2023-01-07 00:16:49The Beast loomed large in the darkness, but Shinra had no trouble picking it out of the inky blackness. Night vision turned out to be even more useful than he thought. It was like everything was bathed in the silvery light of a half moon and bright stars, though neither was visible in the sky tonight. He had been tracking this monster for over an hour and was pretty sure it belonged to the lycanthrope family, a werebear.
He had been careful to search for creatures that were magical but didn't employ magic spells or abilities. Those were beyond him right now. This meant hiding from a few goblins, blood spiders, and witches that all seemed to prowl through the darkest parts of the forest. He wondered where the witches spent their days?
This werebear was very strong. According to the system it was several levels above him, which
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It took Shinra the rest of the night and part of the early morning to make it back home. He had to make a splint and tie it to his leg with torn scraps from his shirt. 'I really need to stop trying to cross the river with massive injuries,' he thought. 'I can't wait to just lay down and sleep. I'll have to figure out how to get some healing for all of these injuries later.' He hoped one of those potions, or maybe two, would be strong enough to at least mend his leg. They worked on the gouge in his shoulder. Shinra limped towards his house in the brightening light of the morning. Strangely, a lot of people were up and around the area. By this time most people had either gone to the city to work in the fields, or ply their trades. He often had nothing but silence at home during the day. "There he is!' someone cried
Assassin System in a Magical World Deputy (Interlude)
'I was so close to the next level that l could taste it. Now I'm powerless.'Shinra missed his old life. He missed the power that was growing in him, missed spending time with his sister, and missed being in control of his life. He'd already been in the Capital with Wintersbane for 3 weeks.He looked down at his new clothes, definitely the nicest he’d ever owned. The slim dark pants were a material that had a little stretch and no wrinkles. His simple white shirt had clever little buttons going up all the way to the neck. The dark jacket that finished his working outfit had a fine satin finish that shimmered in the light, and was covered with many flat pockets. Its high collar looked formal, but could be folded down into a lapel that would fit in with working class mages.
Assassin System in a Magical World Mystery and Murder
“Seriously, how rich was this guy?” Shinra couldn’t help but say out loud. The more he saw of Mage life, the more he hated them. He suspected Wintersbane hated them all a little too, that is why he pursued mage criminals so doggedly.They were standing in the sealed library and magical laboratory of the Muskox family, a prestigious and old family of mages. Every wall was a floor to ceiling bookcase, and they reached more than 20 ft in the air to the edge of the vaulted ceiling. More cases were found in the middle of the expansive space, as were many tables filled with scrolls and papers and curious artefacts. Some of these tables and artefacts were covered in cobwebs, lending the whole area an aor of frantic disuse and history.Mr. Nole Muskox lay face up at a cluttered table, a few metres in
Assassin System in a Magical World Donut Run
Wintersbane and the Butler were trying to gently keep the women apart as Shinra stepped back into the hallway.“All of my children are leeches. You’ve never worked a day in your life, but expect your father and I to pay for your lavish lifestyles.”“You’re one to talk. You were just married off to the Muskox family like a prized breeding mare!” The daughter yelled. They looked like they were going to come to blows.Wintersbane took a step back and turned to the butler, Mr. Slats. “So, the only way into the vault is if Nole opens the door.”“Yes sir. The door was locked tight this morning, so I decided to come check
Assassin System in a Magical World Deputy Assassin
The Deputies’ salon was a large space, but it was filled with tables, large tomes and several large artefacts used in crime solving. There was a mop in the corner too. Shinra looked at it as a glorified supply closet. The other deputies all viewed this room as a stepping stone. Service in the Sheriff’s office could lead to good things further down the road for these youths. Even if they didn’t stay in policing, they could jump to the military, or find a role in politics. The parents of these kids had impressed on them the importance of making all the right connections while they are here, and to be perceived as the best.‘Why do these shits all care about ‘who looks the best’, rather than just working hard?’ Shinra wondered. Maybe because he had to work his entire life just to eat, but the games and posturing of these young mages didn’t make any sense to him. He watched as Dave leaned against a desk, laughing and chatting with one of the female deputies. Hannah. She was beau
Assassin System in a Magical World Deputy Assassin Redux
