Seven hours had passed, and Ember was the first to wake up. He glanced at the watch hanging on the door—almost time for the meeting.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he unpacked some clothes, grabbed his towel, and headed toward the bathroom.
The sound of running water stirred Val next. He rolled over, squinting at the dim light streaming under the bathroom door, then silently dropped from his bunk. Blinking against the low light, he fumbled around for the switch. When he flicked it on, a chorus of groans erupted from Bo and Riggs.
"Ghh… My eyes…"
"So bright…"
Val chuckled. Ignoring their protests, he strolled over and gave their bunks a playful shake. "Rise and shine, sleepyheads." He even gave Exeo's shoulder a nudge, met with another groan.
This wake-up routine was a tradition whenever they were at the island cabin.
Val yanked the blankets off all three of them, earning more sleepy mutters, just as Ember emerged from the bathroom, towel over his head, dressed in sweatpants. "Better hurry up," he called, glancing at the clock. "The meeting with the colonel is soon."
"There are three shower cubicles," he added, gesturing back toward the bathroom.
Bo and Riggs shuffled in grudgingly, with Val giving them a gentle push, then Ember headed over to the wardrobe to get dressed. Inside, he noticed their military uniforms hanging neatly. But these uniforms had slight differences from the standard ones.
"Looks like the General's customized these for us," he commented, holding up the new uniform for everyone to see. The black fabric was complemented by a gold armband, emblazoned with a circular ⍉ symbol. There was also a small gold pin with a thin chain, designed to hook onto the collar.
Ember then pulled out a sleek, black cloak. Unlike traditional capes, this one covered the head and included a half-face mask that could be pulled up for anonymity. "So we're supposed to wear this over our uniforms," he mused, running his fingers over the fabric.
Val glanced over his shoulder. "Looks like it," he replied, nudging Bo and Riggs further into the bathroom. Soon, all five were in various stages of getting ready, with Exeo, as usual, taking the last shower.
Once they were all dressed, a soft chime rang from the room communicator. Exeo answered it, and Col. Pertul's image flashed onto the screen.
"Good morning, team," Pertul greeted them. "Change of plans. The General will be meeting with you instead of me, as I'm tied up with more trainees than expected. My apologies for the switch."
"No problem, Colonel. We'll report to the General's office," Exeo replied.
"Appreciate it," the colonel said before the screen went dark.
The team made their way to the General's office, adjusting their new uniforms as they went. The office itself was spacious, with two large monitors set up on the walls. As they stood in attention before him, the General gave them an approving nod.
"So, how are the uniforms?" he asked, his gaze landing on each of them. Exeo cleared his throat and replied, "They're very comfortable, sir. Thank you for the consideration."
"Good. These are your standard attire. You'll wear these on base or at the cabin, but there's a separate set for active missions."
Turning back to the monitors, he picked up a laser pointer and displayed a drone video of their first mission. "This is your assignment—a rural area in Uryo. Reports show human trafficking is rampant here."
The footage showed armed men herding people out of trucks. Among them were men, women, and children, their faces etched with fear. The team watched silently, a chilling stillness settling over the room.
Val's shadowed inner voice muttered, "I didn't think they'd still be around after all this time."
"Wait—what do you mean?" Val murmured under his breath. "Are you saying you know this group?"
"Yes," the voice replied. "This is an old cult. They've been trafficking people for centuries. In the past, they even held public slave markets."
"Publicly? And they're still operating?" Val's shock was palpable.
"Not exactly. Today, it's more secretive. See the armband on that man?" Val's gaze sharpened as he zoomed in on the symbol.
The General's cough broke Val's concentration. "Valens, something catch your eye?" he asked, narrowing his gaze.
Flustered, Val blurted out, "I… might recognize that logo, sir."
His teammates gave him a surprised look, and the General raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "Explain."
Val swallowed and hesitated, glancing briefly at the floor. "I may have encountered this symbol in my childhood. It was associated with a cult involved in slavery…and sacrifices."
The room grew deathly quiet as Val's words sank in. Even Exeo and Ember exchanged shocked glances. Just then, a call came through on the General's phone.
"Bring Col. Hento immediately," he said to the person on the line before turning his attention back to Val. "I trust this information is reliable?"
"Yes, sir," Val replied, his voice steady.
Within minutes, Col. Hento entered, and the General motioned to the paused video on the screen. The colonel's expression hardened as he studied the symbol. "The logo is linked to a cult rumored to have existed over a century ago. No solid records survived—just fragments, so I didn't include it in my report."
Val's shadowed voice murmured again. "Not surprising. They were secretive, operating with impunity. Their influence was so deep that even after their temple was raided, they covered their tracks well."
Val asked, "Do you remember where they were located?"
"I need a map," the shadow replied. "But it began in the Blovik Empire."
Val's eyes widened in realization, murmuring, "The Blovik Empire…"
The General looked up sharply. "What did you just say?"
Realizing he'd spoken out loud, Val stammered, "Uh… nothing, sir."
The General's gaze narrowed. "I thought I heard you mention the Blovik Empire. Do you have some knowledge of it?"
Caught between lying and the shadow's advice, Val hesitated but eventually nodded. "I've…heard of it before, sir."
"Good," the General replied, noting the information. "Any insight you can provide will be valuable."
A moment passed in silence as the General turned to Col. Hento, "Is there a chance this cult is linked to a revived operation in the region?"
"It's possible," Hento replied, eyes on the screen. "If they're reviving this cult, they'll be dangerous and highly organized."
The General nodded. "Then your mission has a new objective: identify and eliminate the leaders of this cult."
Val could feel the weight of the assignment pressing down on him. His memories had unexpectedly put them on a path darker and more dangerous than they'd imagined. Their first mission would be an assassination mission—with targets that had haunted history for centuries.