The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Assassins Who Stepped Into the Eclipse’s Territory

Night had already settled over the D’Averon estate.

The mansion stood quietly beneath the moonlight, its tall windows glowing faintly from the lamps burning inside. Beyond the main building was a large garden that stretched toward the rear wall of the estate, with several trees and hedges providing enough cover for anyone who didn’t want to be seen.

Five figures stood among them.

Unlike the guards patrolling the estate, none of the five wore armor or carried anything that would immediately identify them as assassins. They were dressed entirely in black, with long black capes hanging from their shoulders and blending naturally into the darkness.

They had been watching the mansion for some time.

The first to speak was a woman.

"We’ll proceed with the next phase."

Her voice was calm, almost casual, as she looked toward the mansion.

"The patrols have already been mapped out. There are fewer guards around the rear than there are at the front, and most of the servants have already retired for the night. We shouldn’t encounter any serious resistance until we reach the Count’s quarters."

Another woman, standing a short distance away, glanced toward the upper floors.

"I could have handled this mission by myself. I still don’t understand why the boss decided to send five of us."

One of the men immediately gave a quiet laugh.

"That’s quite a statement coming from someone who nearly got herself killed during her last assignment."

The woman’s eyes moved toward him.

"Shut up."

"Just pointing out the facts."

"You’ve been waiting for an opportunity to say that, haven’t you?"

"Perhaps."

The other two men remained silent, although one of them couldn’t completely hide the faint smile that had appeared on his face.

The woman clicked her tongue before returning her attention to the mansion.

"Our objective remains unchanged. Count D’Averon and Countess D’Averon."

She paused for a moment.

"Nothing else matters."

The tallest man among them finally spoke.

"That’s right."

His eyes remained fixed on the mansion.

"The order came directly from the guild. The target is the Count, and the Countess is to be eliminated at the same time."

The woman frowned slightly.

"Five elites for two targets."

"Which means there is probably a reason."

The man beside him looked toward the mansion again.

"Maybe the guild knows something we don’t."

"Could be."

The first woman folded her arms.

"But whatever the reason is, it doesn’t change the mission."

The first woman looked toward the mansion one last time.

"Move."

The five figures disappeared from the garden.

They moved without making a sound.

By the time the nearest guard noticed something was wrong, the five assassins had already crossed half of the estate.

---

Several minutes later, on the opposite side of the estate, two figures stood beneath a large tree.

Nao leaned against the trunk with his arms folded.

His grey hair fell naturally around his face, the outer edges of several strands darkened almost to black. His red-and-black eyes remained fixed on the mansion, watching the faint movements of the guards and the shadows moving between the buildings.

Beside him stood Vanessa.

Her long violet hair moved slightly whenever the night breeze passed through the garden, while her calm expression gave little indication of what she was thinking.

Behind the two of them stood five Harbingers.

They wore the Eclipse Order’s black attire, each covered by a long cape that reached almost to the ground. Their hoods concealed most of their faces, leaving only half of each face visible beneath the darkness.

Beneath the Shadow of the Eclipse

Nao’s gaze remained fixed on the D’Averon estate, his red-and-black eyes quietly following the faint movements taking place around the distant mansion.

"Looks like they’ve started moving."

Vanessa, who had been standing beside him with one hand resting lightly against the trunk of the tree, followed his gaze without any sign of surprise. Her long violet hair shifted gently in the night breeze, while the black cape of her Eclipse attire fell naturally around her figure.

"I was beginning to wonder how long they intended to remain outside."

Before Nao could answer, a figure emerged from the darkness behind them.

The Harbinger approached without making a sound, his hood concealing most of his face while the lower half remained visible beneath the edge of the black cloak.

"Sir Nao. Lady Vanessa."

Nao turned slightly.

"Report."

"The preparation is complete. The eastern and northern routes have been secured, and the remaining members are in position. The intruders have entered through the western side of the estate."

The Harbinger paused briefly before continuing.

"There are five of them. Judging from their movements, they appear to be highly trained assassins. Their infiltration was considerably cleaner than that of ordinary guild operatives."

Nao’s expression remained unchanged.

"The Assassination Guild sent five elites."

"It would appear so."

Vanessa’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Five elites..."

She looked toward the mansion again, her expression becoming strangely serene.

"I can understand carrying out an order. An assassin receives a contract, accepts the payment, and performs the task. There is nothing particularly wrong about that."

Her fingers slowly brushed a strand of violet hair away from her face.

"But there is a rather important distinction between accepting a contract and deciding to place your hands upon someone under the protection of the Great Eclipse."

