"Brix... What is it that you truly desire?"

Hearing Thorian's inquiry, Brix, the anxious goblin, appeared perplexed. “Ehm, I am not sure what you mean, master. I just want to become a priest, that class reminded me of the great elder.”

Thorian shook his head, cool eyes fixed on Brix. "That's not what I mean," he clarified. "What is it that you truly desire? Be honest, Brix, as I shan't offer you infinite opportunities."

Taken aback by the intense question, the goblin faltered, struggling to articulate a response. “I just want to live, master. You granted me mercy and spared my life; that’s more than what I could ask for.”

Thorian remained silent, his penetrating gaze seeming to bore into the very essence of Brix. Sensing the impending peril, the goblin took a cautious step back, letting out a soft squeak of alarm.

“I-I just want to be like the great elder,” Brix managed to stammer out. “He does everything he wants and everyone listens to him.”

“So that is why you want the priest class,” Thorian mused, stroking his beard before breaking into a knowing smile. “With me, you will see a world much bigger than you had ever imagined. If you prove yourself useful, you will have your authority, you will have your power, and you will have your riches.”

Thorian's voice grew low and icy as he laid out the consequences of betrayal. "But should you dare to cross me or conspire behind my back, you'll wish you had perished alongside your comrades that fateful night."

A weighty silence enveloped the duo, with Brix visibly shivering under Thorian's unwavering gaze. Only after an agonizing stretch of time did Brix muster the courage to take a deep breath and respond to Thorian's imposing proclamation.

"I will prove myself useful, and I will never betray you. I am not a fool. You possess both strength and wisdom," Brix solemnly pledged.

Upon hearing the goblin's reply, a smirk tugged at Thorian's lips. So, you will remain loyal as long as I am the more powerful one? Fair enough. It's my duty to remain the strongest. I, Thorian Steelblade, will never lose to anyone else.

His silence was eventually broken by his measured reply. "That answer is acceptable," Thorian announced, "Go, request Merrygold to initiate you into priesthood."

At Thorian's decree, Brix exhaled a sigh of relief. As the goblin set off towards the Priest Guild Master, Thorian's eyes followed him, maintaining a watchful gaze on his back.

If I want to grow an empire, if I want to conquer the world, I cannot only accept the most loyal followers. It is my duty to make everyone’s interests align with mine.

Upon evaluating Brix's affinity, Merrygold discovered a strong bond between the goblin and the deity of gold and joy. Astonishingly, the Priest Guild Master had a specialized skill scroll perfectly suited for Brix: "Chanting Fortune." While not part of the base skill set, it was known that guilds occasionally held rare abilities for purchase. The availability and quantity of these unique abilities were invariably tied to the rank of the associated guild.

"Chanting Fortune" was a skill that demanded a lengthy casting time - at least ten seconds of vocalizing - to grant a teamwide buff that enhanced skill efficacy. Regrettably, it was incompatible with similar buffs.

Once they had concluded their business at the Priest Guild, the group redirected their course to the Assassin Guild. As expected, none of the orcs exhibited any aptitude for the art of stealth and murder.

Upon the completion of his assessment, Whisperwind detected Nox's presence and advanced towards him with a smile playing on his lips.

"A shadowstalker, intriguing. It's been a while since I've encountered one of your kind."

"Ehm, hello Mr. Guild Master," Nox nervously scratched his head and greeted. "It's just been a few hours since I evolved into one. I was a night kobloid before!"

Whisperwind's ethereal blue eyes sparkled with fascination at Nox's explanation, "Intriguing. So it is possible to transition into a shadowstalker in that manner. This does shed some light on the remarkable racial diversity in this village."

Whisperwind fell into deep contemplation, his thumb absently rubbing against his smiling lips. After a brief pause, he refocused on Nox who was tilting his head in confusion.

"Well, regardless, it's commendable that you achieved such a remarkable evolution," the Assassin Guild Master chuckled. "What do you think? Would you like to engage in a friendly sparring session with me?"

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Nox's eyebrow shot up before he eagerly nodded, "Sure, I'd love to! I haven't had a proper fight with someone strong since that Thri-kreen!"

While the pair were prepping for their duel, Thorian remained a silent observer from the sidelines. Gauging the situation's progression, he chose not to interfere and simply continued to watch.

Intriguing, it seems Whisperwind has taken an interest in Nox.

The orcs, sensing the imminent clash, scattered to make sufficient room for the impending duel. Having personally experienced Whisperwind's formidable strength, none held any illusions about Nox's chances of victory. Even Thorian harbored no particular optimism.

Guild Masters are towering figures, their dominance unchallenged, likely to persist for years to come. If Nox can provide even a slight challenge, it would indeed be a significant upset.

With the audience well spread out, the fight was set to begin. Yet, as the orcs initiated their chants and battle cries, they were suddenly halted by Nox's peculiar behavior.

