Chapter 70 - A New Assassin Is Born
A timid Kinue stood in the castle hall with my mother and Aunt Margie. My cousin had already darted towards the fox girl in excitement.
Kinue is going to live with us? That's... surprising.
I approached, searching for Professor Adrihna.
"Professor Adrihna has entrusted her to us. Just as you were taught by Adrihna, it's now our duty to help Kinue become strong," my aunt said.
"I want to continue the training I was receiving from Professor Martha," Kinue added.
Professor Martha?
"Actually, I want to become as strong as her. I want to be a battle maid."
"What?!" I blurted out in shock.
Kinue becoming one of those battle maids? That would shatter the image I have of the kind-hearted fox girl...
My aunt looked at her with a slightly puzzled expression.
"I'm not sure we should be teaching you these things... You do know we're not exactly a normal family, right?" Aunt Margie asked.
"I don't have any other family to compare. I like it here," Kinue replied.
Both my aunt and mother gently patted Kinue's head.
"We'll continue with the basic training, and when Adrihna returns, we'll discuss this further," Aunt Margie said, and Kinue nodded in agreement.
My mother then approached me.
"Kinue is our relative, Nathan. She has no one else, and we are her family now. It's going to be fun having another child around," my mother said.
Kinue is my relative? How is that possible?
As soon as I asked myself the question, the answer became obvious.
My mother and I are descendants of a High Elf, and so is Kinue. So the same ancestor connects us. It makes sense, especially since Professor Adrihna mentioned that there's only been one recorded case of a High Elf reproducing with another species since the Founder Emperor established the three realms.
"Kinue is an Evenhart?" Chloe asked excitedly.
My aunt approached her.
"Kinue is related to Nathan and Katie, but while she's living with us, she'll be treated as an Evenhart," Aunt Margie explained.
"Please take good care of me from now on," Kinue said with a bow.
"I told you that you were family. Now it turns out you really are family," I said, trying to ease the shy fox girl's nerves.
Martha then approached us.
"Lady Katherine, I will prepare a room in the mansion," the maid said.
My aunt nodded.
"Will I be staying with you all in there?" Kinue pointed towards the hallway with the large metal door.
"Of course. From now on, you're an Evenhart, not just a guest. We won't leave you alone in the castle. You'll have to learn to follow some rules, okay?" my aunt asked.
Kinue nodded in agreement.
"Are you afraid of the dark? I know you've slept in the mansion before, but it's very important in this place that people aren't afraid of the dark," Aunt Margie said.
"I see better in the dark... because I'm part fox."
"Oh, right."
Chloe took Kinue's hand.
"Come on! Let's play!" the little monster said, dragging Kinue along.
Poor Kinue, she's going to suffer in the hands of that brute girl.
My mother and aunt approached me.
"Nathan, you'll be accompanying your aunt somewhere," my mother said.
"Let's take a little walk," Aunt Margie added as she passed by me, heading towards the hallway that led deeper into the mansion.
I glanced at my mother, realizing she wasn't coming with us.
***
I followed Aunt Margie as she walked silently ahead of me.
"Did something happen?" I asked.
"Nothing happened, my love. We're just going to a different place," she replied.
A different place?
I continued to walk with her through the corridors, and we eventually descended the stairs that led to the underground levels. Over the years I'd lived here, there were rules that limited where Chloe and I could go, and in the underground areas, we were only allowed to access the lake room. Of course, my cousin and I had tried to explore other places, but the doors were always locked, and whenever the maids caught us, they would ask us not to peek through the doors.
Aunt Margie stopped in front of a door and pulled a key from her pocket.
"What are we going to do?" I asked.
She turned the key and opened the door. The room was small, with a desk and a chair, where a maid was sitting, reading a book.
The woman stood up, gave a respectful bow, and then returned to her seat.
"Come, Nathan," my aunt called.
There was a hatch in the room, and she opened it, leading the way down the stairs. I followed her, resisting the urge to ask unnecessary questions.
"Your training begins today," she said as we walked down a dimly lit corridor.
"Training?" I asked, surprised.
"A training to become a master in the Art of Assassination."
So the day had finally come. My mother had never told me much about what would happen or what it would be like. She only said everything would happen when the time was right.
"Our family has preserved the ancient teachings for generations. Even though we no longer live in barbaric times, we maintain the traditions and ensure our children are taught properly," Aunt Margie explained.
As we walked down the corridor, I started to hear screams of pain.
Aunt Margie paused.
"Those are just the maids practicing what they've learned about torture on some prisoner, don't worry," she said before continuing to walk.
I remained silent but couldn't help myself and asked a question.
"What will I learn, Aunt Margie?"
"Everything. You'll learn how to kill someone with a shirt, a knife, a needle, a book, a quill, a fingernail, a finger. You'll learn how to kill in every possible way."
Aunt Margie kept walking.
"You'll have your initiation into torture with Martha, you'll learn deadly techniques with Sifu, you'll study poisons and plants with Yusuf, you'll practice throwing knives with Samantha, you'll learn efficient cutting techniques with Bonnie, you'll learn meditation with Lionel, and you'll learn the rest from me."
She picked up the pace.
"Other legacies will also teach you if one of them is occupied. Hugo will handle your training regimen and diet."
When we arrived at our destination, I saw Natty and Catty, dressed in maid uniforms, covered in blood.
"Lady Margaery," they greeted my aunt.
"Lord Nathan," they greeted me.
Aunt Margie pulled something from her storage bracelet and handed it to me. It was a knife.
"My nephew will start his training. Take him with you," she told the twin sisters, then looked at me. "Today, Nathan Evenhart will become an Assassin."