Malachi grabbed all the herbs and plants he could find in her room and then stuffed them inside his pocket.“You said those herbs are of no use to you,” Seraphina commented. “And when are you going to kill that old lady?”“These herbs will help me in that.”Malachi tidied the room, making it look like no one had touched anything. “You stay here and keep a lookout. I am going out for a few minutes.”He ran out of the house immediately which confused Seraphina. “I can’t really understand him,” She complained. Seraphina obeyed the order and stayed in the room. A few minutes later, old Lady Morwen entered the room. This time, she looked even younger with all of her wrinkles almost gone. It was as if time reversed by 30 years. Her skin became brighter and healthier. Even though one could still see that she was an old woman, many men wouldn’t mind marrying her in her current state.“Perhaps it’s true that this old lady absorbed the life force of the young people here,” Seraphina said out
Lyra stood atop a hill overlooking a village nestled in the valleys below. Her silver hair seemed to shimmer like moonlight as her robes danced with the wind.“I heard the scream from that village.”“Is it possible that Malachi is there?”“I don’t know. We have to check.”They descended the hill and arrived at the village, but what they saw shocked them to their core. Right on the streets, corpses lay, some without limbs, some without heads. A few of the corpses had massive holes in their chests. Worst of all, almost all of them seemed to be children.“What a nightmarish sight.”Lyra felt a churn in her stomach as she witnessed such a scene. A few seconds later, she couldn't help but run to a corner and vomit.Kael, the dwarf, approached and patted her back, though his hand barely reached due to Lyra's tall elf stature.Aria slowly walked through the street, examining the corpses of children. “How can a boy that young be this cruel?”Finn Hallowbrook, a human scholar, knelt by one of
The sky was bright and clear as Malachi traversed the forest. Rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the forest floor with patches of golden warmth.“From what I remember, the capital city should be in the north. But entering it will be difficult. The capital has strict inspections. A child entering the city by himself is very suspicious.”Seraphina comically looked up and tapped her finger on her lower lip as she thought. “I am sure we can do something about that.”As he walked, the sound of creaking wheels and the rhythmic clatter of hooves reached his ears. Through the dense foliage, he caught sight of a merchant’s wagon making its way along the forest path. Drawn by a pair of sturdy Glimmerhoofs, the wagon carried an assortment of goods, their colorful packages hinting at the wonders they held within.Malachi’s inquisitive gaze met the merchant's, a man with a sly smile and a gleam in his eyes. He brought the wagon to a halt, his practiced charm evident as he addre
“It will take a few days before we can find your parents,” Lucius said. “Why don’t we find a nice place to stay.”Malachi agreed while he thought of a place and time when to kill Lucius. Killing him now would bring Malachi a lot of trouble since there were a lot of people and guards here.He would need a place with fewer people to eliminate this man. Malachi also had the choice to escape and run away, but there was a chance that Lucius would hunt him down.The carriage began to move to the southern part of the capital city. There were fewer people here, and the buildings weren’t as grand. Most of them were worn down, and quite dirty.The people here also wore dirty clothes with torn gloves. Malachi saw some people sleeping on the floor with a rag.After a few minutes, they arrived in front of a weathered building.Malachi read the wooden sign, the words barely readable. “The Shadow’s Haven.”Its exterior was a mishmash of ramshackle wooden planks and patched-up brickwork, hinting at d
Malachi clicked his tongue and made his stygian blade vanish. “Come in.”The door opened, and Miss Lorna entered with a tray of stews. Her expression was one of disgust as she put the tray on the table.Lucius was half-conscious on the sofa, and Lorna acted as if she did not see anything wrong. Suddenly, to Malachi’s surprise, Lorna dipped her hand into the steaming hot stew, and when she showed her hand, a mark appeared on her inner wrist.“The Umbral Brand.”“Show me yours,” Lorna said.Malachi took off his clothes and showed his back. His left shoulder blade lit up in red before a black Umbral Brand appeared.“At first, I thought you managed to get that mark by accident, but after seeing this, you really are an assassin.”“I got it by killing a member of the syndicate. That means I can become a member.”“You can, but that doesn’t mean you will. You will need to pass some tests and prove your loyalty.”“I’m ready.” A blade appeared in his hand and stabbed Lucius’ neck almost instant
