Kairo sat on his chair, the rough wooden surface creaking faintly under his weight. The air inside the small meeting hall felt thick, heavy with unfamiliar tension. Across the round table sat three figures — other lords.
Claymond, the silver-haired one, adjusted his glasses with a calm precision, his posture straight, analytical eyes scanning every corner of the room. Beside him, Varen leaned back with both legs casually resting on the table, his orange jacket's sleeves rolled up, a grin dancing across his face as if he owned the place. Lyra sat between them, her white hair flowing down her back, black horns curving elegantly. Her gaze was sharp and unreadable, her legs crossed as she rested an arm on the chair, radiating quiet authority.
Kairo swallowed. (They're not ordinary… they've survived long enough to carry that presence.) His mind spun.(I don't know their strength or their motives. I must speak carefully.)
On his right, Shiri stood still, arms crossed, his scaled shoulder now fully healed from the potion, though his golden eyes stayed wary. To Kairo's left, Onyx stood like a dark sentinel, his skeletal frame gripping the inverted lance, its black edge touching the floor.
Behind the three visitors, their companions remained alert — the maid with the eyepatch and metallic gauntlets kept one eye closed, silent but vigilant; the ork sat cross-legged beside Varen, axe resting lazily against his shoulder; and Renn the bard stood near Lyra, his lute slung across his back, eyes quietly observing.
Outside, the ruins were still quiet — Theo and Flint rested in the barracks, exhausted from battle.
Claymond cleared his throat softly, breaking the silence.
"Well then," he began, voice calm and deliberate, "allow me to formally start this discussion, Lord Kairo."
Kairo's expression hardened, his usual calm replaced by a calculating seriousness. Lyra noticed the shift and straightened her posture, setting aside her earlier poise to focus fully on the conversation. Across the table, Varen still lounged with an easy grin, but Lyra shot him a sharp glare.
"Varen, legs down."
He groaned and obeyed, muttering, "Jeez, okay, grandma. Let's start already."
Claymond sighed, pushing his glasses up. "As I was saying, we are members of an alliance of lords known as the Ruin Lords Alliance. We came here on Lyra's request after she sent her retainer, Renn, to the western ruins you inhabit. His mission was to investigate the sudden disappearance of a powerful presence—something strong enough for Lyra to sense from miles away."
Lyra continued where he left off. "During that, we learned you were the one who defeated the beast that destroyed Leverik Village."
Varen leaned forward, arms crossed. "That lizard was a huge pain. Tier four. We couldn't take it down ourselves."
Before Claymond could continue, Kairo cut in sharply. "So, you were spying on me from the start."
Claymond raised his hands slightly, voice calm. "We meant no harm, Lord Kairo. Circumstances simply unfolded this way."
Renn bowed lightly. "I was there when it happened. Even I didn't expect such an outcome."
Lyra sighed. "I sent Renn to investigate, and he crossed paths with you. For not reaching out sooner—we apologize."
Varen smirked, chuckling, "Ohh, Lyra actually apologized? That's rare."
Lyra grit her teeth, snapping, "Shut up, twerp!"
Claymond chuckled softly with embarrassing as he glanced at Lyra and Varen's little exchange. (These two never change), he thought with a sigh before straightening his posture. "Alright," he said, his calm tone cutting through the lingering laughter, "with that out of the way, shall we talk about our proposal to you?"
Kairo nodded, his expression turning serious. "Fine then. What exactly is your organization? What are its benefits? Why do you need me, and what do I get from joining?"
Claymond adjusted his glasses, his silver eyes reflecting the light of the flickering lantern on the table. "I'll explain everything," he said, his voice measured and steady. "The organization we speak of is called The Ruin Lord Alliance. It's composed of all the lords who currently inhabit the ancient ruins scattered across this region."
He leaned back slightly before continuing, "We formed this alliance with one purpose — to maintain balance within the ruins and prevent any external power from seizing control over them. Each ruin has its own guardian, its own lord. And together, we make sure the equilibrium remains intact."
Lyra then added, crossing her arms. "These ruins… they aren't just random structures. They hold something special — something ancient. No one truly knows who created them or why they were built, but they hum with a power that even the strongest monsters resp–"
Before she could continue, Varen grinned and leaned forward. "So, to cut it short, these ruins are awesome — like, really awesome. We can't let anyone else take them from us. That's why we stick together."
