Chapter 1
White City, Quartz Hill east of the city.
In the shadows of the trees, a young knight stood clad in light black armor. His gaze, full of hatred, fixed on the White City. He turned toward the opposite side of the hill, his piercing eyes scanning his army. Before him, a vast number of knights and assassins—nearly two thousand—waited silently, ready to march at their lord's command.
The tension in the air was palpable, so heavy that even the violent gusts of wind seemed to part, as if fearing to disrupt the solemn moment. The young knight turned to his assistant, a thin and visibly nervous man, who awaited instructions attentively.
— Captain: "Sir, the troops are ready to move at your command," the assistant reported, his voice tense.
— Young Knight: "Perfect... I want everyone prepared to attack the moment the moon reaches its peak. Remember, by dawn, there must be no trace of life left in the Ashki mansion." His gaze remained fixed on the horizon.
The assistant nodded and was about to leave, but the commander stopped him with a gesture.
— Young Knight: "Ah, Louisse, one more thing. Show this portrait to everyone—he must live. I want him brought before me on his knees. Then send a messenger to the 'Midnight Light' inn. Personally ensure the delivery of this letter to the owner, and include this message: 'The pact of the six will be fulfilled; it's time to collect the interest.'"
— Louisse: "Understood, sir," he replied, visibly uneasy. Taking the letter with trembling hands, he hurried off.
As the young knight watched him leave, a sinister smile crossed his face. He turned back toward the White City, thinking to himself: "You will pay with blood and the lives of your people. You will beg for mercy in agony, but it's already too late."
— Young Knight: "Shadow!" he called out forcefully.
From the darkness emerged a shadowy figure, bowing respectfully.
— Shadow: "Young Master Mouda, what is your command?"
— Young Mouda: "I want you to go to the city," the commander ordered sternly. "Find the target. Follow him and don't lose sight of him. Send someone to report his every move in detail. We leave before dusk."
— Shadow: "Understood. I will bring you good news."
Young Mouda turned toward the hill, his gaze fixed on the knights gathering around an improvised tent where they were practicing combat drills.
— Young Mouda: "Enjoy this night, Arthur," he murmured. "It will be the last time you find joy in this life." With those words, he let out a brief chuckle that echoed in the cold night air.
---
Later that night, at an inn outside the city.
The messenger, carrying the letter securely at his belt, arrived at the "Midnight Light" inn under the dim glow of street lamps that barely illuminated the deserted streets. He knocked six times—a pattern the owner instantly recognized. A small peephole opened, and two distrustful eyes scrutinized him from the other side.
— Messenger: "The pact of the six will be fulfilled; it's time to collect the interest," the messenger declared loudly enough to be heard through the door.
The door opened, revealing an old, hunched man, who motioned for him to step into the reception area. The man entered cautiously, his fear evident. Inside, cloaked figures sat at various tables, their faces obscured by the dim lighting.
Taking a few steps forward, the messenger approached the inn's counter and placed the letter down without a word. He quickly exited, avoiding eye contact with anyone, disappearing into the shadows of the night as swiftly as he had arrived.
---
City Center
The festival atmosphere was incredible. Lights and vibrant colors adorned every corner, and laughter and joy filled the air wherever one looked. Amid the large crowd, Shadow moved like a fish in water, invisible from the surface, nearly impossible to catch. His slim, agile figure allowed him to blend seamlessly with the revelers, his sharp eyes never losing sight of his target: Arthur and his sister.
A couple of hours had passed since Arthur and his sister began enjoying the festival's charm. His sister's eyes sparkled with delight as she marveled at the food stalls and street performers filling the plaza. They laughed and chatted, unaware of the danger lurking so close.
— Arthur: "Sophi, are you enjoying the festival this year?" he asked with a smile.
— Sophia: "It's the best one yet!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. "Look, Arthur, do you see that woman dancing with fire? She's amazing! I want to learn to do that someday."
Arthur chuckled at his sister's energy, which, though too naive for his taste, always managed to be infectious.
