The city of Daifko near Calipsia felt like a cage of stone and a labyrinth of streets.
Reinhard stood in a secluded alleyway, the smell of damp brick and sewage water hanging heavy in the air. He wasn't supposed to be here. A knight of his stature, especially one under Hellsifer's personal command, shouldn't be seen whispering in the dark with the rats of the Intelligence Division.
But then again, his brother-in-arms was lying in a grave somewhere in the mountains, and the "rules" had died with him.
"That's not so fucking low profile now is it?," a voice hissed from the shadows. Three figures emerged, their faces obscured by high collars and the low brims of their fedoras. They didn't look like soldiers, they looked like the kind of men who erased people for a living.
Reinhard didn't flinch. He leaned against the wall, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his blade. His eyes seemed to throb in the dim light.. his face wasn't carrying good news.
"Cut the shit," Reinhard snapped, his voice a low growl. "I'm not here for a formal briefing. Aldric is dead. We were jumped by something or someone near theswamp. Death in a red robe who moved like it didn't have bones."
The intelligence agents exchanged a quick, unreadable glance. The one in the middle, a man with eyes as cold as flint, stepped forward.
"You were sent to observe, Reinhard. Not to engage."
"Observe what? How fast a blade can gut a man?" Reinhard straightened up, his shadow looming large over them. "The intelligence you gave us was garbage. You said the area was clear. Now, I want to know what the next move is. I want orders, and I want them now."
The lead agent remained unnervingly calm. "You forget your place, Knight. We don't take orders from the grieving. We report to the Parliament, and through them, to Hellsifer."
"Then get him on the line. Or go find him in his ivory tower. I'm not sitting on my hands while that... thing in thegrove is still out there."
The agent adjusted his gloves, his voice turning formal and sharp. "Go back to your position. Keep your mouth shut and your sword sheathed and of course ,your Grace unactivated. We will meet you here, at this exact time tomorrow. By then, Hellsifer's decision will be finalized."
Reinhard readied to leave, his eyes burning with a vengeful fire. "Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," the agent repeated, already retreating back into the darkness with his companions. "And Reinhard... try not to let your temper get you killed before we see you again. It would be a waste of a good asset."
Reinhard watched them vanish, his jaw clenched so tight he could hear his teeth grind.
The chaos was no longer just in the forest, it was here, in the heart of the city, hidden behind protocols and secret meetings.. and it's gonna spread like a disease.
He looked up at the sky, or what was left of it through the city's smog.
"Tomorrow," he whispered, a dangerous smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Let's see if your 'orders' can survive what's coming."
_________
Miles away from the grimy alleys of Daifko, in a hall , Hellsifer sat in absolute stillness.
Suddenly, he felt it. A sharp, rhythmic pulse at the base of his skull,he recognized the unmistakable mental knock of a Telekinesis Grace.
He closed his eyes, leaning back into chair.
"My Lord..." The strict feminine voice echoed inside his mind, ethereal and strained. It belonged to the operative he had embedded within the Intelligence Division's communication web. "The report from Daifko has arrived. Reinhard has made contact."
Hellsifer didn't move. "And?" he thought back, his mental voice as sharp as a razor.
"An attack near The Roaming Forest. A lone assailant, robed in crimson. Knight Aldric is... confirmed dead. Slain in a single exchange."
There was a long pause. Hellsifer's expression didn't change, but his fingers tightened slightly on the armrest of his chair. Aldric was a capable man, a seasoned veteran. To be taken down so quickly meant they weren't dealing with a mere assassin. They were dealing with a variable they hadn't accounted for.
"Reinhard?" Hellsifer asked.
"Unstable. He is demanding orders. He suspects the Intelligence Division is compromised, or worse,incompetent. He is a loose cannon, My Lord. If he acts on his own when in his planned position ,The Roaming Forest may react."
"Let him simmer," Hellsifer commanded mentally. "Keep the Division's rats on a short leash. I'll be in contact."
"As you command."
The connection snapped shut, leaving a cold silence in its wake. Hellsifer opened his eyes, staring at the map of the Horn of Yuria. His gaze drifted toward the northernmost tip, where the grove lay
"The Cult? I highly doubt they would move this early.." he muttered and then he lit up his tabacco pipe to lighten up..
"Death is a quiet messenger, Aldric," Hellsifer whispered to the empty room, his voice devoid of pity. "But the chaos you've left behind... that will be very, very loud."
He stood up and walked with his pipe toward the window, looking out over the industrial silhouette of the city.
The gears of fate were turning, and for the first time in a long time, even he couldn't predict exactly what the next rotation would bring.
_____
The room was filled with a rare, heavy stillness. Vandal sat on a wooden chair, a small boy in his lap. The child played with mindless joy, oblivious to the cold aura radiating from the guy holding him. Across the table, Rodeln looked noticeably frayed, his patience being tested by a slightly older girl who climbed over him, her small hands poking and prodding at his tired frame, much to his silent annoyance.
