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  Without warning, the battle began. Eran vanished from Theo’s sight, and in a split second, he appeared right in front of him.

  Eran struck swiftly with both daggers, but Theo blocked the attack with ease. The blades kept probing for an opening in Theo’s defense, but Theo deflected every strike with graceful precision.

  Refusing to give up, Eran increased his speed to the point he was nearly invisible—still not enough to break through.

  Eran leapt back, planning to push his speed even further. Theo stood ready, his sword extended like a spear.

  With a single breath, Eran vanished again—this time reappearing behind Theo. His plan had worked.

  He gripped both daggers tightly and lunged for Theo’s back, ready to land a decisive blow.

  But as he closed in, Theo spun around like a coiling snake. His rapier struck twice, precisely hitting both of Eran’s daggers and knocking them from his hands.

  Before Eran could even grasp the situation, he fell to the ground.

  Just as he was about to get back up, Theo's voice stopped him.

  "Stay down."

  Eran finally realized there was something cold pressed against his neck.

  Had he not followed Theo’s command, the tip of that slender sword would’ve already pierced his throat.

  Eran was genuinely shocked by Theo’s final move—he hadn’t been able to follow it at all.

  Then, he smiled and raised both hands.

  "I lost," said Eran.

  Theo smiled too, sheathing his rapier before offering his hand to Eran.

  "That’s twice you’ve reached out your hand to me," Eran said as he took it.

  "Which means we’re destined to be together. Pretty cool, right?"

  Eran squinted at Theo, clearly confused by the random statement.

  "What kind of logic is that? That makes no sense."

  They both laughed, then sat down under an old oak tree not far from where they had fought.

  "So, does this mean you’re officially a member of the Band of the Sun?" Theo asked, seeking confirmation.

  "Why are you asking? You won the fight," Eran replied.

  "I just wanted to hear you say it. You know, to be sure," Theo said, sounding genuinely curious.

  Eran was silent for a moment, gazing up at the moon. Then he turned to Theo.

  "Yes, I accept your offer," Eran said firmly.

  Hearing that, Theo immediately pulled Eran into a hug.

  "Let go—damn it, let go! That’s disgusting!" Eran protested, pushing Theo away.

  "Ah, what a relief. I got caught up in the moment. Can’t you see how happy I am?" Theo said, pointing at his own face with a wide grin.

  "I'm more worried about your other members. They’ll probably hate me."

  "Don’t be. No one will hate you. Well, maybe just Gorstag—he’s still a little sore. But give it time, you two will get along. I bet on it."

  "Taneaya hates me too, you know. She spent the entire trip last night just yelling at me," Eran added.

  "That’s just how she is. She’s known for having a short temper, but underneath that, she actually cares—a lot. Even about small things. If she’s acting like that toward you, it means she cares."

  "There you go again with your ridiculous theories. How could she care when we’re not even close? I don’t even know her."

  "Taneaya’s extremely sensitive, even toward people she’s only just met."

  "That sounds... unsettling."

  "Doesn’t matter. We’ll be going on missions together from now on anyway."

  Eran stood up to retrieve his two daggers lying in the grass.

  "Eran, I’ve been meaning to ask—how did you become such a skilled Hassassin? Where did you learn?" Theo asked, his curiosity piqued.

  "Ah, that’s an old story. I learned from someone who lived in the southern forest, near the ruins of Sinners," Eran replied, gathering his daggers and sitting back down beside Theo.

  Theo was stunned.

  "Near the ruins of Sinners? That place is insanely dangerous. How did you even survive?"

  "Yeah, it’s full of dangers, but that’s where I found the person who taught me everything about being a Hassassin."

  "You trained under a master? What’s their name?"

  Eran paused.

  "The name doesn’t matter. What matters is what I learned from him."

  "That doesn’t really answer my question. Are you hiding something?"

  Eran sighed.

  "He had a complicated and dangerous past. I don’t want to drag you or the group into anything that might put us in danger."

  Theo nodded in understanding.

  "Alright, alright. I respect your privacy. But still, I’m really impressed by your skills."

