Anazitis and Eternal happiness

The towering gates of the Coliseum loomed behind Anazitis and Lion as they stepped into the cool evening air. The crowd's deafening roar poured out after them, a chaotic blend of cheers and jeers that echoed across the bustling city streets. Neither turned back. The match was over, but their minds were already on the mission ahead.

The streets outside were alive with activity. Merchants called out to passersby, hawking everything from glimmering trinkets to weapons that looked suspiciously well-worn. The mingling scents of roasted meat, fresh bread, and unwashed bodies created an overwhelming assault on the senses. Children darted through the crowds, their laughter rising above the din, while the occasional drunken brawl spilled out from a nearby tavern.

Anazitis moved swiftly, his black cloak rippling behind him like a shadow. His sharp eyes scanned the faces in the crowd, ever watchful for signs of pursuit. Behind him, Lion's imposing frame parted the throng with ease. His cold, unreadable expression and sheer size ensured no one dared stand in his way.

"They're so quick to cheer blood," Lion muttered as they passed a group of revelers reenacting the Coliseum's latest fight. "Then they go home and act like they're better than us."

Anazitis gave no reply. He didn't care about the crowd's hypocrisy-they were irrelevant. His focus was on the plan, every detail carefully calculated, every variable accounted for. But no plan was ever perfect, and the stakes this time were too high to leave anything to chance.

As they moved further from the Coliseum, the noise of the marketplace began to fade, replaced by the quieter hum of life in the city's outskirts. Their destination came into view: a modest hotel with a wooden façade, its sign bearing the carved symbol of a crescent moon cradling a lantern.

---

A Night of Rest

Inside, the hotel was a world apart from the chaos outside. Warmth radiated from a crackling hearth, and the faint scent of lavender filled the air. The polished wooden floors creaked softly underfoot, and a handful of patrons sat nursing drinks at tables scattered throughout the lobby.

The silver-haired receptionist greeted them with a polite nod. "Second floor, last room on the left," she said, handing over a key.

The room was small but serviceable. Two sturdy beds with quilted blankets stood against opposite walls. A round table occupied the center of the room, accompanied by two worn chairs. A small, unlit hearth sat in one corner, and a faded painting of a forest hung above it.

Lion dropped onto the bed nearest the window with a sigh, kicking off his boots and stretching out. "Finally," he muttered, staring at the ceiling.

Anazitis ignored him, pulling a rolled-up map from beneath his cloak. He spread it across the table, leaning over to trace the faded ink lines with his fingers. His sharp eyes narrowed as he studied the path to the forest northeast of the city-a critical element of the plan.

"You're not going to rest?" Lion asked, cracking an eye open.

"Not yet," Anazitis replied without looking up. His focus was unwavering, his mind already turning over the possibilities.

Minutes passed in silence, broken only by the occasional creak of the bed as Lion shifted. Then the door creaked open, and Halfy sauntered in with his usual exaggerated flair.

"Hello, not-so-famous people," Halfy announced, his grin firmly in place.

Lion chuckled, but Anazitis didn't look up. "And here's our champion," he said dryly.

Halfy's ears turned red, but his grin didn't waver. He flopped into one of the chairs by the table, propping his boots on its edge. "So, what's the plan?"

---

The Plan

Anazitis gestured at the map. "Here's how it works. Halfy, you'll be the distraction. Tomorrow, your job is to draw as much attention as possible-especially from the knights."

Halfy leaned back, folding his arms. "Easy. All I have to do is show my face, and the whole city stares."

Lion snorted, muttering under his breath, "Delusional."

Anazitis continued. "Lion, you'll head to the tavern near the knights' barracks. Start a fight-not too serious. If more than three knights show up, retreat immediately."

Lion frowned. "And if no knights show up?"

"They will," Anazitis said confidently. "They're predictable. They finish their patrols near the tavern and always some of them end up there."

Lion nodded reluctantly.

"And me," Anazitis said, his tone dropping to a steely calm. "I'll set the forest ablaze-with a fake black fire."

The room fell silent.

"Black fire?" Halfy repeated, his grin faltering. "Are you insane? You know what that symbolizes."

Anazitis nodded. "Exactly. It's the symbol of chaos seekers. The knights will rush to the forest, leaving the city vulnerable. While they're distracted, I'll infiltrate the Sages' meeting."

