The aftermath of battle left an eerie stillness over the royal palace. The once-grand hallways, now marred by scorch marks and the remnants of combat, stood as silent witnesses to the chaos that had unfolded. The air was thick with the scent of burnt wood and the metallic tang of blood, a stark reminder of the price paid for survival.
Amidst this somber backdrop, Lyria moved with purpose. Her usually confident stride was now tinged with urgency as she navigated the labyrinthine corridors. Each step echoed softly against the stone floors, a rhythmic reminder of the solitude that now enveloped her. Her mind raced, replaying the events that had led her to this moment. The battle had been fierce, and while they had emerged victorious, the cost had been great.
Reaching the infirmary, she found Selena seated on a cot, tending to a gash on her arm. The healer's quarters were dimly lit, the soft glow of lanterns casting elongated shadows on the walls. The room smelled of antiseptic herbs and fresh linen, a stark contrast to the battlefield's brutality.
Without preamble, Lyria approached, her eyes scanning the garden to ensure they were alone. Satisfied, she reached into her satchel and produced a bundle wrapped in a silken cloth. The fabric shimmered subtly, hinting at the enchantments woven into its threads. With deliberate care, she began to unwrap it, revealing the source of her unease.
Nestled within the folds was an egg, its surface smooth and unblemished. It was larger than any egg Selena had ever seen, roughly the size of a human head. But what truly captivated her was its glow—a pulsating, rhythmic light that seemed to resonate with a life of its own. The hues shifted between a deep crimson and a soft gold, casting a mesmerizing dance of colors onto Lyria's face.
Selena's breath caught in her throat. "Where did you find this?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lyria's gaze remained fixed on the egg. " downstream," she replied, her tone laced with apprehension. "One of the assassin's tried to escape with it but dropped it,and when picked it. It felt... alive."
Selena reached out, her fingers hovering just above the egg's surface. She could feel its warmth, a gentle heat that seemed to beckon her touch. "This isn't from any creature I'm familiar with," she murmured. "There's something... otherworldly about it."
Lyria nodded, finally tearing her eyes away to meet Selena's gaze. "Can I keep it Until we understand what it is and what it means."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Selena's face, but she recognized the gravity of the situation. With a resolute nod, "unless you tell Asher and study it carefully"— "yes" lyra replied happyly and put it in a space where time stood still, preserving its contents indefinitely.
Elsewhere in the palace, the remnants of the battle were being addressed. Darian and Talon, along with the other elite recruits, stood over the lifeless body of Marshal. The once-feared commander now lay motionless, his expression frozen in a mixture of shock and defiance. The recruits' faces were a tapestry of emotions—relief, and exhaustion.
The silence was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps. The Princess, her gown torn and stained, her face glad and happy, rushed towards them. Without hesitation, she threw herself into Asher's arms, her body .
"I knew you'd protect us," she said as she squeezed his arms to her chest. "You're our hero."
Asher stood rigid. His eyes, however, were distant, reflecting the turmoil within. The weight of his actions, the lives taken, and the secrets he bore pressed heavily upon him.
The Queen observed the exchange from a distance. Her regal demeanor remained intact, but her eyes betrayed a storm of emotions. She had witnessed Asher's display of power—a force that defied comprehension. While gratitude for his protection was evident, an undercurrent of pride and uncertainty lingered. What was the extent of his abilities? And at what cost did they come?
Breaking away from the Princess, Asher approached Marshal's body. He knelt beside the fallen commander, his fingers seeking a pulse he knew wouldn't be there. A heavy sigh escaped him. "He's gone," he confirmed, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.
The reality of their situation settled over the group like a suffocating blanket. The battle was won, but the war was far from over.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention. Selena and Lyria entered, each dragging two unconscious figures. The assassins were bound, their faces bruised and bloodied—a testament to the struggle that had ensued.
Cassandra followed closely, her expression a mask of frustration and anger. The Queen's eyes narrowed as she took in the scene. "What happened?" she inquired, her voice steady but laced with concern.
"The sniper escaped," Cassandra admitted through gritted teeth. "I had her in my sights, but she slipped away."
The Princess attempted to lighten the mood. "Asher will find her. He never fails."
The Queen's gaze shifted to Asher, a hint of skepticism evident. "He let Whisper escape once before."
"They were mere pawns," the Princess countered. "Selena dispatched two with ease."
Elias stepped forward, his hands glowing with a soft blue light. "Let's wake them," he suggested. With a flick of his wrists, water materialized, cascading over the unconscious assassins. They sputtered awake, their eyes darting around in panic.
Among them was Tony, his face pale, a mixture of fear and defiance flickering in his eyes.
Asher's voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority. "Where is Korrin?"
Silence.
Cassandra's patience wore thin. "Why target the royal family? Who orchestrated this?"
One assassin sneered, spitting at the ground. "You royals are all the same. Oblivious to the world beyond your gilded walls."
Talon's grip tightened on his cutlasses, the blades gleaming menacingly. "Let me persuade them," he offered, a sinister edge to his voice.
Asher raised a hand, signaling restraint. "There's another way."
