The night was calm. The silver moon cast a soft glow through the curtains of the large manor, its light bathing the room in faint shades of white. Azel slept quietly in his cradle, his small chest rising and falling, unaware of the tension brewing in the air.
Across the room, Lena sat at the edge of the bed, brushing her long hair as she spoke lazily to her husband. "He's finally asleep," she said with a tired smile. "You've been restless lately, Liam. Is something wrong?"
Liam, a tall man with sharp, battle-worn eyes, didn't answer immediately. He stood by the window, gazing at the moon as if expecting it to move. His posture was calm, but Lena had known him long enough to sense when something wasn't right.
Then, in an instant, the atmosphere changed.
The peaceful hum of the night seemed to vanish, replaced by a strange pressure—an invisible chill that seeped into the room.
Liam's expression turned cold. "They're here."
Lena's hand froze midway through her hair. Her eyes sharpened, glowing faintly red under the dim light. "Assassins?"
"I wonder who they sent this time," Liam muttered, stepping away from the window. His tone was flat, but his eyes carried a spark of anticipation. "Don't worry. I'll be back soon."
Before Lena could speak, he disappeared from the room in a blur.
---
Outside, the night air was heavy. The manor grounds were vast, lined with tall, ancient trees and stone paths glistening with dew. Liam walked slowly, his bare feet making almost no sound as he approached the main gate.
He placed his hand on the door and pushed it open.
A faint creak echoed, cutting through the silence.
He stepped outside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. His movements were deliberate—measured. He could feel them hiding.
A dry breeze swept across the courtyard, carrying with it the faint scent of killing intent.
Then it came.
A flicker of motion.
Two shadows burst from opposite directions, their blades gleaming with murderous light. They moved like vipers—fast, silent, and deadly.
Their blades crossed through where Liam had been standing—
—but there was nothing there.
The assassins' eyes widened. Before they could react, a voice echoed behind them.
"Too slow."
They spun around just in time to see him—Liam stood a few feet away, calm, unhurried, his right hand raised slightly.
He traced a glowing symbol in the air with his finger. The strokes shimmered with red energy, forming a fiery rune that pulsed like a heartbeat.
With a flick of his wrist—
Boom!
A massive fireball roared into existence, its heat distorting the air around it. The assassins reacted instantly, splitting in two directions, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization. Their weapons hummed as a mist-like aura enveloped them, the edges of their blades now glowing faintly silver.
They lunged again, faster this time, the ground cracking beneath their feet.
But Liam didn't move.
He simply raised his hand and whispered a word.
The single fireball shimmered—then split into dozens of smaller ones, each no larger than a fist. They hovered for a brief second before raining down like fiery meteors.
"Scatter!" one assassin shouted, slashing his blade upward to deflect a few.
The first impact sent shockwaves through the courtyard.
The night exploded in light and fire.
Each miniature fireball struck with the force of a cannon, detonating upon contact. The assassins moved desperately, blocking, dodging, leaping—but they couldn't stop them all. Flames clung to their bodies, eating through their cloaks and skin.
Screams echoed for only a moment before being drowned out by the roar of the fire.
When the smoke cleared, the courtyard was charred black. The once-beautiful stone path was now covered in ash.
Two burnt figures lay motionless on the ground, their weapons melted, their bodies twitching faintly as embers crackled around them.
Liam exhaled quietly and walked toward them. His expression remained unreadable, his steps calm as if he were taking a stroll through the garden.
He knelt beside one of the corpses and noticed a faint glimmer—a black token, half-buried in the ash. Its surface bore an unfamiliar sigil that seemed to twist and shimmer like living smoke.
The moment he reached for it, the token pulsed and vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a faint trace of spiritual energy.
Liam's eyes narrowed. "Shadow Hall," he murmured. "So they finally made their move."
He straightened, dusted his hands, and turned toward the house. The firelight danced in his pupils, reflecting a quiet fury hidden beneath his calm demeanor.
---
From the balcony above, Lena sat gracefully, her robe slightly open at the shoulder, a glass of red wine in her hand. She had been watching the entire fight, her crimson eyes following every movement, every strike.
As Liam stepped into view, she took a slow sip and smiled faintly. "You're getting slow, dear."
Liam looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. "Or maybe they're just getting weaker."
"Mm." She chuckled softly. "You should have ended it faster. What if you woke up the baby?"
"I kept the noise low," he replied casually. "Besides, Azel sleeps like a rock."
Lena tilted her head, amusement dancing in her gaze. "He's your son, after all. You never wake easily either."
Liam smirked, brushing off a few specks of ash from his arm. "If they're already sending assassins, that means someone's starting to fear what we might become."
"Or what he might become," Lena said quietly, her gaze drifting toward the window of the nursery where a faint light glowed.
For a moment, silence returned. The burning smell of charred earth lingered in the air, but inside, all was calm again.
Liam turned toward the door, his expression softening slightly. "Rest easy, Lena. I'll reinforce the barrier tomorrow."
"You'd better," she said, setting her wine down. "If another assassin wakes me up in the middle of the night, I'll kill them myself—and maybe you too."
Liam chuckled, opening the door and stepping inside. "I'll keep that in mind."
Behind him, the night wind carried away the last traces of smoke, leaving the courtyard silent once more—
—but in the distance, unseen eyes watched from the forest, a shadow slipping back into the darkness.