As the man lunged at me, his sword gleamed as it swung out from behind his cloak.
Crap… there's not enough time.
I shoved the boy into the open streets and narrowly avoided the oncoming blade. The force of the man's attack knocked me off balance, but I managed to plant my lower body firmly. Seizing the moment, I grabbed his arm and yanked it down, tripping him. He fell hard, and I quickly stepped on his neck, snapping it with a sickening crack.
"Ubuian!" the boy shouted, snapping my attention back. The second attacker was already swinging his sword at me. As I tried to retreat, the blade came closer, aiming for my neck.
I saw an opening. I ducked low and lunged at him, wrapping my arms around his waist and slamming him to the ground. A swift punch to his face sent his head crashing into the tiled ground, leaving him unconscious. But then, a sharp pain shot through my body from my back.
"Who are you? Why are you protecting the 2nd prince?" A third assailant had me in a chokehold, his arm tightening around my neck. I struggled to break free, my strength waning.
Crap… I'm losing the strength in my arms.
In a desperate move, I swung my right elbow back, feeling the searing pain as the sword lodged in my back was pulled out. I used the momentum to spin around, throwing the assassin to the ground. I straddled him, my hands closing around his throat.
"Why are you trying to kill the 2nd prince?" I demanded, squeezing tighter.
"Hah, you'll never save him. The whole monarchy is after him. It's only a matter of time before he—"
I silenced him by snapping his neck with a quick twist. The ease with which I did it shocked me. It seems the race I belong to is stronger than I thought.
Lvl up!
Lvl: 4 -> 5
Stats increased:
Strength: 95 -> 97
Dexterity: 88 -> 90
Constitution: 135 -> 137
Intelligence: 150 -> 150
Wisdom: 100 ->100
Charisma: 50 -> 50
Resolve: 170 -> 170
Crap, I took another life… Why am I taking lives so easily?
The thought gnaws at me like a persistent itch at the back of my mind. Each time I kill, it feels like a part of me is slipping away, replaced by something colder, more detached. Is it really inevitable? Is this my destiny to be a killer without hesitation? A part of me wants to reject it, to believe that I can choose a different path. But here I am, standing over yet another body, and the weight of what I've done presses down on me.
I don't want to believe that this is who I am or all I can be. It feels like a cruel joke, the idea that we can't escape our fate. But if my destiny is to take lives, then what does that say about me? I don't want to believe that bullshit, but with each life I take, it becomes harder to deny.
This regret and sadness are like a dark cloud hanging over me, reminding me of the person I'm becoming, and the line between necessity and choice blurs even more. I want to get rid of them—I really do…but every life I take, every choice I make… makes me feel like I'm betraying Arlene.
"Ubuian? Are you okay…?" The boy peeked out from behind the wall.
I wiped the blood off my face and rubbed my hands on my ragged clothes before I turned to him, "Yeah. It's safe now." I muttered, surveying the inner alleys.
"Hey, Ubuian, thanks. I won't forget this favour," the boy said.
"No problem. Where did you want to go to hide again?" I asked as the darkness in the alleys seemed to go on forever, with an occasional sliver of moonlight illuminating the seeming abyss. I glanced back at the boy. Wait, where is he? I paced over to the streets again, trying to be as quiet as possible. In the distance, the sounds of footsteps distant in the wind; as I squinted my eyes, it seemed he had gone back with the guards.
Right… I breathed out a sigh of relief. I looked up, trying to find the location of the moon. From the looks of things, it is past midnight; I need to make sure I explore these alleys quickly.
I took a first step into the alley, the darkness swallowing my leg, leaving almost no trace of its existence. As I ventured further, my vision dimmed until, finally, with a final step, the shadows enveloped my entire body. The only thing guiding me was the faint intervals of moonlight dancing on the path ahead. Without hesitation, I broke into a jog, following the moonlit trail through the winding junctions.
The alley felt like it was closing in, the walls seeming to breathe with a life of their own, whispering secrets in the darkness. The air was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of moss and forgotten rain.
