Kael stood outside the half-constructed shelter, his eyes lingering on the crude framework. After working all day, it started to take shape under Gerry and Three Arms’ efforts. Their work was solid, efficient.

  The foundation was set, the skeletal frame of the wooden hut was in place. Only the walls and roof were left.

  It wasn’t much yet, but it was his. And that meant something. It was a sign that, despite all the setbacks, despite everything he had faced, Kael was building a future.

  Not just the shelter, he thought, his gaze lingering on the frame of the hut. Everything. I’ll build this conclave into something powerful.

  A sudden flicker in the air interrupted his thoughts, and words materialized in front of him.

  Expedition Failed.

  The words hung in the air, stark and cold. For a moment, Kael couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. His companions. They were gone.

  He had chosen the more dangerous path, the Sky Temple, instead of the easier one. Was he foolish? Overconfident? Had it been his fault?

  It was. He had sent them out, sent them to die.

  He could feel the weight of each loss, each death of a companion he had summoned and nurtured. He had failed them.

  The thought of resurrecting them flickered in his mind. They could come back, he could bring them back. But there was a price for that. Gold. Always gold. The lifeblood of the world they were in. The price of resurrection wasn’t cheap.

  Kael’s mind snapped back to the present, focusing on his orb. The Endless Recall upgrade allowed him to bring one companion back without any gold cost.

  With a deep breath, Kael focused on the orb. A green light flared brightly, swirling with power as it began to take shape. The ground beneath Kael’s feet trembled slightly as Boney’s skeletal form began to take shape. Hard bones formed one after another, the familiar shape of the creature slowly rising from the earth again.

  "Welcome back," Kael said, the relief settling over him.

  Kael reached for the orb again. The gold needed for Xal, Grymos and the rest of his slimes would be substantial and he was running low.

  But before Kael could make the decision to resurrect the others, the walls turned crimson. A deep unnatural red. It meant only one thing.

  Invaders.

  Kael expected danger but his mind thought of the possibility that this might be the moment Myke arrived with the gold.

  Blue streaked toward the red walls, and Kael instinctively focused, his senses sharpening through the creature’s form. Through Blue’s eyes, he could see the distant shape of Myke, walking with a purposeful stride.

  But something was missing. Myke didn’t have the cart with him.

  And Myke wasn’t alone.

  Blue’s gaze shifted near the walls and Kael saw through the wisp’s eyes. A force of Golden Legionnaires stood at attention, their golden armor reflecting the moon’s pale light. Several Griffins, their massive wings casting long shadows across the landscape, paced around. Large chests were stacked carefully nearby.

  He turned to meet Myke as the merchant stepped cautiously into the clearing, the distance between them closing steadily. Kael raised an eyebrow, his voice casual.

  "Brought friends with you today?" Kael asked.

  "They’re guarding the gold," Myke replied. “I’ll take the egg and bring in the gold.”

  Kael’s attention briefly flickered through Blue, the gold-armored soldiers ready for violence. It was a negotiation that could turn ugly.

  “How much?” Kael asked.

  “800,000 gold.”

  Kael’s jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded. It was less than he had hoped for, less than the million he had imagined in his mind when he’d first thought of this deal.

  Still, 800,000 gold would go a long way. He could do much with that kind of gold. Make his companions stronger, survive more expeditions, build his conclave to stand firm in the face of whatever came next.

  But there was something more at stake. The power of the egg, the amount of gold. Kael’s instincts were sharp, he wasn’t ready to relinquish the dragon egg without assurances.

  "800 000 then," Kael said, "but if I hand you the egg and get nothing in return, you or the Golden Legion could take the egg and the gold and leave me with nothing."

  Myke blinked, the shock of Kael’s words settling into his chest. "I wouldn’t turn my back on a deal," Myke said. "Merchant honor, you know."

  "What if the soldiers just kill you and take the egg? Capture you and imprison you forever?" Kael asked. "What then?"

  Kael could see the gears turning in the merchant’s mind. As an Outside Race, Myke hadn’t thought of the possibility. Of betrayal.

  "I can ask for an advance," Myke said, finally speaking up. "Half the gold first, then the egg. And then the rest of the gold after the exchange."

  Myke was offering a compromise, but it still didn’t sit right with Kael. He knew the deal was a delicate thing. But in the end, it was the only option he had left.

  Kael nodded slowly. "Deal."

  Myke stepped out of the square, empty handed. His stomach was churning at the words Kael had spoken.

  What if Kael was right? What if Golden City soldiers were not to be trusted?

  Myke scoffed at the thought. Merchants honored their agreements. At least, that’s how it was supposed to be. And yet, there was something in Kael’s eyes that unsettled him. A flicker of mistrust, of warning.

  What if they did betray me? The idea of being caught, the ironic notion of being imprisoned in a golden prison deep in the golden city.

