The dungeon was cold.
Not the quiet, distant cold of marble halls or shaded corridors—but a damp, suffocating chill that clung to the air and settled deep into the bones.
Elira had never been here before.
And yet—
She didn't hesitate.
Her small steps echoed softly as she walked beside Commander Cassian, the dim torchlight flickering against stone walls that had seen far too many secrets buried within them.
"Stay close," Cassian said quietly.
Elira didn't respond.
Her gaze remained forward.
Focused.
At the end of the corridor—
The assassin waited.
Chained.
Kneeling.
Head lowered.
Unmoving.
Two guards stood on either side, their grips firm on their weapons.
Cassian stopped.
"So," he said calmly, "we begin."
The guards stepped back.
The assassin didn't move.
Not even a flinch.
Elira stepped forward.
Small.
Insignificant.
And yet—
The moment she entered the light—
The assassin's head lifted.
Slowly.
Their eyes locked onto her.
And for the first time—
There was a reaction.
Recognition.
Not of her identity—
But of something else.
Something they had seen.
Something they didn't understand.
"…You saw it," Elira said softly.
The assassin's jaw tightened.
Silence.
Cassian's voice cut in.
"You will answer."
No response.
The assassin remained still, their expression blank.
Empty.
Trained.
Elira tilted her head slightly.
Observing.
Then—
"They won't speak," she said calmly.
Cassian glanced at her.
"…And why is that?"
Elira's gaze didn't leave the assassin.
"Because they can't."
Silence.
The guards shifted uneasily.
Cassian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Explain."
Elira stepped closer.
Closer than she should have.
Close enough to see the faint tension in the assassin's jaw, the controlled breathing, the stillness that wasn't natural—
But forced.
"They're waiting," she said.
A pause.
"For permission."
The words settled heavily in the room.
Cassian's expression hardened.
"From who?"
Elira didn't answer.
Not immediately.
Instead—
She crouched slightly.
Lowering herself to meet the assassin's eyes directly.
"You failed," she said softly.
The assassin's fingers twitched.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
A crack.
"You won't get another chance," Elira continued. "And the one who sent you—"
A pause.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"…won't forgive failure."
The assassin's breathing shifted.
Faster.
Shallower.
Fear.
Not of death.
But of something worse.
Elira saw it.
"…You're afraid of them," she whispered.
The assassin's gaze flickered.
Just for a second.
But that was enough.
Elira stood slowly.
"…They won't speak," she repeated.
Cassian exhaled slowly.
"…Then we make them."
He stepped forward, his presence shifting—cold, commanding, absolute.
Remove the restraints from the mouth."
One guard stepped forward, pulling away the binding that had kept the assassin silent.
"Speak," Cassian ordered.
Silence.
The assassin's lips parted slightly.
But no sound came.
Then—
A strange sound escaped them.
A choking breath.
Their body suddenly tensed.
Violently.
Elira's eyes widened.
"No—"
Too late.
The assassin convulsed.
A sharp, unnatural movement—
Then—
Stillness.
The guards stepped back immediately.
"What—?!"
Cassian grabbed the assassin's chin, forcing their face upward.
Their eyes—
Empty.
Their mouth—
Darkened.
"…Poison," he said.
Hidden.
Planted.
A final measure.
A guarantee of silence.
Elira stared.
Her chest tightened.
"…They were never meant to talk."
Silence filled the dungeon.
Heavy.
Frustrating.
Incomplete.
Cassian released the body slowly.
"…We lost them."
Elira shook her head.
No."
Her voice was quiet.
But certain.
"We learned something."
Cassian looked at her.
"…What?"
Elira's gaze lowered slightly.
Thinking.
Replaying every moment.
Every reaction.
"They weren't just following orders," she said. "They were controlled."
A pause.
"Fear like that… doesn't come from simple loyalty."
Cassian's expression darkened.
"…You're suggesting a higher authority."
Elira nodded.
"Yes."
Her eyes lifted again.
Sharp.
Focused.
"And someone who expected this outcome."
Silence.
Because that meant—
The assassin's death wasn't a failure.
It was part of the plan.
Cassian's hand tightened slightly against his sword.
"…Then this isn't over."
Elira's gaze hardened.
"It never was."
A faint sound echoed from behind them.
Footsteps.
Measured.
Approaching.
Both of them turned.
A guard appeared at the entrance, bowing quickly.
"Commander—Your Highness—there is a message."
Cassian frowned.
"From who?"
The guard hesitated.
"…It was left anonymously."
Silence.
The tension in the room spiked instantly.
Cassian extended his hand.
"Give it to me."
The guard stepped forward, handing over a small folded note.
Cassian opened it.
Read it.
And for the first time—
His expression changed.
Not anger.
Not calm.
But something sharper.
More dangerous.
Elira noticed.
"…What does it say?"
Cassian didn't answer immediately.
Then—
He handed it to her.
Elira took it.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Her eyes scanned the words.
And the moment she read them—
Her fingers tightened.
"Next time, I won't miss."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Elira folded the note slowly.
Her expression didn't change.
But her eyes—
Darkened.
"…Good," she whispered.
Cassian glanced at her.
"…Good?"
Elira looked up.
Calm.
Cold.
Certain.
"Then next time…"
A pause.
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…we'll be ready."