The soft humming of the engine, and gently shaking vehicle made the young woman feel like she was within a cradle. It was a peaceful scenery outside the window. A lone winding road, up and down some small hills within a green lush forest. The sunlight was gently falling through her window, feeling warm on her face. A fox was standing at the roadside, watching as the vehicle passed by. A small smile crept onto her lips, it was so strange. The world felt so peaceful, so comfortable. But her mind was in chaos.

Like that they drove along the road, up and down the hills, deeper into the forest. Soon they passed by signs warning of military restricted area. Chain linked fences topped with barbed wire appeared and a checkpoint soon after. A single soldier stood guard there, opening it as soon as they came into sight.

After a few more minutes of driving they began ascending a winding serpentine like road. Cliffs were all around, the road seemingly the only way up the hill. It may as well have been a mountain depending on one's definition. After a short while of endless curves they ascended the plateau.

After following the road further into the forest atop the elevation a clearing suddenly appeared. The road forked into two and before her eyes an old fortress* appeared. ‘’Welcome to Fort Avalon.’’ She heard him say. She kept her eyes scanning around as they closed in on the gate. Soldiers in uniform and battlegear were patrolling on the walls, armed with a variety of assault rifles.

She raised her eyebrows at that. The soldiers here were not idly guarding the fort as she had seen in so many similar installations. They were patrolling with rotations in a way that prevented blind spots, she could also make out snipers on top of the watchtowers scanning the zone. While observing them she understood that those men and women were behaving like those she had seen in war zones. Always on guard and ready for combat.

While she was still inspecting her surroundings, the car was let into the gate after the driver had spoken for a while with one of the six guards. There was even an MG encampment next to the gate, keeping the road under observation. ‘’This base is newly established, we are still lacking personnel so we are under high alert till we finish setting everything up.’’ She heard him say as they drove into the big yard.

To their right there was an open hangar, people were working on two osprey aircrafts. Quite the rare airplane in Europe as far as she knew. As they drove over the big asphalted yard, they also came across a mech bay where mechanics were working on more of the conquest knights, also some of the rare marauders were there.

The next big hall they passed seemed to be the carpool, as some more marauders and conquest knights were parked there. Also a few motorbikes which she noticed. ‘’How are you feeling?’’ She was asked by Judge as he prepared to get out. ‘’Tired…’’ She answered honestly. The assassin took her sword from one of the weapon holders and followed Judge. Stepping outside for the first time in many hours.

Her eyes wandered around as she stretched, quite a few soldiers were walking around. Some were practicing at the shooting range a bit away to her right. Familiar sounds of many different weapons rose to her ears, m16, g36, glock, 1911, spas 12. She was wondering why a military unit used so many different weapons, but her exhaustion was greater then her curiosity at that moment.

Wordless, Judge began to walk towards a small passage seemingly leading to another courtyard. Carrying her sword, she silently followed, noticing that everybody walking around carried at least one weapon.

They quickly passed through the small path between a wall and the gatehouse, behind lay an even bigger courtyard than the one they just left. A big hexagon like tower was the first thing she noticed. But there were also many other buildings around, protected by the five meter tall castle walls.

‘’I will show you around your lodging first, so you can get some rest.’’ Judge told her before he turned to the left, directly after the passage. After a bit of walking they approached a small one floor bungalow. Four windows on the front, making it look like a normal small bungalow. Judge opened the door and led her inside. As she stepped in she looked around. It was a simple room. To her right in a niche was a round table and five chairs, as well as two brown fluffy looking couches, a window on the right wall gently illuminated the table.

To her left were five lockers and three windows. Aside from that five beds with a chest in front of each were lined up at the wall in the back. Two doors were leading to somewhere on the right. ‘’Pick whatever bed you want, the bedsheets and so on are in the chests in front of them. The second door to the right leads to the bathroom, the other one that to a changing room, behind that are the showers.’’ She got the explanation from Judge.

‘’Other people?’’ She asked him while looking at the beds. ‘’Not yet, much like you they still have to be recruited, but yes. In the end you will work in a team of three to five people. For now you have the room for yourself though. Go ahead and rest, if you want a shower go ahead and pick a locker, in there are necessities like toothbrush, comb, towels and so on. Grab some rest, tomorrow we will sign the contract and you will get all the explanations you're allowed. Please don’t wander around till then.’’ After listening to his words she nodded and picked the first locker.

