The first scream didn't echo. It just stopped. Like a thread that gets cut off suddenly.
Then the lights started going out. One by one the lanterns at the festival began to dim. The music started to sound weird and low. People stopped laughing.
Kalen was standing at the edge of the garden path. He could still feel the warmth of what happened. It was like an ember under his skin.. It was starting to stir.
"They have blocked off some parts of the grounds." Lyra said with her voice sharper than usual. "The way they are moving seems planned and coordinated."
Nyxara was standing close behind Kalen. It was like she was trying to protect him. Almost possessive. "They are trying to box us in" she said.
Asha'Kareth didn't say much. "Good " she said.
Kalen's eyes were tracking the shadows between the hedges. "Good?" he asked.
"Let them show us what they're planning " Asha'Kareth said.
Suddenly a figure jumped down from above. It was quiet. Had a blade. Kalen reacted fast without any hesitation. He stepped in; deflected the blade and grabbed the figure.
[SYNC PASSIVE: ACTIVE]
The figure's wrist got twisted in an unnatural way. Kalen's strike got redirected. The blade hit the stone beside Kalen instead of him.
Another figure started to appear. Then another. Three became five. Five became "Eight " Lyra counted. "No ten " Nyxara said.
Asha'Kareth said, "That's not enough."
Kalen took a deep breath. "Let's see about that " he said.
The first wave of assassins started to attack. It wasn't wild or chaotic. It was in sync, like they had planned it. Blades were coming from all sides. There was no place for kalen to retreat to.
Kalen stepped forward.
[SYNC INITIATED]
The world seemed to get sharper. Every move was clear. Every intention was visible.
The first blade came but Kalen caught it. Then came the second blade but he leaned into it. Then the third blade; but he stepped through a gap that he created.
Then he started to move. Not away from the assassins but through them. He struck. It was clean. One of them fell down. A second one; Reversal. The third; Impact.
Bodies hit the ground in controlled chaos but the assassins didn't stay down. "They have been enhanced " Lyra said. Nyxara's voice got darker. "Or modified " she said.
The remaining assassins changed their formation instantly. They started to circle, adapt and learn.
Kalen moved his shoulders a bit. "…They're good " he said.
From the balcony Lucienne Vale was watching. Her arms were folded. Her eyes were narrowed. "That's the Black Division " she said. It wasn't a guess. She knew it.
Beside her a council member asked, "Should we intervene?"
Lucienne didn't answer right away.
Below, Kalen moved again. It was effortless and controlled. He was dangerous.
"…Not yet " Lucienne said.
The assassins started to attack again.. Faster and more aggressive. Kalen didn't hold back this time.
[AUTHORITY REVERSAL: CHAIN RESPONSE]
One strike reversed into another with continuous momentum. The assassins plan was turned against them. A blade meant for Kalen hit one of the theirs instead.
The assassins started to drop like flies. It got quiet.. Not completely. One of them remained standing.. Still. Unshaken. Different.
"…Target confirmed." the assassin said.
Kalen's eyes got sharper. "You talk more than the others " he said.
The assassin tilted his head. "The others were prototypes." he said. "I am not."
[THREAT LEVEL: CRITICAL]
Before Kalen could move; the assassin disappeared then reappeared right in front of him.. Faster than before. Stronger. The strike landed. Kalen blocked it.. But this time he slid back. The stone cracked under his feet.
Nyxara's voice got tighter. "He's different " she said. Lyra muttered. "Finally." Asha'Kareth spoke just one word, "Focus."
Kalen smiled a bit. "Now we're getting somewhere."