The Final Test
Capital city was considered the biggest and most important city. But with all the development it also comes with the cons. The city became too big for guards too keep an eye in everything that happened. Some people would take this exploit for granted.
"Come on you lazy demon," shouted a rhea wearing a black cloak, "we need to be quick!"
"I'm doing what I can. And I am imp!" The imp was carrying, with both hands over his head, a big object covered with a white blanket.
The Rhea rolled its eyes. He watched the imp putting the object inside the wagon. The imp was 6 feet tall, had brownish skin, big ears and red eyes. He only wear black pants (of course he would prefer wear nothing but it was the rule of the city).
He stopped a moment to contemplate how easy it was to steal that object. Only three Steel adventures inside the building which were easily dealt by them. Then it was just a matter of picking the artifact. After loading the stolen property, the Rhea made signal for the driver to prepare the horses and as soon as the Rhea and Imp entered in the wagon, it started moving.
"So... what is so special about these artifacts?" Imp asked folding his arms.
"These artifacts will help us in reviving the demon lord!" Rhea answered with a rapid voice.
That made Imp raise an eyebrow. The demon lord was defeated 5 years ago by a group of adventurers, "Why do you think this time will be different? The adventurers that defeated the demon lord are still alive!"
"Don't worry... things will be different this time."
"How can you say that?"
"Let's just say I have... some friends in the dark."
The wagon suddenly stopped making the Rhea hold the wall of the wagon to not to fall. The Rhea had a bad feeling about this, have the authorities noticed what they have done already? The Imp and Rhea exited and run to the driver who had his head down. Rhea inspected the body; he saw a small dart in his neck and … a feather.
He heard a scream close to him and, recognizing the voice, he quickly turned. His eyes widened, his companion was on the floor, with what appear to be a man wearing a white hood with one hand holding imp's left shoulder and the other hand on its neck. The man slowly removed his hand from the neck, showing a blade coming from his leather bracer. Rhea felt a shiver down his spine, that man easily killed his best man, even the Steel adventures were no match for Imp. That man looked at the Rhea, who could swear that he saw two red eyes staring at him. Rhea turned on its heel and ran so quickly he was almost stumbled.
"An assassin!" Rhea yelled running for his life.
The assassin drew one knife and threw it; it struck in Rhea's left ankle which made him fall on the ground. Even so, the smaller creature crawled trying to escape, but it was in no vain. The assassin turned Rhea's back on the ground.
"Please spare me!" Rhea said terrified.
"You, who had committed so many suffering to those who were innocent, doesn't deserve a chance," the man said in a monotone and calm voice. "Rest in peace"
"Ah excellent work my apprentice," Said a man appearing behind the assassin, he too was wearing a white hood but his appearance showed an older man close to the forties and had a black beard.
The assassin bowed in respect to his master, "thank you! But it is all thanks to you, if it wasn't for you, the goblins would have killed me when I was just a little boy."
His master walked to him and put his heavy hand on his shoulder, "come, your last test is waiting for you."
"You have located where the Rhea's headquarter is?" The assassin said raising his eyebrows.
"Yes… and you are going alone," Master said with a stern face, "it will be your first time that you are going alone… I also want to warn you that the place is guarded by goblins"
"Goblins…?" he asked. The assassin felt a knot in his stomach, it wasn't the first time that he faced goblins, he and his master have entered plenty of times in goblins' caves to train. But it would be the first time that he would face him alone. Something was burning inside of him.
"Yep…" Master said taking some gold coins from his pouch, "Since I want for you think on your own, I won't give you supplies. You must buy your own equipment for this one. There must be a workshop in this town, in the morning you will buy your equipment and go on your quest. Now remember don't let your emotions take control of you, your mind is your greatest weapon; those who do not think ahead die first. Be cautious."
He nodded, took the gold coins and put on the purse that once belonged to her sister.
"Now, before you start your hunt for goblins we need to look what were they were storing in the carriage," Master said as he walked to the wagon.
"Artifacts. They plan to use artifacts to revive the demon lord… I heard them." The assassin said walking along with his Master.
"Oh that would be troublesome. Good thing that you stopped them."
