The streets of Eldrenvale were slick with rain, reflecting the dim light of lanterns. Kael moved swiftly, hood low over his face, boots silent on the wet stones. His mission tonight was simple — check on a shipment tied to the Guild and report back. Nothing fancy, nothing dangerous. Or so he thought.
Kael slipped through a narrow alley, keeping to the shadows. From a distance, he could see the warehouse, its wooden doors slightly ajar. Crates sat in neat rows inside, marked with Guild insignia. Everything appeared normal.
But something in the air felt off.
He paused, sensing movement. Three hooded figures stepped from the far corner, their boots silent on the wet stone. Their emblem glinted in the lantern light — a serpent coiled around a blade.
Serpent Syndicate. Professionals. Precise. Deadly. And they were originally after Elara.
Kael's hand brushed the hilt of his dagger. Lightning crackled faintly along his fingers. He didn't need to make a sound.
"You there!" one hissed, stepping forward with a short sword.
Kael reacted instantly. He sidestepped, letting the blade slice past him. Sparks flashed where his lightning brushed it. The attacker froze, stunned, and Kael struck his wrist with a quick twist. The dagger flew from his hand and clattered to the floor.
The other two moved at once. Kael ducked low, rolling past the first attacker, then leapt up, using the momentum to knock the second into a crate. Wood splintered under the impact, lightning dancing faintly across the wet boards. The man grunted, dazed.
The last Syndicate member lunged at Kael with a dagger. He moved like water, twisting, flicking a hand forward. Lightning arced along his fingers, searing the man's wrist. The dagger dropped with a sizzling clang. Kael followed up with a swift kick, sending him sprawling onto the ground.
Silence fell over the warehouse, broken only by the rain tapping on the roof. Kael checked the emblem one of them dropped — a serpent coiled around a blade, unmistakable.
They weren't done. Someone in the city had noticed Kael. Protecting Elara had made him a target.
Kael slipped out a broken window, landing lightly on the wet street. Rain hissed as lightning danced faintly along his hands — enough to leave a warning, invisible to normal eyes, but clear to anyone who dared follow.
He moved fast, weaving through narrow streets and alleyways. The Syndicate was skilled, chasing him across rooftops, but Kael was faster, moving like a shadow. He vaulted over fences, slid down gutters, and left faint sparks behind that licked at the walls, confusing the pursuers.
At one corner, a Syndicate member lunged from a rooftop. Kael grabbed a loose rope, swung across the alley, and kicked him back into the wall. Lightning flared as it hit metal chains, blinding the attacker for a heartbeat. Kael disappeared into the mist before they could recover.
He glanced back at the warehouses — empty now — but knew more would come. The Syndicate was relentless, and they were learning quickly. Protecting Elara made him their next target.
Finally, Kael ducked into a shadowed courtyard near the Guild's contact point. He crouched behind a crate, checking for injuries. Nothing major. Heart steady, breath calm, hands faintly buzzing with residual electricity.
He whispered under his breath, "Good. They'll think they got a hint of me, but not enough to find her."
By the time he returned to Aurevale Academy, the first students were filing in for morning training. The city felt alive again — lanterns flickering, vendors opening stalls, children laughing — oblivious to the storm that had passed only blocks away.
Kael slipped into the dorms quietly. His room was neat as always, though his cloak was soaked, singed at the edges from lightning contact. He placed a hand on the small crystal orb on his desk.
"Report," Master Ardyn's voice came, calm but commanding.
"Serpent Syndicate spotted near Guild shipment," Kael said. "They're originally after Elara. They saw me. I handled the situation. No one else was aware. But they're likely to target me next."
"Good," Ardyn replied. "You are unseen, Kael. Protect her without being noticed. Remember… blending in is just as important as fighting. And don't forget — bonds, small friendships, even here at the academy, can matter. Trust isn't weakness."
Kael nodded silently. The orb dimmed. Outside, the city was quiet, mist curling along the rooftops.
He sat on the bed for a moment, hands brushing residual sparks from his fingers. Lightning crackled faintly in the air — wild, untamed, emotional. The thrill of danger never truly left him.
Serpent Syndicate now knows my face.
Kael clenched his jaw. Tomorrow would bring more challenges. The Syndicate would test him again. But he would be ready, moving through shadows, unseen, a storm waiting to strike.
The first hints of morning light touched the academy rooftops. Kael's eyes, faintly glowing with residual energy, reflected the dawn. Peace… always temporary.