Mia slumped against the tunnel wall, her body aching from the heist. The gash on her arm throbbed, a constant reminder of the shadow beasts she'd barely escaped. Kael's words echoed in her mind: Keep your secrets, little shadow. For now. He knew something was off about her—her survival of the cursed artifact had only deepened his suspicions. But for the moment, she was alive, and that was enough.
The system's interface glowed in her vision:
*Shadow Points: 200*
*Skills: Shadow Veil (Level 1), Enhanced Agility (Level 1), Poison Blade (Level 1)*
*Available Upgrades: Shadow Step (250 Points) – Short-range teleportation. Cooldown: 45 seconds.*
She was 50 points short of the next skill, but Poison Blade gave her an edge. The timer for her original mission—kill Lord Varen—was still ticking down at 23:42:03. She'd have to deal with that soon, but Kael's presence complicated everything. He'd made her a deal: serve as his personal assassin, and he'd protect her from the system's death threats. The offer was tempting, but it came with a price—her freedom, and maybe her soul.
Footsteps echoed in the tunnel, and Mia tensed, her hand flying to her dagger. Kael emerged from the shadows, the Voidheart shard still glowing faintly in his hand. His crimson cloak seemed to absorb the dim light, making him look like a specter. "You're still here," he said, his tone laced with mock surprise. "I half-expected you to run."
Mia snorted, pushing off the wall. "And go where? You've got me on a leash, remember?" She gestured to the tunnel around them. "Besides, I'm not exactly eager to face more of your cursed toys."
Kael's smirk softened into something almost… warm. "Fair enough," he said. He stepped closer, his gaze flickering to her injured arm. "You'll need to be in better shape for what's next. Follow me."
He led her deeper into the tunnel, its walls growing narrower and more jagged. The air grew warmer, and the faint hum of magic filled the space. They emerged into a cavernous chamber, its ceiling studded with glowing crystals that cast a pale, violet light. The room was a training ground—racks of weapons lined the walls, and a large circle in the center was marked with runes, their glow pulsing like a heartbeat. A few shadowy figures moved in the background—Kael's lieutenants, Mia guessed—but they kept their distance.
"This is where you'll train," Kael said, gesturing to the circle. "If you're to be my personal assassin, you'll need to be more than a thief. You'll need to kill without hesitation."
Mia's stomach twisted. "I'm not a killer," she said, her voice quieter than she intended. "I don't even know if I can do this."
Kael turned to her, his expression unreadable. "You already have," he said, his voice low. "The shadow beast in the tunnel—you didn't hesitate then. And you'll do it again, because you have no choice." He stepped into the circle, drawing a sleek, black dagger from his cloak. "Let's see what you're capable of."
Mia hesitated, her mind racing. She didn't want to be a killer, but Kael was right—she had no choice. The system's missions, Kael's demands, the cursed artifact—she was in too deep to back out now. She stepped into the circle, her dagger in hand, and faced him.
Kael moved first, his speed blinding. Mia barely dodged, her Enhanced Agility kicking in as she ducked under his strike. She countered with a slash, but he blocked effortlessly, his dagger locking against hers. "Too slow," he said, his voice calm. "You're holding back."
"I'm not!" Mia snapped, pushing against him. She activated Poison Blade, and her dagger glowed with a faint, green sheen. She broke free, aiming for his side, but Kael sidestepped, grabbing her wrist and twisting it until she dropped the weapon. Pain shot through her arm, and she gasped, stumbling back.
"You are," Kael said, releasing her. "You're fighting your instincts. This body knows how to kill—let it." He tossed her dagger back to her, his eyes narrowing. "Again."
They sparred for what felt like hours, Kael pushing her to her limits. He was relentless, his movements precise and deadly, but he never struck to kill. He was teaching her, Mia realized—teaching her to fight, to survive. By the end, she was drenched in sweat, her muscles screaming, but she felt stronger, sharper. The system chimed:
*Training Progress: +10 Shadow Points.*
*Total Shadow Points: 210.*
Kael sheathed his dagger, his expression approving. "Better," he said. "You'll need that skill for your first assignment." He pulled a scroll from his cloak and handed it to her. "Lord Calen, a noble allied with the royal family. He's been interfering with my plans. Kill him, and make it clean."
Mia unrolled the scroll, her hands trembling. A sketch of a middle-aged man with a scar across his cheek stared back at her, along with details of his schedule—he'd be at a tavern in Vaelor City tonight. "And if I refuse?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
Kael's smile was cold. "You die," he said simply. "The system, my enemies, or me—I'm the only one keeping you alive, little shadow. Don't forget that."
Mia swallowed hard, tucking the scroll into her tunic. She didn't want to kill, but she didn't want to die either. She nodded, and Kael gestured to a side chamber where she could rest before the mission. As she left the training circle, she overheard voices—Kael's lieutenants, speaking in hushed tones near the cavern's entrance.
"The royal family is moving against us," one said, a woman with a scar across her neck. "They've hired mercenaries to hunt you down, my lord. And the priest in the palace—he's been asking questions about… anomalies."
Mia's blood ran cold. Anomalies. Did they mean her? She pressed herself against the wall, listening.
Kael's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Let them come," he said. "The Voidheart will be ready soon. Once we have the final shard, the royals—and their gods—won't stand a chance."
The lieutenants murmured in agreement, and Mia slipped away, her mind racing. Kael was planning a rebellion against the royal family—and the gods themselves. The Voidheart was the key, but what did it do? And why did the priest care about "anomalies"? She had a sinking feeling it had to do with her reincarnation.
That night, Mia headed to the tavern, her black attire blending with the shadows of Vaelor City. The tavern was crowded, filled with drunken laughter and the clink of mugs. Lord Calen sat in a corner booth, flanked by two guards. Mia used Shadow Veil to slip closer, her heart pounding. She didn't want to do this, but she had to. She activated Poison Blade, her dagger glowing faintly, and moved in.
The kill was quick—too quick. She struck from the shadows, her blade sinking into Calen's chest before he could react. The poison did its work, and he slumped over, dead in seconds. The guards shouted, drawing their swords, but Mia was already gone, slipping out a back window with Shadow Veil. She felt sick, her hands shaking as she fled into the night.
The system chimed:
*Mission Complete: Eliminate Lord Calen. Reward: 200 Shadow Points.*
*Total Shadow Points: 410.*
*Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step (Level 1) – Short-range teleportation. Cooldown: 45 seconds.*
Mia barely registered the reward. She'd killed a man—her first real kill. The shadow beast had been different; it was a monster. But Calen… he'd been human. She leaned against a wall in an alley, her breath ragged, tears stinging her eyes. She didn't want to be this person.
Footsteps approached, and she looked up, startled. Kael stood there, his expression unreadable. "You did well," he said, his voice softer than she expected. "But you hesitated at the end. There was a witness—a barmaid. She saw you."
Mia's stomach dropped. "I… I couldn't," she whispered. "She didn't do anything wrong."
Kael's eyes darkened, and he stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "Mercy will get you killed," he said. "Kill her, or I will."
The system chimed:
*New Mission: Eliminate the Witness. Reward: 100 Shadow Points. Failure: Kael Draven's wrath.*
Mia stared at him, her heart breaking. She was trapped, caught between Kael's ruthlessness and her own morality. But one thing was clear: if she didn't act, Kael would. And she couldn't let that happen.
---
*To be continued…*