The heist of the century.

The Heist part 3:

We made our way through the dense crowd of nobles and merchants, the air thick with excitement and self-importance. The clinking of goblets and murmurs of conversation provided the perfect background for an evening of indulgence and ego.

“Come on, let’s find a spot,” I said to Noor and Entinos, guiding them toward a vantage point that allowed us to keep an eye on the exits and major points of interest. The middle of the room offered us a perfect view of the stage, where Vassos would soon begin his performance. Aerys and Iris gave subtle nods from their positions, confirming that they were in place.

The crowd fell into a murmur of anticipation as Vassos stepped onto the stage. He carried himself with the confidence of a man who had everything to lose but even more to gain. Applause and cheers erupted, a wave of adoration that felt as **** as it was fervent. Raising a hand, he silenced the crowd with practiced ease.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Vassos began, his voice smooth yet dripping with arrogance, “it is an honor for you to be here tonight.” The audience chuckled at his audacity. “In these turbulent times, we’ve all faced challenges… losses.” He smirked, his tone laced with mock sympathy. “Yet here we are, persevering as only we can. Now, let’s not waste time. Tonight, we celebrate our resilience… with treasures worthy of your status.”

The first item was unveiled: a vase, intricately decorated and gleaming under the torchlight. “Our first piece, a stunning creation from the master potters of Athens. A testament to their artistry and a worthy addition to any collection.”

The crowd erupted into a frenzy of bidding, their voices rising as numbers were shouted across the room.

“Gods, I think I’m going to be sick watching these snakes fight over a piece of fucking ceramic,” Noor muttered, her tone dripping with disdain. Her emerald eyes flicked over the crowd, catching the gleeful faces of nobles as they flaunted their wealth.

“You tell me,” I replied, my own voice tinged with disgust. “By the way, has anyone spotted Kleon or Ikaro?”

“Right there,” Entinos whispered, tilting his head subtly toward a guard standing near the perimeter of the room. It was Ikaro, blending seamlessly into his borrowed uniform.

I nodded. “Great. Everything is going as planned…” My words trailed off as Noor’s hand suddenly shot into the air.

“Six hundred drachmas for the vase!” Noor announced with an exaggerated grin, her voice cutting through the crowd.

“Noor, what the fuck?!” I hissed, whipping my head toward her. She giggled, thoroughly amused by her own antics.

“Relax. There’s no way we’re getting it,” she said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

“Sold to the man with the wolf mask!” Vassos declared, his voice booming.

“Well, fuck,” Noor muttered, her laughter turning sheepish as she realized the outcome of her ‘joke.’ She offered me a nonchalant shrug. “Guess you’ve got a gift for Dario now?”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose, but couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips. “This is going to be a long night.”

The auction continued, each item unveiled more extravagant than the last. Gilded weapons, rare gemstones, and even a fragment of what was claimed to be Heracles’ club passed under the hammer. The crowd’s energy surged with each bid, voices clamoring to outdo one another in their display of wealth.

As the auction progressed, I began to feel an unfamiliar pull, a growing unease that I couldn’t shake. My eyes flicked to the stage repeatedly, as if drawn by some unseen ****.

“You alright?” Noor asked, her teasing tone momentarily replaced with genuine concern.

“I… don’t know,” I admitted, my brows furrowing. Something about this place, or maybe the auction itself, was stirring something deep within me.

Aerys approached me from behind, her movements as subtle as a shadow. She leaned close, her voice barely a whisper. “I got into contact with Kleon.”
“What did he say?” I asked, my gaze remaining fixed on the stage to avoid suspicion.

“The shield is next,” she replied, her tone taut with seriousness.

“Get ready.” I gave her a slight nod, and she melted back into the crowd, resuming her position.
Vassos returned to the stage with an almost theatrical flair, raising his hands to hush the murmurs of anticipation rippling through the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for!” His voice boomed, dripping with pride.

Four royal guards, each clad in polished bronze, marched onto the stage. Between them, they carried a grand chest inlaid with gold and ebony accents. With great ceremony, they placed the chest upon a raised stone pedestal. Vassos approached it, savoring the crowd’s growing excitement. He drew back the lid, revealing the prize within.

The shield was a masterpiece, gleaming like a fragment of the moon itself. The intricate engravings shimmered under the flickering torchlight, and the celestial aura radiating from it was palpable, like an unseen **** filling the air.
The moment my eyes locked onto it, something shifted deep within me. A jolt, like the pull of a tether long forgotten, tugged at my very core. It wasn’t just a shield—it was a piece of me. My breathing slowed, my surroundings blurred, and the clamor of the crowd faded to a dull roar.

“Kayn?” Noor’s voice snapped me back. She touched my arm, her usual playful tone replaced by concern. “Are you okay?”

“That’s it,” I said, my voice low but firm. “That’s what we’re looking for. I can feel it, there’s a memory of mine in that shield.” My gaze remained locked on the artifact, my jaw tightening with resolve.

