As I was casually enjoying a morning coffee, a shadow flew over me. I glanced upwards to see a falcon had arrived and not just any falcon. One that contains Orders.
"Awfully late, as always."
With a click of my tongue I raised my right arm to the side as the falcon finally landed. Gripping my right arm with its talons digging deep within my skin. I slowly moved it closer to me and received the small envelope it had been carrying for such a long time.
"You are free to go, your obligation has been fulfilled."
I removed the gear from the falcon, flunging my arm to the side as I gazed at it flying away with tremendous speed. I saw no meaning in it's yearn for freedom but now. Important business had to take place.
I slid the top part of the envelope open, grasping it and pulling it out slowly.
==========
The Wolf is still hunting…
==========
As I read through the one sentence, I clenched it into my fist. He was alive? To even say he is alive is an understatement. Had the order gone soft across the years to think he would die off that easily?
I let out a sigh of disgust, leaning my face onto my left hand as my right hand burned through the envelope. All that was left was a cloud of dust.
"If He is alive, then things will be interesting for once."
I stood up from my chair and gulped down the last of my coffee cup. The wolf was still hunting, but so will I.
"Prepare Hael. For our next encounter will end in one of us passing on."
=================
Meanwhile with Hael and Vesper back at the Glamorous peacock. Hael enjoyed a cup of tea while sitting near the fire. An old yet cozy look to him wearing normal clothing, with his long silver like hair being let down.
Vesper walked in, frustration had taken over her face.
"The armor has been repaired and from what it looks like, you've caught their attention. Hael."
"Good, then we shall prepare to welcome them."
"We? There's no we, Hael. My debt to you is paid. Hell, you were supposed to die merely a week ago!"
"Well, it unfortunately did not dwell long with me. Did it?"
The two partners gazed at each-other, and a standoff had begun. These two were notorious for their constant arguments and in many cases, it had dissolved into pointless fighting.
"Do you really think you can defeat all 10 of them…?"
"I not only anticipate their defeat. I will make it reality."
"Your confidence will be your death, you damned fool!"
"Well, I better prepare and fight against death, fate and my ex-colleagues, Eh?"
With an exceedingly confident tone, Vesper's lips were sealed shut. Had she not known the man she called partner, she would have called him insane and discarded him. But if Hael said that he can do it. You cannot help but trust in him.
Hael gulped down the last of his tea as he got up from his seat and walked past Vesper.
"Where do you plan to go?
"Spain, I have business to attend there and an old benefactor to meet."
"Be careful, the Galactico twins are known to reside there."
"The twins are the least of my worries, dearest Vesper. Because if they truly wish to claim the head, they will need to risk their own neck."
" … Ugh, you are such a pain in the ass. I will contraband the suit as soon as I can through a few of my contacts in Spain. But after that, we are done."
"Our partnership has been quite decent up until this point. But out of courtesy and as a payback, do not be afraid to call my services if you truly feel in danger."
As Hael left the room, Vesper was left alone, standing in the middle of a golden room. Her hard work, sweat and blood. Materialized in front of her but it felt empty. A golden palace with nothing, built on top of bodies.
She covered her face in her hands and ran them through her hair, her eyes beginning to tear up. How could Hael be so cruel as to just discard her kindness, she thought he was attracted to her, she hoped… But all it was for him was a business relationship.
Had she ever been sad before, it was over a huge loss of people and equipment. But now, she was on the verge of breaking down over one person who she knew couldn't be loved and cannot love.
"Hah, me and my foolishness, that man was destined to die alone…"
She wiped away the tears in her eyes and sat down trying to recover herself. Hah. Fate was one cruel villain.
As Hael made his way to the airport and boarded his first class plane. He sat down and began to ponder on what he should do to defeat the 10 greatest assassins of this century.
He knew them all too well, he was raised by them and some of them were raised by him. He was a prodigy, no. A god like prodigy in assassinations. When Eliras finally sprung up from nothingness, he was the only one to not acquire one yet he remained on the top. Forged his way in a lake of blood and land of bodies.
Had it been anybody else, they would be scared for their life. But Hael? Hael wouldn't cower, wouldn't hide. No. He would begin to think about who was coming for him. The when, where and how he would kill them will be answered shortly after those 3 questions are answered.
Assassins live by a code "Stay your blade from the life of the innocents. Make the target answer for their sins. And never compromise the Order." If a violation of this code is done, that assassin would be considered branded.
Hael was one of 'em. If any assassins are to be seen in Spain, they would recognize Hael and attempt to kill him on the earliest sighting. The beauty of the Assassin world. Once branded, you are as good as dead.
As the plane would take more or less than 5 hours to arrive in Spain. Hael decided to make it best of the time and actually rest. He can be called the Devil, The Wolf, The hunter. But at the end of the day, even he needs rest.
"Rest is a fine medicine. Let your stomachs rest, ye dyspeptics; let your brain rest, you wearied and worried men of business; let your limbs rest, ye children of toil!"
- Thomas Carlyle.