Everyone was supposed to be huddled up inside the large sitting room of the main wooden building of the farm. Paul was supposed to be in their middle, enjoying their full protection.
So, where was Paul?
13 foreign awakened warriors and 4 local awakened warriors were currently gathered, huddled in this sitting room.
The 4 local ones comprised of Aunt Ariel, her husband, and their 2 awakened laborers. Then, the initial 8 foreign awakened as reinforcements, including the further reinforcement of 5 more awakened warriors that came earlier in the night.
This was a total figure of 17 awakened warriors gathered in this farm.
This was more than enough to defend a farm.
This was more than enough to fend off an attack of 5 assassins. Such a line-up of awakened warriors was only possible due to Aunt Ariel's vast connections.
This was the reason for her confidence, this was what gave her the leverage to stand her ground on her farm to protect her nephew.
This was why she didn't run.
But after all these, after all the preparations, Paul's sudden disappearance threw all her plans in disarray.
The assassins didn't mask their presence, they were brazen, already aware of what to expect in this farm having done their research earlier.
They barged directly into the sitting room where all the awakened warriors were gathered and this time, immediately, Sophia could tell that something was different.
They wore the same black cloaks with red symbols of triple six, they wore the same masks but something was different, it was their aura.
Sophia's eyes widened slowly. 'T-t-they're here to kill'. She knew immediately.
Yesterday, at night when the assassins of the order came for her twin brother, they came with expectations to complete an easy mission.
Afterall, it was a Cosmopolitan that just awakened for less than a day, who had a sister who also just awakened, and a mother who was factioned to Dionysus.
To them, it was an easy mission against 3 non-lethal awakened.
They looked down on Claire Arrakis and that was why they had to pay with the death of their partner. But this time, Sophia could tell immediately that these assassins were no longer complacent.
This time, they were serious.
Not just from their stance, also, the way that they held their daggers this time around told Sophia that they were here to murder.
Against 17 awakened warriors, they dared not hold back.
In terms of numbers, the advantage was on their side yet for some reason, staring at these assassins, Sophia felt like they didn't have the advantage at all.
Her instincts told her that they were doomed and once again, she froze.
This was when they finally spoke.
"Hand the Cosmopolitan over to us".
'Such confidence? These bastards!' Aunt Ariel gritted her teeth but at the same time she was at a loss because Paul was gone.
The boy was nowhere to be found!
"…"
"…"
"…..!"
All the awakened defenders were baffled but none of them spoke. Tense, they were at a stand-off against the assassins.
On one side stood 5 assassins, on the other side stood the defenders.
The atmosphere slowly grew in tension till it felt like electricity sparks were colliding in the air, it was oppressive and almost suffocating.
Sophia struggled to breath.
Hidden behind their masks, the eyes of the assassins darted round this sitting room, looking for their target to no avail, and their leader asked again.
"Where is the boy?"
Silence.
While all this happened, even as Sophia struggled to breath, she was baffled. 'Where is brother? Why don't I feel anything?'
Getting no feedback from her telepathic connection with her twin meant that Paul was not in danger, but where the heck was he?
And that was when she remembered her conversation with her brother.
'Paul, I miss her already'.
'I know,' she could still hear his voice vividly like he was here. 'I know, I'm sorry I couldn't protect the both of you'.
'It won't happen again'.
Sophia's eyes widened. 'Is this what he meant?'
She turned to face her aunt with wide eyes, Aunt Ariel noticed.
"Sophia?"
"He's gone".
Aunt Ariel turned to look at her, perspiration on her mature face. "What?"
"Paul, he's gone".
Aunt Ariel didn't react immediately as instead, she turned to face the assassins only for one of them to echo it.
"He's gone".
'Yes, they're Heimdalls, they would know'. She thought.
Despite one of them just confirming that their target was gone, meaning that this whole act was likely a misdirection, they didn't panic.
"Use the second relic". The unknown leader of the assassins ordered.
Immediately, one of the assassins unwrapped another graven idol. Unlike the graven image of a short golden spear that they almost used yesternight, this time, it was a graven image of a golden compass.
Kneeling and clasping the compass in his hands, this assassin poured his God essence into the compass and immediately, the compass needle jerked and moved.
It pointed in a direction away from the farm.
"He's out of the farm, he's heading towards the Endless Wilderness".
Hearing that name, the assassins paused for a moment, but a deep voice soon broke the silence. "We move".
Without sparing one more glance at all 17 awakened warriors that were gathered before them, the 5 assassins moved in tandem, disappearing out of this sitting room like ghosts.
It was almost like they were never there.
Sophia could finally breath again.
Immediately, Aunt Ariel grabbed Sophia by the shoulders. "Tell me, what happened?"
Sophia could only stare at her aunt, lost for words to say.
Mr. John gritted his teeth. "It's that man".
"Who?" Aunt Ariel stared sharply at her husband.
"The lean man," he looked at his wife, feeling guilty. "The few times I left them, they were always talking, I wondered what they were talking about but now I know". His face darkened.
"Paul already lost too much family, his dad, his mom, now the life of his sister is threatened too. He feels responsible for everything".
"He doesn't want to lose more of us, that's why he left".
"He wants to take on the burden alone".
Hearing that explanation, Aunt Ariel's eyes reddened in rage. "That fool!"
"Did I tell him that I needed his protection? I'm not that old enough yet to require the protection of an 18-year-old!"
Staring at her aunt at this moment, for some reason, Sophia saw her mom. 'They're so similar'.
Aunt Ariel stared at the others; eyes filed with a fiery determination. "Get set, we're going to the wilderness".
"Now!"
"Yes, madam".
That night, the farm became busy.