Several hours passed, and SJ felt her eyes getting heavy, trying to stay focused on the bar's entrance. Large groups had come and gone from the bar below, singing and laughing as they did, and the music that filtered up had been pleasant. She had hoped the night's chill would have helped her stay more focused, but it had the opposite effect. Her eyes shut for a moment, and she jolted awake again.

'Damn,' she cursed, standing and walking around the roof to get her blood flowing and remain awake.

"I can keep watch for you. If you are that tired," Dave said.

'Are you sure?'

"Yeah. I have nothing better to do today and am enjoying the music."

SJ sat back down again, pulling her knees up to her chest, watching the entrance, and it wasn't long before she again drifted.

"He's moving," Dave suddenly said, waking SJ from her half-slumber. She hadn't slept properly, drifting in and out as the night had worn on. Checking her display, it read 02:11. She couldn't believe how late it was. Having been sitting on the roof for almost six hours. Glancing down, she spotted the cloaked form weaving slightly as it made its way down the street, heading further towards the outer wall. Wherever Malaki stayed would be a change from his luxury home in the inner city. Stretching, SJ stood lifting from the roof.

Staying low to the rooftops, she tracked his movement. There were few on the streets at this time of night, the odd beggar asleep in a doorway or other drunken beings making their way home or to their next bar. It appeared that bars and inns in Asterfal didn't close. As the streets narrowed further and the outer wall was reached, SJ struggled to follow Malaki's movements with the roof overhangs. Seeing his form still in the gloom of the night ahead, she dived to the street level. The buildings were all darkened. Only the sporadic light filtering through buildings' closed drapes entered the streets.

Malaki was still swaying, and as SJ neared, she picked up the humming sound, followed by a hiccup. She watched as he turned down an alley just ahead. She sped forward without wanting to lose him in the warren of the streets. Reaching the corner about ten feet into the alley, she found him propped on his elbow against a wall, emptying his bladder. The alley was tight, little more than an ogre's shoulder width apart. Landing, she was going to take advantage of the opportunity. As she landed, he finished his business and turned, moving down the alley, bouncing off the walls as he staggered. Growing, SJ took a step forward, equipping her blades and triggering her shadow step.

Appearing directly behind Malaki, she attacked. Her claws pierced his neck with a vengeance and pent-up aggression she didn't realise she had been holding onto. The gurgling release of air as her other claws pierced his side. She pulled her claws from his side and struck again, this time more central. Only the gasp of air escaped his lips. She felt no remorse, just pure anger at what this man had done to her and her friends. Triggering her identification skill, she was shocked when her skill didn't trigger any details.

He had to be over twenty levels above her own. Not knowing the health of him, she continued to attack. Over and over until, at last, she heard a final breath leave his lungs. Removing her claws, his lifeless form fell to the alley floor. SJ panted. Her senses heightened, and her adrenaline pulsed through her body. She felt alive, and her body tingled with a hidden excitement at killing him.

"That was..." Dave paused. It's absolutely amazing. You just assassinated a level 47 mage in under two minutes, and not once did they cast a spell."

'Level 47?!' shock registering with SJ. He wasn't twenty levels higher. He was nearer thirty. SJ's hands shook violently as she panted, trying to calm her breathing. Glancing around, the streets were empty and silent.

"Loot him, then go," Dave urged.

SJ's display triggered.

Congratulations! You have been awarded 615xp for killing a level 47 mage. Bonus experience x 3 since the being was over twice your level. +20% reputation bonus for being in the confines of Asterfal.

2214xp awarded.

Amazed at the experience award, SJ bent and looted the body. Ignoring the message that appeared and shrinking again before taking off. Reaching the rooftops, she flew several streets over before coming to land. Her heart still raced, and she bent double, breathing deeply to calm herself. Looking at her dress, she could see the remnants of blood being cleaned from it. Looking at her hands, wrists, and arms, she needed to wash before anyone saw her. As her pulse slowed, the nervous tension was released from what she had held onto, and tears formed.

"Why are you crying?" Dave asked, confused.

'I don't know, probably shock. I just assassinated a being almost thirty levels above me. Why didn't you tell me before what level he was?'

Dave coughed nervously. "I didn't want you doing what you are now, which is freaking out."

SJ began pacing. The shock that had replaced the adrenaline eventually lessened. 'I need to clean up.'

"You do. Just head home."

'No. Not until I get confirmation that the contract has been void and no one is after me.'

"Good point. Maybe the Griffin?"

'If there is anywhere where assassins can hang out, it could be there. We know Carlito does.'

"Tower then. It's your safest option."

SJ couldn't argue with Dave's logic, and as she went to take off, she heard a scream several streets over from where she had come. Panicking at someone finding the body so soon, she nearly slipped on the roof tiles. Steadying herself, she took off and headed straight back to the tower.