Lyra frowned at him, visibly annoyed, but Claymond raised a hand and chuckled softly. "Focus, you two." He turned back to Kairo with a polite smile. "My apologies. As you can see, they're...a little too much familiar with each other."
Kairo couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "I can tell," he said, the tension in the room easing slightly.
Claymond shifted slightly in his chair, letting a small, knowing smile cross his face. He gestured toward Lyra, who gracefully extended a hand, revealing a small seal. Its surface glinted under the dim lantern light, and the intricate carving of a rat's face was unmistakable. Lyra placed it carefully on the wooden table.
Claymond leaned forward, his fingers lightly touching the relic. "This," he said, voice steady, "is a Tier 2 relic — the seal of the Ratman. With this, you can summon ratmen and integrate them into your forces."
Kairo's eyes widened slightly. A new relic, fully tangible and in front of him, was always a rare opportunity. He reached out carefully, letting the token rest in his palm before activating the Command Nexus. The display popped up immediately:
Name: Gnawing emblem
Tier: 2
Effect: Summon ratmen to your forces.
Description: Carved by unknown hands, this token allows the wielder to summon a small but efficient squad of ratmen, adept in archery and crafting.
Kairo's interest deepened as he examined the details. He looked up at Claymond, who caught his gaze and continued. "The ratmen are highly efficient with bows and exceptional at crafting. They'll integrate seamlessly into your operations."
He cast a glance toward Shiri, not mentioning his name directly, but letting the implication hang in the air. "I'm sure some extra hands would be… useful for your larger expansions in the future," he said smoothly, as if trying to appeal to Shiri's sense of duty to Kairo.
Shiri scoffed lightly, though the faintest hint of intrigue crossed his sharp gaze. "The offer is… enticing," he said, tone carefully neutral, "but it is Kairo's decision, not mine."
Kairo's eyes flicked between Shiri and Claymond, noting the subtle strategies at play. Claymond's smile was small, confident, and measured — Kairo smiled lightly, (He is a tricky one.)
Claymond paused for a brief moment, capturing the faint sparks of curiosity in Kairo and Shiri's eyes. Onyx, ever silent, simply observed the visitors, his violet lance resting against his shoulder, as if ready to act at the slightest sign of hostility.
Claymond leaned forward slightly, his tone deliberate and calm. "The last benefit we offer," he began, "is that we will help you construct a throne room."
Kairo raised a brow, intrigued. "A throne room… and how exactly would that help me?"
Claymond's lips curved into a faint, confident smile. "The throne room used by lords isn't merely decorative. It is a high-tier structure that allows us to command massive armies from the safety of our territories."
Kairo tilted his head. "So… a central command hub?"
"Exactly," Claymond replied. "With a properly built throne room, we can coordinate high-stakes wars without stepping onto the battlefield ourselves. No more blind strategizing or overreliance on messengers. It centralizes command and amplifies efficiency."
Kairo considered this, then asked, "But can't I build one myself? Why would I need your help?"
Varen laughed, throwing his legs casually thrown over the table. "Bro, a throne room isn't that easy. You'd need insane amounts of resources. Might not even see it finished before we die of old age!"
Claymond let out a soft sigh. "Varen exaggerates, as always. But he isn't wrong. A throne room requires high-tier materials and precision craftsmanship. With the alliance's combined resources, we can at least build one main throne room usable by all members."
Kairo nodded slowly, the gears in his mind turning. "I like the benefits. I'd most likely accept your offer."
Claymond, Varen, and Lyra visibly relaxed, assuming victory. Yet Kairo's eyes narrowed slightly as he paused, a serious weight entering his voice. "But… what is the true purpose of your alliance?"
Claymond flinched, adjusting his glasses as he considered the question. "What do you mean?" he asked carefully.
Kairo leaned forward. "The end goal. The final mission. Why do you truly need me?"
Claymond's gaze swept to Lyra and Varen, both adopting unusually serious expressions. He straightened his posture, his voice lowering. "Kairo… our true goal is… to destroy the balance of power maintained by the Three Absolutes in the Forbidden Continent."
The room fell silent. The weight of the proclamation pressed heavily against Kairo's mind. His grip on his chair tightened, and his voice emerged cautiously, tinged with disbelief. "Umm… the Forbidden… what?"
To be continued....