*Tic*

*Tic*

*Tic*

A never-ending rhythm pounding in my head. It never stops. I slink about quietly through the streets. Though it was tempting to let Meera plant the Icebomb, right now, I think it’s still best while the spell is in ‘beta testing’ to do it myself. The Midnight Roc mask fits snugly over my face, as I step over rooftops, barely disturbing the tiles, sometimes dropping down into the streets, sometimes flying up to avoid meeting the Omniscient Guard. Now that I’m not near the Stranger, my Foresight is working again, and I’m sufficiently warned against them.

The cool thing about Merekeep is that it’s essentially a multi-tiered city. Yes, the street level is where most of the action goes on, however, so much of the City of Assassins is trained in the usage of Qi that they actually took the time to outfit most of the rooftops and upper floors with connecting rope bridges and pathways. It’s a sort of urban jungle in the sky which I’m gradually beginning to understand after two years in this place. Most of the time though, I prefer to stay at ground level. While I’ve never felt so free as when I ascend into the upper areas of the city, years of training against assassins has taught me that the sky is not necessarily a very safe place to be.

*Tic*

*Tic*

*Tic*

My watch shows that roughly fifteen minutes have passed. The advantage of Merekeep having so many layers is that the overall density in any particular area is quite low, with the exception of markets and business districts of course. This lets the numerous assassin houses and their underlings avoid being in too close proximity to each other, but also means that there’s a fair amount of dead space where unsavoury types such as myself can skulk about without being seen. Now one might think that having so much room in a city full of assassins would allow for plenty of trouble. And you’d be right. Merekeep is a dangerous place, even if you don’t count my plans for the night. However, there is one edge that the City of Assassins maintains over evildoers. As the saying goes,

“The Omniscient Guard is always watching.”

Everyone knows that if you cause trouble in Merekeep, you better be long gone by the time it’s done. Additionally...you better not be seen doing it. My understanding from what I could glean on my own was that the Omniscient Guard is exceedingly good at reacting to threats, after the fact. They have a fearsome reputation and a powerfully high individual combat level. However, that in itself isn’t the reason for their fame. Rather, it seems to be that as if by magic, if one Omniscient Guard spots you doing a crime, the others will all pretty much also cotton on to you instantly. In a world without radios...that’s pretty crazy and it makes it very difficult for any rogue assassins to make trouble. One mistake, and suddenly an entire army of Omniscient Guards will be coming down on your head.

Heh. To think, it all stems from magic. Ironic, the City of Assassins protected by baubles and trinkets made by a mage. Romy would have a fit. Definitely see why the Rainstopper Sect looks down on this place. Their obsession with individual power would never allow such tactics.

While I duck into another side-alley to let a squad of Omniscient Guards pass, I mentally think about what the Stranger told me. If he’s to be believed, their ability to communicate with each other is actually the result of a set of magical linked gemstones in their armor. Glancing at the back of one of the guards passing by, I see what he was talking about. There’s a little crest on the front of their helmets, just visible from here. It looks like a spike or dagger, maybe ornamental or to deflect weapons. The Stranger says that there’s a gemstone hidden inside. One enchanted to be part of a set which the first Lord of Merekeep crafted into the Omniscient Guard’s armors. With training, if you’re wearing a helmet, that embedded gemstone can be used to transmit or receive images you see to other close-by guards. It’s basically a giant, man-operated CCTV system. I am rather curious how he discovered so much about the Omniscient Guard. This isn’t information anyone I was talking to would provide, even if I paid money. But he just volunteered it for free. Who is he? How is he stopping my Foresight? Does he have some sort of enchanted artifact of his own perhaps? One that’s interfering with magic? It’s all I can think of.

*Tap*

The last of the Omniscient Guards rounds the corner in their silver-chain-linked armor, and I pop out and continue on my way. How long do I have? I check my watch. Another five minutes. Fortunately, I’m already close to my target. Hopping up next to a courtyard wall, I stare into the Tenefer Manor’s backyard. Unlike the Derivuchi Clan I hit last time, the Tenefor’s are more than just a subservient clan to the Daggas, which are my real target. They have a much larger amount of assassins and collect a huge number of contracts each year. Once I blow this Icebomb, the city will definitely explode at the news. Imagine someone daring to attack one of the most profitable clans in Merekeep. The thought of the resulting chaos and fear makes my lips stretch out into a smile under the mask. Chum the waters...make it nice and bloody, until the big fish come out.

[Muddy Stone of My Endurance, Move Forth-Meld]

[Frozen Wind of My Soul, Come Forth-Chill]

*Tic*

*Toc*

*Tic*

I hastily drop the Icebomb into the courtyard and then hop off the wall. This one’s mostly just a distraction, I’m hoping to catch a few people who run out to see what’s happening and that’s it. Within a few minutes, the real threat, the Icebomb that the Stranger is distributing, should go off in the Tenefor Manor’s main bounty shop. I have no idea how he’s planning to sneak it in without getting caught, but something about the easy way he walked off suggests to me that it won’t be difficult for him. That one...is definitely going to hurt. Even at this time of night, business is brisk in the center of Merekeep. We should catch a ton of their assassins coming and going. I’m about to turn the corner and escape into the shadows of an alleyway when I see someone approaching. Their shadow appears, I immediately freeze, having a few extra seconds warning as this is happening in the future. When I see who it is though, I curse. A pair of fuzzy brown ears on top of a frilly black and white maid outfit. It’s a small Demi-Raccoon girl. She’s going to trundle on right past me with barely a glance. Definitely a low-class Demi-slave, she’s been trained not to make eye contact without a good reason. She’s carrying a basket of bread or something, and heading right towards the gate of the Tenefor Manor. There are no other houses around, she has to be going inside. Damnit...she’s going to be in the blast range.

