Journey 02

Leo's POV:

"Damned nobles. Just who do they think they are?" I muttered under my breath, my fists clenched tight. "Do they think we're their slaves just because it's our job? Hmph."

The sound of hurried footsteps behind me pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Ruby rushing over, his usually scheming expression twisted with panic.

"Are you out of your mind?" he hissed, his voice low but sharp as a dagger. He grabbed my arm, his grip tight. "Do you understand what you just did? That could be the end for both of us!"

His eyes darted around, making sure no one else could hear us.

"Those nobles don't even see us as human beings," he continued, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "How could you be so bold? Do you want to lose your head? Is that it?"

His words hit like a splash of cold water, but the anger boiling inside me refused to settle.

"Shut up! It's all your fault, you damn weasel," I snapped, my voice sharp and unyielding.

"My fault? My fault?" Ruby's face twisted with disbelief. "Are you an idiot? Securing this deal was already a miracle—straight from the gods! And it was all thanks to this 'damn weasel.'"

His voice rose despite his efforts to keep it down, every word soaked in frustration.

"We could've made ten times the profit of any other mission. You know that! You knew how hard I worked to seal this deal. And you blew it up all for your damn pride!"

"Well, sorry for having pride," I shot back. "Something you'll never have in your entire life."

His lips curled into a bitter smirk. "If that pride of yours could feed us, then by all means, shower us with it. But don't forget Lina still needs her treatment this month. Never forget that."

"I know that."

My voice came out weaker than I intended, and a heavy weight settled in my chest. Suddenly, all the anger drained away, leaving only the hollow ache of powerlessness.

Lina is my younger sister. She's been suffering from a rare disease—one so insidious that even the doctors are powerless against it. No one knows how to cure it. Her life has become a waking nightmare, every day filled with pain, and all I can do to ease her suffering are the painkillers.

But even that is getting harder. Her pain has worsened, and now she needs higher doses, stronger medications—ones that cost more than I could ever hope to afford.

That's why this mission mattered so much. The promise of a payout that could keep Lina's treatment going for months was too tempting to ignore. But the mission itself? It was madness.

They wanted us to find someone untouchable—someone we shouldn't even think about, let alone pursue. How dare they put me in this position, all because I'm a commoner? Did they think I was an idiot?

It was a death mission. There was no way it could succeed, and even if it did, the consequences would be far too severe to risk. Yet, with Lina's pale face and pained cries echoing in my mind, what choice did I really have?

As I walked, that idiot Ruby trailed behind me, still nagging about the lost deal. His voice was a grating buzz in my ear, every word soaked in his obsession with money. I couldn't understand how he still believed we'd survive this suicide mission.

Just as we passed a narrow alley, I stopped abruptly. Ruby, too absorbed in his rant, crashed into my back.

"Watch it!" I hissed, but my words died on my tongue.

A cold, crushing pressure filled the air, making my skin prickle. Instinctively, I drew my dagger, but deep down, I knew it was useless. Whoever was ahead was beyond my league—someone who could end me with a mere flick of their finger.

Ruby finally sensed it too. His knees buckled, and he collapsed beside me, his breath coming in sharp, terrified gasps. We stayed frozen, neither of us daring to move, as the source of the suffocating aura stepped out of the shadows.

A young boy.

He couldn't have been more than ten or twelve, his small frame wrapped in dark, elegant clothes. His face was hidden behind a strange mask, but his eyes—sharp and golden like a dragon's—gleamed with amusement.

He moved slowly, deliberately, adjusting his mask with a casual grace. My gaze fell to his hands, where crimson dots speckled his pale skin. Blood.

He seemed to notice my eyes. Without a word, he drew a luxurious handkerchief from his pocket and began to wipe his hands clean. But as he did, something slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground.

A watch.

Its polished surface caught the dim light, and my blood ran cold. The ornate design, the twisted sigil etched into its metal—it was unmistakable.

Ruby's breath hitched beside me, and I felt it too, the icy dread creeping through my veins.

The watch belonged to one of the nobles who had tried to hire us for the mission.

