Leo pushed open the bright orange door, its polished wood gleaming under the warm glow of the lanterns that lined the walls. The room inside was spacious, yet not overly extravagant. The furniture had an air of elegance but was clearly designed for practicality rather than luxury. A long, wide table stretched across the center. Bright orange chairs, their cushions plush but firm, were meticulously arranged around it. At the far end sat a single, slightly larger chair, its high back emblazoned with the symbol of the sun. It was meant for someone important—someone in charge. A few platters of food rested on the table, freshly prepared, their aroma mingling with the faint scent of parchment and wax.

  Leo stepped inside confidently, his dark red cloak swaying with his movements. "Welcome, Vellin, to the Flame’s meeting room." he said. His voice carried the weight of leadership, firm but not unkind. I followed him in, my footsteps barely making a sound on the smooth stone floor.

  As I took in my surroundings, Caleb, who had been standing near the back, gestured toward the chairs. "Sit down anywhere you like other than that one." He pointed toward the large chair with the sun emblem.

  Makes sense. It wasn’t my place to sit there, nor did I have any intention of doing so. I chose a chair somewhere in the middle, positioned where I could see everyone clearly. Leo and Caleb took their seats soon after.

  Leo wasted no time. "I've been doing my own study and research, and there's no other way to say it." His expression darkened, his hands folding together. "It's war."

  Caleb's jaw tightened. "They tried to assassinate me and Vellin!" His hands clenched into fists against the table. "Of course it's war! It’s time to wipe Obsidian from the map."

  Leo’s lips curled into a small, approving smile. "I agree. That’s why I’ve already set things into motion." He leaned forward slightly. "I've sent out carrier pigeons to Alexander, Finn, and Kaiguro, assigning them their new respective missions. But we’re here to discuss you two specifically."

  He turned toward Caleb first. "Caleb, your mission is to stay here and recover for another month. You’re still not up to par. You are the second strongest in Sun, and you are this city's protector. Your presence here is non-negotiable."

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  Caleb looked like he wanted to argue, but he held his tongue. Instead, he exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair with a frustrated nod. I understood his frustration. Being told to sit on the sidelines was never easy, especially for someone like him.

  Leo then turned his attention to me. "Now, Vellin, on the other hand, is ready."

  I straightened in my seat, my focus sharpening. "What do you need me to do?" I asked without hesitation.

  Leo’s eyes held a mixture of weight and certainty. "Obsidian has been making few moves, but each move they are making is drastically unfavorable for us." His fingers drummed lightly on the table. "Vellin, you are going to get revenge. Endo, the man who hired Lilith and the Fist of God, will die by your hand."

  That’s good. No, that’s very good.

  The man had orchestrated attacks that led to untold suffering and loss, tipping the scales in Obsidian’s favor. Removing him would be a significant blow.

  I nodded, but my mind was already moving ahead. "Well, where is he?"

  Leo stood and strode to the far wall. With a swift motion, he pulled a cord, and a large map of the country unrolled from a hidden compartment. It stretched nearly from ceiling to floor, the details meticulously inked. Mountains, rivers, and cities were carefully marked, their names written in bold script.

  Leo raised the hilt of his sword and tapped it against a specific point below Het. "This is Trivoko," he said. "a large city known for its gold mines. Obsidian has taken control of it, using Endo and his elite force to seize mining operations. With this gold, they’re hiring mercenaries. Given their current actions, I assume they’re preparing for an all-out attack."

  His expression darkened further. "That’s all our spies told me before we lost contact."

  A cold realization settled over me. If Obsidian’s hold on Trivoko remained, they’d soon have the resources to field an army strong enough to challenge us confidently.

  Leo continued, "We are strong, us Flames, but there are many others out there who can hold their own as well. Enough of them, with our forces spread thin as they are now, and we will lose."

  I studied the map, my fingers tracing the route from here to Trivoko. "And my objective, specifically?"

  "Simple," Leo said. "Kill Endo. Free Trivoko. Secure a smaller portion of the gold profits to aid our efforts."

  I nodded. It was a clear, direct mission, one that played to my strengths.

  Leo’s gaze locked onto mine. "How much time do you need? Your newly appointed army will be ready by tomorrow, and Trivoko is not far, only five days away by carriage."

  I exhaled through my nose, considering the variables. The journey itself was straightforward, and my strategy was straightforward.

  Absolute and total destruction of them all.

  My eyes locked onto Leo. "I only need six days."