Inside were, as Judge has said, many necessities including a pen to write her name on the locker. For a while she thought on what to do before she decided, she took the marker and wrote * me * on it. ‘’Well then, I’ll see you tomorrow, we will also decide on a name for you then.’’ Judge said, the door fell into her lock with a dull thud as he left.

As she was feeling dirty from the sweat on her skin she took a towel, and some shower gel before heading to the changing room. As she opened the door she entered a small room. A few washing machines and dryers were on one side, some baskets for clothes and laundry on the other.

She got rid of her clothes and folded them neatly in the basket, she really would have liked a new set, one which was not drenched with sweat. But there probably was nothing she could do about it for now. So she just went ahead and opened the door to the shower room, carrying only the towel, shower gel and her sword.

As she entered the shower room it was just a single room full of tiles, the lights went on automatically as she entered. It was a room bare of anything except five showerheads, a handle below each and a towel holder. She strolled towards the one directly in front of her, putting down the shower gel and hanging the towel on the holder together with her sword. Then she put the shower on hot.  

She just stood there, feeling the hot water flow over her, eyes closed. Her hand rose to her chest, tracing the countless scars on her body, slowly her hand moved from her chest to her stomach, just to find more and more of those many different lines. Each of those lines, those scars represented a fight, or the harsh training she had went through as child.

Scenes kept coming and going to her mind, remembering each moment she received one of those scars. They were like memories carved into her body, her hand moved further and only stopped again at her lower body. There she very slowly traced a special scar, moving from left to right across her whole body. ‘’Never to have a family…’’ She whispered to herself.

After thinking about her past she began to wash herself, stopping for a moment as she reached her thighs. Another thing which brought forth memories, the big tattoo ending there. Two big owl wings, beginning on her shoulder blades. Running down over her back and wrapping around her stomach, ending only on her thighs. Encompassing her in those silent wings. The owl, a silent predator in the darkness. As to symbolise that her life was one of silence and darkness, never meant to walk in the light.

That tattoo was beautiful once, but now countless scars criss crossed all over it. Often had she looked at it in a mirror, but nowadays it seemed as just another reminder of what she was till just recently. Another reminder of her sins.

After finishing and drying her hair and body, she exited the shower and looked at her clothes. It felt wrong to put on the same dirty clothes, she planned to sleep anyway. So she did not bother with it and just put on her underwear before she took her pants, boots and shirt and left the room. After she exited the shower she noticed a small tinfoil wrapped box and a bottle of water on one of the beds.

When she got closer she found a small note on top of it. After putting down her clothes next to the bed she read the note. * You can’t leave, so I went ahead and brought you dinner. * It read, it was signed by Judge. She long since was used to eating only occasional, but that did not mean she would not eat when someone brought her something.

When she opened the box there where ham and cheese sandwiches inside. With the box and water in her hands she walked over to the table. Placing down the food and water she sat down onto the last chair being warmed by the slowly setting sun. She quietly ate, not being bothered by the silence at all. It was something else she was used to since long ago. Good food always tasted great, with or without company.

After finishing her meal she threw the garbage into the trashcan next to the table and took a sip of water, slowly moving towards the beds as she drank. After screwing the cap back on she then opened the chest in front of the bed, the one next to the window. She took out the bed sheets and everything else she needed and prepared the bed.

It took only a minute for her to finish up before she laid down onto the bed. But even long after the gentle sunlight had changed places with the pale moonlight she could not find sleep. She simply laid in the bed, her arm covering her eyes, thinking.

Her routine had changed recently, maybe that was what kept her from sleeping nowadays. The whispers in her mind, the curses they softly spoke and their promises of vengeance. Maybe she thought, maybe if she kept her old routine the whispers would quiet down. Enough to make it possible for her to find some respite.

Her arm moved and her eyes fell on the sword leaning against her bed, for a moment she simply lay there in tranquil silence. Then she freed herself from the blanket wrapping around her body, standing up again. She slipped into the wide army pants and then with quiet tapping sounds walked to the door.

