Published at 10th of February 2026 7:28 am

Chapter 1489 Three Unknowns

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After leaving the emergency council meeting, Agron Yaegar, Buther Bowman, and Kenton Hastings gathered in a quiet side chamber not long after the meeting ended.

The door was sealed, and a barrier was erected to prevent scrying from outside. None of them spoke at first, their minds churning with what they'd heard in the meeting earlier.

Yaegar was the first one to break the silence. He folded his arms and let out a deep sigh.

"This whole thing reeks," he said in a grim voice. "An internal leak, five confirmed deaths, and Damon storms into the council meeting and points a finger straight at the newest member."

Hastings couldn't help but frown at that comment. "You think he's lying?" he asked.

"I think he's desperate," Yaegar replied in an even voice. "Meechum was like a son to him. Men don't think clearly after losses like that."

Uther Bowman remained silent.

Hastings glanced at him and said, "You look unconvinced."

Bowman's eyes narrowed. "Because I don't believe Damon was acting purely on emotion," he said in a low voice. "Not at his age, and most certainly not with his experience. That outburst was too... theatrical."

Yaegar couldn't help but frown. "So you think it was an act?"

"…I think it might have been." Bowman nodded after a long moment of deliberation. "Or at least, partially one. If there really is a traitor among us, making a public accusation like that forces them to react. It puts pressure on everyone in the room."

At that moment, the three Councilors couldn't help but exchange sharp but wary glances at one another.

Hastings shifted uneasily in his seat. "Including Vaelor?"

"Especially Vaelor," Bowman coldly said.

Yaegar couldn't help but scoff. "Which makes things even worse. If Vaelor is innocent, then Damon just painted a massive target on his back. And if he isn't innocent…"

He didn't finish his sentence.

Hasting massaged his temples and sighed. "The timing is what bothers me. Vaelor joins the Council, then suddenly we have a massive leak. Then, a mysterious group wipes out Meechum and the others. It's too neat. Not to mention, we don't even know the full extent of the leak."

"The neatness is exactly what worries me," Bowman said in a grim voice. "Real traitors don't usually operate that sloppily. They don't draw attention to themselves this directly unless they're either arrogant or… trying to frame someone else."

Yaegar's eyes widened slightly. "You think someone's setting Vaelor up?!"

"It's possible." Bowman gave a slight nod. "And it's also possible Damon himself doesn't fully know which it is yet. That's why he accused Vaelor publicly instead of handling it quietly. He's using him as bait."

Hastings had a dark look on his face, and he couldn't help but ask. "So where does that leave us?"

"In a very dangerous place," Bowman said in a low voice. "If Vaelor is innocent, then someone powerful is playing all of us. If he's guilty… then we've already allowed a traitor to sit among us for years."

"You don't think it could be those two from the Reformers and the Seekers of Balance?" Hastings couldn't help but ask.

Bowman sneered. "It isn't them, I can assure you that. They lack the spine for such a delicate scheme. Besides, I've had my eyes on them for a while now. So it most definitely isn't them."

"But either way, the Brotherhood is compromised," Yaegar said through clenched teeth. "And this just so had to happen while Lord Benton is visiting us!"

At those words, silence fell again. A dreadful silence. Just the Blood Lord's name was enough to strike fear in their hearts.

At last, Hastings spoke in a low voice, "Do you trust Damon?"

Bowman didn't answer immediately. He thought for a long time.

"I trust that he believes he's protecting the Brotherhood," he said at last. "I do not trust that he's seeing the whole board now."

Yaegar nodded with a grim look on his face. "Then we have two unknowns. The mysterious new enemy group… and the real traitor."

"And possibly a third," Bowman added.

The other Councilors turned to him, stunned.

Bowman continued, his eyes cold as ice, "Whoever killed Meechum wanted this exact outcome. They wanted chaos within the Council."

Another bout of tense silence followed.

Hastings sighed and asked, "So what now? What do we do?"

Bowman's face twisted into a scowl. "We watch Valor. We watch Damon. And we assume someone in the Council is already lying to our faces."

Yaegar couldn't help but scoff. "Isn't that wonderful?"

"And," Bowman continued in a dignified voice. "We prepare for the possibility that this is only the opening move."

Once their meeting was adjourned, the three went their separate ways.

And only a few minutes later, Agron Yaegar and Kenton Hastings received a secret letter.

The letter was from none other than their fellow Councilor, Nyle Damon.

***

In the dark of the night, Vaelor arrived at the run-down storehouse at the edge of the woods.

His presence was completely concealed thanks to a Grade-4 artifact he was using. He stared at the abandoned building in front of him, its cracked stone walls, sagging roof, and boarded windows.

The elf hesitated for a brief moment, then pushed the door open and stepped inside. The interior was dark and empty, causing Veelor to instinctively reach out for his weapon.

Then, a figure stepped out of the shadows from the back wall.

"Damon?" Vaelor spoke quietly, his hand gripping the hilt of his dagger.

Nyle Damon's face emerged from the dim light. He looked slightly surprised.

"…You actually came," he said. "I wasn't sure you would."

Vaelor gnashed his teeth in rage. "You accused me of treason in front of the entire Council. Then you summon me in secret. I need to know what game you're playing!"

"Good," Damon said with a nod. "You are braver than I thought."

He stepped in front of the loose stone that concealed the stairwell and placed his hand against it.

"Come," he said. "I'll show you the evidence. I've summoned the others as well. They'll be here soon."

"Others?" Vaelor couldn't help but frown. "Wasn't the real traitor within the Council of Dawn?"

"He is," Damon replied without turning back as he descended the stairs. He fully exposed his unguarded back to lower the elf's guard. "I've summoned all but the traitor here."

Vaelor's heart skipped a beat. "Who is the traitor then?"

"See for yourself." Damon stopped in front of the interrogation room door and turned the handle.

The door creaked open.

What Vaelor saw inside made his heart sink in terror…

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