The Serpent’s Ledger

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over House Valerius as Kai and his team approached under the cover of darkness. The estate loomed before them—opulent yet foreboding, its grand architecture casting long shadows across manicured gardens. Every step they took was deliberate, their breathing controlled, their nerves sharpened by the weight of what they were about to do.

Kai adjusted the grip on his sword hilt, his pulse steady but alert. This was it—the culmination of weeks of planning, whispers exchanged in dark corners, and coded messages delivered through secret channels. If Lysandra Valerius had the proof they needed to tie her to Aric's war efforts, it would be in her private study.

Mira moved ahead, her figure blending seamlessly with the night, her dark hair tucked beneath the hood of her cloak. "Stay close," she whispered, barely audible. "We don't have long before the patrols shift."

They reached a wrought-iron gate leading to the side entrance. Anya crouched down, picking the lock with swift, practiced movements. Within seconds, there was a faint click, and the door eased open.

They slipped inside.

The hallway was suffused with the scent of polished wood and aged parchment. Portraits of Valerius ancestors lined the walls, their stern gazes almost accusatory. A grand chandelier above them flickered slightly, casting uneven shadows. The opulence of the manor was undeniable, but there was something oppressive in its silence, as if the very walls held secrets too dangerous to be spoken aloud.

Noctis motioned ahead. "The study is this way," he murmured.

The estate was eerily empty. House Valerius had left to celebrate with Arlic, and the servants had been given the night off. There would be no unexpected interruptions—except from whatever security Lysandra had left behind.

Moving swiftly but cautiously, they navigated past marble columns and intricately carved doors. A distant murmur of voices echoed through the halls—guards stationed elsewhere in the estate. They had minutes at best before someone would notice something amiss.

Finally, they reached the heavy wooden doors of Lysandra's study. Mira pressed her ear against the wood, listening. Silence.

Kai nodded. "We move."

Anya eased the door open just enough for them to slip inside. The room was grand yet severe—walls lined with towering bookshelves, a mahogany desk at its center cluttered with documents, quills, and a still-smoldering candle. Thick velvet drapes hung over the windows, muting the silver glow of the moon.

"Spread out," Kai instructed in a hushed voice. "Look for anything we can use."

Mira moved toward the desk, her gloved fingers flipping through the stacks of papers. Rolf positioned himself by the door, sword in hand, keeping watch. Anya began scanning the bookshelves, running her fingers along the spines as if searching for hidden compartments.

Minutes passed in tense silence. The sound of rustling parchment and shallow breathing filled the room.

Then, Kai found it.

A ledger, its cover marked with the Valerius crest—a silver serpent coiled around a black dagger, set against a crimson shield—tucked beneath a stack of correspondence. He flipped it open, his eyes scanning the contents—detailed shipments of weapons, funds transferred to mercenary factions sworn to Aric. Proof.

"Mira! Anya! Rolf!" he called softly, holding up the ledger triumphantly.

But before they could allow hope to take root, an ominous chime resonated through the air—a sharp, unnatural sound that sent chills down their spines and shattered their fleeting optimism like glass.

Mira stiffened. "That wasn't us."

Anya's face paled. "A security ward. We tripped something."

A moment of dread passed between them before a distant voice shouted.

"They've found us!" Rolf cursed, already drawing his blade.

A thunderous crash echoed from the hall. Footsteps pounded against marble floors. The heavy doors burst open, revealing armed guards spilling into the room.

Steel gleamed in the dim torchlight.

"Move!" Kai shouted, lunging forward to intercept the first attacker. Their blades met with a sharp clang, the force reverberating through his arms.

Mira dodged to the side, drawing her dagger in a single, fluid motion. A guard lunged at her, but she sidestepped, pivoting on her heel before driving her blade into the soft gap of his armor. He crumpled with a strangled gasp.

Anya ducked as another swung at her, rolling beneath the arc of his blade before sweeping his legs out from under him. "We need to get out of here now!"

More footsteps thundered from the hallway. Reinforcements were coming.

"Window—now!" Mira barked, already moving.

Rolf shoved a bookshelf forward, blocking the doorway just as more guards tried to push through.

Kai grabbed the ledger and sprinted after Mira. Anya had already reached the window, throwing it open to reveal the balcony beyond. The garden stretched below—at least a two-story drop, but survivable.

One by one, they leaped.

Kai hit the ground in a crouch, rolling to absorb the impact. Mira landed beside him, her breath controlled, her expression unreadable. Rolf and Anya followed a heartbeat later.

Behind them, shouting erupted from the manor. Lights flared to life. The estate was awake, and the hunt had begun.

"This way!" Anya hissed, leading them into the winding hedges of the garden.

They sprinted through the maze of greenery, moving like shadows against the moonlit night. Their lungs burned, their hearts pounded, but they didn't stop.

As they disappeared into Astra's underbelly, Kai tightened his grip on the ledger. They had the proof—but in Astra's shadows, unseen forces were already moving against them.