The Sinner's Banquet

Stealing a Face

The shadow blade slid into Julian Vane’s throat before he could even look back.

He did not make a single sound. His eyes simply went wide as his body stiffened. The bright crystal lantern slipped from his hand, rolling across the stone floor and casting long, jumping shadows against the cavern walls.

"Who goes there?" one of the armored guards shouted, spinning around with his heavy iron sword raised.

I did not give them time to think. I rushed out from the narrow crack in the rock, swinging my right hand. The pressurized shadow energy extended outward like a whip. It wrapped tightly around the first guard’s neck. With a hard tug, I pulled him off his feet and slammed him against the ground.

The second guard lunged at me, his sword cutting through the air. I ducked beneath the blade, stepping deep into his guard. My left fist punched straight into his exposed throat. He gasped, dropping his weapon as he fell backward onto the stone path.

[Gluttony's Maw Activated.]

[Devouring Targets...]

Freezing energy rushed into my body from all three men at the same time. The noble boy and his two guards withered rapidly, their physical forms breaking down until nothing remained but three piles of grey dust on the path. The bleeding servant they had dragged down here crawled backward against the wall, staring at me with pure terror.

[Level Up! Level 15 → Level 17.]

[Minor Illusion Skill is now ready for deployment.]

"Hurry up, kid," Kaelen’s voice rasped in my mind. "The guards at the tunnel exit will check the path if Julian takes too long. Activate the skill."

I looked down at the pile of dust that used to be Julian. I focused my thoughts on his pale face, his neat blonde hair, and his expensive blue silk robes.

"Minor Illusion," I said aloud.

A thick purple mist rose from my skin, covering my entire body. It felt cold, like walking through a winter fog. When the mist cleared, I looked down at my hands. They were no longer rough and covered in scars. They were pale, clean, and soft. I touched my face. My nose was straight, and my hair felt perfectly straight. Even my voice changed when I spoke.

"Did it work?" I asked, testing the sound. It was light, light and arrogant, just like Julian's.

"It works perfectly," Kaelen remarked. "But look at your system screen. You do not have much time."

A small timer floated at the edge of my vision, counting down from thirty minutes. If the timer hit zero while I was surrounded by people, my real face would show, and the whole city would hunt me down.

I turned to the terrified servant who was still shaking on the ground. I reached down and picked up the heavy leather bag of gold coins that Julian had dropped. I threw it at the servant's feet.

"Take this gold and run into the deeper caves," I told him, using my new noble voice. "Change your name. Never come back to the city.

The servant did not say a word. He grabbed the bag, scrambled to his feet, and ran down the dark tunnel toward the mushroom fields.

I took a deep breath, picked up the crystal lantern from the floor, and walked forward toward the tunnel exit. Every step felt strange because I was walking with a body that did not belong to me.

After five minutes, the dark stone walls changed into smooth, carved granite blocks. A heavy iron door blocked the path ahead, guarded by two elite soldiers wearing the silver armor of the Vane family. They held long spears that gleamed under the magical lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

As I approached, the two guards quickly straightened their backs and saluted.

"Young Master Julian," the guard on the left spoke up, looking past my shoulder into the dark tunnel. "Did you finish dealing with the slave? Where are your personal bodyguards?"

My stomach tightened. If I hesitated, they would realize something was wrong. I forced a look of pure annoyance onto my fake face, just like I had seen Julian do earlier.

"They are staying behind to clean up the mess," I said coldly, waving my pale hand dismissively. "The ghouls were messy today. I do not want to talk about it. Open the gate immediately."

The guard blinked, looking slightly confused by my response. For a second, he did not move his hand toward the lever. Suspense filled the quiet air. I gripped the lantern tighter, ready to activate my shadow blade if he reached for his sword.

"Of course, young master," the guard finally said, bowing his head. He pulled the iron lever, and the heavy door creaked open.

I walked through the gate, stepping out into the lower levels of the city. The air here was much cleaner, filled with the scent of fresh bread and expensive oils from the upper markets. I had to find a way to enter the elite Magic Academy so I could get close to Malakai and Lily.

As I hurried down the stone street, keeping my eyes on the countdown timer which was now at fifteen minutes, a luxury black carriage pulled up right in front of me. The door swung open.

A girl sat inside the carriage, wearing an elegant black dress with silver trim. She possessed sharp, dark eyes and a face that looked completely calm and untroubled. It was Lily.

"Get in, Julian," Lily said, her voice completely smooth. "High Priest Malakai is waiting for us at the estate. We need to discuss the distribution of the slum properties now that my brother is dead."

I froze on the pavement, my fake heart stopping in my chest. My own sister was sitting three feet away from me, talking about my death with a cold smile. She did not know she was looking at the brother she had just sold out.

[Warning: Personality Integration at 8%.]

[A strange presence is detecting your mana flow.]

"Get in the carriage, kid," Kaelen warned in my mind, his tone suddenly sharp. "She has a detection artifact in her ring. If you run, it will trigger the alarms."

I stepped into the carriage and sat down across from her, my shadow hand hidden beneath my long silk sleeves.