Timeless Assassin

(An unknown holding cell, The Twelfth Elder's POV)

"Skyshard….. Skyshard, listen to me, I'm telling you, this is a misunderstanding, the righteous faction must have turned you against me by feeding you wrong information!

Talk to me…. P-p-please talk to me, I'm sure we can find a resolution to whatever grievances you have." The Twelfth Elder pleaded desperately, his voice cracking as he leaned forward as much as the ropes binding him allowed.

However, to his dismay, Leo only wagged his finger slowly before his face, his eyes locked and unblinking.

"There is no misunderstanding here, Twelfth Elder. You see Mu Fan sitting behind me… she has already confessed the truth about your crimes. You no longer have any room to lie."

The Elder's eyes widened as he alternated his gaze between Leo and Mu Fan, his voice breaking into a shriek.

"MU FAN, YOU LIAR! How dare you turn the Shadow Dragon against me!

Leo… l-l-listen to me, she's from the Mu Clan! She's from the enemy clan! She must have turned against us. You can't trust her! You can't! She's a double agent!"

Leo chuckled, wagging his finger once again before the Elder's face as though correcting a disobedient child.

"Wrong answer… I'll give you one more chance to confess the truth. Or else."

Leo warned, but the Elder foolishly ignored the warning and instead thrashed against his bonds as he spat more venom.

"Mu Fan, you snake! How dare you bite the hand that feeds you! Look at me! Look at me! I said, LOOK AT ME!"

*PAA!*

Leo's hand snapped across his other cheek, the sound ricocheting off the stone walls.

A second red imprint bloomed hot on his skin, and this time a faint line of blood trickled from the corner of his lips, staining his chin as his head lolled briefly to the side.

The Twelfth Elder froze again, his expression twisted in stunned disbelief, as though every shred of the dignity he clung to had just been stripped away.

Leo leaned closer, his voice low, measured, every word dripping with threat.

"Wrong answer. Next time, I won't slap. I'll punch and break your nose. The one after that, I'll bring out my dagger and start carving your body. Do you understand?"

He threatened, as the Elder's breathing grew shallow, his chest heaving as sweat dripped freely from his temple, and for the first time the weight of Leo's words settled into his bones.

The silence that followed was worse than the slap, for in that silence he could hear his own fear taking shape.

He trembled, his lips twitching as though the words wanted to come but pride fought to hold them back.

Yet Leo did not move, his cold stare pressing heavier than the ropes, and slowly the Elder realized that he stood at the edge of disaster, and no matter which road he chose, only pain and suffering awaited him.

"You can't kill me… I am a member of the Elder's Council. My death will be sensed by Lord Soron, and when that happens, this will not end well for you, Skyshard." The Twelfth Elder warned, his voice trembling as he clung to his final line of defense.

He knew he had no other cards left to play, so he invoked the only name powerful enough to frighten most men, Lord Soron, the one being he believed could crush Leo and his Monarch tier followers with ease.

Yet to his disbelief, Leo merely shrugged, as if the threat meant nothing, his expression unflinching even when Soron's name was spoken like a deterrence.

"Well… if he finds out, he finds out. BUT NOBODY harms my family and walks away scot free." Leo's tone was calm but laced with venom, his eyes never leaving the Elder's. "So there's no chance in hell that I let you walk away, even if it means dying here with you. But…"

His lips curled into a thin, cold smile.

"…dying is not my intention today. Which means I'll simply make sure you don't either. No matter how much I break you, I'll keep you alive, hydrated, fed, and your body sustained just enough, so that I can return in a few days and do it all over again."

Leo's voice never wavered, his presence pressing down like a vice, until the Elder realized that death was not the worst fate awaiting him.

"Yo-you're crazy! This is madness!" the Twelfth Elder cried, his eyes darting wildly around the chamber. "Mu Fan! Viper! Save me!"

His voice cracked as he turned desperately to Mu Fan first.

"Mu Fan, listen to me… if you free me, I will shower you in riches beyond counting. Land, power, status, treasures from every corner of the planet… all yours. You won't have to remain some lowly attendant anymore. You can live as a Queen here!"

But Mu Fan only scoffed softly, her eyes refusing to even rise and acknowledge him, her silence louder than any rejection.

The Elder gritted his teeth and swung his pleading gaze to Dupravel.

"And you… Viper, No, Dupravel.

Help me now and I will rip apart that cursed contract that binds you to Skyshard with my own hands.

You'll be free—do you hear me?

Free! No contracts, No slavery.

You and your son can live as citizens of honor, with wealth and comfort. You'll never have to kneel again!"

But Dupravel only leaned back against the shadows, arms folded, the faintest shake of his head all the answer that the Twelfth Elder received, as he was forced to negotiate with Leo once more.

"Leo… Leo, wait, listen to me," he stammered, his tone groveling now. "If you don't kill me, I will become your slave, just like Dupravel. I will stand by your side as your number one ally within the Council. I'll ensure you never face resistance, never again be forced onto dangerous missions. You will live freely, as you please, with my protection in the Council guaranteeing it."

He leaned forward as far as his binds allowed, his face desperate, trembling. "All of this can be yours if you just let me go… today."