  "You’re exaggerating."

  "Not at all. Oh, and now that you’re officially part of the Band of the Sun, is it okay if I start asking you a ton of questions?"

  "Your request is completely irrational. Normally people would say 'just a few questions,' but this is you we're talking about. So ask all you want. I’ll answer—if I feel like it deserves an answer," Eran protested. Theo’s smile grew even wider.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "When did you start learning from your master?"

  Eran paused for a moment, counting on his fingers.

  "Umm... I think I was about ten years old."

  Theo was shocked. "You started learning to become a Hassassin at ten? That’s really young to begin such intense training."

  Eran nodded. "Yeah, it sounds unusual, I know. But my circumstances forced me to become strong early on."

  Theo felt like he was beginning to connect the dots, but hesitated to ask. "Eran... were you there during the Sinners tragedy?"

  "Yeah, I was one of the few who survived it," Eran replied.

  Theo spoke with a heavy heart. "Eran, I’m truly sorry to hear about your past. Forgive me if this is a sensitive question, but… are you from the Heirs of de Sinners clan?"

  Eran was silent for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "Yes, Theo. I come from the Heirs of de Sinners."

  Theo froze. He couldn’t hide the wave of guilt and sorrow that hit him as he recalled the story of the tragedy. They sat in silence for a while. "I had no idea you went through something so horrific. I feel truly sorry for what you’ve endured."

  Eran forced a faint smile. "Thank you, Theo. Even though it’s a painful past, I try to move forward and not let it define me."

  "You’re incredibly strong, Eran. I can’t imagine the weight you’ve had to carry."

  Eran gazed into the distance. "The past is part of who I am... but now, I want to find new meaning in my life."

  "Do you still hold a grudge against the Empire?" Theo asked.

  "If I said no, that would be na?ve. Yes... I still carry that grudge deep inside me—waiting for the day I can avenge what happened to my entire clan," Eran said, his expression unreadable.

  "If I were in your shoes, I think I’d feel exactly the same," Theo replied, then added, "In fact, I’d throw my whole body into seeking that revenge."

  "Do you regret letting me into your Band now?" Eran asked.

  "Of course not! My Band doesn't care where someone comes from or what blood runs in their veins. We’re all one."

  "I believe that," Eran said firmly.

  Theo spoke again, his voice trembling slightly.

  "When it happened... I hated the emperor’s decision to wipe out the de Sinners Clan. Even though I’m the heir of Light, I couldn’t justify that atrocity. To me, it was a disgrace—a stain on the Empire, showing an inhuman cruelty that can’t be forgiven."

  Eran listened closely.

  Theo continued, heart pounding, "I don’t know, Eran... maybe that anger has been the fire fueling my resolve to change things. I want justice. I want peace—for everyone. Without violence. Without massacres like that one."

  Theo let out a deep breath, then said, "I still can’t fathom the horror of it. So many lives lost in an instant—not just the de Sinners warriors, but innocent civilians too. That wasn’t justice. That wasn’t humanity, Eran."

  Eran kept listening intently.

  "The Empire should have chosen peace," Theo said. "Not slaughter. I’ve always believed there were better ways to resolve conflict... ways that didn’t require sacrificing so many lives."

  Theo fell silent for a moment, then lowered his head.

  "I’m sorry, Eran. I’ve said too much."

  "You don’t need to apologize. You did nothing wrong. That was part of history. And I guess… it’s the destiny I have to carry in this life."

  "Really?"

  "Enough about that. Why don't you tell me why you chose this path? I mean, you're from one of the strongest clans around. Damn, you're so lucky—it makes me jealous."

  Theo gave Eran a wry smile, then looked up at the moon.

  “Lucky, huh?” Theo let out a weary sigh.

  “If I had a choice, I’d rather have been born into another clan—or even an ordinary one. That way, I might’ve been able to truly enjoy every breath I take.”

  Eran was momentarily taken aback by Theo’s words.

  “You know, Eran, when I was a kid, I used to dream of becoming a Sinner.”