  Myke shook his head. He refused to entertain it, refused to believe that the Golden City would stoop so low. The deal was struck. The gold would be brought to him.

  It took him a moment to realize that he had reached Titus. He stood with his arm crossed, his golden armor reflecting the moonlight.

  "No egg?" Titus’s voice was low. “Then no gold for you.”

  Myke expected this response, it was part of negotiations. “I need an advance. Half the gold, up front," Myke said.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "Why? Are you buying it from the Master?"

  The captain laughed, his men following suit with knowing chuckles.

  Mentioning Kael would raise suspicions, especially with someone as astute as Titus. Myke couldn't afford to let on that this was no mere transaction, no regular trade. The truth had to remain hidden. He swallowed the lump of discomfort that rose in his throat.

  "No," Myke said. "It’s a secret assassin that’s selling it."

  The laughter in the hall faltered, a flicker of confusion rippling through the soldiers behind Titus. Myke pressed on, seizing the opening. He gestured vaguely toward the blue walls of the square, his eyes narrowing slightly as he spoke.

  “You see how it’s still blue? That’s because assassins can sneak into squares without making the walls red. They slip in unnoticed, like shadows."

  Titus nodded slowly, as though processing the information. "Silent Trespass," he said, his voice thoughtful. "I’ve heard of that."

  Twist the truth, Myke thought to himself. Make the deal work.

  "Half the pay now," Myke continued, his voice gaining confidence as the deal began to take shape. "Then I’ll come out with the egg. Take the rest of the gold. Simple."

  It wasn’t simple, Myke just had to make it sound like it was.

  Titus shook his head slowly. "No. One hundred thousand."

  He had hoped for more, but as he glanced at the captain’s unmoving expression, he knew better than to press for more. They weren’t budging. And for Myke, the deal would be honored eventually.

  “Fine,” Myke said. “One hundred thousand first.”

  With the agreement settled, Titus turned, signaling to his men. A chest of gold was brought forward.

  “Let’s get this deal done,” Myke said.

  He started walking toward the square, the chest in his arms. As he moved, he caught sight of the trees moving in the square. Being watched by the Master of the Square, no doubt.

  This was the moment. Give Kael the chest, get the egg, give the egg to Titus and take the rest of the god. Being a merchant is hard.

  As Myke passed through the red walls, he saw Kael standing there. His figure familiar, yet somehow imposing. He was surrounded by his minions, green and blue slimes, wisps, golems.

  "That’s not half, Myke," the Master said.

  “I could only get 100,000 for now,” Myke said, setting the chest down. “But when I give them the egg, I’ll get the rest.”

  Kael eyed the chest Myke brought it. With a swift movement, Kael opened the chest. The glint of gold filled his vision, and the weight of it hit him immediately. There was no mistaking it.

  Kael reached out, fingers brushing against the coins. They were cool, solid, and their weight in his hand told him everything he needed to know. A part of him had expected some trickery, some illusion, but the coins were no illusion.

  This was real.

  The coins were drawn effortlessly in the orb as Kael held it. His orb pulsed briefly with a brilliant glow, the gold drawn in like a magnet pulling metal. The 100,000 gold was now securely within his grasp.

  Seeing the gold absorbed into the orb, Myke gave a small cough.

  "When you bring the rest of the gold," Kael said, looking at Myke, "a small portion could be yours."

  “Half maybe?"

  "Half? That’s quite a lot, Myke."

  "I did all the negotiations, Master Kael. I brought the deal together. Surely that deserves something more." The merchant’s smile faltered for the briefest moment, but he didn’t back down.

  “And I got the egg,” Kael said. "A quarter?"

  "Think about it," Kael continued. "This isn’t going to be the last dragon egg, Myke. There will be more. And when that happens, you’ll have your share, too."

  Myke’s eyes narrowed, but there was something in his expression that told Kael he wasn’t entirely displeased by the offer. The merchant knew how to play the long game. That much was clear.

  After a long pause, Myke’s lips curved into a smile. “Alright, Master Kael. A quarter it is.”

  Kael stepped forward, his hand extending, palm up in the gesture of agreement. Myke placed his hand in Kael’s, and the shake was firm, decisive.

  The wyvern egg pulsed in his orb and Kael reached in to grab it. Smooth and creamy colored, it felt warm to touch. He lifted the egg from the orb with both hands, the motion slow, deliberate.

  He turned to Myke and without a word, Kael passed the egg to him. Myke took it carefully, as if holding their future in his hands. Myke turned, making his way toward the exit of the square, his footsteps deliberate and steady.

  As he passed the threshold of the square’s walls, the soldiers who had gathered around the perimeter of the square saw the egg in Myke's hands. Their murmurs turned into cheers, low at first, then growing louder with each step.

  “The egg! The egg is here!” one of the soldiers shouted. The griffins joined in on the chorus with a screech.

