Zach ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts heavy.

Ren was a liability, a problem that needed solving. He wasn’t some helpless, innocent bystander. His connections could get Zach killed before he even had a chance to fight back.

Who knew when he could get one of those servants to poison him?

Then again, he’d never considered killing someone. The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

But why should his morals matter if it was his life on the line? If Zach let him live, he’d be signing his own death sentence.

The corner of his mouth twitched in a grimace. Zach had to kill him as soon as possible. Knights are respected, seen as chosen ones among soldiers. A knight trainee would still be seen above soldiers and command some respect.

He could probably get away with murder.

But Ren worked for Glory, a place full of resources, responsible for research and development. Incredibly valuable to the city and its war efforts. Scientists. Just as valuable. Killing one? That could stir up trouble bigger than Zach wanted to deal with.

Zach sighed, feeling the weight of his debate pressing down on him.

Zach took the plate of food from the servant wordlessly, sitting at the edge of the yard with a quiet sigh. He hadn't expected the day to go like this—too many thoughts, too many uncertainties pressing on him.

He was even starting to worry that the food could be poisoned. But honestly, his enhanced body could probably handled it. Of course, the dosage would just be upped until he dies.

As the servant remained nearby, her posture polite and attentive, he glanced up at her, curiosity getting the better of him. “How often do you deal with death?” he asked, his voice steady.

She blinked, the question catching her off guard for a moment, but then her face softened into a rueful smile. “A lot, actually,” she said, her tone casual. “Mostly outside the city. There’s always something going on.”

Zach nodded slowly, thinking. “I suppose it must be part of life. I was thinking about a story I read once. It was about a kid, someone with a lot of enemies who wanted him dead, but he never had the will to kill them.”

The servant raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And why didn’t he?”

“He was raised that way, with strong morals. His uncle, Ken, always told him that great power comes with great responsibility. That life is precious, and it’s unethical to kill, even if someone wants you dead.”

The servant laughed softly, shaking her head. “That’s foolish. What’s ethical about sparing someone who wants to see you dead?” She shrugged, a small smirk playing on her lips. “You should read better books.”

Her point was obvious. He should have expected that.

“Oh? And what book would you recommend?”

Her eyes sparkled as she leaned in slightly, clearly eager to share. “Death Upon a Star,” she said with fervor. “It’s my favorite. A poetic tale about a young daughter who kills her entire family just to take the crown and become the most powerful. It’s... brutal, but it makes you question everything.” She paused, eyes gleaming with something akin to excitement. “It’s a story about greed. And power. It shows that sometimes, you’ve got to do the things people won’t talk about to get ahead.”

"That's... interesting. Sounds like something I would love actually," he said finally, his voice low. "Thanks for the talk and the food."

"Of course."

He ate the food. The meat was tender, the flavors rich.

By the time he found a spot to lie down in the grass, the sun had set, and his eyes were tracking the first stars of the evening.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

He concluded, hell with the problems it could cause. He simply needed to be smart about his move. That lady was right. He knew before asking her that it was the right way to handle this issue. He just felt compelled to ask. He had to get the willpower for it.

Zach glanced around the estate, taking in the heavily guarded walls and well-lit paths. He found a servant walking by and stopped her with a casual question.

“Is there a park nearby? Somewhere... public?”

The servant looked at him for a beat before nodding. “Yes, sir. Straight down the road, three miles or four.”

He nodded, grateful for the brief respite. “I’ll be taking a walk outside. I’ll return soon.”

With that, he stepped outside, the gates closing behind him with a quiet clang. The estate was heavily guarded—he could feel the weight of it in the air. The men in dark uniforms lined up at every corner, vigilant.

Zach allowed himself a moment of thought as he walked.

They could be bought. If they couldn't and if the maids also couldn't be bribed, Ren would have to rely on someone entering. Those guards would make it hard for that assassin.

The plan Zach came up with involved being an easy target.

As he walked deeper into the district, the estates grew more lavish, each larger than the last.