The shield was a celestial relic, its very essence whispering its origins. The silvery metal, smooth yet impossibly strong, bore markings only an Olympian could inscribe. It had to be Hephaestus’s work. The realization ignited a mix of awe and determination within me.

“The first bid for this unparalleled artifact,” Vassos began, his voice cutting through the tension, “will start at 500 drachmas.”

A man in a fox mask raised his hand confidently. “500 drachmas,” he announced, his voice carrying an air of smugness.

“600 drachmas,” I said, raising my hand. My voice was calm, but inside, my nerves were taut as a drawn bowstring. We needed to draw this out, give Kleon and the others as much time as possible.

“800 drachmas!” barked a man in a lion mask. His tone was brash, his determination evident.

Noor, never one to back down, leaned forward with a fiery glint in her eyes. “1,000 drachmas,” she said, her voice dripping with challenge.

The lion-masked man turned, his posture aggressive. “The hell did you say, you mouthy wench? 1,500 drachmas!” His words were spat out like venom, his pride clearly wounded.

“Oh, it’s on now,” Noor muttered under her breath. She leaned toward me with a grin. “Let me handle this one.”

I sighed, feeling a mix of exasperation and gratitude. She had her way of keeping the pressure bearable.

“3,000 drachmas,” I interjected, my tone slicing through the heated exchange.

The crowd fell silent. Gasps rippled through the room as all eyes turned to me. For a brief moment, I felt the weight of every gaze. Vassos’s smirk widened as he scanned the room, his calculating eyes landing on me for a beat too long.

“3,000 drachmas,” he repeated slowly, savoring the tension. “Going once… going twice…” His voice dropped, and with a venomous smile, he added, “Sold. To Kayn.”

The name struck like a thunderclap. My blood ran cold as realization dawned. Vassos knew. He had been watching, waiting for confirmation of his suspicions.

Before I could react, guards began to close in. Noor stiffened beside me, her hand moving instinctively toward her dagger. The crowd scattered in a frenzy of screams and chaos. Vassos stood firm, his smirk turning into a triumphant sneer.

The crowd scattered like leaves in a storm, the once-elegant auction descending into chaos. Vassos, however, remained singularly focused, his gaze burning with fury as he stalked toward me. His booming voice cut through the pandemonium.
“You think I wouldn’t notice?! YOU THINK I WOULDN’T SEE YOUR WHITE HAIR WALKING AROUND MY AUCTION WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD?!” His face twisted with rage, and before I could respond, his fist slammed into my jaw, sending a sharp jolt of pain through my face.
"We saw your partner earlier on the backstage, he got away before we capture him but I figured out you wouldn't be far way."

Noor’s voice rang out, raw with panic. “Don’t touch him, you bastard!” She thrashed against the guard restraining her, her usual composure completely shattered.

Vassos turned to her, his sneer curling into something darker. Without hesitation, he struck her across the face. The crack of the slap echoed through the chamber.

“Shut up, bitch,” he snarled, his tone dripping with disdain. “The adults are talking here.”

“Noor!” I shouted, struggling to get to her, but the guards held me fast. Her defiant glare never wavered, even as her cheek flushed red with the mark of his hand.

“Stop!” I barked, my voice steady despite the pain coursing through me. “Your fight is with me, not them. Let her go.”

Vassos’s eyes gleamed with sadistic delight. “Oh, you think that’s how this works? You care about them, so it’s going to be so much better when I open them up from the inside and make you watch them bleed.” His words oozed malice, each syllable a dagger aimed at my resolve.

His grin widened as he stepped closer. “Do you know what you cost me? After you and your little band of misfits humiliated me in my own house, the Archon stripped me of my rank. I became a joke, a pariah. I had to claw my way back, rebuild everything I lost in that fucking city. And every single day, I imagined how I’d make you pay for it. Slowly. Painfully. I owe you that much.”

I met his gaze, unflinching. “You’ve been carrying that grudge all this time?” I quipped, blood trickling from my lip. “I thought the real shame was walking around with that balding head and that belly.”

Vassos’s face darkened with pure hatred. His fist lashed out, this time with even more ****. I braced for the impact but couldn’t stop the blinding pain that followed. Blow after blow rained down, each one sharper than the last.

He leaned in, gripping my chin with bloodied hands. “Keep running your mouth, and your tongue will be the first thing I rip out.”

I chuckled weakly, spitting a mix of blood and defiance onto his face. “Do your worst.”

That was enough to send him over the edge. He howled in fury, throwing me to the ground. Guards joined in, their boots and fists slamming into me as Noor’s voice broke through, **** and trembling.

“STOP IT, YOU BASTARDS!” she screamed, her voice cracking. Tears glistened in her eyes as she struggled harder, her mask of confidence long since abandoned. “I WILL KILL YOU!”