Master entered in the wagon and examined the objects as the assassin waited outside. It was still earlier to dawn, but there was always the possibility for some guards to see them, it wasn't their job to tell them what happened and also this kind of thing always ended in a misunderstanding.
"The artifacts they were taking were some old lamps, a mirror to talk to the deaths and a book… They were probably thinking into doing a necromancy ritual…"
"What to do with them?"
"I'm going to burn the book… it's too dangerous" He said as exited the wagon carrying the book.
He put the book on ground and then threw a match with fire on it.
"… Let's go to the inn… Your final test will start soon…" Master said as he turned his back to the wagon. The assassin followed short after.
Two hours have passed, but the assassin still wasn't able to sleep, he was sitting on the bed restless, he couldn't take his mind of the simple task ahead… killing goblins. He sighed, seeing that he wasn't going to have some sleep he decided to take a stroll in the city. He decided to wear some civilians clothes so that no guard thinks that he was a thug, he did however decided to take three knives, a short sword in case he needed.
He walked on the empty streets of Capital city and although he walked looking at the green moon he was cautious. His master said whatever you do, always be on alert you never know if an enemy is spying you or will try to kill you. He wanted to make his master proud but the truth was, he thought that if his master could see him now he would be ashamed: being anxious about a mission, nervous in not knowing what to pick for the adventure… Was he ready to face them alone? Would this time be different than when he was just a kid? He wasn't certain...
His line of thought was cut when he heard someone walking in his direction; instinctively he put one hand in one of his knives. He saw honey blonde-haired girl wearing a light blue dress, she appeared to be contemplating the city since she kept looking to a building without a single worry in the world. The assassin saw that she was not threat and dropped the knife. She noticed the man who was looking at her and smiled gently at him.
"Trouble to sleep?" she asked him getting closer to him.
He arched one eyebrow surprised, "Yeah… You?"
"Same… This is my last day in the capital city, after today I'm moving to the frontier."
"Is that so?"
"It is…" She smiled sweetly to him. Somehow she felt comfortable with him.
She started to stare at him, he looked a bit younger than her and judging by his appearance, it seemed likely he was an adventurer.
"Hmmm, I guess you are going to participate in a quest tomorrow," she said putting her index finger in the chin.
"Yes, you are correct," he answered thinking there was no problem telling that.
"And what quest are you planning to go?"
"Kill goblins," he said with a calm voice. There was no sound of anxiety or proud in his voice.
For the first time, something other than a smile crossed her face. Surprise and a hint of confusion.
"Er, uh… And you plan to go alone in this quest? It's dangerous without a party."
The boy paused in thought for a moment, and then said, "It's no problem. I need to do this alone."
She was surprised by what he said but then a soft smiled appeared in her face, "you truly look like an interesting person."
"You think?" he said with a hit of surprise.
"Yeah I think so."
"Hmmm… Your husband won't be worried that you are outside now?" he asked noticing a ring in her left hand.
Her eyes widened as she quickly retracted and quickly hide her left hand with her right hand.
"It's not like that!" She shouted as blush appeared on her cheeks.
"… Okay." He shrugged, "I better get going. I don't want be tired for tomorrow."
"Right…" she said somehow disappointed. If she could, she would like to stay and talk to him some more.
"I hope we see each other again." She said smiling to him.
"Yes," he said shortly and then started to walk to the inn. For a few moments, the blonde girl watched him as he walked away from her. He took a few steps and stopped.
"Thank you," he said loud enough just for her to hear, "I feel more confident after speaking to you."
She felt her own cheeks flush.
"Come back safely!" She replied waving her hand.
He went silently on. She let out a breath and gently felt a breeze touching her face. She really wish to see him again.
"Welcome to my workshop! How may I help you?" A man behind the counter of the workshop shouted seeing a new adventurer entering in his store.
He looked a middle-aged Caucasian man with a well-built body. He has a shaved head and long black beard. We was wearing a white undershirt beneath a green forger apron, black gloves, dark pants and brown boots.
A young person came into the workshop, walking boldly yet nonchalantly.
"I need equipment for my quest."
