"Seems like our clashing is coming to an end," Ember said, his voice calm yet laced with frustration as he extinguished the purple flames encircling his hands. "We are leaving."
Keito narrowed his eyes, his bow still drawn and glowing with inner energy. He didn't trust Ember's words, but something about the mage's tone gave him pause. Ember wasn't one to retreat without reason, and Keito sensed there was more to this sudden departure than he was letting on.
Without another word, Ember turned and disappeared into the labyrinth of hallways, his footsteps echoing faintly as he vanished into the distance. Keito hesitated briefly, debating whether to pursue him, but the urgency of the situation pulled him in another direction.
Keito sprinted through the corridors, the devastation of the battle evident at every turn—shattered walls, scorch marks, and the lifeless bodies of fallen assassins. His heart raced, the chaos around him fueling his determination. He knew he needed to find the others.
Finally, he arrived at the meeting hall. The sight before him froze him in place for a moment.
Rose was on her knees, tears streaming down her face as she cried hysterically. Her anguished wails echoed through the room, piercing the heavy silence. Beside her lay the lifeless forms of her two sisters, Maria and Sakina, their bodies broken from the vicious battle.
Honor knelt beside her, his usually stoic demeanor softened by the pain etched across his face. Gently, he placed a hand on Rose's shoulder, attempting to console her as she sobbed uncontrollably.
Keito's chest tightened at the scene. He clenched his fists, his anger simmering beneath the surface. But his gaze shifted, and relief washed over him when he saw Ragra standing nearby, battered but alive.
"You're safe," Keito said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ragra nodded solemnly, his expression grim as he surveyed the destruction around them. "Thanks to them," he said, gesturing toward Rose and Honor.
Keito approached Rose slowly, his heart heavy with guilt and sorrow. "Rose," he said softly, his voice tinged with regret.
But she didn't respond. Her sobs continued, raw and unrelenting, as she clutched the ground where her sisters had fallen. Keito knew there were no words he could offer that would ease her pain.
Honor looked up at Keito, his voice steady but pained. "She needs time. We all do. But this isn't over, Keito. Not by a long shot."
Keito nodded, his resolve hardening. "We'll mourn them. But we'll make sure this wasn't in vain."
The room fell silent, save for the faint hum of energy still lingering in the air from the battle. Each of them knew the cost of this fight had been immense.
Ember regrouped with the surviving mages in the shadow of a crumbling corridor, his eyes scanning the bloodied and battered faces of his comrades. The tension was palpable, and the air reeked of sweat, scorched debris, and failure.
"Where's Ragra?" Ember demanded, his voice sharp and dripping with irritation. "I thought you said you had him!"
Sami, still catching her breath, grimaced as she met Ember's furious gaze. "We did," she snapped, her tone defensive but laced with exhaustion. "We radioed in as soon as we captured him, but they found us. The assassins came in force, and in the chaos… he escaped."
"Damn it!" Ember roared, the purple flames around his hands flaring to life before he clenched his fists to extinguish them. "All this… for nothing." He looked around at the tattered group. Only four of them remained—Sami, Luther, Sol, and himself. The losses were staggering.
Sami's expression hardened. "It wasn't for nothing," she retorted. "We've sent them a message. The assassins now know we're a force to be reckoned with, and they've paid dearly for underestimating us."
"But we failed our mission," Ember growled, pacing back and forth. His mind raced, frustration boiling over. "The intel, the resources, the lives we've lost—everything was riding on us capturing Ragra."
"There's no point going back in there now," Luther said, his voice calmer but no less strained. "Their reinforcements will overwhelm us if we try. We need to cut our losses and regroup."
Ember stopped pacing, his shoulders tense as he considered Luther's words. Finally, he exhaled sharply, forcing himself to calm down. "Fine," he said reluctantly, his tone bitter. "We retreat. But mark my words—this isn't over. Not by a long shot."
With that, the four mages turned and made their way out of the ruined assassin HQ, their battered forms disappearing into the night. Their mission had failed, but the seeds of vengeance had been sown.
