The port district of Everlance stretched out in every direction, crowded and alive with activity. Sabbath leaned against the carriage, arms crossed, watching the docks. Next to him, Athaan stood quietly, resting at his side. Both kept their eyes on the Halcyon Wayfarer, the ship that had just pulled into the harbor. Their newest teammate was supposed to be on board.
Around them, the docks were a mess of noise and movement. Ships rocked gently as sailors hauled crates ashore. There were silks from the Kyodan Empire, gemstones catching the light like tiny stars, and barrels of spices that filled the air with sharp, warm scents. Voices shouted over the creaking of wood and the crash of waves, blending into a steady rhythm that never seemed to stop.
Sabby took a deep breath, the scent of brine mingling with the earthy musk of freshly unpacked cargo. This was the lifeblood of the district, the arteries that fed the capital city its wealth and influence. He couldn't help but admire the efficiency of it all. Trade routes converged in this part of the city, flowing through choke points and expanding outward, connecting even the furthest corners of the Four Kingdoms.
It was a reminder of how much power coursed through places like this, not in the clash of swords or the blaze of spells, but in the steady rhythm of commerce.
Pulling himself from the wonder of the Redine District, Sabbath muttered, "She's late."
"Technically, the ship is late." Athaan replied, his tone even, before continuing — this time letting curiosity seep into his voice. "You think she'll be worth the wait?"
Sabbath shrugged. "Guess we'll find out."
A line of passengers began filing off the ship. Sabbath spotted her almost right away. A girl with an athletic build, lustrous brown hair, and peculiar eyes. Her boots hit the gangplank with steady, deliberate steps, her confident posture offset by something else — an unease in the way she glanced at the crowd, as though searching for threats.
"That's her," Sabbath said, straightening up.
The newest member of their team.
"Kate Feli," an escort said, introducing her with a slight bow.
Kate was striking, not like nobility… Yet he possessed courtly elegance. Her hair fell in a loose braid over her shoulder, and her eyes — one a sharp sapphire, the other a dull gray — seemed to linger longer than necessary. She wore a fitted leather coat with reinforced plates at the shoulders, practical yet hinting at some battle-hardened experience. There was a quiet energy about her, like a tightly coiled spring waiting to snap.
Hot-headed, impulsive, and their newest teammate. She looked every bit the part of someone who had seen more than her share of trouble but was too proud to show it. Whatever baggage she carried, she kept it hidden behind that confident front.
As she approached, Sabbath noticed the subtle tension in her expression, the way her gaze lingered on the two of them before she spoke.
"So," she said, her voice smooth but edged with dry wit, "you're the ones I'm stuck with?"
Athaan raised an eyebrow. Sabbath just smirked.
×××
They reached the manor by late afternoon, the sprawling estate perched on a cliff. The grandeur of House Aegis was undeniable — its stone walls bore the marks of age but stood resolute, defying the wear of time and salt. Banners fluttered in the breeze, the sigil of Aegis catching the sunlight.
Inside, Sabbath led Kate to a chamber overlooking the sea, where maps and scrolls were scattered across a heavy oak table — their personal meeting room. Krown leaned against the wall, while Aisha sat cross-legged on a chair, sharpening her blade.
"Your timing is impeccable," Krown said.
"Always." Sabbath waved a hand toward Kate. "As you commanded, the newest addition to our merry little group."
Aisha looked up, her eyes narrowing in appraisal. "You fight?"
Kate's smirk returned. "Better than most."
"Alright then, gather round. The meeting begins…. well, now." Krown barked swiftly.
Sabbath watched the exchange with mild amusement. "You'll fit in just fine," he said, gesturing to the maps. "Now, let's get to work."
As they began discussing the logistics, Sabbath couldn't help but glance at Kate. There was something about her — a quiet determination, a shadow of something deeper that she wasn't yet ready to share. He made a mental note to keep an eye on her.
She wasn't just another fighter or strategist. There was something unique about her being, and in a world like theirs, where power and alliances shifted like the tides, she might just be the piece they needed to tip the balance in their favor, a step closer to achieving his…. their goals.
He could not simply chalk it up as just his goals anymore, he had to consider the goals of his mates. However, that couldn't be done without first knowing what they wanted, and so he asked: "I know why I'm part of this group, alike Athaan. But you, what's your reason for joining us?
Kate shifted slightly on hearing that, although she had expected it, the question still made her feel ill at ease.
After a short contemplative pause she replied dismissively. "There's not much to it, let's just say I'm searching for someone, and in the process I happened to stumble on the Nexus, its Meister housed me for a bit, that's where I met Aegis's patriarch. Fast forward and we're here."
Aisha suppressed a frown, fully trusting her father and uncle's judgement. That said, she couldn't help but ask a question of her own. "You. Your eyes are a different colour, plus your presence is a bit off that must mean you're a…."
Before she could complete that statement Kevin stepped into the room, holding a tab in hand. Whatever it was that made him arrive late for the meeting or seems so tense, it had to be important.
He didn't make them wait long because letting out a horse breath: "A remote meeting is being held right now, and father is part. It's about the Crownfall Conflict."
Placing the tab center table, it activated, granting them access to the meeting. The air suddenly grew tense. Whatever information would be discussed now could very well spell the fate of the Arthurian Kingdom for generations to come. That was how important the succession war would be.