Ivan's heart beat hard, and the tension was high, but he couldn't say he was having anything but fun.

Marvin and Andy fought expertly together, holding back the latest target of their hunt. They boldly faced down six melee focused lizard-man monsters, and were giving Myrn enough space to go wild. Davian was throwing magically destructive insults at the crude shaman caster in the ranks of the lizard-men, and Ivan had just now taken out the last of their two scouts and four flanking units.

“Steal!” Ivan chanted softly under his breath and cast forth his hand at the Shaman.

His hand immediately felt the ghostly weight of success and Ivan ripped what looked like a feathered skull talisman from the air in front of him. He stowed it within the Shroud quickly and then quickly drew Quixla's dagger once again.

The blade was nearly full with his recent kills on the tough lizard-men. His new hex did little to help him for now, but Penelope was excited to have it as his Fundamental Skill all the same.

Fundamental Skills were usually unique to magic sparks, and came in all sorts of strange varieties. Sometimes a Fire Spark allowed free manipulation of fire for a set mana cost, growing more efficient and powerful as its owner gained strength that came with leveling their various jobs. Sometimes it was a fire bolt, or a breath attack, and sometimes it was immunity to heat. Sometimes it was just a change in hair or eye color too with some kind of passive effect like Myrn's 'Garden Flower' fundamental skill.

It gave her the ability very early on to include her charisma in her spell casting, and have effect on creatures of nature too. It was a valuable skill for any druid and had worked well in speeding her way through various elven rituals and traditions that required a close tie with nature. Even better, all Fundamental Skills grew with the caster and gained new effects and expanded upon old ones. With it Myrn could now speak to trees, plants, and all sorts of living creatures.

Ivan's Dark Spark Fundamental Skill was called Dark Ambition. It had changed his eyes and manifested a curse type magic that afflicted all wounds he made with the intention to harm. Some little testing upon its discovery had proven that Ivan could still do surgery without draining a patient, but he had understood that from the start. But better than all that was its effect at bolstering his advancement of his various Jobs. Ultimately it would lead them down darker roads than without its effects, but Ivan was fine with that. The party even seemed to understand, all except Davian who seemed a little spooked.

Ivan had no thought for those earlier discussions now however as he watched Marvin and Andy display classic dual fighter strategies to tear into the lizard-man front line even while outnumbered. They advanced together, and Andy's shield bash would open a foe to attack, and Marvin would feel it. Myrn snared and pinned down Marvin's flanking foes, and Andy was left open to be covered by Davian, his rapier lancing in like a spear with the speed of his steps, and always threatening at range with his magic ready at hand.

Davian nodded to Ivan as he readied his weapon and turned away a blade meant for Andy's back. The shaman sneered, taking that chance to raise its staff and begin a powerful healing chant, but it was already too late.

Ivan closed and rammed his Knight's Longsword through its back and out its chest in a wash of hot gore using Back Stab to quadruple the damage. Quixla's dagger jumped easily in his hand next coming around the skinny bodied creature and ripping out its neck all the way through the bone as he used Assassinate in turn. Ivan felt distant exaltation as the blade soaked in the blood of the stump neck and head as it spun through the air.

He dashed onward in a rush. Battering Ram, and Pommel strike came to hand as he flanked the melee group, and then Lance Strike, and onto Overpower as he overwhelmed them from the back of their line.

Lance strike had come off cool down and found the neck of one lizard man as he turned to face what had made his fellow go limp and suddenly fly into the brick wall of Andy's shield. A second use of Overpower turned away its fellow's attempted counter skill and the rest fell to literal bloody pieces as Andy and Marvin closed with rapid use of their own martial skills in turn.

Myrn was cheering by that point, and Davian played a quick little tune of victory on one of his strange magical instruments before he dashed it away in a flurry of blue mist. Ivan blinked in the rush of victory as his head spun. His scroll appeared as his mind sought anything for clarity.

Amateur Assassin has reached level three. It has combined with Thief to unlock the Rogue Job instead of advancing to Tribal Assassin, but its skill and benefits will remain active.

Amateur Assassin Skill Level 3: Shadow Step: Using Moderately High Mana you may now step into the shadow of a target as long as you are not within its immediate realm of Perception. Using Assassinate after this skill will make the ability cost mana, be completely silent, and deal potent Shadow Damage.

Amateur Assassin Perk Level 3: Blood Letter: You've gotten to where you need to be through fire and blood. You deal more damage with bladed weapons, and have a higher chance to inflict critical damage, and to apply afflictions including poisons and curses.

