The Fool’s Ascension

Jarek's heart pounded as Kael Varyn stepped fully into the moonlight, his twin daggers gleaming with a faint sheen of poison. Every muscle in Jarek's body screamed for him to run, dodge, move—anything but stand still.

Because the man before him wasn't just fast. He was death in human form.

Lena, beside him, was already shifting into a battle stance. Her grip on her sword tightened, her breathing steady. But even she knew the odds. They were outmatched.

Sylva's voice crackled through the communication crystal in Jarek's ear. "Do not engage him head-on. You'll be dead before you land a hit."

Jarek licked his lips. "Yeah, I got that part."

Kael tilted his head, his voice smooth and composed. "It's strange. Most people panic when they realize I'm here to kill them."

Jarek exhaled, forcing his usual smirk onto his face. "Well, I've had a rough week. Assassins aren't even in my top three problems right now."

Kael smiled. "Then let's make this quick."

And then he moved.

Jarek barely had time to react before Kael was on him.

A dagger whistled through the air—Jarek twisted just in time, feeling the blade graze his shoulder. Pain flared, but he had no time to focus on it. Kael was already coming for his throat.

Jarek ducked, rolling to the side as Kael's second dagger sliced the air where his head had been.

Lena lunged forward, slashing at Kael with a precise strike. But Kael moved like a shadow. He sidestepped her attack, spinning with inhuman grace, and in a blink, his dagger was at her ribs.

Lena barely blocked in time, metal clashing against metal. Sparks flew as she pushed back, trying to create distance.

Jarek caught his breath, gripping his sword tighter. Kael wasn't just fast—he was reading them. Every attack, every movement.

He's playing with us.

Sylva's voice rang through Jarek's earpiece again. "You need to disorient him. He thrives on control. Take that away, and he'll make mistakes."

Jarek's mind raced. Disorient him.

He glanced around the alleyway. Narrow space. Uneven ground. The rooftops above.

An idea clicked.

"Lena," he called. "Get ready to move."

She gave a short nod, trusting him without question.

Kael frowned, sensing something was off. "What are you—"

Jarek threw his sword.

Not at Kael.

At the hanging lantern above them.

The moment the blade struck, the lantern shattered—exploding in a blinding flash of fire and light.

Kael hissed, instinctively shielding his eyes.

And that was all Jarek needed.

He grabbed Lena's wrist. "Up!"

They both leaped onto the nearby crates, using the moment of blindness to launch themselves onto the rooftops.

Kael recovered fast—too fast.

He growled, flicking his daggers at them.

Jarek twisted mid-air. One dagger whizzed past his ear, barely missing. The other—

Pain flared in his side.

Jarek hit the rooftop hard, rolling over as the poisoned blade sank into his ribs.

Lena landed beside him, eyes widening. "Jarek—"

Jarek yanked the dagger out, gasping as his vision blurred for a split second. The poison was already working.

Kael landed on the rooftop with them, slow and deliberate. He sheathed one dagger, watching Jarek stumble to his feet.

"Poison's in your blood now," Kael said calmly. "You've got about three minutes before your body starts shutting down."

Jarek clenched his jaw. "Wow. You assassins really love your dramatic time limits."

Kael smirked. "It makes the hunt more interesting."

Jarek forced himself to focus, ignoring the fire spreading through his veins. Three minutes.

They had to end this now.

Lena gritted her teeth. "We can't outrun him."

Jarek exhaled, his mind working through the haze of pain. If we can't run, we need to finish the fight—fast.

His gaze flickered to Sylva's position on the opposite rooftop.

A silent signal passed between them.

Sylva moved.

Kael sensed it. He turned—but too late.

An arrow shot through the air, aimed directly at Kael's blind spot.

For the first time, Kael hesitated.

And Jarek struck.

With the last of his strength, Jarek lunged forward—his sword flashing in the moonlight.

Kael twisted to dodge the arrow, but it forced him just off-balance. Just enough for Jarek's blade to slash across his arm.

Kael stumbled.

Lena followed up, her sword aiming for his throat.

Kael barely managed to block—his form less perfect than before.

The poison in Jarek's blood dragged at him, but he grinned.

"You're good," he admitted, breathing hard. "But even the best… make mistakes."

Kael scowled. For the first time, he looked annoyed.

Then, without warning, he leaped backward—off the rooftop.

Jarek rushed to the edge, just in time to see Kael vanish into the darkness below.

Gone.

Jarek groaned, swaying on his feet. "Oh, great. He's still alive. I hate when they do that."

Lena caught him before he collapsed. "Jarek."

He blinked. His vision swam.

Right. The poison.

Sylva landed beside them. "We need to get the antidote in the next five minutes, or he's done for."

Lena tensed. "Do you have one?"

Sylva smirked. "Lucky for him… I do."

Jarek groaned. "Why do I feel like there's a catch?"

Sylva's smirk widened.

"Oh, there is."

Jarek sighed, his body finally giving in to the poison.

And then everything went black.