Chapter 11:The Flames of Truth

Chapter 11: The Flames of Truth

The mission was supposed to be simple—intimidation, not annihilation. A rival gang had been moving stolen Valdez contraband, and Emilio sent Logan and Elsa to send a message. They cornered the gang in an abandoned industrial yard, the tension in the air thick as Logan and Elsa stood side by side.

One of the gang leaders laughed nervously, brandishing a rusted crowbar. "What are you gonna do? Two of you against all of us?"

Logan didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Elsa, his expression unreadable. "Show me what you've got."

Elsa smirked, drawing her katana. "Gladly."

She gripped the hilt, and a faint, fiery glow began to emanate from her weapon. The air around it shimmered as if caught in a heatwave. Within moments, the blade glowed a searing orange, like molten steel pulled straight from a blacksmith's forge.

The gang watched in stunned silence as Elsa charged, her blade cutting through steel crates and pipes like butter. One of the gang members swung a chain at her, but the molten blade melted through it in an instant, sending sparks flying.

Logan observed her with a calculating gaze, taking note of her precision and the raw destructive potential of her abilities. She was Tier E 9, but Logan could see the potential for more if she ever broke free of the shackles holding her back.

By the time the fight ended, the gang was either subdued or fleeing, their confidence shattered. Elsa sheathed her now-cooled katana and turned to Logan, grinning. "Satisfied?"

Logan nodded, his tone measured. "You've got potential."

Curiosity and Investigation

Later that night, Logan's curiosity about Elsa turned into action. She had power, skill, and a sharp mind, but there was something about her—something broken beneath her confident façade.

Using his resources, Logan began digging into her past, accessing cartel records, external databases, and underworld chatter. What he found was a story of betrayal and manipulation.

Years ago, Elsa's parents were loyal members of the Valdez cartel. Her father, a charismatic and influential figure, had been well-loved by the cartel's rank and file. But his growing influence bred envy, especially in James.

The records were clear: James orchestrated the deaths of Elsa's parents, staging the scene as a car accident. With them out of the picture, he climbed the cartel ranks, securing his position as head of security. Emilio, fully aware of James's actions, turned a blind eye, valuing James's strength as a titan over Elsa's father who was just a normal human.

The betrayal didn't end there. Elsa, orphaned and unaware of the truth, was taken in by the cartel. James molded her into a weapon, feeding her lies about her parents while pushing her to develop her arcanist abilities for the cartel's benefit.

Logan leaned back in his chair, staring at the dossier he'd compiled. He clenched his fists, a rare flicker of anger burning within him. Elsa had been used her entire life, her loyalty built on falsehoods.

The next day, Elsa and Logan were paired for another assignment. She seemed more reserved than usual, her usual flirtatious energy replaced by a quiet determination.

After the mission, as they walked back to their vehicles, Elsa broke the silence. "I've been thinking about what you said—about staying out of your lane."

Logan glanced at her, curious.

"I get it now," she continued. "You don't need someone slowing you down. But I'm not here to be a burden, Logan. I'll earn your respect as a partner, no matter what it takes."

Logan paused, her words catching him off guard. He could see the sincerity in her eyes, the resolve to prove herself.

"Good," he said simply. "But don't do it for me. Do it for yourself."

She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips.

---

As Logan watched Elsa walk away, he made a decision. One day, he would tell her the truth—about James, her parents, and the lies she'd been fed her entire life. But not yet.

For now, he would wait. He needed her trust, her focus, and her strength if he was going to dismantle the Valdez cartel from the inside.

Logan's resolve hardened. The cartel was rotten to its core, and Elsa was yet another victim of its corruption. He would see it fall—not just for his revenge, but for those like Elsa, who had suffered under its rule.

And when the time was right, he would make sure Elsa got the justice she deserved.

---

Over the next few weeks, Elsa and Logan continued working together. Their partnership, once strained by distrust and clashing personalities, began to solidify into something more functional. Elsa had stopped her flirtatious antics entirely, focusing on proving herself as a reliable partner. Logan, though distant as ever, had started to acknowledge her efforts.

