“Keep your back straight, Eiran".“Arms stretch forward and maintain your stance”, a loud voice commanded as a cane struck the back of Rhok.He ignored the pain, rather, he pretended to endure the pain. Five years had passed since the day he made his promise to Aunt Fey. Five years he had waited and trained himself, becoming stronger with every passing season.Though he was still very far off from where he wanted to be, he was strong enough now. He fixed his muscles and made another vertical swing with his training sword.After his Father, Lord Vale, had found out that he had created his own mana core, he ordered that Rhok be sent to be trained to become a knight of some sort.Something about raising the prestige of the Vale family. Rhok couldn't care less. The man who commanded the training was well known amongst the soldiers of the Vale Household. He was a knight, more importantly, an Aura user.Rhok could not understand why he had decided to remain faithful to the Vale family whil

Sitting in front of a fireplace, wearing a long shawl with a hood to hide his face. Rhok held a long stick in hand. He watched the flames dance around freely as they eagerly ate up the wood. Burning everything to cinders.It was almost time.He placed his hands in front of him, embracing the warmth of the fire. Steel daggers hung from his waist, a short sword by his side and throwing knives placed hidden in several pockets.He closed his eyes and spread his shadow sense. More than a dozen, about sixteen people.He felt their shadows as they drew closer to him. Closer to their death. He smiled out of habit, then frowned.A feeling of disgust washed over him. Rhok had no problem being a killer or a hired assassin. But being forced to do it? That was something else entirely, that was how he had lived his past life and how it had ended.He sighed.'Hopefully, I won't mess it up in this life. ' He stood up from the fireplace and walked towards the vault. He knew what lay beyond.Things tha

His blades met with that of another man who stood behind. He had just one eye, the other eye was blinded with a scar running down across his face.“Hehe…” he smirked, seemingly enjoying the thrill of having to kill someone young.Rhok jumped back and resumed his position, he crouched down and dashed at the man's feet, in sequence the man jumped high to the ceiling and upturned himself. Using the ceiling as a foothold, he pushed himself downwards with enough force to splinter the floorboards upon his landing. His blades missed as Rhok reappeared at the door.Rhok looked at the group more carefully.'Hired killers are such a bother.'He straightened up and looked at his opponents once more, the others seemed to relax and rest on the walls. No doubt enjoying the fight between him and the man.“Ooh don't worry, we wouldn't dare intervene in your fight” the man who had thrown the axe said to Rhok. He grinned wickedly, and so did the others. His opponent stood awkwardly and looked at Rho

Rays of light shone through the several broken window sills across the castle. A man sat on a high fence with a cloak that flowed down about him, he looked to the south, his eyes never faltered as he watched fervently, as though he expected someone of importance.Beneath him lay the dead bodies of the guards who once defended House Vale. He had laid them down out of respect to their duty. His eyes perked up as he saw an entourage approach, he squinted farther and saw about a dozen carriages with horses to pull them all. He sighed inwardly and faded from the fence he sat on. Melting into the shadows and appeared beneath the fence.He walked across the yard where he had laid the bodies, bowing slightly to the fallen soldiers. The Lord had evacuated most of the guards the night he had left, and now he returned in mass with his entire family.Rhok smiled.He walked on until he reached the castle gates and slipped outside. The gates themselves were polished bronze and somewhat painted sil

The winds blew slightly, carrying the scent of freshly smoked meat into the forest. The scent brought about the presence of wild animals closer to its source. But none seemed bold enough to approach the steaming meat before them.Two humans sat around a made-up hearth, a fragile-looking woman sat on a log of wood while she drew things on the ground, she seemed bored and tired.The other man wore his cloak, his eyes never leaving the forest, and his gaze remained on the animals that approached them slowly. He let out a deathly aura, strong enough to keep the weak animals away from him.Liora threw the piece of wood she had been playing with in the fire, the flames licked at the wood hungrily, raising the flames as it roasted the meat that hung above it.“You're an asshole, you know that right?” Liora's voice exclaimed. She sat up and looked at Rhok square in the face, seemingly not afraid of her captor.“I've been called worse” he responded as he unsheathed his twin daggers, he drove t