Three months had passed since Wein last went to the stronghold.
The capital city had never been so alive in such a long time. Even at night endless rows of transports moved through. With the new land acquired, there was an opportunity to make profit, so this prosperity brought out most companies in full.
To Wein, he could only see this sudden boom as a consequence and one of many he would have to create for Voss.
His transport vehicle moved through one of the elevated transit lanes reserved for high ranking officials. Four armoured escort carriers followed closely behind while another vehicle drove ahead clearing the route.
Inside the car, the atmosphere was quiet. Wein sat alone at the back, staring out the window as the quiet soothing hum of the vehicles engine filled the room. Watching the calm city through the window brought Wein a sense of dread, he felt like there was something coming.
The convoy banked and began its descent toward the surface. They entered the heart of the capital. Enormous buildings rose all around with floors and floors stacked upon each other, despite the enormous height, the architecture was intriguing itself.
The tall buildings were a marvel of hand crafted sculptures, gargoyles on the roofs. Patterns littering the walls of the towers matched with vines intentionally left to grow and cover the buildings.
All the buildings had that in similarity. Besides that were drones drifting around, surveillance that did not ruin the unique architecture.
The convoy landed towards one of such a building, a big dome like structure surrounded by hotels and high rise apartments. It descended and reached the surface which was surprisingly less crowded.
The convoy stopped at the drive way and guards exited to ensure security, then Wein stepped out. The street was quiet save for the busy traffic in the distance. He looked around and could not see any suspicious thing, but still he could not hide the sick feeling in his stomach that something was wrong.
With Vaelstine in hand, his guard led him forward. His awareness was spread throughout the area, he could hear the city noise and civilians in ear shot. So when he heard sirens in a distance he was alarmed.
He stopped.
"My lord." Called one of the guards.
Wein could not see nor sense anything so he shrugged it off.
"Nothing, let's get going."
At the back of the dome like building was a special entrance in which he entered without issue while some guards remained outside and some entered with him. The inside was filled with higher society people, the wealthy and the talented who were mingling.
This building, it turned out, was a famed opera house and Wein to keep up noble appearance had been invited to watch a play. It was a big deal because many high ranking individuals of not only Eclipseon but Velmora came to see.
The great hall of the opera glowed with warm golden light. Tall chandeliers hung from the domed ceiling like captured stars, their reflections dancing across polished marble floors. Velvet banners lined the walls while elegant balconies curved around the massive performance below.
Music drifted faintly through the air as musicians prepared their instruments in the orchestra pit. Wein stepped inside with quiet composure to a crowd of gathered people.
Immediately several conversations slowed or stopped and heads turned. Even among the wealthy elite of the capital, even the busiest and least informed, everyone knew what the lord of House Voss looked like.
They all bowed their heads politely. Wein acknowledged the greetings with small nods as he walked forward in between his guards.
Some of the guest of considerable standing approached him.
"My lord, it is an honour. Your presence elevates this evening."
"Thank you"
He replied politely, his mind now fully in the moment having forgotten his earlier worry.
After many greetings he was escorted to a private balcony to watch the show from, they moved through the crowd and ascended a curved staircase that led to the upper levels of the opera house. The private balconies here were reserved for high ranking guests, each one overlooking the stage for a perfect angle.
Wein took his seat as the performance began.
The play itself was a famous one, a dramatic retelling of ancient drama. Actors moved across the stage in elaborate costumes while the orchestra swelled with powerful music.
The audience watched in silence as hours passed. Eventually the performance ended and the audience erupted into applause. The people cheered for the success while most guests prepared to leave.
Wein having met his noble duty 'quota' also moved to leave.
The cold night air brushed against his face. The distant sounds of the city bustled faintly. His guards escorted him to his vehicle through the rear parking lot, it was quiet there, too quiet and the darkness of the night did nothing but stoke his earlier unease.
Wein suddenly stopped as his guards urged him to move, he looked around the underway and could hear it, more precisely sense someone.
"On guard" he said lowly so his guards were alerted. They pulled out their hand guns and began searching the entire area looking for an intruder. Wein's eyes went everywhere and then stop at a specific direction, a dark alleyway quite a distance from where they were.
