THE KING’S ASSASSINS INTRODUCTION Long ago, in the kingdom of Crypston, there lived a mighty king named Hetheris. Hetheris was a strong king that ruled his kingdom with an iron hand. He had forcefully taken the throne from his younger brother and banished him. Crypston, one of the largest kingdoms in the southern part of the world, a land thriving with riches and honor but ever since king Hetheris’ reign began, its riches rapidly declined. The rich began living under bridges and even ministers turned into slaves that cleaned up after their masters, all these happened because of the king’s greed. He increased the taxes to the extent that the poor sold their properties and borrowed money just to keep up. This tale revolves around the journey of five people who dare to assassinate the king and replace him with Luther, the true king. CHAPTER ONE (1) MYSTERY VILLAGE NICOLE’S POV: After walking around for a long time, I decided to sit down because my legs were starting to hurt, I was lost in an unknown land with no idea of how I got there. Every time I tried to remember my head would ache. ‘Well if I am going to stay here, it’s best if I know where I am” I thought “Hello sir! I’m lost, please could you tell me where I am?” I asked stopping a man on the road, but to my dismay, he responded in a strange language. Knowing that the conversation wasn’t going anywhere, I stated that I didn’t understand what he said and sent him off with a wave. I tried a few more times but all gave the same result. In a flash I had a not-so-bright idea, which involved walking around which I but my body wouldn’t move, I was exhausted and hungry so I sat down by the fountain. Soon after, rain began to fall, I was too exhausted to move and even if I did, the people here weren’t the nicest. After a while, I couldn’t feel the rain anymore, the relaxing rain……… Gone, so I looked up only to see the brightest pair of golden eyes staring at me. “Are you going to keep sitting there gawking at me or are you going to take this umbrella?” The kind stranger asked handing an umbrella to me. “Huh... Oh! Thanks!” I didn’t realize I was that I was staring for so long. Honestly, no misunderstanding needed but his golden eyes were just so mesmerizing “Come with me” He said leading me to old house. “Sheesh… Ever thought of redecorating” I said when we got inside. After getting no reply I moved to the next question. “Who are you?” I asked, still ignoring me, he went a shelf picked a book and started reading “I asked you who you are!” I demanded angered by his expressionless face, but unlike me, he seemed amused by my reaction. Before I could say anything else, he said “You should dry your hair and change clothes before you catch a cold. There should be some clean clothes in the bathroom” “Once you are done, you can start interrogating” He said his gaze not leaving his book. “Oh thanks” Was all I managed to say. After dressing and drying my hair, I came out with towel wrapped around my neck. That was when a blonde girl walked in, she was tall with short hair and wore a pink cropped top with a jean trouser and some brown sandals, and I was guessing it was a royal dressing. “Hey idiot, have you seen my saddle I want to………” She paused after seeing me. “Who is she? And why is she wearing my clothes?!” CHAPTER TWO (2): STRANGER DANGER NICOLE’S POV: “Who is she? And why is she wearing my clothes?!” She asked glaring at the stranger. Wait! I noticed that she and the stranger resembled each other. He had straight jet-black hair that fell on his shoulders, he was also tall and well-built with broad shoulders, garmented with a black tuxedo and black shoes as if going to an exclusive party. Their main resemblance were their captivating golden eyes. “Why are you asking me? She’s right there!” He said pointing to me, she sighed and slowly walked towards me until she stopped. “Who are you?” She said unintendedly coming closer to me. Our closeness showed our difference in height, she was obviously taller than me. “My name’s Nicole” I stated. “Oh? Well my name is Clarke and the grumpy one is Luca” Clarke said looking confused. “Where are my manners? Have a seat!” She said shaking off the confused look on her face and gesturing towards the seat beside her. “Thank you” I said having my seat which I slowly turned to Luca. “Why did you help me?” I inquired, I mean help a stranger in an unknown land where they spoke a confusing language. I needed to know why but he just shrugged. “I just felt like helping out, besides you looked like you could’ve died if I left you back there………. You were desperate” Luca responded still reading his book. “What!? Me, desperate. Ha! I wouldn’t be desperate even if you pointed a knife my throat, you’ve got to be kidding me!” I raged while I thought. Despite all the commotion in my head, I managed to speak. “There’s got to be catch” I pestered but he annoyingly smirked at me. “I need your help” He admitted at last. “Oh really but a second ago it seemed like I was the one who needed help” I shot at him sarcastically wanting to upset him but he remained unshaken. Knowing that all my efforts were futile I gave up. “What do you want from me” I asked already bored of the conversation. “Before I get to the point, Clarke will narrate the history of our small town……….. Miss story teller you may begin” He said stretching the Miss. “Hatridge, A village that shared the same piece of land that Crypston stands on...” She began while I listened intently. “Out of fear of annihilation, the people of Hatridge decided to pay a certain amount of money in exchange for their lives. After that decision was made, the people fought over who would be their leader, and because of that, they separated. The half that left took the name Trishnot and the other half kept the name Hatridge” “The King killed countless clans and villages in order to gain access to their land and resources and the people of Hatridge and Trishnot were afraid that they were next, but the only twin brother and sister in the town of Hatridge spoke up to them and gave them two things- courage and an idea.” “The men of their land were not skilled enough to fight the king’s men, after a lot of consideration, their plan was finally put their plan into motion.” “The idea was that they would change their language so when the king’s spies came, they wouldn’t understand what they were saying and build a wall or barrier (as they like to call it) around their village to protect them.” “Realizing that they were in danger, Trishnot tried to reunite with Hatridge but unfortunately