Author's Note:

So here we are at the last chapter of volume 1. I hope you liked the journey so far :) As I mentioned before it was supposed to have 10 chapters but for the sake of keeping to my 6-8 thousand words number I made it this way and will continue on.

****

Simon was cursing the archmage in his head. It was supposed to be just another night spent reading books to learn the intricacies of magic but here he was leaving the library with a book.

But not just any book! It was about swordsmanship! What a disgrace for him, a true wizard, to run on all fours because the archmage liked innovation and preferred those who used magic alongside other techniques, like a sword. The man was very interested in a girl who came to him saying she was a spellsword and wanted to learn everything about both of the techniques. Because of that all real wizards were told to do whatever she asked off or else their status will lower considerably and expulsion wouldn't be too far away.

It was just his misfortune of running into her while going to his reading room. If only he was a bit faster or slower...

He knocked on her door and she opened. A beautiful sight appeared before him of a girl with blue hair, oval shaped eyes and curvy figure although a demon hid under the skin.

"What took you so long?" she barked. "Go and make me a sandwich and bring some green tea along. I've gotten hungry waiting for you to come back."

It was his fault again. Rolling his eyes Simon went to the kitchen.

While he was slicing a piece of sausage a soft thump sounded on the door.

'What could have come so late!?' he wondered and opened up. A small person lost in his cloak stood on the steps, his hand raised to knock once again.

"What could I do for you?"

The person lifted his head in a way that still left it in shadow and motioned with his index finger to his mouth.

"Hungry?" asked Simon entering the close by room reserved to keep food.

A single nod was his answer.

The man let the person in and walked towards the table on which the bread lay. He was about to slice piece a bread and make another sandwich for newcomer when a dagger pierced his chest.

"Curse of the Hungry!" came a voice as the weapon was pulled back and thrust back in again, this time through his heart.

"Whaaa..."

A gurgling sound came as the mage died unable to finish his question.

"Thank you" murmured Ace taking the piece of bread and eating it diligently. Then he collected the items and went deeper into the building.

He went from room to room killing off all the sleeping or logged off players. It was more of a slaughter of innocent than anything else but it had to be done for the greater good of him.

He was on the fourth floor when a loud female voice broke the silence.

"Simon, you lazy cat! What's taking you so long?"

'Fifth floor maybe or sixth?' Ace wondered cursing her for waking everyone up. Her voice was so loud that the mage guy would have heard her down there easily, if he was alive that is. 'Was it amplified by magic?'

Well, he'll take care of her once the time comes, now he should concentrate on not making a sound so that alarm wouldn't go off and trap him. He had enough of that fun yesterday.

The fifth floor was finished when he heard her angry steps going down. Ace let her pass and went up himself.

The sixth floor contained three rooms but only one looked lived in although empty. Ace glanced at the bookcase snatching a few books that looked old and important and the loud girl's journal before sneaking up to the highest place of the tower.

A single room occupied all the space. One side was filled with books and notes while a small hammock swayed gently with a person's breathing.

"Sorry, old man" Ace murmured killing the guy and putting a silver wing in his pocket, since the first time Ace had never stolen from the dead NPC.

He took half of the ordinary books, most of the notes and all skillbooks. They could always come in handy.

Now only one thing was left before he could leave, a certain female, to be more exact.

"Where could all have disappeared?" she was wondering loudly walking up the stairs. "I don't remember there being any celebration today for all to leave just like that. Maybe some kind of ritual they forgot to inform me about?"

Something like an intruder happening never even entered her mind as the house was protected by magic preventing any non-guilder to enter without permission.

Ace positioned himself in her room behind the door. The moment she tried to enter he sprang up and thrust. It should have been a critical hit but she somehow managed to get her weapon out and redirected the attack so it only scratched her, luckily with poison.

"Who are you?" she hissed through clenched teeth not missing the poison that was eating her health in good chunks. "How did you get in?"

Ace thought for a moment and deciding that it was in his favour to prolong the duel answered in a deeper voice than his normal which he always used for his night adventures.

"You should learn not to leave your doors open next time"

*Deception +1%*

"There are spells for that" Perry hissed. She knew she still had enough time to defeat the smart ass guy standing before her and drink an antidote so it was more beneficial to get some information first as all those who think they are winners like to gloat.