This was a district reserved for the very rich, the elite.

The park came into view after some time—dark, quiet, and empty. It was late, and most sensible people were inside, away from the cool night air.

The path led him to a small grove of trees, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. Zach found a large, sturdy tree and sat beneath it, leaning against the rough bark.

He picked up a branch and smiled at it before dropping it by his foot.

The night felt peaceful, almost unnervingly so, with only the sound of distant crickets and the occasional rustle of leaves breaking the silence. Zach put his arm around his neck, protecting it.

Time passed. Zach’s eyelids grew heavy. Despite himself, his body gave in to exhaustion, and he fell asleep beneath the open sky.

---

Hours later, something stirred against his arm, reaching for his neck. The hairs on the back of his neck stood straight, and his instincts screamed before his mind could even catch up. Without thinking, his hand shot out, catching the wrist of the person who’d tried to take him by surprise.

His heart pounded, adrenaline rushing through his veins as he twisted, the familiar pressure of someone’s grip tightening around his throat.

He spun, bringing his foot down on the figure beneath him. Something cricked beneath his heel, and the figure groaned, wide-eyed in pain.

Without hesitation, Zach’s other hand clamped over their mouth, pressing hard enough to ensure no noise would escape.

Zach used his entanglement skill to connect the branch he had touched before falling asleep, to the man. Any changes being made on either was instantly being transferred.

“You’re quick,” Zach muttered, his voice like ice as he tightened his hold. “But you’re not Ren. So who sent you?”

The figure beneath him squirmed, their body struggling weakly against his grip. Zach’s eyes narrowed, waiting for an answer.

The man hesitated, his breath shallow. Sweat clung to his forehead, but he didn’t speak. Zach leaned in, his gaze narrowing.

“Is it Ren?” Zach asked, his voice lowering to a dangerous level.

The man’s eyes flickered. His lips parted just enough to form a small, shocked exhale. Zach didn’t wait for another answer. He had the leverage.

“If you want to live, you’re going to kill him,” Zach continued, twisting the branch under his foot slightly to send a jolt of pain through the man’s body. “And you won’t tell anyone about me. Ever. As you can see, I'm a mage, and I'm really good at magic.”

The man’s breath hitched, the agony in his body enough to make him nod frantically. He was terrified, and Zach could see it in his eyes.

“You’ll do it,” Zach picked up the branch and said again, this time more like a command. “Kill Ren. Or I’ll make sure no one hears your screams again.”

"Ye-yes!" The man agreed in a whispered rush, terrified, almost stumbling as he pushed himself away from Zach. He didn’t wait to hear anything else. He ran, disappearing into the shadows of the park.

Zach returned to the estate under the cover of night, the faint light of the stars doing little to illuminate his path. As he entered, the guards at the gate gave him only a passing glance. Either they didn’t care to question his late-night outing, or they had already been paid to keep their mouths shut about anything unusual. He wasn’t sure which made him more uneasy.

As he walked through the main hall toward his room, the servant he had spoken to earlier appeared from the side corridor. She bowed slightly before speaking, her voice calm but curious.

“Late night,” she said, tilting her head. “Where have you been?”

“By that park a couple of miles down the street,” Zach replied, keeping his tone neutral.

“Oh, I see. Would you like something to eat?” she offered, gesturing toward the kitchen.

He shook his head. “Thanks for the offer but no. I’m going to sleep.”

The servant studied him for a moment longer, debating whether to press further. But in the end, she simply bowed again and disappeared down the hallway.

Zach entered his room and shut the door behind him. He leaned against it momentarily, letting out a long breath as the adrenaline still coursed through his veins. His hands trembled slightly as he rubbed his temple.

----------------------------------------

The next morning, the estate buzzed. Zach woke to the faint hum of voices, distant but urgent. As he stepped out of his room and into the hallway, he caught snippets of hushed conversations.

“Ren Landwalker…”

“…murdered overnight…”

“…son of the Governor’s wife’s brother…”