Arthur didn't think mornings could physically hurt, but when the sun hit his window like an angry landlord banging for rent, something inside his skull definitely cracked. Not literally (thank gods), but emotionally. Spiritually. Whatever-ly.
He hadn't slept much. Again.
He kept waking up because every time he closed his eyes, he imagined Craymore kicking down the door yelling "TAXES!!" while waving Evelynn like a flag.
So when he stumbled into the kitchen and Evelynn gave him a cup of tea with a gentle smile, he drank half of it in one gulp and nearly burned off his tongue.
"Careful," Evelynn chided softly.
"I don't have time to be careful," Arthur croaked, clutching the tea like it was life support. "Craymore's gonna eat us."
"You're exaggerating," she said, although her tired eyes suggested she wasn't confident about that.
Lily was sitting on the table with a blanket around her shoulders like a tiny exhausted ghost. She yawned dramatically.
"Brother, you look worse than me."
"That's because you slept," Arthur said, poking her cheek.
"No, Mama made me sleep. Different thing."
He sighed. "Must be nice."
Before he could sip more tea without burning himself again, Leon burst into the kitchen like someone who forgot how doors work.
"My lord!" he announced, way too loudly for morning. "The envoy—"
Arthur spat his tea. "He's back?! Already?!"
"No—no," Leon said, coughing. "Not that envoy. A… another one."
Arthur blinked. "Another envoy? From WHO?? Did I miss taxes from someone else? The elves? Dwarves? The Empire Emperor himself?"
Leon rubbed the back of his neck. "It's… someone from the merchant guild. They say they are delivering a… courtesy visit."
Arthur's gut did a weird flip. Merchant guild… That probably meant—
"Seraphine…" he whispered.
Lily perked up. "Who's that?"
Arthur groaned. "My social nightmare."
He barely had time to fix his hair (which wasn't even that bad but still messy enough to look like he was punched by sleep) before the manor doors opened and in stepped Seraphine Vellaris — the merchant heiress with emerald eyes, high-class posture, and a walk that said "I'm here to negotiate, insult you politely, and possibly ruin you while smiling."
Her hair was styled perfectly, not a strand out of place. Her clothes looked like they cost more than the entire barony's yearly grain budget. Behind her trailed two attendants carrying boxes.
"Lord Grayfall," she said with a smug tilt of her head. "You look… conscious. I suppose that counts as presentable."
Arthur gulped. "Uh. Hello. Welcome. I guess."
Leon whispered from behind him, "My lord, don't let her intimidate you."
Arthur whispered back, "She already did. Twice."
Seraphine's eyes flickered toward Leon. "Is your… hunter boy your advisor now?"
"No," Arthur blurted, too fast, "he's—he's just—he's—someone I trust not to stab me in the back."
Leon's ears went red. Seraphine raised an eyebrow, amused.
She glanced around the foyer with calm disapproval. "Charming little manor. Needs better lighting. And rugs. Possibly walls, too."
"Walls?!" Arthur sputtered. "The walls are literally standing!"
"Yes," she said dryly. "Barely."
Lily peeked from behind the hall corner, staring at Seraphine like she was observing a rare animal. Evelynn arrived shortly after, wearing her composed smile that was way too good at hiding unease.
"Lady Seraphine," Evelynn greeted politely. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"'Pleasure' is a strong word," Seraphine said, walking further in. "Let us call it… opportunity."
The attendants set the boxes down and opened them, revealing cloths, ledgers, spices, and small bottles of something that looked expensive enough to make Arthur sweat.
"I heard Grayfall is in trouble," Seraphine said bluntly. "Craymore's demands reached my ears faster than your messenger reached his horse."
Arthur nearly fainted. "Is gossip faster than our mail system?!"
"Much faster," she said. "Embarrassingly so."
Leon muttered, "She's terrifying."
Seraphine folded her arms. "I am here because your barony falling would be… inconvenient. Both politically and economically."
Arthur frowned. "You want something."
"Of course," she said with a soft smile that absolutely did not soften anything. "But it may help you too."
Arthur had a bad feeling. "What… exactly… do you want?"
"A partnership. Between your barony and my trade routes," she said. "I will give you supplies, coin, and information. In return, you provide safe passage, space for warehouses, access to the southern trail, and your cooperation in dealing with certain nobles."
Arthur blinked. "Wait—this is… actually good? What's the catch?"
Seraphine smiled wider. "The catch is that you must not be incompetent."
Arthur nearly died where he stood.
Leon stepped forward like he was Arthur's guard dog. "Our lord is not incompetent."
Seraphine gave him a look like she was deciding if she believed him or wanted to argue.
"No?" she asked. "He passed out during negotiations with wolves and admitted he panic-guessed a strategy."
"HEY!" Arthur yelped. "I lived! That counts for something!"
Seraphine smirked. "Barely."
Leon scowled. "You underestimate him."
"And you overestimate him," she replied.