The aftermath of the battle weighed heavily on everyone within the HQ. The medical team scoured every corner of the devastated compound, searching desperately for survivors. However, the loss of life was staggering. Many brave assassins had fallen in the defense of their home, their sacrifice etched into the broken walls and bloodstained halls.
Hours later, the grim task of moving the bodies began. Those who had perished were carefully transported to the assassin cemetery, a sacred ground reserved for their fallen warriors. As dusk settled, the cemetery was alive with the flickering glow of lanterns, illuminating the somber faces of those left behind.
Keito, Malo, Zero, Rose, and Honor stood together in silence as the bodies of their comrades were lowered into the earth. Rose's face was pale, her eyes red from tears as she clenched her fists tightly, still grappling with the loss of her sisters.
"They fought well," Keito said, his voice steady but filled with sorrow. He stepped forward, pressing his hands together in a solemn prayer. "They are fighting for the Gods now." He bowed deeply at the graves, his movements slow and deliberate, a gesture of utmost respect.
One by one, the others followed Keito's lead, bowing silently. Each carried their own grief, their own memories of the fallen, but in that moment, they were united in their mourning.
As the hours passed, assassins who had been away on missions began returning to the HQ. Some arrived in haste, having abandoned their assignments the moment they learned of the attack. Others came cautiously, unsure of the state of their home. But all were met with the haunting sight of their shattered sanctuary and the news of the lives lost.
Meanwhile, at a distant location shrouded in secrecy, the higher-ups who governed the assassin organization convened at their secondary headquarters. An emergency meeting had been called, and their strongest and most trusted operatives were summoned to attend.
Keito, Malo, Zero, Rose, Honor, and Ragra boarded a transport vehicle in heavy silence. The weight of their losses, the unanswered questions, and the looming threat of the mages clung to them like a shadow. They knew this meeting would determine their next steps—and perhaps, the future of their organization.
The heavy silence followed the group as they stepped into the secret headquarters. The air was thick with unease as assassins from across the organization gathered, including several Cinqa who had recently returned from their missions. The tension was palpable, grief and anger simmering just beneath the surface.
As soon as they entered, a young woman hurried toward Rose, her face etched with sympathy. Without hesitation, she embraced her tightly.
"I'm so sorry," the woman said, her voice trembling. "They were like sisters to me too."
Rose, her composure barely intact, nodded. "Thanks, Rita," she replied softly, her voice barely audible.
Just as Rose pulled away, another figure stepped forward. A man with his hood drawn low over his face stood with his hands buried deep in his pockets. His expression was hidden, but his words were sharp and cutting.
"You let all those people die, Keito," the man said coldly, his tone dripping with disdain. "And you're supposed to be one of the strongest."
Before anyone could respond, Malo surged forward, his fist clenched and aimed straight for the man's face. "You've got some nerve, Myren!" Malo shouted, his voice filled with rage.
Before the punch could land, Zero stepped in, grabbing Malo and holding him back with ease.
"Enough!" Zero barked, his voice like steel. He turned to Myren, his piercing gaze unwavering. "I'm shocked you'd say something like that, especially since you weren't even here to see it."
Myren lifted his head slightly, his sharp features visible now. His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
"You know damn well mages aren't a joke," Zero continued, his voice firm but steady. "They were tough, Myren. Tougher than any of us expected. We're all lucky to be alive. If they'd sent more than twelve, none of us would have made it."
The room fell into an uneasy silence as Zero's words hung in the air. Myren didn't respond, though his clenched jaw revealed his lingering resentment.
Across the room, the other four Cinqa stood quietly, watching the scene unfold from a distance. They exchanged glances but remained silent, their faces a mixture of sympathy and tension.
Keito sighed heavily, stepping forward to place a hand on Malo's shoulder. "Let it go," he said quietly. "We've lost enough today. This isn't the time."
Malo gritted his teeth but nodded reluctantly, stepping back and allowing the room to settle.
The tension lingered, but the moment passed as the assassins returned their focus to the meeting: uncovering the truth behind the attack and preparing for what was to come.