During one mission to retrieve stolen cartel assets from a rogue faction, Logan witnessed just how versatile Elsa's abilities could be. Using her katana, imbued with heat so intense it melted reinforced steel, she cut through barricades and disarmed traps. Her movements were fluid, like a dancer in the heat of battle, and she was fearless in the face of danger.

After the mission, Elsa confronted Logan as they loaded the recovered crates into their transport.

"Alright, Holt," she said, planting the katana in the ground. "I've been pulling my weight, haven't I?"

Logan, wiping blood from his knuckles, raised an eyebrow. "You have."

She smirked. "That almost sounded like a compliment. Careful, Logan. I might think you're starting to like me."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," he replied, but his tone was lighter than usual.

---

While Elsa was proving herself on missions, Logan continued his quiet investigation into her past. He began observing James more closely, noting the subtle power plays he engaged in within the Valdez cartel. James was respected, but there was a lingering tension between him and other high-ranking members. Logan suspected that Emilio tolerated James more out of necessity than loyalty.

During a routine meeting in one of the cartel's underground bunkers, Logan noticed Elsa standing to the side, her katana strapped to her back. She seemed uneasy, her usual confidence subdued.

Later that evening, Logan found her sitting alone in the compound's courtyard, staring at the blade of her weapon.

"You don't look like someone who just completed a successful mission," Logan said, approaching her.

Elsa glanced up, surprised. "Just... thinking."

"About?"

She hesitated before speaking. "My parents. Sometimes I wonder if they'd be proud of the person I've become."

Logan leaned against a nearby pillar, crossing his arms. "Why wouldn't they be?"

She let out a bitter laugh. "Because I'm a weapon, Logan. That's all I've ever been to this cartel. Sometimes I wonder if that's all I'll ever be."

For a moment, Logan considered telling her the truth. He wanted to shatter the lies she'd been fed and give her the chance to seek her own path. But the timing wasn't right. If she confronted James or Emilio now, it could jeopardize everything.

"Being a weapon isn't the worst thing," Logan said carefully. "It's how you choose to use it that matters."

She looked at him, her eyes searching for something in his expression. "And what about you, Logan? What kind of weapon are you?"

"The kind that breaks things," he said simply, turning to leave.

Emilio Valdez, always one to test the loyalty of his subordinates, called Logan and Elsa into his office a week later. He handed them a file containing details about a mole within the cartel—someone leaking information to the Salvador cartel.

"I want you two to handle this personally," Emilio said, his sharp eyes scanning Logan and Elsa. "No loose ends. Understand?"

Logan nodded. "Understood."

The target turned out to be a young courier, barely in 16, who had been feeding intel to the Salvador cartel in exchange for protection. When Logan and Elsa confronted him in an abandoned factory, the boy begged for his life, claiming he'd been forced into it.

Elsa hesitated, her katana trembling in her hands. "He's just a kid, Logan."

"He's a liability," Logan said coldly, drawing his pistol.

"Wait," Elsa said, stepping in front of the courier. "There has to be another way. We can turn him in to Emilio and let him decide."

Logan stared at her, his expression unreadable. After a tense moment, he lowered his weapon. "Fine. But if Emilio orders his execution, it'll be on your hands."

They brought the courier back to the compound, where Emilio wasted no time in ordering his death. Elsa watched in silence as the boy was dragged away, her knuckles white as she gripped her katana.

Later, Logan found her in the training room, hacking away at a practice dummy with relentless fury.

"You can't save everyone, Elsa," he said quietly.

She stopped, breathing heavily. "I know. But it doesn't mean I have to like it."

---

Logan's respect for Elsa grew as he saw her struggling to reconcile her humanity with the ruthless world they lived in. At the same time, he knew her inner conflict could be used to his advantage. If he could sway her to his side, she could become a valuable ally in his mission to destroy the Valdez cartel.

For now, though, he would wait and watch, letting her forge her own path. The truth about James and her parents would come out eventually, but when it did, Logan wanted her to be ready.