1:30 AM – The Rain Continues
Eri walks alone, her grip tightening around her share of the money. The cold rain soaks through her clothes, sending a shiver down her spine.
'Kaeli's invisibility should've worn off by now… He better be back when we left.'
Her fingers curl into a fist. The uneasy feeling in her gut refuses to settle.
'Was it really worth getting tangled in a mess like this?'
They had been so caught up in the excitement of working with a rising star that they hadn't stopped to think. Now, the weight of their choices pressed down on her chest.
She glances up at the sky, letting the rain hit her face. The city lights shimmer in the puddles beneath her feet.
'Tsk. No turning back now.'
At the same time, in a different direction, Gerard moves swiftly, pulling his robe tighter around him.
'Tsk. What's next?'
His heart pounds harder than he'd like to admit.
'I'm scared… but excited too.'
He exhales, his breath visible in the cold air. Rethrus had told him to head home first, but that only made his nerves worse.
'What is he planning?'
His fingers twitch at his side. The uncertainty was thrilling, but also terrifying.
'Guess we'll find out tomorrow, huh?'
Elsewhere, Rethrus sits in a dimly lit tavern, his hood pulled low. The air is thick with the smell of cheap liquor and sweat. Laughter and shouting drown out his thoughts, but he welcomes the noise—it keeps him grounded.
He takes a slow sip of his juice, his fingers tapping against the wooden table.
'Damn it… I hope Kaeli's fine.'
His foot bounces restlessly under the table. The nagging sensation at the back of his mind refuses to fade.
'And damn it again… I still can't remember everything they told me.'
But something was there—something just out of reach. A flicker of memory every time he locked eyes with certain people.
A faceless girl.
His stomach tightens.
'Tomorrow will be the day of truth.'
He exhales sharply, pushing his drink aside.
'I hope you're worth it, girl.'
Rethrus stiffens as a memory surges through his mind—Sir Dante's relentless strikes, the sharp sting of pain, the crushing weight of defeat. His fingers twitch around his glass, his breath steady but tight.
'Since coming here… close-combat fighters have already made me bleed.'
His jaw clenches. It wasn't a coincidence.
His grip loosens, and he exhales, pushing himself up from his seat. The tavern's noise fades into the background as he steps outside. The cold night air greets him, the rain soaking into his clothes instantly. He lets it.
Droplets roll down his face, mixing with the heat still burning inside him.
'I have to do something about it.'
His heartbeat steadies. The answer is clear.
He lifts his chin, eyes sharp despite the downpour.
'I have to stay as the strongest.'
Kaeli's POV
12:55 AM
Before he left, Kaeli focused.
'Zephyr Stride!' he casted.
A sudden rush of air swirled around him. His body felt weightless, as if the wind itself had lifted him. Every step became faster, his movements sharper, the world around him blurring as the wind carried him forward.
With the spell active, he bolted through the narrow alleys, his form barely a shadow in the storm.
Kaeli moved swiftly through the rain-soaked streets of District 13. With each step, his heart pounded, the only sound the steady patter of rain against the cobblestones.
The corpse he carried weighed heavily in his arms, yet it didn't feel like a burden. His mind was focused, sharp. He couldn't afford distractions—he couldn't afford to fail.
'What if they catch me?' he thought, a sudden cold chill running through him as the image of Frings' knights flashed in his mind. 'What if they're already onto me?'
Frings' territory was far from here, across the district boundary. The knights, mages, and soldiers loyal to the family were searching the streets, hunting down any sign of their prize. He knew that the moment the spell wore off, he'd be exposed, vulnerable.
'It's just twenty minutes. You've done worse with less.' Kaeli reminded himself, trying to steady his nerves. But doubt crept in.
'Is this really the right choice? Am I doing the right thing?'
He shook his head, trying to push the thought away. No time for second-guessing. Not now.
As Kaeli moved deeper into the rain-soaked alleys, his thoughts lingered on the danger that lay ahead.
'I can't fail.' Kaeli gritted his teeth.
1:00 AM
The streets felt quieter as he neared the border of Frings' district. Kaeli's eyes darted to every corner, every shadow. He could hear the distant murmurs of the soldiers. They were still out there, hunting. His heart raced. Time was running out, and the weight of the body seemed to grow heavier with each step.
'I don't know if I can do this...' The thought slipped through his mind despite his best efforts. 'It's too risky. Too much. What if I'm caught?'
