Author's Note:

Thanks to all those who voted and/or expressed their opinions. It was a huge help. Sadly for that I don't have a very good chapter. I had much planned for this but it just didn't go the way I wanted it to. Hopefully, it's not too bad. Enjoy

Characters

Titles and Abilities

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Ace watched in cold fascination as Monthu with Par in hand pushed forward. They made their way to one of the front tables, right before the dais. It was to the left of Ace but he could see them clear enough anyway.

Monthu was dressed in a new armour. It was made of black leather pieces put one over the other and held by silver hooks. There were also a few decorating fasteners but it was mostly a fighting gear. Not one made to show off, though it kind of did that too.

The guy looked imposing in it even without any weapon in hand. His glare only adding to that image.

He was looking around but hadn’t yet noticed him. He was dressed up as Silver Wing, but Ace knew better than to believe he won’t be recognised. It was a thought he didn’t want to dwell on so he shifted his gaze back to the table.

Par sat next to Monthu and was playing with Claw. The little bird didn’t want to sit on the shining new red cloak. One that was held by a golden brooch under the kid’s neck. Ace could see a black robe underneath and wondered what it meant. Since when was Par dressing up in dark colours?

He was about to take a look at the other members, when Monthu turned his way. Without thought Ace turned away in an instant and didn’t look back. That part of his life was over. He was done with that group.

Ace was dead and gone.

“Is everything okay?” L asked, noticing the way Ace’s shoulders rose in a defensive gesture. The glare was the only answer and he decided to keep his quiet. He had to remember it was a wild beast next to him, no longer a human being.

He waited a while longer before deciding that all the needed guests were present. It was time to make his speech and earn the support he needed.

His eyes glanced at the red haired kid beside him and he smiled. It was an unexpected thing that he had arrived but could be used to threaten some lords. No one would dare to go against the notorious assassin.

Even Marion with his armies wasn’t as scary as the kid. What were all the political powers worth against a creature that could kill all the politicians? He was sure the mere presence of Silver Wing in this gathering would send a better message than anything he might say.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to do his part. He stood up, outstretching his hands in a welcoming manner. Long white sleeves fell to his sides, reaching the ground almost. “Welcome everyone! I am very happy to see so many of you here! After all, today is the day of new beginnings!”

There was some grumbling from the crowd but he pretended not to hear it. “Everyone knows that soon there is going to be a war. For a long while now people have been choosing sides, guessing who is going to win. Or who has the strongest allies.

“That is why I would like you to officially meet a friend of mine,” he motioned to Wing sitting like a statue next to his throne like chair. “We have been in contact for some time but now we have worked out a deal that fits both of us.” He smiled then, giving a good long look to all those that had been planning to run away from him.

Their eyes instantly darted towards the kid who moved in his seat. Wing stood up and walked forward, dark blue cloak hiding most of his form. Only his red hair and clear blue eyes could be seen.

He stopped next to L, who glanced at him with a calculating gaze. He wasn’t sure what the kid was planning but it couldn’t be betrayal. Their contract was still in place as far as he knew.

“Cowards,” Wing said. It wasn’t shouted out. No, it was hardly a whisper. Yet everyone heard. The words travelled through the whole room, earning glares and disgusted looks for their owner.

But they made themselves true. No sound was uttered in disagreement or hand raised. No one dared to oppose.

Wing turned, ready to walk away when a dagger flew his way. A figure from the shadows dashed through the guests, jumping on Wing’s back. But he wasn’t unprepared. As if only expecting that, he whirled around with a dagger to block the attack.

Sparks flashed as steel met.

L rushed backwards, to stand next to his huge chair. It’s back hid most of him and that was the point. He didn’t want to be killed by a stray attack. He would trust the kid not to kill him on purpose but saving his life was a whole different matter.

When he was sure he was safe, he turned his attention back to the fight. Wing’s opponent looked to be older, around twenty. He had his hood down, showing raven black hair and youthful features.

