The trio continued through the dense forest, their path lit only by the moon's silver glow filtering through the canopy. The rustling leaves and distant cries of nocturnal creatures filled the air, but beneath it all was a silence that spoke of unseen eyes watching.
Leon, still nestled in Seraphina's arms, could feel the shift in the atmosphere. His mother was on high alert, her grip on her dagger firm. Rei, despite her usual smirk, was tense.
They weren't alone.
Seraphina stopped abruptly, her emerald gaze scanning the darkness. "We're being followed."
Rei's crimson eyes flickered toward the shadows. "Yeah. I noticed them a while ago."
Leon mentally sighed. Of course, she did.
Instead of reacting with urgency, Rei simply adjusted her posture and rolled her shoulders. "They're good, though. Not your average thugs."
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly. If Rei, who had been aware of them for some time, was just now acknowledging their skill, then these weren't mere bandits or low-level bounty hunters.
Seraphina, however, wasn't interested in discussion. "How many?"
Rei's smirk returned, though it was laced with something sharper. "Three. One directly behind us, the other two flanking from the sides."
Leon processed that information quickly. If they were being flanked, then their pursuers were experienced enough to try and corral them into a disadvantageous position.
That meant two things.
One: These weren't random attackers.
Two: Whoever sent them knew exactly who they were after.
Seraphina's expression darkened as she whispered, "Enforcers?"
Rei exhaled. "No. If they were enforcers, they would've been more direct." She glanced sideways. "This is the Blackfang Syndicate."
Leon observed Rei's reaction carefully. Unlike before, she wasn't as casual now. The mention of the syndicate had stripped away her usual bravado, leaving behind something more instinctual—wariness.
Seraphina's hand tightened on her weapon. "Then we don't wait for them to act."
Rei's eyes gleamed. "I like the way you think."
Seraphina wasted no time. In a single, fluid motion, she passed Leon into Rei's arms.
"Keep him safe."
Rei blinked in surprise but caught Leon carefully. "Wait, what—?"
Too late.
Seraphina moved.
------
A gust of wind swept through the trees as Seraphina disappeared into the darkness. The moment she left, the shadows lurking at the edge of the forest moved.
Three figures emerged, their black cloaks blending into the night.
Leon, despite being wrapped in Rei's arms, kept his focus sharp.
The first attacker lunged.
Seraphina met him mid-air.
A flash of silver.
A wet gurgle.
The man collapsed before he even realized he had been struck.
Rei let out a low whistle. "Damn."
Leon agreed.
Seraphina didn't stop. Her body twisted in the air, her blade slicing toward the second attacker before her feet even touched the ground.
But this one was faster.
The second figure dodged, barely avoiding a lethal strike. Instead of retreating, they countered with a curved dagger aimed directly at Seraphina's exposed back.
Leon's eyes narrowed. He could already see the flaw in their attack.
Seraphina saw it too.
Without missing a beat, she spun mid-air, her dagger shifting in her grip. The enemy's blade barely grazed her shoulder before she brought her weapon down in a sharp arc.
A clean strike.
Blood sprayed onto the forest floor. The second attacker staggered before collapsing.
Two down.
Only one left.
The last figure hesitated, clearly re-evaluating their approach.
Seraphina, standing amidst the fallen, tilted her head slightly. "Well?"
The remaining assassin didn't answer. Instead, they turned to run.
But Seraphina had no intention of letting them escape.
She moved with the grace of a phantom, her feet barely touching the ground as she pursued.
Leon, from Rei's arms, watched as the assassin's body tensed. At the last moment, they threw something.
A smoke bomb.
Dark mist erupted between them, obscuring Seraphina's vision.
A clever move—if it had been against anyone else.
Leon knew better.
Seraphina wasn't just a skilled fighter. She was a hunter.
The moment the assassin turned to flee—
A silver dagger whistled through the air.
The mist parted just enough for Leon to see it embedded deep into the runner's back.
The figure stumbled once—then fell, motionless.
Silence returned to the forest.
Seraphina stepped forward, retrieving her weapon with a flick of her wrist.
Rei exhaled dramatically. "Remind me never to piss you off."
Seraphina ignored her. She crouched down and checked the bodies.
Leon focused as well. These weren't amateurs.
They were well-equipped. Too well-equipped.
Seraphina found what she was looking for soon enough. She pulled a small emblem from one of the corpses and studied it.
A black fang.
Proof of their allegiance.
Rei peered over her shoulder. "Guess there's no doubt now."
Seraphina pocketed the emblem. "We need to move."
Leon agreed. If the syndicate had already tracked them here, they weren't safe.
Rei adjusted her grip on Leon and smirked. "You know, I think I like traveling with you guys."
Seraphina shot her a flat look. "Don't get used to it."
Leon, however, had other thoughts.
This was just the beginning.
If the Blackfang Syndicate had found them this quickly…
Then Astralis was going to be even more dangerous than he had anticipated.