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Condemned To Death
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Once Theo and Seren left the theatre, the heavy door closing behind them with a muted thud, the room was plunged back into an oppressive silence. Ronan moved with the fluidity of a shadow, gliding silently across the air before gently landing beside the Captain. His sharp eyes immediately noted the contemplative look on the Captain’s face—a rarity in itself. It wasn’t often that something as simple as bringing in a new member would weigh so heavily on the Captain’s mind.
“Captain, what’s bothering you?” Ronan asked in a respectful tone.
The Captain didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he returned the question in a thoughtful and almost distant tone. “Ronan, do you believe in coincidences?”
Ronan paused, considering the question carefully. After a moment, he responded, “I do… but I don’t believe in repeated coincidences.”
The Captain’s gaze remained distant as he nodded slightly. “That’s what I thought,” he said, his voice tinged with a hint of something Ronan couldn’t quite place.
Ronan’s brow furrowed. “Is there a problem?”.
The Captain sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of his thoughts. Without a word, he picked up the sheet of paper he had been writing on earlier and handed it to Ronan.
Ronan’s eyes scanned the document, his expression growing more serious with each line. As he reached the bottom, his eyes widened slightly, and he looked up at the Captain, uncertainty and disbelief etched across his face.
“This…” Ronan started, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words.
The Captain met his gaze, his expression now harder, more resolved. “Coincidences happen. But coincidences at the perfect timing? Hardly.”
The paper in Ronan’s hand was a direct order from the leader of the Ravens, a figure so mysterious that even among the highest ranks, few had ever seen him. The order was for them to spy on the Lexarch Academy, specifically on Orion’s Library, and report back any changes.
“Why us?” Ronan muttered to himself, his mind racing. “Most departments get their missions through the communications department. It’s rare to get a direct order from the Vice-commander, let alone from the leader himself. This… this is the first time.”
The Captain’s eyes remained fixed on Ronan, watching as he processed the information.
“Is this real?” Ronan asked, skepticism coloring his tone.
“Yes,” the Captain replied in a cold and firm voice. “It has the Noxian’s signature at the bottom.”
Noxian was the name other Ravens had given their leader, it means to be in the dark. To receive a direct order from the Noxian himself was both an honor and a curse.
Ronan’s mind raced as he muttered to himself, “For someone who’s a student at the Lexarch Academy to show up at the exact moment we need a spy… it’s too much of a coincidence. And why us? The Espionage and Tactical Operations Department is much more suited for this mission.”
The Captain’s voice cut through Ronan’s thoughts. “Unless we’re the scapegoats.”
Ronan felt a cold shiver run down his spine, the realization settling in like a weight on his shoulders. If the Enforcers discovered that the Ravens were meddling at the Lexarch Academy, the consequences would be catastrophic. The Ravens would likely sacrifice their department to appease the Enforcers, ensuring their organization survived at the cost of a few expendable members.
“Are you making Seren our spy?” Ronan asked, his voice barely above a whisper, tinged with nervousness.
The Captain scoffed, a harsh sound in the silence of the room. “I’ll decide that after seeing his performance on the raid tonight at the Backdoor Collective.”
Ronan nodded, understanding the Captain’s cautious approach. The stakes were high, and trust was a luxury they couldn’t afford to give lightly. Not that they feared Seren was a spy from some other organizations, but if he was even skilled enough to be their spy.
The Captain then rose from his chair, “Call some members of the team and have them line up in the passer room. Prepare to head out.”
Ronan nodded, understanding the gravity of the order, and quickly left the room to carry out the Captain’s instructions.
…
In a sophisticated room with leather couches, five people stood silently, the atmosphere charged with a mix of anticipation and tension. Matilda, wearing a bright smile, approached Seren and Theo.
“Hey, you two,” Matilda greeted them warmly. She glanced at Seren, curiosity in her eyes. “Is he one of us now?”
Seren returned her smile. “Not officially,” he said in a friendly, almost light-hearted tone. “But I’m hoping to change that tonight.”
Theo, feeling a bit of the tension ease at Matilda’s arrival, let out a small sigh. “Not quite yet, he almost lost his life earlier if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s a student at the Lexarch Academy.”
Seren chuckled softly. “Guess I got lucky, huh?”
