Lord of Deception

The night stretched across the horizon like a silent predator, thick with the scent of burning wood and steel. Kael stood at the highest balcony of his war fortress, his golden eyes fixed on the distant ridges where The Prophet had fled.

The encounter had shaken even his most experienced warriors. But Kael? He had not wavered. Instead, he had learned. The Prophet's tricks were dangerous, but they were not invincible. Reality itself may be his battlefield, but Kael knew how to turn the enemy's greatest strength into their downfall.

Behind him, footsteps echoed in the stone hallway. Ravyn approached, her black cloak billowing slightly. "The scouts have returned."

Kael turned slightly. "And?"

Her expression was unreadable. "The Prophet has disappeared."

Kael said nothing at first. Then, with a measured breath, he spoke. "No one disappears without leaving ripples. We just have to know where to look."

Ravyn nodded. "I assume you already have a plan?"

Kael smirked. "When don't I?"

Hours later, Kael and his inner circle gathered in the ruins of an old watchtower overlooking the southern border of the Empire. A massive war table stood at the center, illuminated by enchanted lanterns.

Cassius leaned forward, a massive gauntlet resting against the map. "Word has spread about your battle with The Prophet. The people are starting to believe he might not be invincible after all."

Sylas, still recovering from the previous encounter, let out a dry chuckle. "If they saw what we did, they'd know he's something far worse."

Kael remained silent for a moment before pointing to three marked locations on the map. "The Prophet isn't just running—he's regrouping. He needs time to recover, and more importantly, he needs time to manipulate the world into his next phase."

Ravyn's sharp eyes glimmered. "You're saying he's setting the board?"

Kael nodded. "Exactly. He will not come at us directly again. Instead, he will spread his influence, turning kings and rulers against us before we even know we're at war."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Cassius was the first to break it. "Then what do we do?"

Kael's voice was as cold as steel. "We move first."

As the meeting adjourned, Kael returned to his private quarters, his mind already working through a hundred different possibilities. But before he could settle into his usual state of deep contemplation, a shadow moved in the far corner of the room.

He did not react. Instead, he calmly poured himself a glass of dark wine. "You could have knocked."

A soft, sultry chuckle answered him.

From the darkness, a woman stepped forward—her movements deliberate, her presence powerful.

She was tall, with raven-black hair cascading down her shoulders. Her deep crimson eyes shimmered with a predatory amusement, and the air itself seemed to bend around her presence.

Kael recognized her immediately.

"Empress Selene."

The most powerful woman in the Empire. A legend of beauty, intelligence, and manipulation.

Selene smirked. "I see my reputation precedes me."

Kael took a slow sip of his wine before setting the glass down. "And yet, your presence here is a mystery."

She tilted her head slightly. "I came to see you."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. And why would the Empress seek out a 'mere' Duke in the middle of the night?"

Selene stepped closer, stopping just a breath away. "Because I know what you are doing, Lord Kael." Her voice was smooth, dangerous. "And I want to be part of it."

Kael met her gaze, unflinching. "Do you now?"

She smiled. "I've been watching you for a long time. The way you move the pieces before anyone even knows a game is being played. The way you broke The Prophet's illusion. You are unlike any man in this Empire."

Kael remained silent, studying her.

Selene's smirk deepened. "You intrigue me, Kael. And I do not like not knowing how a story ends."

Kael leaned slightly forward, his voice a mere whisper. "Then let's write the ending together."

Selene's eyes flickered with something dangerous. Something exciting.

The game had just changed.

And Kael was one step closer to claiming everything.

To be continued.....