The Council's Fury

The grand chamber of the dissenting council members was shrouded in a suffocating tension. The room, with its high ceilings and glowing crystalline walls, was meant to exude authority, but today it felt more like a cage of anger and desperation. The four dissenting council members, seated around a circular table of polished obsidian, were locked in heated debate.

Darius Veryon, the leader of the faction, stood with his hands pressed against the table, his sharp features etched with frustration. "How could this happen? We gave explicit instructions, provided resources, and ensured that every possible contingency was covered. Yet the assassin failed."

A slender man with silver hair, known as Ivor Caelis, leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming impatiently on the armrest. "Failed is an understatement, Darius. The operation was a disaster. Not only did he fail to acquire LUX, but he also left Arath Syn alive. This incompetence is unacceptable."

Darius Veryon crossed his arms, his piercing gaze focused Maelis Vorn "You assured us he was the best. That he would get the job done."

Maelis shot him a cold look. "He is the best. His failure isn't due to lack of skill. Something must have gone wrong. We need answers before we decide our next move."

Selric Drayn, the oldest of the group, spoke in a gravelly voice, his tone laced with bitterness. "Answers won't undo the damage, Darius. The boy, Kael Lumenis, was gravely injured, but from what I've learned, he's still alive. And worse, it seems LUX has now been embedded into him."

Maelis's eyes widened. "They implanted it into the boy? Are they insane? Do they even realize the consequences?"

Ivor scoffed, his expression dark. "Of course they do. This was no impulsive decision. Ather Lumenis knew exactly what he was doing. He's turned his son into a living weapon. A symbol of defiance against us."

Darius's voice dropped to a dangerous tone. "It doesn't matter why they did it. What matters is that we have a new target. If LUX is now inside Kael, then we have no choice but to eliminate him."

Maelis frowned, her voice trembling with unease. "He's just a boy, Darius. Are we really prepared to take this step?"

"Do you think they considered his age when they embedded the most advanced piece of technology in existence into him?" Ivor snapped. "This isn't about morality, Maelis. This is about survival. If we don't act, LUX will tip the scales of power irreversibly."

Selric leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Agreed. But this time, we cannot afford another failure. The assassin must be made aware of the stakes."

---

The room fell silent as Darius activated a holographic communicator embedded into the table. A distorted figure appeared in the center, cloaked in shadow. The assassin 's voice was cold and mechanical, a result of the voice modulator in his helmet.

"You called," the assassin said, his tone devoid of emotion.

Darius didn't waste time. "Your mission was a failure. Care to explain why?"

"There were… complications," the assassin replied, his voice steady. "The security forces arrived earlier than anticipated. My exit strategy was compromised."

Ivor slammed a fist onto the table. "Complications? You had one job: eliminate Arath Syn and retrieve LUX. Instead, you left him alive and empty-handed. Do you understand the magnitude of your failure?"

The assassin 's voice remained unshaken. "I understand perfectly. But I also know that without my skills, you wouldn't have gotten as far as you did. The failure was circumstantial, not due to incompetence."

Maelis interjected, her tone icy. "Spare us the excuses. LUX is no longer in Arath Syn's possession. It's been embedded into Kael Lumenis. Do you know what that means?"

The assassin tilted his head slightly. "The target has changed."

Darius's eyes gleamed with determination. "Precisely. Your new mission is to retrieve LUX from the boy and eliminate him. This must be done swiftly and cleanly. No room for error this time."

The assassin was silent for a moment. "The boy's condition?"

"He survived the operation, but barely," Selric said. "He'll likely be under heavy protection, especially now that Ather Lumenis knows we're after them."

"Then it won't be easy," the assassin replied. "The risk has increased. My fee will reflect that."

Ivor's jaw tightened. "You have the audacity to negotiate after your failure?"

"It's not negotiation," the assassin said coldly. "It's compensation for the increased difficulty of the mission. You want results? Then you pay the price."

Darius's voice was a low growl. "Fine. You'll get your fee. But understand this: if you fail again, there won't be a third chance."

The assassin 's distorted laugh echoed through the chamber. "Understood. Send me the details."

The hologram flickered out, leaving the room in heavy silence.

---

Maelis broke the quiet, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "We're playing a dangerous game, Darius. If this fails again…"

"It won't," Darius said sharply. "It can't. This time, we leave nothing to chance."

Ivor nodded. "We need to tighten our surveillance. If Ather moves Kael, we need to know immediately. We can't let them slip through our fingers again."

Selric's expression darkened. "And what of Arath Syn? He's still alive, and he's the one who knows how to replicate LUX. He's just as much of a threat as the boy."

"One step at a time," Darius said. "The boy is the priority. Without LUX, Syn's knowledge is meaningless. Once the chip is back in our hands, we'll deal with him."

Maelis hesitated. "And if the boy survives?"

"He won't," Darius said coldly. "The assassin will make sure of that."

Ivor stood, his chair scraping against the floor. "Then let's ensure he has everything he needs to succeed. This is our last chance to regain control. Failure is not an option."

The others nodded in agreement, though unease lingered in their eyes. The stakes had never been higher, and the cost of failure was unthinkable.

As they dispersed, Darius remained seated, his gaze fixed on the darkened holographic table. The game was far from over, and he intended to win at all costs.