— Arthur: "Knowing how restless you are, I wouldn't be surprised to see you dancing with fire tomorrow," he teased.
— Sophia: "Hmph! With how overprotective you are, I doubt you'd let me get anywhere near even the word 'fire' written in a fountain."
— Arthur: "Well, if it weren't for me, who knows what kind of trouble you'd get yourself into," he replied.
— Sophia: "Fuuuu, don't remind me of that! Let me enjoy myself."
The two continued wandering through the crowd as cheerful music filled the air.
Unaware of any impending danger, Shadow knew this wasn't a festive night. His mission, though simple so far, was a crucial part of the plan. He couldn't allow his targets to escape before the young master's scheme unfolded.
As the city celebrated, Shadow calculated Arthur's every move, ready to report when they headed back to their mansion.
"Smile all you want," Shadow thought, hidden among the crowd. "Soon, all that happiness will turn into tears of blood."
High above, the sun began to set, and the full moon took on an unsettling red hue, surrounded by clouds that gave the impression something had shifted—as if nature itself foresaw the impending disaster.
— Sophia: "Have you noticed how red the moon looks?" she remarked, gazing at the sky.
— Arthur: "Yeah, it's not common to see a sunset like this. I've heard people say that a red moon during the festival means someone will die a violent death that night," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
— Sophia: "That's scary," she said, looking at him with concern. "I feel like something bad is going to happen."
Arthur frowned but tried to reassure her.
— Arthur: "Don't worry. As long as we're together, there's nothing to fear." Placing his hands on her shoulders, he gently nudged her forward. "Come on, let's keep enjoying ourselves. There's still so much to see."
...
Entrance to the Ashki Mansion.
On the hill, young Mouda's forces began to mobilize, marching through the shadows of the mountains for an hour to remain undetected until they reached the eastern entrance of the city.
As dusk fell, a group of warriors clad in black stormed the Ashki mansion. The corridors, once silent and calm, were now filled with men and women running frantically for their lives.
Sounds of swords clashing, screams, and cries echoed throughout the mansion. The Ashki family knights gathered to counter the enemy attack and allow the women and children to escape the horror unfolding in every corner.
Swords and spears collided violently as blood began to stain the gardens and corridors of the residence. The few soldiers defending the mansion did their best to contain the invaders, but they were outnumbered and outmaneuvered.
Of the five hundred defenders remaining in the mansion, most fell quickly under the onslaught of the more than a thousand invaders. The Ashki family, one of the most powerful in the province, was being cornered towards the main courtyard.
In the surrounding city, the sound of the massacre was barely a distant echo. No one seemed willing to intervene. The other noble houses watched from a distance, sheltered behind their walls, ignoring the events that filled the city with fear and anxiety.
In the darkness, a shadow moved at a speed almost impossible for a human. It left the city and headed rapidly towards a cluster of trees in the distance.
—"Shadow: Sir, the target is heading towards the trap," he murmured to a large tree in the center of the forest.
—"Young Mouda: Good work, here, this is your reward," he said, tossing a heavy bag filled with gold coins.
—"Young Mouda: Go find the Shakhtar, wait for my order to come. We will send some special packages."
—"Shadow: Understood, young master." Disappearing into the shadows of the trees.
On the way home...
—"Sophia: Arthur, look!" exclaimed her sister, pointing to a stall of colorful balloons. "I want one of those!"
—"Arthur: Alright, but hurry up. Mom said we shouldn't take too long," he replied with a smile.
She ran to the stall and returned with a red balloon, holding it proudly.
—"Sophia: I'll call it 'Red Moon,'" she joked, looking back up at the sky where the red moon still shone ominously.
—"Arthur: You're so childish, only you would name a balloon something like that," he then said playfully, feigning fear. "Maybe it will bring bad luck!"
—"Sophia: Don't be silly, Arthur," she retorted, laughing. "It's just a moon. What could happen?"
Little did they know, that night would change their lives forever.