Asher stepped out of the chamber, the dim torchlight flickering against the stone walls. He examined the badge in his hand—black metal with a crimson insignia carved into its surface.
So, they have a hierarchy.
He slipped the badge into his coat pocket and exhaled. He could still feel the lingering weight of the entity's presence, the so-called "blessing" settling into his core like a dormant ember. Whatever it was, he'd figure it out later. After all unlike others this si really a blessing to him with no chains attached.
Evelyn was waiting just outside, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Not bad," she mused, tilting her head. "I half expected you to fail."
Asher scoffed. "Then you don't know me very well."
Evelyn chuckled. "Oh, I intend to."
She stepped closer, her red-tinted eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Now that you're officially one of us, there's something you should know."
Asher raised a brow. "And that is?"
She leaned in slightly. "You may have passed the test, but that was just the beginning. Rank 7 means you're not a mere pawn, but you're far from the top. If you want to survive in the Red Fate Organization, you need to keep proving yourself."
"That so?" Asher replied, unimpressed.
"Mm. And to prove yourself, you'll need to take on missions," Evelyn continued. "One has already been assigned to you."
Asher narrowed his eyes. "So soon?"
Evelyn grinned. "Consider it a welcoming gift. A test to see if you can handle the real work."
She handed him a small scroll sealed with wax. Asher took it, breaking the seal and scanning the contents. His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes darkened slightly as he read the details.
Target: A relic hidden deep within the Forsaken Ruins.
Expected resistance: Unknown.
Deadline: Three days.
Evelyn watched his reaction carefully. "Do you have a problem with the assignment?"
Asher smirked, rolling the scroll shut. "Not at all. I was just hoping for something challenging."
Evelyn laughed softly. "Oh, don't worry. You'll get exactly what you wished for."
Asher turned without another word and walked away, his crimson eyes gleaming in the torchlight.
Asher left the chamber, the weight of the mission settling in his mind. The Forsaken Ruins—an abandoned, cursed land where few dared to tread. If the Red Fate Organization had sent him there, it meant the relic was either highly valuable… or extremely dangerous.
Either way, he wasn't about to refuse.
As he stepped into the underground corridors of the base, a familiar voice called out to him.
He turned to see Reis, a fellow recruit, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Unlike the hooded figures or Evelyn, Reis was dressed in practical combat gear—black leather reinforced with enchanted metal plates. His dark hair was messy, and his expression was one of mild amusement.
"I heard they threw you straight into a mission," Reis said, pushing off the wall. "No rest for the wicked, huh?"
Asher smirked. "Did you expect anything less?"
Reis let out a low whistle. "Not really. But the Forsaken Ruins? That's a hell of a starting point. Most people would be dead before they even stepped inside."
"Good thing I'm not most people," Asher replied coolly.
Reis chuckled. "True enough. But you should know—there's a reason the Organization hasn't retrieved that relic yet. The ruins aren't just dangerous. Something else is lurking there. Even high-ranking members have failed to come back."
Asher's eyes narrowed slightly. "And yet, they're sending me?"
"Exactly." Reis folded his arms. "Either they think you're strong enough to handle it, or they're testing how expendable you are."
Asher let out a short laugh. "I like how they think."
Reis shook his head. "You're insane."
"Maybe." Asher adjusted the grip on his scythe. "But tell me, Reis. If you were in my position, would you be worried?"
Reis met his gaze for a moment, then grinned. "No. I'd be excited."
"Then we understand each other," Asher said before turning away.
As he walked down the dimly lit corridors, he could feel the eyes of other recruits and members watching him. Some whispered in hushed voices. Others simply observed.
By the time he returned from this mission, they wouldn't be whispering.
Asher made his way through the underground corridors, his footsteps echoing against the cold stone. He could feel the weight of unseen gazes following him, but he paid them no mind. Let them watch. Let them wonder. By the time this mission was over, they'd either respect him or fear him.
His destination was the armory. If the Forsaken Ruins were as dangerous as Reis had implied, he needed to be prepared.
The armory was a vast chamber lined with racks of weapons, enchanted armor, and strange artifacts. The air hummed with magic, the faint glow of runes illuminating the walls. A blacksmith worked in the corner, hammering away at a molten blade, while other recruits sorted through equipment.
Asher walked past them, heading straight for the quartermaster's desk. A bald man with a jagged scar running down his cheek glanced up from his work. His nameplate read Garrick. Follow current novels on Novel~Fire. (n)et
"Ah," Garrick grunted. "The new guy. Evelyn sent word that you'd be coming."
Asher raised an eyebrow. "Efficient."
Garrick snorted. "She doesn't waste time. What do you need?"
"Supplies for a mission to the Forsaken Ruins," Asher replied. "Anything that'll keep me alive long enough to retrieve the relic."
Garrick gave him a look. "You sure you want to go there? Even the higher-ups avoid that place."
Asher smirked. "If it was easy, they wouldn't have sent me."
Garrick let out a short chuckle before standing. "Fair enough. Follow me."
He led Asher deeper into the armory, past standard weapons and armor, toward a reinforced vault. With a wave of his hand, the runes on the door pulsed, and the metal locks clicked open. Inside, the room was filled with rare and specialized equipment.
Garrick gestured to a selection of items. "Take what you need, but don't get greedy. Everything here is limited issue."