Drayk slid through the crowd of the Assassin's Guild like a shadow, attentive to fragments of conversation. The atmosphere inside was unstable. Malek's name was spat out between words of hatred and disbelief.
"He deceived us all this time!" one of the assassins slammed his fist against the table.
"And now? Does the division even make sense without him?" another questioned.
Drayk had no time for debates. His focus was on Malek's room. Without being noticed, he moved through the chaos and pushed the door open. The room was a reflection of the man who occupied it: dark, meticulously organized, and laden with an air of hidden secrets.
He began sifting through the documents piled on the desk, searching for anything that could expose the true extent of Malek's plan. That's when he found the record book. As he flipped through it, his gaze locked onto a strange pattern.
"All these names… They belong to assassins who died on missions for the Adventurers' Guild…" he murmured.
Drayk frowned. But if they were dead, why were they still listed in the guild's records?
Then it clicked. Malek was using his necromancy to reanimate fallen assassins, expanding the division's influence without anyone realizing it. An army of the dead, spreading the influence of the Order of the Eclipse without raising suspicion.
"Damn it…" Drayk gritted his teeth.
If Malek was just a pawn, who was truly behind this?
Before he could dig deeper into the investigation, a loud noise echoed through the main hall. Drayk quickly tucked the book away and left the room. The murmurs had turned into complete chaos.
Amid the commotion, a hooded figure appeared at the entrance of the guild. Their presence silenced all chatter. The hood slipped back slightly, revealing eyes that gleamed coldly like steel.
"The division ends here." Their voice cut through the air like a sharp blade.
The remaining assassins exchanged glances, uncertain.
"And who the hell are you to decide that?" one of them stepped forward, dagger in hand.
In the blink of an eye, the hooded man moved. The sound of flesh being sliced echoed through the hall, and in the next moment, the assassin fell, his blade slipping from his fingers as blood dripped onto the floor.
"The next one who questions me can join him." The hooded figure cleaned his blade without hurry.
The main hall fell into silence. Only Drayk managed to follow the unknown man's movements. The atmosphere was heavy, the air tense.
"Maybe you should elaborate. Why do you think you can determine the end of the division?" Drayk questioned firmly.
Without answering, the man advanced, his blade aiming for Drayk's throat. His speed was absurd; the other assassins didn't even see the movement, only the dull impact when Drayk grabbed his attacker's wrist. A smile appeared on the young dragon's face.
"I hope you understand now… Now start explaining." Drayk stared him down.
The man stepped back, surprised. He hadn't expected to find someone there capable of stopping him. He sighed and began to speak.
"I am an assassin who has traveled across the continent to dismantle this division. Whenever I see an opportunity, I convince the guild to reunite."
Drayk narrowed his eyes. "And why?"
The man hesitated for a moment, then revealed:
"Because the Order of the Eclipse is a criminal organization. They didn't overthrow the tyrant dragons like the legends say. In reality, they have been manipulating the human continent for centuries. The division of the guilds was a way to acquire more assassins to eliminate anyone who opposed them: investigators, historians, members of the nobility… any threat to the Order is quietly removed."
Drayk crossed his arms. "So the assassins were used to clear their path?"
"Yes. Finding an Order member in action is extremely rare because most of the dirty work is done by assassins. That's why I try to dismantle this division. I've managed to convince small cities, but this is the first major city with a real chance of escaping their influence."
Murmurs grew around them. The assassins debated among themselves over the information. Drayk then interrupted them.
"If you want to stay alive and keep making money, I suggest you go to the Adventurers' Guild and declare the end of the division." His voice cut through the air.
One of the assassins chuckled, mocking. "We outnumber you. The two of you can't threaten an entire guild."
The provocative tone was enough to anger Drayk. He drew his sword, and his overwhelming aura filled the hall. The assassins closest to him took a step back, fear seizing them.
"You're right… I am threatening an entire guild." Drayk raised his sword and swung it toward the man. The mere cutting wind of his strike left a gash near the assassin's eye, who paled and fled without hesitation.
The effect was immediate. One by one, the other assassins followed suit, unwilling to face Drayk. Within minutes, the guild was empty. Everyone had left to declare the guilds' unification.
Now, only Drayk and the mysterious assassin remained.
"I'm also fighting against the Order. We can join forces." Drayk extended his hand. "My name is Drayk. And yours?"
The man hesitated before answering.
"I prefer to work alone. You should know that trusting a stranger while fighting against the Order isn't wise."
Drayk smiled and, without a word, pulled down his mask, revealing his true race. The other man's eyes widened, and in an instant, he dropped to his knees.
"I-I'm sorry… I didn't know… You're the one who defeated Malek? My name is Varian." His voice held disbelief.
Drayk pulled him up by the arm, impatient with formalities.
"Yes. I'm after the runes the Order stole from my race. I hoped Malek had some information."
Varian was silent for a moment, processing the revelation.