Matilda’s eyes widened in surprise. “The Captain really pushed that hard on a newcomer?” she asked, incredulous.
“It was a test, I suppose. To see if I have what it takes.” Seren said casually. But there was something else going on in the back of his mind.
‘I should start acting like an easy-going person around them from now on. I don’t want to garner any unnecessary attention until I’m ready’ Seren thought to himself, the cold edge of his mind sharpening his resolve. ‘I’ll have to make sure they only see what I want them to see’.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when Matilda, her curiosity piqued, asked, “How old are you, Seren?”
Seren blinked, refocusing on the conversation, and let a touch of sheepishness enter his tone. “Fifteen,” he answered.
Matilda’s eyebrows shot up, clearly taken aback. “Fifteen? That makes you the youngest person in this department… maybe even in all of the Ravens.” She looked at him with a new level of curiosity, wondering what had driven someone so young to join an organization like theirs.
Seren offered a small, somewhat bashful smile, as if he were simply a young man trying to find his place. “Hehe, I’m here to prove I can be just as capable as anyone else.”
As they talked, Oliver joined the group, his usual energy and curiosity evident as he sized up the newcomer. “So, this is Seren, huh?” he said, his interest piqued. “Theo, why didn’t you introduce us sooner? What’s your story, kid? Why’d you join? What’s your background? And what do you think about—”
“Oliver, he’s still new. Give him some space.” Theo said, cutting him off. But looking at Seren interacting with others left Theo a bit confused. He initially thought Seren would be the quieter and more serious type of person with how he had threatened him when they first met on the street. Just thinking about it sent a cold shiver down his spine wondering if Seren was actually serious about ripping his family jewels off.
Seren laughed softly in a good-natured tone. “It’s okay, I don’t mind.”
Oliver chuckled, realizing he’d been a bit too eager. “Sorry, sorry, I got carried away.” He offered Seren a quick, apologetic smile. “We’ll have plenty of time to chat later.”
Seren nodded in acknowledgment, though his expression remained neutral. Oliver then started chatting with Theo and Matilda, although half of it was just him grilling them with tasks that needed to be completed.
Oliver was Ronan’s assistant and helped with getting done the menial tasks around the department so he was partially responsible for making sure the team members completed all their given instructions.
While the three of them were chatting, Seren quietly broke away from the group, and made his way toward Zane, who stood alone in the corner of the room, minding his own business.
Zane noticed Seren making his way over to him and didn’t seem surprised by his approach.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Zane,” Seren began casually, his tone even and unassuming. “How many people will we be fighting tonight?”
Zane glanced at Seren, a faint smile playing on his lips. There was a glint of something amused in his eyes, as if he enjoyed the directness of the question. “Why do you want to know?” he asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
Seren met his gaze without hesitation, letting a touch of determination seep into his voice. “To prepare myself,”.
“Are you the one going to be fighting them?” He asked sarcastically.
Seren made an awkward expression as he said, “I hope not”
Zane chuckled softly, appreciating the straightforwardness. “Fair enough,” he said, leaning slightly closer, his voice lowering just a touch. “If we catch them off guard, we’ll be dealing with around twenty Lexarchs, maybe rank 1 and 2. But if things go south and we make a commotion… well, then we’re looking at fifty or more at least.”
Seren’s expression darkened a little. He wasn’t one to chicken out of a fight but dealing with so many enemies would take a severe toll on his soul energy before it ran out. He could only hope they had enough members on their team to deal with that many people.
Thud~
The sound reverberated through the room, drawing everyone’s attention to the entrance. The door swung open forcefully, having been kicked in by a man with a smug expression on his face. He walked into the room with his hands in his pockets and an arrogant look on his face.
Following closely behind was a tall, buff man with a thick beard and an intimidating presence with his heavy footsteps.
Seren observed them curiously as five people in total made their way into the room. Among them was Ronan, who walked silently as if he was deep in thought over something. But it was one particular individual who caught Seren’s eye—a man who was looking around nervously, a sheepish look on his face as if he’d rather be anywhere but here.
Theo noticed him as well and called out, “Wyatt, over here.”