Congratulations! You have unlocked the Rogue Job, and earned its first skill and perks.

Rogue Skill Level 1: Disguise: No Rogue is any good if everyone knows his name. You may now pass any basic inspection by producing an Alias. Current and repeated use of an alias has unlocked this skill first.

Rogue Perk Level 1: Subterfuge: Your other perks that give away your crimes or ambition are harder to detect. Also gives you a small boost to your charisma and increases the chance of someone believing you when you are lying. This perk has an effect of amplifying the falsehood nature of Disguise. Very good for remaining an undetected scoundrel!

Rogue Attribute Perks: Rogue grants large bonuses to Agility, Recovery, Dexterity, and Luck with each level. It grants minor bonuses to all other attributes, but a point more to Intelligence and Wisdom every other level than the others. A good Rogue as to be as clever as he is charming after-all!

Ivan was about to dismiss the scroll when something appeared. It was strange. For the first time ever his scroll displayed something he couldn't read. He blinked at it, and rubbed his eyes. The strange letters hurt to look at, and there was a strange sensation passing over his mind.

Azalea suddenly stood within the Shroud and summoned her pole lantern. Flames flashed from the lanterns around her and she pointed her weapon in a direction that once would have led to the living quarters behind the main temple walls of the Parish if the shadow realm really did extend that far.

Penelope came from there, practically flooding Ivan's soul with her pride. She was grinning ear to ear and came to Azalea's side, calming her down from whatever had startled her.

“What just...” Ivan mumbled.

Andy was at his side suddenly, and had taken an arm to make sure Ivan stayed upright.

“Easy there. Easy. Use too much mana or something friend?” Marvin asked.

“Got some is more like it. I think I just accidentally leveled up one Job, and advanced to another Class in another at the same time. It made my head spin.” Ivan explained.

“Oh good. That was it then? What you were reading on the scroll?” Andy asked.

“Yeah. Old habit really, used to show up all the time, but now I've got it to appear just when I want to.” Ivan answered being honest the whole while.

“That's what happens when you leave yourself at full mana all the time or so I hear.” Davian put in.

He was carefully watching one of the fallen Lizard-men with dubious eyes. He frowned at it, and thrust out his Rapier. The wounded lizard-man screeched and clutched at the blade that entered his heart.

“Knew I heard him breathing.” Davian mumbled, and withdrew his sword to clean its blade before stowing it away.

Ivan blinked with one eye open and looked at the others.

“Not going to check the rest?” Ivan asked.

“You got to them, friend.” Andy said with a chuckle. “They're dead. That knife and those poisons do some deadly work. I can't say enough about your ability in a straight up fight as well. You're amazingly bold to be doing that in just standard clothing.”

Marvin nodded, his eyes taking Ivan's somewhat ragged and bloody clothing.

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“Fast and deadly I suppose.” He agreed.

“So uhh... I know it's weird because they're humanoid, but these guys actually taste really good.” Andy brought up immediately as he sheathed his sword and pulled out a hunting knife from his belt.

Myrn made a face at him as he came up, but was looking over their 'prey'. Marvin looked down at the dead lizard-men and shrugged. Davian's face crumpled in unimaginable disgust, but at Andy, not the lizard-men's bodies.

“I'll eat the ones Ivan hasn't stabbed.” Marvin offered.

“Oh good point. Maybe just get the hides off those ones. The equipment won't be worth much.” Andy agreed.

The two looked at each other and nodded, quickly picking out the one in front of Davian to work on first. Myrn frowned at them both, but then laughed at Davian who had started to turn green.

“They had language, and some kind of culture. You're just going to eat them?” Davian asked.

Myrn and Ivan both looked at him patiently as the other two worked.

“What's wrong with that?” Myrn asked.

Davian's eyes widened in confusion.

“Wait no. You were giving them the eye too. What they are doing—it's wrong isn't it?” He asked.

“Lizard man tastes like chicken. It's actually really good, and there's a lot of it. I'm going to be harvesting some myself. A quick wash and thorough cooking will rid the bodies of whatever is left in them.” Ivan replied, stowing his longsword and twirling Quixla's dagger in his grip.

“Nice Dexterity.” Myrn said, nodding her his hand.

“You like that huh?” Ivan asked with a teasing smile.

She laughed.

“It's actually pretty fantastic.” Ivan admitted more seriously. “I think I understand some more of those sleight of hand tricks you were trying to show us before the game last night Davian.”

