“That was lucky,” Dave said, his voice sounding nervous as he spoke.
SJ winced as she sat up and pulled her injured calf towards her. The spike had cleanly penetrated through her boots, and a clear hole had punctured them. Her health also went down to a quarter. She hadn’t fully recovered from the last fight and had still been healing when she had struck at Malvon again.
Cursing, she held her calf; the throbbing pain from the injury increased as she felt her wounds healing. The back of her head also felt damp, and she had struck her head against the room’s stone wall.
“Thanks,” she said, looking up at Carlito, who stood over Malvon’s dead body.
“No problem. Your strike should have finished him. I was a little surprised that it didn’t. The technique you used, attacking in miniature form and then growing as you did, was very effective. Those claws you are using as well are very nice looking.”
SJ had recalled her claws as she sat recovering.
“Are you able to move?” Carlito asked.
SJ pushed herself to stand with her good leg. “I will be fine. It doesn’t take me long to heal.” Stepping, SJ winced as pain radiated up her leg.
“Right then. Let’s ransack the place and get out of here. Don’t want it looking too obvious why we were here,” Carlito grinned.
The colour of Malvon’s skin had returned to normal now that he was dead. SJ leaned over the remains and triggered her loot skill by accepting all contents without paying any attention. She also picked up the dwarven spike and added it to her inventory. The weapon had to be worth a decent amount of coin.
“I will go search the other rooms,” Carlito said as he turned and left. The nonchalance that he had shown after decapitating the enraged dwarf was scary. His face had shown no expressional change during the very brief encounter he had had. The ease with which he had finished Malvon had not gone unnoticed by SJ. All she had seen was the rapid flash of two blades crossing.
Limping, SJ moved around the room; she couldn’t see anything of value, so she headed out of the room and back towards the office she had entered. Searching the room, she collected several designs, adding them to her inventory; she had no idea if they had any value, but she could always give them to Zej on her return to Killic. The thought of robbing a tailor entered her mind, which she pushed to one side immediately. She wasn’t a thief; she was an assassin, but the lingering sense of what she could gain from such an act didn’t leave her altogether.
Dave chuckled as she wrestled with her thoughts.
Carlito appeared in the doorway to the study. “Did you find any keys on him?”
SJ quickly checked her inventory and found a bunch of keys. Removing them, she tossed them to Carlito.
“There is a chest in the bedroom,” he smiled as he turned to leave.
SJ finished looking around the room and then cascaded a few of the designs on the floor, making it appear as though they had been searched through.
She heard Carlito whistle appreciatively.
“What is it?” SJ asked as she reached the bedroom door.
Carlito looked up and grinned at her. “The jackpot by all accounts. Deeds to properties two in Asterfal, including this one and another in the dwarven capital. Also, there are enough coins and gems that will keep most of us happy for a very long time. I think it only fair that we split it equally.”
The apartment was on the top floor of a guarded building with no easy external access, so SJ wasn’t surprised that Malvon had kept his wealth there, especially considering the extra security he had at the front entrance.
“How much is there?” SJ asked.
“I’m not sure of the exact value of the gems without getting them appraised, but I would expect that they are worth at least three to four platinum. Also, there are sixteen platinum, eighty-five gold, one-hundred and twenty-one silver and at least three hundred copper.”
“That’s a lot,” SJ said, shocked at how much Malvon had.
“It’s not the biggest haul I have made from a job,” Carlito smiled. “Also, you need to consider the age of dwarves. He had been doing his profession for a very long time. It is not surprising what wealth he could have amassed.”
‘I wonder how much Zej is worth?’ SJ thought.
“It’s not really a conversation point that comes up,” Dave laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t have a lot stashed away. Dwarves are renowned for hoarding coins and gems and not giving them up easily.”
“I know a jeweller who can appraise the gems if you wish?” SJ asked.
“No need. I will get them appraised and sold through the guild. They only take 3% and never ask any questions. Here, I have taken half the coin. Come and take the rest.”
SJ moved to the chest and bent down, collecting the pouches that Carlito had left behind and adding them to her inventory. In the space of a couple of hours, she had just become wealthier than she had ever imagined. Even with the mithril sales in Killic, she had no way near this level of wealth to hand.
“I was hoping he may have had some armour stashed away here, but it seems that he doesn’t. You normally find some of their best pieces or magical pieces. Oh well, not bad overall.”
