System Change

“We’ll leave here soon,” Derek said as he looked around. There were still the three cloaked figures that hadn’t left with everyone else, and he guessed that they were there for a reason. He wasn’t sure, but he also didn’t think that any of the three were part of the ambush. They were there, of course, but he didn’t think they actually attacked.

“Oh… okay,” Vanessa said as she followed Derek’s gaze, and her eyes landed on the two figures he’d been sitting by. Then she turned her head and saw the last cloaked figure.

Sure enough, after noticing that they’d received the attention from Derek and Vanessa, all three cloaked assassins began making their way down to them. It seemed like it took forever for them to get to the center of the chamber, as none of them chose to move fast, but in reality, it didn’t even take a minute.

“Took you long enough,” Derek said once they were within range. “So, I guess you all have something to say?”

“Mr. Hunt, Vanessa,” the figure who had been sitting alone spoke first. He reached to his head and pulled the hood off. Surprisingly, the person was wearing a mask that looked almost identical to the one that Nyx had worn. However, it definitely wasn’t the Guild Leader of the Indria branch.

“Wraith,” Vanessa said, obviously recognizing the figure. “What are you doing here?”

“Wraith?” Derek asked. “You two know each other?” He realized how stupid of a question that was as soon as it left his mouth, so he continued. “Of course you know each other.” He looked at Vanessa. “Care to introduce us?”

“Derek, this is Wraith,” Vanessa said. “If you had been paying attention when we met Nyx, Mara, and the others, you would have seen him sitting at the table. He is Nyx’s Vice Leader.”

“Oh,” Derek said. “In that case, the mask makes sense.” Derek put his hand out and the Vice Leader took it and shook. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said.

“It is nice to officially meet you, too… Mr. Hunt,” Wraith said.“So… what do you want?” Derek asked.

“My first objective…” the masked man turned his head to look at Vanessa… at least, that’s what it looked like. It was hard to tell with him wearing the mask. “Is to see if I can get Vanessa to become the new Guild Leader of the Cydarian Branch of the Assassin’s Guild,” he said. “Master believes that you are more fit for the role than any other. He also offers his assistance and resources if you choose to accept the role.”

“Haha,” Derek laughed. “You guys just don’t quit, do you?”

“I am afraid we do not,” Wraith said, and Derek noticed a hint of amusement coming from his voice.

“Well? Vanessa?” Derek looked at the former Vice Leader.

“Tell Nyx that I am honored that he would offer me the role, but I cannot accept,” Vanessa replied. “I have made promises elsewhere and I must keep them.”

Derek was surprised at her answer. Not that she rejected the offer, but more so that she did so while being polite. She definitely hadn’t been any other time she’d been asked—specifically by Derek for Braxton. However, Derek suspected it was because she actually respected Nyx and his opinion, and maybe even Wraith.

“We understand,” Wraith said. “Master thought that would be your answer—especially after speaking to Guild Leader Braxton yesterday—but he wanted me to ask, just to make sure. Still, Master has made you an honorary member of the guild, so if you ever need anything, you may ask, and Master will do what he can to help.”

“Thank you,” Vanessa said with a slight bow. She seemed a bit surprised, but Derek wasn’t. Of course, the guild wouldn’t want to completely cut ties with someone like her.

After that, Wraith shifted his attention back to Derek. “Mr. Hunt,” he said.

“Yeah?”

“Master would like to know if you would accept the position of Guild Leader of the Cydarian Branch of the Assassin’s Guild,” Wraith asked.

“Say what?” Derek asked. “Are you seriously asking me that?”

“We are,” Wraith said. “You have the strength, that is certain. Master believes that having you amongst our ranks will take the guild to a new level.”

“I’m sorry,” Derek said. “But I don’t kill people for money. Just revenge and when they piss me off too much.”

“You would not have to be an ‘assassin’ per se,” Wraith said. “Master knew you would say this and wanted me to let you know that you would have the freedom to do with the Cydarian Branch as you wish. Joining our ranks and having it known throughout the entire continent would do more good for the guild than normal assassinations. Master and the others would be more than happy to take care of anything that you deem… unsavory.” ȐᴀŊ𝙤฿Ę𝙨

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“Thanks for the offer… I guess,” Derek said. “But that’s still a no from me. I’m not big on joining organizations. The Adventurer’s Guild is more than enough for me as it is.” Not to mention the fact that he’d turned the position of Guild Leader there down, as well, when Klaus asked the same question.

“Very well,” Wraith replied. “We will respect your decision.” Then, the Vice Leader turned to look at the two other cloaked figures. Upon seeing him nod, the two figures took their hoods off, and Derek finally got a good look at the two people he’d been watching the entertainment with.

One of the figures was a female elf with deep, dark gray, almost black hair, and pale gray skin. Derek would say that she looked like your typical dark elf from different fantasy stories and video games that he’d read and played. As for the man, there was nothing that stood out about him. He had average looks, his brown hair was in a ponytail, and his eyes were a sort of hazel color. Honestly, the man would fit in anywhere where there were humans. He had the looks of the perfect assassin, in Derek’s opinion.

“This is Aurora and Solas,” Wraith said. “Aurora is third in command from the Indria Branch, and Solas…”

“Was fourth in command when I was the Vice Leader,” Vanessa said. “It’s good to see you again, Solas. You were always stronger and more level-headed than Lazrus—the fact that you didn’t suck up to Maven is the only thing that held you back. But it is also the reason that you have my respect.”

