To seek greatness is the only righteous vengeance. - Criss Jami (Killosophy)
* * * *
~December 231; Waters near Zephys~
The skies are turning orange-red, giving way to dusk slowly. And yet, Sera simply couldn’t help her eyes trailing in the direction where the town of Zephys is located. From where the boathouse is docked, Zephys is visible as just a speck in the distance.
Aegis had been laying low for a while now since the entire fiasco with Agnis and Lucie. They’ve thus been taking the chance of their downtime to take on more mercenary contracts, with even Raul and Letha showing Lucie the ropes of how the underground works. Laura had even been teaching Lucie how to fight and how to control her Gift; being a fellow elemental user.
At the moment, Sera knew for one that Neil and Kailey, and even Laura were currently out on land—judging from the board they’ve placed near the entrance of the boathouse which is a kind of system that Sera had created early on, so that they knew where each of them was and what they were doing. It is more for safety’s sake, as Sera had explained; since when they weren’t taking on requests as part of Aegis, what they did during their free time was up to them.
Sera rubbed at the blade tattoo located on the under-wrist of her left hand.
“But it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter anymore.” A tired smile greeted her. “This will be the night that Blade fights our final battle. But you guys will always be my best friends. Maybe someday…”
Someday…
Sera shook her head to rid herself of the memories that crept up on her.
“I said that I’ll live on for all our sakes.” She murmured to herself, looking down at the waters beneath her. “But it’s easier said than done…”
Caw!
By sheer instinct, Sera’s hand immediately fell to her side as she looked up. She then relaxed when she saw the familiar sight of a black raven perched on the railing in front of her, wearing a blue sash around its neck. The raven cawed at her again.
“…Hugo?” Sera murmured.
The raven cawed again before taking off in flight, flying towards the direction of the town of Zephys.
Sera tracked the raven’s flight with her eyes. If Hugo is here, that only means one thing…
“…Zest…”
* * * *
The skies above were already giving way to night when Sera took the familiar route that she had taken hundreds of times in the past. Aegis, needless to say, were curious when Sera said that she needed to go on land for a bit. But none of them have asked any questions, for which Sera is thankful.
And as she turned around a corner, she recognised the building immediately, with the graffiti on the walls. It used to be some kind of bar in the past but was abandoned for some reason—probably due to the civil war. When Sera had formed Blade, they started hanging out here and turned it into their hideout. The bar too had a second level where they have turned it into bedrooms of some sort.
In the past, there would always be activity in these parts. Whether it be the members of Blade just messing about or some punks having a street brawl or even a motorcycle race. If anything, this area is never silent.
But now, it is as silent as a grave.
After the attack on Blade nearly two years ago now, most of the street gangs have abandoned Zephys, to no surprise. Give it another year or two, and Sera wouldn’t be surprised if Zephys would end up as a ghost town.
And standing in front of Blade’s old hideout is a figure that Sera knew quite well, and would recognise from a mile away.
She swallowed a lump in her throat, with her throat suddenly feeling parched.
He’s taller now from when she last remembered seeing him, with a lean frame. His raven black hair is also longish, reaching down past his earlobes, with purple highlights within it, and red eyes. Piercings were also visible in both ears. He’s also dressed in a loose black hoodie with flame designs on the bottom, over a white undershirt and black pants. A plain black choker—similar to the one that Sera wore, is also visible around his neck. There is also a black blade tattoo visible on the left side of his neck.
Zest tracked Sera’s movements with his eyes, both hands shoved deep into his pockets even as she approached. He greeted her with a slight nod before moving his attention towards their old hideout.
“It has been nearly two years, so I’ve been told.” Zest was the first to speak. Not far from them, Hugo was perched on the seat of a rundown motorcycle. “But yet, I feel as if it was just like yesterday when I first met you and all the others.”
“Zest…”
He’s still pale and looks as if he’s still recovering. Knowing Zest, he had likely checked himself out of Reina’s clinic the moment he was able to walk on his own power, despite her protests. And while his appearance is indeed a shock to Sera, she had always believed that Zest would wake up one day.
“Reina filled me in on everything that happened,” Zest answered the unasked question, eyes flickering towards Sera. “I’m glad you survived.”
“Not all of us did,” Sera answered with a shake of her head. “As far as I know, only Leroy and Alisa survived apart from us both. Maybe even Earl.” She added as an afterthought. After all, wasn’t Earl out of town on the day of the attack? “You almost died, Zest. You would have if Alexis had just been a moment later in bringing you to Reina.”
