Load.

Okay I am in deep shit again. Deeper shit. Bloody shit.

I looked down at my trembling hands. Sure I killed before, lots of people even. But never like this. I killed those that got in my way, those that impeded my goals. I killed with a purpose. This was a systematic massacre of all living beings, a culling. You cull animals, not people.

“Fuuuu…”

I calmed down somewhat. Then I began to think, how to get out of this bloody shit.

I thought back to magic. I wish I could just magic this all away. However besides the inability to use magic inside the town, I myself could not use magic. When I visited my good friend Botis to show him how to treat his elders I inquired about how he uses magic. Sufficient to say I am unable to view this Status Window. Apparently I just have to think and poof, I would understand everything. After he finished laughting at my inability to use the status window I had to demonstrate why he shouldn’t laugh at his elders.

*Sign*

That train of thought was demoralizing. Well I guess my first priority to get more information. The Magician Society is where the guards came from.

However the center of town is the only place magic works. I only went in there amicably to see what was inside. I haven’t forced my way in deeper before since I was afraid what this magic would do to me. From the school classes I learned that there are fireballs and such. However I am much more concerned about the mind related magic…

Well I guess I could try entering calmly again. I can bluff something about going there in the middle of the night.

I redress myself in my old world clothing. Stuffing the mask in-between the strap holding my bulletproof vest on I put on my dark green cloak.

The streets are quiet again. This time I am not sneaking but calmly walking towards the very important building. As I reach the doors I clench my hands, wondering what I will find behind them.

*Knock* *Knock*

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

The metal knocker wills the silence night to wake.

*Shuffle* *Shuffle*

The door opens. The light from the inside brightens the dreary night. It was a man in a robe, a dark robe. Similar to one the one my good friend wears, but a different design.

“What do you want? You know it’s the middle of the night right?”

He scans me from side to side trying to determine what I am up to. Now what should I say?

“Uhh, I am here to meet Arch-Mage Luvon.”

I managed to find out the name of the towns mayor, or more like overlord in my stay. I think this should get my past the door.

“Oh really, Arch-Mage Luvon did not mention that he was expecting visitors tonight, it is quite weird since we spoke at length.”

“Well it was only a small matter pertaining to some deliveries he needed to be made.”

“Alright come in, the Arch-Mage is currently pre-occupied so I would that you wait in the lobby for now.”

*Creak*

The man opened the door fully. There was nothing strange in the lobby of the Magician Society from what I could see. It was still a few hours before the guards would emerge from here.

I entered the lobby calmly. At least I tried to give that impression.

*Creak*

The door closed behind me. The man walked past me brushing against my side.

“Excuse me. Oh yes I did not catch your name, mercenary?”

“I go by Leaf.”

He peaks at my ears. I learned from my time in this town that only truly old elven lineages use simple natural names. Such as Tree, Twig, Stone, Grass, etc. The new blood, mostly mixed with humans and some other sub-races, use fancier ones. There is apparently quite a beautiful man in the Mage College called Merellien Ilistinan, a lot less simple. This is important because the more pure the elven blood in you the more likely you are to be to use Spiritual Magic. I haven’t been able to find out what Spiritual Magic is, but sufficient to say that the teachers spoke of it with blazing eyes. Especially the Materializer general class, the old man was practically trying to drown the students in spittle.

“I see. Mister Leaf I will let the Arch-Mage know that you have arrived.”

I sat down at one of the cushy chairs in the lounge. The man left shortly after, going up the stairs. I took another look around the place. It was well decorated, more akin to a castle then a building. A few coffee tables with cushy chairs interposed by carpets. The walls were a bleak grey, with glowing gems hanging from the ceiling. Enchanted quartz stones, or fake magic stones by another name. Much cheaper the real deal, whatever that is.

There is a counter with no one behind at the far end of the room beside the stairs going up. I also see a fancy board with nothing on it but some small holes. From what I heard mercenaries can more to the Society to get work contracts. But this being a Provided City in the middle of nowhere there is a lack of work for such people.

After waiting for a few minutes I decided to explore. I feel like I’m missing something but I want to get as much exploring done as possible. When the man comes back I reload and come back again. By doing it this I should be able to safely gather more information, it’s foolproof.

I get up and head toward the counter. The door to the left of it should lead somewhere interesting. I grab the handle and turn. The door opens quite easily. I go past and close it behind me. There is a hallway. I see some stairs going down at the end of them. Bad things always happen in the basement, or start from the basement.

I reach the bottom of the stairs. It is a small room, most likely for storage. I see barrels and crates lying around. However there is another door. The path to it seems to be recently cleaned. the barrels are pushed to the side. The floor underneath where the barrel is scuffed like they were moved before, many times. I tug at the handle and this one is locked.

I turn around to take another look at the room.

I see a man squatting behind a crate looking right at me. He is dressed in black with a knife in his hand.

I stare at him, he stares back at me. Why isn’t he reacting to me? Maybe I should just shoot him?

I glare at him and reach for my gun. I see shock in his eyes, like a startled bird. I pull out my gun from my holster…

Then there is pain at the back of my head. Then nothing.