Beast Tamer

The Assassin’s Contract

The sun was climbing higher as Ethan and Orion made their way through the winding paths that led toward the Academy of Sanctum. Tyros trotted silently beside them, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the road. Despite the calm of the morning, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled with an uneasy tension.

“You did well back there,” Orion said, breaking the silence. “But the Academy will not be as forgiving as Tyros.”

Ethan glanced at him, his thoughts still lingering on the encounter with the beast. “What can I expect at the Academy?”

Orion’s expression remained impassive. “Trials that will push you beyond your limits. You’ll face challenges that will test not only your strength but your mind and your spirit. You’ll learn the art of battle, beast training, and... survival.”

The way Orion said “survival” sent a shiver down Ethan’s spine, but he steeled himself. He had come this far, and nothing would turn him back now.

As they neared a clearing in the forest, Orion suddenly stopped, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of the blade strapped to his side. Tyros growled low, his ears flattening against his head as he sniffed the air, sensing something that neither man could yet see.

“What is it?” Ethan asked, his hand already moving toward the small dagger he carried on his belt.

Orion didn’t answer immediately, his eyes scanning the treeline. “Stay sharp. We’re not alone.”

Before Ethan could respond, a blur of movement shot out from the shadows. In a flash, three masked figures emerged from the underbrush, their steps silent and deadly. They wore dark cloaks, their faces obscured by hoods, but their weapons gleamed in the morning light—razor-sharp daggers and throwing knives ready for a kill.

“Assassins,” Orion muttered, his voice calm but tense.

Ethan’s pulse quickened. He had heard stories of assassins—mercenaries trained in the deadliest forms of combat, masters of stealth and precision. But this was the first time he had ever encountered one, let alone three.

“Who are they after?” Ethan asked, though the answer was obvious.

Orion’s hand tightened around his sword’s hilt. “They’re here for me.”

The lead assassin, a tall figure with a snake-like grace, stepped forward. “Orion of Sanctum,” he hissed, his voice cold and unfeeling. “The contract has been issued. Your head, for a price.”

Ethan’s heart raced, but he forced himself to focus. He quickly calculated the odds—three against two, though Tyros would likely even the playing field. Still, these assassins moved with an eerie confidence that suggested they had done this many times before. They were professionals.

Orion’s gaze never wavered. “You’ve made a mistake coming here,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

The assassin tilted his head slightly, as if amused. “We rarely make mistakes. But we’ll see.”

Without warning, the assassins attacked. The first threw a flurry of knives with deadly accuracy, aiming straight for Orion. But in a blur of movement, Orion deflected the blades with his sword, the metal ringing out as he batted them aside with ease.

Ethan barely had time to react before the second assassin lunged at him, moving with lightning speed. His training kicked in, and he sidestepped the attack, drawing his dagger in a smooth motion. The assassin spun, aiming a series of quick strikes at Ethan, but Ethan parried each one, his movements precise, his focus absolute.

“Not bad for a beginner,” the assassin sneered, circling him like a predator stalking its prey.

Ethan didn’t reply. His mind was clear, his muscles coiled, ready to strike at any opening. Tyros, meanwhile, had engaged the third assassin, his massive jaws snapping as the assassin danced around him, trying to find a weak spot. But Tyros was relentless, his snarls filling the air as he cornered his foe.

As the fight raged on, Ethan realized just how deadly these assassins were. Every move they made was calculated, every strike meant to kill. But something in Ethan’s instincts had shifted. He wasn’t afraid—not anymore. He had faced greater dangers, and his training had prepared him for this moment.

Suddenly, the lead assassin broke off from his fight with Orion and charged toward Ethan, his dagger flashing toward Ethan’s throat. Time seemed to slow. Ethan’s reflexes took over. With a swift movement, he blocked the strike, twisting his body and sending the assassin stumbling off balance.

Before the assassin could recover, Ethan drove his dagger forward, aiming for a weak point in the man’s armor. The blade found its mark, sinking into the assassin’s side. The man gasped in surprise, his eyes widening in shock as he fell to the ground, clutching the wound.

Orion, having finished off the remaining assassin, rushed over to Ethan’s side, his sword still dripping with blood. He spared a glance at the fallen assassin, then looked at Ethan, his expression unreadable.

“You handled yourself well,” Orion said, his voice steady.

Ethan pulled his dagger from the assassin’s body, wiping the blade on the man’s cloak. His heart was still pounding, but he forced himself to breathe, to calm down. “They’re dead.”

“Yes,” Orion said, surveying the scene. “But that won’t be the last of them.”

Ethan sheathed his dagger, his mind already racing with questions. “Who sent them? Why are they after you?”

Orion’s jaw tightened. “There are many who would pay for my death, but this isn’t about me.” He turned to face Ethan, his expression dark. “These assassins were part of something bigger. They were sent to stop you from reaching the Academy.”

Ethan blinked, taken aback. “Me? Why?”

Orion’s eyes narrowed. “Someone knows who you are. And they’re afraid of what you might become.”

A chill ran down Ethan’s spine. He had always known that his journey to the Academy would be dangerous, but this was something else. This wasn’t just a test—this was a deadly game, and someone had just placed a very high price on his head.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the forest, Ethan knew one thing for certain: his path was only going to get more dangerous from here on out.