Novels2Search
Guild of Thieves
The First Flaw

The First Flaw

Adrian emerged into the Great Hall where the Godbeast disperced into raw divinity. There were guards this time, as there should normally be. Adrian wondered if the guards were aware of the happenings of last night. Perhaps they were the ones who were supposed to be on duty last night. Considerring how there was not any guards seen last night, it was safe to assume that most of them had been bribed, but there were some who were uncorrupted. He would find out later, he had his ways.

"Adrian? What are you doing in the Godrealms? I didn't see you on the roster. Are you injured in any way?" The guard asked Adrian with sincerity. It was safe to assume he wasn't involved.

"No I'm quite alright, thank you." replied Adrian.

"As long as your fine that's what matters."

The other guard just stared at him with a hint of distaste on his face. Not incriminating, but definitely worth investigating this guards involvement.

A commotion emerges from the entrance like a great wave as Asrenon, the Guildmaster enters followed by his entourage of clerks and yes-men. He was a tall and handsome man with long dark hair and a face you could make a sculpture out of. He looked like the archetype of a hero and was regarded by many as one. Adrian met him when he was transfered to the main branch of the guild. Asrenon just simply didn't sit well with him.

"Adrian. I heard you came back from the Godrealms and came by to check up on you." Asrenon said with a plastic smile. One of the guards must have alerted the Guildmaster of his return. Adrian's guess was the shifty one, you don't call the Guildmaster for an apprentices return.

The Guildmaster looked at the sword in Adrian's hand, then to the scattered divinity on the floor. 

"Unfortunately you seem to have broken the laws of this place. Entering the Godrealms unscheduled is in direct violation of the rules and will result in a fine. We will be taking the sword but you may keep the divinity."

Adrian looked at the divinity on the floor. It looked like shattered glass upon the floor, with a milky tint reminiscent of their origin. He calculated how large it would be if it was made into a blade, it was enough to make a razor.

"The Law states the penalty is 80% of your total gains is the fine for unscheduled thieving. You are taking more than 99%. Doesn't that strike you as a little off?" Asked Adrian, already expecting the Guildmaster to continue attempting to obtain the sword. Asrenon's smile grew, both in size and plasticness, but the malicious glint in his eye did not go unnoticed by Adrian.

"I was only asking as it would be more convenient to keep the sword intact. Heh, how about we consider the rest as repayment for your student loans." Adrian heard the full stop. This was not a question but a statement.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

Before Adrian could reply another person emerged from the gate. They were in a miserable state, with a broken arm, cuts all over and a large gash on their leg. Even worse was the person they were carrying. Adrian recognised the thief to be Jack Fraiser, a thief in his parent's band. He also recognised the person being carried as his father.

Adrian ran over to them, ignoring the Guildmaster as he inspected his father.

Adrian's father was closer to dead than alive, seeming more like a bag of flesh than a human. Adrian knew that the likelihood of his father surviving were slim. Dreading the answer he expected to come, Adrian asked "My mum went with you too didn't she, where is she right now?"

Jack glanced at Adrian before bursting into tears "I could only grab one of them, so I grabbed the closest person and ran as fast as I could. I'm sorry I couldn't save them Adrian. I really am." The thief continued crying when Asrenon said "Tell me what happened, who attacked you, tell me the details."

Jack took a moment to recollect himself.

"I didn't see much sir, it all happened in an instant. We were returning after having successfully stolen a large amount of divinity, we had just reached the exit when I saw a flash of green. They were on suddenly on us, killing and injuring us before we had a chance to retaliate. I knew we were in danger so I grabbed the nearest person and made one last rush for the exit. I say they were robbers sir, we were robbed."

Adrian knew about robbers. Where thieves stole from the Gods in order to protect themselves from the wars between heavens, robbers stole from their fellow man in order to bring personal gain. Where a thief was good a robber was evil. They were almost as bad as heroes. Almost.

Asrenon was also troubled by the news. Although the Beaucroft Band wasn't a band of first-class thieves, they were well reputed for their skills and morals, being highly regarded amongst their peers. If robbers could beat them, even if it was an ambush, that was a worrying sign. It meant they were highly organised, and could threaten the guild, resulting in less divinity in the guild and more with the robbers.

"We need to head back and respond to this new threat!" Proclaimed Asrenon "Everyone, we must have a meeting to discuss how to handle these robbers." 

One of the clerks stepped forward and said in a quivering voice "Si-sir should we n-not bring Mr. Beaucroft to get heal i-im-imediately?" Asrenon froze for a moment, before making a serious face and making a gesture meaning let it be done, his attitude alike that of an emperor.

The universe decided at that moment Marvin Beaucroft should die. The clerk who had approached him was now unsure what to do, and ended up standing there awkwardly. Jack broke out sobbing once more but there was no tears. He had run dry ages ago. Adrian himself was in shock. He had just found out his mother had suddenly died and now he witnessed his father's passing. The world faded into obscurity and Adrian felt isolated in the void.

"There is nothing we can do to revive the dead." Asrenon sighed "Let us depart." with that Asrenon exited with his entourage, Adrian and his sword entirely out of mind. Adrian didn't have the time to be pleased however, as he was still trapped within his head.

He gathered the divinity on the floor and went back to his dormroom where he sat on his bed for the whole day thinking about his new goals, Revenge upon Trozes and his gang for their assasination attempt, and the robbers in green for the murder of his mother. He cried himself to sleep that night, for Adrian was human.

He had developed a little demon within his heart that night. It was his first flaw.