Long since had she noticed the guard in front of her door, the shadow had fallen into the window when the moon had risen. From the shadow’s build her guess was that the guard was a slender woman. So when she opened the door in complete silence it was no surprise to find a young woman with her back turned to the door keeping watch over her.

The assassin’s hands began to move forward on instinct, managing to stop her action before the guard noticed anything. She felt like crying in that moment, even if her mind did not want to kill anymore, her body still did. As to not provoke a violent reaction or a scream upon surprise the young assassin took a silent step back and closed the door again without a sound.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The nameless one instead decided to walk over to one of the windows and opened it. Her guard still did not move, not even noticing it. To that the woman could only shake her head, she could already have killed that guard countless times. Then from the shadows she quietly spoke, ‘’Is it not inconvenient to guard on the outside?.’’

The soldier gave a tiny yelp as she jumped a bit. Again she could only shake her head, had they given her a newcomer as guard?. ‘’Who is there?!’’ She half asked half screamed, ‘’Well, as you stand guard here I guess I am the prisoner?’’ Was her emotionless response. ‘’Anyway,’’ The assassin continued. ‘’I have a request, can you help me with that?’’ It looked like her guard was still fighting her surprise as it took a moment before she answered. ‘’What kind of request?’’ The guard countered the assassin’s question with one of her own.

The silver haired women gave a small sigh before answering, ‘’It is a bit bothersome to talk like that. You can come inside and we can talk if you don’t mind, it should also make your shift more comfortable and easy right?’’ After saying this she closed the window again, moved back to her bed, and sat down awaiting her guard.

Slowly the door opened as the guard hesitantly stepped inside, ‘’Over here.’’ Her soft voice rang out. The red haired guard stepped into the room and began to search for the light switch, ‘’please don’t put on the light.’’ She spoke again, her life was shrouded in darkness. Most of her activities were carried out within the pale moonlight, so for a long long time now she was used to it.

The red haired soldier just stood there, her back to the wall and the door open wide enough for her to leave at any time. The young soldier feared the assassin, and they both knew it. With her body bathed in moonlight falling from the window she silently sat on her bed, letting her guard calm down. Showing that she was no threat. Then she spoke again, ‘’I want to request some pre-moistened wipes with alcohol solution, two pieces of soft cloth and oil usable on swords. If that is not available weapon oil is fine too.’’ Her voice rang out and faded into the darkness.

It was quiet for a moment before her guard spoke again, ‘’How do you plan to clean a sealed sword?’’ The girl asked the assassin. Her eyebrow rose, she was surprised to find someone who was familiar with swords in the military. ‘’How about you let that be my problem? Judge promised me to give me whatever I needed, were those empty words?’’ She asked.

‘’No… Give me a moment.’’ The guard said and began to report to someone via her earpiece. She spoke for one or two minutes, explaining the situation and request before she came closer to the assassin. ‘’Someone will bring the things over in a bit, I also got permission to stay here.’’ The soldier said. Now that she also had stepped into the moonlight her blue eyes were recognizable, they were pretty.  

‘’So? What do I call my guard?’’ The assassin asked. After a moment she got the answer, ‘’Lucy… Also I am not a guard, otherwise I would wear a weapon.’’ The nameless woman had to acknowledge that fact, Lucy did indeed not carry a weapon. ‘’You win, I guess you were briefed on my… Credentials?’’ She asked, and the answer she got was a single nod.

Silence returned and neither of the two moved. The assassin sitting on her bed, the soldier standing in front of it. She sighed and spoke again, ‘’Just sit down somewhere Lucy…’’ Lucy hesitated, unsure on what to do before she moved and sat down on the bed next to the nameless one.

Once more the two found nothing to say, so they just quietly sat there till a knock broke the silence. Lucy went to the door and received the order, she quickly took the things and brought them over, laying them orderly on the assassin’s bed. Ballistol*, two soft pieces of cloth, and a few alcohol solution wipes.  ‘’So? What now?’’ She was asked by Lucy.

