"Listen up," I said.
My voice didn't rise—it cut. Clean, cold, like the first breath before a kill. "I gathered you all here for one reason: to rebuild the Shadow Hand."
The words settled like dust after a collapse. Ten sets of eyes locked on me—some wary, some weary, all waiting.
"Aside from Alythiel and Laboritus, you're all that's left of the original Shadow Hand."
Eight survivors from hundreds. A ragged remnant.
"I challenged Kaelen for the right of Grand Shadow. I won. If anyone has a problem with that..." I pointed to the door. "...you're free to walk."
My gaze swept over them all, daring a challenge. Varra and Laboritus exchanged a glance—twin pillars of resolve. Both nodded. One warm, one quiet as stone. "If my brother is in, so am I," Varra said simply, her voice warm but firm.
Mavik let out a deep chuckle with a playful smile. "Someone's gotta be the ace in the hole when we need to blow our way out of a situation. I'm in."
Drennar smoothed the front of his coat with a faint smirk, fingers brushing dust from the lapels. "Well, someone has to make the deals around here. Looks like I'm the one to do it."
"Ooh! The team's getting back together! I'm in, I'm in, I'm in!" Nysera practically launched out of her seat, a blur of limbs and manic glee. Her voice hit the walls like a bottle rocket full of sugar. Then, under her breath:
"Snacks. Singing socks. Maybe a kazoo for emergencies."
Kaelen, ever calm, gave a cool nod. "You already know I'm in."
From the shadows, Corven smiled faintly, "We have a deal," he said, voice smooth as venom. "I'm in."
Finally, my gaze settled on Alythiel, her silver hair catching the dim light like a beacon in the dark room. She met my stare with quiet determination, moonstone eyes steady. "Solari," she said, her voice soft but carrying, a thread of steel beneath it. "I told you—I'm with you. Even if I don't agree with this path, I'll walk it beside you. But hear me now..." She stepped closer, eyes unyielding, piercing me to the core. "Then promise me. Do this right. I won't watch you carve a monster's path just to reach one."
Something flickered in me—guilt? Fear? My chest tightened. Her words cut deeper than any blade I'd held. If Alythiel ever stopped believing in me, nothing would stand between me and the darkness waiting inside.
The room was dead silent. Even Nysera's mouth snapped shut—mid-breath, mid-thought, mid-chaos.
If she had a tail, it would've curled under her seat. The weight of Alythiel's words rang in my mind, a vow and a warning twined together.
I gave a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach my eyes—more resolve than warmth. "Good. Because we'll need all the strength we can get."
I turned back to the others, the air thick with anticipation. "Some of you already know this. The one who betrayed us—the one who tried to wipe us out—was Telegarani. He struck down Arcainius while his back was turned."
I took a slow breath, letting the weight of it hit them—the betrayal a bitter taste I couldn't shake.
That night's still with me—the blood, the silence, the promise I never got to make. Every choice since has been chasing what I lost in that moment. That wasn't just a betrayal. It was the murder of a future.
"It's believed he's a double agent for Nox Arcanus."
I clenched my fists and slammed them on the table, the wood shuddering under the force, a crack of thunder echoing in the room. "We're going to find them. And we're going to end them."
"Here's the plan," I said, cutting through the room's tension. "We need more members as well as intel on Nox Arcanus. We'll divide into teams based on your skills and specializations. If you don't like it, voice your concerns after this meeting is over."
I let the words settle for a heartbeat, watching their faces—some eager, some guarded, all waiting. "Kaelen, Varra, Laboritus, and Mavik—you four will focus on recruiting new members. We need to fill the ranks again."
Mavik's grin was already stretching wide, he cracked his knuckles with a pop. "If they refuse, we can show 'em my recruitment package. Comes with fireworks." His deep rumble carried a gleeful edge, like he was itching for an excuse. Not that he needed one.
