"This is the boy Fade of Bridle trained? Weak, if you ask me… what's with that strange hair?"

The building contained twenty-two rooms, each furnished identically: fancy beds, chairs, tables, and washrooms, though occupants were free to redecorate. Three training rooms and one simulation room (still underdeveloped) completed the facilities. Some rooms, however, remained off-limits to Halo.

He now stood before six people. One face was familiar apart from Leto's: Boss, though his real name was Isaak.

"He governs three lands, StoneHaven among them. His role isn't to act, but simply to observe events as they unfold, without interference. That is his Purpose."

This was the information Leto gave him about Isaak, Boss.

A red-haired guy with shark-like teeth stood beside Halo, dressed in a brown shirt similar to his own. Brave. He sniffed Halo and recoiled with disgust, as though smelling a rotting corpse.

"Now, now, Brave. Don't be disrespectful."

Nava spoke and gestured for Brave to take his seat. Brave obeyed immediately.

"Waited all day for him… and he still manages to disappoint. Tsk."

Nava had dark hair and wore a tight brown shirt with two short swords crossed on his back. Halo hadn't been around long, but he could already tell Nava and Brave were close. According to Leto's teasing, they might even be lovers.

White stood and approached Halo. Her long brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail. She wore a black halter-style crop top with a zipper down the middle, cutout sides, and thin straps around her waist. She seemed the friendliest of the group.

White extended her arm for a handshake.

"Ignore Brave's hatred. That's just his default setting. I still hope we can be great friends."

Halo forced a smile and placed his hand in hers.

The moment they did, Omega rose to her feet.

"Don't leave me behind."

She had short blonde hair adorned with a pink flower clip. Everything she wore was pink, the shirt with its plunging V-neckline hung loose enough to reveal everything, while her low-rise skirt exposed thin red bikini straps underneath. Her favorite color was obvious.

Omega also outstretched her hand for a handshake.

"I hope we end up being great friends too. And hey, if you want, you can crash in my room tonight."

Halo smiled awkwardly, sweat forming on his brow.

Among the girls was one who seemed interested in nothing but the book in her hand, Delilah.

She had short, messy black hair with long bangs. She seemed calm, detached, mysterious, and unreadable, but also somewhat soft.

She wore a black turtleneck layered with an outer robe. She gave off a samurai vibe, but it was obvious she wasn't one. She had yet to even look at Halo during this entire ordeal.

However, as they stood there, two people entered, and the room immediately fell silent. Delilah put her book down. White and Omega took their seats.

Halo frowned.

Two men. The first was elderly, gray-haired with a mustache, and dressed in white robes. He looked like a villain, specifically, the deceptively fragile type who's impossibly skilled with a sword and unkillable. That was his vibe.

Beside him stood a young man, perhaps a year or two older than Halo. He smiled beneath a heavy white cloth wrapped around his head as a blindfold. Black robes draped his frame, and his presence radiated grace.

But this wasn't Jihriel. It made Halo somewhat uneasy.

The blindfolded guy approached Halo.

"We are glad you made it, Halo. I am Hazard, the right-hand man of Jihriel."

He spoke gently and gestured behind him.

"This is Thor, Jihriel's advisor."

Halo swallowed in relief. He would've been devastated if this weren't the Jihriel he was looking for.

"You came a little too late to meet the whole crew. Three of them left on urgent business, so your introduction is incomplete… but that won't be a problem. You've met enough for now."

Hazard gave Halo a big grin.

"Leto already bragged about how strong you are, but the others will definitely want to test you. You'll meet Jihriel tomorrow."

Hazard and Thor began to leave.

"Don't push him too hard, alright? I'm counting on you to handle this, Leto."

"It will be an honor," Leto said with a gentle bow.

'Jeez, if Hazard is being worshipped, then what would they do before Jihriel? Sleep on the floor?'

Halo sighed.

"He's likely stronger than White. So why are we even wasting time on this?"

White turned angrily to Brave. Actually, she looked like a child having a tantrum.

"Come on, Brave. Don't be like that."

But barely a second later, Halo's instincts kicked in. He dodged just in time.

Behind him, a blade jutted from the wall.

Nava was already standing, smiling awkwardly.

"My bad… but well, you dodged it. That's good enough for me."

He approached Halo and offered a handshake.

"Welcome aboard, Halo."

Leto sneered, angered.

"You really think I'd bring someone weak here? What do you take me for?!"

Nava hardly listened.

He turned to Brave.

"Let's go find something fun to do, Brave."

Brave sprang to his feet, and they exited the room. Delilah quickly followed, still without a single glance at Halo. Isaak followed too.

But Omega approached Halo once more and whispered into his ear.

"Don't mind Leto's stupidity. He's way too arrogant. If you want, I can be your guide instead."

Leto grew even angrier.

"I can hear you, you know?"

Omega and White also left, both waving at him as they left.

Halo exhaled. He was exhausted.

The group's collective presence was overwhelming. Together, they might even match Kysa in human form. But Hazard and Thor were different. Halo sensed nothing from them. That absence told him everything.

But still, something wasn't right.

Halo turned to Leto.

"Don't any of you have Purposes to fulfill?"

Leto practiced a breathing exercise, and slowly, his smile returned.

"No. We're Assassins. Rules don't apply to us, we do whatever we want."

He began leaving the room.

"Go rest, buddy. You'll be meeting the leader tomorrow, and that could drain you even more."

As soon as he left, Kysa and Saint took form.

"Assassins aren't given the unpredictable Purposes Knights receive. Knights exist to protect, guard, and serve. An Assassin exists for one thing alone: to kill."

Saint said, lazily stretching her body.

"They assign you a number to kill and strict restrictions. My first Purpose as an Assassin was to make three thousand kills, restricted to Silent Hill. But instead of completing it, I ended up sealed."

Halo frowned.

He couldn't shake the feeling that his next Purpose would be Assassin-ranked. After all, his first Purpose had been Knight-ranked, and he'd only been an Awakened then.

"I need to rest. I can't wait to see Jihriel tomorrow."

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