Just then, the clouds parted. Moonlight poured through the jungle canopy, casting a pale beam across the assassin's form.
For the first time, Light saw her clearly.
She stood where the shadows melted, framed by silver mist. A woman—his height, about 5'9", body honed like a weapon. The outfit she wore was skin-tight, minimalist and practical, designed for speed and silence. Every muscle on her moved like coiled steel.
But it wasn't her figure that stunned Light.
It was her eyes.
A piercing, luminous blue like a frozen flame. The moonlight struck them just right, and for a moment, Light forgot why he was even here. His thoughts dulled. His instincts wavered. The battlefield, the mask, the assassin… all seemed distant.
"She's beautiful," he thought. "Like a star pulled out of the sky…"
The assassin began walking toward him silent, focused. Light's entire body tensed, his mind in conflict. This was clearly an enemy… so why didn't his instincts scream danger?
Her gaze wasn't hostile. It was analyzing. Curious.
Then, she looked down at his pocket.
Light followed her line of sight and saw what she was focused on: the coded metal insignia he had taken from the previous assassin. It dangled slightly from his pocket, the engraved imperial marking catching the light.
And right there on her hip… the exact same insignia.
Light's mind raced.
> "Does she think I'm one of them?"
"Does she not know I killed the other guy?"
"Or is this badge some kind of ID that makes her think I'm an ally?"
"Or... maybe she just doesn't care?"
He didn't move.
When she finally stopped in front of him, she broke the silence.
"You're from the elite imperial unit, aren't you?" she said softly, her voice cool as the night breeze. "What are you doing here?"
Light answered with a single word.
"Mission."
The assassin took a slow step back, eyeing his gear, his clothes, his stillness. Her tone shifted.
"The Emperor really is investing heavily in you people now… I've never seen fabric like that. Or that."
She nodded toward his belt—specifically, the sleek multi-pouch harness and the protein bar packet sticking out from one side.
Light remained still, emotionless, a perfect mask of calm. Cool Mind was doing its job.
She turned, about to leave, but paused. Her nose twitched. She sniffed.
She turned sharply, walking up to Light. Too fast.
Before he could react, her hand moved—a blur. Light flinched slightly, but no pain came.
She stood behind him now, holding the half-eaten protein bar he'd eaten hours ago.
She sniffed it. Bit it.
Then a low, surprised sound escaped her lips.
"Umm."
The softest sound… but it rang through the night.
She froze. Realized what she'd done. Lowered the mask again and looked straight at him.
Light stared back.
Expression unreadable.
Inside, his thoughts spiraled. "She's stronger than the one I fought. If she wanted, she could've killed me before I blinked. I can't win this fight. But maybe…"
He nodded slowly, voice level.
"You liked that?"
She said nothing.
"What if we make a deal?" Light offered, pulling out a second, unopened protein bar—a different flavor.
Her eyes flicked to it.
He raised it.
"There are only two of these in the entire world. The one in your hand… and this."
Still no answer. But her body shifted. Hesitated.
Light pressed.
"I'll give it to you. No tricks. And I'll forget you took the first one… but I want your support. Just for a while."
A long pause.
Then, finally, she responded—quietly, chewing.
"…State your request first. Then we'll see."
Light grinned, inwardly. "The fish has taken the bait."
"I'm new," he said, keeping his tone modest. "There's danger coming. I have a mission to finish, and I won't survive it alone. I need support."
She stared at him again. Hard. Calculating.
Then, with the faintest smile, she replied:
"Until we're here… sure."
He handed her the second bar.
She walked past him, taking it without a word, her presence as ghostlike as before.
And Light, with a confident smirk of his own, followed in silence.