Roth's eyes did not soften, yet they seemed to drift far past Chen, as if looking at something distant and unseen.
"Your life may be taken by me with just a breath," he continued, matter-of-fact, not threatening but stating reality itself. "But you will live. Because you are more useful alive than dead."
Chen's fingers twitched weakly.
More useful… For what?
Roth lowered his hand slightly, but Chen remained floating, held up not by force but by Roth's will alone.
"There will come a time when the ruler of this land will be decided."
His tone shifted, not dramatic, not grand, simply certain "Only then will you meet your end."
A cold shiver crawled through Chen's spine at the calmness of it.
Death, spoken like a scheduled appointment.
"Until that time," Roth said, "stay your hand. Lead your people. Learn to be a competent leader."
Roth's gaze sharpened, not with anger, but with a cutting expectation.
