Unholy Player

As Adyr beat his wings and descended near Colossith’s enormous form, his eyes passed over the practitioners seated on the leather chairs scattered across the broad rug. They hadn’t moved since morning, locked in the same hushed conversations as if time had slowed around them.

For people who’d aged far past their youth, the days seemed to pass like hours.

"Adyr, my brother," Malrik called, rising as soon as he saw him. He embraced him warmly.

"Hey," Adyr replied, returning the hug. "How’s everything going?"

"Well..." Malrik stepped back and sank into his chair again. "Why don’t you sit? There’s something we need to tell you."

Adyr nodded, greeted the others, pulled on his jacket, and took a seat. Almost immediately, he felt an odd undercurrent around him. It wasn’t fear or anxiety, but something tense and unspoken. Even with his high [Sense] and observation talent, he couldn’t quite identify it.

Thankfully, Liora broke the silence. "Plans have changed with Sevrak."

Adyr’s brow furrowed. Dragon Rider Sevrak didn’t seem like someone who stuck to his plans or could be trusted. Combined with the tense atmosphere, Adyr couldn’t help but suspect bad news.

"Don’t worry," Liora continued, catching his wary expression. "It’s not necessarily bad news. In fact, if we handle this properly, we could gain a considerable advantage." She paused as if choosing her words carefully. "You’ve heard of the Wandering Merchant, right? The one who owns the largest Spark marketplace in the region?"