Fifty kilometers from Sedona City, atop a small, windswept hill, a hundred knights stood in eerie silence. The biting cold seeped into their bones, some with noses dripping from the chill, yet none dared utter a sound. Discipline held them rigid, their breath visible in the frosty air, as they stood like statues under the starless sky.
At the hill's crest, a modest campfire crackled, its flames casting flickering shadows. Two figures lingered near the fire. One was Bonnie, standing with rigid posture, her demeanor radiating deference. Her eyes were cast downward, her breath shallow, as if even breathing too loudly might draw unwanted attention.
"Pop… crack…"
The sound of splitting wood punctuated the stillness as the fire consumed its fuel. The hill was deathly quiet, save for the fire's soft protests. Seated by the flames was a tall, elegant woman—the only one permitted to sit. Her slender fingers toyed with a stick, stirring the embers, sending sparks dancing into the night. Her silhouette, framed by the firelight, cast a long, dark shadow behind her, ominous and unyielding.
Minutes ticked by—one, two, then thirty, an hour, two hours. Silence reigned. Down the slope, a knight succumbed to the cold, collapsing in a heap, but no one moved to help. Bonnie kept her head bowed, lips tightly sealed, not daring to speak. The woman by the fire was none other than the leader of the Black Iris organization, a figure whose presence alone commanded fear. Her authority was absolute, her whims deadly.
Bonnie could scarcely believe the leader was here. Rumor had it she was merely passing through, yet her arrival was astonishing. The leader rarely left the organization's stronghold, a fact that made her presence on this remote hill all the more surreal. Bonnie's heart raced with a mix of awe and dread, her mind grappling with the implications of this unexpected visit.
"Thud… thud… thud…"
The sound of approaching footsteps cut through the night's silence, sharp and unmistakable. Bonnie and the knights remained motionless, their discipline unyielding. Soon, a figure emerged from the darkness, dropping to their knees three meters from the fire, head bowed so low it nearly touched the ground. They dared not look at the Black Iris leader.
One minute passed, then two, ten, fifteen. The kneeling figure's legs grew numb, yet they remained silent, frozen in submission.
"Manager Hank, how are things progressing?" The leader's voice broke the silence, sultry and mesmerizing, sending shivers down the spines of those who heard it. It was a voice that could seduce or destroy with equal ease.
"R-Reporting, Leader," The kneeling figure—Manager Hank—stammered, his body trembling slightly. "We've demonstrated it in front of Ayesha, as planned."
"What was her reaction?" The leader asked, her tone still laced with that dangerous charm.
"She turned and left immediately, retreating to the castle," Hank replied, his voice thick with reverence.
"And the captured individuals? Have they been dealt with?" She asked, her slender fingers lazily stirring the fire, sending more sparks skyward.
"They're dead," Hank said quickly. "Yesterday, we orchestrated a disturbance with three men, and they were apprehended. We passed word to ensure they were eliminated tonight."
"How long have you been in Sedona City?" The leader asked, abruptly shifting topics.
"I've been in Sedona City for seven days, Leader," Hank answered, his mind racing. Why was she asking this? What was she probing for? He kept his tone steady, masking his unease.
"What's your impression of Sedona City?" The leader tossed her stick into the fire, the flames flaring briefly. She tilted her head, gazing toward the distant Forbidden Mountains, her silver-white eyes glinting in the firelight.
"It's… very intriguing," Hank replied, choosing his words carefully. Beyond his covert tasks and investigations, he'd spent much of his time in Sedona City's shadow puppet shops, blending in while gathering intelligence. The city's vibrancy had a certain charm, one he hadn't expected.
"Intriguing?" The leader's soft laugh was enchanting, yet it sent a ripple of unrest through the knights. Several, dazed by cold and exhaustion, faltered at the sound, collapsing as their resolve wavered.
The atmosphere grew still again. The leader's gaze remained fixed on the Forbidden Mountains, her silver eyes shimmering with an otherworldly light. She murmured, almost to herself, "I wonder how many have died there… such a pity…"
Bonnie lowered her head further, her pointed ears drooping. She wanted no part of the leader's musings. Knowing too much was a death sentence in the Black Iris, and she'd learned to keep her curiosity in check.
Originally, Bonnie had planned to return to the stronghold to face punishment for her failure in Moth City. But after days of travel, she'd learned the leader was in the western territories. Without hesitation, she'd rallied her remaining knights to serve as escorts. Meanwhile, Manager Hank had been sent to replace her, tasked with recapturing the escaped elves and seizing Sedona City's valuable resources.
"Return to your duties," The leader said, waving a hand dismissively. "Proceed as planned. If Ayesha doesn't leave Sedona City, strike in three days. Minimize the bloodshed—enough to make a point, but don't push too hard. Within half a month, we should succeed."
"Yes, Leader!" Hank responded, bowing deeply. He shuffled backward three steps on his knees before daring to stand and vanish into the night.
The leader stared into the darkness, her delicate fingers picking up another stick to toss into the fire. "Bonnie," She said softly, "The Moth City mission… it was the sudden appearance of Sedona's city lord that caused your failure, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Bonnie replied, her voice low and bitter. The Moth City plan, like the current one in Sedona, had been meticulously crafted by the leader. Yet Bonnie had failed, while Hank was poised to succeed—and likely earn a promotion to enforcer.
"Interesting… a mere human…" The leader's sultry laugh carried a hint of surprise. "How intriguing."
Bonnie clenched her teeth, her anger flaring. That damned human—because of him, her mission had crumbled.
"Bonnie, let's go. Back to the stronghold." The leader stood abruptly, her lithe, 1.7-meter frame exuding grace. Her exquisite beast-hide robe clung to her form, and her long silver hair danced in the night breeze. A white cloth masked her face, revealing only her piercing silver eyes, which none dared meet.
"Yes!" Bonnie replied, startled. The leader was leaving already? Without waiting for the mission's outcome?
"If he fails, he has no future," The leader said coolly, as if sensing Bonnie's confusion.
Bonnie bowed her head, without questioning. The leader's authority was unquestionable; her word was law. If she demanded Bonnie's life, Bonnie would give it willingly, so long as her mother was spared.
"Thud… thud… thud…"
Sixteen knights sprang into action, hoisting a small wooden structure resembling a house. They carried it to the leader, and Bonnie hurried to open its door.
"Creak!"
The leader glanced back toward Sedona City, murmuring, "An intriguing place… but it won't last. Such a pity."
With that, she stepped into the wooden structure. Bonnie gently closed the door, and the knights lifted it, marching forward as others lit torches to guide the way.
Bonnie cast a venomous glance toward Sedona City, a cold smile curling her lips. "Elisa, we'll meet soon. And when we do, you'll be in a cage."
She understood why the leader didn't linger for the mission's outcome. The leader's confidence was absolute—her plans succeeded nine times out of ten. Moth City had been an anomaly, ruined by that meddling human. But Sedona City? It would fall, and Bonnie would savor the victory.
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