“Oh do you now?” He asked grumpily.

“I do.” Ivan said, twirling the knife around his fingers and then flipping it in the air. He caught it quickly, he didn't throw it high, and tucked it away.

“And what about those tricks you were playing off just now?” Davian asked, his voice edged on something close to suspicion.

Ivan gave him a curious look, and then shrugged.

“I'm a Fighter.” Ivan iterated carefully, but knew he had to be careful.

“Pommel Strike? And was that Battering Ram?” Davian asked.

The Bard had been training with Marvin and Andy quite a bit and was beginning to recognize various martial abilities as he did his best to mimic and learn them.

Andy looked up, hard at work with blood already up to his elbows, but curious all the same. Even Marvin had stopped for a moment.

“Yeah, aren't those Knight Skills?” Andy asked.

Ivan gave him and Marvin a dry look before bringing out his sword again. Andy saw the blade and nodded.

“Did you steal that from a Knight then or were you trained by one?” Marvin asked.

“Trained.” Ivan answered dryly. “I was trained by a good many people actually, but that doesn't matter now. I have Adaptive Fighting. It lets me stretch a lot of abilities.”

Marvin and Andy nodded at that, both seeming impressed.

“Easy Dav. About the only way to get Adaptive Fighting is to be trained in the use of about every common weapon type. If Ivan has that there's no saying he might have strange bleed over skills from Knight, Barbarian, or even some Militia Skills.” Andy explained.

“What did you use to down that Shaman then Isaac?” Davian asked. Ivan was about ready to damn his sharp perception and insight. Myrn was right there with him too though having a high Perception and Intelligence attribute. He really should have seen this coming, he cursed himself for that, but remained calm. Perhaps some truth to fill out the lie then.

“Assassinate and Back Stab.” Ivan said softly, dropping his head.

Myrn came to his side, and shook her head at Davian.

“Isaac...” Myrn muttered, and pulled on his arm to get his attention.

“I didn't get the thief job overnight and it wasn't without blood. Even Hedge doctor came into play. I'm sorry I haven't told you guys. It's just difficult. I just want things to go back to normal. I... I didn't want to do those things I had to survive.” Ivan said, marveling at his own ability to bend the story even though it was so close to the truth.

He sounded like a young man, barely able to stomach the things he had done. He clung to Myrn's hand suddenly, a man clinging to the last buoy in the harbor before life's stormy currents and waves threw him further out to sea or back into the rocks of the shore.

And as he thought it through he knew it might be for the best to keep it that way. He felt those threads, those spider strings, again tugging and pulling as his new acquaintances made their decisions. By both telling the truth and lying he hoped to get the most of his Charisma bonuses into the mix, and it seemed to work.

Davian hung his head a moment and pushed back his hair.

“I didn't mention the Assassin job because well...” Ivan sighed.

Myrn clung to his arm and hugged him.

“Guys please. I trust Isaac, and he would only do what he had to. He's a good man in spite of everything he might have done to survive. He just wants what any of us would want from his situation.” Myrn begged.

They bought it. Marvin nodded, his face grim, and Andy for once looked sober instead of managing some sort of smile.

“You fought them directly then?” Andy asked with an open expression.

Ivan only nodded glumly.

Andy nodded and looked to Marvin who seemed to also understand.

“You have the confidence in battle like I've only seen out of men who have been to war, and you're younger than all of us I think. Davian's a little baby faced, but you're at least twenty aren't you?” Marvin asked.

“Twenty three.” Davian said with a roll of his eyes, but didn't argue the point further touching his chin which hadn't needed shaving but once in the days they'd traveled so far.

“Isaac are you even eighteen yet?” Marvin asked.

The honest truth of the answer to that question stung Ivan. Tanya had been a month and changed older than him at least. Istania admitted to not knowing his true birthday, but had always celebrated some time during the week she brought him home. It would have been only two weeks after Istania's death that they would have made a special dinner and celebrated. That and he would have finally been of the age Istania deemed was right for her followers to go on their first Mission in her name. He would have been sent on a Mission with Tanya, and they would have used their abilities to heal the sick and injured wherever they were sent. They would have married, and gone for some months before returning home or finding a place of their own where they might help and raise children. But that dream was gone.

Ivan used that bitter sadness to tinge his response. He was in control, but still felt bitter and lonely in spite of that.

“Last week I think. I haven't...I haven't actually bothered to think of what day it's been since...” He went quiet, and made a display of struggling with his emotions that they would sense. It wasn't exactly hard to act out. He just had to show which of them were currently going a bit wild.