Despite the agony, I refused to let go of the shield’s pull, the strange connection that tethered me to it keeping me conscious. Just as my vision began to blur, a flicker of hope emerged...a voice I knew all too well.

“Oi, Vassos!”
The chaos froze for a moment. Vassos and his guards turned toward the stage, where Ikaro stood atop the pedestal, torch in hand. Behind him lay the crumpled bodies of the royal guards who had been protecting the shield. He's body was covered in bruises and stains of blood. “Miss me?” Ikaro grinned, his tone brimming with confidence. He said as he dropped the torch on the cloth of the stage igniting it.

“Noooo!” Vassos’s enraged scream echoed through the chaos as the battle erupted. The air was thick with tension and the acrid smell of smoke from the blazing auction hall.

Aerys and Iris emerged from the fray, their weapons already drawn. Iris let loose a precise arrow, dropping one of the guards holding Entinos, while Aerys charged with her weapons raised, slamming into the other guard and knocking him flat.

“Thanks,” Entinos grunted, shaking off his bonds and grabbing the sword from one of the fallen guards.

“Get Noor!” Aerys barked, spinning to intercept another attacker.

Noor wrestled against the guard restraining her, her fury palpable. With a sharp cry, Aerys kicked into the guard’s side, sending him staggering. Noor wasted no time, pulling a concealed dagger from her boot and slitting the man’s throat in one fluid motion.

“Thanks, but I had it,” Noor quipped breathlessly, wiping the blood from her blade. Her humor faltered when her eyes fell on Kayn. He was sprawled on the ground, his body battered and bloodied, struggling to push himself up.

“No, no, no. Come on, don’t you dare die on me now,” she muttered, dropping to her knees to help him. She hooked her arms under his and hauled him upright with surprising strength.

I gritted my teeth, taking a shaky breath as Noor handed me Dawn. “Takes more than a beating to take me down,” I rasped, gripping the hilt tightly. My vision steadied as I scanned the room.

“THE FUCK DO I PAY YOU FOR? KILL THEM!” Vassos bellowed, his voice laced with desperation as he slipped toward the exit. A wave of guards surged forward at his command.

“With me! Fight as one!” I shouted, my voice cutting through the clamor. I looked to my team, their faces resolute, and gave the order. “Break!”
We split into a coordinated formation, exploiting the guards’ disorganized charge. Aerys and Ikaro moved side by side, Ikaro formed a compact shield wall. Aerys’s axe and sword worked in deadly harmony, slashing through their ranks with Spartan precision. Ikaro covered her flank, blocking incoming strikes with his shield and delivering counterblows with lethal efficiency.
Iris alternated between picking off guards with swift arrows and using her arrows as knives to fend off enemies in close combat. Her movements were graceful yet brutal, exploiting every opening with surgical precision.

Noor’s magic lit up the battlefield like a wildfire. She hurled bursts of energy that disoriented the guards, creating chaos in their ranks. When the group faltered under pressure, her spells provided timely cover, blinding attackers or knocking them back with raw ****.

Entinos was a one-man wrecking crew. His broad shoulders and raw strength allowed him to overpower any guard who dared approach. Swinging his weapon with relentless might, he broke through armor and morale alike.

I stood at the center, directing the team’s movements and cutting down anyone who slipped through. Every swing of Dawn felt like an extension of my will, but the strain on my battered body grew with each moment.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last guard fell. The room fell silent except for our labored breaths and the distant crackle of flames.
“We need to move,” I said, my voice hoarse, as I leaned on Dawn for support. My ribs burned with every word. “More are coming for sure.”

“Ikaro, grab the shield,” Iris said, casting a worried glance at me. She noticed the way I clutched my side and the sweat dripping from my brow.

Ikaro nodded, slinging the shield onto his back.
“Got it.”

“Let’s go!” Aerys called, taking point with Entinos to clear a path.

Noor looped my arm over her shoulder, practically dragging me forward. “You’re lucky I like you, white-hair,” she said, her voice trembling slightly despite the teasing edge. “Look at me, carrying your sorry ass.”

I **** a smirk through the pain. “Heh... was my turn, wasn’t it?”

We carved our way through the chaos to the rendezvous point, navigating the narrow streets and alleyways. Kleon stood waiting with horses in a shadowed alley, his face pale with shock.

“What the hell happened in there?! The whole city’s on alert!” he demanded.

“Vassos found out,” Noor answered curtly, helping me onto a horse with some effort.

“But we got the shield,” I added, grimacing as I adjusted myself in the saddle. “That’s all that matters now.”

Kleon hesitated, clearly wanting more answers, but seeing our state, he simply nodded. “Let’s go. We need to move before they lock down the city.”
With Kleon leading the way, we fled into the outskirts of Mycenae, the city’s walls fading into the distance behind us. My healing factor began to take hold, knitting my wounds together, but the pain lingered. Every movement reminded me of the cost of our victory.

Luckily for us for better or for worst we got what we came for. I guess you can call it the heist of the century.