“I will do what I did all over again,” Zest said firmly. “And I know Leroy and the others would agree with me. You would do the same for us too.”
Sera was about to open her mouth to argue before shutting it a moment later. Leroy had argued the same thing. And if Sera is being honest with herself, she knows that both of them have a point.
She might be their leader, but Sera has never once tried to dictate their decisions and what Blade’s members do. She normally leaves them to their own devices and only steps in if some gang or punk are causing trouble in their territory.
Blade are each other’s family. It is one of several reasons why Sera had felt so guilt-stricken upon their demise. At least until Leroy had found her again.
“I met Leroy a while back,” Sera said instead. “The Premier asked him to take charge of Zalfari after Whirlwind was destroyed by hunters. Alisa and Jeff will be helping him. And if I know Leroy at all, he had the connections and resources needed to rebuild Zalfari. And protect it.”
Leroy is third-in-command of Blade for a reason, after all. Sera knew his capabilities. While she is willing to give her old comrade a hand if needed, she highly doubts that Leroy needs it. Besides, Alisa is with him. Even back during their Blade days, she had been extremely resourceful and had several connections with the black market vendors.
“I heard about it.”
Sera gave a low sigh, raking her hand through her hair. “I told Leroy to go for it,” she said simply. “He had his own life to lead. I’ve chosen my path. He has to pick his. As did Alisa.” She looked at Zest. “And you.”
“I’ve already chosen it,” Zest answered promptly, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I knew what I wanted since the day I chose to follow you.”
“Zest—”
Zest let out a sigh, holding up one hand to halt Sera’s protests. “Let’s be frank here, Sera. You knew exactly who I was from the beginning,” he said bluntly. “Right from the beginning, you knew. The others always were surprised at how skilled I was, despite my age. I never saw fit to enlighten them on the issue just why I was so skilled. What a hand to be dealt with by the Goddess.” He gave a low chuckle, shaking his head. “I left my path as an assassin, and the first place I ended up at was Zephys.” Both of them fell silent for several moments, even as Zest stared at his right hand before slowly clenching it into a fist. “I was the ultimate killing weapon. One of a select few whom the hunters trained and created as the ultimate killing weapons – to take out the threats to their power. Their assassination unit. So secret, that even most hunters weren’t aware of our existence.”
“I heard rumours about the assassination unit before,” Sera admitted. “Before your appearance at Zephys, there were rumours about an upheaval with the hunters. So…” She trailed off slowly. “I suspected, considering your skill level. No one is that good at combat without some serious experience. Even I only got as good as I am because I was constantly hunted down in the streets. By both street gangs and even hunters. Even the Normals.”
Zest said nothing. He knew how intuitive Sera was. And even how observant she is. She would be dead by now if she wasn’t, considering how dangerous the streets are. More so for her since she is a particularly powerful Gifted.
“The attack on Blade…” Zest began, shoving his hands deep into his pockets, “Half of the reason is likely because they were also there to take me out.” He admitted. “I knew too much about them. And I was also their best assassin. I took out the rest of the assassination unit when I deserted. Of course, I’m sure you knew all that.” He eyed Sera. Her information networks put even the hunters and the ESA to shame. “But you didn’t care. You’ve never cared about our backgrounds, no matter who it is. Me. Earl. Jamie. Wes. Lleucu. All the others.” Zest sighed.
“You never cared what we did in the past, or even our backgrounds. Heck, Lleucu’s background is way more suspicious than mine, and you didn’t care either, even though most of the others were suspicious of him right until the day they died.” Zest gave a small grin when he saw the slight tilt of Sera’s lips. “Blade is the way it is, because Sera, you gave us all a chance when no one would ever do that for us. You were the first to see me as me.” Zest admitted. “You didn’t see a thug, a killer, or even a leader. You see me as a person first. You looked me in the eye. That’s all I ever wanted. You are the first to show me compassion. To treat me as an equal. You were a happy dream in a life that has been nothing but a hellish nightmare.”
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Sera was silent for several moments as she looked back at their old hideout.
If truth be told, she had suspected who Zest was right from the beginning when he had first shown up at Zephys and started beating the crap out of all those punks that set upon him who have wanted to ‘show the newbie his place’. To this day, Zest remains the only person who can match Sera in terms of combat.