.....“I know you’re anxious to read about how much better I am than you Dave, but be patient, please. The best things always take longer,” Shinra said, a wide dumb smirk plastered over his face. “What did you say!” Dave said. He couldn’t believe this little zombie was trash talking to him. Did he think it would impress Hannah? No way would she be interested in a zombie. ‘Sure, he gets to work with the best Sheriff, but I’m better in every way. Everyone will see eventually,’ Dave thought. His full cheeks shook a bit with his anger.“Shhhhh, I need to concentrate. I’m at the best part,” Shinra said.“Hahahah,” escaped Hannah, though she tried to cover her mouth to suppress it. ‘Snap,’ it was the sound of Dave’s last nerve breaking. ‘Who the hell did this Zombie think he was? I’m from aristocratic stock! My great grandfather was a Baron!’ Dave thought. Though his grandfather had disgraced the family and lost their holdings and titles, Dave believed he could turn their
Assassin System in a Magical World Commendation
Shinra shrugged Dave off, but Dave didn't really notice. He had gone from full on murderer to young child seeking approval in the span of a moment.Captain Spars was a big man, not strong like Wintersbane, big like a bureaucrat. Big like a mage. He rarely saw the deputies because, as far as they knew, he was in his office all night. He took his job very seriously, he’d been a captain for 80 years, and a sheriff for well over 100.Dave thought the man just lacked ambition. As a captain of the police, he could surely have used his influence to progress politically and be appointed to a better role somewhere. But he had stayed in the Sheriff's office, slowly growing older. Chump. Dave wouldn't be here long, and this commendation was just the first step.‘Why I might even become a Sheriff right n
Assassin System in a Magical World Changing Tracks
Wintersbane had mixed feelings about Shinra being promoted to Deputy level 2, which was a constable, 4th class. For one thing, it meant that he was officially on track to become an actual Sheriff. This opened up serious and awkward questions for Wintersbane, not the least of which was that he had brought him in as a murderer and instead entered into the deputy program.The Deputy program was designed as a place for families to put their kids who didn’t have other promising opportunities, so there were nearly no entry requirements. What no one told these pups, was that the barrier to become a regular Constable was likely insurmountable for most of them. It took effort and luck.‘Damn this Zombie, he’s just made me more complicit in covering up his potential crimes,’ Wintersbane thought. He still needed him to get the jum
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Politics and strange bedfellows
Brightbough steepled his fingers as he stared ahead at the impressive bulk of Lord Jala. The man was enormous, but, with magic, always appeared at ease. ‘How did I wind up here with a minor player like Jala?’ Considering how wealthy they were, it was almost surprising how little influence the Jala family had. Brightbough had always thought it was just a family in decline, and the latest head was a decadent lush. ‘He is a crafty one though, or we wouldn’t be meeting now.’“As I was saying, Advisor Brightbough, my network has uncovered several incidents that, on their own, appear random, but, together, hint at sinister tidings,” Jala said. He took a moment to look at his aide, Solus, and then back to Brightbough and Wintersbane. ‘All the players are here,’ he thought.“My family has a long history of steadfast loyalty to the Empire, but in the last few generations we have focused on trade and commerce. This has let our house grow in wealth at the expense of influence…” he paused b
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Shinra entered the Sheriff’s office like usual, but everything was different now. ‘My sister is here now, I’m a guild master, and I stopped the assassins targeting Sardi. Now I just need to find a moment to tell him.’ Shinra liked Sardi. He was a bit of a jerk, but he seemed ok for a mage. ‘He definitely has some secrets, otherwise we never would have had that experience at the Imperial Gladiator fights. His family is probably a bigger deal than he wants to admit. Why else would assassins be after a deputy?’He nodded to the watch captain and some of the deputies he was on ok terms with as he took a seat in the bullpen. Honestly, except for Anna, he didn’t care for any of them. Only Sardi and Wintersbane treated him like a person.‘Where is Sardi? He should be here by now.’ Shinra knew that they were on the same schedule for the next few weeks. They did have a crazy last shift to be fair… he’d have to try harder to keep under the radar now. ‘Sardi has some secrets too, wi
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In the middle of a fight is when Shinra felt most certain. He wasn’t thinking so much as assessing and deciding in real time. It was happening faster than thought, and it was addictive.He looked at the wand, death in a slim package, bearing down on him.‘I just need to be somewhere else,’ he decided. His vision highlighted vectors for diving, rolling, and jumping to avoid an attack originating at the sword tip and covering an area of 2 metres around it. He couldn’t just avoid the attack though, he had to finish this one off before the other 4 combatants got their shit together.He jumped, hard, into a forward twisting flip, easily clearing the guard. Even in Daemon time, he could see the surprise on the man’s face as a powerful green blast made a crater in the f