“It brings me joy to hear you say that, Vice… Vanessa,” Solas said with a bow, then turned to Derek. “It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Hunt. I have heard many stories.”

“All good, I hope?” Derek said with a smile.

“That depends on your definition of good, but to me… yes, all good,” Solas said with a smile. “You have become a bit of a legend over the last month or two—especially in the Cydarian Branch. Please do not hold the ambush against those of the branch. They were only following orders. They did not want to be pitted against you. I do believe that the member who was hit with your attack will survive, so thank you for avoiding hitting him in a vital area and for not killing any of the members.”

“No problem,” Derek said. “I don’t hold it against them. Like I’ve said before, I’m fine with people attacking or threatening me as I am now. I just won’t let go of any threats or attacks against my people.”

“We have noted that,” Wraith said. “Now, you may be wondering what these two are doing here.”

“Aurora is the new Guild Leader and Solas is the new Vice Leader?” Vanessa asked from the side.

“Well… they are interim leaders, but yes,” Wraith answered. “If they do the job well, the positions will be theirs.”

“I’m sure Solas will do great,” Vanessa said. “I do not know much about Aurora, but if Nyx chose her, then I have faith that she, too, will do well.”

“Thank you for the vote of confidence,” Aurora said. “But the job is yours if you wish to have it. Are you sure that you won’t take Master Nyx up on the offer?”

“I am sure,” Vanessa replied.

“So be it,” the dark elf assassin said, before turning to Derek. “You know, you could have gone easier with those slaps to the back.” She rolled her shoulders. “Not just anyone could take that.”

“But the two of you weren’t just anyone,” Derek said with a chuckle. “You both withstood my aura as easily as Maven had, or at least very close to it.”

“Mhm,” Aurora nodded. “But what if one of us was a pure mage with no investment in vitality or endurance? We would still be able to withstand the aura, but the physical ‘attack,’ not so much. Just a couple of those slaps would have been enough to send us into a dying state.”

“Eh… I figured assassins would need some physical defenses. Looks like I figured correctly,” Derek said with a shrug.

“By the way, Mr. Hunt,” Solas said. “Speaking of your aura, I have never seen such a thing. From where we were standing, it seemed as though just your aura was distorting the space around you.”

“Oh, that…” Derek glanced over at Vanessa, slightly apologetically. He hadn’t used his aura at full power for long at all. A handful of seconds at most, then he started to retract it little by little. That much hadn’t done anything to Alanah when he used it while she was close by, and he had held it longer, so he was confident that it wouldn’t do anything to Vanessa in that short time frame.

Still, it was something that he didn’t want to use and hold, as the distortions seemed to get more and more intense the longer he held it at full power. But, as long as he was careful and used it in short bursts, everything would be fine. He did, however, still have a few extra stat points that he needed to distribute, but he doubted doing so would enhance the aura by too much. Or do the free stat points add to it already? He wondered with a shrug. I’ll just have to activate it before and after I distribute them to find out. How many do I have, again? He took a glance at his status sheet and saw close to 400 free stat points. It may be enough to see a difference if there is one.

Finally, he stared at Solas, who had asked the question. “Just something that starts to happen when you become as strong as me,” he explained with a shrug. He didn’t, however, say anything about how his aura had somewhat of a controlling effect on Void Bests, though.

“I see…” Wraith said from the side. “I have to say, I was wondering about the same thing. Hmm…” he placed his hand on where his chin would be if the mask wasn’t covering it and muttered softly, where Derek could barely hear him. “I wonder how strong you really are…” Finally, he removed his hand and said, “Oh well, that is not for me to know. Your strength is your own.”

Derek smiled and didn’t say anything back.

“Now, Vanessa,” Wraith turned his attention back to the former Vice Leader. “Maven was your kill, and Lazrus was Mr. Hunt’s,” he said matter-of-factly. “That means that their items are yours to do as you wish.”

“Keep them,” Vanessa said. “I don’t want anything from that jealous asshole.”

“Very well,” Wraith said, then looked at Derek. “And you, Mr. Hunt?”

Derek glanced back at the corpse of Lazrus that was laying in the stands. He shrugged. “I doubt he has anything I want or need. That’s not why we were here, anyway.”

“I understand,” Wraith said. “We will take care of the bodies, then.”

“Sounds good to me,” Derek said. He wasn’t planning on doing anything with them, anyway. If not for Wraith and the others interrupting, he and Vanessa would have already been gone.

“Is there anything else you need from us?” Vanessa asked.

“No,” Wraith answered with a shake of his head. “We have tried and failed to convince you to join us once again. There is nothing else.”

“In that case.” Vanessa looked at Derek. “Can we go?”

“Of course,” Derek said. “It was… good meeting the three of you.” He looked at Solas and Aurora. “Do a better job than the last guy, okay?”

“Yes,” they both nodded and said.

“Great,” Derek said. “Tell Nyx that I said hi,” he said to Wraith. “And that I’m expecting some of that King’s Ale that Braxton keeps talking about.”

“I will do so,” Wraith said.

Derek turned around where there wasn’t anyone and opened his dreadful portal into the void. He reached out beside him and placed his hand on Vanessa’s back. “Then, let’s go.”