The old man took a look at the new adventure that came in. His body appeared to be well fit for an adventurer but he looked young, like those who just turned into an adult and wanted to be an adventurer. He, the master of the workshop, heaved a sigh. This was too familiar to him. Some bright-eyed young person came in, having been raised on stories of adventure and now convinced that they, too, were a hero in waiting. It frustrated him how many lives were thrown away because of that.
"Do you have coin?"
"Yes," the boy said, then removed a small leather pouch from his pocket and set it on the counter. It jangled as the money inside settled.
The old man prodded open the pouch with one finger, then took out one of the gold coins inside and bit down on it. It wasn't just leaf. These were the real thing.
The grizzled shopkeeper brushed the flower pattern sewn into the purse, then eyed the boy. "Made off with Mommy's purse, did we? Or perhaps Sister's?"
"… Is from my sister…"
The shop keeper almost laughed with himself. Was the kid joking or not? Either way, this was real gold in front of him and a customer with cash was a customer he would do business with.
"Right, then. What is it you want?"
"Tough leather armor and, if you have, one metal cestus."
"Oh-ho," the old man breathed. At least this one knew what to buy. "You clearly are a fighter. Are you a monk?"
"No, I need the cestus as my last weapon. If all my weapons break I, at least, can punch my way out. I need a hand without a cestus so I can throw knives and daggers more easily." The assassin replied with a monotone voice.
"Oh-ho, somebody did his homework. And for a weapon?"
"Two swords… One-handed."
"Hm? Do you have experience fighting with a sword in each hand?"
"Yes…"
The old man didn't know if the boy was thinking too much of himself or that he was really that skilled.
"Anyway I think this is the one for you." Without pausing, the old man grabbed two blades lined up behind the counter and handed it over. It was a steel sword. There was nothing especially unique about it, but it was a perfectly sturdy, serviceable weapon.
The boy took them, he moved to the center of the store. He started to swing both blades, testing their weight and how they were going to perform in his style. The Oldman looked at his movements, noticing that he indeed know how to use it.
"That will do," The assassin said and put the swords in a sheath in one side and the other.
"The leather armor is on the shelf back there. Why don't you take a small shield too?" The old man suggested.
The assassin put a hand in his chin. He didn't usually use a shield in his training, most of time it did get in the way. But whenever he and his master went to face a monster, they always needed something to protect theirselves against monsters' attacks and since he was not as skilled as his master with a sword…
"All right. I will take it."
The assassin marched over to where the armor and the shield were. The furtive way in which he took some armor from the table and a shield from the wall made it look almost as if he were stealing them. The old man allowed himself to look nearly impressed for a moment.
He put on the armor relatively quick, then strapped the shield to his arm. It was small and round, and in addition to the strap, it had a handle.
"Where is the cestus?"
"Wait a second here," the shopkeeper went behind the curtain and brought a metal cestus.
The assassin put the metal glove on his left hand and started to flex and extend so that he get used to.
"Anything else?" the shopkeeper asked.
"I need knives, potions and antidotes." The boy said going to the counter.
"Sure."
He pulled out four bottle and 5 knives from behind the counter.
"Good," the boy said and put the bottles into his item bag.
"How much do I have left?"
"About this much," the old man said, pouring the contents of the purse onto the counter. He collected a dozen or so of the gold coins and swept them behind the counter.
"Is there anything else I should have?"
"Hmm, let's see, now… An Adventurer's Toolkit, a dagger… maybe a helmet?"
"A helmet?"
"Wait right there. I've a cheap one."
The boss walked back into the workshop's storeroom. After a few minutes, the old boss emerged from the storeroom.
"I'd suggest you wear one of these," he said. "If you're not too worried about whether people can see your face."
"No… I prefer that people don't recognize me," the youngling said as he inspected the helmet.
A few minutes later, a young man marched through the city nothing special to attract attention. For everyone, nothing more than an adventurer going on his mission. Nobody would notice, if he never came back. Nobody at all.
But for him, something was burning inside of him. He accepted his mission, bought his equipment and he would not fail. He was an assassin and he will slay goblins.