Kael pushed forward, weaving through the thick underbrush with Lily slumped over his shoulder. His breath was steady, but his mind raced.
"She's a burden. Should I just leave her here? But her healing ability is quite useful."
The thought nagged at him, logic warring with instinct. In this forest, the weak were liabilities. But abandoning her now would mean losing a valuable resource. Weighing the pros and cons, he pressed on.
Eventually, he stumbled upon a cave, its mouth yawning open like the maw of some ancient beast. Kael paused, scanning the area. The air was stale but undisturbed—no fresh tracks, no signs of territorial markings. It would do.
Stepping inside, he lowered Lily onto the cold, hard stone. She remained unconscious, her breath slow and even. Kael glanced at her—fair, supple skin, delicate features, scattered golden locks. Her small frame and torn clothing might have stirred the desires of weaker men, but in his eyes, she was nothing but a child.
Sitting beside her, exhaustion weighed on him, though he refused to let his guard down completely.
"If you detect anyone, wake me up."
He spoke to the empty cave, but Miara, ever watchful, acknowledged his command.
[Search protocol temporarily updated.]
With that reassurance, Kael allowed his body to relax, slipping into a light but necessary sleep.
***
The night stretched on, an eerie stillness settling over the forest. Shadows twisted and shifted beyond the cave's entrance, but Kael remained undisturbed—until a familiar presence encroached on his refuge.
[1 suspicious individual detected.]
[Individual has been identified as Team 510—Higan.]
Miara's alert jolted Kael awake.
His pulse steadied as he processed the name. Higan. That meant he wasn't immediately in danger. Still, caution kept his movements slow and deliberate as he approached the entrance of the cave.
Scanning the trees, he saw nothing. The night air carried only the sounds of distant creatures.
'He calls himself an assassin—of course, he's hiding.'
Kael exhaled sharply, then turned to Miara.
'Location?'
[9.37m (30.75 ft), 46.2°NW, Elevation - 32.8°]
A pause.
"..."
[He is to your left, on top of a tree.]
Kael dismissed Miara's unnecessary precision and raised a hand, pointing toward the tree in question.
"Come out."
***
Higan moved swiftly through the treetops, his lithe frame barely making a sound as he followed the tracks of his target. He had been careful, meticulous even, ensuring he was never detected. Now, perched on a sturdy branch overlooking a cave, he silently observed, his mind replaying the events of the past few hours.
When the Fulgur-Stag had appeared, Higan had been the first to retreat—at least, that's what he wanted others to believe. In truth, he had scaled a tree and remained hidden, watching the unfolding chaos from above.
He saw Varric's overconfidence turn to desperation. He saw the moment the fool got injured. But what truly unsettled him was what came next.
Kael had been right there. He could have intervened. He could have saved Varric.
But he didn't.
Instead, he watched with cold, emotionless eyes as Varric was left to his fate.
Higan didn't judge him—he would have done the same. Varric was a liability, and liabilities had no place in the field. But what fascinated him was the sheer lack of hesitation.
Kael wasn't much older than himself—between sixteen to nineteen, based on the academy's entry age requirements. Probably closer to the younger end. Yet, despite his youth, his actions carried an eerie detachment that made Higan wonder:
"What has he been through?"
It wasn't just his ruthlessness that intrigued him. There was something else.
From time to time, Higan had noticed Kael's aura shift, becoming something far more intimidating, far more distant than it should be. It was subtle—too subtle for most to notice—but to someone as sensitive as Higan, it felt like Kael was slipping in and out of reality itself.
"Could he be a hidden Master?"
That thought alone sent a shiver down Higan's spine. If Kael was secretly a high-level expert, then his act as a regular student was nothing but an elaborate disguise.
Fascinated, Higan had trailed him in secret, testing his stealth, confident that he was unseen.
Then—
"Come out."
His heart stopped.
'Wait. Was that… directed at me?'
No. That was impossible. There was no way Kael had sensed him.
Slowly, carefully, Higan peeked from his hiding spot—only to see Kael pointing directly at him.
He ducked back, his pulse hammering in his ears.
'Shit. Shit. Shit!'
Had Kael known he was being watched all along? Did he see him when he abandoned Varric?
'If he's a hidden master… would he kill me to keep me silent?'
Higan's thoughts spiraled as panic set in. His instincts screamed at him to run, but he forced himself to think rationally. Escaping from someone of Kael's caliber wasn't an option.
Instead, he made a desperate choice.
Before Kael could say another word, Higan leapt down from the tree, landing before him on one knee. Without hesitation, he lowered his head to the ground, fully prostrating himself.
'it's better to be a servant than a corpse.'
"Master!" Higan's voice rang with urgency. "I understand your intent to stay hidden, and I know that my curiosity has disrupted your cause. I ask for forgiveness—please, spare my life!"
—
Kael blinked.
What?
He had expected Higan to try and run, or at the very least deny his presence. But this?
He thinks I'm some hidden expert? And that I want to kill him?
For a brief moment, Kael considered correcting him. But then—
'This could be useful.'
If Higan truly believed he was a hidden Master, then playing along might provide certain… advantages.
Kael slowly drew his sword, the metallic whisper echoing in the night. He pointed it at the kneeling assassin.
"I see no worth in your life."
At that moment, Kael's angelic aura flared ever so slightly—just enough for someone like Higan to feel the pressure of something far greater than himself.
Higan's breath hitched. His entire body tensed as if he had been placed beneath an executioner's blade.
He's going to kill me. He's actually going to kill me.
Desperation took hold.
"Master!" he cried out, his forehead pressing into the dirt. "I swear my utmost loyalty to you! I will even sign a blood contract—please, spare my life!"
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Blood contract?"
Higan seized on the interest.
