First Silver of indirect Justice?

Then as they sneak in , Astra ask it's her turn to differentiate the cultist outift and identities of a leader , associate and just members

Cheshie nodded and began to explain. "Alright, Senpai, here's how you can differentiate them. The leader has a special insignia on the shoulder of their robe, while associates have it on their chest. Members like me, well, we don't have any insignia. And, you might notice that our masks have slightly different patterns; the leader's mask is more ornate, associates have simpler designs, and members have basic, plain masks."

Astra carefully processed this information. "Good, I'll keep an eye out for those details. Let's continue. Remember, we're here to gather intel and neutralize their leadership without causing too much chaos." They proceeded deeper into the cult's hideout, silently and covertly.

Cheshie nods as they part ways to prepare as the Cult leader does their usual mantra and worship a life size of Estella that is too accurate to be ordained in Amethyst jewelry color and sculpture as she proclaimed her eminence lives on and while they haven't heard from anything from the squad that tried to bait the Fugitive the culprit of their idol's demise the shadow knight they make a speech about A CHANCE TO revive her just by collecting her ash remains and bones they manage discreetly , which triggered Astra as he use his shadows like a discreet telephone with Cheshie that ask if something is wrong 

Astra's voice echoed softly in Cheshie's ears through the shadowy connection. "Cheshie, it seems like the cult is trying to use my past actions against me. They're talking about reviving Estella using her remains. We must proceed with caution and gather as much intel as possible. Stay on your toes, and if things get dangerous, retreat and regroup with me."

Cheshie acknowledged his words and continued to blend in with the cult members, all the while keeping an eye on the cult leader's movements. They had to tread carefully to uncover any hidden secrets and protect their mission.

Then she manage to be go unnoticed due to controlling her own aura and mana flow even to the point she didn't flair up her body language of her catlike feature before finally she whispers to the shadow behind her "Astra-Senpai , I got the spot where the associates are..how about you? Find a vantage point for the leader?"

Astra's voice resonated in the shadows as he replied, "Good work, Cheshie. I've located a vantage point near the cult leader. I'll be keeping a close eye on their movements. Let's stay in position for now, and when the time is right, we'll make our move to gather more information and, if necessary, apprehend the leader. Be vigilant, and stay safe."

As they waited the Cult Leader also uttered they would use some sort of golem cores and they stole the weapons (Celestial Regalia) of The dead three rebels, the Dual-shields of Tim that is slightly damaged or cracked, Nova's anti-magic based sword, lastly Dorothy's Moonwarden that make Astra tense up he was so caught up to his personal anger and vengeance he forgot to keep these items safe as Cheshie spoke through the shadow power of Astra "Hey Senpai, did you recognize the rebels my cult leader mentioned?"

Astra's voice came through the shadows as he replied to Cheshie, "Yes, I recognized those names. Tim, Nova, and Dorothy were part of a group of rebels that I encountered a while ago. They were a thorn in the side of the faction knights, and it seems they were quite skilled. The fact that the cult leader has their weapons is concerning. We need to gather more information and find out what they plan to do with those weapons. Keep an eye on the cult leader, and I'll do the same. Let's stay ready for any opportunity to act."

Cheshie nodded "I see , but they died right?" Astra gulps and almost felt sick in his stomach as he knew from some odd intuition if they were alive (Nova is Astra's brother) he and them could've work hard to improve this nation's relationship with Gradience and the system to change he won't feel so empty and incomplete now as he got a bigger motivation as he felt a new revenge is surging despite Estella being dead and his genuine rebel companions too he could atleast prevent bigger tragedies

Astra responded, "Yes, they were presumed dead, but it seems like their weapons have resurfaced, and that's not a good sign. We should be prepared for anything. Let's focus on gathering information and then decide on the best course of action. If we find any evidence that the rebels are still alive, we can work towards ensuring their safety and preventing further tragedies." He couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose and determination, even beyond his personal vendetta.

Cheshie says "Mew mew gotcnya Senpai.." as then finally Astra trigger the signal once he use his shadow travel to teleport and backstab the cult leader that caused the panic who killed her and Cheshie follows (Astra assist) to discreetly killed the Associates.

Astra and Cheshie executed their plan with precision, taking down the cult leader and the associates swiftly and silently. The cultists were caught off guard, and it didn't take long for the chaos to ensue as their leader fell. Astra's shadows and Cheshie's agility made them a formidable duo in this operation.

