There were a lot of times in my life when I thought I was going to die. The situation I was in was where I was on the verge of death, and it took only one push for me to fall off into the abyss. And indeed, I did fall into the hypothetical abyss that one time, yet I did survive. I also met a good kid on that said abyss, so it was not all bad.

What was bad was the person that pushed me to that cliff, he did not push me but still, he forced me to jump. To this day I never forgot the grudge I had with him. The man that almost froze me to death, AND hurt Amy to a degree that I never thought possible.

It's not just him I have a grudge against, it is also the country behind him, who, for some reason, wanted me so bad that they sent three of their elite agents after me, and two of them got to me and left me in a state of half death.

One of them even pushed me to a state that I did not even know I was capable of. At that time I had no idea what that state was, and I have a feeling that I won't want to to figure it out.

{[Slane Theocracy]}. Why can't they just mind their own business?

“Sammy, what's the plan?”

Mr Morgan asked. His face was in complete contrast to Mr Samuel, as he had a carefree and relaxed expression. But if I looked closer, the lines on his face as well as his tense muscles were saying otherwise.

“I'm guessing that the squads are already in position.”

“Yes.”

“What about [The Eye]?”

“They know.”

“Status?”

“Secure… for now.”

“I see.”

It only took a moment for them to exchange information, yet it seemed that everything that was needed to know was given. So this is how professionals work.

“Next steps?”

He asked, with a boisterous tone to his voice. Yet I can tell that he was taking this very seriously. Mr. Samuel did not respond and was deep in thought, it lasted for a few seconds and then replied.

“Nothing leaks out of that place, be it a human, animal, or even a fucking fly. Get Sanchez to erect a barrier around that damned deposit, place every conceivable seal you can, I don't even want the sound to travel in that place.”

“There's a problem with that Sammy.”

“Why?”

Mr Morgan paused for a few moments, looking around the room as if to make sure that no person who did not belong there was there. He carefully opened his mouth and said.

“It's not a mine. It's a carriage.”

“A What?”

Mr Morgan seemed to understand what his intention was and intentionally mouthed off the word.

“A Carriage”

He did not react. Instead, he stood up from his seat and looked out the window. All was silent. Which gave me enough time to ponder another question. What just happened?

…

I perched on top of a tree, overlooking the entirety of the forest we were in. Everything was peaceful in the forest, yet the rumblings within it were anything but.

There were only a few of the squads that Mr Samuel brought with us, only one of them in fact, and based on my sources, aka Ms Rachel, it was the best squad. By best I mean, THE best. And the most secretive ones too. I heard from Ms. Rachel that Mr. Samuel only uses them in missions that are the most sensitive.

And this situation happened to be one of them. One thing though.

I never met them before.

Once I secured the nearest perimeter, I let go of the treetop and free-fell to the ground, lightly landing on my feet.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Status?”

The grey-eyed man asked, his face covered with a simple pitch black mask with only his eyes being visible as well as his grey hair.

“No hostiles on sight.”

“Copy.”

The man replied, before turning his back on me and proceeding forward. Before I could even blink, he was gone, and soon I knew that everyone else followed without a sound. I lightly sighed, feeling that the team leader didn't like me very much.

I looked around and saw that everyone already left without me. I knew that I should be following but at the same time, I didn't want to. Why did Mr Samuel assign me to this team?

Looking back, I thought I would have no business with this. This was a high-level situation, and I was sure that a rookie like me wouldn't even be considered. Surprise, I was, and I was even placed in Alpha Squad.

Snapping myself out of my thoughts, electricity started running through me and with a flash, I soon followed. A few bounds and jumps later, I was with everyone else. Yet just by judging the atmosphere, I think the whole team doesn't like me.

The air was cold and silent, with none speaking a word to no one. Everyone ran at a seemingly slow pace, but when I looked to the side, I saw that the scenery was passing by like I was running at full speed. And, I was, but it sure doesn't feel like the same with everyone else.

“So, the weather, good right?”

I wearily smiled and tried making conversation, no one seemed to have heard me though. Or more likely, no one even bothered paying attention. It was going to be a long day.

