Chapter 76: Quiet Threads
The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver veil over the sprawling landscape. The night was still, save for the occasional whisper of wind through the trees. Inside the walls of his study, Volundr sat in the darkness, his eyes glowing faintly as he read through reports.
It had been a long day, and yet his mind was far from rest. His thoughts were with two individuals—Siegfried and Jeanne—and the dangerous path they walked in service to the Church.
He knew that the moment he began showing interest in them, danger would follow. Not just from the fallen angels or rogue factions, but from the very organization they were a part of—the Church itself. The political turmoil within the holy faction ran deep, and extremist elements within the Inquisition were quick to target any who stood in their way, including promising young warriors like Jeanne and Siegfried.
Volundr was no stranger to the shadowy games of politics, manipulation, and power. He had seen kingdoms rise and fall at the mercy of those who moved quietly in the background, pulling strings without ever revealing their hands. And he knew that, to protect these two potential assets, he would need to act from the shadows.
With a sharp motion, he closed the parchment before him and summoned a loyal servant. The figure, a trusted agent of his, appeared swiftly, his face hidden by the darkness of the room.
"Prepare the team," Volundr instructed quietly. "I need eyes on Siegfried and Jeanne, but they must remain unseen. Shadow them from a distance, and ensure they are never alone for long. The Church has enemies, and some of those enemies are closer to them than they realize."
The agent nodded, understanding the delicate nature of the task. It wasn't just about surveillance—it was about ensuring that Siegfried and Jeanne's safety was guaranteed. There would be no room for error.
In the days that followed, Volundr's agents moved like ghosts through the corridors of power, silently observing the movements of Siegfried and Jeanne.
Through magical scrying, subtle shifts in the air, and even whispered words from informants in the Church's lower ranks, Volundr ensured that he was always one step ahead of any threat. He could not afford to let anything—anyone—threaten his plans.
Jeanne was particularly vulnerable. Her purity of heart and unshakable faith had earned her the respect of many, but there were those who saw her as a threat. Extremist factions within the Inquisition viewed her as too weak, too soft—a pawn who could be used to their advantage. These were the people Volundr needed to worry about. It was only a matter of time before they moved.
And then, it happened.
The news came swiftly, relayed through Volundr's network of agents. A small group of Inquisitors had planned to eliminate Jeanne. Their reasoning was simple—her increasing popularity was a threat to their own power, and her actions in rescuing civilians from fallen angels had drawn too much attention. She had become a symbol of what they despised: hope, purity, and the potential for change.
Volundr wasted no time. He did not need to appear in person—he never did when it came to matters of subtlety. Instead, he called upon Kuroka, his most skilled assassin and shadow operative, who had long been trained in the art of silent intervention.
"Kuroka," Volundr said, his voice a soft command,
"they plan to move against Jeanne. We cannot let them succeed. I want you to intervene—but quietly. Kill none. Leave only a message."
Kuroka nodded without hesitation. "Understood. I'll deal with it."
The night was cool, and the air smelled faintly of damp earth as Kuroka followed the trail of her targets. She had shadowed the Inquisitors for hours, waiting for the right moment to strike.
They were close now, huddled in a dark alley near the Church's barracks. Their target was Jeanne, who had just finished a routine patrol with a small team of exorcists.
Kuroka's eyes narrowed as she watched from a hidden position above. She could see the way the Inquisitors moved—too stiff, too purposeful. They weren't there by accident.
It was time.
With a movement as fluid as water, Kuroka descended from the rooftops, landing softly behind the group of Inquisitors. They never saw her coming. In an instant, she had incapacitated the first two with precise strikes, disabling them without drawing blood.
The rest of the group was too disoriented to react quickly, and Kuroka quickly disabled them with well-placed hits that left them unconscious, not dead.
She leaned down to whisper in the ear of the last standing Inquisitor, a man who had been tasked with eliminating Jeanne.
"Tell your masters," Kuroka said coldly, her voice a hiss in the night air,
"that Volundr Agares will not allow his assets to be extinguished by the likes of you."
With a swift motion, she left the man on the ground, the message delivered.
Later, as Volundr stood atop a balcony overlooking the darkened expanse of his estate, Kuroka approached from the shadows, her steps quiet but sure. She reported her success in a low voice, careful not to disturb the calm of the night.
"They were close," Kuroka said, "but I've dealt with them. They won't trouble Jeanne again."
Volundr nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. His mind was already calculating the next steps. His web of protection would need to grow, expand, and become more intricate if he were to keep Siegfried and Jeanne safe. But for now, one danger had been removed, and the threat had been sent a clear message.
"They walk in light," Volundr murmured, his voice low and contemplative, "but even light casts shadows."
Kuroka raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar weight of Volundr's words. "You think they'll understand?"
"They'll learn soon enough," Volundr replied, his voice hardening.
"The Church may see them as pawns, but I see them as knights. And knights do not fall easily."
As he turned away from the balcony, the moonlight casting long shadows across the courtyard, Volundr's mind raced.
The pieces on the board were moving, and though the game was long, the outcome was becoming clearer with every passing day.
The time to claim his knights was drawing near.
End of Chapter 76.