Vile Exile

Chapter Nine

Authors PoV

Sage jumped up repetitively, his hair covering his eyes as he does so, Hugo, Amanda, Balthazar and Levi stood by the door of the training facility in the frontlines campus, Hugo, Balthazar and Amanda watched closely whilst Levi glanced out of the corner of his eyes as discreetly as possible.

As he stopped jumping, his T-shirt crumpled up on the floor beside his feet, He stood perfectly still, his breathing calm and collected despite the tension in his posture, it shocked the four contracted killers when violent bright blue flames basically explode off of him "Training alone? That isn't like you, Sagio!" Governor Justin cheers happily as he enters the  room in the other entrance, his usual smart attire replaced with tight training clothing "Sagio?" Balthazar whispers to the others who shrug in response, their jaws basically hitting the ground when Justin high fives the swordsman "I wanted to get some more hours in and I don't want to trouble the squad." Sage replies as he stretches Justin laughs and shakes his head "Lets train! I haven't been able to get a good look at how you fight like Natalia and Dior have. I'm a bit envious I must say" He chuckles before pulling his shirt off "fine by me" Sage smirks.

The air stood perfectly still whilst the killers watched with eager interest in how this is going to pan out. Justin has his hands raised whilst Sage stood with his hands left dangling beside him, it was almost like a flash of lightning struck the room when the two clashed, Sage's forearm hitting Justin's shoulder, a violent shockwave echoed through the room leaving the squad staring in disbelief "Not too shabby. But fight me for real. Show me those famed blue flames I've heard so much about..." Justin smirks, the famed flames beginning to ripple off of Sage's body left the Governor marvelling "And you - Show me that trick up that sleeve of yours." Sage replies earning a laugh as Justin raises his hands in defence, they glaze over with ice within a few seconds "Fire and ice..." Hugo breaths "You should know Just... Fire always beats ice." Sage smirks, a scoff from the Ice wielder echoing through the room "come at me, Brother." Justin replies.

Hugo quickly began to realise just how personal this fight was and forced the Killers out of the building and back towards the house. As they walked down the pathway back towards the accommodation campus, Amanda lets out an irritated groan of frustration as she clamps her hands on her face and leans back "It was just starting to get good!" She shouts, a few passing soldiers and civilians looking over in shock or interest "who knew Sage and the Governors were so tight..." Hugo responds as he scratches the stubble coating his jaw in thought "Are you blind." Levi says finally, after not a single word from him the entire day, His first sentence so harsh "Excuse me?" Hugo asks as he turns to face the marksman Who's now stood perfectly still "All of the Governors in this branch are obsessed with Sage, and so they should be. He's one in a million. You have seen how often Natalia is around the accommodation since Sage began living and working with us - and she almost never came around before." Levi explains, his arms folded over his chest as he leans to the side.

Before Hugo could response to Levi's explanation, their attention was attracted by the topics of their conversation as Sage and Justin limped towards them all, burns, bruises and a few left-over icicles remained on them both "You look like your having a pretty deep conversation." Justin says as he leans against Sage, Balthazar shaking his head he points to them both "Never mind that, do you both need to go to the hospital?" He asks, the two laughing in response as they both stretch "Are you kidding? That was the best training session of my life" Sage responds, the group of killers staring at them both with deadpan expressions.

A loud scream of pain echoed through the hallways of the house, scaring the three killers slightly. Sage sat in the kitchen on one of the kitchen chairs whilst Levi stood behind him treating the wounds the swordsman gained from sparring with Justin earlier, it was a silent and tense aura except from the inevitable screaming erupting from Sage's lungs, eventually the screams of pain died down after Levi finished treating them and the two were left in silence. As Sage stood and walked towards the fridge he refused to look at the marksman who is currently sat at the table "Thanks for treating my wounds." Sage murmurs, Levi nodding in reply "Do you want anything to eat?" Levi nodding again, still remaining silent.

The two sat in complete silence, eating the rice and Chicken Sage had quickly cooked up despite the time, it was unusual, usually the swordsman wouldn't be able to stop talking but at this point in time he sat there, munching on his rice and chicken, reading over a mission briefing Hugo got the squad for tomorrow. It was Levi who finally broke the silence which shocked Sage an incredible amount "Am I right to assume your sparring with Justin again tomorrow?" Levi asks, a feeling of regret rushing through his body immediately after when Sage closes his eyes and drops his fork "So are we just not going to discuss it." Sage replies, swerving Levi's question without thinking twice about it "I don't know what your talking about.." Levi murmurs, his hand covering his mouth as he scans over the briefing "Don't act dumb. Why were you thinking about me? Do you hate me?" Sage asks, it was subconscious that the swordsman asked if he hated him, he couldn't bring himself to ask if Levi liked him, the marksman could be straight for all Sage knew "What?! No? No I don't hate you, why the.." Levi freaked immediately making the opposing option seem very obvious "I Just was observing your physical skills... it was nothing." Hearing those words hit Sage harder than hearing that the marksman actually hated Sage, he was desperately hoping that Levi indeed liked him  and was thinking of him in a love sort of way.

Sage stood after around a minute of silence passed, placing the bowls next to the sink as he turns and walks towards the exit of the kitchen "Don't stay up too late. We have a mission tomorrow" he says gently, a hint of sadness drowning in his voice as he makes his way towards the stairs. It confused Levi, He said he didn't hate Sage, so why was he so sad? Human emotions.. well- he's not really a human but... sage's emotions confused Levi, he didn't like it.

The morning after still remained tense. Sage was silent the whole way to the location of the mission as he sat in the corner of the train, his ankle rested on his kneecap whilst his jaw rested on his right hands knuckles, his eyes closed, maintaining a calm aura despite the anger and depression mixing up inside of him. Levi on the other hand sat with the other killers who were discussing the mission, moving their attention to Sage, Hugo leans forward "He looks sad." He says, the other two killers nodding in response "He's hard to read usually but he does." Balthazar whispers.

Sage's PoV

Tapping my fingertips against the armrest of the train seat impatiently, I feel the vehicle come to a halt as people begin moving to collect their belongings and exit the train, I open my eyes within less then a second before standing. Turning to grab my rucksack I walk towards the exit of the carriage, passing the squad who stare at me despite the deadpan expression I'm currently showing off in contrast to my usually chilled one "Get a move on. We have a mission to do." I grumble as I exit.

Wrapping my hand around the handle of Mekhai, the small poison drenched dagger nestling in the palm of my hand "Take this easy Sage. We have no rush." Hearing Hugo mumble into my ear from the coms I nod "I am. Stop reminding me." I reply, my brows furrowed and my jaw clenched as I approach the target, moving my hand to Lucinda after realising how tall the target actually is. Blue flames begin to ripple off of me and my eyes widen slightly as he turns and stares at me "Dammit... he's made me." I grumble, sprinting towards him I raise my sword "Levi!" Hugo shouts, disrupting my concentration, my grip loosens on Lucinda and a sharp pain radiates through my body, my eyes widening and pupils dilating, looking down at my arm which is almost ripped off of my right shoulder I pale as I fall to the ground along with the target who's just been shot by Levi.