…

“Secure the area. Let none pass or even leave without my permission. If anyone disobeys, kill.”

That's harsh, even for us. The Assassins banged their fist against their chest once, and soon they vanished. I was about to also follow but was stopped a the last second.

“Where do you think you're going?”

“Um… to help?”

“You are needed elsewhere.”

I was about to ask where but he vanished. Seriously, it's rude to vanish in front of a person when you're talking to them. Even I know that.

As I was also about to move, I stopped because I did not know what to do. He didn't tell me what to do. What now? Pondering this question, I leaped into a tree branch and started thinking about what to do to kill time. I doubt that he would be ordering me anytime soon.

Oh, there was that one thing.

Summoning my [Lexicon], I opened it and flipped on a page.

“There.”

I pointed to a peculiar passage in a page. Its words and meaning eluded me but if I focused, I could make out roughly what it meant.

“[By the final crackle of thunder overhead, let there light.]”

No idea what this meant. Of course, there was going to be light. Lightning crackling in the sky was no joke, a single zap of it was enough to kill a man. I just know and I don't like to recall it anymore. Alright, let's keep reading.

“[A song of earth is sung, the tales of forgotten time remembered, death will come by daylight.]”

That's enough reading for today. I quickly closed the book and unsommoned it. Yet the verse is still finished.

“[All will bend their knees, the heavens cry be heard.]”

An intense chill went up my spine, I stood up and looked around. Feeling my forehead sweat, and my nerves tense. The surrounding atmosphere turned weird, the air seemed to have stilled. There was no sound to be heard, not even the chirping of birds as I didn't even feel the wind brushing past my clothes.

I slowly looked up and saw that it was just Mr Lucius. He wore a grin as he finished the verse.

“That’s not funny Mr Lucius!”

“To me, it is.”

He floated just above my head and proceeded to make himself at home. He pulled up a chair from somewhere and placed it on my head, lounging about like he was on vacation again. Is his life from now on just a permanent vacation?

“There is nothing to be worried about a child. That prophecy is still far, far into the future. There is still time to prepare.”

“That doesn't make it any better Mr Lucius. And what prophecy?”

My head ached when I heard the word, yet it seemed to be just a fleeting moment, as it disappeared as fast as it came.

“Aren't you supposed to be doing something?”

“Yeah… well no… I dont know…”

I fumbled my words, a proper reply becoming blank. I don't even know why I was here in the first place, much less know what to do. I kicked a leaf and felt that the situation was a little unfair. Wait…

“Hey! Don't change the subject, Mr. Lucius, what did you mean by prophecy?”

“You need to stand up for yourself child.”

“What do you think I'm doing right now?”

He ignored me and vanished. I stood a little bewildered, yet I shook it off. There was no point. He's not going to come back even if I yell up into the high heavens.

As I was about to begin pondering on the prophecy, someone appeared in front of me without a sound, and without even saying hello, a blade materialized and made its way to me. Full of killing intent was apparent on his face.

I drew my chokuto and parried his surprise attack. It didn't seem to be over. Two more individuals popped out of the bushes and started attacking me as well.

Whispers under their breaths I heard, and knew that it was best to not let them finish.

I kicked the first man who attacked me in the side, prompting him to crash into a nearby tree. And without even pausing my movements, I used {Lightning Movement} in place, in the blink of an eye, I was in front of one of the attackers whispering the spell.

Slamming my elbow against his head, he rolled back and fell. The other was shocked, and unable to react properly, allowing me to kick him in the chest, yet I made sure to hold back as I didn't want to cave in his chest.

All of a sudden, I felt a chill under my spine. I suddenly ducked and felt the cold feel of steel pass through my head. I turned around in a rush, my blade crackling with thunder, as I slashed toward his neck.

Just as I was about to slice his head clean off, I stopped at just the last second.

“Drop it.”

The man didn't seem to have listened.

I slammed the base of my chokuto against his head, with him finally falling in front also. For a moment everything was quiet, and just as I was about to sheathe my chokuto, I noticed that at the corner of my eye, one of my attackers was about to run away.

Just as I was about to stop him, he pulled something out of his pocket, he vanished like a puff of smoke.

Dang it.

“This is bad.”