His movements were swift and precise, tight black clothes only aiding him. They allowed him to move freely while Wing’s cloak was impeding him. Or not. The more L watched the more he understood that it wasn’t the clothes that were going to determine the fight’s outcome.

Wing was simply a less skilled dagger fighter. His moves were even quicker than his opponent’s but they lacked polish. They didn’t flow one from the other. At least not as much as his opponent’s did.

It made L clench his teeth. Silver Wing was a renowned assassin, he was the best. What was this then? How could some unknown guy come and defeat him like this?

It was a disgrace and in the party, right before everyone’s eyes. He punched the throne. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go! He had planned for so long and Wing had been a centrepiece in all of those plans! Or more like fear of him.

Sometimes a show of power held more meaning than the true thing.

Sure, he could order a few deaths and some fear would return but it wouldn’t be the same. Wing was so scary because he wasn’t defeated. Not once had he been caught or lost a fight. Every single time he was about to lose, he found a way to turn the situation his way.

That was what made him a legend.

And now he was going to be defeated by some unknown rogue. It was shameful. A disgrace. And at the worst time possible.

L closed his eyes. He couldn’t let this continue but he couldn’t interfere either. That would be the worst possible thing. ‘Think, think, think! There has to be a way to save this situation!’

“Is it my turn to have fun now?” Wing asked in a low voice, not sounding out of breath at all. L opened his eyes to see something from a horror tale.

Wing jumped on air, disappearing from sight and then appearing behind his opponent. When the guy whirled around Wing was gone again, a trickle of smoke left behind. He was at the top now, diving down.

His dagger made a long slash on the guy’s face before Wing was gone again. Stab that was coming for him hitting air. The guy then whirled around to find Wing but he was nowhere in sight.

L looked around too, taking deep breaths. He took notice of all the people closest but none wore a blue cloak. Neither could he see anyone hanging on the tapestries above or hiding behind the side pillars near the walls. It was as if Wing had disappeared all together.

This made his opponent grow wearier by the second. He was turning and shifting feet, hoping to get a glance of the enemy. But it wasn’t to happen.

Then the guy calmed down, at least outwardly. He stopped his movements and closed his eyes, standing motionless. The whole audience sat or stood just as still, letting him hear the merest hitch of breath.

It was a good plan but L noticed a problem in it, right the moment Wing used it. One didn’t hear a crack in the air when Wing changed his position. It was magic and not quick movements.

That’s why when the rogue heard Wing’s movements, it was already too late. The dagger was slicing through his chest, cutting the flash. The guy screamed at that, jerking back and Wing let him.

He smiled one of his maniacal smiles, eyes shining red and jumped in the air. The guy tried to guess from where his opponent would come but it was a wasted effort.

How could one fight against someone to whom laws of physics didn’t apply?

Wing was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. He was so in-tune with his powers that he started one motion activating one skill and finishing with another. It was a marvellous thing to watch. And horrifying at the same time.

All the other guy could do was flail around in a vain hope to accidentally hit Wing. It helped him none that he was a master of daggers. This then begged a question what a normal person could do.

Cold sweat ran down L’s back. He hadn’t known who he had been playing with. It wasn’t just a devil, but The Devil. Someone he should have left alone for it were powers he couldn’t control.

Yet a shaky smile made its way on his lips. This was excitement. He had entered the game expecting to just play around, pass the time but this was much more. Adrenaline was rushing through his veins and his head was full of plans to use this devil before him.

It was the best thing ever. He had never thought he’ll ever feel it again without endangering his life, but here it was. That fear mixed with excitement.

With shining eyes he returned his sight to the fight.

In the few seconds he hadn’t been watching, it had turned into a torture. The previously black clothed guy was now covered in stab wounds, red dripping all over. His right hand hung limp while the left moved in slow motion.

Wing on the other hand was still flashing all around. It didn’t seem like he had tired out at all.

