Landing softly on his inn room balcony, Corvus glided down on violet wings, already feeling the gains of the golden fruit. Twice as fast and lasting twice as long, travelling across this countrywide island will be much more manageable. Wings disappeared in a puff of mana essence, and Corvus opened the door, not surprised by his scantily clad guest.
Corvus sniffed, "Mmmm. smell great. Make me feel guilty." Corvus looked under his bed, retrieving a case. Arms wrap around from behind. "Feeling guilty? I guess there's one way you could repay me." A rare beauty of olive skin smiled over his shoulder. Soft lips charming him, Corvus twirled her into his arms.
"Oh! Rough today!"
Corvus picked her up like a paperweight, sitting her on the bed. "I am sorry. But you will be seeing my face less from now on." Corvus, throwing the burnt jacket, pulled up his shirt, revealing the thousands of tattooed runes on his skin.
"Come on, Stephen… Wait, are you serious…?"
Unlatched the case where his uniform was folded neatly. A Jian: a short sword of eastern make, glinted with the candlelight. Unsheathing it, he inspected its mirror finish. But at the corner of his eye, his friend's sadness was too much to ignore. Corvus's rough hands cupped her small face.
"Tika. We both knew. My journey is not over." A kiss from the assassin stopped her tears. "I will long for your voice, your scent." The assassin left his mark on her neck, collarbone but hesitated before her chest. Corvus looked up at a shy girl.
"One last night?"
Trying to hide her grief, she smiled beautifully and nodded, and the assassin engulfed himself in the pleasure of her body again.
Tika dozed on his bed as he ate the last of the apple porridge. A raven necklace made of wood and fishing line was placed on the bedside table. Corvus thought of giving her an emerald ring to make her eyes, but that would make her a mark. Instead, he chose to leave her a bag of gold and silver so that maybe she can make a new life for herself.
Wings flapped by an open window. An impatient raven came to visit. "Come on, leave the whore-"
A mana feather nearly sliced off a raven's head.
"I told you." A crow swooped in, landing by the bigger bird's side, and poked him with its beak. "Don't be rude to Master's women."
"His?" The raven cawed. "Are they aware of that when they take payment?"
A feather of man formed in fingers, Corvus, and the raven was silenced. "You're lucky I am the only one who can hear your loudmouth, Rouge. You would have gotten me killed many a time. Skye, keep it shut."
A crow bowed its head. "Yes, Master. It would be my pleasure."
"And I have never paid a coin for pleasures. She's just a fisherman's daughter. Like a siren in the waves, she captured me for a while."
Corvus looked down at a lady resting softly. Pushing aside her curls, his heart twinged again.
Damn it…
His short sword clicked on his back. Gloves pulled tight. Mask and hood on. Corvus meditated, following the runes hidden within his uniform.
Levitation. Corvus headed to the balcony with a lighter step.
"Let's move."
On the cold night, three black birds flew past the moon.
One day later, Morning
Western Road.
Corvus stepped through a shimmering wall of green mana and sighed with relief. The months of waiting weren't a waste. Like raindrops in a cave, weapons bounced off the green shield from outside. He heard the wails, their desperation. Corvus understood their anger. With treasure and fame just ahead of them, a mana force field ended years of preparation and toiling away in the towns of the banished. Whether you are a 1st-grade warrior or a mage of the Everforge, nothing can make the field break.
"Sire!" A common warrior called out to me. "For a fruit, I will give you anything you desire: money, land, anything!"
I turned away, walking straight to the thick forest ahead.
Are you able to enter?
A bird cawed from above. Easy as Pie!
Only humans?
"Newcomers, come down!"
Just in time. Hide well, but keep an eye from the sky.
Corvus hid in the coalescing crowd. Coating his presence with his aura, he slipped through unnoticed to get a good look at the speaker on the stage.
"WELCOME TO THE GREAT FOREST!" From the arms spread wide, a man wearing a long silver cloak was sparking fireworks. Edging middle age, the silver court mage's matted hair came to his neck. "I know you're excited, ladies and gentlemen. A life full of adventure and glory like no other is just beyond these woods! But hold your horses! Before you get killed, there are a few things you need to learn. First: Your status! Think long and hard about it." Warriors around looked at the invisible screens with shock. "Consuming a golden fruit of the forest allows not only access to these lands; it gives you access to green screens showing you the current status of your strength, skills and health."
