"Is this really Sedona City? It's so… rundown," Mira muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible beneath the coarse black burlap that enveloped her entire body. The fabric concealed everything—her hair, her ears, even the contours of her face—leaving only her sharp green eyes visible through a narrow slit.
Mira, a skilled assassin ranked within the top hundred, stood just outside the city's gates, her petite frame barely reaching five feet three inches. Today's mission was unlike any she'd taken before: kidnap the lord of Sedona City. The job promised a hefty reward of 130 gold coins if she could deliver him to a designated location in two days. It was an easy gig—or so it seemed. If she hadn't been in the western territories searching for someone else, this lucrative contract wouldn't have fallen into her lap.
Kidnapping wasn't her usual line of work. As an assassin, her expertise lay in stealth and precision, not in hauling off a living target. Experience in this? Zero. But as her gaze swept over the city's crumbling earthen walls, her initial nerves began to dissipate. "This wall is pathetic," She said, shaking her head. If the city's defenses were this shoddy, the lord himself couldn't be much of a threat. Her heart, which had been pounding with anticipation, settled into a steady rhythm. This would be a breeze.
Mira adjusted the burlap cloak, ensuring it hid her features, and strode toward the city gate. As she approached, she spotted a squad of knights standing guard, their polished armor gleaming under the pale afternoon sun. The sight made her green eyes narrow, her body tensing instinctively. The knights' armor was unexpectedly fine—far too sophisticated for a backwater city like this. Her fingers twitched, ready to reach for the concealed dagger at her waist.
To her surprise, no one stopped her as she passed through the gate. Not a single knight questioned her or demanded to see her face. She exhaled a quiet breath, her lips curling into a mocking smirk. "Tch, I thought they'd at least check me," she scoffed under her breath. "Guess these knights are just for show."
Her bold entrance had been a test—a probe to gauge the city's security. She'd been prepared to cause a scene, maybe even take down a few knights to create chaos and slip away to observe her target. But there was no need. The guards barely glanced at her. Did she need to provoke them? No, that would be foolish. She wasn't *that* reckless.
"Phew… time to find a place to rest and grab a proper meal," Mira said, patting her stomach. The faint growl of hunger reminded her she hadn't eaten since morning. She glanced up at the sky, noting the soft orange hues of the late afternoon. The snow that had dusted the roads outside the city was absent here, the streets surprisingly clear.
As she stepped deeper into Sedona City, Mira froze, her green eyes widening in disbelief. The scene before her was nothing like she'd expected. Wide, well-maintained avenues stretched out, lined with neat rows of houses. The air carried the faint scent of fresh bread and roasted meat, mingling with the crisp bite of winter. People bustled about, their chatter filling the streets with a lively hum. This wasn't the dilapidated outpost she'd imagined—it was thriving, vibrant, almost… inviting.
"Did I come to the wrong place?" Mira muttered, her brow furrowing. Confused, she turned and marched back toward the gate, her boots crunching against the cobblestones. The soldiers stationed there watched her approach, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"Is this Sedona City?" She asked, her voice sharp as she pointed back toward the city.
"Yes, ma'am, this is Sedona City," One of the soldiers replied, standing tall with a hint of pride in his voice.
"But…" Mira gestured toward the crumbling earthen wall, then back at the bustling city behind her, her confusion evident.
The soldier chuckled, clearly used to this reaction. "The city lord issued a proclamation. Sedona City's getting a new wall next year. The old one's a bit of an eyesore, I know."
"A new wall?" Mira blinked, her expression growing more serious. The contrast between the city's exterior and interior was jarring, and it set her on edge. This place wasn't as simple as it seemed.
"Are you here to sightsee, miss? Or maybe try the food?" The soldier asked, his tone friendly but curious.
Mira tilted her head, caught off guard. "Why would you ask that?"
The soldier grinned. "Sedona City's famous around these parts. People come from all over to watch the ball games or sample the cuisine. It's the best in the region."