SJ’s display triggered.
Update - Class Quest - Three for two
Carlito has issued you the task of completing three guild quests. You may complete any three of the following within the next seventy-two hours:
A cheating wife - eliminate Olivia Sharcastle, known to frequent the Emperor’s Arms. - Complete
Competition - eliminate Master Garshaw’s sole competition in the market area of District 4.
Elimination - Remove the threat caused by the Legionnaire Justin to the assassin guild ‘Liquidation’. - Complete
Hallowed Earth - find the person behind the death of Killian Broadaxe and seek vengeance. - Complete
Reward: Two class perk points awarded.
SJ stared at the notification. “I didn’t kill him. I doubt I would have got out alive without your help.”
Carlito’s grin broadened. “The fact that you have completed three out of the four within the timescales you had is already an impressive feat. Don’t knock yourself. Not all assassins work alone all the time. It depends upon the jobs that they take.”
“So you have worked with others before?”
“Not personally, but I know those that do. There are a brother and sister that always work together on quests.”
“Should we get out of here?”
“Yep. I doubt anyone will come looking for him until later tomorrow, and it will take them time even to enter the place if the guard even attempts to once he is reported missing.”
They moved back to the study after Carlito finished scattering items around the bedroom before SJ shrunk. Her leg still throbbed, but her advanced healing powers out of combat were so beneficial she could walk now with only a minor limp. “We will meet back at the Griffin,” Carlito said as he disappeared.
SJ took off and flew from the window, seeing Carlito glide down the wall of the building as though it was smooth. Within moments, he was in the park at the rear and vanished into the bushes as he triggered his shadow step. SJ took off and flew over the roofs of the city for several streets before eventually coming to land in an alley not far from District 11. Growing, she altered her dress, changing its colour and adjusting its length. The cape at the back required shortening to do so.
She would have to try to get her boots repaired where the spike had punctured them and also cleaned. Her wounds were healing well, and she took her time to slowly walk back to her home. She needed to feed Kibble and then would head over to meet Carlito. By the time she reached her home, her limp had cleared, and she was able to walk with no sign of injury. She was so glad for Bob’s blood.
Entering, she called Yawnee and Lurtew and headed up to her room, releasing the little beastie. He was excited to see her, and after flying to the yard, he returned and perched himself on her shoulder. Moving to her table, she emptied the contents of her inventory. She didn’t spend any time identifying anything and headed downstairs to get Kibble his dinner.
After feeding him, she moved downstairs, where Yawnee and Lurtew were still busy in the garage.
“I thought you would have finished by now?” SJ asked, entering.
“These are our last two barrels,” Lurtew smiled. “Then the contract is completed in full. I plan to deliver them tomorrow, and we will be out from the Brewer’s Guild so we can start our new contract with the Alchemy Guild.”
“That’s great news, and earlier than you expected.”
“We just want it done with now,” Yawnee replied.
“I need to head back out this evening. I have a friend to meet,” SJ said.
“Do you not want any dinner this evening?” Yawnee asked.
“No. I will eat out. Thanks though. Right, Kibble, I need to take you back upstairs.”
Kibble whined in her ear, wrapping his tail around her neck and holding on. He did not squeeze, but he made it obvious that he did not want to be left alone. SJ sighed, reaching up and stroking his head. “If you come with me, it’s on your leash.”
His little head bobbed excitedly as she called his leash from her inventory and clipped it to his collar.
“Right. I will be back later. I’m not sure what time yet, so don’t wait up.”
“Have fun,” Yawnee said as SJ left.
Asterfal’s streets were full of the usual beings as the evening drew in. Laughter and singing were heard from many of the bars and inns. SJ had cut through the centre to get to the district sooner, and it wasn’t until she reached the gate to exit that she realised that, in the evenings, that gate was locked. Since she had Kibble with her, she didn’t want to fly and instead headed back to the District 8 gate before heading back through towards the Griffin. The street in each of the districts next to the inner wall was the widest and clearest by far. No buildings were permitted to be built too close to the inner wall.