As the dust settled, Astra and Cheshie stood victorious. They had accomplished their mission, eliminating the cult leader and associates. Now, they could focus on securing any evidence or information related to the rebels and their missing weapons.

Astra discreetly use his shadow pocket dimensions to add these relics to his inventory and he ask Cheshie to Just make sure to cast the magic to completely erase Estella's ash and bone remains with an eerie and vengeful tone.

Cheshie nodded and followed Astra's request to erase any trace of Estella's remains, casting the necessary magic to ensure there would be no chance of revival for the cult leader's idol. Astra's tone reflected his determination to prevent any resurgence of Estella's influence.

With their mission accomplished and the relics secured, Astra and Cheshie continued to work together efficiently, their partnership growing stronger with each successful operation.

Before they left , The surviving Cult Members ask why there is a member that is a traitor working with whom? Then Cheshie a blabbermouth proudly comments "Look no further it's the shadow knight himself owowowowow" as her ears are perky pulled by Astra until he stop as he hears cheers of joy and gratitude as the Cult members admit they are secretly admirers of him and begged they are at his mercy of not being killed and BEGGED TO PLEDGE new loyalty to him as not a cult leader yet just a head of a new group as Astra spoke "slow down slow down fine..let's chat.." transition to them with their mask on sitting down , the rest maskless since they are not in assassination squad these certain members as they ask how Cheshie survive and collaborate such a cold and heartless legend.

Astra surveyed the group of surviving cult members with a sense of both suspicion and curiosity. These were individuals who, moments ago, had been preparing to take his life, but now, with their masks off, they appeared surprisingly normal. Some of them were women, men, and various species. It was a diverse group, and Astra couldn't help but feel a sense of unease in this sudden turn of events.

One of the cult members, a young woman with sharp features, couldn't contain her excitement. "Look no further, it's the shadow knight himself!" she blurted out, causing Astra to reach out and grab her catlike ears, pulling her closer as if to silence her.

Astra couldn't hide his surprise when the cheers and expressions of gratitude followed. These cult members were not just relieved to be alive; they were admirers of his. They begged for his mercy and pledged their loyalty to him. Astra sighed and nodded, realizing that things had taken an unexpected turn.

"Slow down, slow down," Astra finally spoke. "Fine... let's chat."

They all gathered, some still masked, while others had removed their disguises. The atmosphere in the room shifted from tension to a mix of curiosity and admiration. The cult members were eager to hear from Astra, and he couldn't deny that their loyalty, albeit abrupt, might be an asset.

One of the members asked, "How did Cheshie survive and collaborate with such a cold and heartless legend like you?" The question hung in the air, waiting for an answer. It was a chance for Astra to reveal a bit more about himself and perhaps find common ground with these unexpected allies.

Astra leaned back slightly and gave a subtle nod to Cheshie, allowing her to explain her survival and collaboration. Cheshie cleared her throat and began her explanation, trying her best not to let her admiration for Astra run away with her words.

"Well, you see," Cheshie began, "I was lucky enough to be spared by the shadow knight. I offered him information about the cult, and he saw potential in me. He's... well, he's not as heartless as the legends say. Astra-sama is quite practical and values those who can be of use to him."

Cheshie was careful with her words, not wanting to make Astra appear too soft or willing to compromise his principles. She wanted to paint him as a pragmatic and strategic individual, which was closer to the truth.

Astra watched her explanation, making sure it didn't stray into overly romanticized territory. The members seemed to accept her words and turned their attention back to him, eager to hear more from the enigmatic shadow knight.

Then she added "Plus , under the condition I repay the life I have been spared with nowhere else to go…I had been indebt nya to become his apprentice or first!! Nyayyahhaha…and I consider him Astra-Senpai as her recent dead eminence gave him that code name.." they were in awe as a boy that is a Bestialkin dog wag his tail and perk his droopy ears a bit about that Cheshie is having a miracle to even not just spared her learn new skills thanks to him.

Cheshie's explanation continued, and she couldn't help but add her own flair of admiration while still keeping her words relatively grounded in reality.

"Indeed," she chimed in, "Astra-Senpai is an exceptional mentor. He taught me the ways of an assassin, and I've been privileged to learn from the very best. I'm honored to be his first apprentice, and he has been patient with me, guiding me through the complexities of our profession."

