The night air was heavy with smoke and rain as Kaien walked the empty streets toward Central Command. His boots splashed through filthy puddles, blood and water mixing in the gutters behind him.
Valeborne City never slept, but in this part of town, it felt like a corpse — hollowed out, left to rot beneath the glow of neon signs that flickered like dying stars.
Kaien passed broken windows, boarded-up shops, graffiti that no one bothered to clean.
"Down with the tyrants."
"We are not their weapons."
The words meant nothing to him.
Or so he told himself.
The headquarters of the government's shadow force rose ahead — a tower of black steel and glass, untouched by the decay that surrounded it. Spotlights cut through the rain, scanning for intruders.
Kaien approached the security gate. The guards stiffened as he drew near, hands near their weapons, though they knew who he was.
His reputation had grown. The Key of Power — the agent who could take what others feared to lose most.
Without a word, Kaien pressed his palm to the scanner. A thin line of light traced his hand, reading not his fingerprints, but the sigil beneath his skin. The door unlocked with a hiss.
Inside, Central Command was cold — steel walls, humming lights, the scent of disinfectant and ozone.
Kaien strode down the hallway, past other agents in dark uniforms. Many nodded, but none spoke. The few who did were nervous.
He entered the debriefing chamber.
A massive screen flickered to life, displaying the insignia of the Valeborne Defense Directorate.
A voice filled the room — calm, calculated, soulless.
"Agent Kaien. Mission status?"
Kaien stood straight, his coat dripping on the metal floor.
"Target neutralized. Sigil destroyed. No witnesses."
"Confirmed. Excellent work."
For a moment, Kaien thought of Strix's last words — the fear in his eyes, the bitter truth in his voice.
"Prepare for your next assignment. A new target has surfaced. Details will be delivered shortly."
The screen went dark. Kaien was alone with his thoughts.
Later that night, Kaien stood at his apartment window, staring out over the city.
From this high up, Valeborne looked beautiful — a sea of lights, endless and bright. But he knew what lay beneath.
He saw the news on his tablet:
"Rogue sigil-wielder eliminated. Public safety secured. Order maintained."
Lies. Clean, polished lies for the people to believe.
Kaien flexed his arm. The black key mark seemed darker now, the lines creeping higher toward his shoulder.
And for the first time, he wondered:
Am I protecting this city?
Or am I helping to burn it down?