Chapter 354: Frozen Nest

Whoosh!

The sleek, black spatial ship cut through the vacuum of the void. Inside the cockpit, Kael sat in the co-pilot’s seat, his silver-flecked eyes fixed on the swirling nebula ahead.

Beside him, Vyra Sable, Commander of the Fourth Pillar Knight Squadron, skillfully piloted the vessel.

"We are approaching World Twelve, My Lord," Vyra reported, her voice crisp. "Dropping out of hyperspace in ten seconds."

Boom!

The ship shuddered as it breached the planet’s outer atmosphere. Kael looked out the viewport, his expression unreadable.

World Twelve was a desolate, frozen graveyard. A perpetual blizzard raged across the surface, howling with the fury of a dying world. Massive glaciers the size of mountains scraped against each other, creating deafening CRUNCH sounds that echoed for miles. The few scattered settlements below were little more than grim, snow-buried mining towns, populated by exiles and criminals who had nowhere else to go.

But in the center of this frozen hell stood a massive mansion. It was a gilded cage, surrounded by high, rune-inscribed walls and patrolled by heavily armored Vorn guards.

Clank. Hiss.

The ship landed on the designated platform. Kael stepped out, the biting wind immediately tearing at his dark robes. He didn’t flinch.

Two guards, clad in thick furs and Vorn-issued armor, rushed forward, their hands on their weapons. "Halt! State your identity!" one shouted over the wind.

Kael didn’t speak. He simply raised his hand, showing the Vorn family crest ring on his finger which he never ever bothered to wear except today.

Beep! The guard ran a scanner over the ring. His eyes widened, and he immediately dropped to one knee, pulling his comrade down with him.

"F-Forgive us, Lord Kael! We did not recognize you! It has been... a long time since we have seen the main family."

Kael waved a dismissive hand. "Rise. Open the gates."

The heavy iron gates CREEEAKED open, revealing the mansion’s interior. The contrast was jarring. Inside, the air was warm, heated by ancient fireplaces and mana stones. The floors were made of polished marble, and the walls were lined with faded tapestries. It was a beautiful prison.

In the grand parlor, seated by a roaring fire, was Lady Cordelia Churchill.

She was a shadow of the woman she once was. Her silver hair, once a symbol of her aristocratic status, was now dull and streaked with grey. Her eyes, though still sharp, were hollow and lined with years of sorrow. She wore a simple, worn-out gown.

Step. Step.

Kael’s boots echoed on the marble. Cordelia looked up, her body tensing. She recognized the Vorn features instantly.

"Lady Cordelia," Kael greeted, his voice smooth and polite. He offered a slight bow. "I am Kael Cassian Vorn. I have come on the recommendation of Sophie Mann."

At the mention of Sophie, Cordelia’s expression softened. The tension in her shoulders eased slightly. "Sophie... she still remembers me?"

"She does," Kael said, taking a seat across from her without being invited. "She speaks highly of you. She believes you were wronged."

Cordelia’s eyes flickered with a mix of pain and suspicion. "Why are you here, Kael Vorn? Your relationship with my son has never been... straightforward."

Kael leaned forward, the firelight casting sharp shadows across his face. "I’m here because Sebastian has disappeared. And I believe you know where he is."

Cordelia’s breath hitched. Gasp. "Disappeared? What do you mean?"

"I mean he has gotten himself involved with very dangerous people," Kael said, weaving his lie carefully. "He was implicated in an incident involving the House of Crimson. And worse... he was involved in the disappearance of Isabella’s soul."

Thud. Cordelia’s hand flew to her chest, her face paling. "Isabella? No... Sebastian would never..."

"The evidence is undeniable," Kael said, his tone hardening. "But I don’t want to hunt him down like a dog. I want him brought back alive, so the family can establish exactly what happened. If he was manipulated, we need to know."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. Then, he dropped the bait.

"I know you have been visiting with him, Cordelia. The Churchills have been moving money." Kael leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I know the truth about your banishment. Sophie told me everything. I know Ursula framed you for the assassination attempt and the forged letters. I know you are innocent."

"I really do," Kael said, his face a mask of empathy. "And I swear to you, if you help me find Sebastian, I will use my influence to investigate Ursula. I will expose her crimes and clear your name. You will no longer be a prisoner here."

Cordelia looked at him, her mind a battlefield of hope and fear. "Why should I trust you?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "The last time I saw you and Sebastian, you were just five years old. He hated you. He told me how much he despised you."

Kael let out a low sigh, his expression shifting to one of weary resignation. "We were children, Lady Cordelia. We were pitted against each other by a family that rewards cruelty. I don’t care about childhood rivalries anymore. I care about the truth. I want my sister’s soul back, and I want the woman who ruined your life to pay. Our goals align perfectly."

The crackling of the fire was the only sound for a long moment. Cordelia stared into Kael’s eyes, searching for the lie. But Kael was a master of deception, and his silver-flecked eyes held only a cold, calculated sincerity.

Finally, she let out a shaky breath. "He didn’t tell me where he was going exactly. But... a few weeks ago, he mentioned a safehouse. A place he set up in the Outer Rim, away from the Vorn and Churchill reach. A planet called Sector 9-Vex. It’s a rogue mining world in the Ashford Belt."

Kael mentally logged the information. Sector 9-Vex.

"Thank you, Cordelia," Kael said, standing up.

Cordelia reached out, her frail hand grabbing his sleeve. "Please... please. He is my son. He is all I have. Take care of him."

Kael looked down at her, his expression unreadable. A cold, chilling smile slowly spread across his lips.

"Yeah, of course I will take care of him," Kael replied, his voice dripping with a dark promise.

He turned and walked away, leaving Cordelia shivering by the fire.

Clank. Whoosh.

Kael stepped back out into the freezing blizzard, the heavy doors sealing shut behind him. Vyra was already waiting by the ship, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.

"Did you get what you needed, My Lord?" Vyra asked.

Kael nodded, pulling his cloak tighter. "Set a course for back to World Thirteen. And Vyra... tell the Shadow Hounds to keep their eyes on the Churchills. If Sebastian is desperate, he might not stay in one place for long and I suspect the Churchills might be compromised. Can’t trust any bloody family nowadays."

"As you command," Vyra said, bowing.

Kael boarded the ship, his mind already calculating the next move. The hunt is on, brother. Hope you are quick.