Wyatt, the nervous man, visibly relaxed at the sound of Theo’s voice. He quickly made his way over and joined Theo’s group. “I-I thought I was going to be a-alone on a mission with them,” Wyatt said anxiously, casting a wary glance at the other new arrivals.
Theo said with a hint of exasperation in his tone. “You’ve done this hundreds of times, Wyatt. Why do you always act scared whenever it’s time to fight someone?”
Wyatt still wore that nervous look. “Don’t joke with me. Even if I do this a thousand times, it’s still scary to me,” he muttered, his voice shaky but sincere.
Seren, who had been watching the exchange, came back and joined the group as he asked curiously. “Who’s this?”
Theo quickly did the usual with him acting as the mediator as he introduced both parties.
As Seren and Wyatt spoke briefly, it didn’t take long for Seren to figure out that Wyatt was shy and meek, constantly acting scared of everything around him, no matter what it was. He wasn’t sure of what to think of this since he expected everyone in the Ravens to be hardheaded and always up for a fight.
“Zane! Where the hell have you been for the last month? It’s like you disappeared off the face of the earth!”
Seren turned his head, drawn by the voice. A short man, his expression cocky and his hands buried in his pockets, was staring up at Zane with a smirk that practically screamed mischief.
Zane replied in a sharp tone with lingering frustration. “Javier, you know how it is. The Backdoor Collective’s guys had their tongues tied tighter than a clam at high tide. Took longer than expected.”
Javier scoffed, shaking his head as if disappointed. “You should’ve called me. I’d have them spilling their guts and confessing their past lives in no time. Your methods are too soft, Zane.”
Before Zane could reply, a low, gravelly voice cut in. Koa, the towering, broad-shouldered man behind Javier, spoke up. “That would’ve started a fight on the spot, Javier.”
Javier barely glanced over his shoulder, his tone dripping with condescension. “Shut it, Koa. I’m the one talking here.”
Koa sneered but remained silent, clearly used to Javier’s dismissive attitude.
Javier turned back to Zane, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “But yeah… that definitely would’ve started a fight. And I’d have killed them right then and there.”
Javier’s grin widened as he spread his arms, his voice taking on a twisted delight. “But here we are, about to take on those rats anyway. Would’ve been much cleaner to deal with them before they handed over more relics to those Black Hand idiots.”
He scanned the room, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Theo’s group. The wariness in their eyes only seemed to amuse him. “And who’s fighting alongside us? These pansies?”
None of them said anything back as Javier just looked at them with a smug expression.
Then Oliver stepped forward and said in a stern voice. “Javier, it’s been two weeks. You still haven’t filed the report I asked for.”
Javier waved his hand dismissively, looking thoroughly annoyed. “Right, right, Oliver. Always up my ass, trying to get me to do that boring-ass work all the time. ” He scratched his head, his expression sour as if the very thought of paperwork was enough to ruin his day.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Javier noticed a new face. His gaze locked onto Seren, who stood there silently. He tilted his head, sizing up the newcomer as he asked curiously, “And who’s this pretty boy?”
Seren offered a slight bow, playing the part of the innocent teenager. “Uh… hello. I’m Seren. I’ll be joining the mission as well. Looking forward to working with you.”
Javier just facepalmed, shaking his head in disbelief after seeing Seren’s weak personality “How did I end up in this department? Seriously…” he muttered to himself, his tone dripping with disappointment.
Before the situation could escalate, Ronan stepped forward, his voice cutting through the air with authority. “Alright, Javier. That’s enough. We’re not here to entertain your complaints.”
Javier threw up his hands in mock surrender, a smirk still playing on his lips. “Fine, fine. I’ll behave… for now.”
As the banter died down, Ronan took a step forward, his presence commanding everyone’s attention. One by one, everyone in the room lined up in front of him, ready to receive their orders. Seren followed suit, positioning himself among the others, but as he did, he noticed something—or rather, someone—he hadn’t before.
In the far corner of the room, standing slightly apart from the group, was a person who had been silently observing the entire exchange. The man was draped in a long, dark coat, and a mask covered his mouth and nose, leaving only his dead, hollow eyes and tousled hair visible. He hadn’t spoken a word since arriving with Javier’s group.
Seren’s gaze lingered on the man for a moment, taking in the unsettling aura that surrounded him, before Ronan’s voice pulled his attention back to the front.
