Aiden descended the stairs into the main guild room. The moment he appeared, heads turned.

"Big Brother!" Oliver jumped up from his seat, grinning. "You're back! I haven't seen you in days."

Oliver calling Aiden big brother gave Kayden an irritated look on his face that shook his head and rolled his eyes

"Been busy," Aiden replied with a small smile.

Piers leaned back in his chair. "Yeah with avoiding us, you mean. What's going on with you?"

Elena looked up from her book, concern in her eyes. "We've been worried. You've barely been around."

Arianna, sitting across from them, met his gaze briefly before looking away. "It's good to see you," she said quietly.

Before Aiden could respond, the main door opened and Katherine strode in. Her expression was serious.

"Aiden," she called out. "My chambers."

The room fell silent.

Aiden then followed the Captain into her chambers, and closed the door behind him.

Katherine didn't waste time with pleasantries. She turned to face him directly. "I have to make you aware of something. Oberon winning this war means there'll be an execution of your family. All of House Crowley." She paused. "You would be an exception, given the role you played at the start."

Aiden's expression didn't change, and

Katherine continued, "I'm letting you know because you at least deserve to know that much. Before it happens."

Aiden smiled slightly, though there was no humor in it. "I know of that possibility. It's war, after all."

Katherine studied his face, searching for something. "And you're alright with that?"

"I didn't say that," Aiden replied calmly. "I just said I know."

Katherine nodded slowly, understanding there was more he wasn't saying. "Then I've said my piece. Do what you need to do."

….

Aiden's avatar materialized outside Thamoryn's office, a sealed scroll in hand. He knocked once and entered.

Thamoryn had just arrived from the meeting with the Lords and their captains. When she saw Aiden, her chest tightened.

She knew what Oberon intended for him and his family, but she said nothing.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

Aiden presented the scroll. "This needs to be delivered to Lord Oberon."

Thamoryn took it, broke the seal, and read. Her eyes widened. "A Contest of Champions? How did you get this?"

"Does it matter?" Aiden replied.

"You went to Dragonhold," Thamoryn said, her voice sharp. "You warned them we're bringing war."

"Dragonhold already knows," Aiden said calmly. "Did you expect that we would march an army of over ten thousand toward the capital and they wouldn't find out? One way or the other, they were going to know."

Thamoryn's eyes narrowed. "How am I certain you're not conspiring with Jarius now? That this isn't some trap?"

"Trap?" He scoffed, "I want Jarius out of that throne, and the challenge winning conditions still makes certain of it," Aiden said pointing at the scroll again. "What I'm trying to prevent is harm befalling my friends at the guild or any other innocent person. Tell me, does Oberon intend to rule over the dead remains of casualties?"

"You speak with certainty that we'll win this, when this puts us in just as bad a situation as your father" she replied

"Xathia will win because you'll be making certain Lord Oberon sends me out as Champion" Aiden said in a confident tone.

Thamoryn chuckled a bit at his display of confidence, "you're undoubtedly a powerful but you silly boy? In a contest of champions, even the Grand Magus Mumbleton could be chosen as their champion"

Without warning, Aiden let loose just a little bit. He used the Dragon's fear skill once more and Thamoryn felt her entire body quiver under so much fill that her staff slipped from her hands and fell.

Aiden undid the skill, then stared at the shivering Grand Magus, "You were saying?"

Thamoryn had terror in her eyes and building sweat on her face when she stuttered out the words, "J-Just what are you?"

Aiden smiled and saud, "Just have it delivered to Oberon and let him see reason as i'm sure you just have. Make him accept that challenge"

Then he faded away without another word.

Thamoryn sat there mortified and unable to even put anything into perspective.

Aiden simply felt it more reasonable to bring this to Thamoryn instead of going to Oberon and forcing his hand like he did with Jarius.

…

Later that evening, Thamoryn entered Oberon's private study.

"Your Grace", she bowed slightly and placed the scroll on his desk.

Oberon looked up from his wine. "What's this?"

"A message from Dragonhold," Thamoryn said. "A messenger hawk brought it to me."

Oberon opened the scroll and read. Then he threw his head back and laughed.

"A Contest of Champions!" He laughed again, shaking his head. "Jarius is afraid. He sees Zahka's army combined with Xathia and knows he can't win a full war. So he's trying to reduce it to champions."

"Will you accept?" Thamoryn asked.

"Of course not, what stupid question is that thamoryn?" Oberon had a nasty look on his face.

Thamoryn sighed, she definitely did not like this part. "Your Grace, I understand your concern. This places the outcome of our win on a balance, but…" she sighed again.

Oberon leaned back in his chair, waiting to know where his grand magus was going with all of these.

"I think we should accept the challenge Your Grace—"

Before she could continued another further, Oberon interjected, "And if we lose?" He stood from his seat, finding this whole thing from his Grand Magus entirely unbelievable.

"I understand how it looks Your Grace, but I have reason to believe we won't be losing the contest. This way we have barely any casualties, and our forces would be ready should another Kingdom want to make an attempt when they think we are weakened" Thamoryn replied, in a bid to convince the King

"Casualties? That's why I called onto to Zahka in the first place, to reduce how much of these casualties we suffer. But let's say i was to entertain this foolishness, who do you suggest we send out with the absolute certainty we win? No doubts Jarius sees how dire his situation is, so Mumbleton will be chosen, which means we have to choose you. Can you tell me with certainty you can beat Mumbleton in a contest of magic?" Oberon had his arms folded while looking at thamoryn.

She sighed again, shaking her head. Knowing her silly what she was about to say was going to sound. "We'll be sending Aiden instead"

Oberon stopped moving, blinked twice at her and then chuckled at her suggestion. Her laughed for a while, then said, "I have every reason to believe you've lost your mind, Thamoryn. If you have nothing more to say, you may leave. I am not accepting the challenge, simple."

Thamoryn stopped for a second without uttering anything, then said, "Your Grace, Pardon me. But may I ask you to test him then? Perhaps after you've seen his capabilities in display, you may decide for yourself. If it turns out to be a waste of your time then I'll serve whatever punishment you deem fit"

Oberon looked startled after hearing that, that he had to look at Thamoryn for a while. This was practically her vouching for this boy, and both ways.

She was vouching that he would truly fight their own cause even when its against his home, and she was vouching that he would certainly win.

Without arguing any further he said, "I'll be at the Academy tomorrow. Make the arrangements, Aiden will face off against any Captain of your choosing"

"Your Grace…" Thamoryn bowed respectfully and then turned to leave as Oberon watched her leave still surprised by this whole thing.

But for Thamoryn, she knew what she had felt from Aiden in her office, and it was enough to risk getting punished by Lord Oberon. No human had ever made feel fear that way.

Additionally, she wanted to see how truly powerful this mage actually was.

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