The Gambler

Secret Order of Assassins

"Sir Orincha will see you now, Vice Captain." A guard says standing outside of a small room titled, 'Medic'. Hiro walks through the door to see Yumida lying in a bed, staring out the window that shows the same garden view Elara has, just a different angle of it.
"Yumida." Hiro says, walking up to the bed.
"Ah, if it isn't my attempted killer." Yumida chuckles to himself.
"I'm sorry." Hiro says, his face reveals the lies he is telling. Hiro sits down at the chair next to the bed.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Yumida asks.
"I just wanted to come and say how sorry I am. I didn't mean for such a thing to happen. It was like I wasn't even in my own body." Hiro explains. Most of it is true.
"Hiro. You're a crazy good mage. Probably the next Archmage. I just wasn't able to keep up yet. Next time though, it won't be so easy for you." Yumida smiles a big smile, and puts his clenched fist in front of Hiro. Hiro chuckles and they hit their knuckles together.
"Deal." Hiro says, standing.
"Oh, and Hiro?" Yumida says.
"Yeah?"
"Come by the Castle Tavern later tonight. I'll introduce you to everyone."
"Everyone?"
"The whole SOA. Though you won't be allowed to know their names or any personal information about them as all your business with the SOA is through me, Vice Captain." Yumida smiles. Hiro nods and walks out of the door.

"Hey, Captain." Hiro says, walking up to Captain Jefald in his office. He is filling out some paperwork at his desk.
"Hiro. We are allies and while I may be your superior, just address me by my name when we are in private. Everyone else in the Guard does. Only address me formally when the King or someone of power higher than us is in earshot." Jefald says, never looking up from his paperwork.
"Oh, okay, Jefald." Hiro sits at the chair in front of the desk.
"What can I do for you?" Jefald is still engulfed by his paperwork.
"Yumida Orincha, and the Secret Order." That catches Jefald's attention and he finally looks up from his paperwork.
"What about them?" Jefald asks, clasping his hands together and putting them on top of his desk.
"Are they trustworthy?"
"Trustworthy? They are assassin's, Hiro. Of course they aren't. They are bred to deceive." Jefald's eyes dart to the open door behind Hiro.
"Vanessa!" Jefald yells out.
"Yes sir?" A woman appears in the door.
"Please shut the door and keep all visitors out for the moment. Have some matter of the detail for the Vice Captain." Jefald smiles, his lies burn through the fake smile.
"Of course, sir." Vanessa says as she closes the door.
"Why the sudden interest in the SOA?"
"I trained with Captain Orincha."
"Yes, I know. Your brutality cost Archmage Aurelian his spot in this Kingdom."
"Which I regret, but I don't regret what I did to the Captain."
"What? They are apart of this government just as you and I, Hiro." Jefald says, standing and looking out the window. Outside of the window behind his desk is nothing but darkness. There are normally plenty of lights outside of it, but today they are all off. Subtle green lights can be seen flying all through the darkness.
"It's Glimmerwings season. So, every night we turn off the lights outside of the Castle and allow them the peace. Aren't they beautiful?" Hiro stands and walks next to Jefald. The 'Glimmerwings' are just fire flies from the looks of it.
"They are, sir." Hiro says, staring at the green lights fading in and out.
"They are protected here, as most animals are. So be careful not to walk into them. They own this forest as much as the rest of us. Punishment would be strong, should you get in their way." Jefald glances at Hiro.