"That is a good thing if they found the body already. It will get back to the guild sooner." Again, Dave's logic was sound.

As she flew back, her thoughts were all over the place, and Dave allowed her to work through them without interrupting. As she reached the tower, Dave spoke again.

"Zigferd's drapes are closed. It looks like he is back," Dave said as they flew to her balcony.

'At least that is some good news.'

Landing on her balcony, she entered her room, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. Walking to the table, she lit the lantern, flooding her room in the light. Stripping off, she ran the bath and climbed in as the water ran, washing the dried blood from her hands, wrists and arms, watching the red trails disappear down the hole. Once the water ran clear and the worst was off, she put the plug in and allowed it to fill. The water was too hot, but she didn't care, the burning against her skin soothing her chaotic mind.

Grabbing scented oils from the side, she poured much more than she needed into the water and spent a long time scrubbing every inch of her body. She felt dirty and tainted. Eventually, as the water became cold, she climbed out, wrapping herself in one of the large towels provided in the tower. Walking to the bed, she flopped, staring at the ceiling. Looking over at where she had cast her dress, it again looked clean. It was then she looked at her boots.

The boots had become more worn as she owned them, and their durability had lessened since Fizzlewick had given them to her. They were darkened and tainted from her fights and quests and didn't have the same appeal they had had.

'I need new boots.'

"Of all the things to think about now, you are thinking of shopping."

'No, I am thinking logically. I need some boots with an enchantment like the dress—ones that self-clean and repair. There is too much chance of evidence from my boots.'

"It's not CSI. They will not swarm in the room wearing white coveralls."

Knowing that Dave spent his time watching movies and TV shows from Earth made SJ smile.

'No, it may not be, but they are stained and worn now, and I have not worried about my gear or clothing overall because of the dress. I need to going forward. I am going shopping as soon as I get the all-clear about the contract.'

Lying on the bed, SJ took a long time to settle until exhaustion eventually took her, and she fell asleep.

"Time to get up," Dave said.

SJ tried to sit, tangled in the large towel she had fallen asleep in. Untangling herself, she climbed from the bed, pulling her clothes on. She quickly checked her display and saw that it was only 07:00, with a flashing notification in the corner of her screen.

Opening the notification, she read the details.

Class Quest - Defend your honour- complete

You eliminated Malaki Fretun. The timeliness of your removal of Malaki Fretun impressed your sponsor. Bonus perk awarded.

Reward: Two class perk points.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Opening her skill sheet, she checked on the Shadow Step. It had been the perfect skill to support her last night, and she read the details.

Shadow Step Level 2 - Thirty-foot step range, 4.5-second cooldown.

Selecting it, she accepted the increase and saw one perk point disappear. Considering what she had done over the past few days, she dropped the other point into her elimination skill, taking it to level 2. Even though it was an unarmed skill, it gave her the bonus of strike accuracy when using her claws. Dave explained how the skills complemented each other.

"That was nice of Carlito," Dave said cheerily.

'It's a nice bonus. I can't argue. I never asked what sponsors get for being sponsors?'

"Oh, it varies. Sometimes, they get experience gains, and other times, they may get advanced perks unlocked."

'Advanced perks? You mean stage two ones.'

"No advanced perks, hidden perks if you want to call them by a more appropriate name. They can open specialisations."

'I am surprised that everyone doesn't want to be a sponsor then.'

"Ah, they don't know. There is no prior knowledge of the details or what they may get. I know that some sponsors previously have received nothing. I do not know how it is calculated or how the system works out what is what and who gets what. It's a very uncertain area. Over the years, many have tried to work out the reasoning behind awards, and nothing has ever been confirmed as factual."

The thought of hidden skills intrigued SJ. Although living in Killic, she wasn't aware of anyone she could sponsor.

'Is there a level requirement?'

"Yep. Minimum level 35 to be a sponsor."

SJ sighed, filled with excitement at the thought, and then realised how long it could be from ever being achieved. Considering the level of restrictions in place with Killic's growth, it could be months, if not years, away from her ever achieving her goal—never mind finding an assassin whom she could train and support.

"You need to look at the loot you got from Malaki," Dave's tone was one of surprise. "I think you will be pleasantly surprised."

Pulling up her display, SJ looked at the message history and found the one from looting Malaki.

14 x copper, 12 x silver, 3 x gold, 1 x platinum, chain of alchemy, ring of mana regeneration, ring of health regeneration, pestle of mixing, notebook, keys

'A platinum piece?!' SJ thought in amazement, retrieving the coin from her inventory. The coin was larger than the standard coins of Amathera. It was much brighter than the silver coins and was much heavier because of its size. 'Wow. I never thought I would have one.'