This made L take a breath. What was happening before him was a demonstration of power. Wing had showed them that he might not be the best fighter in skills, but he was much more than that. He didn’t play by the rules, whether those were men or nature made.

That was his strength, and he was something greater like that. He wasn’t just another assassin. Not in the slightest.

Some might think that showing his powers like that he was asking to be defeated but that was doubtful. L couldn’t imagine how one was to train against someone like him. He hadn’t heard about anyone else having such skills as those.

Training machines might help but there was a limit to them. You could become the best at them and still lose against a half-decent fighter. There was more to fighting than just swinging your weapon in the correct order. You have to read your opponent, his movements.

Wing hit the final strike with the back of his hand and the opponent fell. He struggled a few times to stand up but there was no energy left in him. Breathing heavily he resigned to his fate.

Wing squatted down next to him then and whispered something in his ear. It made the man raise his head, trying to look up with the eye that didn’t want to open. “You sure?” he wheezed out and Wing nodded.

A shadow of the smile appeared on the man’s face and Wing stabbed him in the heart. He then watched the man disappear in a puff of smoke and returned to his seat as if nothing had happened.

L stood still for a moment, but as nothing changed he had to do something. Without much planning, he put a a smile on his face and went to the front of the dais. “I hope you took good notice of what transpired moments ago. It was an important lesson for some people.”

“Is that a threat?” an elder man asked from the back. He was one of the older lords, too prideful to be afraid.

“Do you want it to be?” L asked, putting on a more comfortable smile. This was his battlefield, he knew what to do here.

The man grumbled in the back but didn’t continue the argument. L nodded to that and outstretched his hands to the sides again.

“This concludes the introduction then. I hope you will have a good time together.” He gave the troublemakers another look then before turning to the guild in the back. “However, this isn’t all the news today.”

He stepped down from the dais and moved through the tables. Important people sat in them, all of which nodded or even bowed at his presence. He then nodded back at them in acknowledgement or ignored depending on what would be a better gesture.

At the end of the room he stopped before Jackal, leader of the Draugar of Silver guild. He made a nod at the guy and he bowed at him along with his three companions. They then followed him back to the dais.

L then sat back down on his chair and was about to listen to Jackal’s speech when Wing stood up. He didn’t say a word and was about to leave. “Where are you going?” L hissed at him under his breath.

“Finish the job,” he answered with an exhale.

“You cannot leave now!” L tried again. “This is an important moment! I need you here!”

This made Wing stop in his tracks. He turned his freezing eyes at L. “I thought I had made it clear before, you don’t control me.”

“Of course not! However, you do work for me and I need you here! What will people think if you leave mid-ceremony?” L asked in a hard voice. It took a lot of will power to face the monster unblinking, but he wasn’t backing down.

This was his moment and he had to be strong. It couldn’t be seen that he couldn’t control his assets. That would hint at weakness and he had more than enough of those already.

“That I have work to do?”

L couldn’t refute that. It sounded very logical but he didn’t want Wing to leave. His mere presence was going to earn L more allies when all his talks and bribes put together.

Fear bound people faster than any other form of encouragement.

“Is it because of your students?” L asked Wing who was standing by his chair now. He had one hand on its back, watching L through the slits in the mask. “Can’t it be resolved without your interference?”

“It might,” he said to L’s annoyance. “Then can you please sit down? I need this to be perfect,” he ground out. There were curious glances being thrown their way from Jackal’s entourage.

The exchange was being blocked from the crowd by them but it wasn’t going to last. The three were shifting to see what they were doing, hear maybe and leaving spaces for people to see in the front.

“Sit down,” he hissed again. “Don’t make a scene now!”

“Why not?” asked Wing or more like Ace. There was an uncharacteristic lightness to the voice, a sparkle in previously emotionless eyes. Even his body movements changed, he put his hands on his hips and looked at L with a smirk. “What’s to stop me?”

L breathed a sigh inwardly. A kid was something he could deal with, much better than a killer. “Come, I’ll tell you the true reason behind this meeting.”

