“You were taught speed, prowess, cunning, and strength. All things in which you have become adept. In our most dire of times, you proved your loyalty. Where Elucard failed, you will succeed. Inle Ebonpath, will you be my First Blade?”

Inle knelt before Legion and Ryjin. This was the proudest moment of his life—to become the successor of his master, Elucard. However, this day could only have been better if Elucard were there to see him. He raised his face, covered by the battle-scarred clown mask, and spoke four simple words, “Yes, my High Blade.”

Legion’s eyes were emotionless. Without Elucard, he no longer had the same passion for life that he once had. He failed as a teacher and he failed as a father. His son had turned against him and had attempted to destroy everything that he held dear. The philosophies that he thought Elucard lived by were spat upon and disregarded. A betrayal he knew was inevitable after Jetta’s death. He once wondered how a single push could be enough to corrupt a mind. Presumably the same way that a single pull could save a mind. Legion shook away his thoughts.

“Then arise, Inle, and stand by my side,” Legion said, nodding to the shadow elf.

“This is a great honor. I shall not let my clan down!”

Ryjin stood and walked over to the new First Blade, “Look at you, Inle. Be proud of yourself. Many would give anything to experience even a fragment of a moment such as this, child. Do not let those who would frown upon your accomplishment burden you.”

“My Silent Master, why would they frown?” Inle asked, a hint of sadness and confusion mixed in his voice.

“Inle, you were the student of the traitorous Elucard. Despite your former master’s death, his mark was left on the clan. Eight died that night, twelve more injured. He took my hand. All because we tried to free him. And how did he repay us? How did he repay you?”

Inle felt the scars over his body flare as he remembered how Elucard looked at him with sheer spite. How he chewed up Inle’s love confession and spat it into the dirt. He stomped on his heart, on his friendship, and on the bond they had.

“I am not Elucard,” Inle sneered.

“No, you are not, but the clan does not fully trust you,” Ryjin croaked, “They don’t know you like I do, Inle. They do not yet see your dedication.”

“How can I prove my loyalty?”

Ryjin smiled, “I am sending you to Lost Dawns. You are to find King Koda and take his royal signet. Be sure to confront him and send a message. Do not kill him, just send a message.”

Inle nodded at the directions, “What will be the message, my master?”

“The Black Rabbits still control Long Whisper.”

***

Elisa waited outside the Silent Master’s quarters, straining to pick up any information that she could. However, she only caught bits and pieces, nothing of any use. She had been back with the Black Rabbits for two weeks now, flabbergasted by how much everything had changed. Any friend that she once had was either gone, dead, or saw her as no more than a stranger. Even the Rabbits she had recruited no longer acknowledged her as a Rabbit. She had spent too much time away from her clan to be of any use to the White Cloaks.

The quarters opened up and Inle walked out. From what she heard, he was the one who killed Avren. A feat that, although she despised him for, was actually a badge of honor amongst her clan.

She bowed to him, but he did not seem to take notice of her.

“Typical. Even the clown sees me as a ghost,” mumbled Elisa.

“How are you adjusting to life back in the clan, Elisa?” a voice called out to her.

Elisa looked up to find Legion standing in front of her. Legion had always been the quiet sort. She never worked with him, but he respected her all the same.

“It goes slowly, High Blade,” she muttered truthfully.

“You were a prisoner of the White Cloaks for years, I’m surprised they didn’t hang you. You were tasked with infiltrating Lost Dawns. Had it not been for your relationship with Vada, we’d have sent a Rabbit to assassinate you.”

Vada, just another friend lost to the winds. She was once Elisa’s best friend in the clan. She personally recommended Elisa for the job in Long Whisper.

“I never broke. They must have admired that,” Elisa replied, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

“And Koda just let you go?”

“Well…” Elisa had not thought this far into her lie, “When the White Cloaks dissolved, the soldiers that took over were going to hang me, but I managed to escape. The guards that the fools stuck me with had a drinking problem. Not to mention I had other tools at the ready.” Elisa slowly ran her hand from her inner thigh, up along her exposed stomach, before resting it sensually in the cleft of her breasts.

Legion was somewhat taken aback, “I see. It’s good to have you back. We’ll try to find some work suited for a veteran such as yourself.”

Elisa held a weird and wiry smile until Legion left. She exhaled a long breath, sinking into the shadows. It seemed the difficult task of regaining the trust of the clan was yet before her.