The river was too calm.
That was the first thing Preye noticed, not the way Madam Ado stood with effortless authority, not the faint shift of shadows behind her guards, not even the weight of the moment pressing down like a storm waiting to break.
It was the water.
Still.
Listening.
Waiting.
"You're quiet," Madam Ado said, studying her.
Preye didn't respond immediately.
Her eyes drifted—not away, but through the moment.
Past the woman in front of her.
Past the dock.
Into the unseen.
Because something was wrong.
Not obvious.
Not loud.
But wrong.
"You said we could work together," Preye finally said.
Madam Ado smiled.
"I did."
And you took my friend's sister as leverage?
Timi shifted behind her, that's putting it mildly," he muttered.
Madam Ado didn't look at him.
"I sent you a message."
Preye tilted her head slightly, and now you're sending me an offer.
"Yes."
A pause.
Accept it.
The words weren't a suggestion.
They were a test.
Madam Ado stepped closer, her voice softened, "Join me."
Timi inhaled sharply.
Preye didn't move.
Madam Ado continued, you have power.
Her gaze flickered briefly just briefly to Preye's hand, to command storms.
She smiled faintly.
But power without direction…
She leaned in slightly.
"…burns itself out."
Preye's eyes narrowed, and you're offering direction?
"I'm offering survival."
The wind shifted.
Subtle.
Almost unnoticeable.
But Preye felt it.
Her fingers twitched.
A faint spark danced—then vanished.
Kuro, hidden in the shadows, noticed too.
His grip tightened slightly.
Madam Ado straightened.
"You don't have the infrastructure," she said calmly, you don't have the reach nor the time.
Her eyes locked onto Preye's.
"But I do."
A pause.
Stand with me.
"No."
The word came from behind Preye.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Everyone turned.
Timi stepped forward.
For once—
No jokes.
No nervous energy.
Just anger.
"She's not joining you."
Madam Ado finally looked at him.
Really looked, and you are?"
"Timi."
Her expression didn't change.
"That name means nothing here."
Timi smiled tightly.
"It will."
Preye glanced back at him briefly.
Something in her expression softened.
Just for a moment.
Sotonye was not visible.
That was the problem.
Because when Sotonye disappeared—
Things were already in motion.
"Interesting," Madam Ado said.
Her tone shifted slightly.
Less smooth.
More curious.
"You brought loyalty with you."
Preye faced her again.
"I don't collect people."
She stepped forward.
"They choose."
Madam Ado's eyes gleamed.
"And what have they chosen?"
Preye didn't hesitate.
"Me."
For the first time....
Something flickered across Madam Ado's face.
Not anger.
Not fear.
But calculation.
Something wasn't going according to plan.
"Then let's test that," Madam Ado said quietly.
She lifted her hand slightly.
A signal.
From the shadows,
Movement.
Guards stepped forward.
Not aggressive.
Not attacking.
But ready.
Prepared.
Controlled.
Timi tensed, I... knew this was a trap.
Preye didn't move.
"Relax."
Timi blinked, relax?!
Preye's voice remained calm, they're not here to fight.
Madam Ado smiled again.
"Correct."
She gestured slightly.
And then,
Someone else stepped forward.
Timi froze, Denyefa?
Standing between two guards,
Unharmed, unchained, but not free— was his sister; Denyefa
Timi moved instantly, but Kuro's voice cut through the tension...
"Stop."
Timi froze mid-step.
"…That's my sister."
"I know."
Then why?
Because this is still a negotiation."
Denyefa's eyes found Timi.
"Timi…" her voice was soft.
But steady.
She wasn't panicking.
That was strange.
Very strange.
Preye noticed it immediately.
Denyefa wasn't acting like a hostage, she wasn't afraid.
She was…watching.
Madam Ado spoke again, she is safe."
Preye didn't look away from Denyefa, I can see that."
"And she will remain safe."
A pause
If we understand each other.
Then,
Denyefa spoke.
"No."
Everyone froze.
Even Madam Ado.
Denyefa stepped forward slightly.
The guards hesitated.
"…That's not how this works."
Her voice had changed.
Stronger.
Clearer.
The air shifted again.
Preye's eyes sharpened.
Kuro's stance adjusted.
Sotonye—somewhere unseen—stopped moving.
The water beneath the dock rippled.
Not violently.
But deliberately.
Denyefa 's hand lifted slightly.
Faint light flickered around her fingers.
Not lightning.
Not storm.
Something else.
Something deeper.
"…Timi," she said quietly.
"I told you the river was angry."
Timi stared, you weren't joking?
Denyefa shook her head,
"No."
Madam Ado's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
"…Interesting."
She looked at Denyefa with new eyes, you didn't tell me she had this.
Preye didn't answer.
Because she hadn't known.
The river moved again.
Closer.
Responding.
Not to Preye, but to Denyefa
Kuro whispered,
"…Water affinity."
Sotonye's voice came faintly from somewhere unseen,
"That complicates things."
Timi blinked rapidly, my sister… has powers?
Denyefa glanced at him,
"…I think so."
Madam Ado stepped back slightly.
Not retreating.
Repositioning.
"You brought me more than I expected," she said calmly.
Preye finally spoke.
"You took something that wasn't yours."
Madam Ado smiled faintly, and found something valuable.
Suddenly,
The wind stopped.
Completely.
The river stilled.
Even the air felt… paused.
Preye's instincts screamed.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Then
A slow clap echoed through the darkness.
From the far end of the dock—
A figure stepped forward.
Tall.
Calm.
Unfamiliar.
Dangerous.
"Well," he said lightly, this has become far more entertaining than expected.
Everyone turned.
Madam Ado's eyes narrowed.
"…You?"
The man smiled.
"Me."
Preye's gaze sharpened.
"Who is that?"
Sotonye's voice came low,
"…That's not good."
Timi whispered, I'm starting to hate this city.
The man stepped into the light.
And the moment he did—
The river reacted.
The wind shifted.
Even Preye's lightning flickered without her command.
"I've been watching," he said calmly.
His eyes moved from Preye....
To Denyefa
Then back again,
"And now…"
His smile widened slightly, I think I'll take both.
Silence.
Shock.
Danger.
Everything shifted.
Because suddenly
This wasn't Madam Ado's game anymore.
It was something far worse.
And for the first time,
Preye didn't feel the storm in control, she felt like something had just noticed her,
And it wasn't alone.