One year Ago...

Inside through the thief’s guild, Akatosh's seniors had just recently started discussing their operation. Blueprints of the estate were scattered on the round table. There Akatosh observes their plan, and for just a few minutes he quickly loses interest. Unorganized, the seniors began fighting for themselves about their cuts and who was the leader.

"You want a copy of that blueprint," Hawk said.

"Yeah, I think working alone would be more suitable," Akatosh said.

"And what's your plan then?"

"You'll see." Akatosh smile.

After quickly getting a copy of the plan, he then went out and, immediately goes to work. Circling one of the Lord's estates to a safer distance, checking the blueprint if it matches the design. And by his luck, the elevation plan was very much similar to what he held. The only thing that worries him was the floor plan.

"Well fuck it... it’s do or fail." He says, bringing with him a rope.

With a bit of knowledge about geometry and, architecture. He decides to manually measure the distance and, the location of the vault. Since the vault was located in the basement of the estate, close to the right side of the house. He first has to know the distance and the pinpoint of where he would make a tunnel. Therefore, using a stick as his basis and since the front of the estate was facing north, he went to the back of the estate aligned himself where the rear and the right-side corners. With the help of the stillmage's magic, making himself invisible, he took his time plotting the estate. He could easily swipe the Lord's treasure with the help of the stillmage, but Amaragnum says otherwise. He can only help him with a few sprinkles of his magic, for he was storing for something big if they would encounter any.

When he aligned himself from where he would begin valuating the distance, dusk was closing in. Marking where he stands, he returns to his guild. As always, Akatosh's seniors were still organizing themselves. While some wants a bigger cut others began working in a few groups and, some went solo.

"Good grief, these mongrels." Hawk implores while writing something on a book. "So, how's your first day at work?" He continues.

"Good... not so bad but, it might take me a week."

"Well, you better watch yourselves. Few of our lads were captured sniffing around that place."

"I'm surprised this place hasn't been caught by those venturers. Not to mention the monarchs and their royal dogs called knights and shit."

Hawk smiles for a moment. "It's magic, the moment you all join this guild a spell that removes your memories about this place will quickly activate itself before you spill the beans. But that's just the slight secret why this place was intact."

Akatosh turns at Amaragnum, "You knew this?"

"Well fuck you, do I look like a servant to you? And what's the harm it’s not like you’re going to die about that simple spell."

"Gahh... Fine, I get it."

Days passed, Akatosh was able to start making a tunnel, and since he has no measuring tools to know the exact distance. He relies on the rope that he'd approximated from when he'd calculated the dimensions of his plan.

"Must be 25 meters, 27... Nah, let us get on with it." He says looking at the rope.

The guards were uptight since few of his guild members recklessly sips the way to the house only to be caught by the hands of mages and experts. For their actions, Akatosh was now having a second problem. He thought the Lord's money was transferred to another location or the vault was just a trap waiting for its victim.

He hopes as he digs and digs, too he bought a lot of sack and with his bag of holding, he didn't have a hard time taking out the dirt. After one week inside the tunnel. At last, when he stretched the rope, it would need him a few hours till he reaches the vault.

Little by little, he tunnels upward and, with a few four meters the dirt felt soft. He brushes some of the soil to see a stone pavement. For him not to get squashed by the size and the thickness of the pavement. He widens the area where if the stone would fall there's enough space for him.

He asks his stillmage friend for sensing the surroundings detecting magic traps or some guardians.

"There's no magic trap but, the place was filled with magic. though it looks good to me."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Say that word again and, I'll see to it no help will come for you."

Akatosh sigh and continues his work in the end, the stone pavement quickly falls due to the sheer size and the heaviness. When it made a little sound he pauses, hearing if some guards are in motion.

Amaragnum cast a silent spell, concealing their noise.

"You sure are one hectic bastard." Amaragnum implores seeing Akatosh was erupting with joy and in ecstasy for the Lord's treasure.

"Ahh..." Moans Akatosh for he had done what his members could not.

With a few minutes to set out his emotion, he quickly sacks all the stored money. Bashing the chest and the cabinets filled with coins lustfully packing ornaments pieces of stuff and, jewels.

"Darling, send us back." Akatosh implores as he wickedly smiles.

"I could but, I need to break this magical barrier that jails us from teleporting. After destroying it, who knows it might set an uproar to every corner of this house."

"Fine." Akatosh sigh and writes a letter. "Thanks for the riches, fuckers." He writes.

