Emisarry Of Time And Space-Chapter 207 - 208: Caelum’s method.

(A/N Big thanks to everyone for the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don't hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)

Power stones people, Gimme it.

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And so they continued, Alice got to know a few remarkable individuals from the Verdant family, they were amiable and didn't judge.

No sideways looks. No whispered comparisons. Just people doing what needed to be done.

Things were subtly looking up.

And then on the eleventh day, she encountered them, that same silver hair that logic or not, brought back her family's demise.

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Caelum's gaze rested on Alice, his mind working as he tried to recall anything—anything at all.

He'd never met this girl.

He'd never had a reason to meet this girl, or any cause to. This was his first time outside the Chronos estate. Before the academy, his life had been contained within rigid walls, schedules, and expectations. There was no overlap, no chance for paths to cross.

And yet, her eyes said otherwise.

They weren't just wary. They weren't just hostile. There was something sharper there. Something personal.

He reconsidered quickly.

She couldn't be hating him. They had never met. That left only one conclusion.

She hated the Chronos.

The realization brought a flicker of irritation, subtle but present. It wasn't uncommon, but it was still annoying. He let it pass without reacting. Emotion would only complicate things.

Her expression aside, her age stood out immediately. She was clearly younger than most of the people gathered here, yet she stood among them without being overshadowed or dismissed. No one was hovering over her protectively. No one was pushing her back.

That meant one thing.

Talented.

Talented people were often proud. Pride made people predictable.

He filed that away.

All of this passed through Caelum's mind in the span of a second. His expression didn't change.

Movement drew his attention.

Two more people stepped forward from the opposing group. Not one—two. One had verdant green hair. The other, ocean blue.

Verdant and Niver.

The realization settled things decisively.

These weren't random stragglers. These were organized noble teams. That alone justified caution.

It also reinforced his earlier conclusion.

Deception wasn't necessary here.

Not yet.

Their families might rank lower than the Chronos, but creating enmity with them was inefficient unless there was no alternative. More importantly, greed would do the work far better than lies.

So Caelum waited.

Two men had stepped out to address them, but only one would speak first. He wanted to understand their already set dynamics.

"Young masters."

The Niver spoke first, and Caelum noticed the dissatisfaction from the Verdant, but that was overshadowed by how the Niver had addressed him.

The words caught his attention despite his composure.

'Young masters?'

Caelum didn't react outwardly, but internally he adjusted immediately. This man wasn't speaking casually. That choice of address was deliberate. He was positioning himself—subordinate, respectful, compliant.

That changed things.

Caelum wasn't the only one surprised.

Alice's expression shifted instantly. It was subtle, but Caelum caught it. The Verdant man beside the speaker narrowed his eyes slightly. There was dissatisfaction there, quickly masked but unmistakable.

So that was how it was.

The Niver was taking the lead.

And the others weren't entirely happy about it.

But the Niver either didn't notice—or didn't care.

"From the looks on your faces, you were expecting us," the Niver continued, his tone polite, measured. "Is there any way we can be of help to you?"

A clean opening. No probing. No pressure.

Caelum responded just as calmly.

"You don't have to refer to us as young masters," he said, voice light, unforced. "None of us bear the title of heir. But we appreciate the acknowledgment."

That alone caused a visible recalibration among the listeners.

Then he continued.

"And yes, we do have something in mind. We weren't looking for anyone specific. We were searching for people to partner with, and you showed up."

He left it there.

No promises. No hooks. Just enough to invite curiosity.

Both the Verdant and the Niver exchanged brief looks. Thoughtful ones. Calculating.

"I understand you'll have questions," Caelum went on, unhurried. "And we have answers. But it's getting late. I'd suggest we set camp here and talk properly. I'm not a fan of traversing at night."

That did it.

They hadn't expected that level of control. Or that level of restraint.

For a fourteen-year-old, they'd anticipated something else—either arrogance or insecurity. What they got instead was composure. Authority without aggression.

The unspoken question passed through their minds clearly.

Were the Chronos really this different?

"Of course," the Niver replied almost immediately.

There was no hesitation. He was eager. Too eager.

"Very well," the Verdant followed, a fraction of a second later.

They had no reason to refuse. Caelum had promised answers, not outcomes. And more importantly, they were tired. Desperate, even, though they hadn't acknowledged it yet.

Days in the forest did that to people.

Caelum nodded once.

The groups moved efficiently after that. There was no confusion, no argument over space. Both sides produced spatial rings, pulling out supplies, tools, and shelter components with practiced ease.

Experience showed.

By the time the forest darkened fully, camp was set.

When everything was settled, they formed a loose circle.

The trio—Caelum, Kaelen, and Reina—sat at the center.

Caelum started by sharing the info they'd gained from the Sylgrid Ruk.

The groups were clearly fascinated by his descriptions.

He explained their systems and hierarchy at least up to the point he could.

He explained how they were running out of time, that something about the prince's elevation was occurring in a few days, and although there wasn't confirmation about the Sylgrid Jade, he explained decisively that it was in the capital.

He explained it all, he could literally see the gears turning in their heads, how they could take advantage of this information, how they would go about it he could read their thought process go a full circle before it came back to another crucial matter.

"Why are you telling us this?" The Verdant was the first to ask.

"Like I said before, we wish to partner up."