Bound by Love

Chapter Two: Celestial Knight

Nathaniel exited the vehicle first. He scanned the surroundings before turning to open the door.

Prior to stepping out, Xanthe took a moment to glance at herself, ensuring her attire and hat were properly adjusted.

She slid her hand into her jacket pocket as they proceeded to walk.

Xanthe noticed that Nathaniel was engrossed in his cellphone. He looked up, meeting her gaze.

"They're already inside" he stated, tucking the phone into his pocket.

"Which g**g are we going up against?"

"Astral Union"

They stepped into a building adorned with peeling black paint and windows covered in rust.

At first glance, one might mistake it for a haunted place due to its eerie silence. If there were any sounds to be heard, they emanated from the individuals anxiously awaiting Xanthe's arrival.

Inside the abandoned building, Alistair (Codename: KA) let out a yawn and nudged Lysander (Codename: KL) to catch his attention.

"KL, have they not arrived yet, boss?" Alistair inquired, hoping for an update.

Killian (Codename: KK) overheard the question and scowled at Alistair.

"You dimwit! Can you see that they are right here?" Killian snapped, realizing that Lysander had no intention of responding.

Alistair's eyebrows furrowed, and his hand tightened into a fist, his frustration directed towards Killian.

He glared at Killian and spoke with a sharp tone, "Why did you interrupt? Are you the one I'm addressing?"

Lysander raised his head and locked eyes with Killian's serious expression, as well as Alistair's growing irritation.

'They've started again', Lysander thought to himself, accustomed to their occasional clashes.

Aside from their constant teasing, Killian had developed a habit of provoking Alistair.

"You have no right to care whether I choose to interject," Killian shot back, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

They were like cats and dogs, constantly at odds with each other.

Their banter surpassed that of a typical couple, as their arguments often escalated into fiery debates.

"I do care, as I was the one who asked the question," Killian replied, his brows furrowing in frustration.

In no time, Lysander's brows furrowed, his face growing darker with an air of authority.

"Enough!" Lysander's voice boomed, commanding attention and silencing their dispute in an instant.

He could no longer bear their incessant noise.

The members of the Astral Union g**g were now casting glances their way, drawn by the commotion.

At times, he pondered whether Alistair and Killian truly embodied masculine qualities, as their arguments resembled those of feuding women.

Whenever their quarrels erupted, neither of them was willing to concede. They behaved like unruly children, vying for dominance.

Lysander, known for his aversion to clamor, often assumed the role of pacifier, silencing the two.

A mere utterance of "Enough!" from him was enough to instill fear, effectively stifling their voices.

Lysander's wrath was notorious, and they were well aware of the consequences if they failed to fall silent before his transformation into a beast.

Killian's mouth snapped shut, his eyes glaring daggers at Alistair.

A silent battle waged between them, expressed through intense gazes.

Lysander, Nathaniel, Killian, Alistair, and Xavier constituted the members of the Celestial Knight g**g, with Xavier serving as their leader.

The Celestial Knight was a notorious syndicate of underworld gangsters, commanded by the charismatic Xavier.

However, with Xavier currently hospitalized, Xanthe had assumed the temporary role of acting leader, her determination and prowess propelling her forward.

"It appears that your boss is starting to feel afraid," a man dressed in black from the Astral Union g**g taunted, a smug grin spreading across his face.

Killian and the others swiftly turned their attention towards the provocative speaker, their eyes narrowing with a mix of annoyance and defiance.

"Utterly useless! So, your boss is nothing but a coward," another member of the Astral Union g**g jeered, his voice dripping with contempt.

Lysander's fists clenched tightly, his face contorted with a menacing glare that could pierce through steel.

His thoughts simmered with anger and the desire to shatter their faces, their taunts fueling his boiling rage.

'Damn it! They're deliberately provoking me. It won't be long before I unleash my fury upon them,' Lysander seethed inwardly, his patience wearing thin.

Alistair, already incensed, felt his temper escalating with each derogatory remark. The enemy's words served as the final spark, pushing him dangerously close to the brink of explosion.

"Coward? Afraid? Those words hold no place in my vocabulary."

Lysander let out a sigh of relief as he heard Xanthe's voice. Turning his gaze towards her, he found her wearing a radiant smile, reminiscent of their leader, Xavier (Codename: KX).

A small, satisfied smirk formed on Lysander's lips.

"They're here. Brace yourselves for what's coming," he proclaimed with a resolute tone, his determination shining through.

Despite having regained his calm, Lysander refused to let the Astral Union g**g go unpunished.

The intensity within him still burned fiercely, and he was prepared to make them pay for their insolence.

While Lysander contemplated his plans for holding the Astral Union accountable for their words, Nathaniel (Codename: KN) found himself mesmerized by Xanthe's presence.

He couldn't help but be captivated by her exceptional acting skills, marveling at her ability to flawlessly emulate Xavier, not only in her mannerisms but also in her voice.

Nathaniel gently took hold of Xanthe's arm, drawing her attention. Clearing his throat, he spoke in a hushed tone.

"It seems like we're the only ones they're waiting for."

"Let's begin, so we can finish this quickly."

Xanthe gave Nathaniel a meaningful look, as if to say, 'Start explaining.'

Nathaniel was accustomed to such situations, as he often found himself taking on the role of the spokesperson, even when accompanied by Xavier.

"The fight will commence once the alarm clock rings," Nathaniel clarified, retrieving a small alarm clock from his jacket pocket and placing it by his side.

"After five minutes, the battle will commence. The fight will only end when the opposing leader surrenders," he added, his voice firm and unwavering.

Silence enveloped the group as they waited for the sound of the alarm clock. Each person exchanged glances, brimming with anticipation.

No words were spoken among them, only the tense atmosphere prevailed.

Astral Union versus Celestial Knight.

There were seven adversaries, outnumbering the five members of Xanthe's group.

Nathaniel couldn't help but release a frustrated sigh as he observed Xanthe's distant and unfocused expression.

It was evident that Xanthe wasn't in the optimal state to confront their opponents.

Doubts began to cloud Nathaniel's mind as he questioned himself, 'Why did I ask her that, knowing well the answer?'

Regret washed over him, realizing that his inquiry had inadvertently added unnecessary pressure on Xanthe.