“You’re a Normal,” Sera said at last. “But sometimes, I feel as if the hand that you’re dealt with by the Goddess is as bad as any Gifted.” Zest managed a small smile. “Tomorrow is never guaranteed. All of us in Blade knew that from the first moment we formed, and we started subjugating all those gangs in Zephyrs during our early days until we became the most powerful gang in the underground. We were feared. And respected. And I think it is what had led to our doom.” Sera sighed, fingering at the ends of her hair. “Someday in the future, we probably won’t even be able to do the things that we take for granted. The world is a dark and cruel place. At times, it even feels like a fleeting dream. And perhaps, the same could be said of people’s lives. No matter who you are, everyone meets Death in the end. Whether you’re a high-born noble or a low-born street thug, it makes no difference. Everyone must return to the void of nothingness. And once we’re dead, we’re all just corpses. Consider every action a person performs in their lifetime. Every decision that they make. Do you think that they’re meaningless?”
Zest shrugged. “I wonder?” he mused. “I don’t regret the path that I’ve taken. Even if I have to be hunted down by hunters for the rest of my life, I don’t regret my decisions.” He admitted. “I am loyal to you, Sera.” He took Sera’s smaller hand in his, and he considered it a victory when she didn’t pull away. “I will never betray you. I’m a member of Blade, and I will always be that.” He declared. “We might be on different paths now, but the same goes for Leroy and even Alisa. You will always be their leader. Ours.” He added. “Everyone must walk a path of their own choosing, so that they can face their final moments with pride.”
Sera sighed, leaning her head against Zest’s chest. He hesitated for just a moment before he wrapped his arms around her loosely. “You’ve always been that way,” she murmured. “You’re always there when I need you. You somehow always knew what I needed.” She curled her hands around the folds of Zest’s hoodie. “…I missed you, Zest.”
“I did too.”
The ringtone of Sera’s phone blared just then, startling the pair. Zest moved to release Sera, but she tugged on his arm. “…Let’s just stay like this. For a while longer,” she murmured, before she pulled her phone out and answered it. “Hello?”
“…In this position?” Zest murmured, but he didn’t move. Due to their proximity, however, he could hear every word the person on the other end of the line was saying.
“Is this a bad time?”
Zest recognised the voice as Alexis’.
“What is it?” Sera sighed. Whenever Alexis calls her these days, it almost always means bad news.
“I need a short meeting with you and your group,” Alexis answered after a short pause. “The Premier sent me. We have an urgent request for you and Aegis. There’s trouble.”
* * * *
The final tunes of the song died away to much applause from the crowd currently all gathered in the music café watching the band play.
“Thank you for coming! We hope you come again to our next performance!”
Allen clapped politely even as he watched Jonan step off the raised platform, pulling the strap of his guitar over his head, and placing it within the case. The latter then walked towards where Allen was waiting.
With this being one of their few day-offs from the ESA, both of them were dressed in casual clothes. Jonan however is currently dressed in a black loose-fitting black shirt with flames decorating the bottom, with black pants and boots.
“I’ll say that you lot are definitely improving.” Allen only commented, even as Jonan signalled for a drink from a nearby waiter. “You don’t make my ears bleed anymore, for one.” He teased.
Jonan gave Allen a dirty look even as he downed half the glass in one go. “Yeah, thanks a lot,” he grumbled.
“You should invite the rest of the team someday the next time we have some time off,” Allen suggested. “We can call it team bonding. Lucas will be all for it, I’m sure. Guy needs a damn break, I think.”
“Maybe next time.” Jonan gave a small smile, knowing perfectly well just why Lucas was so stressed. He looked around the interior of the music café where he always does music gigs and found his eyes falling on a girl sitting in a corner, a cup of coffee in front of her, and a book in her hands. “She’s here again.”
“Who?”
“Over there.” Jonan jerked his chin towards the direction of the girl he spotted. “I don’t know her name, but I noticed that she’s always here in the same corner whenever we had one of our gigs. Might be a fan.” He joked. He can only wish that his band is popular, though they are indeed getting a steady following, judging by the crowds they draw whenever they have one of their gigs. “Though she never came up to try to speak to us that I know of.”
Allen made a hum behind his cup. “Why don’t you speak to her?” he suggested, seeing the look in his best friend’s eyes. “Goddess knows that I’ve never seen any girl that can so much as tolerate your presence once they get to know you personally. Taylor not included.” He added the last part.
“You wound me.”
* * * *
Kailey O’Fearghail was in the middle of taking careful sips from her coffee when a plate carrying some chocolate waffles and a fork was pushed towards her direction on the table that she was seated at.
Looking up, she spotted the familiar visage of Jonan, someone she knew is from the ESA. And by sheer coincidence, she also knew that he plays in an amateur band that had music gigs at this particular music café from time to time.
