Kade's gaze lingered as he scanned the room, momentarily distracted by the details around him. His sharp eyes flicked to the weapons rack, noting the assortment of blades—each polished and neatly arranged, some bearing marks of heavy use. His attention shifted next to the crystals placed on a drawer nearby. They glowed faintly, their pale light casting soft, eerie shadows on the walls. The crystals weren't ordinary; they pulsed ever so slightly, as if alive with latent energy.
Before he could investigate further, Ghent's voice loud and tinged with anger messed up his focus.
"Oi, punk face," Ghent said, his tone still edged with irritation, though his usual anger seemed a bit subdued by the distraction of the Koh scent. "Are you gonna tell us what's happening or not?"
Haze turned his head slowly toward Ghent, his eyes narrowing just slightly. Ghent's anger wasn't anything new, but there was something else in his tone this time—an edge of desperation that caught Haze off guard. Normally, Ghent would lash out with accusations, demanding answers, but this time it felt different. There was fear underneath, maybe frustration too, but it was his anger that came through the strongest.
For a split second, Haze's gaze shifted to the others. Ewald was still leaning against the wall, arms crossed, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. Jingo, ever the joker, had gone silent, but the twitch of his fingers betraying his own inner restlessness. And Mark, though his focus had momentarily shifted to the Koh, was still waiting for answers, his usual bravado having waned.
Noticing the building tension, Haze let out a slow breath. The weight of everything, the mission, the pressure, it was almost too much to handle. He needed to speak, needed to let it out, and so he did.
"You want to know why I was dragged before any of you?" he asked, his voice cutting through the silence. Everyone's attention snapped to him, the room suddenly quiet, waiting. "I was called by that blindfolded man into a room." He lowered his gaze, as if searching for the right words. "Now that I think about it, it felt a lot like an interrogation. They placed me right in the middle, under a single light. A spotlight. Just above me." He motioned slightly with his hand, as if to reach for the air itself. "I couldn't see the man—he was hidden, but his voice... smooth, soothing, almost disarming. Powerful. Very powerful. And that made me wonder, why are we even the ones being called for this?"
He took a moment to collect himself, his eyes drifting toward the group, gauging their reactions. "This mission we're about to face... It's Chūsei-level."
"Chūsei, huh?" Kade muttered, his voice low as he tucked his hands in his pockets, his mind processing.
Haze nodded grimly. "We've got just today to prepare for something that'll kill us if we aren't careful—over 20 Fushens from Dunkelheim. Each of them strong enough to take us all down. And then there's the commander, Möglich. Stronger than any of them. They're camped near Heichi. I've been there once or twice, but to be honest, it's a blur. I don't even have a clear description of the place. And we're expected to take out all of them. We've got less than a day to prepare."
He paused, letting the impact spread with the Koh.
"Here's the kicker—" He clasped his hands together, a soft clap echoing in the otherwise still room. "We can take whatever we want from this room. Anything we think will help us. It's generous... too generous. But unlikely, very unlikely."
He paused once more, allowing the silence to settle over the room. His gaze drifted to the small bead on his left hand, the shackle around his wrists pressing tighter, leaving faint red marks on his skin.
Kade stood still, his hands shoved in his pockets, eyes downcast. His mind was moving, trying to work out the impossible odds laid before them. Ewald's expression was a mix of expectation and disbelief, as though he had expected something difficult but not quite this overwhelming. Ghent's was softer now, his usual intensity replaced by something quieter, almost thoughtful. His hand found its way to his neck, the exact spot he rubs when he's trying to stay calm.
Mark, still seated, kept his eyes closed, a neutral expression on his face. He was calm on the outside but was he on the inside? Jingo, as always, wore that smile, a mask of confidence. But the sweat running down the side of his face was enough to reveal that, under his easy demeanor, the pressure was starting to show.
It was a calm room, each person lost in their own world. They've all been handed their shares of thought. This weren't ordinary people they were to face.
"And Möglich," Ghent suddenly blurted out, breaking the silence. "What the hell kind of name is that? Sounds like he's about to make sure no one sees the light of dawn twice."
It wasn't meant to be funny, but a ripple of laughter broke the tension. Even Haze allowed himself a tired chuckle.
Mark leaned back slightly, his tone lighter now. "Well, I guess there's really not much we can do about it, is there?"
"Not in our current situation, no." Ewald replied, calm and thoughtful.
Kade, who had been quiet for a moment, stepped toward the weapon rack, his voice steady. "What we need is a plan. One that doesn't just keep us alive, but guarantees a win."
"Shouldn't be that hard, right?" Jingo chimed in, a slight crack in his voice.
"It's not impossible," Haze replied, "If we cooperate. Use our strengths the best we can. Watch each other's backs. And keep in mind..." He lifted his right hand slightly, gesturing toward the door, his voice dropping to a measured seriousness. "They're probably watching us.
They turned to look at the door.
×××
"They are kids, but they're smart," said a man's voice calm, soothing.
"Go over their details again."
"Yes, sir," came the reply, accompanied by the sound of paper rustling.