The merchant's blood pooled at my feet, soaking into the cracks of the cobblestones. The scent of iron was overwhelming, mingling with the damp night air. My heart thudded in my chest, a frantic rhythm that mirrored the chaos in my mind.
I scanned the shadows, but whoever had killed him was long gone. Silent and efficient, they had vanished as if they had never been there.
The faint glow of the system interface hovered in the corner of my vision.
[Mission Update: Mark of Shadows proximity detected.]
The words burned into my consciousness. The system's cryptic messages had been a mystery since they first appeared, but now they felt like a guiding hand, pointing me toward something bigger.
The Mark of Shadows.
It had to be connected to everything: the academy, the cryptic warning from Jonas, and now the merchant's death. I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"Why now? Why me?" I muttered under my breath.
The sound of approaching footsteps jolted me from my thoughts. I melted into the shadows, my hand instinctively going to the dagger at my waist.
A group of patrol guards rounded the corner, their lanterns casting flickering light across the alley. They froze when they saw the merchant's body, shouts of alarm echoing through the narrow space.
I slipped away before they could investigate further.
---
Returning to the Academy
The journey back to the academy was a blur. My mind churned with questions, and my body moved on autopilot. When I finally reached the dormitory, the weight of the night's events hit me like a crashing wave.
I dropped onto the edge of my bed, staring at the system interface as it continued to flicker faintly.
"Status," I murmured, hoping for more answers.
The screen shifted.
[Status Update]
Name: Kai August
Title: [None]
Abilities: [Unawakened]
Skills: [Shadow Step - Locked], [Veil of Silence - Locked], [??? - Locked]
Status: Active]
[Mission Active: Seek the Mark of Shadows.]
My teeth clenched. The system was offering breadcrumbs, and I was expected to follow blindly. But what choice did I have? I was a foreigner in this world, bound by its rules.
Still, one thing was clear: if the Mark of Shadows was the key to unlocking my potential, then I had to find it.
---
Training in the Shadows
Over the next few days, I threw myself into training with renewed focus. The system interface didn't offer direct guidance, but I hoped that sharpening my skills would prepare me for what lay ahead.
The training grounds buzzed with activity as usual. Students sparred, climbed, and practiced their arts with single-minded determination. I stuck to the edges, avoiding unnecessary attention.
The stealth exercises became my sanctuary.
The academy's shadow trails were designed to test an assassin's ability to navigate unseen. Dimly lit corridors and rooms filled with traps and sentries forced me to rely on instinct and adaptability.
At first, I struggled. My movements were clumsy, and I triggered traps more often than not. But with each failure, I learned. By the end of the week, I could glide through the trails without making a sound.
---
A Cryptic Encounter
Late one evening, as I prepared to leave the shadow trails, I sensed someone watching me. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end.
"Impressive," a voice said, low and gravelly.
I spun around, dagger in hand, to find a man leaning against the wall. His face was obscured by a hood, but his presence radiated danger.
"Who are you?" I demanded, keeping my weapon raised.
The man chuckled. "A friend... or an enemy, depending on your choices."
I narrowed my eyes. "You're with the academy?"
"Not quite," he said, pushing off the wall. "But I know things—things that could help you. Like the Mark of Shadows, for instance."
My breath caught. "What do you know about it?"
"Enough to know you're chasing a ghost," he said, circling me slowly. "The Mark isn't something you find; it's something you earn."
His words sent a chill down my spine. "Earn how?"
"That's for you to discover," he said with a smirk. "But let me give you a piece of advice: trust no one. Not even the academy."
Before I could press him further, he stepped back into the shadows and disappeared as if he had never been there.
---
A Mission of Shadows
The next day, the Headmaster summoned me again.
"You've been progressing well," he said, his sharp gaze pinning me in place. "But the path of an assassin is long and unforgiving. Your next mission will test your loyalty."
He handed me another sealed envelope.
"This time, your target is closer to home," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I opened the envelope, my blood running cold as I read the name inside.
Lyria Venelle.
She was a fellow student, one of the academy's top performers. We had sparred once or twice during training, her movements graceful and precise. But she had always been distant, keeping to herself.
"Why her?" I asked before I could stop myself.
The Headmaster's expression darkened. "Do not question your orders, Kai. She has proven... untrustworthy. That is all you need to know."
I nodded, though unease coiled in my stomach.
---
The Hunt Begins
Lyria was elusive. Tracking her movements through the academy proved challenging, but after two days of observation, I found a pattern. She often slipped away to the forest beyond the academy walls, disappearing for hours at a time.
I decided to follow her.
The forest was dense and silent, the only sounds coming from the rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. I kept my distance, moving from shadow to shadow as Lyria made her way deeper into the woods.
She finally stopped in a clearing, kneeling by a small, glowing pool. The light from the water illuminated her face, her expression calm and resolute.
I stayed hidden, watching as she dipped her hands into the pool and murmured something under her breath.
"What are you doing here, Kai?"
Her voice cut through the silence like a blade.
I froze. Somehow, she had sensed me.
"You've been following me," she said, standing slowly. "Why?"
I stepped into the clearing, my dagger in hand. "You know why."
Her eyes narrowed. "The academy sent you, didn't they? To kill me."
I didn't respond, my grip tightening on the dagger.
"I don't blame you," she said, her tone softening. "But you're being used, Kai. Just like the rest of us."
Her words echoed Jonas's final warning.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"The academy isn't what it seems," she said. "They don't train assassins to protect the world—they train weapons to control it."
My mind raced. The merchant's words, the cryptic encounter in the shadow trails, and now this—it was all starting to fit together.
"I don't want to fight you, Kai," Lyria said, stepping closer. "But if you try to kill me, I won't hold back."
---
The Clash of Shadows
Lyria moved first, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. I barely dodged, the tip grazing my arm.
I countered with a feint, aiming for her side, but she anticipated it, spinning away and striking back.
The fight was fast and brutal, our movements a blur in the moonlit clearing. Lyria's skill was undeniable, her attacks calculated and relentless. But I had learned to adapt, to think on my feet.
As the battle wore on, I saw an opening. With a burst of speed, I disarmed her, sending her dagger flying into the bushes.
She fell to her knees, breathing hard.
"Do it," she said, her voice steady. "But know this: killing me won't change the truth. The academy is lying to you, Kai. And if you don't wake up soon, they'll destroy you too."
I hesitated, my dagger hovering inches from her throat.
For the second time in my life, I couldn't do it.
---
The system interface flickered to life, a new message appearing before me:
[Decision Point: Path of Shadows or Path of Freedom?]
My breath hitched as I stared at the words. The choice was mine. And whatever I decided, it would shape my future in this world.