Chapter 88

Village Chief’s House…
Knock-Knock
Olga stood in front of a closed door, her knuckles trembling as she tapped on it lightly.
“J-Jack… Will you come out today? I made your favorite dish, just like you used to like it…” she said in a nervous, shaky voice, trying to sound hopeful.
“Get the fuck away from me! I don’t want to talk to anyone!” came a furious voice from behind the door.
“B-But… son, it’s been days. You haven’t come out, not even once to eat properly or get some air—”
“Didn’t I fucking say don’t talk to me!? Leave me alone!”
Just then, heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor.
“What’s going on?” the village chief asked, irritation clear in his tone as he walked toward the door.
“He… he hasn’t come out in days. Please… talk to him. Do something,” Olga pleaded, tears forming in her eyes.
The chief scowled and without warning grabbed her arm violently, hurling her aside like garbage.
“Get out of my sight, useless woman.”
Thud!
Olga hit the ground hard, a pained cry escaping her lips as her arm scraped across the floor, leaving a red mark.
The chief stepped forward and banged his fist against the door.
“Open up, Jack. It’s me—your father!”
No response came.
Seconds passed in eerie silence.
Click
Suddenly, the lock turned, and the door slowly creaked open.
The stench that escaped was revolting. It was the smell of decay, sweat, and unwashed clothes. The chief covered his nose in disgust.
“What the hell, Jack? How many days has it been since you’ve cleaned yourself?” he barked, recoiling slightly from the foul air.
Jack stepped out slowly, his posture slouched, his skin pale, and dark circles haunting his bloodshot eyes.
“What do you want, father?” he asked, his voice hollow and drained of emotion.
The chief’s expression shifted from irritation to a concerned scowl.
“What’s wrong with you, son? Why are you like this?”
“Nothing…” Jack muttered, turning back toward his room. “Just leave me alone.”
But the chief grabbed his shoulder.
“Tell me, Jack. I’m your father. If something’s eating you alive, I want to know. I’ll fix it. Just tell me who or what is doing this to you.”
Jack stopped.
He turned around slowly, eyes wide, trembling.
“You want to know what’s wrong with me? I’ll tell you. I’m dying every fucking day, father. Every night I lie in bed, unable to sleep, because I know he’s out there. He’s alive. So close. And I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s wrong.”
His hands gripped the chief’s shoulders tightly, fingernails digging in slightly. Olga stood nearby, watching with a horrified expression, unable to grasp what was happening.
“Just tell me his name,” the chief said, his voice low and deadly serious. “I swear to you, as your father, he won’t see the sunrise tomorrow.”
Jack’s lips trembled as he said the name.
“Leon… Leon Luster.”
The name sent a jolt through the room.
“What…?” Olga gasped, eyes wide in disbelief.
“Yes…” Jack whispered, almost in a panic. “I’ve said it. Oh no. I’ve said it out loud. He’ll come for me now. He’ll kill me. Oh my god, what have I done?”
He fell to the ground, clutching his head in both hands, rocking slightly as fear overtook him.
“Not if we kill him first,” the chief said darkly, already storming away from the room.
“W-Wait, listen to me!” Olga spoke, following him.
But the chief ignored her. He stomped into his private office, fury blazing in his eyes.
Click
He yanked open a drawer, pulled out a leather pouch filled with heavy coins, and slammed the drawer shut. Without a second thought, he headed for the exit.
“P-Please wait… you didn’t even try to understand. Maybe Leon just wanted to make up for his mistake! Maybe he saved our son out of guilt—” Olga begged, her voice cracking with desperation.
Thud!
She didn’t get to finish. The chief struck her with a powerful kick, sending her crashing into the wall.
“Aghh!” she screamed as her head hit the corner, blood trickling down her scalp.
“Stupid bitch… All you do is whine. When I get back, I’ll sell your pathetic ass to a slave trader and buy myself a fresh elf. One who knows how to shut the fuck up.”
He turned and marched out of the house, heading for a rundown shack on the outskirts of the village. It was hidden behind tall grass and half-collapsed walls. Everyone thought it was abandoned.
But it wasn’t.
Knock-Knock. Knock-Knock-Knock. knock
He knocked in a strange rhythm, pausing between each knock precisely.
Click
The door opened, revealing a figure clad in tight black robes and a dark mask that hid every inch of his face.
“What do you want?” the man asked coldly.
“I want someone dead. Here’s your advance.” The chief held out the pouch.
“Alone or with family?” came another voice from the shadows.
The second assassin stepped into view, also dressed in black.
“His name is Leon Luster. He lives four houses to the left of mine. He has a sister and a mother. I want you to kill him in front of them. Then I’ll buy the bitch and her brat and make their lives a living hell,” the chief said with a twisted grin.
“Heh… You always were a freak. Fine, it’ll be done tonight. Now hand over the coins.”
The bag changed hands.
“Good. I’ll pay the rest once I see the body,” the chief said, turning and vanishing into the darkness.
*Click*
“I’m sick of that bastard. Always coming here, tossing coins like we’re his dogs.”
One of them kicked the bag, scattering copper coins all over the floor.
“Just a little more… and we disappear. We change our names and leave this fucking place behind forever.”
“What about the kid? Does he know anything about us?”
“Doubt it. Heard he goes to Velthorne Academy.”
“What? That’s bad. Real bad.”
“Don’t panic. He’s just an alchemist.”
“An alchemist, huh…? In that case, this’ll be easier than I thought.”
“When the sun sets… we move.”