The Price of Truth

Kael sat cross-legged in the dimly lit room of Jax’s hideout, the flickering light from a single candle casting long shadows on the crumbling walls. His hands trembled slightly as he stared at the stolen letter in his lap, the ornate seal of the hawk clutching a serpent unmistakable. This was no ordinary mark—it was a symbol of power, of authority, of a family entrenched in the nobility of the capital. His mind raced as he pieced together the fragments of the conversation he’d overheard at the mercenaries’ hideout.

The Baron.

The name had surfaced like a ghost in the mercenaries’ heated discussion. This figure had orchestrated the destruction of Kael’s family, a calculated act of violence that had left him alone and broken. But why? The letter in his hands might hold the answer.

Jax leaned casually against the wall, his arms crossed. Despite his nonchalant posture, his keen eyes watched Kael carefully. “You gonna open it, or are you just gonna stare at it all night?” he asked.

Kael exhaled deeply, his fingers brushing the edge of the seal. “This... this could be it, Jax. The answer I’ve been searching for.”

“Well, there’s only one way to find out.”

Steeling himself, Kael broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. The handwriting was elegant, the kind that bespoke wealth and education. The letter was short, its message chilling in its simplicity:

"Ensure the Silvyn family is erased. The boy is irrelevant. No witnesses, no loose ends. Your payment will be waiting— The Baron”.

Kael’s heart stopped. His breath hitched in his throat as he reread the words, each one slicing into him like a dagger. “Erased.” That was the word they had used. Not killed, not defeated—erased. As if his family had been nothing more than an obstacle to be wiped away.

Jax leaned over Kael’s shoulder, his usual smirk replaced by a grim expression. “Silvyn, huh? So that’s your family name.”

Kael’s voice was tight with suppressed emotion. “They didn’t just kill them. They wanted to erase them, Jax. Like they never existed.”

Jax nodded slowly, his gaze flicking to the letter. “This Baron guy sounds like bad news. Real bad. You sure you want to keep digging? People like him don’t leave survivors for a reason.”

Kael stood abruptly, the letter clutched tightly in his fist. His eyes burned with a mix of grief and fury. “He left one,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Me. And I’ll make him regret it.”

Jax hesitated, his usual cocky demeanor slipping. “Look, I’m all for revenge, but you’re talking about going after someone who has the power to buy entire armies. This isn’t some street thug. This is a noble. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up dead.”

Kael turned to face him, his expression hardened. “Then I’ll die fighting. But I can’t stop now, Jax. Not when I’m this close.”

The thief sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “All right, then. If you’re going to be stubborn about this, you’re going to need more than just a name and some righteous anger. You’re going to need proof. And allies.”

“Proof?” Kael asked, frowning.

Jax gestured to the letter. “This is a good start, but it’s not enough. A piece of paper isn’t going to bring a noble down. You need to find out why this Baron wanted your family gone. What made them such a threat?”

Kael’s fists clenched at his sides. He had always known his father was a man of integrity, someone who stood firm against corruption. Could that have been the reason? Had his father’s unwavering morals clashed with the Baron’s greed?

As if sensing Kael’s thoughts, Jax added, “If this Baron is as powerful as he seems, he’s not going to make it easy for you to dig into his affairs. He’ll have layers of protection, people willing to die to keep his secrets safe.”

“Then I’ll peel back every layer,” Kael said, his voice firm.

Jax studied him for a long moment before cracking a small smile. “You’ve got fire, I’ll give you that. All right, I’m in. Someone’s got to make sure you don’t get yourself killed.”

Kael felt a surge of gratitude toward Jax. In the short time they had known each other, the thief had become more than just an ally—he was a friend, one who had risked his life to help Kael uncover the truth.

As the candle burned low, Kael sat back down, the weight of the revelation settling over him like a heavy cloak. The Baron wasn’t just a name anymore. He was a target. And Kael would stop at nothing to make him pay for the lives he had destroyed.

At that moment, Kael made a silent vow: he would unravel the truth, no matter the cost. He would expose the Baron’s crimes, and when the time came, he would deliver justice. Not just for himself, but for his family—for the Silvyn name that the Baron had tried to erase.

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