The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 62: Chapter 60 — Control

As they moved through the caves, Fiona stared at Zephyrion’s faint silhouette in the darkness, biting down on her lip.

’He’s too great.’

She had been in awe of him since the moment he arrived at the house. No matter what the others said, no matter the whispers, he had remained unfazed.

And during the evaluation, he hadn’t even broken a sweat as he defeated Kaiden so one sidedly.

She lowered her gaze slightly.

She was nothing compared to him.

’I don’t deserve to stand by him.’

He had saved her during that spar without a second thought. And he had... praised her craft.

No one had ever done that before.

Her grip tightened slightly around her arm.

He had been nothing but kind to her. Yet the one time he trusted her... she failed.

’He deserves someone better.’

Fiona hugged herself a little tighter, her steps slowing for a brief moment.

She should turn back. Someone else should be here. Someone who wouldn’t hesitate. Someone who wouldn’t...

Her thoughts faltered as the scene from earlier surfaced again.

’Everyone makes mistakes.’

Never in her life had she ever felt so seen.

As the memory of her mistake from years ago resurfaced, her stomach twisted. She quickly raised a hand to her mouth, trying to suppress the urge to vomit.

”Are you okay?”

At the calm voice, Fiona suddenly felt the nausea ease, the tightness in her chest loosening as her pounding heart began to slow.

”...yes, young lord.”

A moment of silence passed.

”You’re afraid of losing control.”

Fiona’s eyes widened in the darkness. How did he know? She hadn’t said anything...

”...what?”

Zephyrion didn’t turn back.

”Outside, when I killed those two men, you didn’t flinch. I thought you were afraid of hurting people... but that’s not it, is it? You’re afraid of losing control.”

Fiona’s fists slowly tightened as she swallowed.

’I was right.’

Zephyrion was just amazing, to have seen through something she had never told anyone...

”...yes, young lord.”

Another moment of silence passed.

”...you don’t have to tell me why if you don’t want to.”

”...No.” Fiona exhaled, lifting her head slightly.

”I want to.”

”...”

At his silence, she swallowed as the memories surged forward.

”A year ago... during a spar with my father... I was exhausted, but he wouldn’t stop unless I gave it everything. On my last attack, I sent a wave of metal spikes at him... but I—I don’t know what happened. I lost control... and one of them went off course...”

”...”

”...it hit my brother.”

Tears streamed down Fiona’s cheeks. Her vision blurred, and her stomach churned violently. She felt like throwing up, but forced it down.

”T-they tried to save him, but... he died. I killed him.”

Fiona broke down, sobbing as she wiped at her tears, only for more to spill.

”I-I’m sorry... I’m so sorry... I... I’m a mess.”

She had wanted to hold it in, but she had ended up breaking down in front of the young lord. Now, how would she ever be able to raise her head in his presence?

”It’s fine.”

At the calm voice, Fiona sniffed and slowly lifted her head. Though he still faced forward, there was something about him that felt... heavy.

”...it’s a terrible thing... what happened to your brother. So... you’re holding yourself back to keep it from happening again?”

”I-I can’t let it happen again... ever again. I owe it to him.”

”If you keep going like this, it will happen again.”

Fiona’s eyes widened.

”...what?”

”You’re holding yourself back. Avoiding fights. Suppressing yourself... and you think that prevents mistakes.”

Fiona’s hands clenched into fists.

”...then what am I supposed to do? I’m trying not to lose control.”

”Stop running.”

”...what?”

”You’re afraid of hurting someone again, so you chose the easiest option. Do nothing.”

Fiona’s nails dug deeper into her palms.

”But how do you make sure it never happens again if you still can’t control it? Right now, under the same conditions... you’d lose control again. When that happens, what would your brother think?”

Fiona’s eyes slowly widened. Zephyrion was... right. Right now, under the same conditions, she would still... lose control. She bit her lip as the image of her brother flashed through her mind.

”...then... what do you want me to do...?”

”Control doesn’t come from holding back. It comes from mastery. From repetition. You need to train, properly. And for that, you have to stop limiting yourself. You have to attack.”

Attack? The thought sent a shiver through her.

”...what if I lose control again?”

”Then...”

Zephyrion suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Fiona bumped into his back and quickly stepped away.

”I-I’m sor—”

Her words caught in her throat as Zephyrion suddenly turned to face her. Through the darkness, she could see his steady purple eyes. Somehow, she had never felt safer in her life.

”...if you lose control again... I’ll stop you.”

”Haa.”

Fiona’s eyes slowly widened, her heart thumping against her chest. However, Zephyrion had already turned away as he spoke.

”Watch.”

Suddenly, the air around them rippled. The darkness peeled away, replaced by bright, flickering light.

Fiona’s eyes widened.

’He’s been using a barrier.’

A large cavern came into view. A fire burned at its center, and multiple Sanguines were seated around it, some leaning against the walls. At one corner of the cave, several shivering villagers were bound.

’Five... eight... thirteen...! Thirteen of them!’

Fiona’s eyes widened. Thirteen vessel-ranked Sanguines... it was suicide!

”You—”

She was about to reach for Zephyrion when he stepped into the cavern.

”W-what? Who?”

”An intruder!”

The Sanguines shot to their feet instantly. Blood condensed around their arms, forming weapons as they glared at him.

However, Zephyrion’s steps remained calm.

”Look, it’s a Ferran.”

”...it’s just one.”

”Doesn’t matter, kill him!”

Fiona gasped as three surged toward Zephyrion at once, weapons striking from all sides. They were about to hit him... Zephyrion blurred, appearing behind them.

A moment later, three severed heads struck the ground with heavy thuds. Fiona felt her heart lurch.

Yet, Zephyrion simply kept walking.

”He... he killed them in an instant!”

”He’s strong!”

”But he’s just a kid!”

”Stop talking and attack!”

All the remaining nine rushed toward Zephyrion. For a brief moment, he remained still. Then, he vanished.

The attacks carved through empty air.

”H-hurk!”

The Sanguines snapped toward the sound, only to see three at the back clutching their necks as blood gushed out between their fingers.

Their eyes widened.

”W-what—where is he?!”

”Hirk!”

They turned again. Two more were gripping their necks.

”H-how’s he moving so fa—!”

”H-he’s a monst—!”

All Fiona saw was a blur weaving through the group, then blood spraying, bodies dropping.

Zephyrion was killing each of them in exactly the same way. The same wound. The same force. The same motion.

Such control... she had never seen anything like it.

”Run! I’m not dying here!”

One broke away and ran toward the exit... toward her.

’No!’

After everything they had done, she couldn’t let him escape.

A sword formed in Fiona’s hand as she raised it. As the man closed in, her entire body began to tremble, and she found herself unable to bring the blade down.

”You!” The man’s eyes widened as he finally saw her. ”Get out of my way!”

He formed a blade from blood and hurled it toward her. If she didn’t move, she would die.

’Move... move... move.’

Amid the chaos in her mind, her eyes suddenly locked onto Zephyrion’s steady purple gaze.

Instantly, her stiff muscles loosened, and her trembling ceased.

’If I lose control... he will stop me.’

Fiona darted to the side, the blade slicing past her. She closed the distance in an instant and thrust forward.

The next moment, the wet sound of steel piercing flesh echoed through the cavern.