Lion sat up straight. "And what's your endgame? What are you hoping to find?"

Anazitis leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "Fysi."

---

The Truth About Fysi

At the mention of Fysi, both Halfy and Lion stiffened.

"The power to reshape reality itself," Halfy murmured. "Every seeker dreams of it, but no one knows if it's real."

"It's real," Anazitis said firmly. "The Sages have been studying it for centuries. They believe Fysi is the key to absolute control-not just over the kingdom but over the very fabric of existence."

Lion frowned. "And you want to stop them?"

"I want to know their plans," Anazitis replied. "If Fysi falls into the wrong hands, it could destroy everything. The Sages aren't the only ones after it. Every major faction, from the Academy to the Order of the Silver Blade, is searching for it. Even chaos seekers have started whispering its name."

"And what about you?" Halfy asked, his grin replaced by a rare seriousness. "Why do you care so much?"

Anazitis' expression darkened. "Because I know what it can do. Fysi isn't just a power-it's a weapon. In the wrong hands, it could rewrite the rules of existence. No one should have that kind of power except us ."

---

The Knights' Strange Behavior

Lion stood, stretching. "Fine. Rest it is. But this won't be easy. If the knights are as good as you say-"

"They won't be easy to fool," Anazitis interrupted. "They've been acting strange lately, more alert than usual.

And more tired, dark ,worried about something and afraid of something and that's our best shot, lately they are not using their abilities If they start using their abilities, things could get messy."

Lion frowned. "Strange ?"

"Overworked, maybe that's not everything ," Anazitis said, though the explanation didn't sit right with him. A nagging thought lingered at the back of his mind, but he pushed it aside. There was no time to dwell on uncertainties.

Anazitis "The plan starts tomorrow," he said. "Tonight, we rest. We'll need every ounce of strength."

Lion raised an eyebrow. "And by 'we,' you mean just you and me. Halfy, can't sleep here? It's just two beds."

Halfy scoffed, swinging his legs off the table.

I'm going to find a proper place to rest."

Anazitis, finally looking up, locked eyes with him. "The place doesn't matter. For now, smaller is better. We don't need attention drawn here."

Halfy grinned but said nothing.

"Let's get some rest," he finished. "Tomorrow, we move. The stage is set."

A Lone Walk

Halfy left the hotel, the wooden door creaking softly as it closed behind him. The cool night air greeted him, carrying with it the muffled hum of the city settling into its quieter hours. He adjusted his coat, the faint light of the crescent moon casting long shadows as he strolled down the cobblestone street.

His grin, ever-present in the company of others, faded into a more thoughtful expression. His gaze wandered aimlessly over the darkened storefronts and flickering lanterns, but his mind was elsewhere-on Anazitis.

"That idiot," Halfy muttered under his breath, shoving his hands into his pockets. "He always wants to shoulder everything himself."

He thought back to the discussion about the knights. Anazitis had brushed off their strange behavior far too quickly. He hadn't even brought it up until the plan was laid out. Halfy knew him well enough to recognize when something was being left unsaid.

"He noticed it. He just didn't want me to investigate," Halfy said to himself. "We've been together long enough for me to know that look he gets when he's holding something back."

It wasn't the first time Anazitis had done this. He had a bad habit of thinking everything had to rest on his shoulders, that every risk was his to bear alone. Halfy kicked a loose stone across the street, watching it skitter into the darkness.

"He thinks he's protecting us by keeping quiet," Halfy murmured. "But it just makes me worry more."

He stopped in front of a shuttered bakery, leaning against the cool wooden frame and crossing his arms. The faint aroma of stale bread lingered in the air, a reminder of the simple, predictable lives most people led. Halfy envied that sometimes-living without the constant weight of danger hanging over your head.

But this was the path they had chosen, and Anazitis more than anyone seemed determined to see it through, no matter the cost.

"Damn it, Anazitis," Halfy said softly, his voice almost lost in the night. "You're so focused on the plan, on Fysi, on doing it all yourself... You don't even realize how much you make the rest of us worry."

With a sigh, he pushed off the bakery wall and resumed his walk, the sound of his boots echoing faintly against the empty street. He'd find a proper place to rest, as he'd told Lion, but he knew sleep wouldn't come easily. Not when the weight of Anazitis' burden felt like it was slowly becoming his own.

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