“Before I can bring you to our education and training facilities, I will have to wrap you so no one can see us leaving the city.”“What do you mean?” Malachi was genuinely confused. Although he heard a lot of things about the Shadow Syndicate, he didn’t really know the details. Especially because the syndicate became less significant and threatening when he was at his peak strength.A few minutes later…Malachi was completely wrapped from head to toe with some kind of black sticky rope. He was unable to move, unable to see, and unable to hear. There were magical runes on the rope that completely blocked his senses, even his magic was restricted.‘However, I can destroy this rope anytime I want, so that’s good to know.’Seraphina phased inside the rope and landed on his ear. Her form became smaller so she could fit inside. “I didn’t think that you would agree to be tied up like this. You trust this man too much. And we haven’t known his name yet.”Malachi wanted to reply, but his mouth
Stealing, the physical act of taking another person's belongings. An action considered evil, and those who stole from others were despised, hated, and even killed. But a deeper perspective in the act of stealing or theft was much more complex between human desires, social norms, and moral dilemmas. Some define stealing as an action of evil, envy, and arrogance, but some describe it as desperation for survival where there were no other ways to live except stealing."Today, you are going to steal something from someone. Not out of hunger, envy, or anger, but because you need to learn how to take something precious or valuable possession of other people. Valuable things are valuable because they are rare; things are rare because they are in such low quantity. Most known things are already owned by someone else; the only way to possess them is to steal it from others," the man spoke as he stood at the edge of the hill. Behind the man, there were more than a dozen children standing still.
Jobba was flabbergasted. His whole body unable to move for a couple of seconds. Even though Malachi said that he had massacred an entire village before, he did not believe him at first since some children liked to brag and exaggerate their stories. But the scene in front of him proved that everything he said before was real. What Malachi showed him earlier wasn't a trick. It was pure strength and power. The other children didn't even have time to realize that they were being massacred. It happened so quickly. So quick, in fact, the children didn't even scream or shout in pain.Jobba's thoughts raced. Malachi knew that he was much more powerful than the other children and waited for them all to come before killing them. He didn't do anything until the last second and became the sole winner of this test. He didn't even let a single one survive despite knowing that the academy was accepting 5 students.Ruthless, intelligent, talented. His legs shivered at the thought of how a child wit
After the unsettling events of the evening, Malachi made his way back to his room within the estate, his footsteps echoing softly in the dimly lit corridors. Upon entering, he gracefully sank onto the bed, exhaling a calculated sigh of feigned exhaustion. He sprawled there, his posture a picture of weariness, yet his mind was anything but at rest. Malachi was acutely aware of the ever-watchful eyes that monitored his every move, invisible threads of scrutiny woven throughout the noble’s domain.No sooner had he settled than the door creaked open, revealing a maid pushing a cart laden with refreshments: a pitcher of fresh orange juice, an assortment of fruits, and an array of snacks. She approached with a quiet efficiency, placing the cart beside him with a deferential bow before turning to leave, her movements practiced and unobtrusive.Malachi’s gaze followed her departure, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, appreciating the predictable routine of hospitality—or perhaps, su
