Prologue (Leon)

I'm always by your side.

Footsteps echo throughout a dark, stone chamber, the echo of water drops falling from the ground above into a small pool in a far corner interrupting the eerie silence that follows when the steps cease.

Two figures can just barely see the person standing several feet away from them. The person to the right wears a cloak with a hood concealing their features. The leftmost figure wears an outfit signifying nobility, with golden embellishments gleaming in the little moonlight that comes in slits through the cracks in the chamber's ceiling.

Finally, the person on the left speaks, pulling a silver sword from its sheath on their left hip.

"I fight for peace."

The cloaked figure makes no movement indicating they acknowledge the drawn sword.

"I fight for the truth."

The sword raises to point at the cloaked figure's neck, though it is still a foot away from touching the tip of their chin.

"You are the evil of this world."

The cloaked figure puts their hands behind their back, their eyes staring right into the noble's. But neither are intimidated by the other's stare.

"You are the lies of this world."

The noble steps forward, their sword now only inches from the other figure's neck, just under their chin. The glint of the sword's metal from the moonlight causes the sword to appear as though it glows. But it is, naturally, absent of magic, like all swords belonging to nobles are.

"We can never coexist."

The cloaked figure stays still, their eyes not even moving down to catch a glimpse of the sword's sharpened blade.

"So, one of us must die."

The tip of the sword touches the cloth of the cloak covering the figure's neck, light enough to leave the fabric undamaged.

The noble's mouth twists into a smile as the two say their final words.

"It shall be you."

"It shall be feuer!"

The noble freezes for a moment. The sword slips from their grip, and clatters against the smooth, stone floor, sending a chilling echo throughout the chamber.

The noble begins to fall towards the cloaked figure, only to hit the ground with a thump as the figure takes a swift step to the side. In their back is the end of an arrow, precisely shot to hit the heart of the target.

The figure looks into the darkness in the same direction he stared at the noble and can see a faint disturbance in the pitch-black void before a sliver of moonlight illuminates the figure of another person, who is not cloaked but dressed in an outfit that allows them to easily maneuver around.

The cloaked figure plucks the arrow from the noble's back and brings out a small, thin golden goblet from underneath his cloak. He holds the arrow, stained with blood, over the goblet, watching as the blood cascades down the weapon's tip and accumulates in the goblet. It wasn't too much blood, but enough to satisfy the cloaked figure's desire.

He holds out the bloody arrow to the other person as he sips from the goblet. The archer snatches it from them with a single motion, before wiping it clean with a black cloth and retiring it to its holster mounted on their back, along with a bow.

The two lock eyes, waiting for either one of them to speak. The goblet is empty, and the cloaked figure returns it under their cloak before pulling down their hood and sticking their tongue out in the direction of the noble, causing the other figure to let out a short laugh.

"They don't have a pleasant past?"

"All sunshine and rainbows. Not even a distant relative of the king. It was too sweet for my taste," the cloaked figure says, before turning in the direction of the exit from the stone chamber.

He pauses and turns back around as he hears the familiar jingle of coins. Sure enough, the archer holds up two small brown pouches, and peeks inside each, before stealing anything else of value or general appeal to him before stuffing it all in a satchel resting at his side.

He stands up and is beside the other in a matter of seconds. As they walk from the chamber, the cloaked figure looks over his shoulder now and then, not able to shake the feeling that someone or something is watching him.

"Are you alright, Leon? You're not paranoid again, are you?" the archer playfully elbows his companion, making him jump away, then dismissively shake his head.

"I'm fine, Engelard. But could you tell me if someone is watching us?" Leon stops beside the archer as he turns back around to face the chamber.

"If you want. Here goes nothing," Engelard sighs before pulling out his bow and a white arrow from behind his back.

He notches the arrow and closes his eyes. He whispers three words before allowing the arrow to shoot forward, instantly disappearing into the darkness.

"Einkerben, zielen, feuern."

Engelard opens his eyes after the arrow leaves his bow and waits several seconds before letting out a high-pitched whistle and holding out his left hand as if he is expecting someone to throw something at him. The arrow comes whizzing back towards him, and the archer catches it with ease. He returns the arrow and bow to their original locations and shakes his head at Leon before they continue their walk out of the stone chamber.

"Your paranoia is going to cost you or me our lives one of these days. I hope that day isn't soon," Engelard focuses his eyes on the strong moonlight at the end of the tunnel the two travel through.

At the end of the tunnel lies a wooden ladder, made of polished beech. Since the wood is polished, Leon and Engelard don't have to worry about splinters. But, to prevent the wood from chipping and developing splinters, woodworkers sand down and polish the ladder at the beginning of every week, starting Sonntag.

Luckily, it is a quiet Samstag night as Leon puts his bare hands around the ladder's smooth but cold wood poles. He begins to climb towards the surface and can hear Engelard groan before following.