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Shinra’s vision filled with the measurements, vectors, grids and critical strike paths that he basically associated with life, but now knew was his combat vision.[Ready?][Status: Shinra][Health 3000][Shinra: Death Stalker - Assassin: Tier 2, LvL 5 ][Shinra: Night Squire - — : Tier 0 ][Experience Points: 77,500 | Skill Points: 0][Stats][ Tier 2: Strength | Speed | Dexterity ][ Tier 0: Intelligence | Wisdom | Charisma | Magic ][Skills Status:][Tier 1][ Active: Fade | Sprint ][ Passive: Silence | Knife Mastery | Assassin Kata | Archery | Wall Climbing][Tier 2][Passive: Deadly Aim | Deception | Visual Reflexes][Hidden Path][Passive Skills: Critical Strike | Daemon Prediction ][Shadow Path][Active: Shadow Strike* | Shadow Meld* | Shadow Heal* ][Passive: Vampire Vision ]“Who the hell are you?” Loren was saying, even as her wand came up. Shinra knew she might be able to handle this all on her own, she was exceptional.The chains hit her face and torso, knocking the wa
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Shinra was leary of all magic, so he almost bolted from his place as soon as he saw the glowing sphere hanging in the air. Well, he did bolt, but luckily he heard Loren’s message from the hall. He was still trying to wrap his head around what she said, even as he stood in front of her door. ‘Naori was here?’Shinra loved his sister, he never had any doubts about his feelings towards her. She was the kindest, most capable, and brilliant person he had ever known. And, though he spent every moment since his parents died trying to take care of her, he knew she had taken care of him even more. Being in the city without her had been difficult, but, if he was honest, he worried about her less after sending her his wages. ‘My life has been pretty complicated this last little while,’ he thought. He knew he was making excuses. He did believe her life would actually be better without him. She was more resourceful than he ever was, and the other villagers liked her much more than him.‘So why
Red Awakening
The room was Pitch Black, so Raisd wasn't sure if his eyes were open or not at first, so he blinked a few times. ‘Definitely open.’ The fact that he was lying in a bed instead of bleeding in a gutter was a good sign, but he wasn't sure of anything else. He slowly moved his hands down his chest and body, feeling for any bandages or gaping wounds.‘Huh, not only am I naked, I seem to be in one piece.’ Which was amazing in and of itself, because the seven finger Gremlin counter attack is enough to kill most mages. Clearly he was both lucky and, maybe, tougher than he thought.He tried to stand, but that is when he noticed the weight across his legs. Not able to see, he reached down and realized the weight was a pair of legs draped across him. His fingers traced their way up those legs until he found their intersection. It was warm there, and his fingers were tickled by the fine hairs they brushed up against. ‘God I hope this is Mimi,’ was all he thought before the
Soul Sisters
“I promise, it is usually cleaner here,” Loren said as she rushed around trying to stuff books and scrolls back onto the shelves while gathering up a precarious pile of dishes. She definitely didn’t care what the place looked like when Naori’s brother broke in. Funny how something so random could lead to Loren trying to clean her place. She looked over her shoulder to see Naori just standing still, eyes widened by the mess, no doubt. ‘I need to distract her maybe? Where am I going to put all of this stuff!’ Loren was not used to caring what anyone thought about her, her space, or anything she did, really. “Wow. Just…. Wow,” was all Naori said, eyes still wide.‘Oh god, she thinks it is worse than living on the streets, she’s never seen anyone live like this… dammit!’, but what Loren said out loud was, “I just need a few more minutes. Why don’t you sit down over … “ except she hadn’t cleared any of the seating surfaces yet.“This is the most amazing home I’ve ever seen! It is
Conspiracy Uncovered
The office was surprisingly orderly for an assassin, Shinra thought. Tastefully arranged sofas, end tables with a high polish, and a full bookcase. He went straight to the desk though, to see if he could find what the assassin guild leader was talking about.‘Would it just be on top? Is that too easy?’ Shinra looked, but the few pieces of parchment on top of the desk were innocuous bills and tally of equipment. He opened the top drawer and only saw quills and inkstones. The larger drawer underneath was locked.“Why don’t I have lockpicking skills? I can do everything else…” He flexed his newly healed hand, still amazed at how whole and pain free they were, after the devastating burns he’d suffered. “Well, I’m strong enough to just rip it open,” he said, then gripped it tightly and pulled with all his strength.He felt the small release of power, ‘shit,’ he thought and then flung the drawer behind him as hard as he could. It was the right move, as the entire desk exploded in a sho
Honour Bound
“Filthy blood slut," was all the lesser Earl of Clodven had said. It wasn't a nice thing to say about anyone, and Raisd had heard much worse. This time though, it was directed at his betrothed.To his credit, Raisd showed enormous restraint by only breaking the man's nose. The young lesser Earl and his friends didn't agree, and so now Raisd was in an honour bout.“The first to ten wins the bout,” one of the hangers-on was intoning, "and may request an honour payment." “I think I'll ask for one of Its fangs," the arrogant noble said.Raisd paid him no mind. ‘Foppish, useless nobles think life is a silly game. This bout is probably the highlight of his week’. He knew the type well. The lesser Earl’s father, or grandfather, had been useful to the Empire once upon a time, but then they produced entitled, talentless wastes of flesh like this. The patriarch of the family has probably all but disowned him.‘If I'd punched Shinra, he probably would have punched back and we'd be having a
