Eclipsed Fate: Bound by Destiny

(Shadows and Whispers)

They want me dead.

This is not just a suspicion. I have seen their faces in the darkness, felt their presence lurking in every shadow. Former comrades, bounty hunters, those who once served under the organization that now seeks my demise. I used to be one of them—an executor without a name, without a face, without a trace. But now, I am a fugitive—a man who has chosen a different path, even though I don't fully understand why.

And her… she was never part of the plan.

Zxia. Her name is not something usually whispered in the world of death and shadows. She is not an assassin, not a soldier, not someone accustomed to a world filled with blood and betrayal. She is merely a novice healer, yet there is something more to her than just the ability to mend wounds. Something even she does not understand. Something that makes the Shadow Organization interested in her—willing to sacrifice more than they should.

I don't care about many things. But for some reason, I cannot let them take her.

We live on the run. From city to city, from shadow to shadow. But that night, in a small cave deep within a dark forest, something changed. The dying campfire flickered back to life, casting shadows over Zxia's face, which was still filled with unanswered questions.

"The pendant…" My voice was barely audible over the crackling wood. "Do you feel it again?"

She nodded.

"Yes… Like whispers. It feels like… something is trying to communicate."

I'm not someone who believes in the unseen. But her words made me think.

Whispers. A connection to something beyond.

I don't know what it means. But for the first time in my life… I want to find out.

Our journey is no longer just about escaping those who want me dead. Now, a greater mystery awaits. A power hidden behind the voices that only Zxia can hear. And without realizing it, what lies beyond those whispers… might change everything.

Shadows in Pursuit

Red Harbor, Midnight

Drizzling rain soaked the narrow alleys of Red Harbor's slums. The scent of fish mixed with the sharp aroma of spices, filling the damp air. I, xKARMA, stood beneath the leaky roof of a dimly lit stall, my body wrapped in a dark cloak that concealed my silhouette. My golden eyes scanned every movement around me.

Beside me sat Zxia, the small girl with light blue hair whom I had sworn to protect. Her hands busily applied a salve to a small wound—a mark left by the stone that had nearly struck her head earlier. She appeared calm, but I could see the fear lingering behind her large eyes.

My body was tense, every fiber of my being ready to act. The faint scent of blood still lingered in the air. Red Harbor was a hunting ground. Not just because of Zxia and her mysterious past, but because of the shadows of my own past—The Black Dragon Organization—still chasing me. They wouldn't stop until I was dead.

The night air felt heavy. I could sense eyes watching from the darkness. The rain masked the sound of footsteps, but I knew something lurked nearby. My gaze caught a shadow moving swiftly across the rooftops of the opposite building. Too fast for an ordinary human. A threat.

I grabbed Zxia's hand, pulling her closer. "Stay quiet," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the patter of rain.

She nodded, holding her breath.

The shadow halted. A figure leaped down, landing gracefully before us.

A tall, slender woman with fiery red hair cascading down her back. A black silk cloak hugged her frame perfectly, a long sword resting at her waist. Her sharp eyes gleamed with danger.

"xKARMA," she said, her voice cutting through the cold air. "I've been looking for you. For a long time."

She stared at me expressionlessly, though her gaze occasionally flickered toward Zxia. There was something there—curiosity or menace, I couldn't tell.

I remained silent, studying her. She carried the aura of a trained assassin. Not from the Black Dragon Organization, but perhaps from another guild. Or was she a bounty hunter?

Zxia trembled but held her ground. "W-who are you?" she asked in a small voice.

The woman smirked, a smile that sent chills down my spine. "My name doesn't matter," she said. "What matters is that I know you're hiding something valuable. Something a lot of people want. I'm here to take it."

Her gaze locked onto Zxia.

"Hand her over, and you live."

---

A Battle Beneath the Rain

I didn't move. I wouldn't hand her over.

The woman chuckled softly. "You're stubborn." She raised her hand, and the shadows stirred. From the narrow alleyways and rooftops, assassins emerged—at least ten of them. Their eyes fixed on me.

"Which guild hired you?" I finally asked.

The woman's smirk widened. "Silver Wolves."

One of the largest guilds. They didn't play around.

I exhaled slowly. This was going to be difficult.

"You can't win against all of us," she said, fingers brushing the hilt of her sword.

I drew my daggers. "Let's find out."

"Kill him."

They attacked in unison.

I yanked Zxia back, dodging a blade that nearly sliced through my head. Two assassins lunged from my left and right. I spun, my daggers dancing in swift, precise strikes. The glint of steel was followed by the splatter of blood. Two down. The rest encircled me.

The red-haired woman advanced, her sword slicing through the air toward me. I parried with both daggers, sparks flying as steel clashed against steel. She was strong, fast. But I was faster.

Zxia hid behind me, her hands raised, preparing something.

"Zxia, don't overuse your energy," I murmured.

She nodded quickly. But I knew she was still ready.

I leaped back, narrowly dodging another slash. From the side, an assassin tried to strike at Zxia. She gasped, lifting her hands, and a blinding orb of light exploded, momentarily stunning them. It was enough. I moved, cutting them down one by one.

Blood mixed with rain. The metallic scent filled the air.

Only the red-haired woman remained.

She panted, but her smirk never faded. "Interesting…" she murmured. "You're still as strong as ever."

I said nothing, my daggers poised to strike.

She slowly stepped back, then leaped onto the rooftop.

"We'll meet again, xKARMA," she called before vanishing into the night.

I didn't chase her.

The rain kept falling. Zxia approached, gripping my wounded arm. "You're hurt," she whispered.

I glanced at the cut on my left arm. Not deep, but enough to be annoying.

"We need to leave."

Zxia nodded. We slipped away from Red Harbor before more enemies arrived.

I knew this was only the beginning.