Rain fell lightly in the alley.
A man ran through it, shouting for help, his shoes splashing through puddles.
Behind him, an old man walked at an easy pace. Tall, straight-backed, dressed in a dark suit with a red tie and a sky-blue shirt. His eyes were dark green, glowing faintly under the streetlight.
"Running is futile," the old man said, his voice calm and deep.
The man turned a corner and stopped. The old man was already there.
In a blink, the figure stood in front of him, his hand closing around the man's throat and lifting him off the ground.
The man gasped, struggling to breathe. "Please… I beg of you… don't kill me."
The old man tilted his head slightly.
"Humans… so fragile. So easily bent. You lacked will, and even that, my friend, could not have saved you from my methods."
The man's eyes widened as the grip tightened.
"I thank you, however," the old man went on. "It was a glorious hunt. But now, we must complete the contract."
He whispered a word.
"Vaen'kuro."
The man's body began to twist and wither as his soul burned out through his chest and vanished into the old man's body.
When it was over, the old man let go. The corpse dropped to the ground, dry and lifeless.
He exhaled with a happy look, a gracious smile forming.
"Oh my," he said softly, "the feeling never ceases to satisfy me."
A soft flap broke the quiet.
A hawk landed neatly on his shoulder, its claws gripping the fabric of his coat.
"Master Edgard," the hawk said in a clear, raspy voice, "another fine hunt."
Edgard smiled faintly. "Please, spare me your cheap praises," he said. "The soul was not worth much. Not pure enough to give me a challenge."
The hawk tilted its head, ruffling its feathers. "In that case, the next contract might interest you."
It gave a low screech, a sharp kraa that echoed in the narrow alley.
Edgard turned his eyes slightly toward the bird. "Is that so?"
"Yes," the hawk said. "It's a Saint. Specifically, a Saint Daniel."
Edgard's eyes narrowed a little. "A Saint Daniel, you say? Where?"
"Maple Hills."
Edgard paused for a moment, thinking. "Maple Hills… I've never had the pleasure of visiting that city," he said. "Already, I find myself interested."
The hawk shifted its claws lightly on his shoulder. "The target's name is Sara Allen. She's been a Saint for two years. Her family has a long history in Maple Hills, known for raising Saints through generations. She may be difficult to break."
Edgard gave a small, amused breath through his nose.
"In all my three hundred years walking this earth, not a single soul has ever been unconquerable," he said. "For that reason alone, I welcome the challenge."
The hawk gave another short kraa.
"Prepare the contract for signing," Edgard said as he straightened his tie. "We're heading to Maple Hills."
The hawk bowed its head slightly. "As you wish, Master."
With a flap of its wings, it took off into the rain, disappearing into the sky.