“Why do you think I can help you?” heKent asked Chelli, the vice leader of Noman island.
Chelli immediately replied in a serious tone. “Initially, I didn’t think you would. In fact, I had no hope at all. But my sister, Ria, who’s imprisoned in the royal prison, told me… no, she commanded me to come to you for help. I don’t know why she has so much faith in you, but after watching you from afar these past days, I realized she might be right. You’re not like the others.”
Kent raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity finally surfacing. “And what exactly makes me different? Flattery alone won’t make me risk going against the royals.”
“You don’t chase power for the sake of it,” she replied, her voice strong. “I saw you turn down the Frost family’s offer for marriage—a guaranteed path to influence. That was when I understood: you’re a man of conviction. You don’t follow the same shallow desires as the royals.” She swallowed hard. “I’m asking you because… if anyone can help, it’s you. Please, I beg of you.”
Kent stared at her, his expression unreadable, then leaned back, his gaze turning thoughtful. “You certainly have a slippery tongue,” he murmured, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “But tell me, why should I help you? Why should I risk making an enemy of the royal family for a stranger?”
The silence that followed stretched long and heavy, as Chelli searched for an answer. Her lips trembled, and for the first time, her confidence seemed to falter. She lowered her head, gathering her thoughts, then finally spoke, her voice softer now.
“I don’t have much to offer,” she admitted. “But I am the vice-leader of the Noman Island warriors women. All my girls are proficient in forbidden arts. Our entire existence centers around one goal: bringing down the royal family, especially Queen Soya.”
She took a step closer, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. “If you help me save my sister, Ria, I swear on my life that the Noman Island warriors will stand with you to kill anyone of the Royal family. You would have my loyalty and the loyalty of my sisters.”
Kent’s expression remained stoic, but he crossed his arms, listening with a faint glimmer of interest. “The loyalty of a handful of rebels is hardly enticing enough for a gamble of this scale. Why do you even want to kill Queen Soya?”
Chelli nodded slowly, understanding his skepticism. She took a deep breath, visibly gathering her courage. “Our group isn’t as small as you might think. Noman Island was established by thirteen ancestor women—all from noble families who were wiped out when the Quinn family took control of the realm. Queen Soya gave the order to eliminate anyone with royal blood after the wars. Our ancestors lost everything—their families, their homes, their titles. But they survived. They founded Noman Island to live in hiding and one day avenge their bloodlines by taking down the Quinn family.”
Kent’s gaze sharpened, his expression darkening as he pieced together the implications of her words. “You’re telling me the Noman Island warriors are gathered and trained by these noble family women?”
She nodded, her gaze unwavering. “We are all products of their training. And we’ve trained in dangerous forbidden spells to someday take back what was stolen from the 13 ancestors.” Her voice cracked, and she quickly swallowed, regaining her composure.
“In any case we need a leader like Ria for the future growth of Noman island. And Ria… she believes you could be the one to save her life. With you, I stand a chance.”
Kent’s eyes narrowed, and a memory flickered in his mind—the image of Master Zi Chen, the wise and powerful mentor who had guided him in body cultivation and taught him about the Divine Beast transformation.
Kent remembered that Zi Chen had been a part of a royal family that had been killed by the Quinns. Perhaps his master’s lineage was linked to these island warriors as well. His expression softened, just barely, as he looked back at Chelli.
“You mentioned you want revenge,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “But revenge is a path that can destroy you as easily as your enemies. Are you truly prepared for that?”
Chelli nodded, her eyes blazing with a determination that belied her otherwise quiet demeanor. “For us, there’s no other path. We were traind to take back what was stolen, to end the bloodshed by ending the rule of the Quinn family. If death comes, then it is an honor to fall in battle.”
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The fierce determination in her voice struck a chord in Kent. He understood her desperation, but he still wasn’t convinced. He leaned forward, his gaze piercing. “And how do I know you won’t betray me? What’s to stop you from using me and then abandoning our supposed alliance?”
Chelli took a shuddering breath and closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them, they were filled with unbreakable resolve. “Give me any test. I will take any poison, swear any oath. Loyalty is the only thing we have left. It’s all I can give you.”
For a moment, silence settled between them, thick and heavy with unspoken words. Kent watched her intently, searching her face for any sign of deceit, but found only genuine desperation and fierce loyalty. Finally, he made up his mind as these women will be helpful to him during the war of 9 realms.
“All right,” he said slowly. “I’ll consider helping you. But I need time to make plans.” He looked at her, his gaze serious. “Meet me in the Royal Capital in three days. Until then, stay away from me.”
Relief washed over Chelli’s face, and she nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with gratitude. “Thank you… thank you so much. I’m really grateful for this.”
As she slipped back into the shadows, Kent watched her go, his mind already working through the implications of this new alliance.
He knew the dangers of taking Ria out of prison, but something about Chelli’s cause resonated deeply with him.
Slowly, the memories of Ria Semen, the infamous black belle miss in silver leaf town surfaced in his brain. At least to see the surprise on her face after revealing identity later, Kent decided to save her.
Perhaps it was his master’s memory or the unfairness of the Quinn family’s rule. Whatever it was, Kent knew he was about to walk a path that would change everything.
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