Day Four

Six hours later, I woke up rested and refreshed.

Rising quickly, I exited my room, sealing the door behind me. The first rays of sunlight had appeared on the horizon, and I had to hurry if I wanted to join Genmark and his fellows before they entered the dungeon.

I dashed through the citadel’s corridors, my mind full of plans for the day. Yesterday’s skill gains had been particularly pleasing, yet they had transpired less by design and more by happenstance, and I was sure I could find ways to advance my skills even further today. I was still toying with the notions of how to go about it when a dull rumble echoed through the corridors.

What is that?

Pausing in my steps, I cocked my head to the side and listened intently. It sounded like the tramp of heavy feet and was coming from a passage I’d just passed. Keen to find out what was going on, I backpedaled and peered down the corridor in question.

A troop of Triumvirate knights marched by.

They were armed and armored for war. Wearing heavy plate mail, with their visors closed, and clenching bared weapons, the twenty-odd knights looked ready to do battle. One player’s helm creaked in my direction, but the procession did not stop as they jogged down the corridor.

My brows furrowed. The troop were the first knights I’d seen within the citadel itself. Where are they going in such a hurry? I wondered, resuming my journey with much slower steps.

~~~

A short while later, I had my answer as I entered the citadel foyer.

The troop I’d spotted was standing guard at the main doors. They crowded the small chamber leaving barely any elbow room. The constable noticed me and shoved his way through the press of soldiers to my side. He, too, was armed—if only with what looked like a dress sword.

Something is definitely up, I thought.

“Good morning,” Richter said. “Sleep well?”

“I did, thank you,” I replied. My gaze drifted towards the knights. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing we can’t handle,” the constable said. “The knights are here merely as a precaution.”

I frowned. “Precaution against what?” I asked, not liking his evasive response.

The constable didn’t meet my gaze. “Oh, don’t worry. As a guest, you have nothing to fear. This matter will be cleared up soon, and you will be free to leave.”

I stared at him for a moment. “I can’t leave?” I asked, my voice rising. “For how long? Am I a prisoner then?”

Richter opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, a Triumvirate knight walked over. “Something the matter here, sir?” he asked, addressing the constable.

Richter shook his head. “No, sergeant. Everything is fine. You can go back to your men.”

My jaw tightened. Whatever was going on, the constable clearly didn’t want it known, but I was not about to be kept in the dark. Something unusual had happened, and unusual meant trouble. I turned to the knight. “What’s going on?” I asked bluntly.

The sergeant looked to the constable for direction, and Richter sighed. “Tell him.”

“Assassins have been spotted outside the citadel’s outer walls,” the sergeant said, answering me just as forthrightly. Knight-captain Orlon decided a show of force was necessary to prevent them from doing anything… rash.”

“Assassins?” I asked with a sharp intake of breath. “Not mantises?”

Both the knight and the constable’s gazes shot in my direction. “How did you know that?” the constable asked softly.

Silently, I cursed myself for my lack of restraint. However, it was too late to take back the words. “I’ve had a few run-ins with them already. Nothing I couldn’t handle,” I replied blandly.

The constable’s lips twitched as I parroted his earlier words back at him. The sergeant, though, was not as amused. Scowling at me, he took a step forward—no doubt to demand further information—but before he could speak, the constable laid a restraining hand on his arm and whispered something that caused the knight to rejoin his troop.

I turned back to Richter to find him scrutinizing me. “I’ve observed a few mantis hunts in my days, you know,” he said casually. “But I’ve never known them to impinge on Triumvirate territory before.” He peered at me from beneath lidded eyes. “Just how badly do they want you?”

I said nothing.

The constable sighed. “In that case, is there anything that I need to know?”

“Only that the sooner I leave, the sooner you will be rid of your mantis problem,” I said shortly.

Richter nodded and stroked his chin. “You should know that the mantises are no friends of the knights.” He paused. “But neither are we enemies. As long as they are discrete, we turn a blind eye to their activities.” He fixed me with a piercing gaze. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I nodded, catching his drift. The knights would not aid my hunters, but nor could I expect any help from them.

“Excellent,” the constable said. “Now you’re a guest, and like all our guests, while you remain within our territory, you will be protected. But once you pass through our gates…” He opened his hands and shrugged.

“Understood. Now, can I go?” I asked, eager to be gone.

“There’s just one more thing,” the constable said.

I stared at him, waiting for him to go on.

“It’s fortunate you’ve purchased a room for three nights,” he mused.

“Why’s that?” I asked, suspecting what was about to come next.

“Like I said last night, we take our obligation to our guests seriously. Having said that, the mantises are a powerful faction, and the Triumvirate will not needlessly antagonize them.” Richter held my gaze. “I won't throw you out of your room, but if I were you, I wouldn’t expect to be allowed inside the castle once your access key expires.”

I nodded in grim understanding. “Then I best make the most of my time,” I said and exited the foyer.