The faint smile remained.

"That is where their judgment becomes unforgivable."

Vanessa’s violet eyes narrowed as she watched the distant figures moving through the estate.

Her smile became colder.

"How presumptuous."

The Harbinger remained silent.

Vanessa continued watching the mansion for several seconds before speaking again.

"I wonder whether they understand what kind of mistake they’ve made."

Vanessa turned toward him.

Her violet eyes gleamed beneath the moonlight.

"We will make certain they understand the difference between entering the darkness..."

She paused, allowing the silence to settle around them.

"...and being swallowed by it."

Nao’s smile disappeared.

"The shadows do not announce themselves."

His voice was quiet, yet every word carried through the stillness of the garden.

"They simply appear when the light has nowhere left to hide."

One of the Harbingers slowly lowered his head.

"And those who trespass beneath the Eclipse..."

Another Harbinger continued the thought.

"...will find no road leading back."

A third spoke from beneath his hood.

"Their escape will disappear before they realize it was ever there."

The fourth followed.

"Their final moments will belong to the darkness."

The fifth Harbinger raised his head toward the mansion.

"And when they finally understand who was watching..."

Vanessa’s smile returned.

Nao’s eyes sharpened.

The five Harbingers lowered their heads in unison.

Together, their voices emerged beneath the quiet moonlight.

"...it will already be too late."

For a moment, none of them moved.

Then Nao turned toward the mansion.

"Enough."

He stepped forward, his cape trailing behind him.

"The game has already begun."

"Then let’s see how long our guests can entertain us."

The five Harbingers silently followed.

Seven figures disappeared into the darkness of the estate, leaving nothing behind except the faint movement of their black capes beneath the moonlight.

The Count D’Averon had been asleep for less than an hour when something outside the room disturbed his sleep.

It was barely audible, nothing more than the faintest shift of air followed by a subtle creak somewhere beyond the bedroom door, but years of experience had taught him that the smallest irregularity could be the difference between waking up alive and never waking up at all.

His eyes opened.

For several seconds, he remained perfectly still beside his wife, listening to the silence.

He slowly reached toward the table beside the bed and closed his fingers around the hilt of his sword before rising without making a sound. He glanced toward Mara, who remained asleep beneath the covers, then quietly stepped away from the bed.

The moment he reached the door—

Shing!

A blade suddenly flashed through the darkness.

The Count twisted his body and brought his sword up just in time.

CLANG!

The impact rang through the room as steel struck steel, forcing the Count several steps backward.

A figure dressed entirely in black stood before him, while four more shadows emerged silently from the darkness behind.

The Count’s expression hardened.

"As expected, you’re not going down with a single strike."

He steadied his stance and pointed his sword toward the intruders.

"Who are you people?"

None of them answered.

The Count’s eyes moved across their black attire, their concealed faces, and the weapons in their hands before his expression changed slightly.

"That crest..."

His gaze stopped on the insignia attached to one of their garments.

"The Assassination Guild."

One of the assassins smiled faintly.

"At least you recognize us."

Behind the Count, Mara suddenly stirred.

She opened her eyes, still half-asleep, but the moment she saw the five figures surrounding her husband, every trace of drowsiness disappeared from her face.

"Dear..."

The Count immediately stepped in front of her.

"Mara, stay behind me."

"But—"

"Don’t move."

His voice left no room for argument.

The Count’s eyes remained fixed on the assassins.

Five of them.

And judging from the silence outside the room, the guards had already been dealt with.

They entered the estate without raising an alarm.

His grip tightened around his sword.

How many guards have they already killed?

The answer was obvious.

These aren’t ordinary assassins.

One of the women slowly stepped forward, her expression carrying the calm confidence of someone who already believed the outcome had been decided.

"Count D’Averon, you have my respect for remaining composed under these circumstances."

She glanced toward Mara.

"But there is no need to prolong this."

The Count narrowed his eyes.

"Who sent you?"

The woman gave a quiet laugh.

"Do you honestly believe we would reveal the identity of our employer?"

She raised her weapon.

"You have a few minutes at most. Use them well. Say your farewells, pray if that’s what you believe in, and enjoy the last moments you have together."

Her smile widened.

"There will be no one coming to save you."

The Count’s expression remained cold.

"You’re quite confident."

"We have every reason to be."

She took another step forward.

"The guards on this floor are already dead, your estate has been breached, and the five people standing in this room were personally selected for this assignment."

She lifted her weapon slightly.

"Accept reality, Count D’Averon."

Then—

"My, my... how presumptuous. Did you truly believe you were the ones who would decide how this ends?"

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