Narukaze lay in his cot, exhausted from another day of training.
Level 1.
Weak.
Dreaming of finally being useful.
He shifted under the thin blanket, unaware that his world was about to crack.
Outside, the city slept peacefully under the silver glow of the moon.
Everything seemed calm.
Cut To — Secret Chamber
Far from the orphanage, in a hidden room of the Eclipse Vanguard:
Hakari, Riku, and Sora huddled together, whispers low.
Their faces were tense, but they wore the masks of loyalty they had perfected over months.
Hakari spoke first, voice trembling slightly:
"This… this is really happening. We're going to—"
Riku interrupted, whispering coldly:
"We were told it's the only way. Keep him isolated. Don't let anyone support him. The Higher Ranks want him gone."
Sora's lips curled into a bitter smile:
"Pretend we're on a B-rank mission. Lead him far from the city… and then, we finish it. He won't see it coming."
They nodded, each suppressing guilt or fear.
Every gesture was rehearsed. Every word measured.
A guild member added, voice low and firm:
"Remember. He must not suspect. He trusts you. That trust is the weapon. Exploit it completely."
Subtle Reminders of the Lie
Hakari glanced at Riku and Sora.
"We were paid to be his friends. That's all. Nothing else. He… he doesn't know. He trusts us."
Riku clenched his fists.
"He thinks he belongs. He doesn't. Not really. Not in our world."
Sora laughed bitterly.
"Pathetic little target. He's level 1, and yet he thinks he matters. Just wait."
The guild watched silently.
Every move orchestrated.
Every word spoken a thread in the trap.
Back to Narukaze — Oblivious
Meanwhile, in the orphanage:
Narukaze rolled over.
Eyes closed.
Completely unaware of the conversations, the plans, the shadows moving in the night.
He imagined his friends laughing with him the next day, dreaming of missions they would complete together.
Little did he know, those smiles, those laughs, those promises were all lies.
Every "friendship" was bought.
Every word was a prelude to betrayal.
Closing — Tension Builds
Outside, the moonlight reflected off the city walls.
The Eclipse Vanguard moved into position.
The friends finalized their plan.
Narukaze's trust remained unbroken.
The Higher Ranks watched silently from afar, the gears of their plan turning perfectly.
And somewhere in the shadows, the trap was set.
The B-rank mission.
The isolation.
The eventual betrayal.
Narukaze would never see it coming.