And so, Assashin became a companion to Soma and Theo in their pursuit of a goal still hidden from him—mysterious, yet clearly vital. Even without knowing the full truth, he gave them his all.

  The very next night, he followed Soma to her next mission: infiltrating a guild camp. Unlike the small outpost she had crushed alone before, this camp was bigger, stronger, and far more notorious.

  As they slipped inside under the veil of night, Assashin felt unease coil in his chest. His worry for Soma—and for himself—rattled his focus. His strikes lost precision, his defense weakened, and gaps opened in his stance. The guild members spotted them sooner than expected, long before Soma could strike down their leader.

  It was almost as if… they had been waiting for her.

  The battle erupted in chaos. Blades clashed, firelight danced across steel, and Soma fought with a ferocity that bent the odds in their favor. Victory seemed within reach—until Assashin stumbled.

  One of the guild’s warriors lunged for him, sword raised high. The sight froze Soma’s blood. It was a scene she had witnessed before, years ago, in the night that had shattered her world.

  She snapped.

  With a roar of raw rage, Soma tore through the enemy ranks. Her blades became an unstoppable storm, cutting down anyone who dared stand near Assashin. She fought like a beast unchained, merciless and unrelenting, until the ground itself was painted red.

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  Assashin could only watch—horrified and awestruck—as the gentle girl he had met revealed the monster the past had forged.

  Minutes later, silence fell. The guild was gone, corpses littering the camp. Soma stood drenched in blood, her breath ragged, her body riddled with wounds. She dropped to her knees, trembling amidst the carnage.

  Tears burned in her eyes as she gazed up at the pitch-black sky.

  “Mother… Father… I stopped one of your killers from striking down Assashin. I can finally protect the people close to me. If only… if only I had been strong enough back then… maybe you…”

  Her voice cracked. Then, as the memories crushed her, her body gave out. Soma collapsed onto the blood-soaked earth, unconscious.

  “Soma!” Assashin rushed to her side, panic flooding him. He pressed his hands to her wounds, desperate to stop the bleeding. His voice broke as tears streaked his face.

  “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry. Forgive me for being weak. Please, Soma… forgive me…”

  He worked tirelessly, wrapping wounds, stopping the worst of the blood. When she finally stabilized, he hoisted her onto his back and began the long trek home.

  But his mind was far from calm.

  Something’s wrong, he thought, his jaw tight. How could one of Soma’s parents’ killers appear here, of all places? That man wasn’t a guild member before. And how did they know we’d strike tonight?

  His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the unconscious Soma on his back.

  “There’s someone pulling strings behind the scenes… someone who wants you dead, Soma. Whoever they are, they’re dangerous.”

  And with that grim thought, Assashin carried her through the night, shadows clinging to every step.