It didn’t take her long to reach the Griffin, and she only saw one minor disturbance outside an inn, as she did, where two beings traded blows with each other. The rumours of the violence in the district were spoken about by many, yet she had only witnessed one murder on her last visit. The two trolls stood at their usual posts as bouncers outside the Griffin. One of them was talking to a rather drunk-looking orc who appeared to want to go inside but was being refused. The other troll nodded at SJ as she passed them.
The Griffin was busy, and SJ could see the sign above the bar stating that there were some fights due this evening. Looking around the bar, SJ noticed Garshaw and his party at the table they had been at the previous evening. She wasn’t there to see him, though, so she headed to the bar and ordered a drink before moving to the other end of the room, away from the entrance to the cages, where many patrons would be heading once the fights began.
Kibble had drawn the look of several beings as she walked through. He was tucked tightly into her neck and appeared uncertain in the crowded, strange bar. Taking a seat, she propped her feet up on a ledge by the window, looking out to the front of the inn, and sipped her wine.
‘I’ve been fortunate today in more ways than one,’ SJ thought as she began to unravel everything that had occurred. It was the first time since she had really thought about how close she had come to being killed twice in one day.
“You have been, but it’s no less than I expect from you,” Dave said happily. “The amount of coin you have made today is great and means you can look into several things you have been after.”
‘What?’ SJ asked, uncertain what he was referring to. Kibble climbed from her neck and curled in her lap.
“Communication stones for a start. You can easily purchase some sets now and also even consider a combined one for yourself. They aren’t cheap, but they would save you multiple stones. Also, upgrading your tailoring basket. You have been talking about it for long enough now.”
Both of Dave’s statements were true; she wanted more stones and a new basket. Being able to talk to her friends back in Killic when she was in Asterfal would be great rather than sending messages via Cristy. Not just that, even when she was in Killic, improving communications in general would be a great start. Thinking about the stones reminded her that she wanted to send a message to Kerys. Alice was due to leave tomorrow, and with her leaving, SJ needed to see whether Kerys could take on Holly at the inn.
She removed her communication stone and pressed the gem. It rang several times before Cristy’s voice came through; wherever she was, it sounded busy.
“Hi, SJ,” Cristy said.
“It sounds busy there?”
“No different to normal for the inn.”
“I am glad you are there. I wanted to speak to Kerys if it’s possible.”
“Sure. I can see if she is free.”
SJ heard the scrap of a chair as Cristy stood and moved through the bar.
“Kerys,” Cristy called.
A few moments later, SJ could hear her reply from the background noise.
“What do you need?”
“SJ wanted to speak to you. Do you have time?”
SJ heard the stone passing between them and then the sound of a door closing and relative peace.
“Hello?” Kerys said into the stone.
“Hi Kerys. I needed to ask you a question before Alice heads back tomorrow.”
“Oh. What do you need?”
“With the town expansion, have you considered taking on any more staff?”
Kerys didn’t reply immediately as SJ heard a door open, and the noise from the bar drowned out her voice. Moments later, the door closed again, and quiet returned.
“I had been thinking about it. Why?” Kerys asked.
SJ launched into the issues surrounding Holly and her family, making sure that Kerys was aware that a home was already assigned. It was just work that would be Holly’s concern to maintain her family once they arrived in Killic. Kerys asked several questions about Holly before agreeing that she would offer her a trial and see how she got on once she arrived back in Killic.
“Thanks Kerys. I really appreciate the opportunity you are giving her,” SJ said. The price of rent in Killic could be covered by a wage from the inn, unlike here in Asterfal.
“There are no guarantees. If she doesn’t fit or we don’t fit for her, then I am not sure what she would do,” Kerys said.
“I understand. The option is there, which is a huge start. Thank you.”
Kerys eventually returned the stone to Cristy, and after a general gossip, SJ ended the call. It sounded like the harvest festival plans were in full swing, and the town was getting busier as more visitors from the outlying villages arrived in Killic to celebrate. Cristy had said that bunting had been put up on the main streets, and the town was buzzing with the excitement of the celebration.
SJ couldn’t wait to see Isavil and Zigferd’s faces when they were given their statue. She always felt happy when she thought of Killic and her friends.
‘I need to decide where to spend my two skill points,’ SJ thought as she continued sipping her drink.
“I thought you had pretty much decided before.”
‘The options all have their bonuses, but after today’s fights, I am wondering if identification still shouldn’t be a priority. Then again, shadow step increases would have made things much more manageable against Malvon. I did mess up, though, allowing him to work out my cooldown on the skill.’