"Yes! It's a secret technique from my clan, used to show the highest degree of servitude! If you die, I die. And you would have full control over my actions."
Higan's logic was simple. If death was inevitable, then at least by serving Kael, he could live under the protection of a powerful master.
Kael considered it.
"A blood contract that gives me complete control?"
He didn't trust Higan, but if this contract was real…
"…Fine. Perform the contract."
—
The ritual was ancient, its origins untraced.
A dagger was drawn, its blade shimmering under the moonlight. Higan was the first to move—without hesitation, he sliced his palm open, crimson blood pooling in his hand.
Kael followed suit, allowing his own blood to mingle with Higan's.
Then came the runes.
Higan moved swiftly, drawing intricate sigils upon both their skin using the blood-infused mana. The symbols glowed briefly, before sinking into their flesh like living tattoos.
As the final rune was completed, the contract sealed itself with an invisible force, binding the two in an irreversible pact.
A moment later, Miara's voice echoed in Kael's mind.
[Observation complete. The contract has been identified to give the Master—Kael, the ability to control the blood of the Servant—Higan. Most likely to cause extreme pain to the servant.]
Kael smirked.
"Oh? So I can control your blood."
Higan shuddered. "As expected of Master, you instantly discerned the contract's ability! Your wisdom is unparalleled!"
After some questioning, Kael learned the truth—Higan had followed him out of curiosity, fascinated by his detached actions and strange aura. But once he believed Kael to be an undiscovered powerhouse, he had chosen servitude over death.
It was pathetic. 'He is too impulsive, he came up with an exaggerated conclusion, and took it as reality without even confirming anything. He might be an idiot but that doesn't mean he isn't a useful slave'
As they reentered the cave, Higan glanced at Lily, frowning. "Master… why is she here?"
Kael gave a simple answer. "Her healing ability is useful."
Higan nodded, his suspicions of Kael's hidden identity only deepening.
When he offered to take the night watch, Kael dismissed the idea.
"It's unnecessary," he said. "I will know if someone approaches."
To Higan, it was the final confirmation.
"A wide area detection ability, that is high level, Only a true master could be that confident."
His respect—or rather, fear—of Kael only grew.
***
A soft groan echoed through the cave as Lily stirred awake, her golden locks disheveled and her face creased with confusion. Blinking drowsily, she sat up, rubbing her eyes before taking in her surroundings. Her gaze fell upon Kael, who was casually sharpening his sword by the entrance, the morning light casting a sharp contrast on his form.
"Where…?" she mumbled before her memories rushed back. The escape. The cave. Kael carrying her.
She turned to him with an inquisitive look. "Kael?"
Before she could take another step forward, Higan suddenly appeared in front of her, his posture rigid, an arm outstretched to block her path.
"Do not approach Master carelessly," Higan warned, his expression severe. "You are in his presence now. Show proper respect."
Lily blinked in shock, glancing between him and Kael. "M-Master?"
Kael sighed, rubbing his temples. He grabbed Higan by the collar and dragged him aside with surprising ease, whispering harshly, "I told you to act normal in public."
"But, Master—"
"No buts. If you keep calling me that, people will start asking questions."
Higan hesitated before nodding reluctantly. "Understood, Kael."
Kael released him and turned back to Lily, who was still staring at them, utterly baffled.
She pointed between them. "What… was that about?"
Kael waved a hand dismissively. "Nothing important."
Lily frowned, clearly unconvinced, but ultimately let it slide.
She then curtsied, and said "thank you for saving me."
Without even acknowledging her gratitude Kael said "If You're good to move, let's go."
The three of them gathered their belongings and set out once more.
***
Their journey continued as before—tracking beasts, subjugating them, and collecting mana crystals.
During one encounter, Kael took down a Stonefang Boar with a precise strike, its crystal gleaming in the aftermath.
"Three for us," he muttered, dividing them between Lily and Higan, with one spare remaining.
"You're giving me one?" Higan asked, blinking in surprise.
Kael shrugged. "We all need to pass, there's no point in hoarding it."
Higan clenched the crystal in his fist, his expression unreadable. "Thank you… Master—I mean, Kael."
Along the way, they ran into other teams, most in small groups after suffering casualties.
Eventually, they found Freya, her clothes torn, a small wound on her leg.
Lily immediately rushed forward, hands glowing with warm mana. "Stay still," she instructed before gently placing her palm over the injury.
Freya sighed in relief as the wound began closing. "Thanks, Lily. You're a lifesaver."
Then, as if remembering something, she looked up. "Where's Varric?"
Silence.
Kael answered flatly, "He died to the E-rank beast."
Freya's breath hitched. "He… what?"
Lily gasped, eyes welling with tears. "Varric is… gone?"
Freya clenched her fists, her shoulders trembling before she let out a bitter laugh. "That idiot." She wiped at her eyes, but the anger was evident in her voice. "I told him not to go off alone. I told him. But he just had to prove himself. And now he's—" She stopped, swallowing hard.
Kael, unbothered, simply handed her the spare mana crystal. "Here. Consider it a parting gift."
Freya sniffled but took it with a nod. "Thanks… I guess."
Lily wiped her tears, still shaken, but silently followed as they moved on.
***
Late into the night, Team 510—which had been reduced from ten members to four—slept in silence.
The timer on their artifacts had just hit five hours when a sudden, booming voice shattered the tranquility.
"Closing Event 'Night Raid' has started."
Kael's eyes snapped open.
"Artifacts now have the ability to track the E-rank beast."
Higan stirred awake, tense. "An event… at this hour?"
"Top 10 participants during the event will be guaranteed qualification."
Lily sat up groggily, but even she sensed the shift in tension.
"Those who do not participate will have their points reduced."
Silence filled the camp.