Chapter 23: Battle

The dazzling fire emanating from the main building of the brothel, lit up the city like a beacon. The eunuchs that were waiting for the signal, as well as the killers that had replaced the shadow guards all watched in awe, as the once terrifying building burned brighter than the sun, in this cold, dark night.

Suddenly from the shadows in many places, the eunuchs began to fulfill their tasks. Carrying firewood and alcohol towards countless yards. Without hesitation they set the yards on fire, regardless of if there were people inside or not.

Some of the other servants and eunuchs attempted to resist, but were ruthlessly killed by Elena's eunuchs. Fires spread wantonly throughout the backyard of the brothel, slowly connecting and increasing in size and ferocity.

Naturally the fires wouldn't go unnoticed. Alessia stood in her yard, watching the brothel she had been in charge of eaten away by the raging flames. However there was no anger on her face, only a calmness that hid her true thoughts.

Dain walked out of the darkness, blood flowing down his unsheathed sword. The corpses of the shadow guards that both protected and monitored Alessia, strewn about the yard.

Dain looked towards Alessia and spoke lazily, "We should get going. This is definitely the best time to escape".

Alessia turned her attention to Dain, and shook her head, "It's too late".

Dain didn't understand why Alessia had said that, until he heard footsteps approaching where they were. Turning around he saw a young woman standing there, wearing a set of night clothes, but her face was clearly that of one of the prostitutes that Alessia had been interested in to take her place as head.

He could see the glimmer that came from the short sword in her hand, but it was her eyes that showed no signs of light, which made him feel eerie.

He saw that she had remained standing there, so he said, "There's no need to fight, girl. Let's avoid this battle, and we can all go our separate ways".

Eina stared at him, silent and foreboding. She held the short sword by her side and spoke coldly, "Even if she leaves, she is the second prince's lackey. She knows us, and when you leave, who can guarantee that she won't send him news about us?"

Dain couldn't refute, he knew of Alessia's loyalty to the second prince. It was one of his worries, that even if they left she would continue to be at his service. However he couldn't just side with this girl who was clearly harbouring murderous intentions.

He gripped his sword tighter, and his deep voice echoed through the yard, "If there's no stopping it, then I'm sorry but you won't be leaving here alive".

Eina reacted immediately and stepped back, dodging the swinging sword that had appeared seemingly out of thin air.

Dain continued to swing at Eina, his attacks both majestic and powerful.

However Eina didn't even try to defend, she continued moving just outside of the range of each swing.

Dain knew that she was testing him, and the fact that she showed no semblance of worry meant that she was a skilled combatant. He sighed 'How unlucky'.

Knowing that she wasn't someone easy to deal with, he sped up his attacks. His speed so fast they left after images. The swings showing a sense of domineering, but if you look closely, a hint of impatience.

Eina saw that Dain's attacks had begun to become messy. It wasn't until this moment that she actively joined the fight. She swung her short sword, colliding with his and knocking them both back a few steps.

Dain showed a bit of shock that Eina could parry him, but she didn't leave him any time to think. She had watched his movements and although they were very powerful, some of them were too flashy.

The presence of such moves showed how arrogant he was as a martial warrior. And with the impatience he had begun to feel, Eina knew that she had him.

She began to attack him faster, her sword passing through his defences every so often, causing nicks and cuts to accrue around his body.

The small wounds were nothing to him, but they inevitably became annoying. His impatience had increased with the amount of times he was injured. He began to furiously attack, swinging haphazardly at Eina, who seemed unfazed by the fight.

Alessia watched with an indifferent expression as Dain became more and more angry, although his attacks were stronger, but none of them could even reach the girl in front of him.

Eina had seen enough, knowing that Dain had lost his composure, she began to attack his openings.

As Dain swung his sword at the head of the girl in front of him, he watched her disappear for a moment, only to reappear by his side, a sharp pain coming from his waist.

Staggering from the attack, he held the cut that had begun to bleed heavily. His eyes showing a trace of fear.

Eina didn't give him time to think, continuing to pressure him with attacks. His sword only able to deflect the blows, not even able to counter-attack.

Eina showed no sign of stopping, her swings becoming faster and more accurate. The short sword in her hand aiming for the unguarded areas.

Dain had fought many battles, and knew that she was above him in experience. Knowing that if this continued he would only die, he pulled out the dagger behind his back and began a dual wielding style.

The addition of the dagger didn't surprise Eina, she had noticed it when she saw him, she was just waiting for him to draw it.

She continued to pressure him, her attacks with a single short sword proving more than enough to stop the advance against the two weapons.

Sensing the arrival of Elena who had obviously completed her part, Eina became more ruthless in her actions.

Alessia watched as Eina who seemed to be in a deadlock, moved like a ghost, through the attacks of the sword and dagger, cutting the throat of Dain.

When Elena arrived, she saw Dain clutching his throat, eyes wide with horror, collapsing to the ground. As well as Eina standing by, looking at her with a smirk.