This was something he hadn’t shared with anyone but it was going to be revealed at the end of the party anyway. The fact that the kid would learn about it earlier would have little impact on it.

And the information seemed to interest him. He pouted and plopped on the seat, leaning against L’s chair. “So why have I been called here?”

“Out of courtesy,” L answered in a whisper. He leaned down on his right hand to pretend he was bored while in truth he wanted to be closer to the kid. Draugar guild members didn’t need to hear this information before time.

The kid’s smile turned mocking at the words. “I knew it was better that than have you barge in when I really didn’t need it. But anyway, this isn’t important. What matters is that your guild has a mission.”

“Mission?” Ace asked, leaning closer. He was so near that L could see the cracks in his iris, the way they all led to the black orb in the centre.

He looked away then, moving his eyes to the hall.

For all his mistakes leading the guild so far, Jackal had a way with the crowd. It was hard to say whether he was just so good at pretending or genuine, but the important thing was that he was good at it.

People were listening to him, entrapped by his voice. Their eyes were following his every motion while they laughed and smiled at his jokes, felt sad for the sorrier parts of the story he told.

It made obvious to L why Draugar hadn’t disbanded after finding out about Silver Wing. They were held by deeper bonds than most guilds and with this kind of leader... Who would ever want to leave?

“What mission?” Ace asked in a harsh whisper, poking L’s hand.

The tone made L shift his gaze back. “An important one,” he answered, not wanting to lose the kid yet. He wasn’t sure if he could keep him put then. “Do you know about the White Mountains?”

“White Mountains?” the boy asked, looking somewhere to the side. He stayed quiet for a few moments then before shaking his head. “No, never heard of it. What about them?”

“They are called that not for the snowy peaks but a certain mist that had surrounded them. It was so thick that no one dared to enter there and those few that did rarely returned. Monsters never seen anywhere else are said to dwell there.”

“Had surrounded?” the kid asked, noting the most important detail. He smiled then in the know. “It was my doing, wasn’t it?”

L gave him a half smile. “I have a feeling. These mountains circle around and come here from the lands where you released the spirit. It wasn’t made public but the mists have been seen receding since then.”

He saw an eyebrow raise of one of the guild members. Nein in a velvet robe stood half turned to Jackal, enraptured by his voice at first glance. However, L could see his attention was anywhere but at his guild leader.

It didn’t matter much that he listened in, but it annoyed L. He hated for his conversations to be overheard. From experience he knew it led only to tragedy, even if the listener looked innocent enough.

But there was nothing to do about it. They were in a crowded hall now and he had to keep the kid’s attention. That was the top priority. “Few have found it on their own and none dared to enter yet, but I know it won’t last long.

The kid nodded at that. “It won’t. And you want to be the one to reap the seeds of my labour.” L chuckled at that, hiding it behind a sleeve. “Your labour? If I remember correctly you weren’t too sure what you were doing yourself.”

“Isn’t that how it always is?” Ace asked as his smile brightened.

L rolled his eyes. “Only with you. Normal people have plans and follow them.”

“Pff. That’s for the weak minded.” He turned his eyes to the hall, ignoring Nein’s seeking gaze. “What fun is there if you go into a charted land?”

“Does that mean you’ll want to join the expedition?” L asked, turning to look at him, fearing the answer. A yes would be catastrophic, how could he make the guild let their killer join them? It could be done but the price, it would be too high.

The kid shook his head. “With them? They’re a boring lot.” He looked over them again. “Nope, no way. I’d rather stay with those idiots.”

It was clear to L what the kid had meant. “How are they?”

“I supposed it could be worse,” Ace answered with a shrug. “Though Wing...”

As he mentioned that, his eyes widened. It was like a veil was lifted from his eyes and he remembered who he was. That very same moment his eyes turned into icy slits, the smile disappearing from his face. He straightened in his chair and pushed away from L.

L knew it meant the conversation was over and turned away, happy the kid didn’t want to leave. At least for the moment.