"You focus on the coin over the items? Did you see the items?" Dave said.

'Yes.'

"Then check their descriptions."

Calling the chain of alchemy to her hand, she checked its description.

Chain of Alchemy - the wearer of this chain gains a 25% bonus to alchemical creation.

SJ could just imagine Darren's face if she gave it to him. Smiling, she returned it and checked the other items.

Pestle of Mixing - components mixed using this pestle increase alchemical potency by one level.

Ring of Mana Regeneration - Passive regeneration restores 5% of total mana every minute. 50% immediate recovery occurs once every 24hours.

Ring of Health Regeneration: Passive regeneration restores 3% of total health every minute. 30% immediate recovery occurs once every 24 hours.

"They are some very nice magical items. The rings would sell for a substantial amount of gold each. The pestle and chain are rare and would sell for a great deal at the auction house."

'I know someone who would benefit from the chain, pestle, and mana ring. I think I have just found Darren and Alice's wedding presents.'

Dave made a choking sound. "You would give them away as gifts?"

'Why not? I don't need them.'

"Yes, but their value?!"

'Would you prefer I sold them at the auction house so that another like Malaki could come along and use them, or would it be better for them to be used by our friends?'

Dave didn't respond. Selecting the Ring of Health Regeneration again, she held it in her hand, turning it. The ring was a plain silver band. It had no markings that gave it away as holding any magical power. Looking at the inside of the band, she had expected to see an inscription or something, but there was nothing. The ring was too large for her, and she slipped it onto her finger. The band shrank until it fit perfectly. Smiling, she held her hand up, looking at it.

'I wonder what the keys are for,' SJ retrieved them and found a bunch of five keys.

"Looking at them. I would say two are door keys, and three are chest keys or similar."

It made sense to SJ, considering the difference in sizes. 'I wish I had followed him home now. I wonder what he has hidden away.'

The last item she looked at was the one she had expected to be the most boring, and she could have been no further from the truth. Opening the tattered notebook, she flicked through the contents. The writing was scruffy and reminded her of a doctor's writing, swift and scratchy. She had always wondered why doctor's writing always seemed to look similar. One of her friends who had been a nurse in a local hospital back on Earth had always said that it was to hide their spelling mistakes when trying to remember the spelling of medicines.

The contents described various concoctions and alchemical formulas, which SJ didn't understand. However, SJ's excitement peaked when she turned to the back and came across the list of numbers and names. Written in roughly drawn tables were lists of initials, and alongside them were what she could only assume were amounts of coin. The table had column headers, initials, due, fee, and a last column called behind. Several amounts were crossed out and amended, while some initials were scratched through.

'He must have been working with the loan sharks,' SJ said. 'These all look like details of beings owing money and amounts due. I may have just found my first lead towards the quest.' As she finished her thought, her display triggered.

Quest - Free the slaves - update

You have seen how the cage-fighting bait is treated unfairly. You must free them from their unfortunate destinies.

You have discovered your first clue about the underworld of loan sharks. Where will it lead you?

Rewards: 7000xp - reputation with Asterfal

'Not very helpful.'

"A mystery quest. How intriguing. You don't see many of those normally, but considering the experience available for that quest, I am not surprised. You just need to do some investigation now."

'With initials only, I think my first place will have to be visiting the Griffin and speaking to the bait still being held there. Maybe some of them are on this list.'

"That is a great idea. However, I am unsure how easy it will be to visit the bait. Releasing Lurtew was one thing. Walking in and asking them their names could easily draw the wrong attention."

'I will speak to Lurtew. He may have learned some of their names while he was there.'

After removing the other items from her inventory, she placed them in her wardrobe with everything she had brought from Killic. 'I need to improve my storage situation,' she said.

"You have enough funds to consider that, but that will depend upon all the other items you wish to purchase: boots, claws, darts, and enchantments. You still need to visit the pet trainer."

'I better get to it then, but my priority is speaking to Zigferd. I have about 36 hours left to get him to marry Isavil!'

"Oh. I had forgotten about that."

Leaving her room, SJ walked to Zigferd's door. It was now just after 08:00, and she knocked loudly.

"One minute," Zigferd called. SJ heard shuffling and banging, followed by a loud curse before the door opened. Zigferd stood, rubbing his knee. "Morning. That's the third time I have walked into that damn table now."

"Where have you been?"

"And morning to you too," Zigferd said, rolling his eyes. "Let me finish getting dressed, then we can eat, and I will tell you where I have been."

"I need to discuss something with you that can't wait."

"Not even five minutes?"

"No," Pushing past Zigferd, SJ walked into his room.

Frowning, Zigferd closed the door and turned to face SJ.

"What's that urgent?"

SJ didn't hold back. "You have 36 hours to marry Isavil."

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