The dull orb that was the moon hung over Orsantsky Manor, illuminating the grounds in a cold, pale light. The fresh snowfall glimmered in the moonlight, casting long shadows from the tall hedges and statues that dotted the landscape.

Sergeant Mikol trudged along the eastern edge of the courtyard, his shoulders hunched against the biting chill. His breath fogged in front of him, disappearing into the night as he rubbed his hands together, trying to bring some warmth back into his frozen fingers.

“Damn this cold,” he muttered, pulling his collar up higher around his neck. He glanced to his side, where his fellow guardsmen, Pavel and Ilya, walked with similarly miserable expressions. “I should be inside right now, having a hot meal by the fire.”

“Tell me about it,” Pavel grumbled, his voice thick with annoyance. “I still don’t understand why we got stuck with this shift.”

“Because our sergeant”—Mikol shot Pavel a glare—“is an idiot who lost a bet to Kolya and his lot. That’s why.” He kicked a stone out of his path, the small clatter of it barely audible over the crunch of their boots in the snow.

Pavel chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. “Yeah, well, if I knew the dice were rigged, I’d have just punched Kolya and gotten it over with. At least then I’d be warm in the holding cell instead of freezing my ass off out here.”

Ilya, the youngest of the trio, stayed silent, his eyes darting around nervously. He had pulled his scarf up over his mouth and nose, only his eyes visible beneath his cap. He was newer to the guard, and Mikol knew that while the rest of them had seen worse conditions, Ilya still wasn’t used to the cold.

“I swear, if I ever get my hands on Kolya—” Mikol began, but his words were cut off as Ilya suddenly stopped, his head snapping to the side.

“Did you see that?” Ilya’s voice was muffled beneath his scarf, but the fear in his tone was unmistakable. His eyes were wide, staring at the edge of the courtyard where a tall hedge cast an inky shadow.

Mikol followed his gaze, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the darkness. Nothing but snow and shadows met his gaze—silent, unmoving. He let out a sigh, the frustration evident on his face.

“What are you on about now, Ilya?” Pavel said, his tone half mocking, half tired. He didn’t even bother to stop walking, his boots crunching onward through the snow. “Probably just a branch swaying, or a trick of the light.”

“I swear, something moved,” Ilya insisted, his eyes darting between the shadows. His grip on his spear tightened, his knuckles turning white.

Mikol shook his head, his breath puffing out in exasperation. “The kid’s jumpy. This is what happens when they throw the green ones out here.” He gave Ilya a look, one that was meant to be reassuring but came off more annoyed than anything else. “Look, the place is locked down tight. No one’s getting in or out without us knowing.”

Ilya hesitated, his eyes still scanning the area, but eventually he nodded, though the unease didn’t leave his face. He turned, hurrying after Mikol and Pavel, though he kept glancing back over his shoulder at the hedge, as if expecting something to leap out at any moment.

“Keep your eyes forward, Ilya,” Pavel called, his tone dry. “We’ve got a long night ahead of us, and we don’t need you jumping at every shadow. If anything was out here, we’d have seen it by now.”

Mikol gave a grunt of agreement, though he couldn’t help but feel that uneasy twist in his gut. He hated being out here. The cold, the dark, the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. But the manor was well guarded, and they were ready for anything. Whatever had spooked Ilya, it was probably nothing more than a trick of the moonlight.

Probably.

***

Underneath the hedges, Sigismund let loose a puff of air, easily mistakable for the sound of wind, as Mira elbowed the knight in his rib. The two were crouched low, their dark cloaks blending in with the deep shadows of the manicured hedge. Rulf, lying flat beside them, narrowed his eyes and slowly turned his head to Mira, his expression somewhere between irritation and bemusement.

“Quiet,” she hissed, her voice barely audible over the faint rustling of the wind in the branches above them.

Sigismund ren rolled his eyes but gave a small nod, the tension in his shoulders easing as he watched the guards continue their patrol, oblivious to the intruders hiding just feet away. It had been a close call—one that had nearly put an end to this heist before it even properly began.

Mira kept her gaze fixed on the guards, waiting until they disappeared around the corner of the manor, their footfalls fading into the distance. She let out a slow breath, her grip tightening on the hilt of her dagger.

“They’re getting too close,” Rulf muttered, his voice low and gravelly, his breath misting in the cold night air.

“Part of the job,” Mira replied. She glanced at Sigismund , her eyes narrowing slightly. “But maybe we keep the dramatic sighs to a minimum, hm?”

Sigismund smirked, giving her an almost imperceptible shrug. “Just making sure the kid knows how close we are.”

“Well, he knows,” Mira shot back, her tone curt. “We all do.”

Rulf shifted slightly, lifting his head to peer over the edge of the hedge. His eyes scanned the courtyard, ensuring the guards were well out of sight before he turned back to the others.

