Chapter 203 - Assassin Organizations
The professor gestured toward the image on the board, where we saw a shadowy figure lurking behind someone distracted by a fire.
"Class, now that we understand the types of spells and their dangers, let's delve into their origins, which begin with the ancient assassin organizations."
The term "assassin organizations" sparked a wave of whispers among the students.
"I thought they were just fairy tales," commented one of them.
The professor then asked the class, "What do you know about assassins?"
She paused, watching the students' expressions as some whispered curious questions to each other. Chloe and I exchanged a glance. We already knew a lesson on this would come up eventually, especially given my family's organization. It was a deeply rooted subject, and I was curious to see how it would be covered.
"Know that assassin organizations aren't mere stories or children's tales," she began. "These organizations were very real and extremely dangerous. An ancient assassin alone could easily face all of you in battle."
She turned to the next page in her book, and the image on the board changed. Now, it showed two children—one playing in a bright room, the other in a shadowy area holding a knife, their shirt stained with blood.
"True assassins are masters of stealth and direct combat," she continued. "They are trained from a very young age and see life through a distorted lens. To them, people are targets, constantly evaluating how easy or hard it would be to kill someone."
I won't lie... we are taught to assess people like this, but it's for our protection...
"They are raised in darkness and thus can be known as 'Children of Shadows.' This training is intended to strip them of fear and empathy, shaping them into someone who hesitates at nothing to kill," she said, pointing to the child in the darker side of the image.
"Teaching someone to become an assassin is strictly forbidden," she emphasized. "Any questions?"
Several students eagerly raised their hands.
"What's the difference between them and common criminals? Or between them and military mages? After all, we also learn how to kill," one student asked.
The professor pointed to the image of the two children.
"The difference is immense. An assassin is raised from infancy to be a living weapon by an ancient organization. Would you trust someone who's been trained to kill from childhood, as cruelly and efficiently as possible? To them, you're merely living flesh. Assassins are molded in an environment where violence is normalized. There's no remorse. For them, killing a person is as trivial as squashing an ant. They can kill brutally at night and then sleep soundly without a trace of guilt."
She flipped the page, revealing the same shadowy child standing beside an adult, both holding knives.
"The assassin organizations were completely outlawed. The term 'forbidden spell' originated from these organizations. Magic was initially created to ease daily life, but these mages repurposed it for killing."
She turned back to the image, reinforcing her point.
"That's why the existence of assassin organizations is forbidden. True assassins, those from the old organizations, are not to be underestimated. However, you can rest assured: those that remain are just a shadow of what they once were. The 'Assassin' title and some of their practices have evolved into a profession among mercenaries. Now, they're merely common outlaws living outside the law."
She surveyed the class briefly.
"Any more questions?"
The students glanced at each other, and the professor pointed to one who had raised his hand.
"I've read so many crazy stories. Did they really exist? I've heard lots of wild rumors," the student asked, intrigued.
"Of course they existed," the professor replied firmly. "It's no wonder that spreading the teachings of the old assassin organizations is forbidden by all three kingdoms. A true assassin can operate with stealth, but if necessary, they transform into a walking killing machine, capable of unleashing destruction on anyone in their path."
She turned another page in her book, displaying an image of a crowned figure slitting the throats of the previous two assassins in the illustrations.
"No one can trust someone who holds the lives of others so easily in their hands and infiltrates society at will. Imagine the threat of allowing one of these ancient assassins to infiltrate the ranks of political nobility."
Uh-oh...
"The amount of information they could gather and the influence they'd wield would be incredibly dangerous. That's why not just anyone can be part of the political nobility. Leaving the whims of someone so dangerous unchecked is unthinkable. That's why the Founding Emperor banned all assassin organizations and issued a death penalty for anyone attempting to revive these practices. The Art of Assassination is forbidden and criminal. Most of these organizations were hunted down and destroyed."
The professor paused, letting her words hang in the air. The students looked visibly affected. She continued, drawing them deeper into her narrative.
"Let's speculate even further," she said, raising her voice slightly to capture the class's full attention.
"Imagine that these ancient assassins still exist and are here in this room. They could, if they wished, sabotage the function of the three kingdoms, sowing discord among you and causing a diplomatic incident that would lead to war. And no one would know, as we'd be right in the palm of their hand."
A murmur began to ripple through the class; some students exchanged uneasy glances, while others chuckled nervously to ease the tension.
"Well, at least those assassins don't exist anymore," a student commented, sounding relieved.
"And definitely not studying here in this room," added a girl, prompting the whole class to burst into laughter.
Chloe and I stayed silent, exchanging glances.
We're not that bad...
"The Founding Emperor was a true hero who ended the 'Era of Assassins' and ushered in the 'Era of Diplomacy,'" the professor continued. "Dealing with a bandit or a lunatic is one thing, but handling someone trained from childhood with ancient assassination and espionage methods to become a Death Emissary is a completely different story. Allowing such a person to live freely in society is a grave mistake, let alone letting them rise to nobility. That's why they were exterminated. An assassin is less human than a wild beast."
Little do they know that while the Founding Emperor hunted down all assassin organizations, he kept his own operative—the Night Killers. It seems he simply didn't want his empire to be threatened…
Chloe and I exchanged a look, realizing that, ultimately, the material taught about assassins was slanted to reinforce the image of the Founding Emperor. For most people, the idea of an assassin organization within society could indeed seem terrifying—and from a military perspective, it could even be a real threat. After all, they're living tools, devoid of emotion when it comes to killing. But contrary to this twisted image, our family upheld so many rules and codes that I was sure we spent more time tending farms than actually killing anyone. In fact, they always prioritized diplomacy and peace. When I drew my blade, it was only to eliminate those who truly deserved it.
That's why my family treasured our friendship with Professor Adrihna so much. She knew our family's secret yet remained our friend. Both Adrihna, my mother, and Kinue were welcomed so closely into our family that they knew these secrets without ever questioning our morality.
The professor continued, "Study this topic thoroughly. The content on forbidden spells and their origins in assassin organizations will be on the exam."
Looks like this will be a subject I'll do well in, I thought, letting out a quiet internal chuckle.
"A little curiosity for you all," the professor added with a playful tone. "The term 'assassin' even has roots that stretch back to the ancient civilization."
The students perked up, leaning forward in their seats, intrigued.
"In the ancient language, the word 'assassin' was said differently," she continued, building anticipation.
"How was it said?" one student asked, curious.
The professor's eyes gleamed slightly as she revealed the answer.
"These legendary assassin warriors were known as... 'Vikings.'"