Chapter 8 - The Choosing
After sitting down, I realized that the chair was too big for me and I couldn't comfortably lean on the backrest, especially with my legs not reaching the floor... So I shifted and bent my legs to the side, propped an elbow on the armrest and leaned on the backrest.
Satisfied with my now comfortable position I switched my attention back to the matter at hand.
-" I assume you are already informed about the matters pertaining your request. " I said while resting a chin on my hand.
After a short moment of silence my associate responded.
-" Yes, I have been made aware of the events that have transpired... " He made a brief pause before continuing. -" ...and I am most pleased with the outcome... which had surpassed my expectations. To be frank I did not expect an adventurer to handle this matter in such a professional manner. " He finished and I received a notification:
*Ding*
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Quest Completed: Something Shady and the Curious Guards
Completion Difficulty: E+
Reward: D Grade
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He gave me a moment before asking.
-" Why don't you have a little wine? Its a good vintage. "
-" It might be, but there might be little more than the wine? " I countered.
-" Hmm...Cautious. I like that! But rest assured, there's nothing inside this time... " He said while accenting last words heavily.
-' Dirty bastard is trying to play me. ' I thought and retrieved the goblet with my left hand.
-" Lets skip the pleasantries, get to the point! " I demanded in annoyance.
-" I heard great many things about you and I made my own investigations... " He spoke casually.
-' What is he playing at? ' I wondered.
-" ...and I decided to offer you the reward for your contribution - one that, you adventurers, seem to regard so highly. " He finished and I thought:
-' Pff, all this spectacle just for that? ' Then I received the notification and almost choked on the wine that I tried to sip.
*Ding*
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You have been offered training required to ascend to a New Class. Do you Accept? Yes/No
Class Name: Shadowblade Assassin
Short Description: Shadowblade Assassin Sect excels in combat. It is relaying on variety of weapon techniques, supported by the dark arts, to reign supreme on the fields of battle. Though not as powerful as warriors they more than make up for their lack of front line potential with their subterfuge and sudden assassination techniques, which can be even employed during open combat.
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-" . . . ", I was still recovering and could not believe what I was seeing.
-' This is totally lame *rogue-warrior* class! I bet all the noobs will swarm it making it a dime for a dozen in half a year. ' I thought with distaste.
-" I might even overlook some details pertaining the apprenticeship... " He kept saying...
-" I REFUSE! " I almost yielded, then continued in quieter voice. -" I have no intention, Whatsoever! To take up that lame class! Give me something else! "
-" ...Uhm... " He sounded surprised. -" Are you sure? Adventurers seem really keen on it... " He continued in uncertain voice.
-" I am not some lame adventurer! Better tell me what else is there or I am out of here! " I fumed, straightening myself in the chair.
The person seemed to collect himself also and spoke in a calmer voice:
-" Very well, my apologies for underestimating you. "
-" Hmpf! " I couldn't help myself from snorting.
Suddenly, with a clank, a throwing star hit the back of the chair, close to my face.
-" Young Lady, please do not forget yourself. I apologize for ridiculing you, but I will not stand idly and take the tantrums of a little girl. " He said in calm voice, which was actually all the more threatening that way. -" I might be slightly indebted to you, but there are limits... "
I swallowed and felt properly chastised.
-" I am sorry, please do excuse me and explain the case. " I said respectfully.
-" As I was saying, there is indeed a combat oriented assassin class that seems to be greatly coveted by the adventurers, but lets forget about it for now, as you claim that its ill suited for you. " He began explaining. -" But coming back to the basics, there is pure Assassin class which offers wide variety of skills ranging from poisons and traps to knife skills and lies. Of course, normally, before becoming a full fledged assassin, one would need to finish the apprenticeship period first. "
-" I am quite sure there is more to this, could you tell me more about other specializations? " I asked.
-" It is not a lecture hall, nor I am a professor. Suffice to say that depending on the exact inclination the specializations wary - hues like Shadow, Emerald, Moon and many more correspond to the techniques, while shapes like Cloak or Blade refer to the focus of the particular class. I assume you can now figure out how a shadowblade came to be. " He finished his explanation and fell silent.
