A Background Character’s Path to Power

There it was—that spark of hope. Sure, it was small, but it was undeniably there.

So my smile was all teeth.

"You’re asking the right person."

Aeron blinked.

"In fact—" I waved a hand "—it’s simple. You just need to solve the problem."

?

His brows furrowed in adorable confusion, like a puppy hearing a strange noise.

I coughed to hide a chuckle. "Well, ’simple’ might be overselling it for someone of your intellect—"

Aeron’s glare could have melted steel.

"—Alright, alright!" I raised my hands in surrender. "Stop looking at me like you’re deciding between stabbing or strangling me."

After a deep breath, I met his gaze squarely.