ADVERSITY

"What is it?" Emily insisted, her voice cutting.

The guard drew a large breath, his eyes filled with fear. “Beta Johnson has been killed by an assassin.”

The world appeared to pause briefly. Nathaniel's chest throbbed with his racing heart, and Emily's eyes grew wide in surprise. The guard's words lingered, and the seriousness of the situation started to become apparent.

"In what way?" Nathaniel inquired, speaking in a hushed voice.

"We are unsure at this point," the guard said, his voice shaking. "It happened quickly and without noise. No evidence of a fight was present.

Emily's thoughts sped up, realizing the impact of the assassination. "This changes it all," she whispered, locking eyes with Nathaniel. "We must take prompt action."

Nathaniel nodded, his expression becoming more determined. Truly. We need to discover the identity of the culprit and their motives. And we must get ready for the unavoidable consequence.