The flight lasted less than an hour, and they reached the town of Decimari before midday. Although the world above was rich in natural beauty, the world below was devoid of all essential life forms.

The moment Jaycee’s feet touched the ground, with dirt already clinging to the soles of his shoes, he recognized the familiar terrain. The sun, veiled by clouds and dust, cast only a faint glow.

“Home, sweet home,” Kyla declared. Leon lagged behind her as they made their way to the gate leading into the town. The airship dock was modest compared to their previous sights, yet it held a comforting familiarity.

All those disembarking were required to leave through the wooden gate. One side greeted arriving visitors, while the opposite was distinguished by a sign indicating the exit. Its lettering, weathered and lacking the ‘t’, dangled askew beside the fence.

Farther away, rundown buildings bordered the streets, scarcely populated by pedestrians. Daylight hours brought less safety, prompting most residents to remain indoors until dusk. As evening approached, the pollution in the air became less potent.

“I think he’s waiting for us deeper in, right?” asked Kyla. Kyla clasped her hands behind her head as she sought confirmation from Leon.

He gave a noncommittal shrug, opting to remain silent.

As their small group made its way through the gate and headed toward the town, Jaycee felt the weight of the silence. He racked his brain for a conversation starter, but found none. The meeting with their boss was fast approaching. Jaycee owed his escape to this man and now wondered what services he would have to undertake to settle his debt.

Venturing further into Decimari, they soon reached the town’s heart. The nearby homes stood dilapidated, with shuttered windows and doors barely clinging to their frames. Around them, the streetlights remained fractured or utterly shattered, obstructing the main path ahead. The area was lacking of any inhabitants.

Suddenly, like bees drawn to honey, many soldiers emerged from hiding. The gold emblems featuring a fox were prominent against their blue uniforms, marking them as Fioma’s military. They encircled the group, leaving no avenue for escape, their faces obscured by masks.

“I thought their influence didn’t reach this far down?” Jaycee asked, his fingers wrapping tightly around the hilt of his sword.

“It doesn’t,” Leon said, frowning beside him. “Something’s not right.”

“Guys, I don’t think we have time for this right now,” Kyla had her knives out and ready, the dark gleam reflecting the faces of the men surrounding her. “You two need to make a run for it and warn the boss. I can handle them by myself.”

Jaycee was on the verge of protesting, uncomfortable with the idea of a girl fighting on his behalf, when suddenly a soldier lunged at her, his sword targeting her heart. He watched as she deftly rolled aside to evade the attack and then extended her foot, causing the soldier to trip. This seemed to signal the others to attack.

As one assailant approached Jaycee with his weapon raised, Jaycee tilted his head, narrowly avoiding a lethal strike. Harnessing his strength, he delivered a forceful kick that sent the attacker stumbling into another.

Amid the chaos, Leon found him. “Let’s go,” he said.

“What about Kyla? We can’t just leave her here alone.” He questioned if Leon was insane.

Leon drew him in, narrowly avoiding a sword that sliced through the air just above their heads, its draft sharp enough to cause a sting.

“She can handle herself,” he assured, seizing Jaycee’s arm before dashing off. The cacophony of clashing steel echoed all around them.

They navigated through the town, weaving between buildings and sidestepping debris cluttering the alleyways and side streets. Parts of the path were muddy, presumably from earlier rainfall. As they hurried on, Jaycee could feel the dampness seeping into his pants.

Leon navigated the streets with remarkable finesse, as if he had spent his entire life there. Jaycee glanced back at one point but saw no one in pursuit. Even if they had been followed, their trail had probably gone cold a while ago.

He pondered the situation he had found himself in when suddenly, Leon stopped dead in his tracks ahead. Peering around, he only saw an old, rundown house.

His focus shifted upwards, drawn by a motion from above them.

Before them, atop the roof, stood a man he would never forget. A fan obscured half of his face, and his piercing light brown eyes locked onto his own, seemingly peering into his soul. A smile played behind the pearl white fan, hinted at by the crinkling of his eyes. He leapt from the roof, his elegant red and gold robes billowing in the breeze, while his onyx hair, partially tied back, settled near his waist.

“It’s nice to finally meet the person behind the name Sicarii,” he said, his voice smooth and delicate, yet carrying a commanding tone.

The hairs on the back of Jaycee’s neck stood on end. This was clearly someone not to be taken lightly.

“Alec, we’ve brought him to you. What do we do now?” Leon inquired, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding mood.

Alec snapped his fan closed and said, “Follow me.”