"Is that so?" Mira nodded slowly, beginning to understand why the guards hadn't bothered to check her. Travelers like her were probably a common sight, and the knights had grown accustomed to the influx of visitors. Ball games? She had no idea what those were and didn't care to find out. The food, though—that piqued her interest. A good meal might help her think straight.
She turned back toward the city, her brow furrowed in thought. What she didn't notice was the soldier's sharp gaze tracking her movements, noting the silent, predatory grace of her steps.
As Mira disappeared into the crowd, the soldier leaned toward his companion. "Something's off about her. Did you see how she moves? No sound at all. She's no ordinary traveler."
"Report it," His companion said quickly. "Better safe than sorry."
"Got it. Keep watch." The soldier hurried off into the city, ready to pass the information up the chain. Suspicious individuals were always reported—no exceptions.
Mira, oblivious to the attention she'd drawn, crouched at the edge of a bustling street, her green eyes scanning the crowd. The city's energy was overwhelming, but what shocked her most was the sight of beastkin mingling freely with humans. A bear-beastman walked arm in arm with a human merchant, their laughter echoing through the air. A fox-beastman child darted past, chasing a ball with a group of human children. The sight was so surreal it made her head spin.
"How is this possible?" Mira whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Humans and beastkin living together like this?"
Her intel had mentioned nothing about this. The dossier she'd received described Sedona City as a minor, rundown settlement with a weak lord. But this—this was something else entirely. The harmony between humans and beastkin was unthinkable, a balance so delicate it defied everything she knew about the world.
"Damn those incompetent bastards," She hissed, her teeth grinding in frustration. "How could they leave out something this important?"
Kidnapping the city lord was supposed to be straightforward, but now she wasn't so sure. If she took him, would it shatter this fragile coexistence? The thought made her stomach twist. She'd taken lives before, but disrupting a city where humans and beastkin lived in peace felt… wrong. It was a dream she hadn't dared to imagine, and yet here it was, real and tangible.
"What do I do?" Mira muttered, biting her thumbnail as her mind raced. Abandon the mission? That wasn't an option. This was her first kidnapping job, and failing it would be a stain on her reputation. But going through with it could have consequences she wasn't prepared to face.
"If only Big Sis were here," She grumbled, her thoughts drifting to her mentor. "She'd know what to do. Always has a plan." Her mind wandered to the rest of her crew, particularly the youngest member, who'd gone missing. "That little runt… where'd she run off to? Big Sis was furious when she found out. Beat the crap out of all of us for losing track of her."
Mira sighed, her green eyes scanning the crowd. "I only took this job to track down that kid. And now it's turning into my first failure. Great." The idea of returning empty-handed gnawed at her pride. She wasn't used to backing down, but this city was throwing her off balance.
As she crouched, her gaze landed on a pair of bear-beastkin sisters passing by, their conversation catching her attention. The older sister, tall and broad-shouldered, carried the younger one on her back, her hands gently supporting her sister's hips.
"Sis, are we really eating at Drunken Night's first floor? Isn't that too expensive?" The younger sister, Emma, asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"Don't fret," The older sister, Gaba, replied with a warm chuckle. "This month's wages were ten copper coins more than last month's. We can afford a nice meal. And next month, I'm aiming to be the top weaver—that's another ten coins!" Her hands shifted slightly, accidentally brushing Emma's backside.
"Eek! Sis, your hands!" Emma squeaked, her cheeks flushing as she swatted at her sister playfully. "That's embarrassing!"
"Oh, whoops!" Gaba laughed sheepishly, adjusting her grip to hold Emma's thighs instead. "Let's go treat ourselves to something good."
Mira watched the sisters, her mind working quickly. "Maybe I should talk to them," She murmured. "They might know something about the city lord." Information was power, and if she could learn more about her target, she might find a way to complete the mission without disrupting the city's delicate balance. She stood, brushing snow from her cloak, and prepared to follow the sisters, her steps as silent as a shadow.
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