The following morning, Doctor Sharpeyes picked me up from the room I was assigned. Not the one I had been in during training, but a new room all to myself. I had a bedroom, bathroom, and a living room slash kitchen all to myself.

She had informed me there were no cameras, but I didn’t dare call on Mes inside the building. Doctor Sharpeyes led me back to the third floor and to an office at the corner of the building. “The High Cleric will see you know,” the mouse secretary said. I entered the office and Doctor Sharpeyes left.

I could see the sun and sword symbol on a side wall with a gleaming sword beneath it right in front of me. Right in front of me sat a middle aged mouse. “Please close the door Mittens, and have a seat,” the mouse said while gesturing at the chair in front of him.

Closing the door to the large and well furnished office I sat. Where Doctor Sharpeyes’ office had felt warm and inviting, this felt much more intimidating with all the signs of the Covenant Church on display.

“I am High Cleric Maximilian. I am in charge of our organization. While I do not approve and dislike the term, many senior assassins call me the Leash, often with reference of me being around their necks. What do you think measures the worth of an assassin in this organization Mittens?” I wasn’t ready for that question and said the first reasonable answer that came to mind.

“Number of Ancestral Spirits stopped,” I replied hoping my answer was correct. High Cleric Maximilian didn’t change his solemn expression and shook his head slightly.

“That is incorrect. Assassinations are judged on the basis of damage prevented in relation to the damage caused. The pay is of an Assassin is one percent of this value.” I nodded at this while he intently stared at me, like he could see into my soul. This was the first time I had ever felt physically intimated by a mouse. Even Gary didn’t have the same aura of danger Maximilian had around him.

“The cost of support and everything else comes out of our budget. But screwups and messes, come out of yours. What do you think happens to creatures who fall into the negative?” I gulped a bit at that question.

“The Paladins kill them,” I replied, and Maximilian nodded.

“It is rarely done. But I prefer there are no misconceptions about how things work. Civilian deaths are to be avoided. That is why we prefer not to just throw creatures at the problems that come up with guns and explosives. You have a question?”

“I thought there was a special metal that was needed against Ancestral Spirits?” I asked.

“Ah yes. Celestial Ore. Very rare, very valuable. The amount of force needed to take out an Ancestral Spirit that is not Celestial Ore or a creature channeling the Warrior is immense. We would not have a civilization in that case. We would back in the barbarous times where creatures fought in small groups and warring tribes.” The High Cleric shook his head before continuing.

“That is why we have this Order of Assassins. The portrait that Doctor Sharpeyes has in her office, shows the first Warrior’s Shadow agreeing to work with a High Cleric to push back the Ancestral Spirits. To bring the light of civilization to all creatures. Go on, ask what you want.”

“Why not use the Paladins instead?” I asked.

“Paladins have no nuance or discretion. If there was a great battle for every incident, then the outcome would be the same as just bombing the Ancestral Spirits back. Paladins my dear Mittens are a very blunt instrument. Suited for only death and destruction once roused.”

“But that is only partially the truth. How many great powers are there Mittens?” That was a weird question. There was only the Covenant Church. This was clearly another trap question.

“I would say there is only the Covenant Church, but that isn’t true, is it?” I asked and the High Cleric nodded slightly.

“Indeed. There are two other great powers that we are at war with. The Snake Confederation which holds the continent to the South, except for one city. The Highwater Bastion, is our only beachhead against the waves of mesmerized creatures and apostates the snakes send out. Our last assault consisted of around a hundred paladins twenty years ago.”

“Only six survived. Snakes when empowered by the Snake Spirit are highly compatible. Their threat is only contained by the winters we experience, since cold is fatal to them.” I nodded at this listening intently. I couldn’t believe there was an entire continent of snakes. “Ask.”

“Why lie and the other great power?” I asked out of curiosity.

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“Belief empowers ancestral spirits. My suppressing knowledge and making the Warrior central to the Covenant Church, we slowly gain power while they lose power. At least that is the hope. The problem is the snakes mesmerize creatures and have a vast slave empire controlled by their clerics that are called apostates.”

“As for the other great power, the Great Lizard Kingdom, they are content to keep to themselves. Their rulers prefer stability and are content with the borders. There was a crusade, and an eventual truce was declared, and a boarder made.”

“But their agents go forth and harbor displaced tribes. Seeking to cause trouble. I will not lie. We do the same thing as well. It is a test for a Cleric to be named a High Cleric to go to another nation and cause trouble. Each side looking to hinder the others and gain an upper paw. Ask away,” he said.

