Meeting by the River

Chapter 5: Meeting at the River

Kael and Dorian moved silently through the dense forest, the river's gentle babble growing louder as they neared the meeting spot. Though still bruised from their recent skirmish, Dorian carried himself with his usual confident ease, the faint glint of his Kyo shimmering around him. Beside him, Kael's senses felt sharper, more in tune with the world around him since unlocking his Kyo. The nature spirits danced playfully in the periphery of his vision—small, green beings that Clara had spoken of before. For the first time, he could see them.

Ahead, the figures of Lucian and Clara became visible by the riverbank. Lucian's eyes locked onto them as they approached. Clara stood beside him, her ethereal presence blending with the energy of the spirits around her.

"Clara," Kael greeted, a rare softness in his voice. Her warm smile made the air feel lighter.

Dorian wasted no time. "Still hurts like hell," he grumbled, motioning to his side. The faint traces of blood showed through his torn shirt, remnants from his skirmish with a lieutenant of the city police.

Clara stepped forward without a word, her hands glowing faintly with Kyo. As she hovered them over Dorian's wounds, the gash began to close. Kael watched in fascination as the nature spirits flitted around her, lending their energy to the healing process.

"I owe you one," Dorian muttered as he rolled his shoulder, testing the now-healed wound.

Clara merely nodded, her gaze drifting toward Kael. "You can see them now," she said softly, noticing how his eyes followed the spirits.

Kael nodded. "It's… strange. They were always there?"

"They've always been around you," Clara replied. "Now that you've unlocked your Kyo, you're connected to them, too."

Lucian cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "We don't have much time."

The name hung in the air like a curse, sending a shiver down Kael's spine. Wolfram. A name that carried weight, a reputation for ruthless efficiency. Kael had heard whispers of the lieutenant during his time on the streets—a man who could silence rebellions with a single glance. If Dorian had faced him and lived, it was no small feat.

"He's powerful," Dorian continued, his brow furrowed. "Far beyond what I expected. The way he fights... it's like he can control fear itself. I wasn't just scared. It was like I couldn't move, couldn't think."

Kael clenched his fists. "That wasn't just fear. That was Kyo."

Dorian's eyes widened. "Kyo? You mean that... energy you mentioned before?"

Kael nodded. "Kha and Zen. The lieutenant must be using Zen to manipulate your mind. Kyo flows through everything and can be shaped into physical strength or mental domination. It sounds like Wolfram's mastered both."

Lucian crossed his arms, his face serious. "We've heard enough about Kyo. But knowing about it isn't enough. What do we do now?"

Before Kael could respond, Clara spoke up, her voice soft but steady. "You need to unlock your own Kyo."

Dorian looked at her, frowning. "But I don't even know where to start."

Kael stepped forward, pulling out the small, weathered book he had found—an ancient tome, filled with secrets about Kyo. He had been hesitant to use it, but now, it felt like their only option.

"I can help you," Kael said, holding the book out. "This will unlock your potential, but it's dangerous. Once you start using Kyo, there's no going back. Your life will never be the same."

Dorian hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Do it."

Kael opened the book and began to chant the words inscribed on the first page. The air around them thickened as a strange energy hummed in the atmosphere. Clara's spirits fluttered around her, reacting to the rising power. Lucian and Dorian stood still, their expressions tense.

Suddenly, a surge of energy flowed through them. Dorian gasped, his body trembling as he felt the raw power of Kyo enter his veins. Lucian gritted his teeth, his muscles tightening as the energy coursed through him as well.

Kael closed the book, the ritual complete. "You should feel it now—the Kha within you. You've both unlocked your potential. But be careful. This is just the beginning."

Lucian flexed his fingers, feeling the new strength coursing through his body. "This is incredible," he muttered. "But we can't get ahead of ourselves. We still need to plan our next move."

Dorian nodded. "Agreed. We should avoid the major roads and stick to less traveled paths. Wolfram won't stop until he finds us."

Before they could continue, a rustling in the bushes made them turn. A cloaked figure stepped out, his presence commanding. The figure pulled back his hood, revealing an older man with sharp features and a stern expression.

"Giri of the High Command Council," he introduced himself, his voice deep and authoritative.