Her answer was wordless, she reached out and grabbed her sword. With it in hand she rose and walked around the bed, standing now directly in front of the window. ‘’Watch,’’ she said with her quiet voice. Her grip on the handle changed as she spun the sword around once till the tip of the scabbard pointed to the floor. Then with a swift motion she stabbed the floor. The moment scabbard and floor met a loud and very beautiful humming noise rang out from the sword.

For a few seconds the sword emitted its humming before it died down. With  the humming dying down the welded metal between handle and scabbard began to crack and fall to the ground. When the silence returned she raised the sword up again, she grabbed scabbard and handle with one hand each and began to draw.  

The voices within her mind began to scream and curse. Louder with every centimeter more drawn of the beautiful natural patterned blade. ‘’Why…’’ ‘’Don’t kill me!’’ ‘’Help…’’ ‘’I beg you.. don’t!’’ ‘’It hurts… It hurts…’’ ‘’I didn’t deserve this…’’ ‘’Nooo…’’ ‘’Please… mercy…’’

It was painful, it hurt. But this was her fate, her curse to wield this blade filled with sin. To listen to all those souls her weapon had devoured, all those lives she had taken. ‘’What the fuck just happened? I was told the sword was welded shut.’’ Lucy nearly screamed at the assassin.

‘’It is old… So very, very old.’’ Was the only answer she gave to lucy. Gently she laid down the scabbard on her bed before opening the window. ‘’I need to concentrate for a bit, so just sit down and watch,’’ She said softly. Next she placed the moist wipes, cloth pieces and oil on the radiator below the window. After everything was sorted she sat down on the windowsill. One leg dangling outside, with the other her knee drawn to her chest.

With the soft moonlight as only illumination she grabbed one of the wipes and began to slowly and careful clean the blade. As her hand slid lightly over the beautiful metal she began to quietly hum a lament. Lucy watched but kept her silence, so the assassin said nothing either and just kept working.

After thoroughly cleaning her Jian* sword she took one of the pieces of cloth, once more tenderly wiping the sword. Never stopping the melody she put some oil on the other piece of cloth and began wiping the oil slowly on the metal. When the wind picked up a bit and her hair danced she began to quietly sing, a song for those many voices to calm down…

                                                                                                 Tite bhfad, agus chaill do chosáin.

                                                                                            Aimsigh do bhealach, agus é a leanúint.

                                                                                            Ná dóchas chailleadh, mar tá mé anseo.

                                                                                      I gcás nach bhfuil tú i d'aonar, tá muid le chéile.

As she ended her song and began humming again she noticed Lucy dozing of from the corner of her eyes. ‘’And the Nightingale sings her sorrowful lament…’’ mumbled Lucy quietly as she fell completely asleep, sinking slowly onto the bed. For a moment the assassin's song stopped, staring at the young soldier. Then she shook her head, continuing her work. ‘’Nightingale…’’ She whispered to herself as she finished.

She sheathed her sword and then put the materials quietly into the chest in front of her bed. After that she closed the window soundlessly and leaned the old sword to her bed. For a moment she stood there, and looked over to Lucy. Then she shook her head and walked over. Her hand stretched out to wake her up, but then she stopped. She contemplated a bit before she kneeled down and undid the young girl’s boots.

The assassin then carefully placed Lucy in the middle of the bed and put the unlined blanket over her. Then she began turning around but hesitated again. Once more she turned around to Lucy, silently staring at her for a while. Then her soft voice rang out, very very quietly. ‘’Nightingale… Yes, I was a bird caged for its ability… And still I sing my lament… I am Nightingale.’’ As her words vanished into silence she leaned forward, very softly kissing Lucy’s hair. ‘’May your dreams never be haunted by screams young soldier…’’ Nightingale whispered softly before turning around to go to sleep.

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1. Ballistol is gun oil? in a spray can. It's good for swords, not softening the wood (google says that)

2. Jian swords are old chinese swords, they are 2500 years old or so.

2.5 Also she always carries her sword around, either in hand or on her back or somewhere on her body. If she's not moving around it is within reach or very close by. So I won't mention her carrying her sword around all the time cause its a pain in the ass. If not specified otherwise assume she has it with her or close by.

3. The fortress is of my own creation obviously if you want map then tell me and I can link a picture.