"Then you shouldn't leave it all to her" Ace said carelessly cleaning his dagger. A few others could be seen strapped to his belt, one uniquely curved. "There's a way to go around all spells and traps, didn't you know?"

*Deception + 2%*

"So how did you actually do it?" Perry asked trying to keep her temper in check while her health kept on dropping in good chunks. That was one hell of a poison.

"Easily?" Ace asked. smiling and rising his hands in the air feigning ignorance.

*Deception -1%*

Perry now understood that he was just playing around, wasting her time without ever planning to tell her anything useful. It leveled him up from a random punk to a stupid thug.

She rushed at him with her sword in a slashing position but surprisingly it was blocked and she even had to quickly twist it to defend herself from his attack. They continued exchanging blows but she just couldn't overpower him with her longer reach. He was always in her face moving so swiftly all she could do was defend. And her clock was ticking as poison spread through her system. But he gave her no time to drink the antidote!

"What are you trying to achieve? Please I'll give you anything?" she said deciding to plead as her health reached the danger line of ten percent from which it stopped regenerating naturally. At that time only clerics or health potions could save one from dying.

"The annihilation of the mages' guild and I'm doing just that" he answered laughing at her shocked face and slashing her unprotected wrist with a curse. "Now that we've understood each other you may die peacefully"

"What do you... Aghah!" she screamed as fire ignited in her arm. "What.. " deep breaths "did.." silent curse "you" more deep breaths "do?!" Perry hissed out through clenched teeth, her whole body feeling as if it was on fire although she could see there was none.

"There was a different poison on my blade. It makes the blood system go mad and try to fight against itself.”

"Sa..aa..di.. ist.." she spit out with blood.

Ace came closer and lowered himself to her high as she was lying on the ground. His eyes were bottomless pits of blackness. "You know nothing. All you care about is your own view and you treat others that way. It's just karma coming to bite you back" Ace said explaining, his lips forming a malicious smile.

Perry couldn't say what was fake the eyes or smile but it didn't matter. He was leveled up to a genre savvy sadistic thug and he would pay. She would remember this incident and use the last copper she had to bring him down if that was what it took.

Death took her still cursing her killer.

Smilingly Ace looted all her items. She had a few glowing spellbooks which made his smile widen even more. He hated her kind the most, those who saw themselves as the highest meter and people around them had to act for what they were said to be unless fate worse than death would befall them. She deserved much more but his abilities weren't sufficient enough. He'll have to become stronger somehow.

But his work tonight wasn't finished yet. Users’ hate was good but it would be much better if NPCs rallied against him also.

Quietly he made his way out and after making sure no one followed him, went for the noble houses.

Assassins nowadays were more used to hunting monsters so the defence on the houses were lacking. It was so easy that Ace felt like he was wasting his time and skills assassinating a member of every other noble house, but he steeled his will and continued until there was only a few hours left till sunrise.

When he noticed it, he walked to a small lake that was nearby to wash the blood away. A few had woken up and made it worse for him and themselves.

The clear water reflected the last of the moonlight and a crimson shadow.

"Is this me?" Ace asked in a whisper rising his hands, the moonlight making them glisten. "So in the end I'm just another monster this world has born. Be it then" he murmured jumping in the cold water and breaking the reflection.

***

In the evening of the next day the other party members came back.

"What are you doing here?" Aurora asked horrified. "You could get so much more money just for selling these items in the shop!"

The shoulders of nearby players slumped down. They were using the kid's lack of understanding of value but now it'll end.

"But there's a limited supply of herbs in shops while they can bring as much as I want" Ace said, not agreeing in the slightest with a smile on his face.

"You could buy it in another city or just wait!"

"Sure I could but I can't identify these items so their price is very low and now I get all the plants I need to level up my alchemy skill faster"

"Where did you get the money to buy it? It's like the only craft skill that all the players wish to learn but rarely anyone gets to as alchemy guild has monopolized the trade and all those who know it" one of the customers wondered.

"Well, I did a quest for an old man about his childhood dream and he awarded me a skill of my choice so here I am" Ace said stating proudly and taking another bunch of flowers. "And I see nothing wrong with the trade if it leaves both sides satisfied."

"Do you have something you could sell for us?" Monthu asked out of the blue and Ace almost fell off his stool.