Alythiel shot him a flat look—brows arched, lips pressed thin—but didn't say anything. Not yet, though I could feel her judgment simmering.
I continued, undeterred. "Nysera, Corven, and Drennar—you're gathering intel on Nox Arcanus. Find out where they're hiding, who's backing them, and anything we can use to smoke them out."
Corven gave a lazy nod, his pale form leaning against the wall like a ghost—eyes glinting with quiet interest.
Drennar smiled thinly, his smirk promising deals already spinning in his head.
Nysera clapped her hands excitedly, nearly toppling out of her chair. "Oh, we are going to have so much fun!" She giggled—bright, chaotic, and far more terrifying than the vampire in the corner.
I turned to Torglel and Alythiel, their presence steady at my sides. "You two are with me. We've got a diplomatic meeting with Tolgarn."
Torglel chuckled amusedly, arms crossed over his broad chest, bronze clasps clinking faintly. "You think Dad would want ties to an assassin guild?" His grin was all mischief, blue eyes sparking with the challenge.
I gave a faint smirk, a flicker of humor cutting through the weight. "I have absolutely no idea. But the worst he can say is no."
My gaze swept over everyone. "We head out first thing tomorrow morning."
I let the words hang in the air for a moment, before giving a final nod. One by one, they filed out of the room, voices low as they spoke among themselves about the tasks ahead, boots scuffing the stone floor. Varra murmured something to Laboritus, Mavik's laugh rumbled, Nysera darted around Drennar like a buzzing fly—chaos already brewing.
Kaelen lingered after the meeting, his voice low—blunt as a pommel to the ribs. You sure about pairing Nysera with Corven and Drennar? She's unpredictable. They're... worse."
I exhaled. "They're the right trio for the job. Doesn't mean I like it."
Kaelen scowled. "Just don't be surprised if that team burns a city and throws a party on the ashes."
It was the best move we had, a gamble we couldn't avoid.
Morning arrived, dawn's gold creeping over the horizon as we stepped out into the chill.
Alythiel, Torglel, and I set off for Thoringard, the three of us walking side by side—boots crunching over dirt and stone, the rhythm steady against the waking world. The sun was just starting to rise above us, casting long shadows ahead, stretching dark fingers across the path like a warning of what lay ahead.
After a while, Alythiel broke the silence, her voice low but edged with concern—soft against the wind's faint howl. "Can you trust that vampire to be alone with the other two?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but Torglel cut in, stomping over a rock.
"Hold up. You're tellin' me that pale creep lurkin' in the back is a vampire? Like—actual bloodsucker? And the sun doesn't roast him like seared rockfish?!"
Alythiel hummed thoughtfully, one finger tapping on her chin—as she tilted her head. "That's... a good question," she said, brows furrowing slightly.
I smirked. "He's either old enough to shrug it off... or bound to something darker that lets him walk in daylight. Take your pick."
Torglel grunted, unimpressed, "Tch. Should've known. Creeps like that always come with tricks."
"Pretty much," I said, glancing sidelong at him. "And as for your concern," I turned to Alythiel, her eyes locking with mine, "he just wants to live his life without being persecuted for it. Our deal gives him that life."
Alythiel frowned, unconvinced—her lips pressing into a thin line, doubt shadowing her face. "How can you be so sure of his intentions? After all, you don't even know him."
I met her gaze with unyielding determination, steel in my voice despite the flicker of uncertainty beneath it. "Because if he wanted us dead, we'd still be rotting in that cave."
Torglel scoffed, but didn't look convinced. Alythiel glanced over her, like she half-expected Corven to be behind us. And me? I didn't like how easily I'd justified it. Because deep down, I wasn't sure he could be trusted.
The tension could be cut with a knife—thick, heavy, pressing against us as we walked.
The truth rarely came clean. And maybe Alythiel didn't want to hear it. I wasn't sure I wanted to believe it either.
This was either the beginning of something powerful...
Or the first choice that made us monsters.