"What are you up to?" The shadowkin peered at Nox, his head cocked in puzzlement. The ebony-hued kobold had settled down on the ground and was simply regarding him with a broad, cheeky grin.

"I watched your earlier fights, and you never laid a hand on the orcs! So I thought, if you're not going to attack, then neither will I. Does that mean it's a draw?"

The crowd erupted in murmurs as the orcs exchanged glances and whispered amongst themselves, some questioning, "Is that option even possible?" Even Thorian found himself taken aback by Nox's unconventional approach.

This childish unpredictability... it's a talent in its own surprising way.

Whisperwind, the Assassin Guild Master, responded with a light chuckle before it escalated into a full-blown cackle. "Fascinating, this just keeps getting more and more intriguing. Very well, I'll indulge you. Do try to avoid getting too bruised."

No sooner had the words left his lips, the shadowkin vanished like dissipating mist. The orcs spun around, unable to discern his location, but Thorian's gaze instinctively zeroed in on Nox.

Nox swiftly rose to his feet as Whisperwind seemingly dissolved into the breeze. He spun around and, as he'd predicted, found the Guild Master materializing behind him, his towering figure casting an imposing shadow. A radiant blue light enveloped his form before concentrating into his right hand. Whisperwind shaped his fingers to resemble a dagger, the ethereal blue aura assuming a sharp, weapon-like edge. Only then did he launch his attack at Nox.

Despite the shadowstalker's impressive speed, his only option was to maneuver his body to avoid a lethal blow to the chest, resulting in his left shoulder absorbing the impact instead.

Nox was hurled backward by the force of the attack, his body tumbling uncontrollably before finally coming to rest. He let out a guttural grunt of pain as he pushed off the ground with his uninjured arm, struggling to his feet. Despite his dislocated and bleeding shoulder, an unmistakable grin spread across his face.

"Your offense is as formidable as your defense. That's truly remarkable."

There was no animosity on Nox's countenance, just pure, unadulterated admiration for the shadowkin's combat prowess.

Whisperwind's eyes gleamed with surprise, followed by a light chuckle, "You're quite a character. Let's see if you maintain that bravado in the next few minutes."

In keeping with his previous tactic, the Guild Master dissolved from sight as soon as his words were spoken. However, this time Nox sprang into action without missing a beat. By the time Whisperwind materialized in his original location, Nox had already darted to safety.

Their encounter evolved into a high-speed game of cat and mouse, a spectacle only a few were capable of following. Thorian utilized his decades of experience to anticipate their next moves, while Ventus displayed extraordinary instincts and keen visual perception. The rest of the orcs could only watch in astonished confusion.

The relentless pursuit persisted, with Whisperwind barely grazing Nox or inflicting minor wounds each time. It wasn't until over a minute had passed that Whisperwind managed to corner his elusive quarry. Hovering above Nox, he readied his attack, his hand morphed into a claw and his entire body glowing blue. Seeing the luminescent aura, Nox couldn't suppress a smile.

"Shadow's caress."

A dark amalgamation of shadows engulfed the Guild Master's form. While Nox had previously used this skill for its enhancement effect, it also held another utility: temporarily blinding the enemy.

In a split second, Nox sprang into action, delivering a spinning back kick squarely to Whisperwind's face. The impact sent the shadowkin sprawling onto the ground.

The battlefield fell into a stunned silence as the onlookers processed the extraordinary turn of events. Even Thorian's eyes were wide in surprise as he witnessed the unexpected upset unfolding before him.

"Nox!" At that shout, the orcs erupted into ecstatic cheering, their voices echoing Nox's name with unbridled joy and exuberance. They immediately flocked to the triumphant black kobold, hoisting him onto their shoulders before tossing him up into the air. With each catch and throw, the orcs chanted Nox's name in rhythm, while the jubilant shadowstalker laughed heartily.

After several minutes of raucous celebration, Nox finally returned to the ground. Despite the pain in his shoulder and the numerous bruises scattered across his body, he made no effort to halt the orcs' festivities, choosing instead to embrace the exhilaration of the moment.

Once the crowd of orcs had dispersed, Nox was finally able to see the Guild Master. Much to his surprise, Whisperwind bore a broad smile, exhibiting no hint of humiliation over his supposed defeat at the hands of the shadowstalker.

"You're a quick one, aren't you?" he complimented. "You discerned my weaknesses rather rapidly, which is almost embarrassing on my part."

Feeling somewhat awkward, Nox chuckled and scratched his head, "No, I wouldn't say I'm smart. I just had an idea and thought it would be great if it worked. And somehow, it did!"

At Nox's modest retort, Whisperwind joined in the laughter, "And you're impressively swift too, nearly on par with a shadowstalker champion." He then fell into contemplative silence before proposing an offer, "What do you say about working for me?"