"I could check but as I told before I can only see what the item looks like" he answered opening his backpack window but not forgetting customers either. "There are three short bows, ten leather armours, twenty chain mails, six priest robes, one elemental orb, three staffs, not sure mage or cleric, fifty pairs of male boots, twenty-seven female, nine necklaces, four rings and one bracelet. That's pretty much all usable items I have on me" Ace said putting them all in a separate bag and handing to Aurora. "Find what you like and we can talk about the price then."

"Can you sell me items too?" someone from the crowd asked.

"Me too!"

"I want also" others echoed.

"No no no! I'm not selling but handing them all for herbs. Those people" he motioned towards the departing group of four. Par was back although very subdued. "are my teammates so they get away with it but no one else!" seeing the next question burning in their eyes he continued. "And no I don't want to join your group. I'm pretty happy where I’m for now. If I'll feel like changing the scenery, I'll contact you lot for sure."

His business continued till evening. Then he supposedly went to rest and sneaked out to a secret place he used for alchemy.

/If you've decided what you want, come to Vincent's street/ he messaged Aurora. /We'll be there in a moment./

It actually took them half an hour...

"Why would you tell us to come to such a gloomy place?" Aurora asked glancing over her shoulder every other moment.

"Follow me" Ace said disappearing in a basement of a nearby house.

"What is this?" Par asked aloud, looking with wide eyes at the disrepair of the house they were entering. It felt like it was going to fall on one’s head at any moment.

The small room they entered was filled with vials, large amounts of herbs and colourful mist. Two hours yesterday were enough to create the right atmosphere.

"My work place. I found it to have somewhere to train my alchemy. It's kind of secret so I would be happy if you kept it so" Ace said throwing herbs he got today all around. He gained twice as much as yesterday.

"We chose the items. How much do you want for them?" Monthu asked returning to the main topic. He had gained a lot of gold for the last quest but Ace's items were of high quality and in shops cost much more than people of required levels could afford.

"I really don't care about the items or money but I'll accept as much as you'll give me. Price it yourselves" Ace said mixing a foul smelling concoction and not even glancing at items they chose.

"Don't you understand the value of money?" Hawk asked.

"There's a slight difference between not knowing the value of money and not valuing money. I believe myself to be of the second category"

Monthu picked all of his money only leaving himself enough to prepare for another adventure and put everything in the bag with leftover items. Hawk and Aurora followed with paying for items just slightly cheaper than what vendors sold for.

Ace took the bag and continued with his making.

"Maybe you'd want a few elixirs?"

"There's no money" Reaper said but Ace knew how to deal with him.

"But they would be payment for saving my life! Let's see ten health and mana potions, five for strength and agility and one for seeing through illusions, that should be enough. Although for Aurora I should exchange strength and agility potions for mana regeneration and wisdom. It should increase your wish to save me next time too!" Ace said giving each member a set and returning back to work.

A slight smile appeared on Monthu's face as the kid turned away. He saw what Ace did and knew he could not refuse. But instead of thank you gift it more felt like a crude sorry I frightened you gift. 'He probably saw us taking a step back and even if we no longer treated him like a convicted criminal we never took that step forward towards him. Just like he never explained his reasons for reacting so violently. How did he expect us to trust him then?' It was a question with no answer that was only a waste of time to ponder.

"What are you planning to do for the time being?" he asked Ace.

"I was thinking about staying around for a bit to level up my alchemy. I hadn't had enough opportunities to do that before so it's lacking a bit and then go to gather information for the ghost's quest" Ace said with a thoughtful expression.

"That's a good idea" Aurora said agreeing in a moment. "We could take a few days’ vacation and have a camp near the lake. I heard it looks magnificent in the moonlight."

After some thinking Monthu nodded and the four of them left but not before Ace stood up and gave Par a friendly goodbye hug. It seemed to make the child smile a bit which was always good news.

Ace waited an hour to make sure they weren't coming back for anything and changed his appearance to match that of an assassin.

The night was very dark, moon hidden behind the clouds. 'Will it rain?' Ace wondered jogging towards rangers' and warriors' guilds.

It might seem they were easier to get in as no magic protected them, but instead they had guards positioned in every doorway to discourage any rogue or thief. This asked for a different kind of approach.