The cult members listened with increasing fascination. They were in awe of Cheshie's journey from being a captive to becoming an apprentice to the enigmatic shadow knight. It seemed like Astra had garnered a new group of followers through this twist of fate.

Astra glanced at Cheshie, appreciating her loyalty and dedication. He knew that while her words may have been a bit enthusiastic, they were still grounded in the truth. He wasn't as heartless as the legends portrayed him, but he was far from a hero. This alliance with the cult members, as questionable as it was, might just serve his purposes in this alternate timeline.

As Astra reflected on Cheshie's words and the growing loyalty of the cult members, his thoughts wandered to a distant memory from his childhood. It was a conversation he had with Estella, the cult leader who had taken him in as a young child. She had whispered those tempting words to him after he had successfully completed his very first assignment.

"Power," she had said, her voice dripping with allure, "is the ultimate prize, Astra. Those who control it hold dominion over all others. With your skills, you can have absolute authority, and others will bow before you, filled with envy and fear."

The memory echoed in his mind, a reminder of Estella's manipulation and the promises of power she had used to mold him. It was a reminder of the darkness he sought to escape and, in this timeline, a chance to rewrite his fate and forge his own path.

Astra contemplated whether he could use this newfound allegiance to his advantage, all the while keeping in mind the weight of his revenge and the lives that were lost.

Astra then recalled something...

The memory of Nova's final words, "Aldol... I FORGIVE YOU," echoed in Astra's mind, bringing a mix of emotions. To him, those words carried the weight of forgiveness for past actions and choices. He remembered the time when, as a young boy of ten, he was tasked with preventing Nova and Tim from saving Dorothy, who had broken a sacred law. It was an accident, but Astra's role as a Faction Knight demanded he follow orders.

It wasn't just that, though. Astra had also sparred with Dorothy when she was a new recruit at the age of twelve. Their interactions had led to the development of friendship and an influence on Dorothy's perspective. It hinted at rebellion and an alternative way of thinking compared to the other faction knights who either envied or feared Astra's accomplishments.

These memories, filled with complex emotions, only added to the layers of Astra's character and his quest for revenge. He carried the weight of forgiveness and the impact of past choices, all driving him forward in this timeline.

And recalled to feel that Nova's words were genuine and wish that he and him can really hangout as brothers yet that isn't possible due to what happened already before Cheshie nudge him to snap at present as the rest of the group are just staring at a masked shadow knight attire blanking out before he uttered "Anyways , I respect that yet DO YOU ALL REALLY SWORE ALLEGIANCE to me to abandon you old cult? Convince me"

The members of the former cult, now gathered around Astra, were eager to prove their newfound allegiance to the shadow knight. They began to speak of their admiration for Astra, citing his legendary reputation as the main reason they chose to pledge their loyalty to him. They also explained their dissatisfaction with the old cult's ways, which had turned destructive and fanatic.

Astra listened to their words and considered their pleas, his soulless blue eyes flickering with a subtle emotion. He realized that he had unknowingly garnered a following due to his actions and reputation as the shadow knight, and it presented an opportunity to lead this new group away from the darkness that had consumed their old cult.

With a nod, Astra finally spoke, "Very well, I accept your allegiance. But from now on, our path will be different. We shall not follow the destructive ways of your old cult. We will work towards a new purpose, one that aligns with my own goals."

This marked a significant shift in the narrative, as Astra began to assemble his own organization with diverse members who were now committed to his leadership, setting the stage for new challenges and adventures.

Then the canine Bestialkin boy a bestfriend to Cheshie spoke and called himself Clifford that is a red head and blood hound dog ears and tail to volunteer as a second apprentice and manager for the other members as he is the same age as Cheshie as 18 and they can discuss the name of their new organization first

Cheshie looked at Clifford, her Bestialkin friend, and smiled. She felt grateful for his support and the chance to have him as her partner in Astra's organization. Astra considered the proposal and nodded, agreeing to have Clifford as the second apprentice and manager. The three of them began discussing the name for their new organization, signifying a fresh start and a departure from their old cult's ways.

Together, they brainstormed various names, each one carrying a different meaning and resonance. Astra, Cheshie, and Clifford finally settled on a name that captured their desire for change and the hope they held for the future.

With the organization's name decided, they continued their journey, united in their purpose.

The name they decided on for their new organization was "Shadow's Resurgence." It symbolized their fresh start and the hope for a brighter future after leaving their old cult behind.