As soon as I step through the portal, I let out a slow breath, steadying myself. The carriage is already waiting, its wheels creaking as I climb in. King Belfour sits inside, arms crossed, watching me closely as I settle across from him. The portal hums shut behind me, severing the last link to the graveyard I created.

  For a few moments, the only sound is the rhythmic clatter of hooves against dirt. The weight of the night clings to me, but I push past it.

  "Well?" Belfour finally speaks, his voice low but expectant.

  "It's done," I say evenly. "Garland is dead."

  His eyes narrow slightly. "And the rest?"

  I meet his gaze without hesitation. "The queen and his advisors—they're gone too. No one suspects a thing. The castle is still running as if nothing happened."

  He nods slowly, letting me continue.

  "Alistair and his sister are alive. I had a choice to make, and I spared them." I expect some reaction—surprise, maybe disapproval—but Belfour remains still, waiting. "I left a letter, written in Garland's style. It claims that after meeting with you, he realized he wasn't fit to rule and decided to leave the kingdom in Alistair's hands. It advises him to seek guidance from Belfour's court and to lead with his heart."

  Belfour exhales, his expression unreadable at first. Then, to my surprise, he chuckles. "You exceeded my expectations, Haley. That was... clever. More so than anything I would've thought of."

  A flicker of satisfaction stirs in my chest, but I don't let it show.

  His expression hardens slightly. "But don't get ahead of yourself. You took a huge risk fighting Garland one-on-one. You may have won, but luck was in play. Next time, you might not be so fortunate."

  I nod, knowing he's right. The battle was... difficult. His shadows moved unnaturally, almost as if they had minds of their own. It took everything I had to survive, let alone win.

  Belfour leans forward slightly. "From now on, I'll train you personally. If you're going to do this, you need to be as strong as a warrior, not just an assassin with magic. The next time you face an opponent like Garland, you won't need to rely on tricks alone."

  A silent promise lingers in his words, one I know he intends to keep.

  The rest of the ride is quiet, but my mind is far from still. This was my first mission. My first kill. I did what needed to be done, but the weight of it is something I hadn't anticipated. The moment Garland fell, something shifted inside me—something I can't quite put into words.

  An hour later, the carriage finally slows as we reach the outskirts of Belfour City. I step out just as another carriage pulls up beside us, its doors swinging open to reveal Hue. He stretches his arms over his head, letting out a yawn before locking eyes with me.

  "That was the most boring ride ever," he mutters, rubbing his neck. "The Guar Knights don't talk."

  I roll my eyes. "Maybe they just don't want to talk to you."

  Hue smirks. "Or maybe they're just all secretly assassins and are better at keeping secrets than you are."

  My muscles stiffen for half a second, but I force my expression to stay neutral. He has no idea. No one does. Only Belfour knows what happened tonight, and it has to stay that way.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "Whatever," I mutter, walking past him.

  Hue follows, as expected. "So, what'd I miss?"

  "Nothing important."

  I can feel his eyes on me, but he doesn't press further. Instead, he just keeps talking, filling the silence with his usual nonsense. Normally, it would annoy me. But for once, I don't mind.

  The moment we pass through the city gates, a wave of cheers erupts. The streets are alive with people, their faces bright with admiration. Some toss flower petals, others hold up small gifts—tokens of appreciation for their king and his warriors. The scent of roasted meats and fresh bread drifts through the air, mingling with the cool night breeze.

  I keep my expression neutral, letting Belfour take the lead as he waves to the crowd. Hue, on the other hand, soaks in the attention, flashing grins at anyone who looks his way.

  "Look at that," he muses under his breath. "They don't even know we just spent hours stuck in a carriage doing nothing."

  "Some of us were actually working," I reply dryly.

  "Some of us should've worked harder," he shoots back with a smirk.

  I elbow him as we make our way toward the castle, ignoring his laughter.

  The long table is filled with steaming dishes, but the weight of King Belfour's gaze keeps me from fully enjoying any of it. The moment the first course is served, he clears his throat, silencing the chatter in the room.

  "You disappointed me today, Haley."

  I don't flinch, but I feel the words settle in my chest like a heavy stone. I expected this.

  "You lost against Prince Alistair," he continues. "You acted out when I told you to remain composed." His fork scrapes against his plate as he leans forward slightly. "You are more capable than that. I need you to be more capable than that."

  I don't argue. I know he's right. And yet, we both know I accomplished far more than what he's scolding me for. He would never praise me in front of others, but deep down, I know how proud he is. So, I let him go on.

  Hue, on the other hand, doesn't share my restraint.

  "I could've beaten Alistair," he chimes in, stuffing a piece of bread into his mouth. "If I had another shot at it, I'd take him down, easy."

  I roll my eyes.

  Belfour gives him a pointed look. "And yet, you were not the one fighting him."

  Hue shrugs, still chewing. "Doesn't mean I'm wrong. Haley needs to start using her mana for actual combat. Not just fancy tricks."

  I ignore him, focusing on my meal.

  Dinner carries on with more discussions about the mission and the kingdom's affairs. As we finish up, Hue stands, stretching before heading toward the exit. That's when an idea strikes me.

  I channel a small thread of mana, forming a silent portal beneath him just as he steps forward—

  FWIP.

  He vanishes.

  I lean back in my chair, amused as the sound of banging comes from the dining hall window. Hue is outside, fists pressed against the glass, glaring at me.

  I smirk. "What was that about using mana for combat?"

  His muffled voice is barely audible through the window, but I don't need to hear him to know he's cursing me out.

  Belfour sighs but doesn't interfere. The others pretend not to notice.

  With dinner over, I retreat to my chambers. I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the polished metal of my dagger. The events of the night replay in my mind—Garland's final words, the weight of the kill, the decisions I made.

  This is only the beginning.

  I chose this path, and I will walk it fully. Being an assassin means more than just eliminating targets. It means shaping the future, one silent step at a time.

  I stand at the window, watching the faint glow of the city lights below. The cheers have long since faded into the quiet of the night, and I'm left alone with my thoughts.

  I turn back to my reflection, seeing the faint traces of the girl I was—someone unsure, afraid of the consequences of her choices. But now? Now, I see only the assassin I've become.

  The weight of my actions presses down on me, but it's not the regret I expected. There's no fear of the darkness anymore. Instead, there's a cold clarity. I know who I am, and I know what I must do.

  Belfour's disappointment still lingers in the air, a sharp reminder that I'm not finished growing. He's right—there's more to this than just killing. There's control, strategy, patience. And I'll master it all, in time.

  As for Hue, he's an annoyance, but in some strange way, I think that's what makes him a good companion. He pushes me, even if I don't always appreciate it. His cocky attitude is frustrating, but I know I'll get used to it. I'll just have to find more creative ways to keep him in check.

  I step away from the window and walk toward my bed, my mind already drifting to what comes next. The road ahead is long, but I can't afford to look back. Too much has changed, and I've changed with it.

  I glance at my dagger one last time before extinguishing the lamp on the nightstand. In the dark, I can almost hear Garland's voice, a whisper from the past, reminding me that I've only just begun.

  Tomorrow, I'll be ready.