The world beyond the capital was quiet — too quiet.
The cobbled roads stretched endlessly, twisting through fog and forests. Ahead, the faint glimmer of lanterns marked their destination — Blackvine Port, a city where even the seagulls whispered secrets.
Raven walked at the front, cloak drawn close, eyes scanning everything.
Selene rode beside him, armor gleaming faintly under the cloudy sky.
Behind them, the Hero hummed some song about glory, clearly the only one enjoying the journey.
> "You really can't relax, can you?" the Hero teased.
"Relaxation gets you killed," Raven replied flatly.
"You're too serious."
"And you're too loud."
Selene smiled faintly. "You two are opposites."
Raven shrugged. "Balance."
They walked a few more steps in silence, before Selene asked, "How old are you, Raven?"
He raised a brow. "Planning my funeral already?"
> "I'm curious."
"Twenty-three."
Selene blinked. "You're… younger than I thought."
> "Age doesn't matter. Experience does."
"Still. For someone so calm, I expected thirty."
"War teaches faster than time."
Selene nodded. "I'm twenty-one."
> "And already a knight of the crown. Impressive."
"Or foolish."
"Depends who's watching."
Their eyes met for a second — sharp, yet warm.
Then Raven turned away, scanning the path again.
> "We're being followed."
The Hero stiffened. "What?"
Raven's tone was calm. "Left ridge. Three shadows. They've been behind us for ten minutes."
Selene's hand moved to her sword. "Orders?"
> "Ignore them. They'll show their hand soon."
The Hero frowned. "You're not worried?"
> "If they wanted us dead, we'd already be bleeding."
Vee's voice chimed softly.
> "Scans confirm: three scouts, cloaked, low-tier mana. No immediate threat."
"Track them quietly," Raven replied in thought.
"Already marking them."
Selene glanced at him. "Talking to your system again?"
> "Always."
"She talk about me?"
"Constantly."
"And?"
"She says you're trouble."
"She's not wrong."
---
By dusk, they reached the outskirts of Blackvine Port.
The air smelled of salt, iron, and smoke.
Ships lined the coast, masts creaking like old bones.
Fog rolled over the streets, hiding faces and footsteps.
Every corner had eyes.
Every whisper carried a price.
Selene frowned. "This place feels… wrong."
Raven's gaze was steady. "It is. That's why they chose it."
The Hero scratched his head. "What do we do now?"
> "We split up," Raven said. "You go to the docks. Ask about incoming shipments. Selene, check the guard station. See who's been paid recently."
"And you?" Selene asked.
"I'll go where rats hide best."
"The tavern?"
"Exactly."
Selene crossed her arms. "You're not drinking, are you?"
> "Only information."
Vee giggled in his mind.
> "Smooth."
"Always."
---
The Drunken Leviathan was loud, filthy, and perfect.
Sailors shouted, dice clattered, and mugs slammed.
Raven walked in like a shadow — unnoticed, yet everywhere.
He took a seat at the corner table, back to the wall, eyes scanning.
A barmaid approached, eyes sharp despite her smile.
> "What'll it be, handsome?"
"Rum. And rumors."
She raised a brow. "Rum's cheap. Rumors aren't."
Raven slid a silver coin across the table.
> "Then make it two."
She pocketed the coin, leaning close. "You're not from around here."
> "Observation skills like that must get you in trouble."
"Only with the wrong people."
"Then you'll like me."
She smirked. "Depends. What kind of trouble are you buying?"
> "Ships. Smugglers. New faces. Especially ones from the capital."
Her eyes flickered. "You're asking dangerous questions."
> "I'm used to danger."
She hesitated — then leaned closer, voice low.
> "There's a man called Varek. Runs the docks at night. Not official. Not clean. He's been meeting nobles in secret. Big ones."
"Where?"
"Warehouse Seventeen. Near the west pier. Midnight."
Raven nodded. "You've been helpful."
> "Helpful's risky. You owe me a favor now."
"Noted."
She winked. "Don't die too quick."
Raven stood, cloak fluttering behind him, and slipped back into the fog.
---
Meanwhile, Selene walked through the guard station, showing her royal badge.
