Mia stood frozen in the alley, Kael's words cutting through her like a blade. Kill her, or I will. The system's new mission glowed in her vision: Eliminate the Witness. Reward: 100 Shadow Points. Failure: Kael Draven's wrath. Her hands still trembled from Lord Calen's blood, the memory of his lifeless body slumping in the tavern booth seared into her mind. She'd killed once tonight—she couldn't do it again. Not an innocent barmaid who'd done nothing wrong.
Kael's storm-gray eyes bore into her, his expression cold, unyielding. "You're hesitating again," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I told you, little shadow—mercy will get you killed."
Mia's throat tightened, tears threatening to spill. "She's not a threat," she said, her voice cracking. "She's just a barmaid. She won't talk—I'll make sure of it. Please, Kael, don't make me do this."
For a moment, something flickered in Kael's gaze—surprise, maybe, or something softer. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a hardness that made Mia's heart sink. "You don't get to decide who's a threat," he said. "I do. And if you can't follow orders, you're no use to me."
The system chimed, a warning:
*Deception Failure Risk: 90%. Kael Draven's patience is waning.*
Mia's mind raced. She couldn't kill the barmaid, but if she defied Kael, he'd do it himself—and then he'd come for her. She had to act fast. "Fine," she said, forcing her voice to steady. "I'll do it. Just… give me a moment. I'm still shaken from Calen."
Kael's eyes narrowed, but he nodded, stepping back. "Don't take long," he said, his tone a warning. "I'll be watching."
Mia turned and slipped out of the alley, her heart pounding. She used Shadow Veil to blend into the darkness, her movements quickened by Enhanced Agility. The tavern was still in chaos—guards shouting, patrons fleeing—but she spotted the barmaid near the back entrance, a young woman with wide, terrified eyes, clutching a tray like a shield.
Mia deactivated Shadow Veil and approached, raising her hands to show she meant no harm. "Hey," she whispered, keeping her voice low. "I'm not going to hurt you. But you need to run—now. They'll kill you if you stay."
The barmaid's eyes darted to Mia's blood-stained dagger, and she flinched. "You… you killed him," she stammered. "Lord Calen—I saw you."
"I know," Mia said, her chest tightening. "And I'm sorry. But if you don't leave, they'll kill you too. Go—get out of Vaelor City. Don't come back."
The barmaid hesitated, then nodded, dropping the tray and sprinting into the night. Mia watched her go, a mix of relief and dread washing over her. She'd saved the girl, but at what cost? Kael would know she'd disobeyed him. She turned to head back, but a cold presence stopped her in her tracks.
Kael stood at the mouth of the alley, his crimson cloak billowing slightly in the night breeze. His expression was unreadable, but the air around him crackled with dark energy, a sign of his anger. "You let her go," he said, his voice dangerously calm.
Mia swallowed hard, her hand inching toward her dagger. "She won't talk," she said, trying to sound confident. "I scared her enough to keep her quiet. Killing her wasn't necessary."
Kael stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "You don't decide what's necessary," he said, his voice a low growl. "I do." He raised a hand, and shadows coiled around his fingers, forming a blade of pure darkness. "I gave you a chance, little shadow. But you've proven you can't be trusted."
Panic surged through Mia, and she activated Shadow Step, teleporting a few feet back. The skill's cooldown ticked down—45 seconds—but it gave her a moment to think. "Wait!" she shouted, raising her hands. "You need me, Kael. The Voidheart—whatever you're planning—I got the shard for you. I can help you. Don't do this!"
Kael paused, the shadow blade still hovering in his hand. "You think you're indispensable?" he said, his tone mocking. "You're a tool, nothing more. And a broken tool is useless."
The system chimed:
*Survival Probability: 3%. Recommendation: Fight or flee.*
Mia's heart pounded. Fighting Kael was suicide—he was too strong, too fast. Fleeing might buy her time, but he'd hunt her down. She had to take a risk. "You said I was different," she blurted, her voice desperate. "Back at the keep—you said you sensed something about me. If you kill me, you'll never know what it is."
Kael's eyes narrowed, and the shadow blade wavered. "You're stalling," he said, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his gaze. "Speak, then. What makes you so special?"
Mia took a deep breath, her mind racing. She couldn't tell him everything—not about the system, not about her reincarnation—but she had to give him something. "I'm… not from Eryndor," she said carefully. "I don't know how I got here, but I woke up in this body, in that alley. I'm not the 'Nameless Assassin' you think I am. That's why I survived the curse—because I'm not part of this world's rules."
It was a half-truth, but it was enough. Kael's expression shifted, the shadow blade dissolving into wisps of darkness. "Not from Eryndor," he murmured, his voice thoughtful. "That would explain… a great deal." He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "If you're lying, I'll know. And if you're telling the truth… you might be more useful than I thought."
Mia let out a shaky breath, relief flooding her. "So you're not going to kill me?" she asked, her voice small.
Kael's smirk returned, but it was colder now. "Not yet," he said. "But you've disobeyed me, and that can't go unpunished." He waved a hand, and the shadows around them surged, wrapping around Mia like chains. She gasped, struggling, but they tightened, pinning her arms to her sides.
"What are you doing?" she demanded, panic rising again.
"Teaching you a lesson," Kael said. He turned, the shadows dragging Mia behind him as he walked back toward the tunnel. "You'll spend the night in my dungeon. Maybe some time in the dark will remind you who you serve."
The shadows pulled her into the tunnel, and Mia's protests echoed uselessly as the iron door slammed shut behind them. The dungeon was a small, damp cell, its walls carved with ancient runes that glowed faintly with a sickly green light. The shadows released her, and she stumbled to the floor, her breath ragged.
Kael stood at the cell door, his silhouette framed by the dim light. "Think about your choices, little shadow," he said. "You're either with me—or you're nothing." He turned to leave, but paused, glancing back. "And for your sake, I hope you're telling the truth about where you're from."
The door closed with a heavy thud, leaving Mia alone in the darkness. She curled up against the wall, her mind a whirlwind of fear and regret. She'd saved the barmaid, but at what cost? Kael's trust was fragile, and she'd just shattered it. The system chimed, its message chilling:
*New Objective: Survive the Night in Kael's Dungeon. Reward: 50 Shadow Points.*
*Warning: The dungeon is enchanted. Survival probability: 60%.*
Mia's eyes widened as the runes on the walls began to glow brighter, and a low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows. Something was in here with her—something hungry. She drew her dagger, her hands trembling. She'd defied Kael to save a life, but now she had to survive the consequences.
---
*To be continued…*