CHAPTER 231: CHAPTER 231

December 31st

I found myself back in that same dim cave, the chill seeping through my coat as I picked my way along the rocky path. It felt awkward as hell showing up like this—asking for help after I’d shot down their offer just weeks ago. But with the clock ticking on Raphael’s mark, pride could wait.

As I got closer, my senses sharpened, picking up the familiar auras of Kairos and Thorne... and one more, unfamiliar.

"If it isn’t Tigris herself," Thorne said, leaning against the cave wall with that smirk of his. "What brings you back so soon?"

I ignored him and turned straight to Kairos, who’s gaze was fixed on me from his chair. "The offer... is it still on the table?"

"You’re forgetting something," he replied evenly, not moving a muscle.

I rolled my eyes. "...Boss."

He nodded once. "Have you decided to kill him?"

"It doesn’t matter what I end up doing with him," I said, keeping my tone firm. "Now, will you help me or not?"

"You know what I want, right?" he pressed.

"Of course," I shot back. The deal we’d struck—my loyalty, my skills, all in for the Nightjars once this was over.

"Don’t forget it," he said simply.

Meanwhile, Thorne and the other guy exchanged stunned looks, like they’d just seen her walk on water. She was the only one who talked to Kairos like that.

Kairos glanced their way. "Other than me and Thorne, we’ll need one more on the team."

My eyes flicked to the man beside Thorne—tall, with a sharp quiff haircut streaked in dark red highlights, his expression calm and unreadable.

"This is Magellan," Thorne introduced, gesturing lazily.

The guy just gave a quick nod. "Hello."

"When do we pull this off?" Thorne asked, rubbing his hands together like he was already scheming.

"Wait, what plan?" I said, shooting Kairos a look.

Thorne jumped in before he could. "Simple: We slip into Raphael’s room disguised as nurses, then poison him quick and clean."

I glared at Kairos. "I told you—I’m handling Raphael myself."

He shrugged. "I didn’t come up with that one."

Thorne pouted, crossing his arms. "Man, why do you gotta make everything so complicated? Fine, Plan B: Disguise as nurses, grab him, drag him out to some quiet spot, and finish the job there."

"Can you drop the ’kill’ talk already?" I snapped, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"But isn’t that what you’re after?" he asked, all innocent wide eyes.

I groaned, too annoyed to argue. "Yeah, sure—whatever. Just... let’s move on."

"So, how do we even get into the hospital?" I asked, folding my arms.

Thorne grinned, tapping his chest. "I’m a master of disguise—no sweat there."

"And getting him out?" I pressed.

"That’s where he comes in," Thorne said, nodding at Magellan. "Guy can open portals on demand. But the hospital’s detectors are no joke—if we go big, we’ll trip alarms, and those mercenaries outside his door will swarm us, plus the whole security grid. So, small portal only—20 km max. Once you’re through, the disguise fades, but no worries: We’ve got a barrier up at the exit point, so no one’s spotting you and Raphael. You handle your business, then hop back through Magellan’s gate."

"As for the room," he added, "Boss and I whip up a fake body to leave in the bed. Covers our tracks if a guard pokes his head in. You just do what you gotta do and get back."

Kairos leaned forward. "So, when?"

"Tomorrow," I said without hesitation.

"Tomo—what?!" Thorne sputtered, eyes bugging out.

"I don’t have much time," I explained flatly. "That’s why it’s tomorrow—no delays."

"If you say so," Kairos replied, his tone unchanging.

Thorne gawked at him. "B-But—"

"Got a problem?" Kairos asked, arching a brow.

Thorne recovered quick, clapping his hands with forced enthusiasm. "Nah, not at all! I’m just impressed—Remillia’s all about getting the job done, huh?"

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

January 1st

I slid into the back of the black SUV, the door creaking a little as it shut behind me. The park around us was a ghost town—desolate and blanketed in fresh snow, the kind of spot no one bothered with on New Year’s Day. Kairos was already in the passenger seat, silent as ever, while Thorne lounged in the driver’s side, fiddling with some trinkets. Magellan sat next to me, giving a quick nod but saying nothing.

"Now that the main character is here," Thorne said with a dramatic flourish, twisting around to face us, "close your eyes and let my mana flow into you. Don’t fight it, or you’ll end up looking like some freakish clown—trust me, you don’t want that."

