"If a sacrificial ritual is in the works, we’ll uncover it—and when we do, the culprits will regret ever stepping onto this ship.”

Sylas thought and closed his eyes to rest.

-

Aly Eldalis sat in her room, her sharp gaze fixed on the small stack of paper reports spread across her desk.

She leaned back, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the arm of her chair.

Alph stood before her.

He was a broad-shouldered man with a thick mustache that framed a face hardened by years of rough work.

His stance was one of readiness, but there was a hint of tension in his posture as Aly finally broke the silence.

“Alph,” she began,

"These reports... they all point to one conclusion, don’t they?”

She picked up a page and held it out, shaking it slightly for emphasis.

“Ferlo didn’t just drop dead. Something—or someone—got to him.”

Alph nodded, his expression grim.

“A spell, boss. I’d bet my life on it. There’s no way someone like Ferlo could’ve been taken out so cleanly otherwise. Poison, sure, but to bypass his guards and his room security and not leave a single trace? That’s magic, no doubt about it.”

Aly’s eyes narrowed. “Magic,” she repeated, almost spitting the word.

She leaned forward, clasping her hands together.

“If magic is the new weapon of choice for settling disputes, then every criminal organization on this ship is suddenly in a much more dangerous game. And we’re not prepared for that.”

Alph shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his hand instinctively brushing the hilt of the dagger at his side.

“Not yet, boss.

"But we can adapt. We’ve always been good at that.”

Aly’s lips curled into a small, humorless smile.

“Adapting is one thing. Surviving is another. If these mages think they can kill whoever they want without consequence, they’ll start targeting anyone who stands in their way. Including us.”

She stood abruptly,

“We need to make a statement. And fast.”

Alph’s eyes followed her as she began to pace the room.

“A statement? You mean...”

“Yes.” Aly stopped and turned to him, her eyes gleaming with cold determination.

“We’ll strike first. Take out the Destantias leader. If magic is going to be used in this fight, then we’ll make sure it’s on our terms, not theirs.”

Alph raised an eyebrow.

“That’s a tall order, boss. Their leader’s no pushover, and they’ve got their own mages.”

Aly smirked.

“That’s why I’ve got you, Alpha. You’re resourceful, and you don’t shy away from a challenge. I want you to find a way.

"We’ve got one week to plan this. By the time we’re ready, I want Destantias to be scrambling to recover from the blow, not the other way around.”

Alph crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in thought.

“A week’s not much time. But I’ll make it work. First, we’ll need to gather intel—figure out who their leader is, what their routine looks like, and where they’re vulnerable.”

Aly nodded.

“Good. And don’t do it alone. Take someone you trust, but no one else. The fewer people know about this, the better.”

“Got it,” Alph said, his voice firm.

“I’ll start with the guards at the checkpoints. Grease a few palms and get some information about who’s coming and going from their rooms. Maybe find a weak spot in their security.”

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“Do whatever you have to.”

Aly said, her tone leaving no room for doubt. “And Alph...”

He paused, meeting her gaze.

“This isn’t just about taking out a rival. It’s about showing the other organizations on this ship that Eldalis doesn’t back down. That we’re not afraid to go after anyone, magic or no magic. Make sure the message is clear.”

Alph grinned, a predatory glint in his eyes.

“Understood, boss. They’ll know not to mess with us by the time I’m done.”

Aly returned to her desk, picking up another report.

“Good. Now go. We’ve got work to do.”

Alph gave a small bow and turned to leave, but paused at the door.

“One more thing, boss. If they’re using magic, do you think we should look into getting some of our own? I do have some people capable of using magic, but they are not that great.”

Aly looked up.

“It’s a possibility. But for now, we stick to what we know. If we start dabbling in magic without understanding it, we’re just as likely to blow ourselves up as we are to take out the enemy. One step at a time, Alph.”

He nodded and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

Aly sat back in her chair, her mind racing.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking a razor’s edge.

But if there was one thing she prided herself on, it was her ability to adapt and survive.

