The air inside the chamber turned heavy—a shift so sudden that Kael's instincts screamed danger.
Vaelin's expression darkened. "They've found us."
Kael didn't hesitate. He spun toward the entrance, already reaching for his daggers. The torches flickered as a cold gust swept through the corridor. Then, a figure stepped into the room.
A lone assassin, draped in black, his mask marked with the insignia of the Nightfall Syndicate.
Kael's grip tightened. This wasn't just any enforcer.
It was a Reaper.
The Reaper's Arrival
The assassin moved with eerie silence, his eyes locked on Kael. He didn't acknowledge Vaelin. He wasn't here for him.
"Kael Veyne," the Reaper's voice was low, composed. "The Syndicate calls you back."
Kael's pulse was steady, but rage simmered beneath the surface. "They lost that right the moment they betrayed me."
The Reaper tilted his head. "They disagree."
Then he attacked.
Blades in the Dark
Kael barely had time to react before the Reaper's blade sliced through the air. He dodged left, but the assassin moved with unnatural speed, closing the distance in an instant.
Steel clashed against steel.
Kael countered with his daggers, parrying a lethal strike aimed at his throat. The impact sent vibrations through his arms. The Reaper was strong. Precise. Relentless.
Vaelin joined the fight, drawing a curved blade from his robes. **He moved like a shadow, striking from the side—**but the Reaper anticipated it, twisting just in time to avoid the fatal blow.
Kael used the distraction. A swift kick to the Reaper's ribs sent him staggering back.
But the assassin didn't falter. He recovered instantly, his movements eerily mechanical.
"This isn't normal."
Then, Kael noticed something. The Reaper's eyes—unnaturally cold, empty of emotion. The way he fought… it was as if he wasn't fully in control.
"What did they do to him?"
A Dangerous Revelation
Kael barely dodged another strike when Vaelin shouted, "He's been conditioned, just like you were!"
The words hit Kael like a dagger to the chest.
The Syndicate didn't just erase memories. They created weapons.
This assassin… he was another version of what Kael had been.
The realization sent a fresh surge of anger through him. He refused to be a puppet.
And he refused to let the Syndicate turn anyone else into one.
Breaking the Chains
Kael changed tactics. Instead of attacking to kill, he targeted the Reaper's balance, striking pressure points to disrupt his movement.
The assassin faltered. For the first time, his attacks slowed.
Vaelin took advantage of the opening—his blade flashed, cutting through the assassin's mask.
The Reaper staggered back, his face now partially exposed.
Kael's breath caught. He knew this man.
A flicker of memory—
A fellow initiate in the Syndicate's ranks.
A friend, before the conditioning began.
_"Ren."_
The Reaper blinked, his gaze unfocused. A crack in the control.
Kael stepped forward. "Ren. You don't have to obey them."
For a moment, the assassin hesitated. His breathing grew uneven.
Then, a faint whisper—"Kael…?"
But before he could say more, his body tensed violently. His eyes glazed over, his muscles locking into place.
Kael's heart sank. The Syndicate's control was still too strong.
Vaelin cursed. "We need to leave. If they sent one Reaper, more will follow."
Kael clenched his fists, looking at Ren. He had been forced to fight his own friend. How many more were out there, trapped like he had been?
"I won't leave them to the Syndicate."
He took a final breath, then turned to Vaelin. "We end this. We take the fight to them."
Vaelin studied him, then nodded. "Then we move at dawn."
As they disappeared into the shadows, Kael made a silent vow.
This wasn't just revenge anymore.
This was war.
---