A Year Later
Bryce's pockets were as dry as the desert, and the stale piece of bread he'd bought with his last coin sat heavy in his stomach. He glanced down at Executioner—his four-year-old kid with eyes too sharp for his age—and ruffled his hair.
"Time to find work, kiddo," Bryce muttered. "Maybe some old friends can help us out."
He led Executioner toward the river. The surface shimmered under the gray sky, rippling like polished steel. Bryce stood at the edge, eyes locked on the water like it held all the answers he'd been searching for.
"This river," he said quietly, more to himself than to Executioner, "it's been a long time."
Executioner looked uneasy, his small fingers twitching at his side. "Bryce, I can't swim."
Bryce's gaze softened. "Just jump. I've got you."
The boy hesitated. Then, without another word, he jumped.
Bryce dove in right after him. The cold water slapped him like a wake-up call, but he reached out fast, grabbing Executioner's small hand and pulling him close. They sank together, deeper and deeper. The world above faded, the sunlight thinning into a faint, silver haze.
The pressure pushed against Bryce's eardrums, but he didn't slow down. He knew where they were headed. He had done this before.
Then, suddenly—they broke through.
A cavern opened around them, wide and deep. Huge trees stood like giants, their trunks stretching toward the cavern's ceiling. A strange, glowing portal shimmered in the clearing ahead, its wooden sign swinging slightly from the breeze inside the cave.
Only Heroes Allowed.
Bryce stared at it for a long second. Old memories flickered behind his eyes. Pain. Training. Blood. "This place… I trained here for years," he murmured. "Learned how to take lives. Now I'm a watcher. Same skills. Different job."
Executioner stepped forward, wide-eyed. "Is this where assassins hang out?"
"Yeah," Bryce said, a faint smile on his face.
Executioner's eyes gleamed with a twisted kind of excitement. "Can we go in? Can we play?"
Bryce's smile faded. He crouched down to the boy's level, his voice low and firm. "We can go in. But you have to behave. No killing."
Executioner nodded, but his voice dropped to a whisper. "If they deserve it…"
Bryce didn't catch the words. He squeezed the boy's hand and walked toward the portal.
They stepped through.
The air shifted around them. In an instant, they stood at the base of a mountain. The peak disappeared into a heavy mist, and stone paths wound upward between old temples and open training grounds.
They began climbing.
The sound of steel filled the air—swords clashing, fists pounding into training dummies, feet hitting stone. As they neared the top, everything quieted.
Dozens of assassins stopped their practice, their eyes locking onto the strangers.
Executioner scanned the group. His nose wrinkled with irritation. "Fools," he snapped. "Focus on your training or die!"
Laughter broke out. The assassins chuckled, amused by the tiny kid's boldness.
Executioner's smile twisted, and then—in a blink—he vanished.
Bryce's heart skipped a beat. "Executioner?" He spun around, eyes searching wildly. "Where… where is he?"
Then a thunderous BOOM echoed across the training ground.
Executioner stood behind the group, arms crossed and grinning like a little devil. The assassins flinched, rubbing the backs of their heads where he'd smacked them. Bryce laughed under his breath.
Executioner strolled back, proud. Bryce nodded once. "Respect."
They walked past the stunned crowd and entered the temple.
Inside, the air was heavier. Quiet. The walls were lined with weapons and scrolls. Masters stood along the edge of the room, their faces hidden behind animal masks—eagle, tiger, snake.
One figure stepped forward. Bryce's eyes lit up.
"Jaxon," he said.
The man pulled off his mask, revealing a familiar face. "It's been a while, old friend. What brings you back?"
Bryce shrugged. "I'm looking for work. Watcher work."
Jaxon's eyebrow lifted. "Lucky timing. We're down two watchers. There's a job today. Some rich bastard with two corporations has a package we need."
Bryce didn't hesitate. "I'm in."
Jaxon's eyes flicked to the boy beside him. "And who's the kid?"
Bryce looked down. "My son. Come here, kid."
Executioner stepped up, eyes locked on Jaxon like he was sizing him up. Bryce leaned in. "His blood runs deep. Assassin blood. Strong… but still small."
Jaxon smirked behind his mask. "Tiny but deadly, huh?"
Executioner's face twisted. He raised a tiny middle finger. "You call me tiny?"
Jaxon laughed, shaking his head. "Alright. You two follow me."
They walked down a narrow hall to a small wooden room. Bryce waited for Executioner to fall asleep, watching his breathing slow. When he was sure the boy was out, he quietly slipped from the room.
He made his way to Jaxon's quarters. The door creaked open, and Jaxon turned.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
Bryce stepped in, closing the door behind him. "My son," he said softly. "He's… different. I've seen him do things—things that shouldn't be possible. He walked at one. Ran before most kids could stand. And the killing… four lives already. I don't know if he killed my wife."
Jaxon was silent for a long time.
Then he said, "A thousand years ago, there was a man named Raven. He killed without mercy. Slaughtered the innocent. One day, he attacked a priest of the Thunder God. The priest cursed him. Said his soul would be reborn, forced to start over… or suffer for eternity."
Bryce's jaw tightened. "What does that have to do with my son?"
Jaxon's voice dropped. "I think he might be Raven, reborn. The Thunder God's curse is real."
The door creaked again.
Executioner stood in the doorway, eyes cold. "What's going on?"
Bryce stepped forward, startled. "You're supposed to be asleep."
Executioner didn't blink. "Where's the Thunder God now?"
Jaxon's expression turned grim. "The power of the Thunder God is said to sleep in the Storm Mountains, where the priests used to worship. But no one knows if the god still watches… or if the curse still holds."
Silence settled over the room.
Executioner stood in the doorway like a shadow from another life.
And Bryce… he suddenly felt like he was standing on the edge of something far bigger than either of them.