“Alright, the path to the study should be clear for now,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “We stick to the plan. Move quietly, stick to the shadows, and no one gets fancy. We’re not out of the woods yet.”

Sigismund nodded, and Mira reached over to tap him lightly on the shoulder—a signal to move. The three of them began to crawl out from under the hedge, their bodies low and movements precise as they slipped from the dark cover into the moonlit courtyard. Mira led the way, her dark clothing blending seamlessly into the night, followed closely by Rulf, his bulk surprisingly agile. Oren brought up the rear, his eyes never stopping their vigilant scan for more movement.

The manor loomed above them—its stone walls rising high, casting long shadows over the courtyard. The servants’ entrance they were aiming for was just ahead, past a row of marble statues and beneath a set of tall windows that glimmered faintly in the moonlight.

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Mira motioned for them to stop, her eyes flicking toward the row of statues. On the other side of the courtyard and now slinking towards the servant quarters were Kadoc and Aunia. Even though they were all wearing the same black leather, the two really did look like shadows if one wasn't paying attention.

Mira breathed a sigh of relief as she spotted them. They were right on time. She turned and gave Sigismund a quick nod. He responded in kind, his expression set, his eyes narrowing in concentration. They couldn’t afford any errors now that they were so close.

Mira then looked up toward the rooftops where Lena and Gereon were stationed. Their dark silhouettes were barely visible against the moonlit sky, but Mira could make out the signals they were giving—a series of precise hand gestures, almost invisible in the dim light. All clear.

Mira glanced at Sigismund, and he gave her a quick, subtle nod. Everything was still on track. She felt the tension in her shoulders ease, though only just. They still had a long way to go.

The group moved swiftly across the courtyard, their footsteps muffled against the snow-covered ground. The manor loomed above them, its walls bathed in the pale glow of the moon, shadows clinging to the stone like specters. They stayed low, slipping past the row of marble statues that marked the approach to the servants’ entrance.

By the time they reached the heavy wooden door, Kadoc was already crouched beside it, his lockpicks glinting faintly in the moonlight. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his fingers working quickly and precisely as he maneuvered the tools in the lock.

Auina was beside him, her eyes darting around the courtyard, her stance tense but ready. Mira could see the determination etched on Kadoc’s face—the way he seemed to block everything out, the way his entire world narrowed down to the mechanism before him. He was good. Better than she’d expected.

There was a faint click, and Kadoc looked up, his expression serious as he gave a small nod. The lock had yielded.

Mira moved forward, her hand on Kadoc’s shoulder for a moment—a wordless acknowledgment of a job well done. She pushed the door open slightly, peering inside. The hallway beyond was dark, the flickering light of an oil lamp barely illuminating the narrow space. It was quiet—almost too quiet.

She turned back to the others, her voice a whisper. “We’re in. Move quickly, stay close.”

Kadoc and Auina slipped inside first, Mira following close behind, then Sigismund and Rulf. The door closed softly behind them, cutting off the cold night air, leaving them in the warmth of the manor. The hallway stretched before them—narrow and dim, the scent of old wood and dust filling the air.

Mira took a deep breath, her eyes scanning their surroundings. She could hear the faint creak of the house settling, the distant crackle of a hearth somewhere deeper within. They were in—but now came the hard part. Finding what they’d come for and getting out before anyone knew they were even there.

“Stick to the plan,” she whispered, her eyes meeting each of theirs. “Kadoc, Auina—you know your task. The artifact room. Sigismund, Rulf, you’re with me. The study is upstairs. We’ll meet at the rendezvous point when it’s done.”

Kadoc nodded, his eyes darting toward Auina. She gave him a small, reassuring smile, and they turned, slipping away into the darkness of the hallway. Mira watched them go, the weight of the mission pressing down on her chest. She turned back to Sigismund and Rulf, her face hardening.

“Let’s move.”

They turned toward the narrow staircase that led to the second floor, their footsteps soft against the stone floor as they began to climb. The walls seemed to close in around them, the shadows deepening with each step. The study was waiting—and so were the answers they needed.

As they moved further into the heart of the manor, Mira could only hope that Lena and Gereon would keep their eyes sharp. They were the lookout, their safety net—and Mira knew better than anyone how quickly things could go wrong.

***

Kadoc’s heart pounded in his ears, his breathing slow and controlled as he moved down the narrow hallway, Auina just a step behind him. Unlike outside where they had the moonlight giving them some semblance of vision, the halls of the manor were dark. They were so dark in fact that it might as well be at an advantage with the black leather they were wearing.

He paused at a corner, glancing back at Auina. She gave him a quick nod, her blue eyes wide but steady. Kadoc swallowed hard, his fingers gripping the edge of the wall as he peered around the corner. The hallway beyond stretched long and empty, the distant sound of voices echoing faintly—somewhere deeper within the manor.