The air around the river felt charged, the night hanging heavy with anticipation. Giri stood before them, his presence imposing, but his voice calm as he addressed Kael and his group.

"I see you've come, just as I hoped you would," Giri began, his eyes scanning each of them carefully. He paused, letting the silence build, weighing his words with purpose. "You've made quite an impression in the city. More than I expected."

Kael shifted uneasily but didn't break eye contact. "What do you want, Giri?"

Giri offered a small, enigmatic smile. "It's not about what I want. It's about what we need. You've already proven your strength and resolve. That's why I've been watching you." His gaze grew sharper, though his tone remained steady. "The book you carry—where do you think it came from?"

The group exchanged glances, confusion clear on their faces.

"I wrote it," Giri said, his voice soft but firm. "For you. For those like you who would one day need it."

Clara blinked in surprise. "You made the book?"

"Not just made it, Clara. It's a map, a guide… to prepare you for what's coming."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Coming? What exactly are we being prepared for?"

Giri stepped closer, his shadow stretching long in the moonlight. "There are things moving beneath the surface of this world, forces you've only begun to touch. I need you to fulfill a request—not for me, but for the future."

Kael's eyes narrowed. "A request?"

Giri nodded, his face growing more serious. "I'm asking you to find something—something hidden deep within the city. A relic, of sorts. I won't lie to you; it's dangerous. Others will want it, others who won't hesitate to use it for their own ends."

"Why us?" Lucian asked, skepticism lacing his words.

"Because," Giri replied, locking eyes with him, "you're the only ones capable of getting it without drawing unwanted attention. You've already flown under the radar. The ones hunting this relic—let's just say they'll never expect you."

Kael crossed his arms. "And what happens if we say no?"

Giri's expression didn't change, but his voice softened. "I wouldn't hold it against you. But I believe in you. I believe that you're destined for more than this. And if you walk away, what's coming won't stop."

---

**After the Meeting at the River**

The cold wind rustled through the trees, sending ripples across the surface of the river. Giri had vanished, leaving Kael, Lucian, Clara, and Dorian standing in uneasy silence.

Lucian broke the tension, pulling a bundle from beneath his cloak. "We need to move quietly," he said, unfurling dark, hooded cloaks and handing them out to the group. "These should help us blend in. The Asahi District is too risky to navigate without some cover."

Kael took his cloak, his mind still racing from Giri's cryptic instructions. "We need to stay sharp. Dorian, you'll keep watch from above. Stick to the rooftops and track us as we make our way to Wellingham-St. Clair's estate."

Dorian gave a curt nod, already scanning the nearby buildings. "I'll signal if anything looks off. But remember, the guards there aren't just for show. We get in, we get out."

Clara pulled her cloak tighter around herself, her eyes flitting nervously between Kael and Lucian. "And what if Giri's wrong about us? What if we're not ready?"

Kael put a hand on her shoulder. "We don't have time for doubts. If we hesitate now, we're dead. Giri may be playing his own game, but we're in it whether we like it or not."

With a determined silence settling over them, Dorian disappeared into the night, his form darting onto the rooftops with practiced ease. Lucian, Kael, and Clara slipped into their cloaks and made their way toward the Asahi District, their footsteps barely a whisper in the quiet streets.

---

**The Asahi District**

The air grew colder as they approached the heart of the Asahi District, a part of the city known for its pristine architecture and the wealth it housed. Tall, elegant walls surrounded the estate of Sir Thaddeus Wellingham-St. Clair, towering high above the cobblestone streets, guarded by men who were as still as statues.

Lucian led the group to the shadow of the main gate. "We need to stay calm. Let me do the talking," he whispered, pulling his hood low over his eyes.

The two guards at the gate were alert, but not alarmed—at least not yet. Lucian stepped forward, his movements slow, careful. Kael and Clara hung back just enough to avoid suspicion.

"Halt!" one of the guards called out, raising a hand. "State your business."

Lucian bowed slightly, his voice calm and composed. "We're here by invitation of Sir Wellingham-St. Clair. A matter of trade."

The guards exchanged glances. "Invitation? We weren't informed."

