Veilbound: The Hidden Pact

Chapter 29: Claws Beneath the Surface



The air in Arcanova had grown heavier, as if the city itself could sense the brewing storm. Neon lights flickered across the grimy streets, casting distorted reflections on the rain-slicked ground. Kai, Ignis, and Febe moved cautiously through the industrial sprawl, their silence punctuated only by the faint hum of the fragment in Kai's bag and the distant sounds of machinery.

As they made their way toward their next destination, Febe broke the silence. "You feel it, don't you?" she asked, glancing at Ignis.

"The tension?" Ignis replied, his golden eyes narrowing. "It's impossible to miss."

Kai frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Febe slowed her pace, her green eyes scanning the empty streets around them. "The clans. They're on edge. Whatever's been happening—the mercenaries, the rogue contracts, the attacks—it's starting to show. They're getting desperate."

Ignis nodded, his jaw tightening. "Desperation makes them dangerous. The clans thrive on control, and when they lose it, they lash out."

Kai adjusted the strap of his bag, unease settling in his chest. "And we're stuck in the middle of it."

"You're not just stuck in it," Febe said, her voice sharper than usual. "You're carrying the reason for it."

Kai stiffened, his grip tightening on the fragment. "I didn't ask for this."

"No one does," Febe said, her tone softening slightly. "But that doesn't change the fact that you have it. And if we don't figure this out, the clans will tear each other apart—and take the rest of the city with them."

---

The trio stopped in a secluded alley, its walls lined with faded graffiti and rusting pipes. Ignis leaned against the wall, his flames dimmed but ever-present. Febe stood nearby, her arms crossed, her gaze distant.

"What do we know about the clans right now?" Kai asked, breaking the heavy silence.

Febe glanced at him, her expression serious. "We know the Lynx Clan's been taking contracts that don't make sense—attacking targets without clear goals. The Kitsune Clan's staying quiet, but that's not unusual for them. They prefer to move in the shadows."

Ignis nodded. "The Serpent Clan's been consolidating resources. They're hoarding supplies, weapons, and magic like they're preparing for a siege."

Kai frowned. "And the Dragon Clan?"

Ignis's golden eyes hardened. "My clan isn't immune to the chaos. Factions within the clan have started questioning leadership, blaming each other for the instability. It's only a matter of time before it turns into an all-out power struggle."

Kai ran a hand through his hair, his frustration mounting. "So, everyone's pointing fingers, no one's working together, and we're supposed to fix it?"

Febe smirked faintly. "Welcome to clan politics."

Kai groaned, leaning against the wall. "This is hopeless."

"It's not hopeless," Ignis said, his tone firm. "We have leverage now. The contract from Varik—it's proof that someone's been manipulating the clans. If we can trace it back to its source, we might be able to stop this before it gets worse."

"And if we can't?" Kai asked quietly.

Ignis's flames flared briefly. "Then we fight."

---

As night fell, the city's tension seemed to intensify. News of skirmishes between clans began to spread—small battles breaking out in disputed territories, mercenaries switching allegiances for higher pay, and whispers of assassinations targeting key clan leaders.

The trio made their way to a neutral zone, a decrepit marketplace where representatives from different clans occasionally gathered to negotiate—or intimidate. The air was thick with unease as they entered the space, the fragmented remnants of clan banners hanging limply from rusted poles.

Kai couldn't help but notice the wary glances exchanged between groups of clan members. The tension was palpable, like a powder keg waiting for a spark.

"This place feels... wrong," Kai murmured.

"It is," Febe replied, her voice low. "Neutral zones only work when everyone agrees to the rules. And right now, no one trusts anyone."

They approached a group of traders arguing over supplies, their voices loud and angry. A Lynx Clan representative stood at the center, her sharp eyes darting between the others.

"You're accusing us of hoarding supplies?" she snapped. "The Serpent Clan's been stockpiling magic for weeks!"

"And the Dragon Clan's been silent!" another trader retorted. "They're probably waiting for us to weaken ourselves before they strike."

Ignis stepped forward, his presence commanding. "Enough."

The group turned to him, their expressions a mix of shock and wariness. One of them, a young man with a Serpent insignia on his armor, narrowed his eyes. "And why should we listen to you, Dragon? Your clan's just as guilty as the rest of us."

"I'm not here to argue," Ignis said, his voice steady. "I'm here to warn you. Someone's been playing us all, manipulating the clans into tearing each other apart. If we don't work together to stop it, none of us will survive."

The Lynx representative sneered. "Bold words, prince. But why should we believe you?"

Febe stepped forward, her green eyes blazing. "Because it's the truth. We've seen the contracts, the mercenaries, the chaos spreading through the city. Whoever's behind this doesn't care about the clans—they just want power."

The group fell silent, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. Finally, the Serpent representative spoke, his voice hesitant. "If what you're saying is true... what do we do?"

Kai stepped forward, surprising even himself. "We stop fighting each other. We find whoever's behind this and take them down."

The Lynx representative frowned, her sharp eyes studying him. "And you think a human can do that?"

Kai straightened, his hand tightening on the fragment. "I think we have to try. Because if we don't, this city's going to burn."

---

The conversation ended in uneasy silence, the clan representatives retreating to their corners of the marketplace. As the trio left, the weight of the brewing conflict pressed heavily on them.

"We didn't get far," Kai muttered, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

"We planted a seed," Ignis replied. "Now we wait to see if it grows."

Febe glanced at Kai, her smirk faint but encouraging. "You're getting better at this."

"At what?" Kai asked.

"Not sounding hopeless," she replied, her green eyes glinting with amusement.

Kai sighed but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. Despite the tension and the danger, he felt a flicker of hope. They weren't done yet.

---


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.