“The mission tonight is straightforward,” Ronan began, his voice firm and clear as he addressed the nine people in front of him. “We’ve just received word that the Backdoor Collective has already received their shipment and is preparing to hand it over to the Black Hand tonight. Our objective is to prevent that transfer at all costs.”
Ronan’s gaze swept across the group, ensuring that every one of them understood the gravity of the situation. “We need to move in silently and take them out before they can make the handoff. Ideally, we’ll capture the manager working at the Backdoor Collective alive. If we pull this off quietly, we’ll have the opportunity to lie in wait and ambush the Black Hand members when they arrive.”
He paused, letting the weight of the mission settle in. “However, if things go south, and we make too much noise, we’ll be facing not just the Backdoor Collective, but the Black Hand as well. In that case, we’ll be in for a hell of a fight.”
Ronan’s tone hardened as he continued, “Other than the manager, you are to eliminate all other members. No exceptions.”
A shaky hand went up from the line. It was Wyatt, his voice trembling as he spoke. “W-why don’t we request the Punisher’s Department to help us? This… this sounds like it could get out of hand fast.”
For the first time, Ronan’s stern face broke into a flicker of disgust at the mention of punishers but he quickly regained his composure. His voice remained calm, but there was an edge to it as he responded. “We’ve already contacted them, but it will take time for them to get here. We can’t afford to wait. The Ravens can’t risk letting any more relics fall into the hands of the Black Hand. We go in now, and we handle this ourselves.”
Ronan then looked each of them in the eyes. “In the worst-case scenario, your orders are to hold off the Backdoor Collective’s Lexarchs until the Punishers arrive. Do whatever it takes to keep them from completing that transfer.”
The room was tense, the gravity of the mission pressing down on everyone. Ronan’s gaze finally landed on Seren, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Seren,” he said, his voice turning strict, “you’ll be going in with Theo and Javier as part of the first infiltration team. Your admission into the Ravens depends entirely on your performance tonight and so does your life”
Seren nodded, a slightly nervous expression crossing his face as he met Ronan’s gaze. “Understood,” he replied, his voice steady despite the apparent unease.
But beneath the surface, Seren’s heart remained cold and still, unmoved by Ronan’s words.
Ronan looked over the group one last time before giving a final nod. “Prepare yourselves, I don't want to see any empty seats by the time we get back. We move out in ten!”
The room instantly burst into activity. Everyone except Seren reached into the air, activating their storage artifacts. In unison, they pulled out long, dark overcoats, flat caps, and black gloves, each item appearing from thin air. As they donned their uniforms, the atmosphere in the room shifted, growing more intense, more focused.
Seren watched with a slight frown, his confusion evident as he observed the transformation around him. The others moved with practiced motions, their expressions growing serious as they prepared for the mission. Theo, noticing the puzzled look on Seren’s face, stepped over and clapped a hand on his shoulder.
“You look a little lost,” Theo said with a small grin. “This is our uniform—assigned to us by the department. We wear it whenever we go on a mission. It’s a tradition, and it helps us distinguish each other from different departments.”
Seren’s eyes flicked from Theo’s overcoat to the rest of the team, who were nearly unrecognizable in their coordinated attire.
“No worries. I’ve got an extra one here,” Theo said, pulling out another overcoat, along with a matching cap and gloves, from his storage artifact. “Our sizes are pretty similar, so this should fit you.”
Seren accepted the uniform, the clothing feeling heavier in his hands than he expected. He quickly shrugged on the overcoat, adjusting the fit, then pulled on the gloves and settled the cap onto his head. The transformation was immediate.
Theo stepped back, whistling softly in appreciation. “Well, would you look at that? You went from looking like a ghost to…” He paused, searching for the right words. “Like a shadow come to life—something out of the old legends.”
Seren caught a glimpse of himself in the reflection of a nearby window. The once plain, almost ethereal figure he had cut was now replaced by someone who looked every bit the part of a Raven on a mission—dark, imposing, and mysterious.
As he adjusted the cap slightly, Seren felt a small smile tug at the corners of his mouth.
With everyone now geared up, the tension in the room reached its peak. The final preparations were done and everyone was ready to head out.
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Condemned To Death
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