Upon spying the three assassins scaling the wall, a smile played upon Thorian's lips. His original intent had been to assist the brown kobold in unlocking his class, but he recognized the imprudence in leaving the kobloids to their own devices.

"Oh, is that the boss?" One of the assassins, realizing Thorian's presence, leapt toward him. "Had we known you were here, we wouldn't have bothered. You alone are more than capable of safeguarding everyone."

"Your presence is appreciated, nonetheless," Thorian responded, shaking his head. His gaze then shifted to the brown kobold. "We have a matter to attend to in the village center."

The assassin's brows knit together in momentary confusion, soon replaced by understanding. "Ah, are you about to acquire a class?" He shot a smile at the brown kobold, nodding in acknowledgement. "Excellent, you'll be significantly stronger!"

The brown kobold laughed nervously, managing a "Thank you," in response.

Thorian's attention returned to the assassin, the topic of conversation shifting. "You've been on patrol for some time. What's the state of the western gate?"

"It's much the same as here," the assassin sighed. "We have four injured, but they should manage well enough against the standard goblins and a couple of chaskas."

Hearing the assassin’s words, Thorian scratched his chin. Could we use the same idea as with Caedar? No, broken bones will need two or three level ups to heal. We must get more priests with the heal skill.

Thorian cast his gaze over the brown kobloids who had congregated into distinct clusters and cliques. Each group occupied its own corner, immersed in conversation and punctuated by bouts of laughter.

I can’t have them all leave their spot at the same time, it will leave us undefended for too long.

Thorian clucked his tongue, returning his attention to the assassin. "I'll entrust this position to you for a while. We shouldn't be gone long."

"Take all the time you need, boss," the assassin replied, laughing robustly. "No one's getting past these walls on our watch."

"That's reassuring to hear," Thorian said, chuckling lightly. He then glanced back at the brown kobold and gestured with his head toward the village center. "Shall we proceed?"

As they ambled towards the village hall, Thorian began to elaborate, "There are four classes to choose from: Warrior, Assassin, Magus, and Priest. Each one has its own unique strengths and weaknesses."

The brown kobold absorbed this information with a thoughtful expression, then turned to Thorian and asked, "Which class did Nox choose?"

"Assassin," Thorian responded. "They specialize in agility and lethal strikes. While they may not excel at handling multiple enemies simultaneously, they can deliver decisive blows to a single target."

At Thorian's explanation, the brown kobold's demeanor transformed, his features alight with excitement. "Can I also become an assassin?"

Thorian took a moment before responding, "Ultimately, the choice is yours. However, one advantage of being in a guild is that we can assess your aptitude. After the test, you'll know which class best suits your abilities."

Scratching his chin, the brown kobold nodded in understanding. "That's logical. I should choose the class where my talent lies. That way, I can become stronger in the future."

Well, you don’t strike me as the assassin type but I have been surprised before. I guess we will see when we will get there.

As they journeyed toward the Assassin Guild, the brown kobold shot a curious glance at Thorian, asking, "Can you change your class after you've chosen it?"

"You can," Thorian confirmed, a chuckle escaping his lips. "But it's usually not desirable. Changing classes means losing all your levels and forfeiting the progress made in your class skills. Unless you're aiming for a specific type of class, it's not a decision taken lightly."

"A specific type of class?" The brown kobold cocked his head in confusion. "I thought there were only four classes."

"You needn't concern yourself with that for now," Thorian replied, his smile gentle. "Special classes aren't something you can attain simply because you wish to. They require exceptional luck."

Stolen story; please report.

Upon reaching the Assassin Guild, Thorian immediately noted the austere silence that pervaded the space. The guild was unpretentious and functional, its emphasis on practicality over flamboyance typical of a low-level guild. The walls, constructed of dark, polished wood, swallowed the light, lending the space an air of clandestine seclusion.

To the left of the entrance, the training room stood out, purpose-built for assessing the skills of potential recruits. The area was bare and spacious, furnished with an array of training dummies, weapon racks, and an intricate sequence of obstacle courses meant to test agility, stealth, and precision.

As in the Magus guild, the Guild Master's desk was situated to the right. The sleek, undecorated surface held only a few meticulously organized parchments and a single, gleaming dagger serving as a paperweight. Instead of a regular figure, however, Thorian could only discern a void-like silhouette seated on a chair before the desk.

"What's that?" The brown kobold murmured from beside him, his gaze also locked onto the shadowy entity.