"I hate ladders. They make my arms tired..."

The two emerge from the tunnel into an open field, filled with lilac crocuses, white chamomiles, and even a few red rhododendrons. Engelard skips over to the rhododendrons, and picks a few from their shrub, before carefully placing them atop everything he holds in his satchel.

Meanwhile, Leon turns around in a full circle, trying to distinguish where the two originally came from. The sound of a wooden trapdoor closing from behind Leon causes him to whip around and bring out a golden sword that hides in a leather sheath on his left hip.

Engelard looks up at Leon, locking eyes with the sword. He backflips and brings out his bow, already having an arrow notched and ready to shoot before his feet hit the ground.

Expressions of relief cross the faces of both boys before they put away their weapons.

"Oh, it's just you, Engelard. Nice flip. Have you been practicing?" Leon keeps looking around as Engelard replies.

"Yeah, you could say that. You're as sharp as ever. Those reflexes of yours are lighting fast, though not as fast as mine!"

Engelard's last statement has a hint of over-confidence in it. But, Leon knew Engelard to be one of the most humble people he had ever met. This just wasn't one of those situations in which he showcased it.

The archer comes up to Leon's side, and looks up at the star-speckled sky, before pointing to his right.

"We came from Fribourg, remember? Do you want to meet with Ihnen, or should I?" Engelard begins his trek towards the faintly glowing lights on the horizon, marking the beautifully constructed city of Fribourg.

Leon absently nods before catching up with Engelard. The buildings making up Fribourg come into view as the two near the city. The medieval and gothic appearance of the city make it a popular place for people, mainly tourists, to gather and admire, but for Leon and Engelard, it is home to the small group of people who call themselves Ihnen and give Leon his next assignments, be it assassination or just gathering information for the group.

Engelard would just accompany him and even speak on behalf of Leon if he could not speak to Ihnen himself. Though he was not permitted to speak unless given permission, it wouldn't stop Engelard from expressing his opinions on what Ihnen told Leon through his facial expressions. Joy, curiosity, disgust, and anger were all valid expressions Engelard could make, and Leon loved to watch him out of the corner of his eye.

The two walk through the only opening through the land into Fribourg, as it was surrounded on three sides by a river. The stone and brick buildings appear to loom over them in the night, casting shadows that block out the little light the staggering streetlamps give off along the streets most frequently walked.

Eventually, they stop in front of a grand cathedral. Leon looks up, spying the large stained glass window on the second floor of the building, wondering if Ihnen would be up there and awake at this time of night.

"I'll ask again. Do you want me to speak for you?" Engelard offers, but Leon shakes his head.

"No, it's fine. Let's get this over with."

Leon and Engelard walk through the grand double doors into the main entryway of the cathedral, and take a sharp turn left, to face a wooden staircase that pops out from the stone and marble interior.

Once they ascend the staircase, Leon peeks over the wooden railing, looking down upon the marble floors and wooden rows of seats that face a pedestal and a large marble statue of the founder of the cathedral. He then turns around and faces a wooden desk, with a hooded figure staring in his direction.

Engelard bows to the figure, who nods to acknowledge his presence, then walks to a bookcase to the right of the desk, browsing through the books. Leon walks up to the figure until he stands in the middle of the floor between the railing and the few small steps leading up to the desk. He, too, bows to the figure, who reciprocates his action.

"Ritter Kreshnik, have you completed the task I assigned to you?"

"Please, Herr. I am no longer a ritter. But yes, I have completed the task I was assigned. Noble Jonas was assassinated with the help of, may I add, Engelard."

Leon glances over to his friend, who looks up from the book he is reading. His eyes switch from Leon to Ihnen, before he continues reading.

"You and Scharfschütze Sivert make an exceptional pair. Do you still wish not to become part of Der Kreis, Sivert?"

Engelard looks up from his book again, notices the figure looking at him, hastily puts the book back into the slot he took it from in the bookcase, and replies.

"You're too kind, Herr. I am just one of many schützen, and Leon is my begleiter. But I am an unterhändler. and will remain one until I can no longer. Then, I might consider becoming part of Der Kreis. Nonetheless, danke schön for checking in."

"Very well. Kreshnik, your next assignment will be given to you via a letter sent to your residence in the afternoon tomorrow. Until then, gute nacht."

The figure bows to Leon, while both Leon and Engelard bow to him before the figure turns their back to them, staring out of the stained-glass window's hues of red, yellow, and blue.

Words and phrases used in this chapter:

Feuer- Fire

Einkerben, zielen, feuern- Notch, aim, fire.

Sonntag- Sunday

Samstag- Saturday

Ihnen- Them

Ritter- Knight

Scharfschütze- Sniper

Schützen- Shooter

Begleiter- Companion

Unterhändler- Negotiator

Danke schön- Thank you

Gute nacht- Goodnight