Morning came quietly.
Sunlight passed through the cracked window of Arin's apartment, illuminating the chaos from the night before.
Broken glass covered the floor.
One attacker was still unconscious in the corner, tied with torn curtain fabric. The others had escaped during the night after regaining consciousness.
Arin didn't bother chasing them.
He had already achieved what he wanted.
Information.
Elara stood near the window, arms crossed.
"You're just going to leave him there?"
She pointed at the tied attacker.
"Yes."
"That seems… irresponsible."
Arin calmly poured water into two cups.
"If the city guards find him, they'll investigate."
"And if they don't?"
"Then he will return to his employer."
Elara took the cup but still looked unconvinced.
"You're letting the enemy walk away."
"No," Arin corrected.
"I'm sending a message."
She raised an eyebrow.
"What message?"
"That intimidation doesn't work on me."
Elara leaned against the wall.
"You're really enjoying this whole 'mastermind' thing."
Arin ignored the comment.
Instead he picked up the fractured compass again.
The needle had stabilized.
For now.
Which meant no immediate spatial distortions.
Good.
That gave him time.
But not much.
A knock sounded at the door.
Elara immediately tensed.
"Another attack?"
Arin walked toward the door calmly.
"No."
"How do you know?"
"Because assassins don't knock."
He opened the door.
A well-dressed servant stood outside.
Black uniform.
Silver crest on the chest.
A noble house emblem.
Cassian Vale's house.
The servant bowed slightly.
"Are you Arin Veyron?"
"Yes."
"My lord Cassian Vale requests your presence this afternoon."
Elara whispered from behind him,
"That was fast."
The servant continued,
"A carriage will arrive at noon."
Then he handed Arin a sealed letter.
"Please read the invitation."
Arin opened it.
The handwriting was elegant.
Precise.
Arin Veyron,
You have proven more interesting than expected.
I would like to discuss last night's misunderstanding.
— Cassian Vale
Arin folded the letter.
"I'll attend."
The servant nodded and left.
Elara stepped forward immediately.
"You're actually going?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because when a noble invites you after sending assassins…"
He placed the letter on the table.
"…it means they're curious."
Elara frowned.
"That sounds dangerous."
"It is."
"So why walk into it?"
Arin looked at her calmly.
"Because curiosity is a weakness."
The Vale estate was enormous.
White stone walls surrounded the property.
Tall iron gates guarded the entrance.
The carriage stopped in front of the main building.
Arin stepped out slowly.
Elara stayed behind.
They had agreed she shouldn't appear.
For now.
Inside the mansion, a servant guided Arin through long corridors decorated with expensive paintings.
Finally they entered a large study.
Cassian Vale stood beside a tall window.
He turned when Arin entered.
"Welcome."
Arin walked inside calmly.
"You sent four men last night."
Cassian smiled faintly.
"You defeated them."
"That wasn't my question."
Cassian gestured toward a chair.
"Sit."
Arin sat.
Cassian poured two glasses of wine.
"You're surprisingly direct."
Arin didn't touch the wine.
"Directness saves time."
Cassian sat across from him.
"Very well."
He leaned back slightly.
"Yes. I sent them."
Arin nodded.
"I assumed so."
Cassian watched him carefully.
"You're not angry?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it confirmed my expectations."
Cassian's eyes sharpened.
"And what expectations were those?"
"That you're cautious."
Cassian smiled.
"And now?"
"Now I know you're also curious."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then Cassian laughed softly.
"You're very interesting, Arin Veyron."
He placed the wine glass down.
"You predicted the Obelisk surge."
"Yes."
"You appeared at the factory distortion."
"Yes."
"You defeated trained fighters with no mana."
"Yes."
Cassian leaned forward slightly.
"So I'll ask again."
His voice lowered.
"Who are you?"
Arin answered calmly.
"A strategist."
Cassian stared at him.
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Yes."
Cassian studied his face for several seconds.
Then he said quietly,
"Let's assume you're telling the truth."
"Alright."
"Then tell me something."
Cassian leaned closer.
"How did you know about the distortion?"
Arin paused briefly.
Then answered.
"I've studied spatial instability patterns."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"At seventeen?"
"Yes."
"That's impressive."
"I read a lot."
Cassian leaned back again.
"You're either lying… or you're the most interesting person I've met this year."
Arin said nothing.
Cassian tapped the desk slowly.
"Let's try a different question."
He smiled.
"If the world ended tomorrow… what would you do today?"
Arin answered instantly.
"Prepare."
Cassian chuckled.
"And if monsters appeared from the sky?"
"Build an army."
"And if humanity started losing?"
Arin's eyes didn't change.
"Then I would win."
Cassian went silent.
Not because of the words.
But because of the certainty behind them.
After a long pause he spoke again.
"I like you."
Arin didn't react.
Cassian continued,
"You're weak. Poor. Mana-less."
"Yes."
"But you think like a general."
"Yes."
Cassian stood up.
"So I'll make you an offer."
Arin looked at him.
"Become my strategist."
Silence filled the room.
Cassian continued calmly.
"I'll give you protection."
"Resources."
"Education."
"And power."
He smiled slightly.
"All you have to do…"
Cassian's eyes sharpened.
"…is work for me."
Arin considered the offer.
In the previous timeline, Cassian Vale became one of the most powerful political figures before the apocalypse.
But he also made several catastrophic mistakes.
Mistakes Arin remembered clearly.
Working under him would provide resources.
But it would also limit freedom.
After a moment, Arin spoke.
"I decline."
Cassian blinked.
"…You decline?"
"Yes."
Cassian laughed softly.
"You're either very brave…"
His voice became colder.
"…or very stupid."
Arin met his gaze calmly.
"Neither."
"Then explain."
Arin stood slowly.
"I don't work under people."
Cassian's smile faded.
"Everyone works under someone."
"Not strategists."
Cassian's eyes narrowed.
"You're rejecting a noble's offer."
"Yes."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Cassian suddenly smiled again.
But this time…
The smile looked genuine.
"Good."
Arin paused.
"Good?"
"Yes."
Cassian walked toward the window.
"Because if you had accepted immediately…"
He glanced back.
"…I would have lost interest."
Arin said nothing.
Cassian continued,
"Instead, I'll propose something else."
Arin waited.
Cassian spoke slowly.
"Let's become allies."
Arin's eyes shifted slightly.
Cassian smiled.
"You do your mysterious strategist things."
"And I provide political protection."
He extended his hand.
"Deal?"
Arin looked at the hand.
This was better.
Much better.
Because alliances could be broken.
Servitude could not.
After a moment…
Arin shook his hand.
"Deal."
Cassian's smile widened.
"Excellent."
But as Arin turned to leave, Cassian asked one final question.
"Arin."
He stopped.
Cassian's voice lowered slightly.
"You said the world would end."
Arin didn't turn around.
Cassian continued quietly.
"Tell me one thing."
"When?"
Arin looked at the door.
And answered calmly.
"In four months."
Cassian laughed.
But as Arin walked away…
Something about his tone didn't feel like a joke.