1 Prologue

The sound of battle echoed on the cavern walls. The sound of metal hitting metal was accompanied by the painful screams of the wounded and dying.

As two forces battled it out under the high ceiling of the large cavern, a cloaked figure silently watched from high up above. He was sitting on an overhang that allowed him to see the entirety of the battlefield.

The giant mushrooms shed a pale light upon the battlefield.

The cloaked figure rested his hand on the cavern wall moments before the entire area shook with an explosion. He sighed as his gaze focused on the explosion.

Pale blue flames spread from the explosion, slowly consuming the dead bodies on the ground. As the magical flames spread, the cloaked figure pulled his cloak up and covered his mouth and nose as the smoke slowly began to settle at the ceiling of the cavern.

"Seriously…" His muffled voice was but a whisper.

Below, another explosion sounded. He narrowed his eyes and looked down. Another explosion shook the earth, and at that moment, his eyes flashed silver.

He pushed himself off the ledge, to the battlefield below. As soon as he was in the air, his eyes flashed silver once more. He landed on his feet not too far away from the fighting, and immediately ducked behind some rocks. Still out of sight, he dashed toward the side, moving as close to the cavern walls as he could.

"Oh, spirits of thunder!" A bellowing voice echoed. The commander of the winning group was standing on a tall rock, surrounded by his guards. His hands raised high up above his head, he chanted a spell. "Bestow thy humble servant with thine otherworldly power!"

The cloaked figure clicked his tongue as he circled around the forces battling it out. His gaze was focused on the commander as he rested his hand on the hilt of his dagger. Quiet as the night, approached the soldiers guarding the commander.

The Kioth Clan's commander continued chanting. Lightning began to crackle in the air. The incantation was almost finished. If he were to act any later, he wasn't going to make it.

The cloaked figure took a short, shallow breath, then leapt over the rock he was crouching behind, into the field of view of the commander's guards.

"Look out!" One of the four shouted as she began to cast a spell.

The cloaked figure moved fast – he punched the closest soldier in the throat, and as he gasped for air, slit his throat. As his body fell to the ground, the cloaked man's eyes flashed silver. His gaze focused on the person casting the spell.

His eyes followed the mana currents as they circled around her extended hand. The mana currents took a form, indicating what spell was being cast, and in that split second before the spell was finished, he knew what he had to do.

He threw himself aside, then with a graceful handspring, got back on his feet once more. With no hesitation, he threw the simple dagger to the spellcaster. A spear made of fire struck the earth behind him as he continued moving.

He caught the cloak of the third guard as the man was unsheathing a broadsword and used all of his strength to pull it. The guard made an odd gurgling sound as he unclipped the cloak from the clip by his chest. The cloaked figure threw the now loose piece of cloth right back at its owner, then leapt up into the air and kicked the man's chest.

The man grunted as he staggered backwards, but the cloaked figure didn't give him any room to breathe. He followed him with quick steps, then punched him over the cloak. The soldier tried to get the cloak off of his face, but another kick in his nether area knocked him on his knees.

He kicked him in the head once more, knocking him unconscious, then with an emotionless expression, dashed towards the fourth and final guard.

"Sir, retreat!" She shouted as the cloaked figure only paused to take his dagger from the lifeless body of another guard. "It's the Yotsuras-"

The cloaked figure swung his blade, causing her voice to fade as she raised her sword to block him. "I'm not letting you through!"

The cloaked figure wordlessly continued his assault. The woman clicked her tongue before stepping back and raising her hand. "Spirits of water, to me!" She shouted.

Water droplets formed in the air behind her, suspended in the air. Without a single word, she pointed at the cloaked figure, then clenched her fist.

The water droplets rushed towards him so fast, he could barely see them. He threw himself aside while also throwing his cloak up for whatever little protection it would provide.

"You won't get away with your crimes!" The guard shouted once more as the cloaked figure ran sideways, trying to avoid the droplets still rushing at him. He grunted as a few of them cut through the cloak and then his skin but didn't let the momentary pain slow him down. He dashed forward towards the woman just as she raised her blade.

He ducked under the curved sword, then dug his dagger deep into her chest.

"… and thus, come to thy servant's aid and destroy the fiends that…" The commander continued to chant. The cloaked figure's eyes widened as he noticed the strands of mana slowly forming over the battlefield.

If the spell was completed, then…

"Blade of Darkness!" The words left his mouth as he leapt forward, towards the commander. The older man's eyes widened as he noticed the cloaked figure. He motioned to direct the incantation towards him, but before he could speak another word, the figure swung his empty hand in a horizontal motion.

Nothing happened for a moment, then a slit appeared on the commander's throat. His expression twisted with surprise before the light of life left his eyes.

The cloaked figure breathed out slowly, then shook his right hand as if it hurt. He crouched by the commander's body and searched through his clothes with an emotionless expression. Not long after, his lips curled with a smile as his fingers touched a cold, silver chain.

He pulled it, and the pendant it was connected to, then took his dagger from the body of the fourth guard. Soon, the other soldiers would realise their commander was missing. He didn't want to be here by the time that happened. Thus, he quickly moved back into the shadows and away from the battle.

"I told you not to utilise any spells." A dry, yet powerful voice sounded. The cloaked figure lowered his head.

"I decided not to risk the master's forces' lives any longer. If the incantation were to be completed, there would have been many casualties." Despite his lowered head, his voice didn't show any signs of submission.

"You must do as you are told, there is no need for you to think and decide for yourself." The dry voice scolded him.

"I take my orders from the Madam, first and foremost." He glared at the man shrouded in darkness. "If that is not to your liking, you are welcome to find someone else to do the job." He took the pendant on a silver chain out and threw it towards the man.

The man scrambled to catch it. "Fine." He spluttered. "I have another mission for you."

"I decline." He turned his back on the man. "I have been summoned, and thus, I bid you farewell." He lowered the hood of his cloak before walking towards the castle not too far away. As he walked, his black hair shone with a hind of blue under the mystical light of the cavern's mushrooms and crystals.

The young man's expression showed nothing but a mischievous smile.