Black Emerald (on hold)

Chapter Three, Part Two: Ayla

Ayla surveyed the scene in front of her, going over her mental checklist. Neatly folded clothes and gear covered the floor around her. After a quick session in the training room, Ayla was feeling better about the mission. So she had a partner, that was fine. Just because she had one didn't mean she had to work with them. She grabbed the assignment folder from her desk and looked at the information about the other agent again.

Kaia Solomin

Age 18

Team 264

That was the extent of the information Ayla had been given on her partner. Ayla rolled her eyes and returned the folder to her desk. Staring at it wasn't going to change anything. She needed to do something. She returned her attention to the piles on her floor. Not knowing how long she would be gone for, Ayla had packed enough clothes for a week, assuming she would be able to wash them if necessary. Most of the clothes were black, good for stealth, and tight for ease of motion. She was also packing two pairs of shoes, a pair of heavier boots, and a thin pair that was gripped for scaling walls. According to the file, Maderna was cold this time of year, so she packed warm, light layers. Satisfied with her selections, she made her way to the closet to fish out her pack. It was going to be a tight fit, since operatives were only allowed one small bag for missions, but Ayla was determined to make it work.

Half an hour later, with some difficulty, she was able to fasten the bag closed. It was packed tight, but it all fit. Ayla flopped down on her bed, meaning to rest. A few minutes later it became apparent that her rushing mind would not allow any semblance of rest. She sat up. This was her first real mission, and she would do it right.

The library.

What she needed was research, information. She left her room, walking with confident strides. While she was packing, she had decided that she would treat her partner more like a student. That was most likely what the Commander had meant to happen, for Ayla to act as an example, a mentor. This was Ayla's mission, and there was no way she was going to let some triple digit agent jeopardize her chance to prove her worth.

Since she was young, Ayla had her heart set on being a Chief Executive, one of the operatives who worked directly with the Commander. They were the best of the best, and almost every one of them had been a member of Team Zero. Which is not to say every member of Team Zero became a Chief Executive, not even close. There were only 5 Chief Executives, and it was a position held for life. There was no option to retire, once you were that close to the Commander you knew too much. So you were a Chief Executive until death. Most operatives, or at least the best ones, preferred to work until they physically couldn't. Retired operatives tended to live lonely lives, after being raised from the age of seven to be efficient killers. But Ayla would never have to worry about that. She would be a Chief Executive, because she wanted to. And Ayla Winters always got what she wanted.

Entering the library, Ayla made her way directly to the section that would hold the records on citizens of Maderna. Being a newly acquired territory, there was not much on the shelves yet. Ayla scanned the folders, looking for the names she had memorized from the assignment sheet. She reached for a folder, using her magic to nudge it out from behind so it fell into her hand as she scanned the shelves to her right. Turning to her left, she gazed coldly at the wide eyed academy trainees studying there. She walked past them on her way to an empty table.

She sat and spread the folder out in front of her. Josalinn Lynald, age 19, a Summoner.

A Summoner?

Why would she be connected to rebels if she was a Summoner? Rebels were usually without magic, people who were angry at Summoners for ruling over them, people who wanted to restore the old ways. Ayla had learned about that in the academy. Most children were not taught of the old ways, but operatives were. Before the Sovereign had come to power in Kellarus, it had been a dark time for Summoners. They had not only been suppressed, but near the end, any known Summoner was executed, usually in horrible ways. Drowned or burned, people had taken enjoyment in murdering Summoners. When the Sovereign rose in Kellarus, he restored order, putting the Summoners in places of power where they belonged. Ayla knew non Summoners sometimes had hard lives, but it was nothing like it used to be for Summoners, oppressed and murdered.

Ayla bent closer to pages, intrigued by this girl. Of course, the record did not say anything about her connection to the rebels. It was only suspicion after all, strong suspicion, but only facts were recorded for the library. It said nothing about the power of her magic, but the color of it was recorded as blue, one of the more common colors for magic. Ayla suspected she had about average power, not even close to Ayla's, but enough that she would have been a possibility for the academy, had she been young enough when Kellarus took over Maderna. It was strange that she had magic and was connected to the rebels, but it was certainly possible. Sympathizers were not unheard of, Summoners who thought all people, magic or not, should be equal.

Ayla poured over the pages, a plan forming in her mind. The girl was around her age, which turned out in Ayla's favor. Ayla wasn't the best at making friends, but that was only when she was being herself. She could befriend this girl. For this mission, she could do it.

What about Agent Solomin?

Ayla almost laughed. Agent Solomin had no place in this plan. No place in a successful mission. This mission was Ayla's and she would make sure it would be a success.

Once she befriended Josalinn Lynald, she would have to convince the other girl that she was a sympathizer as well. Her black magic would be off putting, but there was no way she could go without it.

Ayla sighed. She reminded herself of her goal. She could go without using magic for a few days. After all, it would only be when she was around Josalinn. Plenty of people went without magic every day. If they could do it, Ayla Winters could too. Ayla spent the next few hours researching everything about Josalinn and forming a more detailed plan. Her ultimate target was the leader of the rebel group in Maderna. The assignment didn't record the leader's name, which meant it was unknown. If even the Commander could not find their name, that was impressive on the leader's part.

The assignment contained a bit more information necessary. Ayla had not brought it to the library, but she had memorized its contents completely as soon as she had read it through the first time. It estimated that the Maderna group had about 100 rebels, which was small for such a big country, but somewhat impressive considering the country had not been part of Kellarus for very long. The assignment also listed some other people suspected to be connected to the rebels, but Ayla had not been able to find information on them in the library. Besides, Josalinn provided the perfect target. And yes, Ayla would have liked a second option, but she was confident she would not need one.

The final information in the assignment folder had been about the transportation and accommodations for the mission. Recalling the address of the apartment she would be staying in, she looked again at Josalinn's file. She pulled out the map of Maderna's capital that she had received in the mission file. She scanned the city for the two addresses. The buildings were located a few streets apart. Perfect. Far enough away that she would not have to be looking over her shoulder all the time, but close enough to be able to move between the places quickly.

Content with her plan, Ayla organized Josalinn's file and returned it to the shelf. On her way out of the library, she tossed the map of the capital into the fire, which was lit for once. 

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And that ends Chapter Three! In the next part, Ayla and Kaia will meet! Are you excited? What did you think of chapter three? Who's your favorite so far, Ayla or Kaia? If you have made it this far thank you so so much for taking this journey with me. I am so grateful!