Arthur flapped his arms. "Guys, please! I'm right here!"
They both ignored him.
Evelynn gently stepped between them. "Please. Let us speak in the dining hall."
Seraphine nodded. Leon grumbled but followed. Arthur followed even more reluctantly, feeling like he was being dragged into a business meeting he never prepared for.
The dining hall wasn't fancy — Arthur wished he'd at least cleaned the chairs. Seraphine sat down like she owned the place, flipping open a ledger.
She spread out numbers — lots of numbers — numbers that looked like they were written by someone who hated humanity.
"Craymore controls the north routes," she explained. "He is trying to strangle your barony financially. If he succeeds, you will have no leverage."
Arthur nodded slowly. "So we need money."
"And goods."
"And allies."
"And a miracle," Leon muttered.
Seraphine tapped one of the columns. "If you agree to cooperate with my family's trading network, I can send you a caravan of grain, cloth, basic goods, and—"
Arthur raised his hand like he was in class. "Wait. Wait. Why me? No seriously. Why? There are bigger territories."
Seraphine leaned back. "Because you're harmless."
Arthur gasped. "That's rude."
"But accurate," she said.
Evelynn hid a smile behind her teacup. Lily giggled. Leon looked like he wanted to stab the floor.
"And," Seraphine continued, "because your land sits on something valuable."
Arthur suddenly felt a cold shiver crawl up his neck.
"The ruins," he whispered.
Seraphine paused. "…So you DO know."
Leon's eyes narrowed at her. "How do YOU know?"
Seraphine closed the ledger and folded her hands. "Everyone knows. At least the ambitious ones. The Grayfall ruins are older than the empire. Artifacts there could shift power. And Craymore wants them."
Arthur's stomach twisted so badly he felt like throwing up in his lap.
"You think I'm—" he swallowed, "—getting dragged into political warfare because of some ancient… rocks?"
"Yes," Seraphine said. "And because you are young, inexperienced, easy to manipulate—"
Leon slammed his hand on the table. "Enough."
Seraphine blinked. "I am only stating the truth."
"Well it's a stupid truth!" Arthur yelped. "I don't WANT ruins. I don't want artifacts. I want—stability. And food. And maybe a nap."
Seraphine stared at him.
"…You really ARE harmless."
Arthur sighed. "I know."
Before the negotiations could resume, something slammed against the manor's outer gate. The sound echoed like metal meeting stone.
Lily yelped. Evelynn stood quickly. Leon grabbed his knife. Seraphine turned her head slightly, expression sharpening.
Another slam.
Then another.
Arthur's heart beat too fast. "Is that wolves again?"
"No," Leon said, eyes narrowing. "Too heavy."
A soldier ran into the hall, pale and sweating.
"MY LORD—!! A—A MAN IS AT THE GATE!!"
"A man?" Arthur repeated. "Why is he slamming the—"
"He—he wants entrance!" the soldier stammered. "He says he is… uh… a friend."
Arthur blinked. "A friend? I don't have frie—"
The manor gate creaked open. Heavy footsteps approached.
And then a tall, broad figure stepped into view.
Covered in battered armor. Scars. A cloak torn at the edges. Hair long enough to tie but not tied. He looked like someone who fought mountains for fun.
Arthur felt his soul leave his body.
Leon whispered, "That's… no ordinary man."
Evelynn whispered, "Impossible…"
Seraphine whispered, "Oh gods…"
Lily whispered, "He looks scary."
The man's dark eyes locked onto Arthur.
Then he said, voice deep and rough:
"Arthur Grayfall… you don't know me. But I knew your father."
Arthur's mouth dropped open like a broken door hinge.
The man continued:
"Aldren saved my life. Twice. And before he died… he told me to come find you."
Leon took a protective stance. Seraphine's hand slid toward a knife hidden in her sleeve. Evelynn stepped slightly in front of Lily.
Arthur's heart hammered so loud he thought everyone heard it.
The man removed his cloak.
And revealed an insignia burned into his armor — a sigil that Arthur had only seen once in an old book.
The mark of the Seven Fallen Gods.
Arthur's blood ran cold.
"I have a message," the man said, stepping forward. "From your father."
Arthur whispered, "Oh no… oh no no no—"
The man placed a sealed envelope in Arthur's hand.
A sigil burned on the wax.
Ruins.
Gods.
Secrets.
Arthur's fingers shook so hard the envelope rattled.
The man said one more thing before stepping back:
"Your father believed you would awaken the ruins."
Arthur made a sound between a laugh and a scream.
Leon caught his shoulder.
Seraphine's eyes widened.
Evelynn froze completely.
And Lily said, helpfully:
"Brother, are you gonna puke?"
Arthur nearly did.
Arthur Grayfall had survived wolves.
He had survived taxes.
He had barely survived socializing with Ella and negotiating with Seraphine.
But this… this was the start of something far, far worse.
The ruins had awakened.
And they were waiting for him.