“It’s on me,” Jonan spoke, a grin on his face, and Kailey nodded to him in appreciation. “I see you around here every single time we have a music gig. Don’t mean to sound my horn, but is it for my band?”
“Maybe. Or maybe I just like music, and your band is one of the few that I knew of that won’t make my ears bleed.” Kailey said sassily, causing Jonan to laugh.
“Ouch.” He mimed being shot in the chest. “You’re merciless.”
“I get that all the time.” Kailey smiled. “The name’s Kailey. Pleasure.” She’s careful not to reveal her last name.
“I’m Jonan, though you probably already knew that anyway,” Jonan answered in response. “I’m the lead guitarist of my band.”
Kailey was about to say something when a shout cut across the music café, catching Jonan’s attention.
“Hey Jonan, we need to pack up! You can chat up a girl on your own time!”
Jonan scowled, inwardly cussing out his bandmate for his horrible timing. “I’m coming!” he hollered back, before turning his attention back towards Kailey. “I have to go. I’ll…see you at my next gig?” He tried not to sound too hopeful.
Kailey smiled, “Maybe. If I can get the ticket and the time.” She was taken aback when a few tickets were pushed across the table towards her.
Jonan grinned. “Now you won’t have an excuse to not turn up for the next one,” he chirped. “Bring your friends along next time.”
“Jonan!”
“I’m coming! Keep your pants on!”
Kailey said nothing for several moments even as she pocketed the tickets, and only watched as Jonan followed his bandmates into the back of the music café. A redhead whom Kailey vaguely recognised as Jonan’s ESA field partner followed them.
“…Jonan, huh?” She murmured to herself.
The café bell tinkled just then, even as the door opened, and an irritated-looking Neil entered. His eyes fell on Kailey the moment he’d entered before he then made a beeline straight towards her.
“Can you stop making me come and get you after gallivanting all over Eldario?” Neil was visibly annoyed, but careful to keep his voice low. “Just because it’s our rest day doesn’t mean you can just ignore your phone! Bloody pick it up when we call!”
“I didn’t hear it!” Kailey defended herself. “Besides, I left a notification on the board!”
That is likely the only reason how Neil even found Kailey to begin with.
Her twin brother gave her an annoyed look. “Anyway, we’re being summoned back to the boathouse,” he stated, jerking one thumb over his shoulder. “Sera’s on her way back, and she has her informant with her.” Kailey stilled. “He has a message for us from the Premier. It seems serious.”
* * * *
“An underground secret smuggling ring of Gifted children?”
Whatever Aegis was expecting when Alexis had stepped through the door of the boathouse with Sera, this isn’t on the list.
“Who’s behind it?” Raul wanted to know even as he exchanged looks with Laura. More than anyone else, they knew the underground’s current stance on smuggling rings, especially those that deal with human trafficking. It is absolutely forbidden for a reason, as it meant trouble on an international scale that they just didn’t need or were equipped to handle.
Even the underground had laws. And while there isn’t a lot, no smuggling and children are off limits are normally amongst that list.
Not even the worst crime boss in Eldario would sink this low.
“We don’t know.” Alexis shook his head, looking exhausted from his place next to the door, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’ve been looking into this for days now since I got roped in. I’m about to involve Ethan in this. If there’s anyone who can find information on this scale, it would be him.”
Considering Alexis’ very obvious dislike and disdain for Ethan for as long as Sera could remember, it must mean that Alexis is extremely desperate.
“Is this an official or an unofficial request, Alexis?” Tatius questioned from his place on the couch in between his siblings.
“Technically unofficial, I guess,” Alexis answered after a pause. “The Premier knows about this, but she is leaving it to Hayder. Hayder was the one to make this request of me and ask that I involve Aegis in this.”
“Plausible deniability.” Letha gave a long, low sigh. “If things go wrong, they can deny any hand they had in it whilst leaving us to clean up the mess if we agree.”
“I wouldn’t put it that way. But yes.” Alexis nodded reluctantly. “Not to mention that the Premier knows that if there is anyone who can crack down on this smuggling ring, it would be your lot. People have been talking about what you’ve been up to for the past year or so. You guys aren’t exactly keeping low profiles. Hayder says that he’ll call in a favour if he has to.” He directed the last part of his sentence towards Sera who only sighed.
“Who’s Hayder?” Lucie looked from face to face.
“The head of the Enforcers,” Raul answered, looking concerned. His reaction proved that he must have met Hayder at some point. Likely when Yusa was still alive. “The Premier’s second in command.”
The rest of Aegis stiffened with that piece of information. If the second-in-command of the entire underground scene is involving himself in this, it means it’s serious.