Ace watched movements of travellers and deemed it pointless to try to get in. If he made a single mistake, there wouldn't be a way out for him, although that didn’t discourage Ace. There were other ways to get to them.

A bit farther away was a short dark alley that all those who wanted to get to the gates used as a shortcut. It was dangerous but otherwise they'd have to walk an hour longer.

First to come was a tired looking messenger. 'Poor guy!' Ace waited for the man to pass him and attacked from the back. His hits with all skills were so strong that [Heart-seeker] was used just for feeding it.

+ 50 Infamy

"What?" Ace said with a hiss. "It was a NPC? Where am I supposed to hide the body?"

Difficult question as the alley was a small place and contained nothing to hide it behind.

Armour clanking could be heard coming closer. 'Of course...' There wasn't anything to do so Ace left the body alone and took a few steps away hiding beneath [Shadow Veil].

Large sword showed up first followed by a warrior with three layered armour of leather, chain and plate.

"Who's there? I heard noises!" he shouted out.

'I should really stop talking to myself aloud...' Warriors were one of the worst classes to find rogues as they had no way to seeing through their skills. There were no reason for Ace to worry and reveal himself for the moment.

The man carefully entered and then rushed off to the corpse.

"Hey! Are you alive?" he asked shaking the dead man. Ace used that distraction to get closer.

"Magma Blade! Backstab! Cut-throat! Curse of the Hungry! Heart-seeker!" came all his skills as he activated them one by one destroying the man in seconds. "Not all murderers run away the moment they’re finished with the act" he said quietly to the dead warrior looting him. At least his body will disappear or soon enough he'd have a mountain of them.

While waiting for another victim, he took the messengers bag and read through the letters. 'A ball three days from now? That might be fun' Ace mused hiding [Flare] in his cowl as steps were heard again.

It was a pair of a ranger and a warrior brave enough to go for night time hunting. They went to check on the messenger just like the other guy and Ace got rid of one of them easily. The other heard only the sound of falling body and managed to turn around before getting stabbed to death. Ace didn't use any skills for the second one beside magma blade that helped bypass armour and stabbed him repeatedly until the guy breathed his last breath.

Taking everything of people was by now second nature to him so it took only seconds. Well most things beside plate armour. Even though he'd gotten proficient with getting it off, all the small pieces and straps were taking forever none the less. On the other hand if he ever went to sell his goods, armour would fetch the best price. Sadly now it was just a nuisance to keep his image as the biggest bastard around. It accumulated hate quite easily too which was his main goal for the moment.

This way he spent the whole night; killing anyone who showed up and stealing their last copper. In the morning he went to exchange items for herbs.

Ace got used to his new schedule quite easily. Days of smiling at people and laughing with them while killing them at night. He didn't go for any more risks like attacking guild houses but positioned himself in alleys changing them every few hours because users got smarter and looked for different paths.

He had also entered the ball with an invitation taken off the messenger and killed every noble that walked a corridor alone. It was easy as they had no armour and their weapons were mostly for show.

The killings continued for a week as that gave time for rumours to spread and dead people to be reborn to tell their tales. It was then time to push the plan to the second stage.

Ace finished the day's work and contacted his team mates. /Are you still at the lake?/ /Yes. Why?/ Aurora asked him. /I'm done with my exchanges. I'll come to you after I put the herbs away, if you'll stay there for a bit longer./ /We will. Par befriended one of the NPCs here which then gave a quest to take care of her daughter for a week. There's still two days left of that/ /Okay, got it/

It was important that he had a genuine reason for wandering the streets at night. Putting a check on that, he left for his temporary hideout where he created some potions and took out those who had been stewing for days and had better stats. Then he came to a random alley, made sure it was empty and turned off his chat service. It was a way to make yourself impossible to contact in case you wanted to be alone... or to fake your death. Done with that he made note of the alley and time and changed into his assassin’s garb.

For the next few days Ace was dead while Silver Wing broke havoc around the city, terrifying all its residents.

***

A couple of days later Ace logged back in. He wore only his underclothes and looked very pathetic.

"I really hate this part of the plan" he said muttering under his breath and walking closer to the main street.

His steps faltered as he had to go into the open. 'Just why didn't I think of an easier way? Deep breaths, deep breaths. You can do it, Ace!'

Fortunately a person went just past him and Ace latched onto his coat with trembling hands.