Oh, a shadowkin?

The Guild Master bore a slender, agile figure. His skin was a deep obsidian black, mirroring the color of the midnight sky, yet it radiated an ethereal shimmer when struck by the right angle of light.

His eyes were an extraordinary feature. They gleamed brightly, almost luminescent with a silver hue that stood in stark contrast against his dark skin. They were reflective and profound, as though harboring an ocean of untold tales. His hair, as black as his skin and cascading down to his shoulders, was styled back to keep clear of his face.

Most strikingly, the shadowkin Guild Master was enshrouded in a robe of shadows. These shadows undulated and flowed around him as if they possessed a life of their own.

"Kobolds... intriguing," the Guild Master lifted his gaze from the parchments on his desk, focusing his attention on Thorian. "Are you the lord of this domain?"

"I am," Thorian stepped forward to address the shadowkin. "I'm Thorian. It's a pleasure to meet you, Guild Master."

"Impressive," the shadowkin replied, a slight smile revealing a captivating blue light hidden behind his lips. "A monster ruling over a territory is indeed a rare sight."

"We are here to ascertain the potential of this individual," Thorian indicated the brown kobold with a tilt of his head. "Could you please administer the test?"

"A brown kobold, I see," the shadowkin's gaze shifted to Thorian's companion. "The standard test won't suffice. It's designed for humans who have yet to receive their classes and unlock the system. A monster who has already undergone its first evolution would pass it with ease."

"Does that mean I can become an assassin?" The brown kobold asked eagerly, buoyed by the Guild Master's words.

"The physical examination is just one aspect," the shadowkin shrugged. "Your personality and mental prowess are equally crucial."

The brown kobold's brow furrowed as he asked, "So, do I possess the right personality for it?"

"That's what we need to determine," the shadowkin replied with a smile, striding past the duo. "Let's head outside. We don't want to risk breaking anything if we spar indoors."

While the brown kobold appeared confused, Thorian couldn't suppress a grin.

It’s been a while since I saw a shadowkin fighting. Their skills and spells are the most frustrating thing to deal with.

As the shadowkin strode outside, the brown kobold turned to Thorian, his brows furrowed in a silent inquiry.

Observing the kobold's questioning expression, Thorian simply shrugged, "Go ahead. It should be a beneficial experience."

Thus, the trio exited the guild, the brown kobold and the Guild Master adopting fighting stances. The kobold positioned himself widely, primed to spring at the shadowkin and rend him with claws and fangs.

In contrast, the Guild Master stood in a relaxed pose, hands clasped behind his back. They were roughly the same height, but the shadowkin's demeanor and gravitas gave the impression that he towered over the brown kobold.

"Come, give it your best shot," the shadowkin beckoned, his gesture seemingly taunting the kobold.

Provoked by the shadowkin's words, the brown kobold gritted his teeth before charging at the guild master. With a fierce war cry, he lifted his arm high and aimed a clawed slash at the shadowkin's form.

The Guild Master sidestepped the kobold's predictable attack with ease. Yet the latter wasn't finished. The moment the shadowkin evaded his slash, he followed up with an uppercut, which the shadowkin also deftly avoided.

The kobold launched a barrage of attacks, all of which the guild master nimbly dodged. Each strike appeared as though it might hit, but the shadowkin always managed to elude them by the merest fraction.

"Let's stop here." After deftly sidestepping one final attack, the Guild Master seized the brown kobold by the shoulder. His grip was so firm that the unfortunate kobold was unable to move a single muscle.

Once the brown kobold relaxed and crumpled to the ground, the shadowkin loosened his hold and stepped back.

Thorian, witnessing his subordinate's defeat, was not surprised in the least. If the result had been any different, it would have been a miracle.

"You're not suited to be an assassin," the Guild Master delivered his verdict. "Your attacks are too direct, and you lack the necessary cunning for a proficient assassin."

"Let's fight again!" The brown kobold growled, leveling a glare at the shadowkin. "I was so close to hitting you. Just give me one more chance."

"You weren't close to hitting him," Thorian sighed. "And even if you had, it wouldn't have made a difference."

Without diverting his gaze from the brown kobold, Thorian suddenly sprung forward with astonishing speed, aiming a spinning high kick at the Guild Master's neck. However, his foot simply passed through the shadowkin's body as if it were a mirage.

Maintaining his silent communion with the shadowkin, Thorian turned back to the brown kobold to conclude his point, "Because hitting him achieves nothing."