The guards saluted immediately.
> "Lady Selene! What brings you here?"
"Routine check," she said. "Any new recruits this week?"
"Three, milady."
"Names."
The guard hesitated. "Uh, one of them… vanished yesterday."
> "Vanished?"
"Didn't show up for patrol. Just gone."
"Show me his file."
He handed over a scroll. Selene opened it — her eyes narrowed.
No birthplace. No history. Just a name: Darren Vale.
> "This is fake," she muttered.
"Milady?"
"He's not a soldier. He's a spy."
She looked up. "Where was he stationed?"
> "West pier."
Her heart sank. Same area Raven went.
She turned sharply. "Double the patrols near the docks. And if you see him — don't approach. Report."
> "Yes, milady!"
She hurried out into the fog.
---
At the same time, the Hero stood at the docks, talking to a fisherman.
> "Big shipment tonight," the man said. "Heavy guards. Too heavy for just cargo."
"What kind of guards?"
"Black armor. No insignias. They came from the sea, not the city."
The Hero frowned. "So they're mercs."
> "Aye. And mean ones."
He thanked the man and ran toward the west pier.
Something's wrong.
---
Midnight.
Warehouse Seventeen stood at the edge of the port — silent, surrounded by fog.
Crates stacked high, shadows thick as smoke.
Raven arrived first, slipping through the half-open door.
Inside — empty.
Too empty.
He frowned. Bait.
Vee's voice rang out sharply.
> "Ambush! Ten hostiles, closing fast!"
"Positions?"
"Four on the roof, six outside the gate."
"Perfect."
Raven drew his dagger, blade glinting faintly purple.
> "Let's dance."
The first attacker lunged from the dark — Raven sidestepped, slicing across the man's throat.
Another came swinging — Raven ducked low, drove a knee into his ribs, twisted his wrist, and snapped it clean.
Two more rushed in — but a flash of steel cut them down mid-sprint.
Selene burst through the door, sword dripping.
> "Told you this place was trouble."
"You're late."
"You're welcome."
They stood back-to-back, surrounded by masked assassins.
> "Vee," Raven whispered,
"EMP pulse. Now."
A surge of light erupted — magical symbols on the assassins' bodies shattered like glass.
Their cloaking spells died instantly.
Selene grinned. "Nice trick."
> "I have better."
Raven spun, slashing through another enemy, boots moving like he'd rehearsed the kill a hundred times.
Selene's blade was precise, efficient. Every swing lethal, every move calm.
Within minutes, the last assassin fell.
Raven wiped his blade clean, scanning the corpses.
Each one had a black insignia stitched inside their collar — a coiled snake.
> "Serpent Order," he muttered.
"Who?"
"A noble assassin guild. Paid by the highborn. I've dealt with them before."
Selene frowned. "So Althros isn't working alone."
> "No. This is bigger."
Vee appeared beside him in hologram form, eyes glowing red.
> "I've scanned the bodies. They're linked to three other nobles. Want names?"
"Later."
Selene sheathed her sword. "You're bleeding."
> "It's nothing."
"You're reckless."
"I'm alive."
"Barely."
Raven looked at her. "You worry too much."
> "Someone has to."
For a brief second, they just stood there — fog swirling, blood cooling, eyes locked.
Then the Hero ran in, panting.
> "Are you two okay?!"
"Fine," Selene said.
"Ambush," Raven added.
"No kidding. I saw shadows everywhere!"
Raven walked past him, eyes cold.
> "Good. Let them watch."
Selene frowned. "You're baiting them again, aren't you?"
> "Always."
---
Outside, as the fog began to fade, Raven looked back at the burning warehouse.
The flames danced like devils, painting the mist red.
Selene stood beside him, hair glowing in the firelight.
> "You set it ablaze?"
"Dead men leave questions. Fire leaves answers."
She shook her head. "You're dangerous."
> "You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
He smirked faintly. "And yet you're still here."
She crossed her arms. "Maybe I'm worse."
Vee giggled softly.
> "Oh, you two are so flirting."
Raven sighed. "Ignore her."
Selene smiled. "Can't. She's honest."
For once, Raven didn't argue.