"Please! Please help me! I beg of you!"

"What happened?" the man asked concerned, noting the kid's clothes or a lack of them.

"I-I w-aaa-s ki-ill-led" answered the kid stammering, his eyes full of tears.

"Who would do such a thing?" the man asked in horror.

Instead of answering the kid opened his palm in which lay a single wing of silver, understanding dawned on the man's face and then contorted in anger. "That monster! He's now even targeting innocent kids?" His hands clenched into fists but nothing could be done, force didn't help against that shadow "Come, I'll buy you some clothes but that's all I can do for you. I've had a meeting with Silver Wing too."

The kid nodded and holding the man's hand followed him to a tailor's shop. There he obtained some old traveller's clothes that cost five silvers. It was better not to think about their quality or where they had came from.

"Come with me to the wizard's bank, I'll pay you back" the kid said then surprising the man.

"Were you that rich to use it?" he asked in wonder.

The bank established by wizards was amazing because it allowed you to put items in one city and take them in another while normal banks just let you put money. Of course that made their services cost twice as much so only the richest used it.

"Previously I lived in a city where Silver Wing was born and this was the only way the people found there to survive. You might never become very rich this way but at least you won't become a beggar" the kid answered explaining.

He took out a hundred gold and a few daggers, one of them exotically curved.

"By the way my name's Ace" he said giving the man his silvers back.

"Romeo here. I think people like us should stick together, would you like to be friends?"

*Romeo has requested to register you as a friend. Do you accept?*

"That's a good idea, sure"

*Romeo has been registered as a friend*

"I'll be fine from now when I meet my friends, but what about you?" Ace asked with a bit of concern in his voice. The last part had to be taken care of delicately.

"I'll be okay too. There's a charity group going for Wing's victims."

"Really?" Ace asked with interest. Inside he was worrying that he might have taken too long to start the third phase.

"Yeah a bunch of players gained some support from a noble whose son was killed and been working for him and gaining a bit of money to buy bread. All new ones are given some old clothes and food for which they later pay with their work. It's hard but we manage" the man answered with a sigh. He had been one of the first victims and had time to gain a bit of money since then but it was still only one gold. Beginners after first month of playing had more.

"Wouldn't it be beneficial to create our own guild?" the kid asked, looking much older and wiser than his thirteen years.

"How could we do it? We're all beggars now" the man said sadly. It would be amazing if they could join forces but to establish a guild three hundred golds were needed.

"I could pay the money but I can't collect people. Do you think they would join? It would be great if there were people you can trust who would know and understand the pain and sorrow you had to feel dying to Him" Ace said, his face looking tired and lonely.

"Are you sure you have enough money?" Romeo asked with surprise evident in his voice. In other circumstances he would be ashamed to use the kid’s last money but once you met Wing nothing was below you any longer.

"I believe so" the kid answered telling the wizard to give him three hundred golds. The man checked his notes a few times and Romeo feared he'll say there weren't enough but no a bag of something, coins supposedly, was given to Ace who smiled like a kid who'd just gotten a present.

"There's enough!" he said loudly while a mage looked at him strangely.

"That's amazing!" Romeo said making sure to match the kid's enthusiasm. "Let's go to the castle now!"

"Yeah!"

Together they hurried to the centre of the city. They went to the side where a back door was located over which a sign read ~Guild Hall~

"I'd like to create a guild" Ace said entering the room where a bald man sat behind the table.

"This is not children’s playground. Please take him away!" he said with a dry voice not even stopping his feather for a moment.

"I'm not kidding" Ace said calmly and forced himself to smile childishly. "My friend here said he’ll let me create a name for it!"

Lying was the only option for him. Npcs especially saw him as a kid and nothing else. His only chance to succeed was to act like one.

"Is that how it is? You should have said so earlier. Come here. The price is three hundred golds" the man said putting his paper at the side and picking a blank one. "So what will the name be?"

"Draugar of Silver"

"What does that even mean?" Romeo asked. He was happy it wasn't anything like Princes or Unicorns but still...

"Draugar are creatures of myth that had died and were brought to life to protect their treasures or hunt down their killers. Of silver because well each of us have a silver wing given to us" the kid said explaining. "My mother always told me legends as bedtime tales"

'Wow a kid that knows old time myths...'

"The owner of the guild?"

