The Assassin In The he Mist
532 Words
A cold mist rolled across the forest road.
Ludwig's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword as he studied the hooded stranger blocking his path.
"State your name," Ludwig commanded.
The stranger chuckled, the sound low and unsettling.
"A name is meaningless to a dead man."
Without warning, dozens of black daggers shot from beneath the stranger's cloak.
Ludwig leaped from his horse.
The blades struck the ground where he had been standing, sending dirt and stones flying into the air.
"So..." Ludwig said calmly as he drew his sword. "You're an assassin."
The hooded figure raised a hand, and dark mist curled around the road.
"I have only one mission."
"To make sure the Moon Rabbit never reaches the Lion Palace."
Ludwig's expression hardened.
"Who sent you?"
The assassin smiled but remained silent.
In a flash, he disappeared into the mist.
Ludwig's instincts screamed.
He spun around just in time to block a poisoned dagger.
Clang!
Sparks flew as steel met steel.
The assassin attacked again and again, moving like a shadow.
Although Ludwig was one of Prince Kane's strongest knights, he found himself forced onto the defensive.
"This isn't an ordinary assassin," he thought.
"He's using forbidden shadow magic."
With a roar, Ludwig released his Lion Aura.
Golden light burst from his body, sweeping away the dark mist.
The assassin staggered back.
"So the famous Lion Commander truly lives up to his reputation," he sneered.
"But today isn't the day I intend to kill you."
He tossed a small crystal to the ground.
It exploded into a thick cloud of black smoke.
When the smoke cleared
The assassin was gone.
Ludwig searched the forest, but there was no trace of him.
Only one thing remained.
A silver coin engraved with the image of a black serpent.
Ludwig frowned."The Shadow Serpent Guild"
He had heard of them.
A secret organization of assassins that accepted only the highest paying clients.
Someone with great wealth wanted Lyra dead.
Back at the Everhart Palace, Lyra sat alone in the palace garden.
The afternoon breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming moon lilies.
She gently touched the silver pendant hanging around her neck, the one she had found near the cabin after saving the masked warrior.
For reasons she couldn't explain, she hadn't been able to part with it.
Whenever she held it, a strange warmth spread through her heart.
"Lady Lyra."
Mira approached with a worried expression.
"The royal tailor has arrived to take your measurements for the wedding gown."
Lyra smiled faintly.
"I'll be there shortly."
As Mira walked away, Lyra looked toward the distant mountains.
"I hope you're safe"
She didn't realize the words had escaped her lips.
Far away, in the Lion Palace, Prince Kane stood on the highest balcony, staring toward the Rabbit Kingdom.
The same strange warmth stirred within his chest.
He closed his hand over the golden mark hidden beneath his sleeve.
"For some reason"
"I can't stop thinking about that girl."
At that very moment, the bond between them pulsed with a soft golden light.
Neither of them knew that every heartbeat was drawing them closer together
while unseen enemies were preparing to tear them apart.
- Writer
