The Hunter’s Trials – Part III

The moon was high now, casting long shadows across the city. Kairos moved carefully, slipping between ruined buildings, every muscle in his body tense. He wasn’t alone.

From the rooftops, shadows flitted past. Figures darting silently across the skyline. Watching. Waiting.

Then, they struck.

A blur of motion — steel glimmering in the moonlight. Kairos ducked as a dagger sliced past his ear. He spun around, catching a glimpse of his attacker. A masked warrior clad in dark silks, twin daggers gleaming in each hand. Mirage Clan.

The assassin lunged. Kairos barely twisted out of the way, but the second blade found its mark, slicing across his arm. He cried out, falling to one knee. The assassin moved in for the kill — but Kairos lashed out, black flames erupting from his hand.

The assassin vanished in a swirl of smoke, reappearing behind him. Too fast. Too skilled. Kairos barely turned in time as the blade plunged toward his heart.

A blur of silver.

Steel met steel. The assassin staggered back, a new figure standing between them. Aeris. Her curved blade glimmered under the Eclipse, her violet eyes burning with fury.

“Back off,” she hissed.

The assassin hesitated. Then vanished into the shadows.

Kairos collapsed, clutching his arm. “Why…?” He looked up at Aeris, confusion and pain swirling in his eyes. “Why help me?”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she knelt beside him, inspecting his wound. “I don’t know.” She tore a piece of cloth from her sleeve, wrapping it around his arm. “Maybe because you’re too stupid to survive on your own.”

Kairos chuckled weakly. “Thanks, I guess.”

Aeris stood, scanning the dark streets. “The Trials aren’t over. More will come.” She glanced down at him. “Can you fight?”

Kairos pushed himself up, wincing. The flames flickered once more, dancing along his fingertips. He clenched his fist, snuffing them out.

“Yeah,” he said. “I can fight.”

They moved together, vanishing into the night.