I start to turn around to go, prepared to let the future happen, but something holds me back. Maybe it’s just fate. Or maybe it’s because I can see Natalia in her shoes. For a brief moment, it’s not a Demi-Raccoon but a Demi-Cat in my mind. A shiver runs up my spine at the thought of what the explosion would do to an untrained Demi-Cat maid. I shouldn’t stop. I should just let her pass on by and forget about it. But what can I say? I’m a sucker for women.

“Hey...you! Demi-Cat! I mean Demi...Raccoon.”

“Y-Yes, Master?” the girl replies, startled out of her wits as I call her name out the instant she turns the corner. I’m a bit disgusted to be referred to as Master. From my understanding after talking with Nya and Kisa, a Master should be someone a Demi chooses to serve, not just some random on the street. However, this is Merekeep and there’s no one lower on the totem pole here than a Demi. Many of them have been conditioned to think that they should just naturally serve the Clans. “Is something wrong?”

“Leave. Get out of here.” I resist the urge to rub my forehead as I walk over to her. “Now. Do not come back.”

“M-Master?” she stammers. “I’m sorry, but I serve the Tenefors and I need to get back. I have groceries to deliver to the kitchens.” The Demi-Raccoon holds up her basket. Her hands are shaking with fear. “See?” It’s filled with bread and cheese. I think there’s even a package that looks like it’s from my store.

*Tic*

*Toc*

Damnit...running out of time!

“I know you have groceries!” my yell scares her, causing the Demi-Raccoon to cower. Crap...too much. Okay, let’s do it this way. “Listen, I know your owners. They want you to grab a few things from the meat packing district. Steak and stuff.”

“B-But, Master!” the Demi-Raccoon’s eyes grow round with confusion. “I don’t understand, who are you? Mistress Kelly said she needs this bread for dinner and that’s in an hour! There’s no time for meat...”

*Tic*

*Toc*

*Tic*

No time for this!

“Give me...that basket.” I roughly reach over and yank the basket out of her hands-

“Master! Please stop-!”

“No. Go buy meat. Mistress Kelly gave me coins for you. Like you said, there’s barely any time so hurry! And don’t come back without it!” Hastily, I reach into my pocket and remove a handful of gold coins. “Use this.”

“I...I the meatpacking district is too far...I can’t make it back before we need to start cooking!” the Demi-Raccoon’s head swivels in confusion, going from the shiny coins I’m trying to shove into her hands, to the basket I’ve taken from her. “A-Are you sure?”

“JUST GET GOING ALREADY!”

“O-Okay, Master!”

She finally takes off running, almost tripping on the frills of her dress which definitely isn’t meant for sprinting. When she’s gone, I glance in the basket. Hmm...this is one of mine. There’s a nice package I recognize, probably the replica-Brie. Removing the cheese, I throw the rest of the basket into the street and take off running with it in hand. Bread crumbs from broken baguettes spill out atop the pavement while my steps thunder into the night-

*BOOM*

A distant explosion snaps off the walls, bouncing and echoing through the city. That’s the Stranger’s. I hope he got it into position and didn’t drop it. Still running, I don’t stop though people are opening curtains and I know through Foresight that I won’t be alone on these streets for long. Need to get further away...only have a few more minutes-

*BOOOOOOM*

Then a second explosion, this one close enough that the wind blows my hair wildly. Bits of icy shrapnel fly over my shoulder and pelt the back of my head. I wince, increasing my Qi defenses on that side, and keep running. Goddamn, that was too close! Ripping off the top of the wrapper on the Brie, I enjoy a bite of smushed cheese before tossing the rest into the street. Mmm...I know how to cook. Dodging left and right, I take to the upper levels, jumping onto the rooftops and sprinting away as fast as I can from the explosion. The Future is reporting incoming chaos in three...two...one-

Damn.

A member of the Omniscient Guard is going to cross paths with me at the next corner. Reversing course in the present, I pull a full ninety-degree turn to the right and start sprinting for safety. Not three seconds later, he rounds the corner, almost catching sight of me. Better get off the upper levels. I drop back down into the streets and try to act confused like everyone else. People are spilling out now, looking for the source of the explosion. Some of them masked, others bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, you can kind of tell which ones are assassins. They’re more alert, perky-eyed, than the support personnel which serve them. I pass by a couple homeless Demi-Rats who fearfully shy away when they see my human ears. Nodding to them, I use their alleyway to cut across a few apartment blocks and stop just out of sight from the main street. Think I’m far enough now.

[Stormy Breeze of My Loneliness, Gather Forth-Gust]

One silent Gust to blow off some of the moisture and dust on me from the explosion. After I’m reasonably clean, I brush off my clothes, and compose myself. Stepping into the light, I walk normally and blend into the crowds of surprised people trying to investigate the noises they heard in the night. Like a ghost...I make my way back to the shop, drifting right past members of the Omniscient Guard and the public alike. They can’t tell, but I have to say, I like wearing my mask. A smile tweaks my lips up underneath it’s haunting guise as I silently laugh. I love being faceless. None of them have a clue, and no matter how the Omniscient Guard searches, at this point, the magical signature of two explosions has mixed together and should be impossible to learn anything from.

Hehe...track me now...bastards.