Martial Demons Ascension

The sun was dipping low by the time Rhyka left the temple school grounds The day had flown by, the endless drills, questions, and Emmet's presence cutting the hours down until evening shadows stretched long across the stone paths He moved unhurriedly, hands loose at his sides, golden eyes flicking across the edges of the mountain village

The dojo had been repaired halfway through the day Earth mages from the village had pitched in, raising the shattered walls and reinforcing the foundation What had been torn apart by Nero's glass pillars now stood whole again, new stone mingling with old wood, dust still clinging faintly to the seams

As Rhyka approached, he slowed Someone was there

Nero stood just outside the boundary, leaning casually against a stone post, a small book open in one hand His dark blue hair caught the fading light, his pale skin taking on an almost porcelain glow He didn't look up immediately, eyes flicking across whatever text he was consuming, posture elegant and composed as though the world itself bent slightly to his rhythm

Rhyka smirked faintly, lifting one hand in a wave "You're early"

Nero closed the book smoothly, the motion precise, and slipped it back into the folds of his cloak Without a word, he stepped forward, his stride controlled and graceful, following Rhyka as he pushed open the door to the dojo

Inside, the space smelled faintly of fresh timber and clean soil from the repairs Rhyka moved straight to a low table set near the wall, where two cloth bags were waiting He untied the knots with practiced ease and pulled them open, revealing an assortment of food, steamed rice wrapped in leaves, roasted meats still glistening, pickled vegetables, and a flask of sweet tea

"Figured you wouldn't like the slop the villagers pass off as meals," Rhyka said casually, setting the dishes out across the table "So I brought something better"

Nero lowered himself across from him, his movements exact, like every gesture had been measured before it was made His eyes flicked briefly across the spread, and though his expression didn't change much, his words were quiet, precise

"…Thank you"

It was curt, but genuine

Rhyka poured the tea into two cups, the fragrant steam curling upward between them They ate in silence for a time, the crackle of meat, the soft clink of cups against the wooden surface filling the air Rhyka chewed calmly, golden eyes occasionally flicking toward Nero, studying him just as carefully as he had during their duel Nero, for his part, ate with the same composed grace he carried everywhere, but Rhyka caught the small signs, the way his shoulders relaxed, the faint hum of satisfaction under his breath when he tasted the spiced broth

The silence wasn't uncomfortable It was measured Two predators, circling each other still, but acknowledging the meal as part of the unspoken truce

Only when the plates had thinned and the tea was nearly gone did Rhyka lean back slightly, smirk tugging faintly at his lips

"So," he said, voice low but steady, "shall we talk about what comes next"

Rhyka set his cup down, the faint ring of ceramic against wood echoing in the quiet dojo His golden eyes narrowed slightly, smirk tugging faintly at his lips as he spoke first

"So, I understand you want to talk about the caravan"

Nero leaned back slightly, his posture composed but deliberate His gray eyes met Rhyka's without wavering "Yes Now that I have another quasi Rank 3 level combatant," he said matter of factly, "they'll come here at least Once they see you standing beside me, the caravan will have no reason to hesitate They'll head out And from there…"

He lifted his teacup, the pale liquid catching the lantern light as he tilted it "…it'll be easy to handle"

Rhyka didn't interrupt He watched the noble carefully, his expression unreadable

Nero continued, his tone sharp, practical, like someone laying down steps on a chessboard "But it seems we won't be able to take the other students out directly Their strength isn't there yet, and I won't risk liabilities on the road However…" His lips curved faintly "When I return to my main estate, I'll send for them Six months That should be enough time for them to be retrieved properly, with guards capable of escorting them"

The words were delivered coldly, without hesitation To Nero, people were pieces, moved or set aside as needed

Rhyka's smirk deepened, but he didn't comment Not yet

Nero set his cup down, eyes sharpening "That brings us to the other matter The beast"

The air in the room seemed to still at the mention Both of them knew what he meant