Sera only sighed from her place where she was leaning against the wall next to the entranceway that leads to the upstairs. She pinched the bridge of her nose to ease her headache.
“Will you do it, Sera?”
Sera exchanged looks with the rest of Aegis before turning her attention back to Alexis. She uncrossed her legs at the ankles before straightening up again.
“Tell me what you know first.”
* * * *
“Okay, so to sum it up.”
It’s nearly midnight, but none of Aegis even felt sleepy or even felt ready to turn in for the night; all of them still discussing the bombshell that Alexis had thrown on their heads before he’d left nearly four hours ago.
From what Alexis could find out himself and from what Hayder had told him, the latter had received some intel that hinted towards someone operating a smuggling ring to ‘take in’ Gifted children. And with the feelings or lack thereof that the people of this country had towards the Gifted, it isn’t very difficult to imagine that those parents would have all but thrown their children at whoever was behind the smuggling ring.
The problem, as Alexis had explained, is that he can barely find anything about this smuggling ring. Though with the feelings or lack thereof towards human trafficking by the underground, it is no surprise.
Larissa had quite the infamous reputation for having a low tolerance for those who go against her. She’s been that way even when she was still an Enforcer herself years ago.
Sera is equal parts respectful and wary of her, like any sane person who comes in contact with the current head of the entire underground. But she also knew that Larissa still had a responsibility to the entire underground scene thanks to her position. If necessary, Larissa will have no hesitation in sacrificing a few people to fuel her wants.
The woman is cunning and a harsh taskmistress, but she is not evil.
“If there is indeed someone insane enough to operate a human trafficking smuggling ring under Larissa’s nose, then they’re also smart enough to keep everything under wraps,” Raul concluded tiredly, whilst tapping away on his portable computer with Lucie seated next to him on the couch. “Larissa will skin them alive if she ever gets her hands on them, and every single one of us in the underground knows that.” He frowned as he squinted at his screen before shaking his head. “No good. Nothing I can find. I can reach out to my contacts, but if the Black Network didn’t have any rumours of it, I doubt they’ll know anything either.”
Sera nodded slowly from her position next to the front door of the boathouse.
She had her own prior experience with the Black Network, as did a few members of Blade. It is essentially the online version of the physical black market where you can trade anything you want there—be it information, products, or even selling your skills as a mercenary or a killer. Anything can be on sale there, even the stuff deemed illegal.
There are however only two rules for the underground scene in Eldario to follow.
No dealing in drugs, and no human trafficking.
This is particularly enforced after Larissa had come to power.
The website of the Black Network is extremely guarded and secretive as a result, to the point that you can only access the website if you know the exact link and have someone to vouch for you.
“Maybe Ethan will have more luck then,” Laura suggested with a frown. “He is the best informant in Eldario.”
“All right.” Sera turned her attention back to the rest of Aegis, looking from face to face. Beside Lucie, Raul shut the top of his computer. “Suggestions?”
“Well, if it is a human trafficking smuggling ring, we can’t ignore it.” Claudia was the first to speak up after several moments of silence, frowning. “Especially if the victims are Gifted children. It doesn’t take a genius to realise what’s going to happen to them.”
Aegis winced as one, with Ness reaching up to rub at his left arm through the fabric of his jacket. The same arm that Sera knew is where he was branded long ago back when he was held in one of those testing facilities.
Sera sighed loudly. “I am not opposed to taking on this request from Hayder and Alexis,” she said. “But I will not move with it unless I get agreements from every single one of you.” She looked from face to face. “I need unanimous agreements.” She added the last part. “Because this job is likely going to be the most dangerous one that we are going to take. Especially if whoever is behind this is insane enough to run a human trafficking smuggling ring right in Eldario, and under Larissa’s nose.” She shook her head. “Whoever this is had a fucking death wish.”
Laura, Letha, and Raul—the only three apart from Sera who have actually had encounters with the current underground head winced as one.
“They’re either insane or confident enough in their combat ability,” Claudia concluded grimly, and Sera nodded. “I see. Well, you won’t get any disagreements from me, Sera. Best we take this monster off the streets anyway.” A dark expression settled on her face. For a moment, Sera wonders if Claudia is remembering her past when she was held in those hunter testing facilities with her brothers.
The rest of Aegis nodded as one, though Lucie was a little hesitant which is understandable, considering her civilian background before getting tossed in this.
Sera nodded, letting out a sigh. “Unanimous agreements it is then,” she murmured, looking from face to face before exchanging looks with Laura. “All right. We’re in.”