it was too late, the king’s men had invaded their land and mercilessly murdered everyone there, the parents of the twins, the village head and so much more. The fact is till now Hatridge still remains uninvaded.” She concluded almost falling from her chair. “Guess what?” Luca asked dropping his book and crossing his arms. “We’re the twins in the story and this is village is Hatridge” She cut in. After putting two and two together, I spoke. “Wait you mentioned Trishnot?” “Yes why?” “That’s where I’m from and that’s where mother is” I gasped after completing my statement. “I’m so sorry” Clarke apologize but I was too distracted to hear anything, the thought of my mother dying was all that was on my mind. After a few minutes I cleared my head and went further to ask… “How come your parents died in Trishnot when you were in Hatridge?” “Our parents left us behind after we told them that we were part of Hatridge” “Ok, so what’s my role in this?” I asked “You are going to help us avenge our parents” They said in unison “I need people who will help kill the king based on their senses and you, Nicole Parker, will be the leader of The Dark Knights and you will work alongside me and my sister” Luca announced CHAPTER THREE (3): NICOLE’S RESOLVE NICOLE’S POV: “I need people who will help kill the king based on their senses and you, Nicole Parker, will be the leader of The Dark Knights and you will work alongside me and my sister” His voice ringing in my head “Me? I barely know anything about senses or even being a master.” “Well you’re in luck, my sister knows nothing about it” He said making fun of his sister “Please Nicole” Clarke begged pouting, after a lot of begging I finally listened “Alright!” I agreed “While you two were chatting, I took up the task of finding the most needed person for this mission” Luca said “Yagami Carmen the master of the sixth sense, he was a wealthy Japanese business man who came here to expand his business but unfortunately for him both him and his business went bankrupt because of this cursed city” “Sixth sense? What’s that?” Clarke asked “I guess it’s my turn to do a little story telling.” Luca sighed before he began the tale. “There was a magical stone that contained great power, it was created by the seven masters of the temple to help with any problem, they shared part of the crystal’s power amongst themselves but one of them got greedy and decided to keep the crystal for himself.” “It caused a war between them and in the process the crystal shattered, they all rushed trying to get a piece of the crystal leaving tiny pieces. There were seven big pieces owned by the seven great masters” “The 1st sense gives the ability of great speed and the power to manipulate ice, Nicole is the master of that sense” “The 2nd sense allows its master to have an amplified sense of hearing and unbelievable strength” “Yeah that’s my sense” Clarke said cutting in “The next is the 3rd, it gives the master the ability to manipulate electricity and the power to remain calm in any situation” “The 4th sense gives the master the power to control light” “Isn’t that your sense brother?” “Stop interrupting!” Luca reacted “The 5th sense allows its master to control time and space but it is accompanied by strain which could cause death.” “And lastly, the 6th sense make the master have twice the sight of a keen eagle and the ability to locate people.” “The six masters then scat…” “What about the 7th sense?” I and Clarke asked in unison. “No one knows the ability of the 7th master because after war he fled never to be seen again.” “But the association believes the king is the master of that sense.” “Anyways, the six masters then scattered themselves around the world and picked disciples who they would pass their power down to and continue their legacies of protecting the world.” “The crystal has been encrypted into either accessories of jewelries” “Taking mine as an example” He said and removed his ring. “This ring is made entirely out gold but the jewel is made from the crystal” “Mine is my bracelet, what’s yours?” Clarke added I took quite some time before answering. “What’s wrong? You can tell us” “It’s nothing” I started rolling up the sleeve of my shirt till it reached my shoulder, then I slowly fisted my hand until a dark tattoo drew itself on my arm with a gem in the middle. “Is that the crystal?” Luca asked reaching for my arm to which I jerked away. “Yes, it was implanted into my arm to keep me from dying.” “Wow” Clarke exclaimed speechless. “Surprising isn’t it?” I said smiling, normally the people she showed this would have already started running away. “Well back to the plan, Yagami lives in a small village between Tokito and Giima” Luca said his eyes glued to a map. “Then that’s our next stop!” Clarke yelled excitedly. After travelling for four days we finally reached Mikoto but finding Yagami was a whole new story. “How are going to find him here?!” Clarke exclaiming dumbfounded. “Well I guess we’re just going to have to ask around, maybe he will turn up.” I answered. We asked around for a few hours before we found his house. We knocked twice before he opened his door. “Hi! And how may I help you?” Yagami asked. “Hello! I’m Nicole and these are my friends Luca and Clarke, may we come in?” He opened the door for us, his golden brown hair was short. Tall would be perfect to describe him…. He had brown eyes and wore a pair of glasses. “Nice to meet you guys, I’m Yagami.” “To avoid wasting our precious time, we are going to state our business.” “We are Dark Shadow, a secret organization with an objective…” “To kill the king!” Clarke cut in. “K-k-kill the king?!” CHAPTER FOUR (4): OUR BEST TRACKER NICOLE’S POV: “K-k-kill the king?!” Yagami asked trying to hide his fear. “Yes, it might seem like an impossible task but with the proper planning, we will be able to achieve it.” “Ha-ha, you think you can actually do it?” “My elder brother, Daniel, died by the hands of the king” “He was a positive kind of guy, always on his own. But when someone very close to him died and he came to know that the king was behind it, he changed” “My elder brother made that his personal project, he devoted his life to uncovering the secrets of the devil most people call their king, he tried his best to stand up for others, “He was caught snooping around the king’s palace and was executed the next morning.” He finished with a glum smile. “I’m so sorry.” “It’s alright, that was years ago. My point is that you cannot defeat the king.” “I’ll have to disagree with you on that.” Luca interrupted. “