"Ace"

"Leader?"

"Romeo"

"Huh?" the aforementioned guy asked in shock.

"Do you really expect me to order people around?" Ace asked with a wide eyed expression that kid’s have when something unbelievable happens.

Deception +3% exp.

"Oh... right!"

'I can't believe I almost told the kid to become the leader. It would have been a catastrophe!'

Money was given and a window containing new information appeared before Ace’s eyes.

Guild WindowNameDraugar of SilverAlignmentN/AReputation0Leadership TypeN/AMembers2Income0Outcome0Owned Castles0Owned Warriors0OwnerAceLeaderRomeoOfficials1-Ace

'Well there is place to expand' Ace laughed to himself. He was happy now that his plan finally came to fruition.

"Can you give me the ability to invite players?"

"Sure. Officials: add Romeo.”

*Romeo has been allowed to invite players to the guild*

“Done. Are you going to that place now?" Ace asked.

"Yeah. Will you come along?" Romeo asked hoping the kid will refuse. It would be better if he could go alone and explain everything before introducing them to Ace. Not everyone will be happy to follow a kid for sure.

"I can't. There's a quest I should have started some time ago" Ace pouted looking so adorable that the man even felt guilty for not taking him along.

"I'll introduce you when all have joined, okay?" he said promising and after patting the kid's hair left.

Deception +1% exp.

'So they really believe I'm just a child. Well, that's their own mistake'

Friend list showed that Reaper and others were still offline so it left him with actually doing the quest. He thought for a moment where to start his search. Asking was out of question as it would attract too much unwanted attention, library would hardly contain anything useful about gossips. Or wait first he needed to make a list of all the nobles that looked like the ghost described. For that library would be the perfect place.

The building reminded him of the one he'd seen in Mora - very run down and uncared for. 'This fact doesn't seem too different from real life' he mused.

As the technology evolved there were less and less people who read hardcover books. That led to libraries being abandoned or even destroyed to create space for more important buildings. Although some of them were left as museums. Rich people collected books like pieces of art and history nowadays.

The inside was very small, cramped and empty.

"Is anyone here?" Ace asked loudly but there was no answer. Shrugging he went to look for family records. They were in a smaller room that was locked but the key was in the lock... That struck him as strange but who would understand some people.

The idea that the librarian might be laying in his own pool of blood a few streets away where he was killed by a shadowy figure never crossed Ace's mind.

The room was smaller than the main one, which was the same size as king's ballroom if not bigger, but it still contained a ton of books. And they were worse than boring, talking about every blue blood. Ace took a deep breath, drank Scholar's brew he’d made some time ago in his alchemical adventurers and set to work.

He was dying after the first half an hour although he had found only one person fitting.

Four more hours of gruelling work and growing headache were enough for him to finish his list. It contained over a hundred names...

'Damn' Ace cursed and stretched his muscles. 'Now how should I find out which one of them left for a vacation almost thirty years ago to a small town I know name not of?'

Not sure he took his things and left the library. His destination was the noble houses. Walking past one of them he saw a young lady sitting among the trees and writing in her journal. 'Bingo!'

Ace checked his clothes and noting they were as bad as before he came from the side where the kitchen was. He knocked and pretended to be starving. Well, he hadn't eaten for a long time! The cook was a nice lady that invited him to sit near the table. She fussed over him, giving him the soup she had prepared for house master although other people only got a piece of hard bread.

"I really do hate that ability" Ace said under his breath.

"What did you say sweetie?"

"The soup is amazing! You’re the best cook!" Ace answered smiling.

"You're so well-mannered unlike all those teenagers that come these days asking for free food! Can you imagine free food!" the cook asked in outrage.

"It is unbelievable" Ace said hiding his smile over the spoonful of soup.

"Okay wait for a bit here, sweetie. I need to make sure the maids bring the right food to the master's table. I'll be back in a moment.”

Ace nodded and secretly followed her out. He used [Hiding in Plain Sight] to make himself unnoticeable and went straight to the main bedroom. It wasn't hard to find as it was on second floor and took almost all of it.

Luckily for Ace there were no guards posted near the door and he could easily enter. The inside was decorated with ill-fitting colours but Ace didn't really care. He was here to find the old lady's diary.

'Where could she have possibly hidden it?' he wondered looking under the bed, behind a painting, near the mirror.