Leaving the message, together with Amaragnum's magic they lift the stone pavement. Once the stone pavement was columned through strong roots created by the stillmage they then bury the tunnels using the dirt he excavated.

To make more things interesting, Amaragnum destroys the barrier quickly arousing the mage who made it. It didn't take a day for the news to be spread and, when the guild heard the news, Akatosh came a few minutes after the guild was alerted.

"BOYS! DRINKS ON ME!" Akatosh wickedly smiles carrying with him a sack half-filled with the items he looted. He even unloaded the coins and jewels on the ground, showing his members his achievement.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Astound and paralyzed, some are jealous others came to him with a fake smile.

"Sorry seniors but, there are no spoils left for you all." He laughs while still covered in dirt.

He divides his spoil which is a quarter of what he earned. As for the half of the quarter, he then takes it to Hawk.

"Here's the... guild's tax." Akatosh smile.

Hawk chuckles and accepts his offer. After that, he then gave it to his assistance taking it to a safe vault.

"I think you owe me a drink." Hawke continues.

With him making a small celebration, Hawk and Akatosh were having a conversation through a private corner.

"I-I never thought you would be this guild's headmaster." Akatosh was shocked.

"The seventh-generation, to be precise. But enough of that, I'm curious as to how did you manage to pull it off on a whim."

"I don't know about how you people do a heist. I just tunneled the estate it would take me weeks or months. But with the help of some endurance potion, I did manage to cut it within one week. Honestly, this type of robbery is quite common from my place."

After hearing his explanation, Hawk couldn’t hold his laughter.

Elsewhere...

Through the corner of an adventures' guild, just before Akatosh creates turmoil. Two of his female acquaintance was in a tight conversation.

"Have you ever felt something unusual when you were traveling with him?" Ashalain implores at Chifya.

However, Chifya didn't very much trust the woman sitting in front of her which she decides to give her vague detail. Knowing Ashalain as a paladin a class known to have a deep hatred towards evil and chaos. And so, she tries her best to shorten their conversation.

Having noticed that Chifya was giving a few aspects of their subject and avoiding some of her questions. Ashalain slowly retorts, and once their blissful meeting slowly turns to a warring chat.

"It's getting late and, there are many things to do." Chifya sigh, as she stood. "I hope we'll not see again, goodbye." Chifya continues with a sharp tone.

"Same goes for me." Ashalain implores in a riposte tone.

The moment the two met, they already felt incompatible with each other. Like fire and ice, they quickly left their conversation. Seconds after they depart from the table, an angry Lord came barging through the guild's administrator. Angry and frustrated, the adventurers could hear his howl.

"With all due respect my lord, this would take us time to--"

"TAKE TIME! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THOSE THIEVES ROBBED ME! DO YOU KNOW!" The Lord shouts, holding the letter Akatosh left.

"My lord if I may." One of the magical adventurers implores, a diviner.

Explaining his power from the Lord, the man quickly gave Akatosh's letter.

The moment the lord gave him the letter, he quickly tore it in half. Using the half, the diviner uses it to track Akatosh. But no matter how many times he tried using more of his power, not a single trace of Akatosh was detected.

As the lord and the adventurers continue their commodity. Ashalain and Chifya already perceived Akatosh, especially Chifya since she knew what Akatosh had done to the 'Sea Queen'.

Weeks’ pass and, still the investigation regarding the thief who stole the lord's treasure continues. What's more, Hawk was having a hard negotiating with the other headquarters. His other members didn't know this but, Hawk seems to have trusted Akatosh as days go on. Also another turmoil was just starting, and that was between the two kingdoms Keshoval and Endregar. Time goes, the thieves' guild became more doubting to each other. Rumors have begun to spread that another war will erupt. Heroes and adventurers are becoming unreliable to the peoples' aid.

One year has passed and, Akatosh was assigned to join a group consisting of four members. Being the last member of the party, the group decides which will be the leader and the house they would target.

Akatosh didn't want to be the leader since he wasn't used to be. After Choosing one leader of the member the next thing they were discussing was the target. With other groups wanting big fame, they went ahead and target large houses and families same goes for the group. Some barely succeeded others were executed, it was a life as a thief.

"De Shilvia estate?" Akatosh implores.

Being short in memories, and the time chasing gold and adventure Akatosh quickly forgotten that name.

"That's right." Their leader implores and begins giving them his plan.

"Okay, that's fine with me," Akatosh says.