-" Could I become one of those hue based variants? " I asked curiously.
-" I guess you might, barely I might add, qualify for the Sun, which is related to negotiations. "
-' Ahh, diplomacy of the blade. ' I smiled to myself.
-" If you have no interest in alchemy, then forget about the Emerald and you can't become one of the Moon aspected ones as you are now. " He said. I was starting to get the vibe that I better make it fast as his patience was at the end.
Still I couldn't stop myself from asking, as something kept bugging me for a while now.
-" What about Mist? "
-" Hmm interesting, I do not know where you heard it but for you it’s as impossible as reaching the Moon. "
I was too curious to drop the subject and kept asking despite the risk. I tried my best to be polite and forthcoming.
-" Please, I do implore you to explain those last two aspects. " I almost begged him.
He sighed, but answered.
-" Very well, lets be done with it. Moon and Mist are related to magic use and therefore they are unsuited for adventurers. One would need to learn magic to become one. Still adventurers are better off becoming Mages, because anyone can say few chants and turn a whole field to ash, but it takes a lot more to burn the target and save the grass. "
As I heard it I felt elation coupled with a giddy feeling in my stomach.
-" Please, I need...must become one of those! Please do help me! " I said in an enchanted and insistent voice.
-" What? What has gotten into you? " I heard him say.
-" Please Sir! No matter what it takes, you must help me become That class! " I said, suddenly sitting on my knees and bending over the table.
-" You are not making any sense... " He kept protesting in confusion.
I was half across the table while I pleaded with a wide eyed look.
-" I need to become a Mist or Moon Assassin, You Must help me! " I said while heavily accenting the words.
I strained my eyes and I was able to discern a wiry shape of a person before me.
-" But that's impossible for you... " He protested weakly.
-" I don't care, tell me what I need to do! “ I kept pleading while creeping closer.
here was a slight panic in his voice when he finally said:
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-" You need to learn magic, but that's impossible for an adventurer! It requires thinking! "
What he had said suddenly reminded me about what recently happened and that memory forcefully calmed me down.
-" I see, spell casting usually requires a high intellect, something that adventurers usually lack… one way or another. " I paraphrased the old saying, I haven't realized that I said it out loud.
I retreated back and sat on my knees.
-" Don't worry ,I can do it, please just give me a chance. Otherwise you will have to kill me again and again as I wont stop asking and coming back.. " I said with resolve and looked at the shadowy figure in front of me.
Silence continued, I did my best to look at my associate without blinking, which got my eyes wet.
He sighed when he responded in a resigned voice.
-" I will see what can be arranged, you will need to attend the academy. Come back tomorr... "
-" Thank you! " I practically yelled when I jumped at him.
Something like a red powder surrounded my face and a sudden surge of pain blazed in my head, making me feel really stupid while everything was going black...
* * * *
I woke to a vehement headache, also I noticed that there was something cold and wet on my forehead.
I tried to remember when I had decided to go to sleep, but couldn't remember. What I remembered instead was how I tried to jump a Master Assassin.
-' That was retardedly stupid. I am lucky to be alive...wait I do not even know how the death looks like... ' I thought in panic and began to touch my head.
I quickly found a wet bolt of cloth, spiky ears and long hair, but could not locate any wounds or bumps.
I removed the compress and started to look around. It was a very dark room and I was laying on some soft bed. When I tried to sit up I was hit by even stronger headache and I registered a sudden wetness over my lips.
I reflexively licked it and found out that it was blood. I started to feel around and retrieved the compress from earlier, then I held it against my nose.
-' I am bleeding, my head hurts and I feel dizzy...I do not know if I should feel lucky or miserable... ' I thought to myself.
I heard silent steps outside, soon followed by a quiet sound of an opening door. Suddenly, I had to shut my eyes as whole room was illuminated with a strong light.