Lucian reached inside his cloak, producing a sealed letter—a forgery, but a convincing one. He held it out to the guards. "Sir Thaddeus is expecting us. We wouldn't want to keep him waiting."

The lead guard took the letter, scrutinizing it with a frown. After a tense moment, he nodded and gestured to the second guard. "Open the gate."

Kael felt a small rush of relief as the heavy iron gates creaked open. The group slipped inside, the estate's manicured grounds stretching out before them like a silent maze. The building itself loomed in the distance, lights flickering in the windows.

---

**Inside the Estate**

The hallway inside was dimly lit, the flicker of candlelight casting long shadows on the pristine marble floors. The group moved swiftly, led by Lucian, who seemed to know the estate's layout better than Kael expected.

As they approached the door to Thaddeus's office, Lucian motioned for them to stop. "He's in there," Lucian whispered. "Clara, be ready. Kael, we go in fast."

Kael nodded, a slight surge of Kyo rising within him. But they would need to be precise—Thaddeus couldn't know what hit him.

Lucian's eyes darkened, his fingers twitching slightly as he focused on the closed door. **Zen** flowed from him in subtle waves, plunging Thaddeus, seated inside, into a delirious state before they even entered. Thaddeus's perceptions twisted, his mind lost in an illusion where nothing around him made sense, as though reality itself bent away from him.

With a silent signal, they burst into the room. Thaddeus was slumped at his desk, his eyes glazed over, utterly unaware of what was happening. Lucian had manipulated him perfectly, robbing him of his senses, leaving him defenseless. Clara stood by the door, keeping a nervous watch, while Kael approached the far wall where the safe was hidden.

"There," Lucian pointed out, indicating the disguised panel behind a painting. "That's where he keeps his wealth."

Kael nodded and without hesitation, drew on his **Kha**. His muscles swelled with power as he punched clean through the wall, shattering the hidden safe in one blow. The metal crumpled under his fist, revealing stacks of gold coins and valuables inside.

"We have it," he said, pulling the gold out and stuffing it into a bag.

But the noise had been louder than they'd expected. Outside, the guards were alerted. Shouts echoed through the estate.

"We need to move, now!" Clara whispered urgently, her eyes wide with fear.

Lucian gave one last look at Thaddeus, still trapped in his own mind. "He won't be a problem. Let's go."

---

**The Arrival of Lieutenant Mathias Wolfram**

On the rooftops above, Dorian was already in position, scanning the streets when he felt it—a familiar pulse of **Kyo** rippling through the air. It wasn't Thaddeus or anyone from the estate. No, this was something far more refined.

Mathias Wolfram, lieutenant of the city police, was making his way toward the estate. He had felt the disturbance—an unusual flux of Kyo energy—and followed the trail here. The surge coming from inside Wellingham-St. Clair's estate was unmistakable.

Dorian's eyes narrowed. He had to act fast.

Mathias, moving quickly through the quiet streets, had nearly reached the estate when Dorian dropped silently in front of him from above.

"You've got good instincts," Dorian said calmly, his hand resting on the hilt of his weapon.

Mathias's eyes narrowed. "You're the source of the disturbance, aren't you?" His hand hovered over his own sword, his senses sharp and focused.

"Not just me," Dorian said with a slight smile. "But you're not getting any closer to that estate."

Mathias stepped forward, his aura flaring slightly with a controlled release of Kyo. "Step aside, or I'll force my way through."

Dorian's expression didn't change, but his grip tightened on his blade. "You're welcome to try."

---

**The Escape**

Inside, Kael, Lucian, and Clara had made their way back to the main hallway, the gold secured, but the estate was now swarming with guards.

"We need a clear path out," Clara whispered.

Lucian surveyed the scene, his mind racing. "There's a side entrance. Follow me."

They moved quickly, avoiding the patrols and slipping through a narrow corridor that led to a smaller gate. As they emerged into the cold night, Kael glanced back at the estate. The mission had been a success, but they were not out of danger yet.

Dorian was waiting for them at the rendezvous point, his expression tense. "Wolfram's on our tail. I bought us time, but he won't stay distracted for long."

Kael cursed under his breath. "Let's move. We've got what we came for."

Together, they vanished into the night, their task complete but the threat of discovery looming ever closer.

---

**End of Chapter 5**