Chapter 1: Last Clue

2 years had passed since her families' assassination. She's still in the middle of unlocking its mystery. She had come into different places and such for her journey continues.

Amanda opened a folder that contains information that might help her find who's responsible for it. It's based on her research and investigations. But most of them are just fake rumors.

While scanning through the pages, she saw a man named Henry Schwartz, said to be one of the citizens, before the assassination, which was asked where their clan's location might be.

According to the other people, Amanda had asked about the man, that the man she's referring to was already killed. She deliberately stopped her investigations then.

But now she's thinking, there were no concrete evidence that he's already dead which might led a chance to find him alive. It's the only lead Amanda has right now, every info she got was crap. Now she's desperately hoping this one won't be a waste of her energy.

She then decided to go out to find the man again.

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Amanda's Point of View

According to the other intel, I gathered, the one in front of me is his house. I won't bother finding him if only he's not the only lead I currently had. I hope he's still breathing yet.

I knocked at the door and a woman, probably between her 30's, opened the door.

"Do you know someone named Henry, ma'am?" I politely asked. Her eyebrows furrowed and looked at me like I was kind of a bug.

"I already said I don't know!" She slammed the door close. What does she mean about 'already'? Did someone also come asking about Henry?

I knocked again. The woman opened it and was about to close the door again when used my hand to stop the door from closing. Luckily, she let me.

"Can you describe the looks of the person who came asking about Henry?" I asked and tried hard to be polite. I need to know why a person is asking for Henry. Call me cautious but it's way better than being careless.

She left our a deep sigh and answered, "A tall male with his long bangs covering his face. That should be enough." She slammed the door before I got to thank her. Some people have really short patience, don't they?

I forgot to ask about which direction he went to. Whatever, I'll just find him my own. I asked other people if they had seen a guy like the previous woman described earlier and pointed a direction.

Until I've noticed that I'm already in the middle of the forest. I can only hear the birds humming and the clapping leaves. I hope I can still distinguish later which way I came from.

I just ignored the thought and continued to walk straight. I noticed a cloud of smoke coming from the direction I'm going to. I decided to follow that.

I saw a man facing the fire and a bucket full of fish beside him, he must be grilling. I'm facing his back so I can't tell whether it's the one who the woman was talking about, or someone else.

I was about to take a step when someone appeared from nowhere in front of the man who's grilling a fish. It was so sudden like a strike of lightning.

"Henry Schwartz, I'm here on a mission to eliminate you," the man, who suddenly popped out from nowhere, said. Just as the woman described, a tall male with his bangs covering his face. No doubt, it's him, the man who's also finding Henry. But I didn't expect him to find Henry to eliminate. I doubt that he just wants to kill the man without proper reason. It should be important to take a life without hesitation.

He opened his palms and a ball of lightning went out from it. I was alarmed and went as fast as I could in front. He stopped when he saw me. He looked at me telling me to get out of the way. I can tell that he's totally irritated by me right now.

"Unfortunately, you'll fail your mission as long as I'm here," I cautioned but it seems he doesn't care about it. There's no way I'll let him kill Henry.

"Then I'll just kill you with him." He didn't even hesitate! I have no choice but to fight him!

I drew out my katana and stood in front of him, I won't let the man behind me get killed. I need to ask the information first.

To be honest, I don't know if I can cope up with him. Judging from the ball of thunder earlier, he's a skilled mage and I'm not. I think I might be driven into the edge.

But I'm confident in my swordsmanship skills and also my reflexes. I trained to be on par with mages so this one would be my first step into making us equal to each other. If I can't, then all those harsh pieces of training are just useless.

Yet I can't deny the fact that my knees are shaking right now. Who would not be scared at the one in front of me? I can't clearly see his face because of his front hair covering his eyes so I don't know his reaction by me standing in front of him.

But if something happens, I have something hidden in my sleeves though.

"I don't know who he is to you woman but I just want to warn you he is a dangerous one." he didn't wait for my response and suddenly a struck of lightning came passing through me and he vanished in my sight.

I was taken aback. As I suddenly recovered from the shock, I moved my gaze behind and saw a headless man, many drops of blood are spilling from it.

"What happened?!"

I stiffened as I saw Mr. Henry's head on the ground. The body collapsed and blood was drained out of him. This is insane!

The scenery in front of me made me recalled my painful past. Drops of blood are everywhere and killings won't stop. I remember it clearly and now I'm trembling, I even lose hold of my katana.

My last clue disappeared in an instant. I looked at the man responsible for it. He's holding a lightning blade.

"I would like to kill you for interfering but the mission said no killing except the target."

Until an idea popped out of my head, I still have something hidden under my sleeves. I let it out and threw it at him. He might dodge it but it's a paralyzing smoke bomb, anyone who inhales it would be paralyzed in an instant.

I bought it from a certain woman in the previous town I went to. It's very expensive but I know it'll be useful at times like this.

I thought I won. I thought I succeeded, instead, he walked in the smoke like nothing. And went in front of me and mumbled words until he knocked me off.

"Don't attack me using her inventions," that was he uttered before I lost consciousness.

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Author's Notes: English is not my first language. So if you have difficulties understanding the story, don't be afraid to point them out. It will also help me on my journey as an aspiring writer. Thank you!

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