-" Hey, how are you feel...oh, damn it’s a rebound. Quickly, drink this! " Unknown, but familiar voice spoke out, a moment later someone forced a glass vial against my lips.
Obediently I drank and lost consciousness again...
* * * *
I felt something wet moving over my face, so I moved reflexively and pushed someone's hand away.
I opened my eyes and looked around. I noticed that I am in a richly decorated room and some hooded stranger, in a tasseled, dark red cloak was sitting next to me. He was holding a bolt of wet cloth, which was stained red with blood.
On cue I looked down and noticed that my purple tunic was heavily stained with blood as well.
-" Don't try to sit up, you can't afford to lose any more blood. " The stranger said.
Instead of retarded question like *what happened*, I said:
-" I am sorry to trouble you. "
He sighed when he responded.
-" You have no idea, anyway lay there for a while, you need to get stronger. I will bring you something to eat soon. "
-" Thank you, I will try my best to repay you. " I said softly.
-" You better will, I had to use some important favours to get you into the academy. "
-" Er? How so? And into what academy? " I asked still confused by the blood loss.
-" Magic Academy and as the special case student...unless you care to explain that mark on your forehead instead? " He said patiently.
I was at a loss on what to say as simple thank you just didn't cut it for me.
-" I will do my best to learn magic and to repay your help. " I said tersely and tried my best to show my resolve.
He sighed and sat on the bed next to me. Then he placed a hand on my forehead.
-" Just stay strong, think and do not jump at dangerous people... " He said quietly and I had to smile through the tears. Then he continued in a louder and official manner. -" Try your best I have placed a lot of faith in you... "
*Ding*
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You have been offered training required to ascend to a New Class. Do you Accept? Yes/No
Class Name: Moon Assassin's Apprentice
Short Description: Moon Assassin Sect uses magic as their main asset, supporting it with other skills, like poison or subterfuge. They do not have the firepower typically associated with mages, but more than make up for it with extreme precision, clever usage and wide variety of their spells. Their assassination techniques and close combat skills can rely on both physical and magical means giving them great versatility and are hard to predict or counter.
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-" Yes, I would really like to become your apprentice. " I said and hugged him with tears in my eyes.
Only after a moment I began wondering:
-' What am I doing? '
[ . . . ]
[ Meanwhile in a Training Centre ]
The Instructor was looking around with a worried expression.
-" Forest, boy, where have you gone? " He was wondering out loud and some beginners in the building were giving him strange looks.
-" I hope you are safe and haven't met anyone scary... " He suddenly felt a shiver and got drenched in a cold sweat.
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Hey~, Authors Here~
I hope you liked today's chapter, it took me dastardly long to put all those dialogues into shape. Please share your thoughts on today's developments.
Also, I have some unfortunate news - yes, I am starting my working week from Monday and there's high chance I wont be able to publish much during next week - and yes even Overlords got to work, running a Netherworld is harder than it seems! At least I will be able to do some research in meantime.
Also, the poll ended with crushing defeat of Owlbear General, but that's hardly unexpected - he is only a monster general and narrator can field Demon Lord level powers or even stronger.
I will work hard to give you best bonus chapter I can. I will publish it in appropriate place in chapter 6 as well as I will give a notice at the end of the chapter I will be releasing at the time.
[ Haha, I won. Now author you are my slave ]
Stop with the delusions or I will have to put 12th Tiered Power Reversal Barrier on you again...
Cheers,
Mea, The Working Overlord
EDIT: PS I have proofed all the chapters so they follow the same style and are up to standard, also I have set up some better description of my work as I noticed sharp decline in the influx of viewers since someone gave me 0.5 stars and dropped my rating to 3.17 - since I like what I wrote so far and don't find it inferior in any way (especially after proofing everything) I do declare on that pitiful soul, adhering the Overlords Creed:
-"You will know my Curse,
let the strings of misfortune strike you down,
bringing forth the Calamity,
let the defeat be your guide,
and despair your lifelong companion", [ Overlord Had Spoken ]
NEXT CHAPTER: Chapter 9 - The Fitting