---
As dawn broke, the three of them stood by the port walls, the sea turning gold under the rising sun.
The Hero stretched. "So… what now?"
> "Now," Raven said quietly, "we tighten the noose."
Selene glanced at him. "Meaning?"
> "We follow the money. The ships. The nobles behind them. And when they all gather…"
"You'll crush them."
"No," Raven said, eyes hard. "I'll burn their empire."
The Hero blinked. "You're serious."
> "Always."
Selene watched him — calm, sharp, unreadable.
She didn't say it out loud, but she knew:
This wasn't a priest.
This wasn't a strategist.
This was a villain in the making.
And part of her… liked it.
-----
The fog over Blackvine Port hung low, heavy as wet cloth. Lanterns flickered weakly, their glow breaking in the mist, and the sea hissed softly against the wooden planks like it was whispering secrets.
Raven stood on the ridge overlooking the port, cloak fluttering, eyes half-lidded.
Beside him, Selene crouched with her sword drawn, her breath steady, her senses sharp.
Below, shapes moved in the haze — smugglers, or maybe something worse. A dozen torches, two ships half-sunk, and crates lined in neat rows that shimmered faintly with magical sigils.
Selene squinted. "They're smuggling mana steel."
Raven's lips twitched. "And they don't even know it's cursed."
She turned to him, puzzled. "Cursed?"
"Touch it with bare skin, and your blood burns from the inside out."
His voice was calm, almost casual. "Their supplier is testing the waters."
"Who's behind it?"
He didn't answer. Instead, his crimson eyes gleamed faintly through the fog. "Let's find out."
He stepped down from the ridge without a sound. Selene followed automatically, though her instincts told her this place reeked of traps.
When they reached the shadow of the docks, Raven stopped and raised one finger.
Selene froze. Not a muscle moved.
The fog swirled gently as if listening to him. The air thickened with faint mana. And then, from the mist ahead, a figure emerged — tall, broad-shouldered, a scar across his cheek.
The man barked, "Who the hell—"
He stopped when he saw Raven's eyes. The crimson light made his breath hitch.
Raven flipped a small token between his fingers — a black coin etched with a serpent devouring its tail.
"Your employer sent me."
The man frowned. "No one said—"
"Your employer is dead," Raven interrupted, voice smooth as silk. "So, tonight, you work for me."
Murmurs rippled through the dock. Hands went to hilts.
Selene's eyes darted, counting — fourteen men, two archers in the mist, one mage near the crates.
They weren't simple smugglers.
The scarred man's jaw clenched. "You got guts, kid. But this isn't your turf."
Raven smiled faintly. "You're right. It's mine now."
That was the last thing they heard before the mist exploded.
It moved like a living thing — thickening, choking, swallowing sound.
Selene vanished into it, a blade of silver light. One strike, one corpse. No words.
Raven walked straight through chaos, unhurried, eyes glowing like coals. His dagger whispered through throats and tendons, his cloak absorbing the noise. No wasted movements. No mercy.
The men panicked — hacking at shadows, shouting names.
One screamed as Selene's sword pierced his chest. Another stumbled backward and felt cold steel press against his throat.
"Yield," Raven murmured, voice in his ear.
The man dropped his weapon instantly.
Raven looked around — most were dead or bleeding. Only three remained upright, trembling.
He flicked his wrist. The fog thinned, revealing the carnage.
Blood pooled at his boots. The air reeked of iron.
Selene stepped beside him, blade dripping, eyes unreadable. "That's all of them."
Raven's gaze shifted to the surviving three. "Not all. One more still breathing."
A whimper came from behind a crate.
A man stumbled out, clutching his gut, eyes wide with terror. "P-please! Don't kill me!"
Raven's tone stayed calm. "That depends on your honesty."
The man nodded rapidly, shaking. "Anything! I'll talk!"
"Good." Raven stepped closer, the faint red glow in his eyes intensifying. "Who sent you?"
"The… the Guild of Crowns!" the man blurted. "We were told to move the steel quietly, no questions!"
"And who gave the order?"
"I-I don't know! Some noble! Said they'd double pay if we stayed quiet!"