He approached the defiant assassin the one who spoke rudely, his eyes locking onto the man's. Without warning, he placed two fingers on the assassin's forehead. The man's body convulsed, his eyes rolling back as he was plunged into a realm of darkness.
Within the confines of Asher's mind, the assassin found himself face-to-face with a being of nightmares. A towering demon, its eyes burning with an infernal light, loomed over him. The sheer presence of the creature was suffocating, pressing down on him with an unbearable weight.
A guttural growl emanated from the demon, reverberating through the void. The assassin's resolve shattered he experienced something he had never ever seen in his life something devious, monstrous and disastrous.
The assassin screamed so loud the other assassins looked at him in shock they wondered what he saw but did not want to experience it.
A bone-chilling, guttural scream that reverberated through the royal hall and sent shivers down everyone's spines. His body convulsed violently as his eyes rolled up, drool spilling from his mouth.
"Asher, what are you doing to him?!" the Queen asked sharply, stepping forward.
But Asher's eyes didn't move. His hand remained pressed against the assassin's temple, his expression unreadable. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the screams stopped. The assassin slumped forward, gasping for air like a man who had been drowning.
"Korrin…" he whispered, barely able to form the words. "He… he's heading for the capital… he's going to kill the king."
A collective gasp swept through the room.
Cassandra stepped forward, gripping the assassin by the collar. "Why? Who sent you?"
The man shook his head violently. "I don't know! I swear it! Even Korrin didn't tell us even our leader marshal know " he said as he pointed marshals lifeless body. "None of us ever saw the buyer's face."
Talon growled. "Convenient."
Another assassin, bloodied and shaking, finally spoke. "We were told to cause chaos… but Korrin… he has a different goal. He was never part of the guild for money. He wanted power. Influence. He wants to break the kingdom's hierarchy and make the world know us as legends."
"Who else is with him?" Lyria asked coldly as she took him up and slammed him to the wall of the corridor.
"Just him,... and some others I don't really know" the assassin whispered. "But he killed the top four assassins in a spar even the former president died by his hands. He's… he's not normal, he... he's a monster a living beast."
Cassandra's confident demeanor faltered. "If he's headed to the capital… then he's aiming for the heart of the kingdom. But the King's guarded by the Top One, the Top Three, and the Top Four strongest warriors. There's no way he can successed on his own" This made Asher clench his teeth,he didn't want to believe what he was thinking.
----
Far from the royal palace, deep within a concealed mountain range cloaked by magic and shadow, the Assassins' Guild's hideout trembled with tension and sounds of someone getting beaten and covered in blood .
Whisper slammed Fin against the stone wall, her blade pressed against his throat as she squeezed his trought tight with one hand. "You LOST the egg?! You were supposed to die with it rather than lose it, you coward!"
Fin coughed, blood staining his lips. "I-I tried! It slipped! That warrior woman—Lyria—she was too fast I tried to out run her but.. but. I didn't mean to fail."
"Do you even know what you lost, that egg is a mixed breed experiment of a Dragon and a Phoenix; Do you know the effort it took to steal the egg from the queen's brother ,that egg is worth more than your life!!" Whisper hissed.
Suddenly, the air turned cold. A suffocating, malevolent presence filled the room, snuffing out torches and shaking the walls. Everyone froze.
A voice, deep and calm yet carrying unspeakable threat, spoke behind Whisper.
"Enough."
She turned instantly—and immediately dropped to one knee, unable to look him in the eyes.
Even fin felt the pressure and was more terrified of what he was in front of him even thought he didn't see it up close.
Korrin stood there, drenched in red fiery aura, his blade gleaming with black mist. Blood soaked his cloak. None of it was his.
"You're… you're back," Whisper said, trembling. "What happened? Were you able to assassinate the King?"
Korrin walked forward slowly, wiping his blade with a cloth and dropped the rag soked in blood to the ground.
"Dead."
The room went completely silent.
"You killed the king?" one of the assassins who looked huge in with eye patch and rings on his nose ears and tongue whispered in disbelief.
Korrin didn't answer immediately. He simply placed a golden crown—the King's—on the center table.
"They tried to stop me," he continued. " So called Top One and Top Three stood in my path. I didn't want to fight them. But they insisted."
His eyes burned with a quiet fury.
"They're dead."
Gasps erupted around the room they all could not believe what they just hear the shear gravity of Korrin word were too deep . The Top One? The strongest warrior of the kingdom?
"Korrin…" Whisper said, swallowing hard. "That… that is impossible." she said trying to full hear him say it again because she thought he was joking or she didn't hear him properly.
"I warned them," he said calmly, his expression void of emotion. "but they did not listen only the top fourth cowered in fear and ran."
Then his eyes turned cold. "Where is Marshal?"
Whisper stiffened in fear. "De..Dead. Killed by Asher."
Korrin didn't speak. He walked past her, heading toward the blackened chamber at the back of the hall. As he walked, the shadows seemed to wrap around him, thickening with each step.
He stopped at the threshold.
"If anyone here believes they can defeat Asher… they're mistaken."
"But—" one assassin began.
Korrin turned slowly, eyes glowing red.
"I'll deal with him myself."
No one dared argue. They knew just how powerful he was and were even surprised that Korrin recognized Asher's strength.