Chapter 2 (part 2)
“The nymph and the assassin”






We kept moving, nearing a basement near a specific house of flowers. The air was crisp, carrying the cries of distant gulls. It was quiet here, almost too quiet.

The stranger took some keys from his pockets as he pushed away part of his cloak, then opened the basement doors.

“After you,” he said, stepping back and giving a mocking bow.

I hesitated. The door had warped wood. Curiosity won out over caution. I ducked inside, feeling the cold, damp air wash over me as I stepped into the darkness.He followed, but it was too dark to see clearly. I had to touch the wall to steady myself as I moved.

The corridor was narrow. As I took the last step, I tripped and fell into something. I let out a scream, and I heard him trying not to laugh, holding it in. I threw him an annoyed glare. He then lit a candle and walked over to light the lantern hanging from the ceiling.

“Careful next time, will you?” He said as he placed the candle on the table.

We were in a small, dimly lit room. The glow from a lantern spilled through a cracked window in the door, casting strange, flickering shadows on the walls.

“Feel at home,” He said, pushing open a door.

I stepped inside and took in the scene: a small table with two chairs, a bottle of wine sitting in the center, and two glasses—one filled with only a drop. The rest of the room was sparse, littered with empty crates and one rolled-up sleeping bag. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, warm glow.

“You promised me answers,” I said, pulling off my cloak, revealing my outfit, and tossing it onto the back of a chair. I was wearing brown pants, dark shoes, a white shirt with sleeves that I had to clean every day since it got dirty easily, and a brown corset around my waist. Similar bracelets adorned my arms, and my necklace was now visible too. I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes. “So start talking. Who are you, and what do you want from me... elf?”

He chuckled, taking off his cloak and placing it on his chair, revealing his well-made armor. It was sleek, dark, and menacing, with intricate black metal plating, sharp organic patterns, spiked pauldrons, and claw-like gauntlets. The overall look was that of a shadowy assassin or dark knight. He poured himself a drink, swirling the liquid in the glass, watching it with a wry smile.

“Half-elf, actually. My name is Kaenan,Kaenan Serin. An assassin? Yes. But I only kill those who deserve it. A thief? Occasionally. Dangerous? Well...” He took a sip. “Let’s just say it’s a possibility.”

I clenched my jaw, watching him carefully. He was relaxed, confident, almost too comfortable. It was like he knew he was in control here, and that made me want to punch him.

“And what do you want from me?” I pressed.

Kaenan set his glass down and met my gaze. “An offer.”

“An offer?About what?” I asked, my voice flat, still with my arms crossed, hiding the tension in my shoulders.

“For revenge,” he said simply.

I raised an eyebrow. “Revenge against who? And why do you need me specifically?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea,” Kaenan said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re not the only one I’ve approached for this. Sorry if that makes you feel less special.”

"So you don’t need me?" I said, my voice tight with frustration.

Kaenan shrugged, his expression indifferent. "I just need to gather as many as I can. You wouldn’t be a big loss if you left, but nor does it interest me to waste time."

His tone was mocking, and I felt a flash of irritation. This guy was insufferable. I could kill him right here and now if I wanted to... but could I? I hesitated. His calmness, his ease—it threw me off. Would I really be able to take him down in this cramped space? It was easy to think I could, but when it came to actually doing it… I wasn’t so sure. Not yet. Maybe later.

“I’ve been in Kald’azar for a while now on a mission that would bring me money. But I noticed your skills and thought… why not?” he continued, pouring another glass. “It’s a beautiful city, really. But ever since I saw you—your tricks, your skills—I thought you might be useful for my plans. So, I decided to see if I was right.”

“Why not? Is that all you thought when you saw me?” I responded, but he ignored my question. Then I realized… “You spied on me,” I said, my voice cold. It wasn’t a question. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. How had I not noticed?

“Guilty as charged.” He raised his hands in mock surrender, an amused gleam in his icy blue eyes. “But I wasn’t watching you out of malice, Sarah. I needed to be sure.”

“Sure of what?” I snapped. “That I’m gullible enough to walk into a trap?”

Kaenan chuckled again. “If I’d wanted to trap you, I wouldn’t have brought you to my hideout. And besides, I’d easily do it if I wanted to.” He shrugged. “Believe what you want. Trapping you is not my intention.”

“Then why bring me here?” I demanded.

“I already told you,” he said, his tone shifting to something more serious. “I need you. And I suspect you might need me too.”

I stayed alert, not speaking, allowing him to say what he wanted to say.

