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Chapter 99: A Home Fit for an Assassin
Chapter 99: A Home Fit for an Assassin
The sparring match had left the twins buzzing with excitement. They had fought against Theia—the legendary assassin of the Guild—and while they had lost, they had pushed her further than most.
Still, the conversation had taken a different turn.
“How big is your house?” Sylvaine asked suddenly, stretching her arms behind her head.
Theia, who had been wiping down her blade with a cloth, paused. “That’s kind of personal,” she mused. “But I suppose it’s a decent size. Why?”
Elowen smirked. “Oh, nothing,” she said, glancing at her sister. “It’s just that—”
Sylvaine grinned mischievously. “Our mother’s house is bigger.”
Theia raised a brow. “Really now?” she said, clearly amused. “And how big is that?”
“Bigger than yours.”
Theia chuckled, shaking her head. “Alright, alright,” she said, standing up. “Now I have to see it. Your mother isn’t exactly rolling in gold, so I doubt it’s that impressive.”
Elowen and Sylvaine exchanged a glance.
Seraphis, who had been watching this exchange quietly, sighed. “Fine,” she said, standing up as well. “Let’s go.”
The twins cheered, and with that, they left the Guild behind, heading toward the dense forests beyond the city.
Through the Forest – A Hidden Path
They traveled deep into the woods, the path becoming more rugged and uneven the further they went. The Guild Hall, and even the outer villages, were long behind them.
Theia had been expecting some kind of quaint cottage or maybe a fortified cabin. But as they approached a mountainous cliffside, she saw nothing resembling a home.
She narrowed her eyes. “Where is it?”
Seraphis stopped, placing a hand on what appeared to be an ordinary rock wall. The twins smirked at each other before turning back to Theia.
“You didn’t bring me out here to rob me, did you?” Theia joked.
Elowen and Sylvaine burst into laughter.
Then—the mountain rumbled.
Theia’s eyes widened as the rock face began to shift, stone grinding against stone. A hidden entrance slowly revealed itself, a massive gate carved into the mountainside.
Seraphis stepped forward.
“Come on, you three.”
She walked inside.
Inside the Hidden Stronghold
As Theia entered, she stopped dead in her tracks.
This wasn’t a house.
This was a damn castle.
The entrance led into a vast underground hallway, its walls lined with intricate carvings and runes. A set of massive iron doors stood at the far end, leading deeper into what seemed to be a fortress built within the mountain itself.
Torches flickered along the walls, illuminating a space far larger than Theia had expected.
“You live here?” Theia asked, staring at Seraphis.
Seraphis merely shrugged. “It’s home.”
The twins, meanwhile, were grinning ear to ear.
The Grand Hall
They led Theia through the iron doors and into the main hall.
It was an enormous chamber, its ceilings impossibly high, lined with hanging banners and rows of weapons on display.
A fireplace the size of a small house burned at the far end, casting a warm glow across the dark stone walls. A massive wooden dining table sat in the center, surrounded by finely crafted chairs.
Theia whistled. “You call this a house?” she said, stepping forward. “I’ve seen noble estates smaller than this.”
Sylvaine laughed. “Told you it was bigger than yours.”
Weapon Displays & Training Grounds
Theia was led deeper inside, where they entered what could only be described as a personal armory.
Rows upon rows of swords, daggers, spears, and throwing weapons lined the walls, each meticulously maintained. Some of the weapons glowed faintly, evidence of enchantments far beyond common craftsmanship.
Theia raised a brow, recognizing the deadly precision in their design.
“You could arm an entire army with these,” she muttered.
“We don’t need an army,” Elowen said with a grin. “We have Mother.”
Theia shook her head, but she couldn’t deny that she was impressed.
Beyond the armory was a vast open space, a training ground carved directly into the mountain. Wooden dummies lined the area, along with sparring circles and even a section for target practice.
“You trained the twins here?” Theia asked.
Seraphis nodded. “Every day.”
That explained their skill.
The Living Quarters
The tour continued through several hallways, revealing well-furnished living quarters.
Seraphis’s room was minimalist, featuring only a large bed, a desk, and a rack of weapons. But the twins' rooms were decorated with personality—Elowen’s filled with books and fine daggers, while Sylvaine’s had an array of trinkets and throwing knives on display.
Theia glanced at Seraphis. “You’ve built all of this… just for yourself and the twins?”
Seraphis nodded.
“It’s safe. Hidden. And it gives us everything we need.”
Theia couldn’t argue with that.
The Hot Springs & Secret Escape Route
The next stop was perhaps the most shocking.
A tunnel led them deeper underground, opening into a natural hot spring inside the mountain. Steam rose from the clear waters, giving the cavern an ethereal glow.
Theia stared. “You have a damn hot spring?”
Seraphis tilted her head. “Would you prefer cold baths?”
Elowen and Sylvaine laughed as Theia groaned. “I live in a decent house, but now my place feels like a shack compared to this.”
They continued the tour, passing through a hidden escape tunnel leading to an exit on the other side of the mountain—a precaution against enemies.
Theia had to admit—this was beyond impressive.
Final Thoughts – A Newfound Respect
By the time they reached the main hall again, Theia let out a breath, shaking her head.
“Alright, I take it back,” she admitted. “You’re definitely getting paid more than I thought.”
Seraphis smirked. “I never said I wasn’t.”
Elowen grinned. “So, do you like our house?”
Theia glanced around one last time.
“…It’s a fortress. But yeah.” She cracked a grin. “It’s damn impressive.”
The twins cheered, clearly pleased with themselves.
Seraphis, meanwhile, just watched.
This was home.
And it was the safest place in the world for her and her daughters.