Under the moonlit night, silhouettes dashed across the rooftops of the city of Kyiv, each step was like a well choreographed dance and as one figure closed in on another sparks shot across the sky. The dance lasted for a few moments before coming to an abrupt end as the pursuing figure finally caught the other which ended with their body quickly falling from the rooftop in an ungraceful manner.
The pursuing figure stopped dead in his tracks, looking down at the body of the fleeing man. After confirming the man's head was indeed removed from his body which lay lifeless on the road below, the hooded figure lowered the bandana covering his face to catch his breath. The face which was revealed underneath was soft and hairless with pale skin and slightly rosy cheeks, his breath clashed with the cold air as he gasped for breath. He was soon on the move again pursuing another group of young men who were desperately trying to escape, the boy joined the group who were chasing the men like a pack of wolves hyper focused on their prey.
One of the attackers threw a flurry of daggers which struck a few of the men causing them to plumet from the rooftops to the alleyways bellow. The boy followed them down accompanied by 2 others as the rest of the pack continued chasing the remaining men who fled. He lunged down and struck one of the men through the neck as he hit the ground using his body as a cushion, then without missing a beat he slashed at the closest man who luckily managed to draw his own blade and deflect the sword however he too was cut down as another hooded figure appeared from above slicing through his body.
The third attacker had already beheaded the two remaining men who fell down, the three stopped and rested once more while taking off their face coverings.
"Loft, so it was you." One of the figures said to the boy who was wiping the blood from his blade.
Loft looked up squinting at the figures still shrouded in the shadows, as the figures emerged and their faces became visible he smirked. The moonlight revealed two young boys around Loft's age, they both wore a childlike smile on their faces as they chatted with Loft while resting, you'd never be able to tell that they were the same children who just wiped out an entire clan only moments earlier.
After returning to the rooftops they quietly waited and upon seeing the rest of their group returning they did the same, returning to where they had came. Loft and the two boys, Rufus and Clive, eventually the inner city walls which held the royal palace along with the high ranking nobles, they entered through a hatch which they had to scale the huge wall to get to.
Entering the hatch they were met by a group of masked guards, each one exuded an overwhelming aura which was almost suffocating for the group of boys who immediately dropped to their knees. Out of the group, one of the boys, a taller lad named Jason, stepped forward just barely enduring and resisting the sickening aura that filled the tunnel. He pulled from under his cloak five pendants which had been worn by the leaders of each clan they had wiped out.
One of the masked men snatched the pendants while shoving Jason to the ground, the guards dropped retrieved their aura and opened a path for the boys to enter the inner walls.
Jason along with a few other boys went to the eastern end of the inner city to the mage district while Rufus and Clive went to the west where the martial families resided. Loft however went north, towards the royal palace. The streets of the inner city were filled with cheering and chatter from the high end restaurants, bars and stores, privileged and renown enough to reside their, bringing many wealthy and prestigious families there to spend their money and have a mystical night of pleasure and luxury.
Loft had never experienced such luxuries himself but it didn't bother him much since his only 'interest' was in his martial prowess. Finally reaching the palace Loft, who had long since ditched the blooded cloak he was wearing, now looking more like a regular noble brat approached the the palace guards who after recognizing the Prince opened the gates with expressions of apprehension and a slight disgust.
The palace was livelier than usual despite it being well into the evening, despite the young Prince's return nobody payed him any mind as the servants rushed around with beverages and plates of food.
'Must be another feast.' Loft rolled his eyes as he walked towards his bedroom located at the end of an empty hallway.
He had almost reached his room, only inches away from his door when he suddenly felt a presence rush towards him. Loft realised in that split second who it was and simply stopped in his tracks as the slender arms of his sister wrapped around him from behind.
"Loft!, where have you been playing around when we have guests?"
As he looked up at the angelic face hanging over him, he showed her a bright smile, "But Scarlett, I didn't know we had guests though!?" Loft pouted, finally acting his age he seemed like a completely different person.
"Come, you must meet this guest little Loft." Scarlett said while dragging he younger brother along as she cradled him.
Upon reaching two giant doors, the servants attending opened the doors with great effort and inside was the royal family of Kyiv and alongside them was the royal family of Kairos which neighboured them. The King beckoned his daughter who had just returned while ignoring his youngest son, this was something that seemed to anger Scarlett.
As Scarlett approached her father Loft took a seat next to his uncle who caught his eye and waved him over. His uncle Duke Paula poured a class of wine and placed it infront of Loft, "I assume the hunt went well?"
Loft took the glass in his hand which had been shaking for a while now but had gone unnoticed. He tilted his head back and emptied the glass in one go, "Yes uncle, it was a complete success. All dens were eliminated and a message was sent."
"As always you boys never fail to disappoint." Paula said while pouring another glass. "I assume you know why Kairos is here today?"
"My sister's marriage." Loft said while quickly finishing of another glass of wine, his face slightly scrunched as he answered.
"If things go well, there are big things planned for us my boy, so enjoy yourself tonight."
Hearing this Loft paused for a moment before looking to the head of the table where all his siblings were, laughing and socializing with one another. Then he looked at his sister who was blushing while talking to the Prince of Kairos.
Loft couldn't help but feel that it was everything was unfair while remembering the countless lives he had taken so that this marriage of his dearest sister could come to pass. As he was about to pour another glass he stopped and instead began drinking the remaining contents from the bottle. He wondered as he finished the bottle, just what his father had planned for him to treat him so distantly.