Allies of the Future - 02

The Remes ancestral hall thrummed with latent magic, its vaulted ceiling alive with frescoes of storm-wielding mages. Lord Christian Remes sat upon a throne of petrified lightning, his gauntleted fingers tapping a rhythm that echoed like distant thunder. Liam stepped forward, shoulders rigid, but Kairus cut him off with a raised hand.

"Lord Christian Remes," Kairus declared, his voice carving through the hall's oppressive silence. "I am Kairus Varkaine, heir to Varkaine County. And I've come to offer your house salvation."

Liam's jaw tightened. Christian's glacial eyes narrowed. "Varkaine? A backwater fiefdom clinging to the empire's skirts. Why should I entertain this farce?"

[Skill Activated: Unparalleled Acting Lv2]

Charisma temporarily boosted. Deception threshold lowered.

Kairus met his gaze, unflinching. "Because while your rivals hoard scraps, I possess the largest Valatium vein in the southern ridge—untouched, unclaimed. And I'll grant House Remes exclusive rights… for a price."

Christian leaned forward, lightning crackling in his beard. "Valatium isn't rare, boy. I could get a shipment from the Sael kingdom."

"Sael's ore is laced with Frostbane spores," Kairus countered, withdrawing a prismatic Valatium chunk from his cloak. "One misfired spell, and your mages' lungs crystallize. Mine?" He hurled the ore at Christian's feet. It shattered, releasing a pulse of pure azure energy that made the hall's wardstones sing. "Flawless."

Liam inhaled sharply. Christian's guards twitched, their halberds sparking.

"A pretty trick," Christian sneered, though his eyes lingered on the shimmering fragments. "But alliances require leverage. You have none."

Kairus's smile turned razor-thin. "Then I'll take my Valatium to the Vasco family. I hear their artificers pay handsomely for weapons-grade ore."

The temperature plummeted. Christian's aura erupted—a maelstrom of lightning that scorched the tiles at Kairus's boots.

[Debuff Applied: Apex Pressure – HP drains 1% per second!]

Liam stumbled back, but Kairus stood firm, blood trickling from his nose. "You think the Vascos would let you live?" Christian roared. "They'll gut you like a pig and take your mine!"

"They'll try," Kairus spat, his voice raw beneath the storm. "But you already know the balance is crumbling. The Vasco family isn't just rising—they're absorbing the great houses. How long until Remes is a footnote in their archives?"

A flicker of hesitation. The aura wavered.

[System Alert: Christian Remes' Wrath Meter – 85% → 70%]

Kairus pressed, blood staining his teeth. "All I ask is a mutual defense pact. My Valatium secures your catalysts. Your influence shields my county. Deny me, and I'll walk into Vasco's jaws willingly… and watch them turn your house to cinders next."

Silence. Even the crackling wardstones stilled.

Christian's laughter was a blade dragged across stone. "You reek of desperation, Varkaine. But desperation makes for… interesting tools." He rose, his shadow swallowing the hall. 

Liam stepped forward, face pale. "Grandfather, you can't—"

"Silence," Christian snapped. "This whelp wants to play lord? Let him learn the cost."

"Your petty feud with Verris amuses me," Christian murmured 

Christian's storm-like aura receded, leaving the scent of ozone lingering in the hall. "You want an alliance?" The old patriarch drummed his fingers on the armrest carved with lightning motifs. 

"Then understand this - two months ago, the Vasco brat took command of Dahaka Fortress. The Emperor handed him the keys like it was a damned birthday present."

Kairus' blood ran cold. 'Dahaka.' In his past life, the volcanic stronghold had remained an untamed beast - a nest of monsters even all of the great families feared to approach. "Dahaka... under Vasco control?" He fought to keep his voice steady. "That's... unprecedented."

Christian's laugh was a dry crackle. "You didn't know? And here I thought you were some political prodigy." His eyes narrowed. "This changes the board, boy. With Dahaka's rune stones, Vasco will arm a private army within months."

[System Alert: Timeline Anomaly Detected] 

[Critical divergence from past life events]

Kairus' mind raced. 'Did my regression cause this?' 

[Skill Activate: Unparalleled Acting]

He forced a smirk. "All the more reason to accept my offer. Valatium-enhanced catalysts could withstand whatever army comes against it."

Christian studied him like a hawk eyeing wounded prey. "Ten tons of raw ore. Delivered in seven days." He flicked a contract scroll across the table. "Fail, and I'll give the Varkaine county, a visit myself."

[New Quest: Valatium Deadline] 

Deliver 10 tons to Remes | Reward: Military Alliance (+900 xp)

Kairus snatched the scroll. "Done." 'Now.. time to acquire the Leash' His fingers trembled slightly as he broke the wax seal. "I'll need your grandson's help verifying the ore quality."

Liam, who'd been silently fuming by the archway, stiffened. "You expect me to play mine inspector?"

"Better than staying here," Kairus shot back. 

"Alright... Liam, go with him"

---

Liam cornered him near a fountain where crystal koi swam in lazy circles. "This is a mistake. Grandfather's made a mistake!"

"Probably." Kairus tossed a pebble into the water, disrupting the perfect reflections. "But while he plays games, I'll teach you how to master Eternal Ignition."

The mage's composure cracked. "You don't know the first thing about—"

"Phase alignment through the sternum, not the wrists," Kairus interrupted, tracing a glowing rune in the air - a trick he'd learned watching a Flame Tower Master in his past life. "You've been treating fire like a rabid dog to choke with chains. It needs to breathe."

Liam's eyes widened as the rune morphed into a stable flame vortex. "...That's not in any books."

"..." Kairus extinguished the fire with a clenched fist. "Your choice - keep failing safely, or learn something that'll make you stronger."

[System: Liam's Interest +30%]

Liam stared at his still-smoldering fingertips. "...One lesson. Then I decide."

"Fair enough." Kairus turned toward the gates where their horses waited. "But pack light. the Varkaine County is a week's journey"