Alec moved without any sense of urgency, gliding over jagged rocks and mud puddles as if floating above them. His robes remained immaculate, untouched by dirt. Meanwhile, Jaycee, finding himself drenched in muck, grew increasingly annoyed.

Alec led them deeper into the town. Leon trailed behind in silence. The path they followed broadened, revealing a massive structure that stood unscathed. It was likely a sanctuary in its prime, its identity betrayed by the bell perched above. Next to it, secluded in a nook, lay several graves, their markers eroded by the relentless passage of time. A lone shovel rested beside them, with fresh holes dotting the surrounding earth.

Musty air greeted them as Alec led them inside. A sliver of light from a crack in the ceiling cast a glow on the wooden floor, highlighting the drifting dust particles. A line of pews stretched toward an altar, in front of which Alec stood facing Leon. Below, blades of yellow grass peeked through the gaps where the floorboards joined.

“Welcome to Inanis, our former headquarters in Decimari,” Alec announced. He unfolded his fan and gestured with it. “Our time before the military finds us is short, but I suspect you’re aware of what I want to say.”

Jaycee struggled to meet the man’s gaze. His presence emanated danger, triggering Jaycee’s self-preservation instincts.

“What do you need me to do?” he asked. In his former line of work, trading favors was commonplace.

“Look, Leon, do you see how obedient he is? I think you could learn a lot from him.”

Jaycee heard a sigh from Leon beside him. “Do we have time for this right now?”

Alec disregarded him. “Jaycee, are you familiar with the legend of the Dark Prince?”

Who hadn’t heard of him? The story recounts the tale of a prince who, betrayed by his entire village, went mad and killed all its inhabitants. A traveler discovered the massacre, and the news spread rapidly across the land. Though the prince’s fate remains unknown, the village still exists, preserved by time. People attributed subsequent disasters to the prince, with some claiming to have spotted him at each calamity. Thus, he was dubbed The Dark Prince, a harbinger of misfortune wherever he went.

“What does that have to do with me?” Jaycee asked. An assassin’s service lay solely in the act of killing. Ancient legends found no place in his reality.

“I need something from that village. The military has the prince’s old residence under strict surveillance, and entry is limited,” he said, his fan snapping open as he leapt from the altar toward Jaycee. “I want your help to get inside.”

“You’re asking me to kill Agnar.” It wasn’t a question. Sheol, known as the World Below, maintained robust ties with the military forces safeguarding it. Jaycee’s encounters with Agnar had been infrequent, yet they had always stood together as allies. The very defender of that village of death was the commander himself.

Alec, mere inches away, gazed intently at him. A slight curl formed at the edge of his lip, and with the tip of his fan, he gently lifted Jaycee’s chin. His stormy brown eyes held Jaycee captive. “What’s do you say?”

Was his involvement worth the price of his freedom? He longed to leave his past behind, yet the world had other plans. A humble village nestled in the nook of Sheol beckoned from beyond the forest’s embrace. His parents’ graves, neglected for too long, would have to stay that way for some time longer.

Ultimately, what choice did he have? They had already freed him from his cage, their part of the bargain fulfilled.

At that moment, the cathedral doors flew open. The startled occupants quickly gathered, ready to defend themselves, reaching for their weapons.

“Guys! Hold on, it’s me!” The unmistakable voice of Kyla halted, gasping for air. “We need to leave now. I can’t fend them off anymore.” Her short hair, matted with dirt and dried blood, stuck to her forehead.

“You’re exceptional at spoiling my fun,” Alec remarked as he moved closer, his fan fluttering before his face. “Why even bother keeping a tomboyish girl like you around?”

“Boss, we gotta go! Like, now.” the knives she had earlier tucked away slipped back into her hands. “I can—”

Alec held his arm out to stop her. “Leon, I leave this to you.”

No one questioned his decision, nor did they argue after his command. Loud footsteps thundered across the dirt outside. Hesitation was no longer an option.

Alec clapped Leon on the shoulder before walking to the building’s far end. Sometimes, trust was the most powerful weapon. His red robes swept over the grass beneath, reminiscent of blood.

Jaycee cast a last look behind him to see Leon unsheathe his sword. The sunlight caught the blade perfectly, blinding him for an instant. Seizing the opportunity, Kyla grasped his wrist and thrust him forward. The clamor of battle rose around them, leaving no option but to press on.