  Captain Titus stood waiting. His posture was military, the moon visible on his golden armor. Myke reached him, and without a word, he passed the egg to Titus. The transaction was almost complete.

  Without a second glance at Myke, he pulled a scroll from his belt. It was old, the edges worn, the parchment crackling slightly as he unfurled it with a swift motion.

  “Identify,” Titus said. He held the scroll over the egg, reading the incantation.

  A brief, tense silence passed before Titus finally spoke.

  “Lads, it's the real deal,” he announced loudly, his voice ringing out across the clearing. “A Draconis egg, Wyvern class. Looks ripe too. Ready to hatch in a week.”

  “Sooo… What about the gold, Captain?” Myke asked. "You can leave the chests here. I’ll carry them in slowly,” he said with a chuckle, rubbing his hands together.

  Titus didn’t respond with a smile of his own, however. Instead, his lips curled into a thin, disdainful line. His eyes narrowed, not with suspicion now, but with contempt.

  “A no-name merchant with a dragon egg,” Titus said. His words were measured, but they struck Myke like a slap to the face. “I’d rather trust the Ratfolk than you.”

  The words stung. Betrayed before the deal is even complete? But it wasn’t the words themselves that unsettled him.

  No, it was the shift in the air. Soldiers suddenly moved in close, their hands grabbing at his arms.

  “What is this?” Myke demanded. “You do not do this to a merchant of the guild.”

  But the soldiers didn’t respond—only tightened their grip, forcing him to the ground. A cold weight pressed down on his chest as one of the legionnaires pulled forward a set of chains, thick and heavy, made of gold. The irony was not lost on Myke.

  “No! You—!” Myke began, struggling against the iron grip of the soldiers, but the words were cut off as one of them moved swiftly to slip the chains overs his wrists.

  The gold burned against his skin, the precious metal heating up quickly before subsiding. It had marked him.

  Was this how it ended? His mind raced, his thoughts colliding with one another. His plan was slipping through his fingers.

  That’s when it happened.

  A sudden, deafening force rippled through the air. The very earth beneath Myke's feet trembled, a shockwave of raw energy blasting outward, tearing through the surroundings.

  The Golden Legion soldiers staggered back as the force of the wave hit them. The griffins squawked in distress, their wings flapping wildly as they struggled to remain steady on their feet.

  Myke turned his head just in time to see the blue walls of Kael’s square break. A crack like thunder ripped through the square’s barrier, shattering the walls like glass.

  “What in the hells...” Myke said, his breath ragged as he tried to push himself up, the gold chains still on his wrists.

  The shockwave faded slowly, but its presence lingered in the air. His eyes flicked toward the soldiers, their golden armor battered and shaken, but still standing firm.

  Myke didn’t know what happened but one thing was certain: the Golden City had underestimated the power they were dealing with.

  The trees at the edge of Kael’s square trembled. The leaves rustled as though some great weight was coming through the undergrowth.

  Then, with an earth-shaking thud, a giant bone monster emerged. Its massive, skeletal body with four legs sent tremors through the ground. Its maw gaped open, formed with jagged teeth and sharp bones. And atop it, riding with authority was Kael, Master of the Square.

  Beside him, a Skara, reptilian and savage, moved forward. The creature was larger than a man and it carried a massive battleaxe. The kind of weapon that cleaved legionnaires in two. It moved alongside the bone monster, the two creatures forming a terrifying front.

  Two golems, constructed from metal, gears, and cogwheels, moved in tandem alongside the Skara. One was a hulking figure, a sword in each hand and interestingly, a green slime attached to its body. The other was smaller but no less imposing, with three arms. Its body vibrated with a sense of mechanical power waiting to be unleashed.

  Behind them all, trailing in a curious procession, came slimes. Wobbly and countless. They moved like an army, shifting and undulating together, each one a small but essential part of the whole.

  And above them, the night sky was filled with stars. But they weren’t stars, Myke realized. They moved, flickering, weaving in and out of each other like small, ethereal creatures. Kael’s wisps.

  This was Kael’s army. This was war.

  And the Golden Legion would pay for their betrayal.

  ******

  Square: Unknown

  Master: Kael

  Difficulty: Bronze

  Conclave: New Conclave 1

  Treasure: 75 609 Gold

  Residents: 8 Ice Slimes Lvl 1

  1 Ice Slime Lvl 3

  20 Green Slimes Lvl 1

  2 Green Slimes Lvl 2

  3 Green Slime Lvl 3

  1 Poison Slime Lvl 1

  24 Will-o-wisp Lvl 1

  1 Steel Golem (Strength Specialization) Lvl 3

  1 Steel Golem (Complexity Specialization) Lvl 3

  1 Skara Lvl 1

  1 Skara Lvl 3

  1 Ossuary Lvl 3

  Mount: Shadow Mount

  Kills: 64