This ship might have been a powder keg waiting to explode, but she was determined to ensure that when the dust settled, Eldalis would still be standing.

For the next hour, she pored over the reports, mapping out potential angles for their plan.

She made notes, marked names, and considered contingencies. By the time she was done, her path forward was clear.

Eldalis would strike first. And they would strike hard.

-

Two Days Later:

-

Aly Eldalis sat at her desk, her sharp eyes fixed on Alph as he stood confidently before her.

It had been two days since she tasked Alpha with finding a way to eliminate the Distantias leader, and his quick progress intrigued her.

“You’re faster than I expected,” Aly remarked.

Alph grinned and, without missing a beat, turned toward the door.

“Anderson! Lilly!” he called, his deep voice resonating through the corridor.

Moments later, two figures entered the room. Anderson, a tall man with short-cropped hair and a stoic demeanor, walked in first.

He wore a simple black robe with faint silver runes etched along the edges.

Lilly followed closely behind. She was shorter, with fiery red hair tied back in a tight braid and an intense look in her green eyes.

Aly’s gaze shifted between the two of them, assessing them with the precision of someone who trusted no one without evidence of their worth.

“And these are?”

Alph stepped forward, gesturing toward the two mages.

“Anderson and Lilly, boss. Level two mates, both of them. They specialize in cursed conjuration magic.”

Aly raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair.

“Cursed conjuration, you say?”

Lilly, unable to hide her eagerness, spoke up.

“Yes, Lady Eldalis. It’s a hybrid discipline, combining the principles of cursing and conjuration. We can summon constructs or entities imbued with powerful curses that are triggered upon contact or proximity to a target.”

Anderson nodded in agreement,

“It’s effective for both direct attacks and subtle infiltration. The constructs are difficult to detect and can deliver curses that cripple or kill, depending on the intent.”

Aly leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk.

“Interesting. And how exactly do you plan to hunt down Alexander Distantias?

"From what we’ve gathered, he never shows his face. His underboss and second-in-command handle most of the operations.”

Aly thought a little and whispered.

"It is good that we knew who is the leader and his name, but it is not nearly enough."

Lilly and Anderson exchanged a quick glance before Lilly spoke.

“That’s precisely why our magic is ideal, Lady Eldalis. We don’t need to know his exact location. We can craft a construct with a tracking curse tied to his name and essence. It will seek him out, no matter where he hides.”

“And once it finds him?” Aly pressed.

Anderson stepped in, his tone calm but firm.

“Once it makes contact, the curse will activate. We can program it to weaken him, incapacitate him, or even kill him outright, depending on your orders.”

Aly tapped her fingers on the desk thoughtfully.

“And what about his underlings? If they’re the ones running the day-to-day operations, they might interfere before your magic reaches him.”

“That’s where the conjuration aspect gives us an edge,” Lilly replied, her voice steady.

“The constructs can defend themselves if necessary.

They’re not mindless—they’ll avoid unnecessary fights but won’t hesitate to neutralize anyone who gets in their way.”

Alph crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Told you they were good, boss.”

Aly glanced at Alph, her expression neutral but her eyes gleaming with interest.

“They’re competent; I’ll give you that. But there’s one thing I need to know before I approve this plan.”

Anderson tilted his head slightly.

“What’s that, Lady Eldalis?”

Aly’s voice grew colder, more commanding.

“How do you ensure success? If this curse fails, or if it’s detected before it reaches him, it could expose us. I don’t tolerate failure.”

Lilly straightened her back, her expression unwavering.

“The tracking curse is subtle, nearly impossible to detect unless someone is actively scanning for it. We also use layers of obfuscation magic to mask the construct’s presence. As for success... we’ve tested this magic before. It’s reliable.”

Anderson added,

“That being said, magic is never a guarantee. There’s always a small margin of risk. But we’re confident in our abilities, Lady Eldalis. If you give us the resources and time we need, we’ll ensure this mission succeeds.”