~~~

The moment I exited the inner citadel, my gaze flew upwards to scan the sky.

There were no hunter eyes about—yet.

Lowering my gaze, I scanned the crowded courtyard. No green-clad assassins lurked there either, but then, if the constable was to be trusted, the mantises knew better than to let their hunt spill into Triumvirate territory.

I was safe until I passed beyond the outer walls.

Striding casually into the courtyard, I lost myself in the crowds, and then, when I was sure as I could be that no one was watching, I made my way towards the nearest wall and cloaked myself in its shadow.

Multiple neutral entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden.

With my back braced against solid stone, I stared unseeing into the crowd, my thoughts far away. It was time to figure out my next move, but before I could decide what that would be, I had to puzzle out the answer to the question at the forefront of my mind.

How did the mantises find me?

The entire way back to the citadel yesterday, I’d kept my mind shielded, my features disguised, and my scent masked. In fact, the only time my protections had been absent was when I’d fallen asleep.

That must be it.

The mantises must’ve tracked my unshielded consciousness last night.

Unfortunately, keeping my mind shielded while asleep was not an option. I’d tried but failed. It seemed that the spell needed active direction to maintain.

So, now what?

Knowing that the mantises prowled outside the walls, I could possibly—probably?—slip past unnoticed. But what then? Returning to the scorching dunes dungeon seemed... unwise.

Wengulax and Gintalush had to have realized that I’d somehow escaped their grasp yesterday, and if I ventured into the dungeon again today, I could expect them to be better prepared. The chances of me escaping a second time were not good.

I grimaced, realizing I needed to cancel my plans for the day. Genmark and his fellows would have to be left wondering as to my whereabouts.

But what did I do instead?

Wherever I went, I was sure that mantises would dog my heels. And to be honest, I was dreadfully tired of being their prey. It is time I showed them my teeth.

But was I ready to face them? Pensively, I opened my profile and studied it intently.

Player Profile: Michael

Level: 99. Rank: 9. Current Health: 100%.

Stamina: 100%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%.

Species: Human. Lives Remaining: 3.

True Marks (hidden): Pack-brother.

False Marks (fabricated): Lesser Shadow, Lesser Light, Lesser Dark.

Attributes

Available: 0 points.

Strength: 6 (2)*. Constitution: 14. Dexterity: 32 (27)*. Perception: 25. Mind: 52. Magic: 11 (10)*. Faith: 0.

* denotes attributes affected by items.

Classes

Available: 2 points.

Primary-Secondary Bi-blend: mindstalker (fabricated). mindslayer III (hidden).

Tertiary Class: None.

Traits

slayer’s heritage (hidden): +2 Dexterity, +2 Strength, +4 Mind, +4 Perception.

beast tongue: can speak to beastkin.

Marked: can see spirit signatures.

Nightwalker (hidden): improved senses in the dark.

anointed scion (hidden): bound to House Wolf.

inscrutable mind: +8 Mind.

secret blood (hidden): conceals bloodline.

mental focus: increases effectiveness of Mind skills by 10%.

Skills

Available skill slots: 0.

Dodging (current: 71. max: 270. Dexterity, basic).

Sneaking (current: 70. max: 270. Dexterity, basic).

Shortswords (current: 76. max: 270. Dexterity, basic).

Two weapon fighting (current: 55. max: 270. Dexterity, advanced).

Light armor (current: 61. max: 140. Constitution, basic).

Thieving (current: 45. max: 270. Dexterity, basic).

Chi (current: 55. max: 520. Mind, advanced).

Meditation (current: 79. max: 520. Mind, basic).

Telekinesis (current: 58. max: 520. Mind, advanced).

Telepathy (current: 52. max: 520. Mind, advanced).

Insight (current: 78. max: 250. Perception, basic).

Deception (current: 73. max: 250. Perception, master).