"The Rank 5 that's established its domain nearby," Nero said His voice was calm, but the weight of his words pressed down like a stone "It complicates travel Even the caravan knows that If left alone, it will tighten its grip, make leaving impossible for another year or more"

He leaned forward slightly, pale fingers steepling "That's why, when I return, we may have to consider subjugating it Not alone, not recklessly But with proper timing, with the right strength gathered"

Rhyka's golden eyes narrowed faintly, his smirk thinning into something more thoughtful

Nero didn't give him time to speak "And I want you to accompany me," he said plainly "At least until the matter of the beast is dealt with Think of it as mercenary work if you prefer You'll be compensated More than you've seen so far"

The noble's gaze was steady, his tone unyielding To him, this wasn't a request, it was a statement of intent, an expectation

Rhyka sat back, crossing his arms loosely, golden irises glinting as he studied Nero in silence He let the quiet stretch, as though weighing the words, the offer, the threat His lips finally curved again into a faint, sharp smirk

…Mercenary work, huh he thought

Nero's words hung in the air for a moment, calm but firm Then, as though sealing the matter, he added

"Next time you see them, your classmates, the ones desperate to leave, inform them of the second caravan Tell them it will be free of cost"

The statement landed heavy, deliberate

Rhyka tilted his head slightly, golden eyes narrowing as he studied Nero's expression There was no hesitation in the noble's tone, no arrogance in the phrasing, it wasn't a favor, it was a calculation

Nero lifted his teacup again, his movements slow and precise "If they know there's another path, one that won't bleed them of coin, they'll stay put They won't act rashly, won't try to force their way into our plans Stability now is worth more than a few gold pieces"

He set the cup down, his gray eyes locking directly with Rhyka's "That's why you'll deliver the message Coming from you, they'll listen"

Rhyka leaned back slightly, smirk tugging faintly at his lips Inside, his thoughts turned cold and sharp Free of cost… to keep them quiet To keep them out of the way Clever, Nero

But outwardly, he kept his expression casual, his voice edged with dry amusement "So I get to be the messenger boy, hm? Tell them to sit tight while you decide the timeline"

Nero didn't flinch "You're already their ally, whether you admit it or not They trust your word more than mine Use it"

The room fell silent again, save for the faint crackle of the lantern flame

Rhyka's smirk deepened just slightly He didn't agree outright, but he didn't refuse either He let the silence carry his answer, measured, unreadable, just enough to keep Nero guessing

When the conversation wound down, Rhyka rose without a word He moved to the small clay kettle resting at the edge of the room, refilling it with water from a jug The soft sound of water pouring broke the heavy silence, followed soon after by the faint scrape of flint as he coaxed a flame to life beneath the kettle

Nero watched without comment, his gray eyes following the motion, his hands resting neatly atop his knees He didn't rush He didn't fidget He simply sat, as if this too was part of the meeting, an extension of the patience demanded in combat

The water warmed quickly Rhyka poured it over fresh leaves in two cups, the sharp herbal scent rising between them He set one cup across from him, the other in his own hand

They drank in silence

For a moment, neither spoke The tea was hot, calming, almost bitter in its strength It fit the mood, two boys, neither willing to show too much, both content to let the stillness stretch

When the last drops were drained, Rhyka placed his cup down with a quiet tap Nero mirrored him, his movements exact, as though it was a small ritual

Rhyka stood, walking to the door He pulled it open, the mountain air spilling in, cool, crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and stone He gestured once with his chin

Nero rose smoothly, cloak brushing against the floor as he stepped past He paused just briefly at the threshold, turning his head to look at Rhyka

"Until next time," he said simply His voice was calm, certain, as if the arrangement was already set in stone

Rhyka gave the faintest smirk, golden eyes steady "Until then"

Nero inclined his head once in acknowledgement, then stepped into the night, his silhouette fading against the lantern glow of the village road

Rhyka closed the door softly behind him, the dojo falling silent once more