Fairy Tale Assassin - Chapter 18

First Contracts

Chapter 18

To say I was nervous overnight while sleeping at the guild is not totally true. Actually, I felt petrified. That’s what happened when I used hindsight to wonder if I made a mistake. Even though I made good money after making side bets with others, regret came back to me while I tried to sleep. Because of my sudden popularity among other guild members, Eva gave me a grueling but honest test against her golems, which I passed. Somehow, some golems came back to life enough to injure me. It was her way of reminding me that pissing off a powerful individual who could use magic to snuff out your life is never a smart idea. Ruby seemed to understand my concerns before we finally went to sleep that night. We even moved to a corner, which made it difficult for someone to approach silently. However, every slight sound or movement woke me as I lay on my cot.

When the old man at the counter finally came out of his room near the guild master’s office, my bleary mind realized it was time. The day for graduating into the Assassin’s Guild arrived. Since I was on my side, I watched as he came out of the room with a lit oil lamp. He moved around to light the other lamps around the counter to signify his work had started.

With a yawn, I sat up and pulled on my hooded cape. We had to wear clothes while sleeping because it was cool underground, and the guild didn’t provide blankets. Glancing over at the sleeping beauty on the other cot next to mine, I smiled.

Today was the day we finally left the guild hall. After spending so long underground, I felt like a mole. I couldn’t wait to see the sun again.

Rampion and Sorrell already agreed to join Ruby and me in renting a house to save on expenses. We planned to meet up after we left the guild that day. A private place to share with Ruby was a definite incentive. Despite my old soul’s experience, I looked forward to the tiny adventure to establish a place where we could work toward our future.

I guess being an old man at one point already had me looking to settle down!

Despite my worries, the small ceremony for the five people completing the guild training went off without a hitch. I heard there were eight people who walked into the guild originally. Rumors confirmed what the guild master told us when we arrived. Nobody would find the bodies of the three who didn’t make it. While I had no way to confirm if the rumor was untrue, it was another method to enforce loyalty to the guild. In a way, the situation reminded me of the gangster movies I watched in the past. Like the mafia, once a member, you are always a member until your death.

Few people bothered to show up in the training arena where Eva gathered us in a half circle. She made a couple of comments about loyalty to the guild and its members. When the guild master looked at me, it took all my willpower not to roll my eyes at her statement. Still, her expression remained stoic, and she gave us our guild capes and a copper badge which identified us.

“This badge carries an enchantment which only recognizes you, so you can’t give it away. Well, not unless you want us to kill you.”

Become a paid subscriber to access all the stories!