But then he reminded himself why he was here.
'This is for them. For the mission. I can't turn back now. I'm already too deep in.'
Kaeli turned a corner sharply, ducking into an alley just as a group of Frings' soldiers passed by. He held his breath, his body frozen against the wet stone. His hands gripped the corpse tighter, the dampness of the rain soaking into his clothes.
'Just a little longer. Don't screw this up now.'
The soldiers walked past without noticing him, their voices low as they murmured about the search. Kaeli waited a moment longer, then exhaled slowly, willing his heart to slow down.
'That was too close.' His hands trembled slightly as he moved deeper into the alley.
1:10 AM
He reaches the Frings Estate.
Kaeli's breath came in short, frantic gasps, each one sounding louder than the pounding rain. The corpse in his arms felt heavier by the second, the weight pressing down on his muscles, his mind. His grip tightened as he forced his legs forward, each step splashing against the rain-soaked cobblestones.
'I can't do this... I can't stay here, not with them this close.' His mind screamed for him to run, to leave everything behind, but he had come too far.
Then it happened—a sudden sound. A splash of water.
'Shit!'
The sound cut through the night like a blade. Kaeli froze, his heart hammering in his ears. His fingers trembled around the corpse, every nerve in his body screaming at him to move.
"Did you hear that?" a voice called out. Low, sharp, and far too close.
Kaeli's chest tightened. 'No. No, no, no. Please don't find me.'
His pulse raced as he stood paralyzed, gripping the corpse tighter. The footsteps grew louder, measured, deliberate. 'They heard me. I'm done for.'
His breathing quickened, chest rising and falling in uneven beats. His mind screamed for a plan, an escape—but nothing came. He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe. He—
The footsteps stopped.
Kaeli barely turned his head, and that's when he saw it—just beyond the rain and the shifting shadows. A figure stood there, a face staring straight ahead, its sharp eyes locked in his direction.
His breath hitched.
But it wasn't looking at him. It was looking at something suspicious.
Kaeli's fingers twitched. 'I have to get out. I have to escape.'
His legs were shaking, his body tense. He didn't think—he couldn't. His body moved before his mind could process it. Out of sheer, uncontrollable fear, he shoved the corpse into the corner of the alley, its dead weight slipping from his fingers.
A sickening thud hit the wet ground. Too loud. Too obvious.
The figure's head snapped toward the sound.
Kaeli didn't wait. He turned sharply, pushing through the rain and stumbling away from the alley, desperate to put distance between himself and the elite knight now closing in.
His soaked cloak dragged against him, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he forced himself forward. His heartbeat pounded against his ribs, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Not when the Frings family was this close.
"Where the hell is it?" the voice called again, moving toward the alley.
Kaeli felt it—a killing intent so sharp it nearly crushed his lungs. It was suffocating, suffusing the air with a chilling pressure that sent a primal fear through his body. This wasn't just a guard. This was a hunter, someone trained to kill without hesitation.
His boots splashed against the puddles as he darted between the streets, rain clinging to his skin. His hands clenched at his sides. 'I can't believe I just left it there. I should've have put it inside as planned. I'm an idiot.'
But there was no time for regret. He had already disappeared into the dark streets, and the dagger user was still searching the alley. Kaeli didn't dare look back, didn't dare slow down, even as his chest burned from the sprint.
1:19 AM
He reached the outer wall of the Frings estate. The land stretched far beyond sight, a massive property with towering walls guarding its secrets. Even from here, the vast gardens, sprawling courtyards, and multiple manors loomed in the rain.
Kaeli pressed a hand against the cold stone, breathing heavily. 'Almost there.' But his invisibility was fading. He felt it, the spell unraveling like threads being cut.
Then, just as his vision returned to normal, his heart stopped.
A shadow was approaching. Fast.
Panic seized his body. He threw himself to the side, rolling into a pile of garbage bags and rotting crates. The stench was overwhelming, but he didn't care. He curled into himself, covering his mouth, willing his breath to steady.
The elite knight passed by, blade drawn, eyes scanning the area like a predator.
Kaeli didn't move. He didn't even blink.
1:25 AM
The knight lingered for what felt like an eternity before finally moving away.
Kaeli remained hidden, drenched in sweat and rain, waiting until his body ached from stillness.
1:30 AM
Only then did he finally slip away, heart still hammering in his chest.