Cecily Earnheart ran through the halls of the mansion, sticking to the walls. The memory of their final plan spiraled through her head.

---

"Cecily and Magnus go in first," Zephyr had told her, told all of them. "Magnus, stick to the shadows and keep an eye on the target. Make sure he moves according to the pattern. Cecily, stay close to Magnus but let him lead you. He knows more about covert thing like this than you. If anything happens I want you to make sure both of you get out of their safe." He looked to Reiko and Alma. "Alma, I want you with me, outside. We'll stay close to the walls, the back walls, in case anything goes wrong. Reiko, you're our guard. If anyone notices us, you need to take care of them."

Of course, the foreign guard had something to say about that and the prince let him fume.

"That's it? You just want me to be you and the Saint's guard? No, I should be inside with the two of them."

"To do what?" The prince countered. "Draw the attention of the entire mansion? Look, Rei, the guards change every hour and they move in the same patterns. The doors are left without anyone looking for milliseconds. We only have enough space for barely two people to fit in there. Magnus is used to this kind of thing and Cecily's small. You? You're neither of those things.

"What you are good at is fighting. Up close and personal. For this one, I think it'd be best if you stayed with us." A smile crossed the prince's lips. "Besides, who else is supposed to have my back?"

Instead of a lion, she saw the prince as more of a silver tongued snake with golden scales that loved to flaunt his shiny color. Of course she'd already labeled the group. Alma Reebank was the rabbit. Orion Magnus made for a convincing hawk. And the foreigner, Reiko? She didn't like him much, sometimes. Other times he provided entertainment. Still, he made for a decently convincing She saw him as a type of dog, almost. Not a wolf, she completely hated those mutts. Maybe a bear? Yeah, a bear.

"Now," Zephyr said, drawing her back to the boring human reality of things, "Orion, since Cecily has less experience in this than you I need you to guide her through it. Maybe talk through the basics of what you need her to do tonight. But both of you follow need to get to Francis Pugh's study. It's the only place where he's completely unguarded. While you do that, I'll be hacking through his systems and playing all the footage on momentary loops wherever you'll be, including the study."

Her and the assassin gave a nod.

Later that night, Orion attempted to talk her through the basics of a covert operation.

---

The blades that platted Cecily's non-titanium am were a comfort, along with the single sword that was tied to her waist and the two axes across her back.

She'd gotten looks of discomfort from each and every one of her team when she was arming herself, but didn't really care. She was comfortable again.

She stopped, obeying Orion's command who was an entire hallway in front of her.

She heard the footsteps before she saw Orion's signal and was already against the wall. Her breathing slowed and she blended in, not standing too stiffly that she'd twitch, but lightly so that she wouldn't move.

She watched a single maid stroll past, oblivious to the two outsiders inside, before turning the corner and following Orion to the next hall.

---

Orion wasn't sure if the killer was used to things like this or just naturally skilled, but when it came to hiding in the shadows, she was verging on his masters levels.

He held out his hand, stopping her again when the sound of footsteps and clanking armor came from deep in the halls. His back pressed against the walls and he went silent, slowing his breathing while they passed and then turned the opposite way.

"Take a left up here," the crown prince said through his earbud, "and then it's the first door on the right."

Orion followed the simple orders without a hitch, easily maneuvering the girl following behind him.

He waited for a second, and then the guards in front of the door were moving in the opposite direction. He gave Cecily the sign they'd made for hurry and she was running towards him.

The door clicked when it opened, making Orion cringe, but he had no choice but to rush inside.

And there was Francis Pugh. An older man with a thin layer of white covering his chin and cheeks leading to a surprisingly full head of white hair. Late fifties, if he had to guess.

The most surprising part of this was that the man had a sword pointed at both of them.

"I've been waiting for this day," the man said, "waiting for the day the King sent his little pampered son after me. Ever since I signed against the Free Man Act. Of course, the King hated me before, but the Free Man Act was what brought this on. And this is what they send after me? I am Francis Booncela Pugh and he truly believes two kids can kill me? The arrogance of that pampered little-"

"Are we done now?" Cecily said from besides Orion, looking more than bored. "The monologue thing, I mean. Are we done?"

"You insolent little shit! Don't you interrupt me!"

Cecily turned to Orion. "Can I kill him now?"

Even while he nodded, Orion could see the girl listening into her com. Probably the prince going on about some tradition.

---

"No, Cecily," the prince had barked into her ear. "It's tradition that he gets a chance to drop his title as a noble and be shipped off to a foreign country where he can live in peace."

"But are you hearing this monologue?"

"Unfortunately every insolent fool that has ever met Francis Booncela Pugh has heard the speech. It's kind of part of his self introduction. But look, you or Orion beat him up and then give him the offer. No killing without my saying so or if he absolutely refuses."

Cecily looked at Orion, "Me or you?"

---

Honestly, as much as he wanted to fight, he placed feeling the girl out first. The way she walked through the foliage on the way here give him the impression that she was a true hunter. The way she left no real sound when she walked. Even the way she stood casually somewhat resembled a fighting stance, of sorts.

"You go ahead."

As terrifying as her presence could be, hunting skills wouldnt be enough. The criminals in th prison that she may have killed were nothing compared to those of people trained by real masters.

Then she dropped, her stance changing entirely when she charged. Low with long strides, perfect. Her hand was already on her sword and, somehow, she'd already moved Pugh's sword with her own.

When he thought the attack was already over, Pugh pulled a short sword from behind his back and drove it forward, in attack.

Orion didnt have time to react. The girl was about to get stabbed and he couldn't-

She ducked, letting the longsword and shortsword swing over her. Her fist caught him fast in the stomach and, with increadable power, he wass bouncing back with a distinctive pop that Orion guessed was a broken rib.

The man wass flat down, holding his chest with his hand and letting out pathetic groans of pain. Cecily was stalking over to him while sheathing her sword, not so much as a drop of sweat on her forehead. Orion was standing by the door, his mouth a bit open and his eyes wide, all the features that he'd spent years training, gone in an instant.

"Orion?" A voice said in his ear. "Is everything okay?"

"She did it," he replied into the com.

"What?"

"Cecily. She already did it. "Pugh's on the ground and she's threatining him now."

"I'd tell you to take care of that part but from what I can hear in the com, I think she's got him shitting his pants."

Orion nodded, listening to the girl threats while her foot rested on his ribs.

---

Back at the base, Cecily was sitting on their couch, happily sipping on a cup of tea. One out of twenty-three down. That left twenty-two more people standing between her and her money. And she hasn't even had to kill anyone yet.

She let out a sigh as she sunk into the couch.

The others were scattered about the main room, all relaxing.

Except Orion who was striding over to her.

And then he stood over her, rusty brown hair a bit ruffled and pale arms crossed.

"Spar with me."