The hideout was illuminated by streaks of orange that inquisitively poked through the trees.
Marcus took this light as a message from the sun itself that it was time to leave for the mission. He briskly went downstairs while mentally preparing himself for the coming battle.
As he descended, he saw Tess sat at the nearest table to the stairs.
Strangely, she was not alone.
Opposite her sat another girl. Her hair, hanging down the right of her chest in a braid, shone radiantly, as though the moon had been torn from the heavens and stashed in this room.
From a distance, it appeared as though the two were dressed the same. Upon closer inspection, Marcus found that they wore the same overhood, but hid different clothes underneath.
"Is this a bad time?" Marcus asked as he approached the table.
"No. In fact it's probably the best time you could have come down," Tess answered him with a smile.
She gestured to the girl opposite her. "This is Roxanne, she's an aspirant like you. She'll be coming along on the mission too."
Marcus extended a hand out to her. "Marcus. Pleased to meet you."
The girl took his hand. "Call me Roxy," she said with a smile.
A strange sentimental feeling rolled over Marcus as he heard the words the girl uttered. But why? He took a moment to think, but found no reason why that name would mean anything to him.
The girl's face was illuminated by the light poking through windows.
'She's pretty.' Marcus thought. Marcus instantly felt a wave of embarrassment rise through his body as he remembered his incident with Tess a few days prior.
Her vibrant green eyes stood out against her pale white skin like paint on a canvas. Like a vortex, they drew Marcus in, threatening to devour him whole.
"He's clingy, isn't he?" Roxy said to Tess.
"Huh?" Marcus felt his face redden as he realised their hands were still attached.
Tess stood and finished the drink she had at the table. "Now for the fun bit," she said, slamming her hands down onto the table. "Weapons. Follow me."
She led the two of them through a door that stood next to the bar.
The room behind the bar was cramped but long. On the wall opposite the door lay a display of various tools an agent of the shadowstriders would find useful.
"Do we really need weapons?" Marcus groaned. He had assumed the mission would be carried out using magic, an idea that excited him.
"Don't complain. It's better to have and not need than to need and not have, after all." Tess unholstered two sharp daggers from the wall as she spoke. "Besides, it's more discreet."
She handed one each to Marcus and Roxy. "Kerrunian steel. As sharp as they come. You can slice a man with as little as a subtle wrist flick with one of these."
"And these are more discreet how?"
"Let's say, you box someone in with your Earth so that you can burn them easier. Someone can identify Earth and Fire were used in the killing, and they then have a lead onto you. Contrarily, a blade tells us nothing about the identity of the killer. Like I said, better to have one in case."
Opening a drawer beneath, she pulled out a small blue box, the shape and design of which indicated it held jewellery.
"Smoke bombs, handy to have in case you need a quick exit." She opened the box towards Marcus and Roxy as she spoke, before taking out four of the small circular objects and passing half each to the pair.
She replaced the box and opened another drawer.
"Throwing knives!" she gleefully exclaimed, drawing a handful. "These ones are my favourite. Handy for taking down targets from a short to medium range without needing to get close to them." Once again she split the pile and handed 5 each to the pair.
She spoke again as she closed the door. "Now, for the most important thing."
Marcus fixed his focus, excited by this thing of utmost importance.
"Promise me, no matter what happens, that my word is law. Swear you will obey me, and you'll be ready for this mission."
"Wait, that's it? This important thing is a promise, not a cool new gadget? Lame."
"You know Marcus, maybe you're not ready for this."
"Why not?"
"Because this thing requires maturity. It seemed you had that after the orphanage over the past few days, but I guess I was wrong."
Marcus hung his head in shame. "Sorry."
"Can you promise me you'll obey?"
"I'll promise."
"Good," Tess said with a smile. "If anything happens to you, it's on me. Roxy, promise?"
"I promise."
"Good."
She headed to the door. "Let's go. Mission starts now."
"So," Marcus began to say to Roxy, "What's your element?"
"I have two. Shadow and Lightning."
"Both of them? That's pretty good."
"It depends on how they're used. Rarity doesn't equal quality, after all. How about you."
"I also have two," he said proudly. "Earth and Fire."
"Can you use them well?"
"Well enough, I guess."
"I see," she said with a smile.
"Tell you what," she said, suddenly grabbing his arm tightly as they left the hideout. "After we're done, why don't we show each other what we can do?"
"I- I guess," Marcus said, stumbling over his words.
She gently laughed at his reaction. Leaning in, she whispered into his ear before quickly releasing him and stepping back.
"It's a date."
"Huh?" Marcus reddened at the thought, his infantile understanding of the word sending inaccurate images into his mind.
Roxy laughed once again at his reaction.
"Hurry up you two, stay close," came a warning from Tess.
"Roxy, don't tease the kid," she told her as she came closer.
"Just a little?"
"No."
"Fine," she said with a pout.