The days after Jonas Ryloth's death passed in a blur. Each moment felt like I was walking through water, sluggish and heavy, as if the world itself had slowed to a crawl. The academy buzzed with life as it always did—students training, sparring, and perfecting their skills. But I was distant, my mind wrapped around the lingering words Jonas had spoken with his dying breath:
"They're using you... all of us."
What had he meant? And who were "they"?
---
I didn't have time to dwell on it for long. The Headmaster summoned me again, just two days after my mission. The summons came in the form of an academy aide, a girl no older than sixteen who delivered the message with a crisp bow.
"The Headmaster wishes to see you in the Grand Hall," she said before disappearing down the corridor.
My stomach twisted. I hadn't been able to shake the feeling that the Headmaster saw more than he let on, his sharp eyes piercing through my carefully constructed mask of indifference. Did he know I had hesitated during the mission? Or that I was questioning everything about the academy's purpose?
I pushed the thoughts aside and made my way to the Grand Hall.
---
The room was vast and imposing, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to move under the flickering torchlight. The Headmaster stood at the far end, his back to me, gazing at a map stretched across the wall.
"You performed well," he said without turning around.
I didn't respond immediately. The words felt hollow.
"Thank you," I said eventually, my voice low.
He turned, his gaze sharp as ever. "Do not let doubt fester, Kai. It is the bane of an assassin's existence. Once a target is marked, their life belongs to you. Anything less than absolute conviction will get you killed."
His words struck a chord, though I wasn't sure I agreed. I nodded anyway.
"You will take another name," he continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Kai August. It will serve as your identity within the academy and beyond. Use it well."
Kai August. The name sounded foreign yet strangely fitting.
"Thank you, Headmaster," I said, bowing slightly.
"Prepare yourself," he said. "Your next assignment will come soon."
---
As I left the Grand Hall, my mind swirled with conflicting emotions. A new name. A new identity. It felt like a declaration that the person I had been—the boy who loved games and lived a carefree life—was gone.
Kai August. The academy's tool.
But deep down, I resolved to make the name my own, not theirs.
---
That night, something strange happened.
I was lying in bed, my thoughts drifting between Jonas's words and the Headmaster's commands when a faint flicker of light caught my attention. It wasn't coming from the window or the lantern by my bedside—it was emanating from... within me.
Before I could react, a translucent screen materialized in front of me, its edges glowing faintly.
[System Interface Activated]
Name: Kai August
Title: [None]
Abilities: [Unawakened]
Skills: [Shadow Step - Locked], [Veil of Silence - Locked], [??? - Locked]
Status: Dormant]
My heart raced as I stared at the screen. It looked exactly like the game interface I had used countless times before—but this was real.
"What the..." I muttered, reaching out instinctively. My hand passed through the screen, but the words remained steady, floating in the air before me.
The term Unawakened stood out like a taunt, a reminder of my current limitations. The skills listed below it were all locked, their descriptions obscured.
"What does this mean?" I whispered.
As if in response, the screen flickered again, and a new line appeared at the bottom.
To unlock your potential, seek the Mark of Shadows.
The Mark of Shadows. I had never heard of such a thing, even in the game. Was it unique to this world? Or something hidden that I had overlooked?
My pulse quickened. Whatever it was, it sounded important. And if it could help me survive in this dangerous world, I needed to find it.
---
The next morning, I decided to keep the interface a secret. There was no telling how the academy would react if they discovered it. The Headmaster had already made it clear that loyalty was paramount, and this felt like a dangerous piece of knowledge to share.
Instead, I threw myself into training.
The academy's training grounds were divided into sections—close combat, stealth, ranged weaponry, and more. I focused on stealth and dagger work, honing my ability to move silently and strike precisely. The other students were skilled, but I noticed something: they followed the academy's teachings rigidly, their movements predictable.
I began experimenting, adapting techniques from the game and blending them with what I had learned here. It wasn't perfect, but it gave me an edge.
---
A week passed, and the Headmaster called me for another assignment.
"You've proven capable," he said, handing me a sealed envelope. "This mission will test your resourcefulness. Your target is a merchant operating in the Outer Ring. He has been interfering with academy interests."
The Outer Ring was a sprawling district on the edge of the city, known for its lawlessness and cutthroat dealings.
"Understood," I said, though my stomach churned at the thought of another mission.
The Headmaster's gaze lingered on me for a moment. "Remember, Kai, hesitation is death. Trust in your training."
---
The journey to the Outer Ring was uneventful, but the district itself was a stark contrast to the academy's controlled environment. The streets were chaotic, filled with shouts, laughter, and the occasional clash of steel.
I kept my hood up and moved quickly, avoiding eye contact as I made my way to the target's location—a run-down tavern on the edge of the district.
Inside, the air was thick with smoke and the scent of stale ale. My target, a middle-aged man with a wiry frame, sat at a corner table surrounded by guards.
I ordered a drink and took a seat at the bar, observing him from a distance. Unlike Jonas, this man exuded arrogance, his laughter grating as he barked orders at the serving staff.
Still, doubt crept in. Who was he? What had he done to earn the academy's ire?
Focus, I told myself. This wasn't the time for second-guessing.
---
I waited for hours, blending into the background as the tavern emptied. Eventually, the target and his guards rose to leave, their footsteps heavy on the wooden floor.
I followed at a distance, keeping to the shadows as they made their way down a dimly lit alley. The guards were alert but unremarkable, their movements sluggish after a night of drinking.
When the moment was right, I struck.
A thrown knife took out the first guard, the blade embedding itself in his throat. Before the others could react, I was upon them, my dagger flashing in the darkness.
The fight was over in seconds.
The merchant stumbled back, his face pale as he fumbled for a weapon.
"Wait!" he cried, his voice trembling. "I can pay you! Whatever they're offering, I'll double it!"
I hesitated, the memory of Jonas's final words surfacing again.
"They're using you... all of us."
"Why does the academy want you dead?" I demanded, my dagger pressed to his throat.
His eyes widened. "The academy? You're one of theirs?"
"Answer the question."
He swallowed hard. "I... I found something. Something they didn't want me to see."
"What did you find?"
"A ledger," he said quickly. "Records of their dealings—names, payments, targets. They're not just training assassins; they're building an empire."
---
His words sent a chill down my spine. An empire? What did that mean?
Before I could press him further, the merchant's expression shifted, his gaze flicking past me.
I turned too late.
A figure emerged from the shadows, their blade slicing cleanly across the merchant's throat. Blood spattered across the alley as the merchant collapsed, his lifeless eyes staring up at me.
I spun to face the attacker, but they were already gone, their footsteps fading into the distance.
My heart raced as I stared down at the body, my mind reeling. Who had killed him? And why?
As I stood there, the system interface flickered to life again, its glowing words cutting through the darkness:
[Mission Update: Mark of Shadows proximity detected.]
I stared at the screen, my pulse pounding. Whatever the Mark of Shadows was, it had just drawn closer—and I was determined to uncover its secrets.