After a night of intense thought, Malayah Smith decided to face the upcoming challenges head-on. Standing in front of a full-length mirror, she admired her reflection. Her all-black outfit was classy and chic, challenging the idea that "Men in black, women in white." The only thing that bothered her slightly was her height. At 5'2", she felt a bit smaller next to her male peers, even though it was an average height for women.
"Looking sharp, really sharp! I can’t believe I pull off this suit better than the old man does!" she said with a self-satisfied grin, turning to get a full view.
Just then, the door to her room opened a crack, and four curious eyes peered in.
"See, I told you she'd come around," a low voice whispered, the speaker's eyes positioned at the bottom of the door.
The pair of bright eyes above belonged to Malayah's mentor, Selena Stewart. She replied softly, "Aren't you worried at all, Master? You don't think she might run into trouble on her first mission?"
The old man chuckled quietly, "Don't worry. I have my reasons for sending Malayah out. I wouldn't risk anything happening to my favorite student."
As Malayah continued to admire herself in the mirror, she suddenly heard a faint rustling. She turned sharply, calling, "Who's there?!"
There was a sudden thud, and a small black-and-yellow striped kitten was tossed into the room. The kitten let out an indignant "Meow!"
"Ah, it’s just Whiskers come to see me off," Malayah's eyes brightened as she bent down to scoop up the kitten, stroking its fur as she laughed.
"Meow..." The kitten nuzzled against Malayah, seeming to share her enthusiasm despite its unceremonious entry.
Laughter filled the room as the kitten's soft whiskers tickled her face. "Haha, that tickles, Whiskers! Quit it!"
Meanwhile, outside, pressed flat against the walls, Adan Bradley and Selena Stewart heaved sighs of relief. Thankfully, Whiskers had strolled in just in time, sparing them a potentially awkward moment.
"Selena, you're getting sharper by the day. You’re the perfect candidate for my top student," Adan praised, flashing a thumbs-up.
"Who's there?!" Malayah shouted again from within the room.
Cradling Whiskers, Malayah stepped to the door and peered into the hallway. It was empty, with only a row of railings ahead.
"Strange, I thought I heard the old man," Malayah muttered, puzzled as she retreated and closed the door.
Before her call, Selena and Adan had made a hasty escape, swinging over the railing and hanging by a protruding brick on the second floor to avoid being seen.
They hung there, practically breathless, until Malayah went back inside. Relieved, they finally exhaled.
Their landing was almost silent on the carpet below. "Ouch," Adan mumbled, twisting his ankle slightly.
Selena quickly helped him to the sofa, asking, "Are you okay, Master? Should I grab some ointment?"
Adan waved her off with a laugh, "I'm not that fragile, Selena. I was once among the best bodyguards around. If anyone hears about this, they'd have a good laugh."
With respect, he turned to Selena, "Selena, you've truly become exceptional—your reflexes, your skills rival my peak days. You are indeed a natural; I wasn't wrong about you."
Selena massaged his shoulders, her features warm with affection. "Master, please don’t say that. You raised both Malayah and me. No matter what, we look up to you as the legendary Adan Bradley from back in the day."
He chuckled heartily, "I know you do, but I’m not sure Malayah feels the same. She probably thinks I'm sending her into the lion’s den."
Selena continued to rub his shoulders, worry in her voice, "Master, this mission is dangerous, and Malayah is up against seasoned assassins. I’m really concerned for her."
Adan reassured, "Don't worry. If things really go south, we'll step in. But if we tell her that now, she might not take the mission seriously. She needs this to grow."
Selena smiled warmly. "With you watching over her, there’s no one she can’t handle."
Adan's expression turned serious, "Remember why I live in seclusion. There is always someone stronger out there."
Selena fell into thoughtful silence, recalling the whispered rumors of a failed mission that had led Adan to live in seclusion—an encounter with an assassin who outclassed him. Details were scarce, but she suspected the foe had been a formidable one.
As these thoughts churned, Malayah's door creaked open. She emerged, cradling Whiskers. "Alright, Whiskers, time for me to head out. You be good, okay? I'll be back soon."
She placed Whiskers down and walked towards the railing, peering down at the empty foyer. "Really, they didn’t even come to see me off. Only Whiskers has any heart."
With a final adjustment of her sunglasses, she picked up her suitcase and headed downstairs, her departure marked by a somber sense of duty.
Watching her leave, Selena and Adan stepped out from behind the door, their expressions tinged with wistfulness. "Master, not seeing her off seems a bit harsh, don’t you think?" Selena whispered, her fondness for Malayah like that of a sister.
Adan sighed deeply, "How can a bird learn to fly if it never leaves the nest? She needs to discover her own wings." With that, he turned back to the villa, his steps a mix of pride and concern.
Selena watched Malayah's figure disappear, a soft sigh escaping before following Adan inside.
Though Malayah had seen many skyscrapers, the sight of the Eagle Wing International Hotel’s tower was awe-inspiring. The 100-story building was a marvel, a skyscraper truly reaching for the heavens. The name 'Eagle Wing' was fitting indeed.
"Looks like I’m protecting someone important. With all the bodyguards here, they probably won’t even notice me. Easy in, easy out!" The opulent sight lifted Malayah’s spirits, her grin wide.
After adjusting her slightly loose-fitting suit and sunglasses, she walked confidently toward the entrance with her suitcase.
But as soon as she stepped into the hotel, a security guard in uniform noticed her unusual outfit. Grabbing his radio, he called urgently, "Attention front desk, this is 032. We’ve got someone suspicious in the lobby! I repeat, suspect in the lobby!"