He then listened in to Jackal who avoided the topic of Wing. He rather talked about the early days of the guild, how it was established, what it lived through and what this union with the city lord meant for them. It was supposed to be all good but L knew better.

All the money was in his hands. If he ever felt like the guild became useless to him, they would be forced to disband. Guild houses cost money, helping Wing’s victims brought zero income while members still needed new equipment and to buy allowances to dungeons.

Most of them had already been found and guilds took ownerships of them. Top ones fought wars to have the best ones, bullying their owners more often than not to gain them. Then they would use it only themselves or if they were only half-decent they would let others train there for a price.

That pay was never cheap but the weaker guilds couldn’t do much about it. They needed those dungeons to survive.

Draugar wasn’t in the most terrible situations. They were one of the largest guilds in Oradin so they had a few dungeons of their own. It was nice but because of lack of leadership they hadn’t taken full advantage of them. Or other dungeons found nearby that they could have taken over.

L planned to help them with that. He needed his own army and Draugar was going to become one.

There would need to be increased member gathering too but he didn’t think it would be too hard. The fact that Wing wouldn’t kill people of the guild or anyone in the city should be more than plenty of encouragement to make people join.

They had been afraid of him before. He was a well known legend but once today’s actions spread through the web, there was going to be a new panic. Dread flashed to life even in his heart, when he thought about it.

Wing was a dangerous being. That was one obvious truth. It mattered little whether you were on his side or not.

“I shall end my speech with a wish then. I hope we can all become allies and survive in these troubled times. Many monsters might stand in our way, but I believe we can persevere and make it through as humans. That’s what we were born as and chose to be. For humanity!” he shouted out and the crowd cheered.

There were a good dozen guild members and they screamed the loudest. Other guests stayed more reserved but there were players enough. All of which needed to express their emotions whatever the cause was given.

“Thanks for your brilliant words,” L said, clapping from his chair. Jackal turned around to bow again, but L waved it off. He stood up and took the man’s hand. “I hope we can make them come true.”

“We sure will try our best,” answered the man with a smile. He had friendly features and L found himself smiling back. Then he nodded and Jackal with his group stepped down. They didn’t walk back to their original position but instead stopped to the side of the dais, their backs to the wall.

Most of their looks were focused on Wing which he found dangerous. No matter how much of an asset Wing was, he couldn’t cause friction between himself and his future army. Something had to be done about it though L wasn’t sure what exactly for now.

And he had more pressing matters at the moment. He hadn’t expected Wing to show up so some unlucky guests had been invited.

Guild was only thing, they hated him in general. It were personal vendettas and such. Nothing too outstanding. But right before him sat people that had led him to Wing. If not for them, he would have never met the guy.

It would have been a damn shame but this situation could turn into something even worse.

The guild didn’t dare say anything but these people had known Wing personally. They had been friends and comrades for a long while. They knew more about him than anyone else.

For that they were searched for on the internet and persecuted in game. People couldn’t believe they hadn’t known about the monster at their side. They had travelled with him, for god’s sake.

Those people made L laugh at the words that humans were an intelligent species. They believed themselves to be the smartest, that they couldn’t be fooled. L might have been even on their side if he hadn’t met the kid himself.

Back then he hadn’t been so cold. He was the most brilliant of creatures. Those who now said that they had felt something wrong about him were all lying. It was obvious but many still believed them.

They needed it.

Else they would have to agree that everyone had been fooled by a kid. He had made fun of them and then laughed in their faces. Not receiving any repercussions.

That was too much for players and they pretended he was less than he was. And that’s why they hated his old companions. They thought them as his old accomplices for they held their tongues closed.

L wondered why it was so. They should have had many tales to tell, maybe they could even shed some light on his weaknesses. He wasn’t deluded that Wing had none, the guy was just very good at keeping them secret.