Being assigned to a below-average group, Akatosh didn't care for he was satisfied with his horde of treasures. Merely going with the band, they waited for the night to come.

"Okay, like I said, take what you can hold. We're putting our skills into this and what's get left behind gets left behind... understand?" Their leader implores.

It was a casual infiltration, hiding through the shadow using the skill that they were taught. Scattering into two groups they run through the house gathering what valuables to their eyes.

"Since we're alone, I was wondering how did you successfully infiltrate that Lord's vault even though its security was tight as guarding a king." His companion whispers.

"What's your name again?" Akatosh bluntly implores.

"Uh... it's Gathric."

"Gathric it is... sorry but, I've got a trust issue."

"You mean? --"

"Yeah, I'm a greedy bastard."

The night was a bit unsettling for Ashalain. She was in her father's estate watching his health gradually diminish. High priestesses and priests couldn't decipher what was causing her father in such a state. Even the famous Roland and his companions and acquaintance were only left sorry for Ashalain.

She lay off from her bed and went strolling through the large house. And whenever she walks through the hallways, she felt something wasn't right. Precious silverware was missing, doors that should be locked were left unlocked. Her instinct quickly set her body in motion, alarming the guards and doubling their security she then joins the search.

As Akatosh and Gathric fill their bag, the house suddenly went uproar. Staring at each other for a second, they quickly run whatever direction they could find.

"RAG!" Akatosh called for the stillmage

"Oh, this is going to be so much fun. Run boys run."

"The hell... just what did those--" Gathric was cut off when Akatosh put his hand on his mouth.

"You want us to enter that room?" Akatosh asks Amaragnum.

"I'll paralyze those guards, there's something foul but sweet food from that room."

"Fine."

When the stillmage borrows Akatosh's arms, a gentle wave from his hand quickly sends a spell to those guards.

"Not a time to waste they head inside."

With just a bit of light coming from the moonlight there an old man was resting on a bed. I was Ashalain’s father 'Ariendal De Shilvia'.

Upon looking at Ariendal, Akatosh suddenly remembers the face that put a sword into his stomach. Gathric who was gathering a few wares suddenly saw Akatosh taking out his dagger.

"Hey... what are you doing?" Gathric nervously implores.

He ignores his call and slowly went to the man.

"I remember you. I thought you were dead," Akatosh says, with a dagger in his hand.

"Are you crazy!" Gathric implores in a low voice, trying to hold Akatosh's killing intent. "That's Ariendal De Shilvia! Are you nuts! We should fucking get out of here!"

After seconds Gathric snap and went towards the window.

"Do as you wish." Gathric says before jumping off through the window.

"Hey dog!" Amaragnum shouts. "I don't know what happen between you two in the past but let me have my meal first then you can kill him."

"Fine." Akatosh sighs sheathing his killing intent. "So, where's your meal?"

Amaragnum with his power materializes, murky black shadow the stillmage then inspects the man.

"Ah... I remember this shit. The state of this man... Since you two had a past, did you perhaps kill something that is similar to this man's face?"

"I don't know, but I do remember killing that man if I’m correct.”

"That explains why... this is a dark spell, a ritual to completely take his memories, appearance, his power everything except souls. The downside is if you killed that person who attached himself to the victim it will distort the flow of the process. In short, both of them will die since both of them are linked. It's an ancient that few know this trick, I think someone made a pack with those abyssal self-proclaimed dark gods. Although... this is quite a good meal."

"Just get on with it," Akatosh says, sheathing his weapon after Amaragnum enlightens him.

"I just need to cast time stop then after that; I'll extract my food... also I need your body."

"Half would be good."

Taking half of Akatosh's body he quickly cast a time stop. Following another spell, the dimension changes. Quickly, Amaragnum conjures his third spell that revers the ritual's spell. When finished, a purple monster emerges from Ashalain's father. A worm with sharp spikes, serrated tentacles, and an inhuman face.

"You're mine!" Amaragnum implores trucking the ghostly worm with Akatosh's hand. With his attack, the worm shrieks as it slowly turns into an energy ball.

Departing from his partner, his spell quickly deteriorates. Swallowing the purple energy ball, the stillmage returns to his hiding place.

"Who are you..." A very soft and weak word from Ariendal.

"A thief."

"A thief hardly..." Ariendal responds slowly getting up from his rest. "I never met a thief that can cure such spell."

"Nah... you should thank my partner, he's the one who extracted that thing living in your soul, hiding if that's what he meant."

"Partner?"