Phillip hated having to travel at night, even though he really should've gotten used to it by now. It mostly just sailing in the dark, unable to have a light because of the risk of being spotted, and trying his best not to fall asleep. And that night was no different.
Phillip was staring down at the water over the side of the boat, trying to find some kind of interesting movement in the water to stay awake. Just as he was about to doze off, the boat finally reached land, bumping against the stone shore. Phillip snapped to full lucidity, climbing out of the boat after a moment.
Phillip pushed the boat back into the water, but just enough so that he could still reach it, and he guided it over to a nearby bush. Once the boat was hidden, Phillip went up to the nearby trail at the end of the gravel shore.
The land around him seemed not very well-kept. The yellow-green grass was overgrown, the trail well worn into the ground and the trees growing roots into the trail along with a very old bridge reaching across a river that flowed back into the ocean. Broken planks along the railings made Phillip think that maybe the island had been abandoned.
This is Isaril? Phillip thought. To think a clan is supposed to live here...
As Phillip walked along the trail, he paused as he heard a strange noise up ahead... voices. There were voices coming his way.
Phillip looked around quickly and dove into a nearby bush, making sure he made as little noise and was as well hidden as possible. Peeking out of the bush, the voices got louder before two people walked around the upcoming corner.
One had dusty blond hair reaching their chin with a slight wave in it. They also had archers armor and a crossbow slung across their shoulder with a strap, along with a red piece of cloth tied around their waist as a belt. They had a very similar build to the person next to them, and facial structure, making Phillip think they might've been related. Even with similar badges in the same place.
As for the other one... they had red hair in a long, messy ponytail with thin streaks of white hair through it. They stood up tall, and wore a thick trench coat and had a strange badge pinned onto their coat, along with a black chained necklace and a golden pendant of a moon. They seemed to have an important position... and maybe could even be who he is looking for.
As silently as he could, Phillip pulled out the contract paper, and looked at the sketch on the paper... it looked like the red haired person. As the two came closer, Phillip could make out what they were saying.
"-But you don't even know if this 'presentation' is going to work!" said the red-haired one.
"Oh, please." The other one said. "If your looking for an alliance, this party will be the perfect opportunity to get one!"
"You just want an excuse to drink."
"I- ...ok, you have some kind of a point there, but I still stand by it! We need help in this war, and if we can get more people to help out, we will have more of a chance."
...War? Phillip thought. Is there a clan war going on with these people? A clan war was certainly something rare, but never something to take lightly. But with a clan that was a new as the crowned serpents supposedly was... was certainly strange.
"You know we can't do that." The red haired one replied sternly. "With how soon you want to hold this event, we won't be ready to start the war. Besides. We already have an ally."
The blonde one sighed. "Still, we could really use some more help..."
The two walked down the trail, and their voices faded. Slowly, Phillip crawled out of the bush and onto his feet. After a second, he followed after them, remaining in a crouching position and sticking to the side of the trail.
He continued following the two around the island as they walk and discuss whatever they were discussing. Eventually, they stop walking at the end of the cliff. Phillip caught up, being able to understand what they were saying again.
"I get you don't want to make an alliance before we are ready." the blonde one said. "but alliances like this has been formed even without one being in danger. More often than not, in fact. It's more of a precaution than anything. The more allies we can gain, the faster we can be prepared to declare official war on them."
The red haired one looked down, contemplating the others words. The other began to walk away, before the red haired spoke up.
"Ax." they said.
The blonde turned around with an amused expression. "Yes, Tora?"
Tora (he assumed her name was) smiled slightly. "When do you want to hold it?"
Ax smiled. "How about in two weeks? I can get everything ready then."
"Sounds good." Tora replied.
Ax walked away with a bounce in her step.
Are they planning something? Phillip thought. Some kind of event...
He turned around and began to sneak away, with a slow growing sense of excitement. Events like parties were always fun to kill at. Tarus allowed it because it "showed the brutality of the league" or whatever he told Phillip on his first year of being assassin.
Two weeks. That's my window.
And so he went off, knowing exactly how much time until he would strike.