Footsteps!

Her eyes widen after waking from her alert state-like sleep, the sound she long awaited for of the prey walking straight into her claws. Yet something was odd about her prey, it was large, very large. The inn had been over all quiet since her arrival, in fact it had been suspiciously too silent.

A sharp knock banged on the door, "You are to go with us to the barracks for identifying yourself."

She knew instantly she had failed again and the worst part was she knew not how she had failed, but this Zilian knew she came and had laid a trap for her. She is the Assassin General of the Mountain Empire, her stealth is of no match and never before has she ever failed. And yet he had outwitted her, something that she hated.

Clenching her fist, she ran with a furious roar to the window. The door behind her tore open as the guards of the city ran to subdue her. As she leapt out the window, she grabbed on to the window frame and slung herself onto the rooftop. She looked back down to where the guards stood, signaling at her as they called for reinforcement. She was not going to waste her time here, she would kill off the entire city if she had to but that was not her mission and the mission was all that mattered. Time was of the essence, so she sprinted for the nearest gate. They had seen her and so the damage was done, so stealth now no longer mattered.

She ran across the rooftops as if she were simply tearing through plains of grass. The gate appeared across the horizon of rooftops, she was just a matter of seconds away from escape. Looking down at the road below her, she saw the guards chasing her vigorously even though they were far behind and stood no chance in catching her. She somersaulted down to the road, stably keeping up her speed the whole time despite the maneuver. The guards at gate posts just now took note of the commotion she made, forcing themselves up their seats and hastily closing the door on her.

If they closes me in here, I will kill them both. She silently swore to herself.

Unlatching the blade from her back, she spun it and sent a powerful burst of wind that propelled her forwards as an arrow. She slipped right through the doors just as they closed right behind her, increasing her lead as they were trying to open it again to continue chasing after her.

"They never learn." She commented to herself.

She continued to attain her distance between her and the city, crossing the fringes of their boundaries so she could make her report. She pulled out a small scroll from her sleeve, writing down an account of the events of the day. It pained her to put into writing how she progressed into nearing the capture of Zilian, but ending with her utter failure in securing him. Rolling up her finished report, she whistled and an eagle swooped from the trees. She stroked his head and secured the message in the pack strapped to the eagle's back, then the bird swooped away as she lifted her hand high.

~---~

The sound of a sword slicing through the thin air echoed deep in a large hollowed-out chamber, hidden in the grand city atop of the Mountain for training. The potential of the blades were truly unbelievable, leading the other empires to believe them to be no more than a rumor. Just as he intended, the blades and project were kept well hidden.

Malie holds his right blade up high and flexes, alighting the sword in brilliant flames. The heat radiates out and he flips forward to strike the ground. The fire moves from the sword to the ground, leaving a burning trail in its wake as it moves to a target dummy placed off the distance. It crashes into the target in a burning frenzy, the flames then bursting upwards in an explosion that consumes the unfortunate prop completely.

He then lifts his left sword and brings forth a pool of water from the sword, and with a flick of his weapon he forms a water barrier of it around him. With another flick to direct the blade, the barrier breaks up and tears forward with intent force. This target is not a wooden dummy, but a solid stone boulder. It crashes into it initially with a large splash, but the stone shatters into rocky splinters and dust.

Malie is satisfied with his progress thus so far with the blades, sheathing them back into the folds after doing an impressive sword spin in his hand. He walks gracefully back to the stone stairs, taking a break from his training to attend to his duties in the political world. A sole part he now missed after becoming emperor was taking the lead in battle and being revered by his comrades while striking fear into the hearts of the enemy.

Many unexpected turns of events had occurred in the past year, starting with the capture of Shavo Ainn. The fool had made it impossible to give any information of the sword’s whereabouts or bearer, he would not even tell where he had been. However, that mattered little now since a boy going by his father’s name had claimed to be its bearer, and that was not even a month ago. Not too long after they had learned of the Earth blade’s location, but had failed to attain that one too.

Those blades were his final roadblock and would certainly prove to be a major hindrance, he wanted to prevent any intervention these blades could become. They had eluded him all these years, but not anymore. That was if Kathryn would clean up the mess she had left ever since failing with the Earth blade’s capture, and the disaster that had happened since the necessary death of a farmer. All that was left now was time, and he expected Kathryn to be on her way back with the boy now.

As he climbed the stairs and exited, a messenger approached him with a bow and an extended scroll in hand. "My Lord, I come with a sealed messaged from the Assassin General. For your eyes alone it has been sealed."

He smiled and took the scroll, "Very well, go on." He dismissed him which he bowed again before leaving. After being dismissed, he left to return to his post at the message tower.

Malie was pleased since Kathryn must have captured the blade and perhaps even the bearer. Breaking the wax seal to unroll the scroll, he read the report in earnest. His pleasure quickly dissipated, she had failed in attaining either the boy or blade and even worse had been discovered.

"Gra-a-agh!" He growled and tossed the scroll down the stairs he came from.

He then punched the column to his right, exploding it into thousands of pieces. He lifted his clenched hands in the air, not even a scratch on him and had not felt the least bit of pain. Just anger from the failure of Kathryn, he swore to himself that he would not permit another failure. She had risked everything they had sought to achieve, molding the future for a perfect world.

He huffed quickly to the war chambers, bursting the doors wide open and interrupting a meeting. He was met with curious and surprised glances, they were not expecting him to be here.

"Is there a problem Malie?" Asked Endein as he curiously rose a brow.

He did not bother to explain himself, "Syn," He pointed at him. "You are assigned to track down the blades."

Syn straightened himself in surprise, "Really? Sorry, I mean, which ones should I go after? The Earth I presume, as Kathryn is chasing the Lighting."

"You choose whatever you see fit. I want those blades discovered and you are to report to me right away when you do find them and their bearers, do I make myself clear?"

He bowed his head, "Resoundingly clear, My Lord."

He noticed the shock in the wide eyes of the other Generals, and he knew why since he usually detailed how he wants things to be done. He rarely left a mission simply to the discretion of others. He gave these privileges to Endein and Kathryn but never before had he done so with Syn. Admittedly, Syn may not had been the best choice for this circumstance, but he was an excellent young General. If this had given Syn anything, it was a chance to prove himself which meant no failures. He left the room feeling secure in the fact that he had made the right call, he needed to regain the lost ground.