The two figures stopped a few feet away from us, their posture rigid but not openly hostile. The taller of the two, clad in the Eisenfrost Clan's signature silver armor, let his gaze sweep over our team before speaking.
"You must be the Organization's operatives," he said, voice deep and measured. "I am Elias Krauser, Warden of the Eisenfrost Clan. This is my apprentice, Lenz."
Lenz, a shorter but sharp-eyed young man in flowing robes, nodded but said nothing. His aura was calm, his essence tightly controlled—a sign of discipline.
I stepped forward, keeping my stance relaxed but ready. "Fortune, captain of Team One. We received reports of unstable essence fluctuations in this region, and it looks like those reports were accurate."
Elias's expression remained unreadable. "Indeed. The instability is worsening. The Schattenreich Clan believes it to be a temporary phenomenon, but we know better. This domain is not simply lingering—it is evolving."
Zach tensed at that. "A sleeping domain doesn't evolve on its own. Something—or someone—is fueling it."
Elias gave a slow nod. "Which is why you were summoned. We do not have the means to stabilize it ourselves."
I didn't buy that for a second. The Eisenfrost Clan specialized in essence suppression. If anyone could contain something like this, it should be them. Which meant they weren't telling us everything.
Nel crossed her arms. "If you need help, then full transparency is required. What aren't you telling us?"
Elias exhaled through his nose, a flicker of something—annoyance, perhaps—crossing his face. "You will have your answers. But not here." He gestured toward a row of sleek, black cars parked at the edge of the airstrip. "The clan leader will explain everything. If you wish to proceed, follow us."
I exchanged a glance with my team. Zach's lips were pressed into a thin line, Deya's fingers twitched near her dagger, and Amir, of course, was grinning like he was waiting for things to go sideways.
"Your call, Captain," Nel murmured.
I nodded. "Let's go."
The ride to the Eisenfrost estate was silent, the tension thick in the air. We arrived at a vast compound nestled between the forested hills, its architecture a seamless blend of modern design and ancient craftsmanship. Tall stone walls surrounded the main estate, reinforced with glowing runes that pulsed faintly in the darkness.Inside, we were led to an expansive meeting hall, where an older man sat at the head of a long table. His presence alone carried authority—broad-shouldered, silver-haired, with piercing eyes that seemed to look straight through us.
"Welcome, Team One," he said, his voice steady but laced with something else—concern. "I am Gregor Eisenfrost, leader of this clan. And if you are here, then our situation is worse than I feared."
I pulled out a chair but didn't sit. "Then let's not waste time. What exactly happened here?"
Gregor's expression darkened. "A tragedy. One of our strongest warriors, a Level Three domain user, perished under… unusual circumstances." He folded his hands together. "His domain did not fade upon his death. Instead, it has begun to grow unstable, warping the essence around it. We have tried to contain it, but something—an external force—is interfering."
"An external force?" Zach echoed. "You're saying someone is making it worse on purpose?"
"Yes," Gregor confirmed grimly. "And I believe the Schattenreich Clan may be involved."
That changed things.
Nel's eyes sharpened. "You think they're using the instability for their own gain?"
Gregor nodded slowly. "The Schattenreich have always walked in shadows. They excel at subterfuge. If they have found a way to manipulate the remnants of a Level Three domain, it could be disastrous—not just for us, but for the entire region."
Amir let out a low whistle. "And here I thought this was just another 'stabilize and go home' mission."
I ignored him, my mind racing. If the Schattenreich really were involved, this was no longer just about stabilizing the domain. This was about stopping whatever they were trying to achieve before it spiraled out of control.
I finally took my seat. "Then tell us everything you know about this domain. If we're going to fix this, we need all the details."
Gregor nodded, his face set in grim determination. "Very well. But be warned—this mission is more dangerous than you realize."