Silence.
That was the first thing Nexa Vale loved about her work.
No crowds.
No noise.
No emotions.
Just distance… and a target.
Above the Arena
Far above the station, hidden between metal structures and communication towers, Nexa lay flat against a narrow platform. Her long-range rifle was perfectly aligned, her breathing slow, controlled, almost nonexistent.
Through her scope—
Astra Vale.
Standing near a glass wall, looking out at the stars.
Nexa's finger rested lightly on the trigger.
Wind velocity: calculated.
Distance: perfect.
Angle: clean.
One shot.
That was all it would take.
Then—
She stopped.
Her finger didn't move.
Instead, she shifted the scope.
Slowly.
Carefully.
To another location.
A restricted corridor.
And there—
Kael Veyron.
Walking alone.
Nexa's eyes sharpened slightly.
Her breathing changed.
Not faster.
But… more focused.
"Primary target confirmed," she whispered.
A Change in Priority
Nexa lowered the rifle slightly.
Most assassins would take the easier kill.
Astra Vale was exposed.
Unprotected.
Perfect.
But Nexa was not "most assassins."
She didn't chase easy kills.
She chased important ones.
Astra was rising.
But Kael…
Kael was a mystery.
And in her world—
Mysteries were always more valuable than fame.
Control Room — Instinct
Kael stopped walking.
For no visible reason.
No sound.
No alarm.
Nothing.
But his eyes shifted slightly toward the ceiling.
Lyra, watching from a nearby panel, frowned.
"What is it?" she asked.
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Then he said quietly:
"…We're being watched."
The Shot
Nexa adjusted her rifle.
Now the target was locked.
Kael Veyron.
Distance: long.
Angle: difficult.
Obstacles: multiple.
Probability of hit: 62%.
She didn't care.
For Nexa—
62% was enough.
She exhaled slowly.
And pulled the trigger.
Impact
The bullet moved faster than sound.
Invisible.
Silent.
Deadly.
Kael moved.
Not fast.
Not dramatically.
Just… slightly.
The bullet passed through his shoulder instead of his heart.
Blood hit the wall.
Lyra shouted, "KAEL!"
Alarms instantly activated across the control level.
Nexa watched through her scope.
Her expression didn't change.
"…He moved," she whispered.
Kael's Reaction
Kael looked down at his shoulder.
Blood.
Pain.
But his face didn't change.
"Sniper," he said calmly.
Lyra activated security systems immediately. "Locking external zones! Deploying shields!"
Kael shook his head slightly.
"No," he said.
Lyra looked at him, confused. "What?! Why not?!"
Kael turned his head slightly, looking toward the direction the shot came from.
"…Because she's still watching," he said.
The Second Shot
Nexa didn't move.
She didn't panic.
She didn't rush.
She simply adjusted.
New calculation.
New angle.
New prediction.
Kael Veyron's next movement.
She whispered quietly:
"People repeat patterns…"
She pulled the trigger again.
This Time
Kael didn't move.
The bullet hit.
Direct.
Clean.
Straight through his chest.
Lyra screamed, "NO—!"
Silence
Everything stopped.
For a moment—
The world went quiet.
Kael stood there.
Unmoving.
Then—
He fell.
Nexa's Observation
Nexa watched the body through her scope.
No reaction.
No emotion.
Just observation.
"Target down," she said quietly.
Then she paused.
Something felt… wrong.
Control Room — Not Over
Lyra ran to Kael immediately.
Blood was everywhere.
"Stay with me! Kael, stay—!"
Then—
Kael's hand moved.
Lyra froze.
Kael slowly opened his eyes.
"…Too predictable," he said weakly.
Lyra stared at him. "You're alive?!"
Kael looked at his chest.
The bullet had missed his heart by millimeters.
Again.
"Second shot was based on my first movement," Kael said quietly.
"She assumed I would react the same way."
He slowly pushed himself up.
Blood still falling, but his eyes were calm.
Cold.
Focused.
Nexa Realizes
High above, Nexa narrowed her eyes slightly.
"He survived both shots…"
That was rare.
Very rare.
Then she whispered:
"…Interesting."
Instead of leaving—
She started disassembling her rifle calmly.
Because now…
This was no longer just a job.
This was a hunt.
Astra Notices
Down in the lower levels, Astra suddenly felt something.
A strange unease.
Like something important had just happened.
Silas, standing next to her, noticed her expression.
"What is it?" he asked.
Astra looked up slightly.
"…Something changed," she said.
Silas smiled faintly.
"Good," he said.
"Things were getting boring."
Final Scene — Three Targets
In one part of the station:
Kael Veyron, injured but alive, now aware of the assassin.
In another:
Nexa Vale, no longer just following a contract, now personally interested.
And in the middle of it all:
Astra Vale, unknowingly stepping deeper into a war she still didn't fully understand.
In the control room, Lyra looked at Kael, still shaken.
"That wasn't random," she said.
"That was a professional hit."
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
Lyra asked the question that mattered:
"Who sent her?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
He looked at the screen.
At Astra.
At Silas.
At the Arena.
Then he said quietly:
"Not who…"
He paused.
"Which family."
And far away, in a hidden chamber, a shadowed figure watched the failed assassination report.
Then they smiled.
"Good," the voice said softly.
"Now the game has truly begun."