About a hundred meters ahead, I could make out a small open area behind a store, a place often used for storing garbage. The scattered trash bins and the occasional rustle of a scavenging rat added to the eerie atmosphere.
It was a helpful spot, with a junction just behind it that led to a small opening to the town's water reservoir if you turned left. Turning right would take you back to the streets but in an entirely different area.
As I scanned the night sky, crimson clouds painted it in a bloody hue, littered with sparkling dots that mimicked stars. The sky felt heavy, almost oppressive as if it held the weight of countless untold stories. A towering mountain loomed behind the block ahead, the same one I had seen while climbing down the ladders earlier.
The castle stood tall, its ancient stone walls bathed in the ghostly glow of the moon. Towers pierced the night sky, their windows illuminated with a warm, inviting light despite the late hour. It was the royal castle, probably... the second prince's residence. If Arlene and I had a kid, he would probably be that age right now...
More importantly, I needed to find a job. But how? My thoughts were interrupted by a familiar sound. Horses' hooves clacked against the stone tiles, echoing through the still night. I turned to see a man sitting atop a large wagon pulled by a single, majestic white horse.
The horse's coat shimmered in the moonlight, its powerful muscles rippling beneath. Its presence was imposing but not as imposing as the man who sat atop it. His silhouette was sharp and authoritative, casting a long shadow that stretched across the cobblestones.
He, too, wore a hood as he pulled the reins in, causing the horse to stop, but he made no sound despite looking like it was screaming. On the horse's thigh was a symbol: disparate criss-crossed lines glowed a feint blue in the dark streets.
I considered turning and running, but my curiosity got the better of me. Especially since I was thinking, what was there to lose in the first place?
"Hi, how may I help you?" I asked, bowing slightly, hoping not to insult him.
"Ubuian, you didn't tell me you retired from the army?"
The hood was uncovered to reveal a somewhat familiar face. The same middle-aged man I saw helped me through the war.
"The Royal Alchemist…?" I muttered
"Quite a unique hiding spot. Most of you usually stay within the alleys," he remarked as he stepped down from the wagon. "What are you doing out here so late?"
"Finding a place to sleep?" I chuckled nervously. "May I ask what you are doing this late at night…?"
He placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip unyielding. Leaning close, his eyes began emitting a faint, eerie blue glow. The air grew colder as his gaze locked onto mine, a predatory intensity that sent chills down my spine. I felt as though he could see through my very being, exposing every secret I held. His expression hardened, and he gritted his teeth, the sound almost a growl.
"Why the hell," he hissed, his voice low and menacing, "Do I have to answer to the likes of a Ubuian?" His grip tightened painfully, each word dripping with disdain. The weight of his presence was suffocating, his aura radiating an overwhelming sense of power and danger. It felt as if the world had shrunk to just the two of us, and in that moment, I realised how powerless I truly was.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Please forgive my prudence." I tried to bow, but his grip held me firm. There was a brief pause, a heartbeat of silence that felt like an eternity.
Then, his tense expression cracked into uncontrollable laughter that echoed through the empty town.
"Haha! I got you with that, didn't I? Anyway, I was delivering supplies for the royal family. The king fell ill after the recent war," he explained, patting my shoulder as he climbed back onto the wagon.
"I'm Glad I got to meet you again. Your leadership was better than some I've seen in the army." He waved and spurred his horse onward. Its cry was still silenced, but the sound of its hooves striking the tiled ground rippled through the street as they galloped away.
I can't let this opportunity slip away... Who else could help me get a job and level my rune crafting?
"Mr. Royal Alchemist!" I shouted, sprinting after him. My footsteps thudded loudly, almost matching the horse's rhythm. Thankfully, he stopped soon after. As I reached his side, hesitation bubbled up, and I struggled to find the words.
"Yeah, yeah, hop on. You need a job, right?" He reached out a hand.
"…Are you sure…? You'll be associated with an Ubuian."
"Get on before I change my mind, Mr. Gloom-and-Doom."