CH9:-Echoes of Deception

The city had begun to recover, but the tension in the air hadn't lifted. With each passing day, more signs of unease surfaced in the streets—guards patrolling in tighter formations, merchants whispering amongst themselves, and the common folk keeping their heads down. Kai had seen unrest before, but nothing quite like this. The power vacuum left by the recent conflict was palpable, and it was only a matter of time before someone filled it. The question now was: who would make the first move?

Kai stood at the edge of a balcony that overlooked one of the many open-air markets in the district. Below, the merchants had returned, but their voices were subdued, as though even they knew the calm was only temporary.

"This place feels different," Kai murmured, barely loud enough for Aria to hear. She had joined him moments before, quietly observing the streets below.

"The attack changed everything," Aria replied. "No one knows who's truly in control anymore. And when that happens, people start to get desperate."

Kai nodded but didn't respond immediately. His thoughts were divided. He had spent the last few days unraveling what he could from the meeting with Corvin and the shadowy figures from the underground council, yet every new piece of information only seemed to add to the growing mystery. Corvin's warning about a larger force manipulating the noble houses still echoed in his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something crucial.

"We need more than just rumors," Kai finally said. "Something solid we can work with."

"Agreed." Aria leaned against the railing, crossing her arms. "I've been thinking. We should start asking questions in places we haven't looked before."

Kai glanced at her, intrigued. "Like where?"

"The nobles aren't the only ones with power here," she explained, her gaze hard. "There are other players in this city. Criminal syndicates, underground factions, and even some of the less savory merchants. They've survived by knowing things—things people like the nobles would rather keep hidden."

Kai thought about it. It made sense. They had focused too much on the nobles, assuming they were the key to everything. But if Corvin's words were true, the real threat was pulling strings far beyond the scope of noble houses.

"We'll need to be careful," Kai said after a pause. "Getting too close to those kinds of groups could backfire."

Aria nodded. "We don't have to make any deals. Just gather information."

"All right," Kai agreed. "Let's start tonight."

---

Later that evening, Kai, Aria, and Rook made their way through the backstreets of the city, following the leads Aria had pieced together. They found themselves in a part of the city that seemed forgotten by time—narrow alleys that twisted in impossible directions, with buildings leaning precariously overhead. Here, the shadows seemed thicker, and the air carried a different kind of weight.

"This place feels off," Rook muttered as they turned another corner. "I've been around my fair share of shady alleys, but this one tops the list."

Kai kept his eyes forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Stay sharp. We're not here to make friends."

They approached a small, inconspicuous tavern tucked away at the end of the alley, its worn wooden sign barely visible in the dim light. From the outside, it looked like a place where people went to be forgotten. But that was exactly what they were counting on. Inside, it would be a different story.

The tavern was dimly lit, with a low ceiling and a haze of smoke that clung to the air. As they stepped inside, all eyes turned toward them—an assortment of unsavory characters, from hardened mercenaries to shady merchants, all sizing them up. But after a few moments, the patrons returned to their own business, uninterested in newcomers unless they posed a threat.

Kai, Aria, and Rook moved to a table near the back, taking seats that gave them a view of the room. They didn't speak for a moment, simply observing. This was the kind of place where secrets changed hands as easily as coin, and Kai knew better than to rush.

"What do we know about this place?" Kai asked quietly.

Aria leaned in slightly. "The owner, a man named Sorin, used to be connected to one of the crime syndicates that controlled the city a few years back. Now he's supposedly neutral, but I doubt he's ever really left the game."

"Think he'll talk?" Rook asked, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of trouble.

"He'll talk," Aria said, her voice confident. "But it'll cost us."

Kai gave a small nod. "Let's make it worth his while."

---

Sorin was a tall man with a shaved head and a long scar running down the side of his face. He moved with the calm assurance of someone who had seen too many battles and lived to tell the tale. When he approached their table, his expression was unreadable, but his eyes were sharp.

"You're not regulars," he said, his voice gravelly. "What's your business here?"

Kai met his gaze without flinching. "We're looking for information. The kind that doesn't make it into the nobles' circles."

Sorin raised an eyebrow. "Information costs money. And you don't look like you're here to spend."

"Depends on what we're buying," Aria said smoothly. "We're willing to pay if the information's good."

Sorin studied them for a moment, then pulled up a chair and sat down, his eyes never leaving Kai's. "You're looking for answers about the attack, aren't you?"

Kai nodded. "What do you know?"

Sorin leaned back slightly, folding his arms. "More than most. The nobles are playing their usual games, but this time it's different. There's someone else pulling the strings. Someone who's been working behind the scenes for a long time."

Kai's pulse quickened. This was what they had suspected, but hearing it from someone like Sorin made it all the more real.

"Who?" Kai asked, his voice steady.

Sorin hesitated for a moment, then leaned in, lowering his voice. "There's a group. They call themselves the Circle. No one knows exactly who they are, but they've been manipulating events in this city for years. The nobles don't even realize they're being controlled."

"The Circle," Rook muttered, his expression darkening. "Sounds like trouble."

"It is," Sorin confirmed. "They've been planning something big. And from what I've heard, the attack was just the beginning."

Kai felt a chill run down his spine. The Circle. A shadowy organization pulling the strings of the city's most powerful factions. It was exactly the kind of threat they had feared—and it was worse than they had imagined.

"Why are you telling us this?" Aria asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Sorin smiled faintly. "Because the Circle's plans are bad for business. And I'd rather see them fail than succeed. But make no mistake—I'm not your friend. This is just good business."

Kai exchanged a glance with Aria and Rook, then nodded. "Fair enough. But we're going to need more than just a name."

Sorin leaned back in his chair, considering them for a moment before he spoke again. "There's a man. A noble. He's tied to the Circle, though he doesn't know it. Find him, and you'll find the answers you're looking for."

Kai's heart raced as he leaned in. "Who is he?"

Sorin's smile widened. "Lord Alaric of House Valtor."