"Hiro! Glad you came!" Yumida yells as he walks over to Hiro. He is covered in bandages on his arms, forehead, and some fingers. The Tavern exudes an aura of subdued mystique. Soft candlelight flickers, casting dancing shadows upon the worn wooden tables and mismatched chairs. The air is thick with whispers of secrets exchanged in hushed tones. Shady figures linger in darkened corners, their cloaks drawn tight to conceal their identities from prying eyes.
Behind the rough-hewn bar, shelves are lined with dusty bottles of elixirs and spirits, their labels faded with age. A solitary elf tends to the patrons, his keen eyes betraying a quiet watchfulness beneath his calm demeanor. The crackling fire in the hearth casts a warm glow, its flames reflecting in the eyes of those gathered around, each lost in their own thoughts and schemes.
"Glad you're up and about, Yu-" Hiro begins but is interrupted by Yumida putting a finger to his lips.
"Names aren't to be spoken about anyone in here. Be wise to remember that, Mage." Yumida says. He walks to the bar and sets taps his finger on the bar. The Elf behind the counter glances at him, then grabs a bottle that Hiro can't really place what it is. It's an old bottle of what appears to be a red liquid. He slides it to Yumida across the bar.
"Wine?" Yumida asks.
"Sure." Hiro responds, following Yumida to a table in the corner of the tavern. There are three other men already sitting. All three have cloaks on that cover their faces entirely. One is obviously a female body, sitting at the same height as Yumida. The other two are males, one much more burly and muscular than the other.
"Welcome to the table, Mage." The muscular one says. His voice booms, while also being almost that of a whisper in Hiro's ears.
"Thank you for having me." Hiro responds.
"Takes balls to injure the Captain like that." The woman says, her voice is soft and calming, yet has the sharpness of a knife at the same time. 
"It wasn't on purpose." Hiro glances at Yumida to see him just staring at Hiro. He hasn't poured any of the wine, nor done anything with it. Hiro has one hand under the table, it is holding three cards.
"Still feel tough with these three sitting here too?" Yumida asks.
"Excuse me?" Hiro is confused.
"These three have all killed mages of much greater power than yours. So I asked, do you still feel as tough as when you injured me in training?" The entire vibe of this whole Tavern has changed. The bartender is watching them, as well as the randomly strewn people around. This entire Tavern is with them.
"As I said, I never intended-" Hiro begins before he is cutoff by the muscular man standing and removing his coat. He is much bigger when standing. Approximately six foot ten or so. His muscles bulge from the tight tee shirt he is wearing. Scars cover his arms and neck, but only one is visible on his face. It runs from the top right of his forehead down to the left side of his mouth. It crosses the bridge of his nose but does not hit either eye.
"See these?" The man asks, holding up a necklace of rings that hangs around his throat.
"Yes?" Hiro responds, confused still. Hiro is keeping his composure as best he can, for he has a plan in mind as well.
"These are the rings of Archmage's from other Kingdoms that had dared oppose our Lord the King." The man smiles, a wicked smile.
"That's very nice." Hiro responds. At this point, Hiro is becoming annoyed. This is tedious. Only two of these people in this entire Tavern have magic in their aura that can contest Hiro, and one of them is Yumida. Hiro glances over at the woman sitting closest to him. He feels a very powerful aura behind him.
"Would you be so kind as to remove the spell that is being cast behind me?" Hiro asks. The woman's face reveals Hiro was correct. She is shocked and her head jolts up in response. She has beautiful green eyes.
"How did you-" She begins. At that moment a flaming wall of fire can be seen coming out of a pure white circle behind Hiro's back. As fast as it showed, it disappeared.
"This is nonsense. You brought me here just to attempt to intimidate me? I told you before, I never meant for this to happen." Hiro says, standing. The three cards he had in his hands now vanish. 
"I know you are LYING!" Yumida yells as he stands, the other two at the table stand as well.
"Give us the word, Cap." The muscular man says.
"I wasn't lying. I didn't mean for this to happen."
"Is that so?" Yumida chuckles.
"Yes. I meant for you to die that day." Hiro smiles. He glances at the area around him and sees that every single person besides the bartender are beginning to inch closer to him. 
"I believe I have had too much to drink! Terribly sorry for my impudence and lack of control over my liquor! Till next time-" Hiro takes a bow, "Yumida." At the release of the 'a' in Yumida's name, Hiro vanishes. The name, echoing through the entire Tavern.
"Did he even have anything to drink?" The muscular man asks. Everyone glances at him disapprovingly.