I shut my eyes without a word, the others following suit. Thorne’s magic hit like a warm brushstroke, spreading across my skin in invisible layers—itching faintly at first, then settling into something seamless, like a second skin. It tingled over my face, arms, even my fingertips, reshaping features I couldn’t see but could feel shifting subtly.

A minute later, he clapped his hands. "Done!" Thorne announced, sounding way too pleased with himself. He passed out fake I.D.s to each of us—crisp cards with photos that matched our new disguises: me as a mousy nurse named "Elena". I cracked one eye open, glancing at mine, and yeah, it looked legit. Whatever Thorne had done, it was solid work.

"Alright, let’s roll," Kairos said from up front, his voice cutting through the quiet. The engine hummed to life, and we pulled out toward the hospital, the plan ticking down in my head like a countdown.

"Now, hop out and act like you’re heading to your shift," Thorne said, pulling the SUV to a discreet stop a few blocks from the hospital. "I’ll hang back in here alone—close enough to hold your disguises steady, so no sweat. Just don’t stray more than 4 km out, got it?"

I knew the limits of his Gift all too well: 10 km for one person, 8 for two, dropping by 2 km each additional target. With three of us under his spell, we were pushing it, but Thorne was cocky enough to make it work.

Magellan climbed out first, blending into the morning foot traffic like he belonged there. I followed, adjusting my fake nurse scrubs, then Kairos slipped out last, his posture shifting to match the orderly disguise. The SUV eased away slowly, Thorne giving us a quick wave through the tinted window.

We trailed it at a casual distance, weaving through the snowy streets until the hospital loomed ahead—its sleek facade hiding all the high-tech security underneath. Slipping inside was smooth; no red flags, no stares. I made a beeline for the reception counter, clipboard in hand, and waited, heart thumping steady under the calm exterior.

Right on the dot at 10:00 a.m., my earpiece crackled. "Miss Elena?"

I glanced up to see Thorne approaching, looking every bit the harried doctor in his white coat and stethoscope—disguise fresh and flawless. "Yes, Doc?"

"Time to check on Mr. Raphael’s condition. Follow me downstairs."

"Yes, Doc," I replied, falling into step behind him. Trailing us were another nurse and a stern-faced doctor—Kairos and Magellan, their auras masked perfectly.

We took the elevator down to the secure level, the air growing cooler and heavier with every floor. When we reached Raphael’s door, Thorne flipped through his clipboard like a pro and nodded to the mercenary on guard. "10:00 a.m.—routine check-up."

"Yes, sir," the guy grunted, stepping aside without a second glance. We filed in, and the second the door clicked shut, Thorne locked it with a soft twist.

Raphael was still out, curled under the sheets, breathing even in sleep. Peaceful, for now.

Thorne leaned in close, voice a murmur. "Cameras first."

I pulled my phone quick, thumbing open the Cybersky app. A few taps, and the feed looped—security cams blind for the next ten minutes. "Done."

"Good," Thorne said, then nodded to Kairos. "Boss, easy on the mana—don’t want the guards catching wind."

"I know," Kairos replied, his power uncoiling like a whisper. He wove it carefully, forming two lifelike puppets from the air—one a perfect double of Raphael, the other mimicking my nurse getup.

"Alright, Magellan—your turn," Thorne said, wiping his brow.

"Okay." Magellan stepped forward, hands glowing faintly as he tore open a small portal—just a shimmering rift, no bigger than a door. But the surge of magic hit hard, rippling through the room like a shockwave.

We had seconds. "W-What was that? Hello? Something wrong in there?" The mercenaries pounded on the door from outside, voices sharp.

Thorne and I moved fast—scooping Raphael into the wheelchair I’d prepped earlier, his limp form slumping against the cushions. I wheeled him straight into the portal, Thorne right behind to cover. Kairos stayed to position the puppets, buying us time.

The rift spat us out into a barren forest, miles from the city—snow-dusted pines stretching endless under a gray sky. My disguise melted away the second we cleared the threshold, leaving me in my real clothes, the chill biting through.

No time to waste. I activated Void Space with a focused breath, the world outside freezing in place.