Vile Exile

Chapter Eighteen

Authors PoV

With the squad back on track and returning back to normality, missions were becoming more frequent and Sage's bloodlust was being held under because of that. Sure a lot of secrets have came to surface through these last few weeks, the squad haven't even known Sage for very long yet they feel like they know too much about his personal life.

Levi and Sage haven't really spoken about their relationship since everything happened. In fact they haven't spoken to each other properly in a while, things felt tense between them both. Whilst Levi lays atop a building, Meliora presses into his shoulder, looking down the scope at the targets who are gathered around talking amongst each other. Sage was stood on top of the building opposite Levi, the sole of his foot rested on the tip of the chimney, his swords held in both hands, Lucinda in his right hand and Divya in his left "Steady now." Hugo whispers, the handler stood amongst a crowd pretending to read through a newspaper "Is everyone in position?" Amanda asks as she sits behind a wall eating a sandwich, Balthazar walking towards the group calmly, pretending to be an innocent bystander "yep." Sage responds as Levi hums, Balthazar nods "Perfectly In position" She chirps.

Sage's PoV

Crouching on top of the roof I keep my eyes glued to the targets, nothing able to distract me, not even my sharp-sighted boyfriend opposite me "Targets are on the move." Hugo murmurs into the coms, scowling I stand now, sheathing the swords in the holster wrapped around my chest "Seven targets. Split them up Balthazar." I hum, stealthily moving across the roofs I look down at the hidden blades wrapped around my wrists, Norah and Ketki "on it." Balthazar responds, watching as the bulky swordsman pushed through them I drop down off of the roof, impaling the hidden blades into two of the targets necks they fall to the ground whilst Balthazar draws his sword and cuts through two of the targets chests, Levi snipes one from where he's positioned leaving only two left, As Hugo jumps out of the crowd he slits one of their throats and Amanda shoots one with a handgun directly between their eyes.

Sitting on the travel ship as we make our way back to Jistilen, my hands rested in my lap, my ankles crossed over one another, I close my eyes, leaning back into the seat calmly despite my hatred for travelling "Balthazar it's your turn to clean the house." Hugo says sternly, the tall built swordsman groaning loudly. Ah yes, the chore-wheel - every week we have to clean the house so Hugo put our names in a week Rota. Since it's Monday, It's Balthazar's turn to clean the house. I'm after Amanda, who's next week, so I'm not bothered.

Feeling the ship come to a halt I stand, grabbing my equipment I stretch "home,
Finally" Amanda smirks, following the gang out of the ship, looking around the busy ship-station "It's the assault squad..." someone whispers, obviously after noticing the symbol imprinted on my jacket and the others clothing "Who's that though..?" Someone asks as they point to me, scowling I follow the squad, not wanting to intervene "That's the Azure Swordsman. You wouldn't want to get him angry, I heard he demolished a world once." Coming to a halt at those words, I glare at the ground, the squad turning to face me after realising I've stopped. Looking over my shoulder at the man that just said those words I stare at him, turning I walk towards him, my posture calm despite the rage in my eyes "Who told you that." I say rather than ask, my voice low and deep "I heard it from my friends..." he responds as he raises his hands "don't go around spreading rumours, I never demolished a world." I grumble as I turn, clenching my fists, The clanking of my right arm echoing through my ears.

Authors PoV

Despite the squad being back to normal routine, doing missions everyday, killing bad guys, something was bothering Sage. It's no secret, the squad knew something was wrong with him, especially since everyday since Bonita and Karma has left, all he's done is train outside in the backyard, and if he wasn't doing that he was in his room. He was obviously hiding all of those secrets for a reason and it seems it doesn't matter if the squad don't care about them, he still won't accept it. This was obvious since Sage hasn't spoke a single word to any of them except from when they were on missions.

As Levi, Amanda and Hugo sat on the countertops in the kitchen, Balthazar sweeping the floor lazily, Hugo turns to look out the kitchen window at Sage who's using his poisonous knife to train today "He hasn't spoken to anyone ever since Bon and Karma left. Not even you Levi." Hugo states as he turns to face the Marksman who's watching the topic of conversation out the corner of his eyes "not a single word." Levi mumbles, the squad sighing and looking down, even Balthazar who's leaning on the sweeping brush "too much of him came out in this past month. I'm not surprised." Amanda says finally, attracting the squads attention "He was obviously hiding it all for a reason and now it's out and he can't do anything but the job he was made to do." She continues, everyone staring at her, they all look out the window at the dragon that's sweating a mixture of naphthenic and palmitic acids.

Sage's PoV

Standing there in the back yard, panting heavily, my chest rising and falling whilst my hands are held out in front of me, My right hand holding the handle of Mekhai, going to swing my right arm in a motion of slashing someone's chest I come to a halt as Natalia approaches me holding a lit lighter, standing upright she smiles and places the flame on my body causing the naphthenic and palmitic acids to go up in flames "That could've been very dangerous." I say sternly, a laugh escaping her lips as she leans back before stepping fully back due to the rippling of my green flames "Still don't have control of that power of yours I see." She chuckles after calming down, I put the flames out on my body using the traditional patting technique "Twenty percent is all I've seen. I want to get higher." I respond as I place Mekhai on the glass table she scowls "Greedy demon." She hums, looking down I tap my fingertips on the table "Don't compare me to those seven things I know your thinking of." I grumble, a smug smirk spreading across her face "Can you read thoughts now as well?" She teases, growling I stretch "If your keeping me here just to learn of my abilities, I resign. I will not be used as someone's guinea pig." I growl the last part as I stand completely still, she stares me dead in the eyes and her smile fades "No. you know why I have you here. I know for a fact you know." She says seriously, staring at her through half-lidded eyes I rest my head on the backs of my wrists after stretching "She won't be showing herself for a long while. You can stop your worrying." I grumble as I turn she tilts her head to the side "Worrying? About the famed criminal leader, Juanita Roller. Don't you think I'm always worrying about her." She hums in response "She won't be showing herself." I repeat, my jaw clenching tightly "You know this for sure?" She asks, nodding I walk away casually "Course I do." I hum.