Standing near the window was a woman in her thirties. The resemblance was unmistakable, carved into the very architecture of her face.
Her pitch-black hair streamed long down her back, and her eyes carried that same heavy, unbothered weight. The upper lids hung low, veiling her deep dark irises with a natural droop, while the lower lids held a soft, subtle fullness ,a gentle, natural puff that gave her gaze an air of cold, indifferent elegance. Just like that guy across the room.
"Syla stop it! get down and behave!" She scolded the little girl "Vandal talk to her !"
"Hey get down Syla leave the guy be !" He said as she slowly glided down from Rodeln
The woman brought some steamy pie and drinks to the two visitors..and joined them to the table
"So how's everything Vandal .. ?"
"Meh .. you could say fine .."
"How's it going with dad .. you're getting along with him?"
"Not really..he scolded me .. you know him better than I do Vanessa.."
She burst out laughing.. Vandal was just looking at her details.. the way she laughed.. there was something Vandal lost and it was somewhere in her face..
"Vandal .. You know dad has a bad temper he had it since ever and it's getting worse by his age.. with Vango by your side.. you'll be fine .. it's not like he hates you,I promise you that .." she had an overwhelmingly beautiful soothing smile.. it was so warm and angelic. Vandal was at a loss of words , until he decided to speak..
"You look and sound more like mom by the day.." he said it with a gentle smile too.
"Aww .. that would be the most beautiful compliment i could ever receive.. such a beautiful little brother you are .." she hugged him so tight but he was so not into physical affection it was like torture but he just accepted it with a frown as a sign of mutual love, until she finally let go.
"So how about the offer?! Did you take it?"
"Nope not yet, still swirling it around in my head .."
"Oh .. well.. i saw your friend here with a uniform so i thought maybe .." she pointed at Rodeln he was being death-stared by the little girl
"Ah this guy .. yeah Hilda told me to babysit him cuz he was gonna kill himself with training.."
"Hey that was sooo not what she said!" Rodeln ranted
"Yeah yeah ..like you can understand anything she says at all..oh better yet , like she actually says anything!" Vandal taunted him
"..damn it, he had me it could really be what she said that silent hag.." Rolden though to himself while swallowing Vandal's taunting look of victory
"Hey quit it Vandal.." the cold from Vanessa's voice and looks made Vandal shiver.. he was still no match to the level of an older sister.
Vanessa leaned back slightly, her voice softening into that warm yet firm older-sister tone.
"Vandal… listen to me."
She looked him straight in the eyes, the cold threatening stare fading into something more serious and sincere.
"Take the offer. Stop swirling it around in your head like it's a game. You need to change your life for the better, little brother. You can't keep going like this. Walk the path that your big brother Vangard paved for you… he didn't open that door for nothing. Do it for yourself, and do it for the family. I believe in you."
Her words hit heavier than Vandal expected. Something tightened in his chest. He stayed silent for a few seconds, visibly shaken by the rare sincerity and care in her voice. For a moment, the cold mask cracked.
To hide his unease, he turned his attention to the little boy still sitting happily in his lap. Suddenly, Vandal's face changed completely. He started poking the boy's chubby cheeks with his finger, then made silly faces , he even tickled the boy's belly while making ridiculous cartoonish sounds.
"Boop! Who's the toughest little warrior in the house? You? Nahhh, it's meee ~ it's uncle right? it's uncle Vandy right ? Yesh it isss ~ "
The boy burst into loud giggles, squirming with joy.
Rodeln, who was sitting right across from them, watched the scene with pure horror. His face turned pale, jaw dropped, then twisted in second-hand embarrassment so strong he genuinely wished the ground would swallow him. He looked like he was one second away from dying of cringe.
A few minutes later, they said their goodbyes. Vanessa hugged Vandal one last time ,which he endured with the same reluctant frown, and the two men finally left the house.
Once they were a safe distance away, Vandal's face returned to its usual cold, indifferent state. Without looking at Rodeln, he spoke in a low, threatening tone:
"If anyone… anyone at all… ever hears about what I just did with my nephew back there… I will personally kill you. Slowly. And I'm not joking."
Rodeln let out a tired, defeated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"…Noted. My lips are sealed man.."
____
In a secure briefing room somewhere in Daifko, a young woman with sharp silver eyes approached the man in charge.
"Orders just came from Hellsifer," she said flatly,"He believes we underestimated the situation."
The man looked up, his face tightening.
She continued without pause, "He wants the Shadow operatives doubled immediately. Prepare to receive and direct the 'assistance' that is coming."
The man's eyes widened in awe
A dangerous glint appeared in her eyes as she delivered the final line:
"Reinforcements are on their way."
What was meant to be a quiet reconnaissance mission for Reinhard… was about to turn into something far bigger.