The west gate of Ironhold stood tall and unmoving as Evan, Rhel, and two squads of soldiers approached. The tension in the air felt sharp enough to cut. Torches flickered along the stone path, lighting the entrance where the white banner rider waited. The rider sat atop a black-coated horse, posture rigid, face hidden beneath a dark hood. The white banner fluttered behind him like a quiet warning.

Rhel signaled for the gate guards to stand ready. “Hold the line. No one moves unless I give the call.”

The rider lifted his chin and revealed a surprisingly calm expression. Not fear, not arrogance, but something closer to confidence mixed with annoyance. His eyes flicked toward Evan with quick assessment.

“I request passage to speak with the commander of Ironhold,” the rider said. “Under the laws of the White Banner Truce.”

Rhel answered coldly. “You speak to him now. State your purpose.”

The rider dismounted slowly, placing his hands where everyone could see them. “I am Kareth Voss, envoy of the Serpent Kingdom. I have come with a message from my leadership regarding recent developments in your fortress.”

Evan crossed his arms. “Recent developments meaning our new weapons.”

Kareth’s eyes narrowed. “Your… advancements… have caused concern. Our scouts witnessed unusual precision during your ridge display. The blast at the feet of our commander was no accident.”

Evan remained silent.

Kareth continued. “Our kingdom believes Ironhold may be preparing for conflict. My presence here is to determine whether we face an arms race… or cooperation.”

Rhel barked a short laugh. “Cooperation. That is rich. Your patrol marched to our ridge armed with charged spears and unstable tubes. Was that a friendly visit”

Kareth did not flinch. “Your fortress sits close to our border. We responded to movement. You responded with a threat.”

Evan stepped forward. “If you call that a threat, you have seen nothing yet.”

Several soldiers murmured behind him. Rhel placed a firm hand on Evan’s shoulder—both a warning and support.

Kareth turned fully toward Evan now, studying him closely. “You are the craftsman. The outsider. The one building the weapons shaking this region.”

Evan’s jaw tightened. “So what if I am”

Kareth actually smirked. “Then I am speaking to the most dangerous man in Ironhold.”

Rhel moved between them. “Say what you came to say.”

The envoy nodded. His expression shifted from calm to serious. “The Serpent Kingdom does not want war. But we will not allow Ironhold to gain a military advantage that could destabilize our borders. Therefore, we offer terms.”

Rhel glared. “Terms. You come here with a single rider and demand terms”

Kareth raised an object wrapped in cloth. He unwrapped it just enough to reveal a small metal cylinder—intricate, polished, and humming with controlled mana.

Evan’s breath caught.
That was no crude imitation.
It was advanced. Deliberate.
Too clean to be guesswork.

Kareth saw the recognition in Evan’s eyes. “Yes. We have our own craftsmen. And we have something else.”

He fully unwrapped the object.
A compact weapon.
Smaller than Evan’s.
Different structure.
Different channels.
But undeniably advanced.

The soldiers around them gasped.

Rhel grabbed his sword hilt. “You dare bring a weapon here”

Kareth remained still. “It is disarmed. But it proves a point. You are not the only kingdom expanding its craft. If Ironhold continues rapid development, the Serpent Kingdom will match it.”

Evan stepped closer. “Where did you get this Who made it”

Kareth paused. “A new sect of weapon crafters. The Arcane Coil Guild. They emerged only recently but their knowledge is impressive. They discovered a way to bend mana lines around curved channels. They are… inventive.”

Evan stared at the weapon. He saw flaws—tiny ones—but flaws that suggested the guild did not fully understand stability yet. They were experimenting. Improvising. Dangerous but intelligent.

Kareth continued. “Our leadership proposes a cease of advancement. A halt in new weapon production. At least until both sides can reach an understanding that prevents a catastrophic escalation.”

Rhel laughed again. “You want us to stop building because you are scared.”

“Because we seek balance,” Kareth corrected. “Because we do not wish to see both kingdoms bleed.”

Evan lifted the envoy’s weapon slowly. “You want us to stop while you keep developing in secret.”

Kareth did not deny it.

His silence was answer enough.

Rhel took a step forward. “Leave now. Take your message. Tell your kingdom Ironhold bows to no one.”

Kareth bowed his head slightly. “I will deliver your refusal. But know this—your progress has awakened competition beyond your walls. The Arcane Coil Guild is not bound by kings or armies. They build what they wish. They pursue power for its own sake.”

Evan felt a chill.
Independent craftsmen.
Not controlled.
Experimenting freely.
Arms race without rules.

Kareth mounted his horse. “We will return. One way or another.”

The envoy rode away, leaving Ironhold in a heavy silence.

Rhel clenched his fists. “This changes nothing. We keep building.”

Evan stared at the copied weapon in his hand. “It changes everything.”

Because if the Arcane Coil Guild existed, then Evan wasn’t just fighting a kingdom.

He was fighting craftsmen like himself—
people who understood structure,
people who could create,
people who might surpass him if he slowed down.

This world had crafters.
Genius ones.
And they were waking up.