted me personally to share what he knew. I won’t tell you the identities of the victims—that’s not for you to know—but these deaths are connected to something far greater than you or I.”

Calen listened intently, his stomach knotting with unease.

“Fortunately, Vosca and I have been keeping a close watch on Aeris—on everyone who enters and leaves. One recent arrival caught our attention: an old player from the underworld. We brought him in for questioning, but he was as tight-lipped as they come. All he revealed was that he was working for some Earthlands landlord. He denied any involvement in the water trade promised to the Earthlands and claimed he was simply here searching for someone.”

“And you just… let him go?” Calen asked, incredulous.

“Yes,” Valtheris admitted. “We struck a deal. As long as he keeps the peace in Aeris, he’s free to continue his search. In exchange, he agreed to inform us if he uncovers anything about the events of the festival night.”

Calen’s mind raced. If this shadowy figure was working for some Earthlands landlord, then he could be Balthar Drik.

“Who is he looking for?” Calen asked knowing this person could be Livra.

Valtheris smirked. “That, my dear boy, is a question I wouldn’t answer even if I knew, although I’ve got a clue.”"Anyway, as I was saying," Valtheris continued, his gaze distant as if weighing every word, "this man has found something on the island of Amaris, in the Rainshadow Isles archipelago. I know you're familiar with that island—after all, you're native to Sora Island."

Calen remained silent, listening intently. Amaris was a place he hadn't thought about in years, a patch of land cloaked in poverty. The Rainshadow Isles were known for their hidden dangers and the secrets that lay buried beneath their craggy cliffs.

Valtheris leaned forward, his voice low. "What he's uncovered is of vital importance. But there's more—he told us he's suspended his mission, as the person he worked for no longer needs his services."

Uh? What does that even meant? Calen thought.

"To make matters more complicated," Valtheris continued, "Magistrate Vosca and I were able to sway his loyalties, thanks to a third party. Between the three of us, we've hired this man to assist us in something, but there's a catch. We need a guide in the Rainshadow Isles—someone who knows the terrain, the people, the risks. That person is you, Calen."

Calen’s brow furrowed, but he didn't interrupt. This was bigger than just finding Rion. If Valtheris was asking for his help, it meant whatever was unfolding had wider consequences.

"You'll meet with this man, along with our third partner, tomorrow night at the Amaris tavern," Valtheris said, his voice becoming more resolute. "That's all for now. Go and prepare yourself. And remember, this must stay between us. No one else can know."

Without another word, Valtheris turned his attention back to the window, with a tired expression.

Calen stood, absorbing the weight of what had just been asked of him. He had little choice but to agree. As he turned to leave, the heavy silence of the room seemed to swallow him whole. The pieces were falling into place, and Calen had no idea where this path would lead—but he knew he couldn’t back out now.

He left Valtheris' office, the door shutting quietly behind him. Tomorrow night in Amaris. It would be a night that could change everything.