His manner was more cunning than I’d anticipated. His words slithered like a serpent, calm and unhurried, yet laced with venom. I could almost feel his control tightening around me, the silence between us thick with something dangerous. I was ready to pull my bow in case I needed to defend myself—the dagger on my arm ready too, since it wouldn’t be wise to attack him in such a small space. The bow was useless here, but I was more than ready to use it.

He remained unflinching, sighing and sinking deeper into the chair like he had nowhere else to be, no real fear of the woman before him.

“You can try to kill me,” he said, his voice smooth, almost bored. “But believe me, you don’t want to. I could take your breath away in ten seconds... and you wouldn’t even know how I did it.”

I let out a sharp, mocking laugh, stepping closer, my eyes narrowing with challenge. "I’d take your breath away in five seconds. How does that sound?"

Enough of his games. I wasn’t a killer, but damn, I wanted to see what he’d do if I actually attacked. With a sudden burst of fury, I lunged at him, my dagger aimed directly at his throat, the fire of vengeance burning hot in my chest. But before I could land the strike, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist with a grip so tight it sent a jolt of fear through me.

My whole body stiffened. It was like trying to move an iron bar. My fingers twitched uselessly around the hilt of the dagger, but his hand didn’t budge. I was caught, frozen. His eyes didn’t even flicker with effort.

“You think you can kill me, Sarah?” His voice was dangerously calm. "Listen closely... I don’t wish to be your enemy. So don't tempt me."

My heart pounded in my chest, my anger rising as I struggled against his grip. “Make your choice, then,” he murmured. “You need me as much as I need you.”

I scoffed, attempting to jerk my arm away. "For what reason could I possibly need you?"

He leaned in, his breath brushing against my ear, soft and menacing. "I know the people who killed the nymphs… the same people who took something precious from me. And I know you want them to pay as much as I do."

My world stopped.

His words struck like a hammer against my skull. My sisters? He knew who killed them? How did he know? My mouth went dry, my heart thudding painfully in my chest.

"It is obvious that you're a nymph from the Seluna forest," he continued, his voice low. "I recognized the unique carve in your necklace. It was from that tree, wasn’t it? At first, I wasn’t sure, but now I am. I’ve been there a few times to know such a thing.Your a nymph too I assumed"

I shook my head. He’s been there? I suppose it was because he wanted to sleep with the beautiful nymphs, if not other reason, I thought sarcastically. But his voice was low, carrying a weight of things unsaid. “But one thing I know for certain: you want as much blood as I do. Their blood.”

Suddenly, memories flooded back, unbidden. I was younger again, standing frozen near the lake, clutching my bear tightly to my chest, crying as I saw their lifeless bodies.

I tried to push the memories away, tried to block the image of their beautiful faces, their eyes forever closed. The pain threatened to crush me, but I fought it down. I couldn’t afford to break now.

His voice shattered the silence, low and probing. “Tell me, Sarah... do you want to see them suffer as much as I do?”

The question cut deep. The fury surged again, raw and untamed. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of the moment pressing down on me like a stone. I felt the fire of my past flicker at the edges of my mind, the faces of my sisters, their lives stolen from me.

I met his gaze, my breath shaky but steady. I wasn’t going to back down. Not now. Not after everything. The words escaped me before I could stop them, cold and sharp.

“Yes.”

The word tasted bitter, but it was the truth. I could feel the rage burning in me, a flame I hadn’t let myself fully feel until now. Maybe it was the years of holding it inside, or maybe it was the pull of this twisted alliance, but whatever it was, I knew one thing for certain: there was no turning back.

His eyes darkened, a flicker of something in them I couldn't quite place. Satisfaction? Amusement? Or something else, something more dangerous. He studied me like I was a puzzle he had already solved, and it only made me want to tear him apart even more.

"You’ve made your choice, then," Kaenan said, his voice softer now, almost reverent.

I clenched my fists at my sides, feeling my nails dig into my palms. I had to remind myself: This wasn’t just about vengeance for my sisters anymore. It was more than that. It was about something deeper—something inside me I hadn’t fully admitted yet.

But the thought was too much. I shoved it aside, pushing down the creeping sense of doubt, the realization that I might just be losing myself in all of this.

His gaze didn’t leave me. It was like he could see through every wall I’d built around myself. I swallowed hard. “If you try anything cunning or stupid, I’ll make you regret it,” I said, my voice low but dangerous.

His lips curled in that familiar, infuriating smirk. I could feel my pulse quicken, my body ready to lash out if he even dared to test me.

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he let the silence linger, almost as if savoring the moment.

I didn’t wait for him to say anything else. I wasn’t giving him the chance to twist this any further. “Let’s just get this over with.”