“I was told we could ask for anything?” I questioned and High Cleric Maximilian nodded.

“Within reason. But one of our founding tenants was that service is to be rewarded. The greater the service, the greater the reward. This translates into the accounting practices we use today. Like the cursed child your father stopped but a building was blown up.”

“We have a projected cost of damages for a storm caused by the birth of the cursed child, and the number of civilian deaths, and the building. While also taking into account it was a cultist nest. I reviewed the final report, and then two other retired master assassins reviewed as well to make sure the Covenant Church isn’t shortchanging any assassin’s work.”

“The amount is put into his account. If any party disagrees, then we meet and discuss the issue and it can be escalated, but that hasn’t happened. Money is easy, but disasters are much more troubling. I would say we err on the high side of things and there have been no complaints under my watch.”

“As for a request, you can ask, and I will let you know the price. Ask,” he said, and I felt nervous.

“What would it take to have cats labeled good creatures?” I asked a bit nervously.

“Don’t worry, I have gotten that question many times in the past from various creatures. Many of them have slowly put money towards the final amount, which has been building up over time. With both the final amount and the amount put in adjusting for inflation.”

“Cats have gotten about 8.2% of the way to the final amount. Your father has contributed quite a bit. The total amount, the last I checked a month ago is just over half a trillion credits.” My eyes went wide at that. Half a trillion! That was five hundred billion.

A car cost about five thousand credits. A meal cost about five credits. The richest creature I heard of only had a billion credits. “That…that is a lot,” I said in shock. My father had earned two percent of that, that was over a billion credits.

“It is. But it would require a substantial shift in the doctrine of the Covenant Church. There would be turmoil and societal unrest. The amount was set high initially so no one creature could ever earn that much. This was also meant to show that the creatures who worked as part of this organization are to be trusted and have proved themselves.”

“The payout and penalty tables are all approved by the Master Assassins and by me. Many creatures retire to luxury on one of the nearby islands. Their every need seen to. Others like to teach or find another purpose once their time is over.”

“You are required to serve for five years, once you make your oaths. After five years, if you haven’t died and your mission completion is positive, you can be evaluated for the rank of Master Assassin. In the short term, you will go through rigorous training as a Neophyte. Actual training, not tests of character.”

“Then you will go on a few missions as a Journeymouse after that, with them earning the money and shouldering the risks. Once the Master Assassin signs off, you will be on your own as an Assassin of this organization and entitled to earn.” I nodded at this. He paused and I took the chance to ask a question.

“Could I earn more by going to one of the other nations?” I asked. The High Cleric actually took a moment to think about that.

“Once you are a Master Assassin, then yes. That request could be made and most likely approved. We might have to draw up some new accounting tables, but it can be done. You would probably die, but your life is your own. Now any other questions or concerns?”

“No High Cleric,” I responded. I needed to think about all of this, but there was nothing pressing. He didn’t seem like he wanted to casually chat like Doctor Sharpeyes had done with me.

“Come,” he said and hopped off his chair. While he was shorter than me I remained respectful as I followed him to a shrine at the side of the room. There was a statue of the Warrior, a mouse holding a sword and the symbol of the Covenant Church on his shield.

“Kneel,” he said, and I got on both my knees in front of the shrine, while he stood in front of me to the side. “Mittens the Cat, do you swear that you come here with your own will and purpose.”

“I swear,” I said.

“Mittens the Cat, do you swear to protect the innocent. Strike down enemy ancestral spirits. To never turn your back on this organization,” High Cleric Maximilian asked.

“I swear,” I said.

“Mittens the Cat, do you swear to act in the name of the Covenant Church and obey its orders.” I hesitated for a brief moment before speaking. I knew this was coming.

“I swear,” I said, my voice steady.

“Then as a High Cleric, I sanctify your declaration in the name of the Warrior. May his light shine upon you and guide your path even in the darkest and most dangerous of times. Rise Neophyte Mittens,” I got up to my feet.

“I look forward to great things from you Mittens, great things. Your father has requested to handle your induction and take you on as a Journeymouse once you are no longer a Neophyte.”

“Thank you, High Cleric Maximilian,” I said and bowed my head.

“No need for that. I am not one to stand on ceremony with you Assassins as long as politeness is maintained. Go, I know your father wishes to speak with you and has been anxious. He should be waiting at your room.” I quickly left the office at that dismissal. The secretary gave me a look before going back to whatever she was doing.

I quickly hurried towards my room to speak with my father.