“We’re clear,” he whispered, his voice barely a breath as he turned back to Auina. She flashed him a small smile, something reassuring, before nodding for him to move ahead.

They slipped into the hallway, Kadoc leading the way. His steps were deliberate, each footfall landing on the balls of his feet, trying to make as little noise as possible. The cold stone beneath him felt unforgiving, and he found himself hyper-aware of every rustle of his clothing, every small creak that seemed to echo into the night.

They passed by a narrow door, the faint sound of muffled laughter drifting from the other side. Kadoc paused, pressing himself back against the wall as Auina did the same, her eyes locked on the door. A shadow moved beneath the gap of the doorway—a servant, perhaps, laughing at some unseen joke.

Kadoc held his breath, waiting. The laughter faded, the shadow shifting away, and the sound of footsteps moved further off. He exchanged a glance with Auina, who gave him a quick thumbs up, her grin widening just slightly. It was reckless, Kadoc thought—being amused in a place like this. But somehow, Auina always seemed to carry that levity with her, even in the darkest moments.

They moved again, their pace quickening as they made their way toward the artifact room. The manor felt impossibly large—hallways that twisted and turned, rooms that seemed endless. Kadoc tried to keep his bearings, his eyes scanning the doorways they passed, looking for the right one.

A noise behind them made them both freeze—footsteps, echoing sharply against the stone floor. Kadoc’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes darting around. Auina grabbed his arm, pulling him quickly toward a doorway that lay half-shrouded in darkness. They pressed themselves into the shadows, their bodies barely fitting behind the door’s frame.

A guard appeared, his steps slow and deliberate, his eyes scanning the hallway ahead of him. Kadoc could feel Auina’s hand on his arm, her grip tight. He kept his breathing shallow, his eyes locked on the guard, praying that the darkness would hide them.

The guard paused, his gaze shifting toward their direction. Kadoc’s pulse hammered in his ears. The guard’s eyes swept across the hallway before he gave a small grunt and moved on, his footsteps fading into the distance.

Kadoc let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his shoulders relaxing slightly as Auina released her grip on his arm.

“That was close,” Auina whispered, her eyes twinkling in the dim light, a hint of that ever-present grin returning to her lips.

Kadoc gave her a look, half-exasperated, half-relieved. “We should keep moving,” he replied, his voice low. “We’re not there yet.”

They slipped out from their hiding spot, moving once again down the hallway. Kadoc’s eyes were fixed ahead now, his focus sharp. The artifact room was close—he could feel it. They just had to make it a little further.

The air grew colder as they moved deeper into the manor, the temperature dropping as they approached the heart of the house. Kadoc could see the door ahead—a heavy, reinforced wooden door with brass fittings. The artifact room, just as Sigismund described it.

Stepping up to the door and pulling out his tools, Kadoc took a deep breath, steadying himself as he began to work on the lock. As he worked, his fingers trembled slightly from both the cold and his shot nerves.

The clicks of the lockpick seemed deafening in the silence, each tiny sound making Kadoc’s heart lurch. But the mechanism was old, and with each careful twist, he could feel it loosening. Finally, there was a faint click, and the door gave way, creaking open just an inch.

Kadoc exchanged a quick glance with Auina, her eyes bright with excitement as she quickly but quietly patted him on the back. They’d made it.

The door to the Artifact room swung open, revealing the treasures beyond. The faint glow of moonlight filtered through a small window, illuminating the space. Just as its name would have suggested, artifacts lay everywhere—ancient weapons, ornate jewelry made from gold and jewels, and relics that looked as though they belonged in a different era.

But there, in the center of the room, atop a velvet-lined pedestal, lay the object of their mission. A bracelet—intricately carved with foreign symbols, its golden surface catching the pale light in a way that made it almost seem alive.

Kadoc stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the bracelet, his breath caught in his throat. This was it. What they had come for. But as his fingers reached out, an uneasy feeling settled in his stomach—a sense that something was watching, waiting.

“Let’s make it quick,” Auina whispered, her eyes scanning the room, her instincts on high alert.

Kadoc gave a quick nod, shaking his head to clear away the fog of unease. He pulled the bracelet from the pedestal, quickly stuffing it into the satchel at his side. He could still feel the cold radiating from it through the fabric, a dull weight pressing against his hip.

Without another word, he turned, his movements swift but silent as he joined Auina by the door. She gave him a questioning glance, her eyes searching his face, but he just shook his head again, forcing a reassuring smile. They had what they came for. It was time to leave.

They slipped out of the artifact room, Kadoc closing the door as quietly as possible behind them. The hallway was empty, the shadows deep, and they began to make their way back toward the rendezvous point—each step measured, each breath held as they moved through the darkness.

They had just reached the top of the stairs when they heard the scream.

It was Lena.