Chapter Twenty-Six: Whispers of the Vanguard
Rin sat slumped in a chair in Elias's office, sipping a cup of what the Vanguard called coffee but tasted like charcoal-flavored water. The dim lighting of the room, coupled with the mountain of papers stacked around, gave the place an oppressive atmosphere. Elias leaned against his desk, flipping through the mission report Rin had filed hours earlier.
"I have to say," Elias said, his voice breaking the silence, "you've got potential. The way you handled that rogue mage was… unexpected."
"Unexpected good or unexpected bad?" Rin muttered, swirling the dregs of his coffee.
Elias smirked. "Good. Though you're still rough around the edges."
Rin set his mug down with a loud clink. "You threw me into a warehouse with a psycho mage and his pet demon. I'm lucky I still have all my limbs."
"Welcome to the Vanguard," Elias said, shrugging. "Consider it a crash course."
Rin sighed, leaning back. "So, what now? Another rogue mage? Maybe a dragon?"
"Not quite." Elias placed the report down and slid a new folder toward Rin. "You're moving up in the world. This one's a bit… different."
---
A New Threat
The folder was thin, containing only a few pages. Rin flipped through it, frowning at the sparse details.
"Artifact thefts? This feels more like a job for mall security," Rin said, tossing the file onto the desk.
Elias raised an eyebrow. "These aren't just any artifacts. They're linked to an old cult—the Order of the Red Veil. Ever heard of them?"
Rin shook his head.
"They're dangerous," Elias explained. "Think of them as fanatics who believe in resurrecting ancient gods to 'cleanse' the world. If they're active again, it's bad news."
Rin leaned forward, his interest piqued despite himself. "And you think they're behind these thefts?"
"Not just think. We know." Elias tapped the file. "One of their symbols was found at the latest crime scene. Your job is to investigate and see if you can track down any leads."
"Alone again?" Rin asked, half-joking.
Elias smirked. "No. This time, you'll have a partner."
---
Introducing Mara
The door to the office opened, and a tall woman strode in. She had short, spiky black hair, piercing green eyes, and an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance.
"This him?" she asked, jerking her thumb toward Rin.
"Yep," Elias said. "Mara, meet Rin. Rin, this is Mara. She'll be your partner for this mission."
Rin stood and extended a hand. "Nice to meet you."
Mara looked him up and down before shaking his hand briefly. "We'll see how nice it is once we're out there."
"Charming," Rin muttered under his breath.
Elias clapped his hands, drawing their attention. "Focus, you two. The crime scene is in the industrial district. Get moving."
---
The Industrial District
The industrial district was a labyrinth of crumbling buildings and abandoned factories, the kind of place where you'd expect to find shady deals and clandestine meetings. Rin and Mara arrived at the site of the latest theft, a warehouse that looked like it hadn't seen legitimate business in decades.
"This is the place," Mara said, stepping over the yellow tape marking the entrance.
Inside, the air was thick with dust and the lingering scent of burnt wood. Shelves were overturned, crates smashed, and a large symbol was painted on the far wall in crimson.
"The Order of the Red Veil, I presume?" Rin said, pointing to the symbol.
Mara nodded, her expression grim. "That's their mark, all right. Let's see if we can find anything they left behind."
---
Clues and Confrontation
Rin wandered through the wreckage, his sharp eyes scanning for anything out of place. Amid the debris, he found a strange shard of black crystal glowing faintly.
"Hey, Mara," he called, holding it up. "What do you make of this?"
Mara's eyes widened when she saw the shard. "Careful with that. It's Aetherium—a rare material used in ancient rituals."
"Great," Rin said, carefully slipping it into a pouch. "What do you think they were planning?"
Before Mara could answer, the sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse. Both of them tensed, drawing their weapons.
"Looks like we're not alone," Rin muttered.
---
Ambush in the Shadows
A group of hooded figures emerged from the shadows, their faces obscured by masks. Each carried a weapon, and the air around them seemed to hum with dark energy.
"Leave now, and you might live," one of them said, his voice cold and emotionless.
Rin smirked, cracking his knuckles. "See, I'd love to, but my boss would kill me if I came back empty-handed."
The figure raised a hand, and the others lunged forward.
Mara was a blur of motion, her twin daggers flashing as she engaged two of the attackers. Rin found himself facing three, their coordinated attacks forcing him to stay on the defensive.
"You guys don't mess around," Rin said, dodging a blade aimed at his neck.
"Neither do we," Mara shot back, slashing through one of her opponents with ease.
---
Unlocking Potential
As the fight intensified, Rin felt a familiar energy stirring within him. It was the same power he'd used against the rogue mage, but this time, it felt stronger, more refined.
"Guess it's time to level the playing field," he muttered.
With a burst of speed, Rin closed the gap between him and his attackers, his punches landing with devastating force. One by one, they fell, unable to match his newfound strength.
Mara finished off her last opponent and turned to Rin, her expression a mix of surprise and approval. "Not bad, rookie. Not bad at all."
Rin grinned. "I aim to impress."
---
A Dark Revelation
With the attackers defeated, Rin and Mara searched their bodies for clues. One of them carried a map marked with several locations, including a large X over a building in the city's center.
"Looks like we've got a lead," Mara said, pocketing the map.
Rin frowned. "Why do I get the feeling this is just the beginning?"
Mara's expression turned serious. "Because it is. If the Order of the Red Veil is really back, things are about to get a lot worse."
Rin sighed. "Fantastic. Just what I needed—more chaos in my life."
Mara smirked. "Welcome to the Vanguard, rookie."
As they left the warehouse, Rin couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Somewhere in the shadows, a pair of crimson eyes followed their every move, a silent promise of the challenges yet to come.
End of Chapter 26.