Silence filled the Videntis council chambers.
Six robed figures sat on six of the seven thrones within the chamber.
The doors to the Videntis council chamber slowly creaked open, and a white haired man with long, shoulder-length hair entered.
The long black coat draped over his shoulders unnaturally swirled behind him as he walked into the room.
A circular golden insignia with an eye and a cross signifying his rank as a Commander adorned the breast pocket and shoulder of his coat.
His black nano shroud seemed to absorb the light as he moved shrouding him in strange darkness.
Footfalls echoed through the chambers as he purposefully strode towards the center of the council chamber.
His cold amber eyes subtly swept over the members of the Videntis who had summoned him.
Victoria spared him an empathetic glance, briefly scrutinizing him with her violet eyes.
Sebastian’s deep baritone voice cut through the silence
" Commander Gregory Whizen, I see that you have fully recovered from your injuries."
Gregory’s demeanor did not betray any emotion as he replied.
" I have, Lord Sebastian, I have already resumed my duties as the commander of the kill squad."
Sebastian nodded, leaning back on his throne.
An unnatural wind stirred, and the darkness within the room came alive, then surged toward the seventh throne. Waves of unrestrained power emanated from the darkness, rippling through the chamber.
A tall, white robed man with long black hair stepped out of the darkness and slowly walked towards the throne.
A slight frown formed on Sebastian’s face at the newcomer’s arrival.
A grotesque mask rippled fluidly across his face, intensifying his intimidating aura.
Victoria quietly cast him an amused glance as he sat down.
"My sincere apologies for my tardiness. I was concluding some unfinished business. I despise loose ends, you see."
Thrain stirred on his throne, staring at Gregory through his mask.
" As I’m sure Sebastian was about to inform you in my absence, we have other plans for you, Gregory Whizen."
Sebastian nodded in assent.
"After much discussion, the Videntis have come to an agreement with the Council of Assassins. From this point forward, we will work together for the mutual benefit of both our factions. This move will end centuries of fighting and bloodshed between the talented and the assassins."
Gregory cocked his head, staring at the masked man. His amber eyes hardened, radiating a sliver of killing intent.
Thrain shifted forward slightly on his throne, the gaping holes in his mask boring into Gregory’s eyes like bottomless pools of darkness.
The air crackled with tension, the temperature spiking several degrees as their energies subtly clashed.
Gregory’s icy glare could have frozen over a lake and intimidated a lesser man into backing down. A slight wind emanated from him, blowing through the room.
Thrain’s voice took on a darker, colder edge, echoing through the chamber with subtle threat.
The temperature lowered, then dropped lower still. The chamber became slightly colder, the lights dimming slightly. An unnatural stillness filled the room.
" Do you intend to challenge the decision of the Videntis?"
Gregory returned Thrain’s gaze, his eyes sparkling with ill-concealed rage. He slowly unclenched his fists, releasing his ability.
When he spoke, his voice was unnaturally calm.
"No, Lord Thrain. I dare not. I’ll do as the council wishes."
Thrain leaned back on his throne, steepling his gloved fingers together. The energy in the air slowly subsided, returning calm to the room.
"Vice Commander Norvax Gray will take over as Commander. You’ll be jointly managing the Pyreptar Academy with the Council of Assassins and Praesagius as Headmaster. You’ll be taking the recruits with you, as well as some of our operatives, to work as teachers. We will await news of your success."
Gregory silently nodded in assent.
" That’s all. You may take your leave, Commander."
Gregory bowed slightly and calmly walked towards the door, then exited the chamber.
Inside the chamber, Victoria stared icily at Thrain.
"You know, you could at least pretend to possess a modicum of empathy in that stony heart of yours. You’re forcing a man who has loyally served the Praesagius to work with the murderer of his only remaining family."
Thrain sighed, indifferently leaning his head on his fist.
"No one forced him. He simply saw reason and made his decision."
Victoria silently shook her head and turned away.
The darkness nestled in his mask swirled like a vortex leading into the abyss as he sat in silence.
" I know the pain of losing a loved one all too well."
A palpable silence filled the study. Morgan sat quietly contemplating Damien’s words.
" During my lessons with Rebecca, she told me about taking up the mantle of the house of Thane, but hearing the words coming from you, it still feels quite surreal."
Marcus chuckled in amusement.
"There are very many unbelievable things that you’re yet to see, my dear boy."
Damien’s eyes shifted between the two of them.
" I believe you two have met, but introductions are still in order."
Morgan, this is Marcus Snow. He is the current Lord of House Snow. He is a good friend of mine and considered your father his brother."
Marcus laughed heartily.
"Alexander was one of a kind, a brother, warrior, and an honorable assassin."
"And an absent father," Morgan said quietly.
Marcus’s demeanor turned serious, his azure eyes piercing Morgan with a calm gaze.
" Damien is right, Alexander was like a brother to me, and every day that goes by, I can’t help but think about what might have been if we had tagged along with him. Perhaps he’d be here, or maybe we’d have disappeared with him." Marcus said. Follow current novᴇls on novel⸺fire.net
When he disappeared, we did everything we could to find him, but our efforts were in vain. Rest assured that everything he did was to protect you."
A somber silence filled the room.
"But that’s not why we’re here, as the only Thane that’s currently alive, you have to continue your family’s legacy. And that is why you need to join the academy as soon as possible. But of course, the decision lies entirely with you."
Morgan calmly regarded the men in the room.
"What level of umbralis manipulation had my father reached?"
Damien looked at him in surprise, then cast a questioning glance at Luke.
" I may have told him a few things about the hierarchy of assassins," Conrad drawled.
Marcus regarded Morgan seriously.
"Alexander was a maestro, one of the most powerful to ever walk the Earth, more powerful than even I."
" That’s humble of you to admit."
Marcus smiled wryly, spreading his hands.
Morgan stared at them with a determined glint in his eyes.
" That means there’s a chance that he is still alive. From what I’ve seen, it shouldn’t be that easy to kill one. No matter how slim the chances are, I’m willing to take the risk. I’ll join the academy and grow stronger, even stronger than him. No matter who or what stands in my way, I’ll find him.