Chereads / Tales of the Last Assassin / Chapter 3 - CHAPTER 3:Leo the Panther

Chapter 3 - CHAPTER 3:Leo the Panther

Leo also known as the panther to humans and Fanghyr to the elves was an eighteen-year-old assassin from The Order of the Night. Unlike his fellow comrades and colleagues, Leo was not born in the order and was instead recruited by one of the 'Midnights' Alexandre the claw. He had found Leo abandoned in the forbidden forest, he originally wanted to abandon the child but alas his spirit couldn't allow him to leave the child to die. Alexandre after that brought the child to the order a decision that was frowned upon by the rest of the midnights who refused to take the little boy in. Alexander ignored the rest of the midnights and trained the boy as his child and disciple. Leo grew up fast and by the young age of fourteen he was promoted to the rank of a Fang, a decision that was supported by all the midnights. Leo unlike the rest of the assassins was born with an innate magical ability that was said to be a stuff of legend. Leo's ability 'Devourer' enabled him to carve out pieces of space, be it with a dagger or his panther claws and teeth. Aside from this Leo could also shapeshift into a midnight panther. His midnight panther form gave him many advantages such as an improved physique and other powers that he himself kept on finding out.Currently at the age of eighteen Leo was one of the finest assassins that the world has ever seen and his many feats had been made into many songs sung by bards all over Magnitia. Including the tale of how he single handedly assassinated a rogue band of mages. The elves and the order of the sun had on frequent occasions tried to study the elusive assassin all to no avail.Leo crossed the narrow stream that separated Magnitia from the forbidden forests. He stopped at the other side before he lapped up some water into his hands. "What do you want elf? Leo asked what seemed to be no one, before a tall ivory skinned elf stepped out of the bushes. "Your senses are as superb as the songs, though I didn't think you would be this young". Leo sighed on hearing this "I don't have much time so please state your business after all not many creatures can track my presence or go through the trouble of finding me". The elf took in a breath before he spoke up "I need your help; some rogue bandits are attacking my village". Leo turned to face the elf and after taking a long look at him, he growled through his teeth "You are lying and I will like to know why? The elf stared into the bored blue eyes that adorned the ebony face of the assassin and sighed knowing that he was left with no choice but to carry out his Cult's plan B. "So the rumors are true! You really can smell lies". "Not really I simply notice the change in body temperature and heartbeat, also my instinct never lies". Leo shook his head out of what seemed to be pity before he continued "The same way I know that you were sent to lure me into an ambush, a mission that I will advise you drop". The elf sighed as he slowly drew a beautiful great sword from its scabbard. The sword's hilt was shaped like a snarling wolf while the blade was made of pure silver that shone like the sun. The elf ran forward with superhuman speed feinting a left slash before he delivered a right slash. Leo parried the attack with his right dagger before he slashed the elf's chest with the other dagger. The elf gritted his teeth before he spun around delivering a downward slash with the momentum. Leo moved to his left dodging the slash and slashing the elf's unguarded right armpit. "His reflexes are too fast for a human; what kind of monsters does the night even train? Wondered the elf that was now fighting on the defensive. The elf was finding it hard to wield his sword due to the wound on his armpit that prevented him from using the heavy great sword that now seemed to be a liability. Leo slashed with the right blade before he followed up with a strike to the elf's temples using the left blade's hilt. The elf easily deflected the first attack but he collapsed to the ground when the dagger's hilt stuck him in the head. The elf laid on the ground defeated while his mind struggled to think of a way to escape this dilemma. He rolled out of the way seconds before Leo's feet struck his former position sending soil particles forming as it left a large imprint in the ground. The elf quickly got to his feet before he rushed Leo with the hope of a stab, as Leo was about to shift his body to the side to evade the attack, the elf quickly changed the trajectory of the blade and proceeded with an underhand upward slash. Leo's left foot however crashed into his side thereby making the elf to crash into a nearby tree. The elf coughed out blood on impact and struggled to breathe while he gurgled blood. "Impossible did he shatter a rib with one kick? I knew the difference between us was great but I didn't foresee it to be this much. Leo walked towards the elf while he threw and caught a dagger repeatedly. The elf however laughed for he still had one last trick up his sleeve. He began to mutter some elfish words silently while he kept his concentration on the assassin that stood in the same place admiring his daggers. "Foolish human I will teach him why elves were the first race on this planet" laughed the elf as he extended his hand on nearing the completion of his spell. "PYRIA! Shouted the elf as he stretched his hand at the apparently uncaring assassin. A loud slashing sound was heard followed by an even louder scream. The assassin brought out a small handkerchief from his pocket before he cleaned the dagger from the blood that had gathered on it. Leo cursed wondering why his devourer ability still stained his blades with blood. "Now I will have to polish it for like the eight time today" he sighed while he walked to the elf that stared at his severed arm with a mixture of agony and disbelief. "Who sent you? Leo asked with a wide smile that revealed his canines. "I knew it you are a beastman" trembled the elf. Leo on hearing this raised one eyebrow "Seriously what gave me off my canines? Anyways answer the first question before I test out whether your body can be divided into two equal halves". The elf spat blood on Leo's cloak while he laughed "Never, it is always a good thing to die for a great cause". "Have it your way then, you are just lucky that I am in a good mood today" Leo said to the elf before he clawed at the air with silver claws that appeared from his black gauntlets. The elf's blood dyed the tree bright red as his body was torn into five bloody pieces. Leo once again shook his head before he proceeded to the river to wash himself from the blood and bile that stained his gauntlets.