  Eran was shocked by Theo’s statement.

  “What!? Are you serious? You do know how everyone on this continent sees the Sinners, right?”

  Theo shook his head. “No, I don’t care what people think. What I saw with my own eyes was a clan that was warm and kind.”

  Eran was once again stunned by the golden-haired man’s words.

  Theo reminisced about his childhood. “When I was little, I really admired the heroic tales about someone from the Sinners clan. There were many heroes in the Eroth Empire who came from the Sinners, but there was one in particular I truly looked up to. He was a legendary imperial hero. The stories of his courage, resilience, and dedication to justice always fascinated me. I wanted to be like him—a brave warrior who stood by the values of righteousness.”

  Eran listened intently. Deep inside, he felt a powerful stir in his heart. He was proud—proud that someone still saw his clan from such a different, noble perspective.

  Theo smiled softly, then continued, “They were my source of inspiration. Through their stories, I learned what it meant to be brave and to have the determination to protect those you love,” Theo said with pride.

  Theo smiled nostalgically. “You know, Eran, when I was a kid, I’d always chase after those heroes during victory parades. I always wanted to talk to them, even if just for a moment. They always shared wise and inspiring messages.”

  Eran was curious. “What did they say that made you so obsessed?”

  Theo answered enthusiastically, “They always reminded us that being a hero isn’t just about physical strength. They taught us the meaning of service, and how important it is to protect the weak. One of my favorite messages was: ‘A hero isn’t someone who is strong, but someone who faces fear with courage.’”

  Eran fell silent at Theo’s words. That advice felt deeply familiar. Then, suddenly, Eran grabbed Theo’s shirt and asked, “What was that hero’s name?”

  Theo was a bit startled by Eran’s sudden behavior. “That hero was Olaf the Hero.”

  Eran fell silent upon hearing the name of the person Theo admired. A whirlwind of emotions filled his heart—joy, because Theo held his father in such high regard, but also sorrow, because Theo had no idea the man he admired had abandoned his own son for so long.

  Theo noticed Eran’s reaction and sensed something was off. “Is something wrong, Eran? You look surprised.”

  Eran tried to smile, attempting to hide his feelings. “No, it’s nothing. I was just a little surprised by your choice.”

  Theo nodded, accepting Eran’s answer without suspicion. “Olaf the Hero was a great man, and his story has inspired so many—including me. I really admire him.”

  Eran turned his gaze away, his heart growing heavier.

  Then, carefully, Theo asked, “Wasn’t he the leader of your clan back then? He was so cool, Eran.”

  Eran nodded slowly. “Yeah... unfortunately, he was often away from his city on imperial missions, to the point where it fell into disarray. But I never realized how much he meant to so many people—like you.”

  Theo smiled. “He was an incredible figure. I want to be like him—a hero who stands for truth and justice. I probably would've felt the same as you if I had lived under his leadership… but I also understand he was carrying out the Emperor’s orders.”

  Eran gave a bitter smile.

  “You want to be a hero too, don’t you?” Theo asked, noticing that Eran had fallen silent and seemed uneasy.

  Eran nodded and tried to smile more genuinely this time. “Yeah, of course. I do want to be a hero... but I think I prefer living as an ordinary person.”

  Theo gently placed a hand on Eran’s shoulder. “That’s okay, Eran. We can be heroes in our own ways. We don’t have to become someone else to be great.”

  Eran was touched by Theo’s words.

  “I’m sure you’ll have an amazing story of your own someday, Eran,” Theo said with confidence. “And I believe you have the potential to be a hero in your own way.”

  Eran’s heart was moved by Theo’s encouragement. He felt lucky—he had never felt something like this before. He asked himself, Is this what it feels like to have a friend?

  For Eran, joining a group—let alone making friends—was always something forbidden. But with Theo, it felt different. He found himself drawn to him.

  As the night wore on, they continued the celebration they had missed at the tavern, something their band had already planned.

  At first, Eran refused, but Theo pleaded with him to come—for the sake of introducing Eran as the band’s newest member.

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