Night had fallen over Sedona City, bringing with it a biting chill and a light flurry of snow. The streets, usually bustling with life, were now nearly deserted, save for the occasional patrol of guards wielding glowing lanterns. Their soft light cast flickering shadows across the snow-dusted cobblestones, the only signs of movement in the quiet city.
"Huff… huff…" Mira exhaled, her breath forming fleeting clouds in the frigid air. She crouched in the shadow of a building, her green eyes locked on a passing patrol. The guards, clad in sturdy leather armor, moved with a precision that marked them as seasoned elites. Their vigilance was palpable, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of trouble. Mira's heart quickened. These weren't the lax, decorative knights she'd assumed guarded the city gate. Sedona City's defenses were far sharper than she'd anticipated.
Tonight, she was determined to infiltrate the castle. The familiar voice she'd heard earlier—eerily similar to the little runt from her crew—gnawed at her. She had to see for herself if it was her. But there was another reason driving her: she wanted to confront the city lord, to understand how Sedona City had achieved the impossible harmony between humans and beastkin. That answer could decide whether she'd abandon her mission to kidnap him. And if she did meet him, she'd warn him of the rumor she'd heard—a noble plotting to attack Sedona City. It was the least she could do if she chose to walk away.
The sound of the patrol's footsteps faded into the distance. "Tch, too alert for their own good," Mira muttered, slipping out from the shadows. Her movements were silent, her assassin's training ensuring each step was as light as a feather. She darted through the streets, weaving between buildings to avoid the guards' lanterns, her black burlap cloak blending seamlessly with the night. It took her twenty minutes of careful maneuvering to reach the castle's outer wall.
She pressed herself against the cold stone, her breath shallow as she studied the four-meter-high barrier. Scaling it was out of the question—too steep, too exposed. Her green eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for an alternative. Then she spotted it: a building roughly ten meters away, its roof rising eight or nine meters high. It was the perfect vantage point.
"That's my way in," Mira whispered, a spark of determination in her eyes. She moved swiftly, her lithe form darting toward the building. Using the window ledges as handholds, she climbed with the agility of a cat, her fingers gripping the rough stone despite the biting cold. The building was empty, its unfinished interior a hollow shell of bare walls and exposed beams. Perfect. No one would hear her, even if she made a misstep.
Reaching the rooftop, Mira crouched low, her green eyes narrowing as she surveyed the castle. The snow fell lightly, obscuring her view, but she could make out a tall structure within the castle grounds. At its highest point, a single room glowed with the warm flicker of candlelight. "That's where the lord must be," She murmured, her breath misting in the air. Her heart raced—not from fear, but from the thrill of the challenge.
She began to shed her burlap cloak, revealing the tight leather armor beneath. The cold hit her like a slap, raising goosebumps across her skin. "Damn, it's freezing," She hissed, rubbing her arms. Reaching behind her, she tugged at two ropes tied around her back. With a sharp pull, the knots came loose, and a pair of black wings unfurled with a soft whoosh. They were shorter than they should have been, as if sliced in half, their feathers glinting faintly in the moonlight.
Mira stretched her wings, wincing slightly as they moved. "Almost there," She said, running a hand over the feathers. "A few more months, and they'll be fully grown. Then I'll soar properly, not just glide." As a bird-beastkin, flight was her birthright, but her damaged wings limited her to short glides. Still, a few dozen meters was well within her ability.
"Time to move," She said, stepping to the edge of the roof. Her target was the glowing window. Taking a deep breath, she leapt forward, her wings snapping open. The wind caught her, and she glided silently, the castle wall passing beneath her with ease. The snow and darkness cloaked her movements, and she landed lightly on the castle's second-floor ledge, her heart pounding from the rush.
"Bloody cold," She muttered, rubbing her face to warm it. The wind had given her just enough lift to make the glide, but now her wings trembled in the chill. She shook out her wrists, then began to climb, her short dagger prying away patches of ice and snow from the window ledges. Her target was the topmost room, where the candlelight beckoned. It took her thirty grueling minutes, her fingers growing numb and red from the cold, but she finally reached the window.
Mira held her breath, pressing her ear to the window. Silence. No voices, no movement. "Is no one there?" She whispered, her green eyes blinking in confusion. Her hands ached, her grip slipping on the icy ledge. She couldn't hold on much longer.
Carefully, she raised her head, peering through the window. Her fingers brushed the surface, expecting rough beast hide, but the material was thinner, smoother—almost like glass. Before she could process it, the window creaked open with a soft click.
"Hi!" A handsome man leaned out, his elbows resting casually on the sill. His dark eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked at her, hanging precariously outside.
Mira froze, her mouth falling open. "You…" She stammered, her mind blank. In all her years as an assassin, she'd never been caught like this—dangling from a window, exposed and utterly humiliated.
"Who are you?" Lucas asked, his gaze sweeping over her. His eyes lingered on her wings, a spark of recognition flashing through them. 'A bird-beastkin', he thought, his curiosity piqued.
Mira's face burned with embarrassment. She glanced down at the drop below—jumping would be suicide. Her hands, numb from the cold, screamed in protest as she clung to the ledge.
"Young Master, who's out there?" Mina's voice called from inside. Her head appeared beside Lucas's, her blue eyes widening at the sight of Mira. "Intruder!" She snapped, her knife flashing as she drew it and stepped in front of Lucas, the blade aimed at Mira's throat.
"Mina, she's a bird-beastkin," Lucas said calmly, placing a hand on Mina's shoulder. His mind flashed to Amelia, another bird-beastkin he knew well.
"Bird-beastkin?" Mina echoed, her gaze darting to Mira's wings, which fluttered weakly in the cold. Her expression remained stern, but a flicker of surprise crossed her face.
"Let her come up," Lucas said, his tone even. "She's going to fall if we leave her out there."
Mina's eyes narrowed, her knife still raised. "You. Get up here," She ordered, her voice cold as the snow outside. She was shaken—someone had slipped past the castle's defenses and reached the lord's study window. It was a failure she wouldn't easily forgive herself for.
Mira swallowed hard, her options stark. Stay out here and freeze to death, or climb inside and face whatever awaits her. Her hands were too numb to hold on much longer. With a resigned sigh, she began to pull herself up, her wings trembling as she climbed through the window.
.
.
.
.
You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
300 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.
5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.