A single figure emerged from the dark. His face and entire body was covered by a black mask and black sleek tracksuit. He wore no armour and he did not appear to be holding anything on his hands much less his sides.
If he had a weapon, it would be strapped on his back.
"State your identity!" called one of the guards as they all aimed at him. All this time Wein was quiet just observing, he knew the man was no ordinary man and he had come for him. Why else would he be there.
The man did not answer.
He simply stood there beneath the dim light, his silhouette barely moving as the guards aimed their weapons at him. For a moment, the entire area was silent, then the stranger took a single step forward.
The guard immediately reacted.
"Stop right there," one of them barked. No response, another step.
Wein narrowed his eyes, something about his posture bothered him. It was not the posture of someone reckless, desperate, an unwell man who stumbled there, it was way too calm like there was no chance of risk to his life.
One of the guards opened fire, and the rest followed. Several shots beamed in quick succession hurling fast towards him.
The man moved, not quickly, not dramatically, just enough for each shot to barely touch him. It was a level of precision and skill that revealed who he was.
The guards fired again, and again. Still he kept walking. Wein felt it then, the strange pressure building around them and when the man vanished from their eyes they were alarmed.
One moment he was several meters away and the next he stood directly beside Wein, his right arm covering him and resting on his left shoulder. He inclined his head, while everyone else was trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"Wein al Voss, we finally meet. I was employed to find out your secrets, let me see…" he said in a sinister voice that sent chills down Wein's spine.
Instinctively Wein shoved him back with his shoulder and lunged back.
"A knight!" he shouted to alert his guards.
"Protect the lord!" replied the guards as they flocked to shield Wein.
Gunfire erupted again, this time the stranger from his back drew a long sword and with a quick succession of slashes deflected the shots. Heat still clung to his sword where the shots had struck it.
The guards did not hesitate. They moved in rows to shield Wein's view from the attacker while others spread outward, forming a tight circle around him. They were among the best Troopers, and well aware of how useless guns were against people like high level Shock Troopers, let alone knights.
Despite being severely outmatched, the high-level Shock Troopers drew their own blades from their side. They strengthened their resolve and advanced at the enemy.
They came in rushing and slashing their blades, the knight barely moved. Standing on his position he parried the guards in succession, forcing them back. One blade was deflected back, forcing the guard to stumble past him and then he slightly turned to the side so that another blade swished past him.
He was too skilled and the worst part was that he was playing with them. It was because from Wein's eyes, a newly promoted Shock Trooper with great speed witnessed these men moving better and faster than he could appear to be moving like normal people in front of the knight.
Perhaps that was why, he was able to deflect all the shots that came from him with such precision. The realm of a knight.
The knight noticed how Wein was amazed by him and as if to bring him fear he began his brutal retaliation.
With a clean downward slash, he cut in half the closest guard, he did not give the others time to register. He kick one in the stomach, forcing him back, then reappeared behind another with a horizontal slash, taking his head clean off.
That death registered with the others but it was too late, moving through the Shock Troopers like a dancer, he stabbed, severed limbs, and split in two the guards in the span of minutes.
Before he could finish his brutal attack, an attack struck at him like a bolt of lightning out of nowhere but he was faster and was able to block it. Revealed was Wein, his face seething with anger and on his hand the famed weapon Vaelstine.
"There you are" the knight finally said.
He wore a mask but without a doubt Wein could tell he was smirking and that made him even more angry. He slashed at him, two diagonal swings and followed by a wide horizontal sweep.
All of it failed against a knight, rather he replied with his own two slashes, followed by a sweep so strange and with so much power that it forced Vaelstine from Wein's grip.
It landed a few feet from him while the knight had his sword rested in front of Wein's face. He had no intention of striking, even Wein could tell he had not come to kill him.
"Calm yourself young lord" spoke the knight.
He brought the sword to its sheath and approached Wein who felt powerless.
"As I said, I am here to find your secrets."
He kept the earlier posture. Wein felt even more powerless, having just witnessed how skilled the man truly was.
The knight put his hand over Wein's side and pressed Wein's head against his own that way accessing Wein's mental world.