The forge was quieter that night, but not empty. The fire had been lowered to a steady glow, just enough to keep the place warm as the group settled in after a long day. The weight of a new decision hung in the air. It was no longer just about iron ingots or snacks. Tomorrow, they would be leaving the village.

Liam returned just as the sun fully dipped below the horizon, pushing the door open with a tired sigh. Dust clung to his clothes, and his legs looked like they might give out at any moment. He had spent the entire afternoon running between the five shops, delivering Dory’s message and bringing the girls along.

Dory nodded seeing the girls from where he stood near the worktable. "Good. We leave early."

Liam groaned. "We just finished one crazy week, and now we’re starting another?"

Maya, who had already returned and was tying her hair back, smirked. "You can stay behind if you want."

"...No, I’m coming."

Horg sat in his usual spot, arms crossed, watching them. "Valerius is not like this village," he said slowly. "You kids better understand that."

Sirene stood near the doorway, her posture straight as always. Even without her helmet, she still carried herself like a soldier. "We know," she replied. "That’s why we need all of you."

Dory leaned against the table, arms folded. "We’re not going there blindly. We plan first, move after."

Sirene nodded once. "That’s why I stayed."

The room settled into a quieter tone after that. The girls moved around, preparing a simple dinner while Liam rested and Horg checked a few tools out of habit. The usual noise of chopping and low chatter filled the space again, but it felt different this time. There was tension beneath it.

After they finished eating, most of them gathered around the long wooden table. A small candle flickered in the center, casting shadows across their faces.

Dory looked at Sirene. "Start from the beginning."

She didn’t hesitate. "Valerius and the Northern Clans have been at each other’s throats for months now. Small fights at first. Raids, ambushes, border clashes. But now... it’s building into something bigger."

Horg frowned. "War."

"Yes," Sirene replied.

Lola leaned back slightly. "And you want to stop it by scamming them?"

Sirene didn’t react to the word. "I want to stop it by controlling what they think they know. If both sides believe they are gaining something... they hesitate. They wait. That delay is enough to stop things from escalating further."

Dory tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "And we’re the ones creating that illusion."

"Yes."

Maya tilted her head. "What exactly are we selling?"

Sirene looked at Dory. "That depends on him."

All eyes shifted to Dory.

He adjusted his glasses slightly. "Information. Supplies. Maybe even influence."

Liam blinked. "That sounds... dangerous."

"It is," Dory replied simply.

There was a brief silence before Lisa spoke up quietly. "What if we get caught?"

"We don’t," Dory said.

Dano frowned. "That’s not really reassuring."

"It’s the only answer that matters," he replied.

Sirene watched him closely. "You’re calm."

"I’m thinking," Dory said.

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. "If we’re doing this, we don’t play both sides equally. We control the flow. We decide what each side gets and when."

Horg grunted. "Like rationing lies."

Dory nodded. "Exactly."

Maya smiled faintly. "You’re enjoying this."

"...A little."

Liam shook his head. "We’re going to get killed."

"No, we’re not," Lola said. "Relax."

Sirene crossed her arms. "There’s something else."

Dory looked up. "What?"

She hesitated for a brief second before speaking again. "There’s someone in Valerius. Someone who used to be part of Dayla."

That caught Dory’s attention.

"...Used to?"

"Yes," she said. "He left. No one knows why exactly, but he’s still active. Still involved."

Horg frowned. "And he’s a problem?"

Sirene’s expression hardened slightly. "He’s more than a problem."

The room grew quiet again.

Maya spoke this time. "What makes him different from the others?"

Sirene looked at each of them before answering. "He’s not fighting for Valerius. And he’s not fighting for the Northern Clans either."

Dory’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Then what does he want?"

"To stop the war," she said.

Liam blinked. "Isn’t that... good?"

Sirene shook her head. "Not the way he plans to do it."

Dory leaned back slowly. "Explain."

"He doesn’t care who he has to destroy to achieve it," she said. "Villages, supply lines, people... if it brings both sides to a halt, he’ll do it."

Horg let out a low breath. "That’s not stopping a war. That’s starting another one."

"Exactly," Sirene replied.

Dory stayed silent for a moment, processing it.

’...So there’s another player...’

Maya looked at Sirene. "And he knows about you?"

"Probably," she said. "He keeps track of things like this."

Lola crossed her arms. "So we’re walking into a city with two sides already fighting... and a third person causing chaos behind the scenes."

"Pretty much," Liam muttered.

Dory exhaled quietly.

’...This just got complicated...’

He stood up and walked a few steps away from the table, thinking. The others didn’t interrupt him this time. They had learned that look on his face meant he was working through something.

After a while, he spoke.

"We don’t confront him."

Sirene nodded. "I agree."

"We avoid him," Dory continued. "If our paths cross, we observe. Nothing more."

Maya raised an eyebrow. "You’re not curious?"

"I am," Dory said. "But curiosity gets people killed in situations like this."

Horg chuckled lightly. "You’re learning fast."

Dory didn’t respond to that. He turned back to Sirene.

"What’s his name?"

There was a small pause.

Even the air in the room felt heavier for a second.

Sirene’s voice dropped slightly when she answered.

"Arlo Caesar."

Silence followed.

No one spoke immediately.

Dory adjusted his glasses again, his expression unreadable.

’...So that’s the kind of person we’re dealing with...’

Maya let out a slow breath. "Sounds important."

"He is," Sirene said.

Liam scratched his head. "I don’t like this already."

Lola smirked. "Too late to back out now."

Dory returned to the table and sat down again. "We leave at first light," he said. "Get some rest."

The group slowly began to disperse after that. Bedrolls were laid out, the candle was dimmed, and one by one, they settled down for the night.

But the mood was no longer light.

Tomorrow, they were leaving the village.

And waiting for them in Valerius... was war, politics, and a man named Arlo Caesar.