In the forest, as the morning light pass through the trees and casting a shadow and below it is Lucires sleeping around an extinguished campfire. As he slowly opens his eyes and greeted by the dazzling sunlight falling to his face. Slowly getting up to do some stretches, as he ready himself to hunt his breakfast.
"A new day, I hope it's going to be a good one" Thinking of what happened a day ago at the entrance of Ardenshire he let out a bitter smile. As he slowly make his way deeper into the forest making sure not to make any unnecessary movement, and using ash magic to completely devour the magicule around him making him practically invisible to any magicule sensing abilities. As he slowly enter the center of the forest, he saw a deer which look like an easy target as it nibble at the tree leaves but the giant antler made of crystal pulsing with magicule says otherwise.
Slowly he silently walked behind it condensing a blade made of pure ash, and to enhancing it's magicule corrosion property. And just as he was about to strike he noticed a feline like creature also sneakaing up to attack the deer, deciding that a little caution won't hurt him, he waited for the feline to make the first move, and it didn't take long the feline grew restless and strike and just as its claw neared the deer's neck.
The deer quickly reacted as it let out a cry the antler glowing with florescent light as the tips let out beams hitting the feline mid air passing through its petite body leaving countless tiny holes. Seeing the leopard like creatures lifeless body on the ground, Lucires broke in cold sweat, but seeing the opportunity when the deer relaxed after killing the leopard, he made his move as he condensed countless spear made of ash and throwing it at its vital part the heart and neck.
The deer quickly reacting quickly and jump but because it let its guard down the spear still pierced its hind leg and stomach, and as the spear reach deep into its flesh the spear made of ash disintegrated letting the blood flow out, taking the opportunity he let out cloud of ash spread near the deer and teleported replacing the ash. With a quick slash he cut through its neck with the enhanced ash blade he made earlier, and before the deer even registered what happened its neck was separated from his body as it flopped to the ground.
Lucires let out a sigh of relief, in that battle just even the slightest mistake could have given the deer the chance to use its beam and it could have ended badly. Letting his unique skill [Ashen Soul] do its work as smoke made of pure magicules leave the deer's body absorbing it and enhancing his magicule and body.
And just as he was about to reach and pick up the deer, when he suddenly made a dagger made of ash and quickly throw it behind a tree but instead of the flesh piercing sound that he was expecting a clang sounded as a person wrap in black hooded cloak with a knife piercing a skull on its back, slowly stepping out behind the tree holding two metal daggers and under the persons feet was the dagger thrown out slowly disintegrating.
"Who are you" lucires spoke in a calm almost emotionless tone but his body speak anything but calm, as ash coiled around his body and tightly holding two black ash dagger ready to strike if the man move even just a single step.
The man not minding Lucires's tone as he spoke in a frivolous tone " What an interesting ability you have there boy, and killing a fully grown Cervilume is no easy feat, and looking at your hair and eyes made remember the rumored [Ashen Phantom] it's you isn't, people keep talking about you, I thought merchants just make those story up to make a few more coins but looking at you now made me think its true, you are a natural born assassin, so I decided to make you my apprentice" the man keep talking while laugh loudly already expecting Lucires to agree.
' an apprentice ' Lucires narrowed his eyes as he grew more cautious seeing the man so relax and didn't even pay attention at the part where the talked about the Ashen Phantom as he slowly make a distance from the man.
Realizing that if it weren't for his experience as an assassin in his past life he wouldn't even find someone watching. As he made enough distance he ask "didn't I ask you to introduce yourself"
" ah, sorry where are my manners, my name is Altos an assassin, from the assassin guild of the kingdom of Falmuth, you can also call me [The Reaper]" the man no Altos spoke in a smug tone watching Lucires reaction.
'The Reaper should be a title in the organization called {Assassin Guild], and also Falmuth this should be where I am right now or at least the kingdom Falmuth is a nearby kingdom' Lucires thought after analyzing what Altos said. To obtain more information he slowly spoke "who? Are you well known or something?"
"Wait what? What's that reaction!" Altos scream out not expecting Lucires reaction.
"You're not following the script at all! Shouldn't you be shock and after registering my title, you'll jump in joy for getting the chance to be an apprentice of a well known assassin!" Altos shock spoke his thoughts and while speaking his hood fell out of his head showing his face. Black hair, black colored eyes and a short beard on his face, a face that when you meet screams that {I am serious}.
And this same face look funny with its eyes widened in disbelief and spoke "do you really don't know me? I mean I get it that you don't know Altos but not knowing The Reaper the assassin with a bounty worth millions of gold coins, seriously? do you live under a rock or something"
"I'm sorry but I don't know you" Lucires shook his and spoke while analyzing the information he heard.
Altos feel his pride shattering after hearing those words. "anyway you should know more about me now, so it's only fair for me to know more about you and also what about your answer to my offer" Altos spoke while recovering from the shock.
"I am Lucires, and sorry but I don't plan to become an assassin" Lucires hearing this told Altos his name but rejected his offer of becoming an apprentice.
"But-" just as Altos was about to speak, a voice that make anyone hear it shiver from cold came from Lucires "I said I don't want to become an assassin"
"I'm not even surprised anymore, here" sighing Altos throw him a blue card, Lucires catch it and look at him confused "it's a favor card from the assassin guild use it in the elf tavern in the capital, to ask one request and they will follow it"
Lucires looking at the card more confused and slowly look at the man he just meet and ask "why give it to me?"
"well you can also use the favor to contact me if you changed your mind, also I'll leave first since I got a commission to finish and I'm just passing by" Altos answered while slowly walking away.
And just as Lucires was about let out a sigh of relief Altos stopped making him tense up.
When suddenly Altos with his back facing Lucires spoke "also boy you should learn to suppress that ability of yours, although strong the way it reacts with the [Elemental Sprites] make you look like a demon"
Eyes widening Lucires suddenly look at that back and quickly ask "what do you mean by-" but before Lucires could finish his sentence, Altos suddenly shrink to his own shadow disappearing from sight.
"-that"
Looking complicatedly at the place where Altos disappear, he let his dagger turn into powder of ash as picked up the cervilume's corpse, slowly walking to his camp under the sunlight that pass through the trees canopy.
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Author-chan here! Did you notice the writing style changed? Did you? Did you? {Smile.jpg}
Anyway, this chapter was made without the use of AI you heard that right! No AI! The chapter become more detailed with good enough {in my opinion} writing, and all it took in exchange was Author-chans suffering, Hooray! {clap} {clap}
I hope you enjoyed the chapter!