Myrn put one hand behind his head and made him bow his down her lips. She kissed his forehead and gave him a light, and very supportive hug. Her eyes shone with care and knowledge of his lies, but she supported him all the same. Ivan felt his little thread to her grow ever tighter, and more importantly, he felt his genuine affection for her grow. He let it flourish, embracing some wisdom he didn't quite have the words to explain. Tanya was gone, and set his love for her aside somewhere, always to be remembered, but Myrn was here, sweet, and wild. It would not betray Tanya's memory to embrace someone who so readily befriended him and desired a relationship of honest intimacy. Ivan could allow that.

“We should have a birthday party then.” Myrn said on a happier note.

“Hey, there you go. Good idea Myrn.” Marvin agreed.

Andy perked up right away at the idea too.

“Things have been going well besides, don't you think Myrn? This last group was about as difficult as things would be in the outer areas of the Old Oak. We could go in, even just for a few hours and try the outside. If Isaac steals some loot, and we make it to a few chests in the maze we can head back, sell some things, or just get what we've found fitted to whoever needs it. How about that?” Andy petitioned, talking to and facing the whole group to gauge their confidence.

“We could try, but if there's any more dangerous hunts like this up on the postings we're going to do those first. We've got a lot of materials to sell when we get closer to home. They'll give a better price for it and I want to get Isaac and Davian some basic light armor either made or bought there as well.” Myrn replied.

Marvin and Andy were satisfied with that, and both nodded agreement before settling back to butcher the kill.

Myrn turned back to Ivan, and still held tight to his hand.

“Don't worry Isaac. With the rate we're going we'll have Hedge Doctor up a rank or we'll be able to afford the equipment you'll need to advance to an Alchemist at the very least.” She assured him.

Ivan had to fight for a little control as the urge to thank Myrn in a more intimate way rose deep within him. Like with Penelope he wanted to kiss and touch, and praise her for how wonderful she was. He let some little of it show to her all the same, and acted a little abashed.

“Maybe I'll have a drink to toast to that tonight then.” He teased.

Myrn grinned and shook her head.

Davian watched, and seemed a little confused, but put his fists on his hips.

“Sorry Isaac. I didn't mean for that to come out like an accusation. This is my first real time in combat you see—I—Well I...” He sighed. “I'm on edge and I'll admit maybe a little jealous.” He said in a startling display of honesty.

Myrn blushed, and slowly put a questioning hand to her chest.

“Yes you.” Davian snarled, but if there was any hostility it was the begrudging friendly type.

“I did tell you that you weren't really my type.” Myrn said softly.

“Yes...it's always the bad boys with the pretty girls. You'll see one day. Not to put on airs about you Isaac, but certainly you get what I mean?” He asked.

“Maybe?” Ivan said, humoring him. “You do say odd things at times, and then strange things happen before you can explain them.”

Davian raised his hands in submission.

“Shhh now. No need to bring that up. Just pleasantly polite and normal conversations here.”

“Can we talk about that actually or is it--” Andy asked, and thunder cracked in the clear blue sky interrupting him. Andy looked up and around at the noise and back to Marvin who was made curious as well.

Myrn started chuckling nervously like she did sometimes when the curse made itself known around Davian. Ivan acted mostly innocent of it.

“That's what I mean, but I wouldn't want you to be hurt. I'm starting to think its not coincidence.” Ivan said idly while looking up at the sky, and the suddenly too quiet woods around them.

Davian was looking a little pale and, seemingly, for a way out.

“So umm-- The lizard-men taste like chicken. I was serious about that. It's actually really good. You and Myrn should find a decent spot to use for lunch and a good sized fire.” Ivan suggested.

Davian's eyes and expression showed relief as Myrn continued to giggle, and he agreed wordlessly leaving the messy work of skinning the humanoid monsters and quartering them to Ivan, Marvin, and Andy. Myrn would help find the spot and help the trees drop their dead branches to collect for firewood. Ivan pulled on her arm as she watched Davian go.

“Thank you.” Ivan whispered in her ear, and bashfully kissed her cheek.

Myrn grinned and kissed his cheek in return, and then pecked him right on the mouth greedily. She had a mischievous smile as she pulled away, and let him go.

“Cradle robber...” Ivan heard Davian tease Myrn as she caught up to his side.

Myrn tripped him with an ivy plant she made to come alive and tangle his feet.