After Noir kinda accepted her, Kaelith quickly showed she wasn't just some useless girl chasing them for help. She knew the system of the organization better than any of them.
She wasn't an experiment, just a normal human with a natural talent for machines, so honestly she was probably the most "normal" one among the four. With all the secret channels she memorized, she drew out the map of the patrol routes, even pointed out hidden tracking spots the org used. Kaelith helped Specter dig out more data about Dr. Aurel, and honestly saved the whole team from a bunch of trouble.
That noon, Noir stood in front of the digital map on the table, arms crossed. Every bit of info Kaelith gave, she checked slowly, carefully. For one rare moment, her pretty face had this… wordless kind of acknowledgement.
After confirming everything was solid, Noir finally spoke.
"You'll handle intel for now."
"But remember this, don't let me see anything shady." leans down closer to Kaelith
Her voice was flat, steady, no warmth.
Orion was the opposite. He laughed loud, slapping Kaelith's shoulder.
"Well well, finally someone I can talk to. Don't worry, if Noir gets too cold I'll help you survive this walking ice cube. Also… I'll teach you some survival tricks, huh?" pulls Kaelith aside
"Rule number one: stay safe."
"Rule two: always memorize your escape route. Got it, girl?"
Kaelith let out a small laugh. The tension on her face loosened, and the air between them eased up fast, like two long-time buddies messing around.
Specter watched from a corner. He didn't join in, but something flickered in his chest. When his eyes drifted to Noir—still wrapped in her usual cold shell, still holding everyone at a distance—he wished maybe one day she could open up even just a tiny bit. Just a little, like Kaelith was doing with Orion.
Noir felt his stare. She paused for half a second, then turned away immediately.
"Don't get distracted."
"We're not safe yet. Everyone focus. If you're done joking, come back to the map."
The room sank into the soft rustling of papers, but each of them was carrying their own piece of thought, their own unnamed feeling.
Night fell over the city like a heavy black curtain. Yellow streetlights flickered over the wet pavement like dying torches in a deep tunnel.
Noir pulled her coat up tighter and walked beside Kaelith. They decided to scout outside, and Noir also wanted to see what Kaelith could actually do.
Their footsteps were soft in the narrow alley. Not fast, not slow. At every corner, Noir let Kaelith lead, her blue eyes quietly reading every tiny movement the girl made.
Kaelith pointed toward an old gray building with flickering lights slipping through cracks in the door, with a few guards wandering nearby.
"That's one of the signal stations. If we break it, they'll go blind for a while in this area. Their supply routes and frequencies will vanish on their map too, it'll mess up their shipments."
Noir stared for a long time. She didn't say anything.
But inside, suspicion didn't fade. Kaelith knew way too much… Noir kept feeling like this girl had been inside their ranks before, or even trained.
Meanwhile, back at their hideout, Specter and Orion were digging through piles of files and devices. Specter worked carefully, piecing info together like a puzzle about the org's underground operations. Orion worked while mumbling.
"GODD, this stack is enough to write a whole damn novel. If we survive, I'm printing it and calling it 'The Day Noir Made Me Her Assistant'. Aghhh."
Specter chuckled a little without stopping his hands.
"It's an honor."
He knew Orion joked like that to hide his stress.
Outside, Noir and Kaelith got closer to the station. The sound of an engine somewhere far echoed through the air, making it feel tight like stretched wire. Noir tightened her grip on the hidden dagger under her sleeve.
Kaelith turned to her, smiling.
"Don't worry. I've been here before, I remember the way. We won't get caught."
Noir stared into her eyes, searching for any shake, any lie. But she only saw determination mixed with a quiet fear.
They moved. Noir distracted a few guards to pull them away from the tower, while Kaelith waited for an opening to slip inside.
Kaelith's small size helped her blend into dark corners, but she had to be super focused—one mistake would blow everything. She tried sneaking into the control room, but there were too many guards, pushing her into a bad spot. She quickly signaled Noir for help.
After luring the other agents far enough, Noir vanished from their sight, sprinting across rooftops like a shadow back to Kaelith. The moment she got the signal from the girl, she leapt onto the tower and slipped inside, taking out the guards without making a sound.
Once done, she told Kaelith to enter the control room.
Kaelith opened the door and stepped in. The room was dark, guards knocked out in a corner. Noir stood calmly with her arms crossed, making Kaelith jump a little before she got herself together. She didn't know that all the assassins had been killed ruthlessly.
The signal lights blinked one last time and then died. The whole area fell into pitch black, only the sound of wind sliding through cracks left.
Kaelith pulled her hand from the trashed circuit board, eyes glowing with excitement and nerves. She breathed hard.
"Finished… they're blind for a bit now."
Noir stood behind her, those blue eyes watching every movement. Finally, she spoke cold but clear.
"Good. You did better than I expected."
Kaelith pressed her lips together, like Noir's rare approval gave her a push of strength. But Noir didn't look away.
"You can't fight. But you know everything about patrols and signal stations… why?"
Kaelith looked up, not avoiding anything.
"Because I worked in their tech-support unit. I know their system really well. But don't worry, I'm not some assassin experiment of theirs."
Noir stayed quiet. She felt the emotions hit her honest, no lies. But her doubt didn't vanish. It only softened, like a fire covered under ash.
"Alright. At this rate, you can stay for now."
Her blue eyes flashed, finishing the meaning for her.
Kaelith had a little nervous, she gripping her hands to hide the tremble.
They slipped away into the night, their shadows melting together.
An hour later, the agents finally realized the station was destroyed, but it was too late, no trace left.
Back at the house, Specter and Orion were still buried in files. Orion looked up first, whistling.
"Ohh, the ladies are back. Thought you two ditched me and Specter for convenience."
Specter ignored him, looking at Noir with relief and concern. Noir didn't answer, just walked to the table and scanned the notes.
"For now, stop searching for Dr. Aurel. Other things will come first."
They all nodded lightly.
The station was down. Their hideout was safer.
But inside Noir, one question kept echoing.
Kealith..really just a victim…?
Or another piece the universe tossed into her path for a reason?