Abilities

Constitution ability slots used: 5 / 14.

minor lighten load (5 Constitution, basic, light armor).

Dexterity ability slots used: 19 / 27.

crippling blow (Dexterity, basic, shortswords).

minor piercing strike (5 Dexterity, advanced, shortswords).

lesser backstab (5 Dexterity, advanced, sneaking).

basic trap disarm (Dexterity, basic, thieving).

simple lockpicking (Dexterity, basic, thieving).

set trap (Dexterity, basic, thieving).

whirlwind (5 Dexterity, advanced, two weapon fighting).

Mind ability slots used: 20 / 52.

simple mass charm (5 Mind, basic, telepathy).

stunning slap (Mind, basic, chi).

two-step (5 Mind, basic, telekinesis).

simple reaction buff (5 Mind, basic, chi).

simple astral blade (Mind, basic, telepathy).

short shadow blink (Mind, basic, telekinesis).

minor chi heal (Mind, basic, chi).

simple mind shield (Mind, basic, meditation).

Perception ability slots used: 18 / 25.

improved analyze (5 Perception, advanced, insight).

lesser trap detect (Perception, basic, thieving).

conceal small weapon (Perception, basic, deception).

facial disguise (Perception, basic, deception).

superior ventro (5 Perception, basic, deception).

lesser imitate (5 Perception, advanced, deception).

Other abilities:

improved slaysight (hidden) (Class, basic, telepathy).

Known Key Points

Sector 14,913 exit portal and safe zone.

Sector 12,560 nether portal and safe zone.

Sector 1 safe zone.

Sector 102, scorching dunes dungeon.

Equipped

stygian shortsword, +3, concealed.

ebonheart (+30% damage), concealed.

enchanted leather armor set (+20% damage reduction, -10% Dexterity and Magic).

slotted-potion belt (2 minor heal, 3 moderate heal, 1 full heal, 1 full mana potion, 1 invisibility potion).

apprentice’s ring (+2 Magic).

troll’s talisman bracelet (+6% damage reduction).

gift of the unbound ring (immunity to tier 1 and 2 entanglement spells).

band of stillness ring (immunity to tier 1 and 2 Mind spells).

wayfarer’s boots (legendary item, +4 Dexterity).

backpack, small bag of holding, alchemy stone.

medallion of the stygian brotherhood (summon stygian beast).

simple potion bracelet (3 full heal potions).

trapper’s wristband (20 / 20 traps available).

belt of the chameleon (2 nether protection crystals, 5 x rank 4 disease protection crystals, 5 scent concealment crystals).

ox ring (+4 Strength).

band of the cat (+4 Dexterity).

Backpack Contents (Key items only)

Money: 48 gold, 5 silvers, and 3 coppers.

1 x coil of rope.

2 x full mana potions.

8 major mana potions.

7 x smoke bombs.

cats’ claws.

spectacles of ward seeing (detect tier 4 wards).

3 x vials of viper’s venom (rank 4 poison).

2 x full healing potions.

hunter eye (single use).

spider’s bite shortsword (+15% damage, webbed), concealed.

2 x rank 6 cure disease potions.

Triumvirate citadel room key (2 nights).

Miscellaneous Loot

None.

Alchemy Stone Contents

(0 / 150 ingredients stored).

Bank Contents

Money: 666 gold, 4 silvers, and 9 coppers.

2 x full healing potions.

2 x full mana potions.

shortsword,+1 (+15% damage, +10 shortswords).

Open Tasks

Find the Last Wolf Envoy (hidden) (find Ceruvax).

Stay True to Wolf (hidden) (acquire a mana-based Class).

Heist in the Dark (steal chalice from the Power, Paya).

Probie (complete two tier 4 bounties).

Preying Mantises (stop the assassins hunting you).

I frowned as the Game data confirmed what I already knew.

I was not ready—nowhere near as much as I'd liked.

The mantises still outclassed me badly, but I was no pushover either. I better understood the assassins’ limitations than I’d had a few days ago. And as my previous encounter with Wengulax had shown, if I chose my battleground wisely, there was a chance I'd emerge victorious.

Sure, given the level disparity between the mantises and me, the outcome of any clash between us would always be in doubt—no matter how carefully I planned.

But for the chance to rid myself of my hunters… it was a risk I was prepared to take.

It's high time I flipped the tables on them, I decided. For the hunted to become the hunter.

And I knew just the place where to do it.