By the time the projectile bounced off his vambrace into the oblivion of the night, Zen had already spotted the attacker. A triplet of throwing daggers, the color of a royal ruby materialized over his head and glided around him like flies around stale food. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the blades flying towards his nine o'clock.
A sound similar to shattering glass erupted, a sign that the daggers were destroyed, but this confirmed the distance of his aggressor. He was about to summon more daggers when he sensed a fast approaching presence behind him. In the nick of time, he turned around and caught the blow with his vambrace in the midst of transforming into a round shield.
The shortsword pressed into Zen, but he responded with equal force, both realized at the same time that they were at a dangerously close range of the opponent, forcing them to leap towards opposite directions to disengage.
'What was that? Are there multiple hostiles or...' In the darkness, the only reliable sense was his hearing. His opponent or opponents were using night-vision spell, for being so synchronized. He could use a similar spell too but he had a different plan in mind. He swiftly conjured a dimly glowing orb, which comfortably fit in his palm and threw it up in the air. As the orb reached the height of a fully transformed Titan, it exploded into a dazzling show of light, similar to that of a roof in Commonwealth.
The light fizzled into nothingness in a couple of seconds, but that was ample time for Zen to hone in on the attacker who had given itself away with a yelp. Nightvision spells made the user sensitive to light, so exposure to bright light would cause pain and rendered them blind for a few seconds.
Zen charged forward and swung his blade, with the intention of decapitating the bent-over figure.
"Yasmin," Zen stopped his blade a mere inch away from the nape, his face showing equal parts shock and horror, "what..how can you?" He sheathed his sword as he took a few steps back.
The figure straightened itself revealing a petite female figure. Her face covered with a plain white mask looked ghastly, making her amber eyes stand out even in the darkness. Her shoulder-length blonde ponytail fluttered as the midnight wind blew by. She sported the same attire as Zen except her shirt sporting a ripped collar. She sported a shortsword similar to that of Zen since both were fellow Azuran assassins.
"What are you doing Yasmine?" Zen formed a coherent question after overcoming his emotions.
"Yasmine," placing a finger on her chin she continued, "never heard that name."
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"Stop fooling, you think this is a joke? I won't recognize you, because of that dumb mask."
"You are my target." Zen was taken aback by the cold reply.
"No... the Guild must be mistaken... may-maybe the Guild can do someth-"
"Why are you so stupid Zen?" Yasmine's teary outburst interrupted Zen, "the Contract has been signed and my mission is to eliminate you and that's the truth."
For a moment there was silence, a silence which can only be described as 'sad'.
"If that's how it's going to be then I will end my life myself," Zen pointed his sword towards his chest, but before he could impale his heart, Yasmine cast aside her mask and burst into tears.
"Have you forgotten the code Zen? An intent to kill must be answered in equal."
By this time Zen was frozen. The blade had already pierced the fabric and skin. Droplets of blood ran along its lower edge till midway where they coalesced into a drop until it became heavy enough to land below and create a mini-explosion of red.
Seeing that Zen won't budge Yasmine pressed in, " since the day we met I have never asked anything from you. Neither did I bear any expectations. This is my last wish Zen, fight me with all you got, fight me with the intent to kill. If you love me... no, if you respect me then you will honor my wish."
Zen took in a deep breath and calmed down his racing heart. He sheathed his blade and replied with a voice, devoid of emotion. "I'll honor your wish."
The moment he finished the sentence, he ducked to avoid a wildly swinging sword and backed away from his spot. The figure holding the sword was similar to that of Yasmine, except this one still had a mask on.
'Shit! So it was a clone all along.' Zen was splitting his attention between the two when another crossbow bolt sought him out, although this time he blocked it with his shield. 'Tch. Now there's three of them.'
He had no choice but to use Clone spell. But they were quite taxing as a single clone required a lot of Aether to maintain. Numerous tendrils of light burst out of his back and merged together to form a look alike. Zen mentally commanded it to go after the ranged foe and fortunately it was not intercepted. The clones reflected their master's skills and he was sure that on a one on one fight his clone would always win against Yasmine's. Now one enemy taken care of he had to focus on the other two.
Spells flew awry and malicious Aether merged into the night as the Zen and Yasmine battled. Zen ducked, weaved, swung and even batted at the spells. He somehow managed to destroy the other clone but his Aether and stamina had both been wrenched dry. He stumbled forward, but his shortsword slipped from his hands drenched in blood flowing from the multiple nicks, cuts, and wounds from his body.
Yasmine hoisted up her summoned dagger, "I guess, this is where you-" Her eyes widened in horror as instead of 'end' blood spurted out of her mouth. She was too late to register the blade emerging out her chest. Zen was stalling and waiting for her to let down her guard, in the heat of battle she had forgotten about Zen's clone.
The clone disintegrated, along with the blade, letting ago of Yasmine, who fell into Zen's arms.
"Live...live... long... Zen... live for... me." Tears streamed down Zen's face as his wife's final words echoed in his mind.
Once again silence filled the air, a silence so grim as if time itself was weeping.