Green?
"Second: Party. Will it forth, and a window shall appear with a list of people in your party. From a minimum of two, you can add up to 8! Oh, I see the Zoreth Knights got the memo. Tap the screen like they do and flick the invitation box toward a person you have chosen to invite to your party. A receiver can either click yes or no. But there is an option to block all invites."
Where is it… Nice. No need for a group when my time will be brief.
"Now that you have added people to your party, you will have the ability to send messages to your party members." The crowd mumbled and groaned.
"Gosh, you lot are go-getters. Okay, okay, one last thing. The map! From your party members, pathways, and locations, you will find it all in there. Including your next task: The road to Darkhill!" The mage pointed at an opening into the deeper forest marked by blazers. "There lies the true test. The seed rank monsters cover the whole length of the path. Hide or fight; it doesn't matter. Reach the end, and your new life in the Great Forest is guaranteed, with more prizes awaiting you. So are you ready, Chosen Warriors? Are you ready to seize your prize?!"
Men shout and roar, bashing the weapons with greed-driven strength.
"AHA! THEN ONWARDS! FIGHT FOR YOUR DREAMS! I WILL SEE YOU BRAVE MEN ON THE OTHER SIDE!" Like a hundred bulls, warriors stampede down the path. Corvus hung back. With his keen eyes, he searched for his client.
Someone tapped Corvus's arm. With tense muscles, he looked up to his left and saw nothing.
"Down here." Just reaching his ribs, a short man with a gorgeous brown beard stood too close. When the even 5th-grade warrior ignored his cloaked presence, this mysterious man found him.
"You're good. But I have tools you cannot hide from." The short man pulled up his large rucksack. Sparkling in his hand was a golden raven.
"Mmm," Corvus said as his feathers faded, "Your payment was accepted." Corvus pulled down his mask. "Whose death do you require?"
"Those who aim for my life during the test."
Corvus folded his arms. "I am not a bodyguard."
The Dwarf chuckled. "That'll soon change." A finger, chubby like pink sausages, pointed at the Silver Court mage, rousing up the crowd. "Your target. Federick Birger, forty-three. And 5th circle mage."
Mm…
"I have something he needs –" Corvus sent an invitation.
Party member added – George Jasklin
The dwarf smirked, lifting his moustache. "Bodyguard?"
"You paid already." Hands cosy in his pockets, Corvus made his way to the entrance. "Never more than 5 metres away from me."
"Aye, sire!"
"Finally found the courage, young men?!" Federick said from the stage with his long smile. "Move along, lads. Early birds get the worm." Tapping on an invisible screen, a wave of green light flowed around the mage, swallowing him till nothing was left.
5th circle… Finally, a challenge.
Tall trees darkened the sky with thick leaves as they passed the blazers; the hackles on Covus' neck stood up. They were everywhere, watching carefully. "Seeds…" Corvus flinched at a rustle in the trees. Like lightning, he unsheathed his sword from his back.
"There are only around 2nd-grade and 4th-grade. Nothing a herald can't handle!"
"Mm, sure."
A blur of silver steel and three projectiles made of rock fell near Corvus. A spear of chiselled rock and wood attacked from a bush behind the herald. A spinning away. Corvus hit it, breaking it on impact. The assassin leaned back, letting a spear skim past his nose. His left foot ploughed deep into the ground for a thrust into a goblin's chest. Corvus swung the little green creature from his weapon to guard an axe from above. A kick wrapped in mana bent back ribs. A slice to the neck ended the falling goblin's life. The short sword flipped in his gloved hands, and with a reverse grip, Corvus parried a dagger down. The jian stabbed thrice with the mechanical precision of a piston; a front kick shoved the corpse away. The herald extended his senses, summoning three feathers. A bush, a branch and behind. No more monsters.
Ting!
Corvus heard a strange noise, and he guarded his body.
Caw! There is a bigger one ahead!
Coating his blade with a thin layer of violet mana, he curiously looked behind, finding a dwarf doing nothing.
"Um? What are you looking at!? I paid you to do your job!"