Raven studied him for a beat, then tapped a finger against the man's forehead. A faint black rune flared there.
The man gasped, clutching his head.
"Lie again, and your heart stops," Raven said simply. "Tell the Guild the Black Serpent accepts their offering."
The man blinked, confused. "The… Black Serpent?"
Raven smiled faintly. "They'll remember the name."
He turned away. Selene followed, silent, until they reached the ridge again. Behind them, the docks were smeared with blood, the fog already swallowing the evidence.
"You could've killed them all," she said finally.
"I could've," Raven replied, eyes on the horizon. "But fear spreads faster through whispers than corpses."
Selene watched him, thoughtful. "You're… strange."
"I'm efficient."
"Same thing," she muttered.
He looked at her then — sharp, unreadable. "You think so?"
She met his gaze evenly. "You're not like anyone I've met."
"Good," he said. "That means I'm doing it right."
The silence stretched between them, broken only by the sigh of the sea.
---
Hours later, the two rested in an old watchtower overlooking the port. The fire crackled softly, casting warm light on cracked stone. Selene cleaned her blade, while Raven sat cross-legged, eyes closed, breathing slow.
"You're meditating again?" she asked.
"Calculating."
She tilted her head. "Calculating what?"
"Paths. Every move opens a dozen more. I like to know where they lead."
"And tonight's path?"
He opened his eyes. "Control."
Selene studied him. "You're building something, aren't you?"
"Maybe." He stood and looked out the broken window, where faint smoke still rose from the docks. "Blackvine was a test. The next move is Valerion."
"The capital?" she asked. "You're serious?"
He smirked. "I'm always serious."
She frowned. "That place is a nest of nobles and assassins."
"Perfect," he murmured. "I like vipers. They understand venom."
Her lips parted slightly. For a moment, she saw not just a boy, but a man with ambition that burned hotter than fire. Dangerous, clever, unreadable.
Before she could respond, Raven's eyes narrowed.
He spoke softly, but not to her. "How long has she been there?"
Vee's voice echoed in his mind, sweet and sharp. "Thirty-two seconds. She's been watching us from the tower's shadow."
Selene looked up, confused. "Who are you talking to?"
Raven didn't answer. He turned toward the dark corner of the tower. "Come out."
For a moment, silence. Then — soft steps, light as silk.
From the shadows emerged a tall woman, long black hair tied high, eyes like sharpened glass. She moved like smoke — dangerous and calm.
"Impressive," she said. "Most don't notice me until I cut their throat."
Raven's voice was even. "You're sloppy tonight."
Her lips curved faintly. "Or maybe I wanted you to see me."
Selene tensed. "Who are you?"
The woman ignored her. "They call you the Black Serpent. You've been busy."
Raven didn't reply.
She smiled. "Good. I prefer men who work in silence."
Selene's hand twitched toward her blade. "Answer the question."
The stranger tilted her head. "Lira. Assassin. I came to see if the rumors were true."
"What rumors?" Raven asked.
"That a boy with crimson eyes was carving his name into the underworld. Seems they were."
He studied her quietly. "And what do you want?"
"To make an offer."
Selene stepped closer, blade half raised. "We don't need more snakes."
"On the contrary," Lira said, smiling faintly. "He does."
Raven's eyes flicked to her dagger — clean, precise, poisoned at the tip. She wasn't bluffing about her skill.
"What's your price?" he asked.
"No price." She sheathed the dagger. "Only purpose."
He held her gaze a long moment. Then, finally, he said, "We'll see if you're useful."
Lira smiled wider. "You'll find I am."
Selene muttered under her breath, "Great. Another mystery woman."
Raven ignored her. He turned toward the window again, watching the smoke fade into the night sky. "Blackvine is ours. Tomorrow, Valerion."
Selene sheathed her sword and sighed. "You're insane."
He smirked. "Insanity's just ambition without direction."
Lira laughed softly. "Then maybe you're the most ambitious man alive."
Raven didn't deny it. He only whispered, to himself and the dark, "No… just the one willing to play dirtier than the rest."
Outside, the sea swallowed the last embers of the burning dock.
Inside, a villain's empire quietly began.
To be continued...