crown of self-interest

The council had been but the first step. Zaros knew that consolidating his power would require far more than placating the Great Houses and the Verdant Communion. Those who sat at the table were important, but they were not the only players in this grand game. The true threats, the ones who could alter the course of fate itself, moved in the shadows.

Zaros had long been aware of them. The **Chronomancers’ Enclave**—a secretive faction known only to the highest echelons of power. They were the Keepers of Time, beings who operated outside of the normal flow of existence, ensuring that the fabric of reality remained intact. Their power was immense, and their influence subtle, threading through the centuries, shaping events in ways that most could never comprehend.

And then there was the **Phantom Court**—an enigma even to those who sought them out. Ruling over the Realm Beyond Death, they wielded powers of Necromancy and Spirit Binding, using the souls of the deceased to further their agenda. They were the spectral monarchs of a realm that intersected with life and death, and their interest in Zaros’s ascension was all but assured.

Zaros had felt their attention, the subtle pull of time bending around him as the Chronomancers observed from their hidden enclaves. The Phantom Court had yet to make their presence fully known, but Zaros could sense the lingering energy of their gaze. It was only a matter of time before they reached out to him, and he would need to be ready.

He had no fear of the unknown. His mind worked like clockwork, calculating every possible outcome, every reaction to his moves. Like Aizen and Fang Yuan before him, Zaros knew that the game of power was won not by brute force alone, but by outthinking one’s enemies before they even knew they were in a contest. To control the game, you had to control every piece on the board, even the ones hidden beneath the surface.

This understanding had brought him to the heart of the **Twilight Vault**, a hidden sanctuary beneath the Arcane Citadel. It was a place known only to those who had the highest clearance within the order—a repository of ancient knowledge, tomes, and artifacts that contained the secrets of the world’s most powerful magic. Few could access it, and even fewer dared to delve into its mysteries, but Zaros was not like others. He had come seeking something specific, something that could help him prepare for his inevitable confrontation with the Chronomancers and the Phantom Court.

His fingers traced the ancient symbols etched into the walls of the vault, their meanings lost to time, but not to him. The Vault held many secrets, but one in particular had drawn his interest—an artifact known as the **Chrono Sigil**, a relic said to be tied to the very essence of time itself. It had been hidden away for millennia, protected by powerful wards and enchantments designed to prevent anyone from disturbing the delicate balance it maintained.

Yet, Zaros had no intention of disturbing it. He had a different purpose in mind. The Chrono Sigil was not just an object of power; it was a key—a way to communicate with the **Chronomancers** without drawing undue attention. He had studied the ancient texts, and he knew that using the Sigil was a dangerous proposition. To manipulate time, even in the slightest, was to court disaster. But Zaros was confident. He would not bend time; he would merely ask it a question.

With precise movements, Zaros began to channel his magic, weaving it through the air in complex patterns that danced across the surface of the Sigil. The relic responded, glowing faintly as the ancient wards hummed with energy. A low vibration filled the room, and the walls seemed to shimmer, as if reality itself were bending under the pressure of what he was attempting to do.

And then, with a flash of light, the world around him shifted. The vault remained, but its details blurred, as if seen through a veil of mist. Time slowed, and the air grew heavy with the weight of centuries. Zaros knew what this meant. He was no longer alone.

A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in robes that seemed to shift and ripple like water. Their face was obscured by a mask, intricate and otherworldly, with symbols of time etched into its surface. The **Chronomancer** stood before him, silent but powerful, their presence undeniable.

“You dare to invoke the Sigil?” The voice was neither male nor female, but a combination of both, echoing through the chamber like the sound of distant bells. “Do you know what it is you are meddling with?”

Zaros remained calm, his expression unreadable. “I am well aware of what I hold. I did not invoke the Sigil lightly, nor did I do so out of ignorance. I seek an audience, not a conflict.”

The Chronomancer studied him for a moment, their gaze penetrating, as if they were reading the very fabric of his soul. “You have ascended,” they said finally. “You stand at the precipice of something far greater than you realize. Why do you seek us?”

Zaros met their gaze unflinchingly. “I know the importance of time. I know the weight it carries. And I know that, in order to secure my future, I must understand the forces that govern it.”

The Chronomancer’s eyes glinted behind the mask. “You seek control.”

“I seek understanding,” Zaros corrected, though the truth was somewhere in between. “The power I have gained is not the end of my journey. It is a means to an end. And in this world, there are forces that transcend even the most powerful of magic. Time is one such force. I do not seek to bend it to my will, but to navigate it. To see beyond what others are blinded by.”

The Chronomancer tilted their head, considering his words. “You are ambitious, Zaros Valen. But ambition without caution leads to ruin. You walk a dangerous path.”

“I have never feared danger,” Zaros replied smoothly. “Only ignorance. And I would rather walk the dangerous path with knowledge than the safe one in the dark.”

For a long moment, the Chronomancer said nothing, their figure shifting subtly in the dim light of the vault. Finally, they nodded. “Very well. You will have your audience. But know this—time is not a thing to be played with. The consequences of your actions, once set in motion, cannot be undone.”

Zaros allowed a small smile to curve his lips. “I understand.”

Without another word, the Chronomancer stepped back, fading into the shadows as the world around Zaros returned to normal. The Sigil dimmed, its power returning to dormancy, but Zaros knew that the connection had been established. The Chronomancers were watching him now, and they would be waiting for his next move.

But as much as the Chronomancers intrigued him, it was the **Phantom Court** that truly occupied his mind. The dead held secrets that the living could never understand, and the rulers of the Phantom Court were said to possess knowledge of life, death, and the spaces in between. Zaros had long suspected that their interest in him would grow, especially after his ascension. The energies of death had always flowed through him, and now, more than ever, he could feel their pull.

He would seek them out soon enough. But first, he had other matters to attend to. The Chronomancers had given him what he needed—a connection, a thread to pull when the time was right. For now, Zaros would continue to play his part, weaving his web of alliances and influence, preparing for the inevitable confrontation with those who still doubted his vision.

As he left the Twilight Vault, the weight of his decisions settled on his shoulders. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but Zaros thrived on danger. Every challenge, every obstacle, only served to sharpen his mind and his resolve. He had come too far to falter now.

The world was his to shape, and time itself would bow before him.