Outside the formidable walls of the Citadel of Mankerret at late midnight, a group of shadowy figures clad in tight black suits and masked faces gathered stealthily. Only their intense gazes, visible through the slits of their masks, hinted at their determination.
Each member was armed to the teeth with swords, knives, and various tools of infiltration. Each of them was a skilled warrior who knew the way to kill. One figure, taller and more imposing than the rest, stepped forward to address the group.
"This time, I am personally joining this mission to ensure that there are no mistakes. I can't tolerate another failure like the last time. On top of that, we lost men over a mere job to eliminate children, this is shameful for the Viper Guild," he declared sternly.
A subordinate stepped forward hesitantly. "Sir, that bitch, Ultear, was personally guarding them. How do we deal with a mage of her caliber guarding the target?"
"You couldn't handle a mere one little female mage? Show some spine! Instead, you guys turned tailed and ran! Don't you even call yourself a man? Anyway, I'm here now to rectify our mistakes once and for all. No more blunders," the leader retorted sharply.
"Yes, sir!" The response came in a disciplined chorus.
"Quiet down! It's the dead of night. We don't want to alert the guards," he cautioned, his voice lowered.
"Yes, sir," they murmured this time, acknowledging the need for stealth.
Among the group were four fresh recruits, young and on edge, embarking on their first mission. One of them, puzzled and anxious, asked, "Did we already fail once?"
A nearby veteran chuckled darkly. "First mission jitters, huh? Yeah, the previous squad botched it, and we lost some good men. That's why you're here now, to make up for those losses."
"Will we be okay?" another recruit asked, sweat dripping from his brow.
"Don't worry," the veteran reassured them with a confident smile. "The boss himself is with us. He's an elite mage. Nothing can go wrong now."
The eyes of the four recruits glimmered with a mix of reverence and newfound hope, their confidence bolstered by the veteran's words.
"Now don't get too relaxed because I'm here. If you get caught or blow our cover, you're on your own. Understand?" the leader asked in a commanding voice.
"Yes, sir!" the fresh recruits replied in hushed tones.
"Good. Let's move," the leader ordered, and the black-cloaked warriors stealthily maneuvered around the citadel. They headed to the back where fewer guards patrolled, and the smooth, high walls offered no easy entry except through the ceiling.
One warrior stepped forward, using his arms to create stone slabs jutting out from the wall, forming makeshift stairs. Quietly, the group ascended one by one. Another mage cast a spell, creating an invisible barrier that shielded them from prying eyes. Inside the barrier, their movements and the stairs they created remained unseen as they climbed.
Minutes later, they reached the top floor. The new recruits, initially nervous, now relaxed slightly, taking in the view from their vantage point. But their calm was shattered when they encountered a man standing with his hands folded.
"Someone's already here!" one of the recruits panicked, drawing his sword.
The recruits quickly took battle formations.
"Calm down," the leader commanded, steadying his team. He then addressed the man standing on the roof, approaching him confidently.
"It's good to see you, sir. We've arrived," the leader stated respectfully.
The man in blue robes, with a prominent nose and an air of nobility, looked unimpressed. "You're late," he stated sternly.
"We faced complications, but we're prepared now," the leader replied, maintaining composure despite the tension.
"I've been waiting in this dark, cold night for half an hour. The warden could wake at any moment. Do you intend to fail again?" the strange man retorted sharply.
"No, vice warden. We'll handle this swiftly and leave without a trace," the leader assured confidently, eager to proceed with the mission.
"Very well. Follow me to the dungeon where he's confined. There are about 8-9 guards. Deal with them quietly. They're inexperienced, so it shouldn't be a challenge. And remember, no evidence," the vice warden instructed coldly.
"Once the boy is eliminated, I look forward to seeing the warden's face as he takes the blame for failing to protect the budding apostle, destined to become the legendary sapling. It will be a moment to savor," the vice warden added with a sinister smile.
"Give me a moment," the leader said to his squad, then spread his arms. In an instant, his body transformed into a dark mist that enveloped his team.
"Relax and submit to the shadows," the leader's voice echoed from within the mist. One by one, the warriors disappeared into the darkness.
The leader, now a small mist, slipped under the vice warden's shadow unnoticed.
"Stay silent," the vice warden cautioned, leading the way toward the dungeon where the apostle was held.
As the vice warden led the way, the recruits hidden within the mist found themselves in a shadowy dimension alongside their comrades.
"The ability to hide in shadows like this is amazing," one recruit whispered in awe.
"It's a shadow ability? That's so cool!" another recruit exclaimed softly.
"Well, it's more than just a shadow ability," a knowledgeable recruit responded. "It's a psychic-transmutant ability, allowing the user to transform into a shadow and affect others. It's a rare skill, perfect for missions like this."
"Damn, newbie, you're quite knowledgeable for someone so young," remarked a veteran mage nearby.
"I read a lot of books," the knowledgeable recruit said with a shrug.
"You can read? That's so cool. I always wanted to go to school too," another fresher said, sounding impressed.
"SchooI, yeah I remember! I had murdered a teacher once upon a time. He was a child molester," one recruit interjected darkly.
"I wanted to be a gardener, but I have a lot of debt and here I am becoming an assassin," another recruit sighed.
"Hey, being an assassin is cool! I'll make lots of money and open a café," another added enthusiastically.
"I wanted to be a knight!" declared one of the fresh recruits.
"Knights are lame! Stealthily taking down enemies is where it's at," someone else countered.
"That's dishonorable! There's no pride in that!" the aspiring knight protested.
"Screw honor. It's all about survival and efficiency," the other shot back.
Suddenly, one of the veteran warriors spoke up, breaking the chatter among the recruits.
"Guys, this is supposed to be a stealth mission! Stop talking and focus," he commanded.
"Yes, sir!" responded the fresh recruits quickly, their voices subdued.