All was empty. Behind the curtains? Under the rug? Among the jewellery? No, no and no. Does that mean?

"Of course it does" Ace said under his breath and went to look in the worst place. Her closet. As expected all five volumes lay there among the heaps of under-clothes.

"Yuck" he grimaced but took out the things and put in his bag.

When he returned to the kitchen, the cook hadn't returned yet. Relieved he ran to wash his hands and sat down in his place as if he hadn't moved a muscle.

The cook returned not long after and Ace said he was leaving. The female gave him a few sweets and said he could come whenever he wanted to. Ace thanked her and left to his secret place.

There he conducted some experiments but soon enough went to read the journals. They were written by a very self-important woman who only complained how nobody understood her greatness. 'I just had to pick her...'

He continued to read through the second volume until something caught his eye.

~ June 26

Sir Elimas left the city to go to a small village. What could he possibly want from there? I heard he fancied Lady Belinda but I'm sure he's just trying to make me jealous. I remember...~

And later

~August 30

... He went back to the town. Last time he stayed there for a few days and returned very unhappy. My mother said he'd been arguing with his father about it since. What could it possibly be? Maybe he's thinking of buying us a vacation house there?~

Further on

~September 5

.... He returned today with bloodshot eyes. Has he been drinking? Elizabeth said he's drowning his sorrow but I haven't refused him yet! Although sir Veldin is a much better match for me...~

That signalled a very sad story. They ran to each other so fast that they missed the other and lived their lives alone. His list also mentioned that Sir Elimas the only remaining family member had no offspring and lived secluded in his house, not attending any social gatherings. Prime suspect was clearly written under his name.

Ace put his things away and set out to see the man. For the first half of the path he went openly. Only when he was close enough did he pull into an alley and wanted to put his assassin’s clothes. But they weren't there. 'Damn. What was I thinking getting rid of everything literally? It's not like anyone could have checked my bag for proof...' Now he had to run back to the main street and buy a scarf. He wrapped it around his head and neck so only his eyes were visible. It made him look like a faraway traveller and covered his youthful appearance.

'Perfect' It was finally time to go and meet a new friend.

'That was too easy!' Ace complained as he sneaked into the manor. 'I could have just walked through the front gate and no one would have given a damn!'

The house didn't seem to have been cleaned in the last century either. Dust and cobwebs covered every possible surface, fighting for dominance. A single ray of light shone through the doorway farther up the hall.

"Who are you?" the man asked not even rising his head from the paperwork as Ace opened the door quietly.

"Are you Sir Elimas?" Ace asked, not answering at all.

"I am. Who is looking for me?"

A scribbling sound filled the silence while Ace waited for the man to rise his head.

"If you have nothing for me, please leave."

Ace took a stool from nearby and with an ear jarring noise dragged it closer to the table.

"What do you want from me?"

Ace didn’t react. The feather was put down but the head still didn’t' rise. Silence continued until the man couldn't take it any more.

"Will you speak up?" he asked looking up at the intruder. The person had hidden himself behind a scarf but dark green eyes gazed at him with understanding. "What do you know?"

"I've been commissioned to find a man that disappeared never to be found again. I was told that he was a great person but the city was big. Do you have an idea?"

"Continue"

"He had dark hair, brown eyes and was used to training. Drivers called him sir."

The man turned pale but still asked.

"Anything else?"

"The coffin will be buried tomorrow evening"

"No!" the man screamed clutching at his heart and fell down.

Ace lifted the man and sat him down on the chair. He was very light for a man his age.

A piece of paper caught Ace's eye. It contained information about a punitive force quest to reclaim the castle from goblins. Only one thing was left to write, the man who would create the army and lead it to victory.

***

Sometime later Sir Elimas woke up. His heart still ached and he very well remembered what brought it. 'My love have you lived your whole life beside me and I never went out to see you?' he wondered. 'I can't even come to pay my respects...' If only his heart wouldn’t have failed him and he could have questioned the stranger. 'Who was he anyway?'

He was about to go out to search when he noticed a folded piece of paper lying on his work.

~Scytheman Monthu~ was written on top of it.

Elimas knew what that meant. Information had a price and if he wanted to see her off, this man, he never heard about, will have to lead the army.

He didn't really have a choice.

He didn't really have a choice.