"The Nexum Runes… So they're real?" he murmured. "During my investigations into the Order, I came across that name a few times, but always vaguely, as if it were a legend used to make them seem more powerful."
Drayk nodded. "They exist, but the Order can't use them. Only a primordial dragon can activate them."
Varian took a deep breath and looked at Drayk with a more resolute expression.
"Then maybe it's time we change that story."
They returned to Malek's room, gathering all the documents for later analysis. Once everything was packed into Drayk's backpack, they left the guild building.
"We should destroy this place," Varian suggested, eyeing the empty structure.
Drayk didn't disagree. It was a good opportunity to test some of the fire magic he had recently acquired. He raised his hand and murmured a draconic incantation:
"Vek'thorin."
A small meteor formed above the guild and, within seconds, crashed down, reducing the building to dust in a devastating explosion. Varian watched approvingly, and without further delay, the two headed to the Adventurers' Guild to meet Drayk's companions and confirm the division's end.
At the guild, Orzath and Kaelon examined the mission board, looking for any suspicious contracts after Malek's fall. To their surprise, there was nothing. No new missions had been posted.
Suspicious, they approached the counter and questioned the receptionist about the lack of missions.
"The Guild Master was summoned to the royal capital and received orders to suspend activities until a new lord is appointed," the woman explained.
The two exchanged glances. A city without an active guild could fall into chaos. Without a lord in command, defenses could weaken, and neighboring cities might take advantage of the situation. Suspending the guild's activities was the worst possible decision.
Before Drayk could respond, Varian intervened.
"This has never happened before. Something is different. The fall of a lord has never caused a guild to suspend operations. None of the divisions we dismantled faced this kind of retaliation."
Drayk sighed, impatient. "That's no longer our problem. I'm tired of these political games. Our focus now is the runes."
As they left the city, Orzath opened a portal to their mountain village. Varian hesitated before stepping through.
"I think I can trust you as you trust me…" she said.
With a swift motion, she pulled back her hood, revealing long green hair. Then, she lowered her mask, exposing a feminine face.
"I hide my true identity. Female assassins aren't well regarded in the guilds," Varian explained.
Kaelon's jaw dropped. "An elf…" he murmured, fascinated.
Without missing a beat, he attempted to flirt, but Drayk quickly cut him off.
"I'm glad you trust us. I had already noticed your true identity, but I waited for you to reveal it when you felt the time was right," Drayk said naturally.
Orzath gave a slight nod, a small smile on his lips. "I knew as well."
Kaelon looked between them, indignant. "So I was the only one who didn't notice?!"
The three laughed at the warrior's reaction and continued toward the portal.
Far away, in the royal capital, in a grand chamber with a round table, the king met with three shadows summoned by magic. The atmosphere was tense. The king, visibly irritated, argued with the entities about Malek's downfall.
"How could a lord like Malek be defeated so easily?! Why did the Order abandon him?!" his voice echoed through the room.
One of the shadows responded, its voice cold and calculating.
"Malek was used for the greater good. He was no longer necessary for the Order's plans. His death, on the contrary, was more useful than his survival."
Another shadow interjected.
"Thanks to Malek's fall, we have confirmed the return of a primordial dragon. Your extermination missions have failed, Your Majesty."
The king turned pale. His fear was evident. He knew those shadows spoke on behalf of someone far more powerful.
The third shadow, seated farther from the table, finally spoke.
"Now, you should concern yourself with protecting the runes hidden in the capital."
The king furrowed his brow and stared at the figure.
"Where are they? You never revealed that information to me."
The shadow, more imposing than the others, revealed without hesitation:
"They are buried beneath the Sacred Tree, in the royal palace garden."
The king's eyes widened. "Why that location?"
The shadow interrupted before he could ask further.
"The Order's reasons are not your concern."
The king hesitated, then took a deep breath before asking:
"Will the Order help me protect them?"
The shadows did not respond. They simply vanished.
Alone in the chamber, the king felt the weight of the situation. He realized he was on his own. If he wanted to keep his crown, he would have to prove he was worthy of it.
...
Back in the mountain village, Drayk, Orzath, Kaelon, and Varian emerged from the portal. Their arrival was met with immediate attention. The elder awaited them with a serious expression.
"You've returned sooner than I expected," his voice carried a tone of concern.
Drayk nodded. "Malek has fallen, but now we have another problem. The runes are in the capital, and the king is aware of their importance."
The elder closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought.
"This means the war is closer than we anticipated."
Varian crossed her arms, her sharp gaze unwavering. "Then we have no time to waste."
Kaelon grinned, eager. "Finally, a challenge worthy of our strength."
Orzath, ever composed, simply observed. Drayk took a deep breath. He knew that the real battle against the Order of the Eclipse was only just beginning.
"Let's plan our next move. The capital awaits us."
With that, the group headed deeper into the village, ready for the war to come.