He walked towards the edge below which the four people stood. L smiled at them and motioned for them to step on the dais. “Welcome the heroes that had brought us support of Arenan village. It had eluded any political agreements but this group had managed to change their mind. Here comes Monthu, the renowned leader of Vascas castle’s reclaiming with Paradox, a fire mage. Right behind them is the lovely priestess Aurora and sharpshooter Hawk.”

The group shuffled up to stand at his sides. He turned to look at them and received a glare from the leader. “I thank you for the praise but it is not our achievement. A once comrade of ours by the name of Ace is to fault for the angel village’s agreement.”

That made the hall rumble in disgust. L rather turned his eyes to the kid sitting next to his chair. Wing didn’t seem to have taken notice of anything. He sat with his crystal like eyes facing forward, not a muscle twitching on his face.

“Mind you expand on the tale then? We would all be delighted to hear it then,” L said, knowing that this was the only way to get it out. These people wouldn’t talk with him in private, they didn’t even want meet him, and Wing himself was out of the question.

This made Monthu glance back at the kid. There was no reaction in his demeanour so the guy turned to the crowd. “As you wish,” he said, standing taller. Par came to take his brother’s hand and L saw a flash of sadness in the guy’s eyes. It was gone as soon as it came, but it had been there.

“We had went there as per your request. The village elder welcomed us and because of an angel bracelet possessed by my brother, we were asked to try a summoning. It should have ended in nothing but Ace had decided to crash the party.”

A small smile lifted the corner of his mouth up. “It wasn’t anything unusual. He liked to disappear and then come from nowhere, messing everything up. Illusions was also his specialization.

“So he created an angel of death in his own image. The elder didn’t know the truth and was overjoyed to have met a Fallen. He then said a few words which angered the illusion. Elder was horrified by that, he was afraid of the repercussions and instantly took his life.

“His second in command then explained that this was an honourable way to go. No one should ever disrespect an angel, especially a Fallen. Because of that he also abandoned all plans of tricking us and agreed to everything we suggested. Ace had left by then and we hadn’t seen him till now.”

L followed the story watching the emotionless mask of Wing’s face and calm voice of Monthu. Neither seemed to have been part of that story. It felt like this was an age old tale, recounted for his benefit.

“That is one interesting tale. I wish we could have been there and seen it. It would be a treat to see a Fallen,” he said in a joyful tune, smiling widely and ready to motion them away. This was going a bit anticlimactic, but he wasn’t going to complain. “But thanks for the tale anyway. You can return to your places now.”

He heard cloth rustling behind himself and whirled to to see what was happening. Wing had the same, frozen stare, but he had stood up. “You want to see a Fallen?” he asked, taking a step closer. “I’ll show it to you then.”

Black wings unfurled from his back as his hair turned brown and grew to fall over his eyes. Eyes that were no longer the only feature visible. The mask was gone, revealing white flesh and a small nose. Thin lips didn’t smile as colour washed down the cloak. L could see it turning black from top to bottom.

The kid then put the cowl on his face and rose in the air. His wings beat a steady rhythm, creating waves of angry wind. It pushed against the people, making them stagger.

L himself had to move away to stay on his feet. He then raised his head to stare at the eyes of the devil. Instead of pupils there was darkness there only, the whole eye being a black hole.

Wing then flew closer, stopping right before the group. “Ace is dead. Forget that name. He was a creation that outlived its usefulness.”

“No!” screamed out the kid. He reached to touch Wing, but at the same time silver flashed, his brother pulled him out of harm’s way. “You can’t say that..” the kid cried out, pointing at Wing. He didn’t seem to understand he was taunting a hungry lion.

But before Wing could reply the kid burst into tears. “Ace is my friend...”

There was a mocking smile on Wing’s face at that admission. “Ace was a lie. He was an illusion to fool the unwary. It is of your own weakness that you have believed in it.” He then turned around, raising in the air.

For a moment he hovered at the top, looking through the painted windows at the night world. And then he was off. Flying down and dropping next to the exit. As he moved feathers fell off his wings, leaving a trail of blackness no one dared to follow.