SLAYING IN SILENCE

PROLOGUE

The first rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains.

Vance Sterling slowly opened his eyes.

For a few seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling.

Then he remembered.

Today was the day.

He sat up in bed.

His childhood room was exactly as he had left it the night before.

The old posters on the walls. The shelf filled with things he'd collected over the years. A few training items tucked into the corner. Memories everywhere.

Except for one thing.

His bags were packed.

Everything he needed for The Sentinel Academy was already sitting beside the door.

Vance looked at them for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Today's the day."

He got out of bed and stretched.

After years of talking about becoming a Defender, years of training, years of collecting Stars wherever he could, years of hearing that it was too difficult—

he was finally going.

He opened his closet and pulled out his clothes.

After getting dressed, he stood in front of the mirror and fixed his hair.

He stared at himself for a few seconds.

Twenty-two years old.

Level 2.

One hundred and three Stars.

Almost Level 3.

He took a deep breath.

"Okay, Vance."

He grabbed his bag.

"Let's do this."

He opened the door.

The smell of breakfast immediately reached him.

As he walked downstairs, he heard his family's voices coming from the kitchen.

"He's finally awake."

Vance entered the dining room.

His mother immediately looked at him.

Her eyes were already red.

Vance stopped.

"...Mom?"

His mother tried to smile.

It lasted about two seconds.

Then she started crying again.

"Oh, honey..."

Vance blinked.

"Mom, I'm not dying."

"I know!"

She wiped her eyes.

"I'm just—"

She sniffled.

"You're leaving."

His father sat at the table, watching the scene with a proud smile.

He stood and walked over to Vance.

He placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"I'm proud of you."

Vance smiled.