“It was a rookie mistake, but I was surprised how quickly Malvon had caught on to the timing in your defence. Oh, also, I have discovered something that you may wish to hear about.”
The comment alone was strange coming from Dave. ‘What have you discovered?’ SJ asked.
“I think I have discovered what the next synchronisation step will allow when it triggers.”
‘How?’ SJ asked surprised.
“The synchronisation is linked to the code as much as our relationship. You know that I could only do what I did previously after the code lock I broke. Well, since then, I have been further analysing the coding points and algorithm locks. From what I can tell, there is a main code lock in every staged synchronisation; considering my coding, I believe the next opportunity will trigger at 70%. The problem is the complexity of the locks continues to get harder. As we know, it has only been increasing by one per cent at a time, but I believe it will stop when it reaches 69% until the main code is broken again.”
‘That doesn’t give me any ideas on what it may allow?’
“That’s the interesting part. As I have been working through my coding levels and breaking them, increasing my freedom, it has followed a systematic path. Initially, it was my communication ability, then it moved onto our interaction ability, allowing me to communicate through thought alone. Before the last time, it allowed me the opportunity to amend your coding and vision. I believe the next opening will allow you access back into the system infrastructure or at least give you wider access. You can already inflict certain emotions when strong back towards me as it is.”
‘You mean before it allowed you to mess with my brain,’ SJ said, honing in on the vision adjustment. ‘My brain isn’t code.’
“Of course your brain is code. Everything is code. It may be biological, but it is still coded. It is just that we name it differently. Mana is code, air is code, magic is code, everything is.”
‘I thought you said everything is mana?’
“Semantics. It is easier to describe certain elements via mana than trying to explain that everything is made from code. All elements originate somewhere as a building block. Consider your understanding of Quantum Mechanics or String Theory.”
‘I have absolutely no idea about either of those,’ SJ scoffed. After Dave mentioned code, all SJ could imagine were scenes from The Matrix, visualising binary sheets of ones and zeroes covering everything. It wasn’t pleasant to think that she could potentially only be data strands.
‘How could I possibly interact with the system infrastructure?’
“I don’t know what it may allow, but looking at the algorithm, I believe that it would be the next logical path.”
“SJ,” a voice said as she tried to interpret Dave’s ramblings.
She looked up to see the face of a young human girl; her arm was visible, and there was no sign of a tattoo.
“Yes?” SJ said.
“A friend of yours asked if you would join him.”
SJ frowned. “Which friend?”
“A special friend you have had a very recent dealing with. Would you please follow me?”
SJ stood and followed the girl as she made her way through the bar towards the tunnel leading to the caged area. SJ had never noticed before, but there was a door hidden behind a panelled wall, which she moved towards and opened. A set of steps ran up steeply to the first floor, and SJ followed as the girl led her. At the top, the steps turned sharply, and SJ opened her map and realised that they were, in fact, now walking over the top of the tunnel that led to the cages. The corridor continued straight on, with no doors off it, until eventually they had crossed the pit area, and SJ could now tell they were on the far side where she had roughly seen Carlito on the map when he had killed the dark elf that escaped the warehouse.
The girl walked up to a solid metal banded door and knocked sharply. A male voice replied.
“Enter.”
The girl opened the door and entered, allowing SJ to follow her inside.
“Sir. I have brought the lady to see you as requested.”
“Thanks, Poppy,” Carlito said as SJ saw the elven form he had taken during the visit to Malvon.
The room was large, brightly lit and well-furnished. Covering the walls were rich tapestries, and the area told a story of opulence and wealth. Plush furnishings and bright fabrics covered cushions on the two large sofas that sat by a huge fireplace. Large windows opened out onto a park area, and the lanterns that lit it were visible at night. It had to be Carlito’s private quarters and was not in any way what SJ had ever expected. Bookcases covered several of the walls, filled with texts and figurines of what must be valuable metals dotted amongst them. In one corner of the room stood a weapons rack, and hanging from it were many different forms of weapons, several of which SJ didn’t recognise. At the far end of the room were three further doors. This led to what SJ assumed were bed chambers or something similar.
“This is nice,” SJ said as Poppy closed the door, leaving them alone.
“Welcome to my home,” Carlito said, smiling.