And judging by the blood on the boy's hands, I had a feeling that noble wouldn't be giving us orders or breathing ever again.

He noticed our reactions and smiled wider, a chilling expression that didn't belong on the face of a child. His voice, cold and detached, sent a shiver down my spine.

"You made a good decision back there," he said. "Otherwise, you'd be with them right now."

My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst. Now, I understood who stood before us—and the realization made my blood run cold.

The boy's golden eyes glinted with amusement as he continued, "So, you're the so-called 'number one mercenary group' in the capital?" His gaze swept over us from head to toe, a slow and deliberate appraisal. "What an exaggeration."

Sweat drenched my back, cold and uncomfortable. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. And then, as suddenly as it had come, the crushing pressure lifted.

Just as I dared to take a breath, his voice cut through the silence.

"I'll give you a mission to erase your sins," he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Be grateful."

Before either of us could respond, he added, "You'll be my servants and take me to the Green City. We leave tomorrow at dawn. Be here .....and don't even think about being late."

He stared at us, unblinking, waiting for an answer. But it wasn't really a request. It was a command, and denying it wasn't an option—not if we wanted to keep our heads.

Ruby and I answered in unison, our voices trembling despite our best efforts.

"Yes, Your Highness."

And then, as if he were nothing more than a passing shadow, he disappeared into the night, leaving us gasping in the dark.

hello sunshines ,

It's been a long time since my last update, but what can I say? Life has its ups and downs!

Anyway, I've noticed some new names joining our little family, and of course, we still have our amazing longtime members. Thank you all so much for your support! Just so you know, writing out all these names is honestly harder than writing the story itself  so let that be proof of how much I appreciate every single one of you.

A huge thank you to:

FavouriteSong8, NoNameSadness, SatoroJJKgojo, user77699514, Silver-foxkit, Baku45673, Family179, Keviara, JLovely99, mafia_prince123RRR, Nurul3raina, Laurenzepark, Herodekuwide, Quinnecg, MGLMDSasay, Sukuna, Itzmehpeeps, chrysanthemum lover, midnight dewrose, BLIZARER, LILIHELONA, CRTENA24, NAJADE24, PYROMANIACDEEJAE, STEPHANIEGRINDLAY19, PERCYJACKSON, CHERRYA79, CELESTIA, KRISW292, PARISDUBAI, HAVEFUN, MISTYREADER, AMETHYSTFLOWER8, TEMMIEL89, YKONNO, ANIEW, YUNGCHIZZY, MIZZING TEXTURE, BALOGUNFUNBI, CREAKYCOREY, RAVEN855890, RAINBROWNIEZ, SUELILLY REA, SHYANNESTORIES, LILY123LINA, CRIMCRIM2000, LIJI815, TWYLIGHT1, MOSSYENDER, LUVELYANASITA, KAT HERE, LOCKBOX, ANACECILIA, 7XXSAPHIRE, SCALETROSE, VICTORIA31630, THE LOVE OF THE WEIRD, YEOSM123, MARSELELEZI, AERITHEDRUNKREADER, REBECCAHALL245, TAKARAX44, ADRIANMCMILLIAN3, MONOSDELARTICO, HIBAZOUAHER, GASHAQUEEN, THE WAYOFF FINS, ALL IS SIN, VY1301, EMERLANDGREEN, PUNCHYANDWHISKY, KOROKO149, ELIBGK, KRISW292, HANSUNG25, RAINX02, LOSTINREVERIE, SHEVANIE, CHRISTINEREGADILLO, MARCCQUINAMOT, LYNXBOREALIS, PRINCESSGREEN, MAGAIND, MARIAMELHADAD, DEVISBRUK, PHEONIXKNIGHTLIGHT, MARIAJOSEFAMARQUEZ, C0QU3TTEGIRLY, SOUPDATE, SLUMBER23, M3O12N2004A, SHINLUASH5, WOLVENGRIM, ABBIRPRTGN, BRIGHTPHOENIX, XERUSM, QUINNECG,  KHAULAT M,, ANGELLVY, POTATO7, and JUST SNAILPRINCESS.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Your support means the world to me! 💖✨