In the moonlit garden of the estate, an air of anticipation and amusement filled the air as Malachi and the tall, blonde nobleman faced each other. The gathering of nobles, drawn by the prospect of a light sparring session between the renowned Malachi and one of their own, stood around in a semi-circle, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright glee.The nobleman, his rapier hanging elegantly at his waist, introduced himself with a flourish. “I am Lord Edric, a humble practitioner of the blade,” he said, his voice carrying a note of pride. He offered Malachi a slight nod, the gesture a subtle acknowledgment of respect typically given to a commoner by a noble.Malachi, understanding the nuances of the gesture, responded in kind. He bent his knees slightly and bowed his head, maintaining eye contact with Lord Edric. This posture indicated his respect for the noble’s status, yet it also conveyed his readiness to engage fully in the spar.As they prepared to begin, another nobl
As Malachi stepped into the grand hall of the estate, he was immediately struck by the opulence that surrounded him. The room was a dazzling array of colors and lights, filled with beautiful women in flowing gowns and handsome nobles in their finest attire. Each person there held a tall standing, rulers of their own territories, their power and influence palpable in the air.Surveying the room, Malachi couldn’t help but think that this gathering was much more significant than he had initially anticipated. The small, relatively poor town he had been staying in seemed an unlikely place to draw the attention of such high-ranking nobility. His reputation, it seemed, had spread far and wide, or perhaps these nobles were facing a threat so grave that they were willing to use any means to increase their odds of survival.As he mingled through the crowd, a noble approached him. The man carried himself with an air of authority and grace, his eyes sharp and assessing.“Master Malachi, it’s a
In the heart of the city, amidst the bustling training grounds, Malachi was deeply engaged in instructing a group of new recruits. His methods were unconventional, yet highly effective, drawing a crowd of onlookers who watched in awe. The children he had trained stood by, observing and learning from his every move.As Malachi demonstrated a complex maneuver, a soldier approached him, navigating through the crowd with a sense of purpose. The soldier, clad in the city’s guard uniform, carried himself with a respectful demeanor.“Master Malachi,” the soldier called out, drawing Malachi’s attention. The recruits paused, turning to witness the interaction.Malachi turned, his expression calm and inquisitive. “What is it?” he asked, his tone neither welcoming nor dismissive.The soldier bowed slightly, a sign of deep respect. “I bring a message for you, sir,” he said, extending his hand to present a magnificent letter. The envelope was adorned with gold embellishments, its craftsmanship ind
As Garrick, driven by a mix of rage and desperation, charged towards Malachi, the air around them seemed to crackle with tension. Malachi, his expression unchanging, calmly assessed his adversary. He knew the bandit leader was no match for him, but he also understood the importance of making a statement.In a fluid, almost effortless motion, Malachi extended his hand, summoning the shadows around him. A bolt of dark energy, pulsating with malevolent power, coalesced in his palm. With a flick of his wrist, he released the Dark Bolt, directing it straight at Garrick.The bolt tore through the air with a hiss, striking Garrick squarely in the chest. The impact was devastating, the dark energy consuming him in an instant. Garrick’s body crumpled to the ground, lifeless, a look of shock forever etched on his face.As Garrick fell, a notification flashed.[You have killed a bandit].[You have received 20 soul points]. These acknowledgments of his deed were mere formalities to Malachi, insi
The aftermath of the raid was a scene of chilling efficiency. The bandits, with ruthless precision, gathered the trembling women and herded them back to their camp. The night air was heavy with a mix of fear and resignation as the captives shuffled along, their futures uncertain.At the camp, the bandits, with a twisted sense of hospitality, allowed their captives to clean themselves. The women, still in shock, moved robotically, their minds numbed by the night’s horrors.As the women bathed under the watchful eyes of their captors, Malachi observed them with a detached curiosity. His gaze was analytical, searching for any sign of rebellion or escape plans. But all he saw were broken spirits and defeated bodies.Later, as the bandits gathered around a roaring fire, the leader, a burly man named Garrick, made his appearance. His eyes, dark and calculating, scanned the captives with a predatory gaze. “Well done, boys,” he praised his men. “A fine haul tonight.”Malachi, still in his dis
The city, usually bustling with the everyday clamor of its inhabitants, was blissfully unaware of the new threat lurking within its walls. A group of bandits, cunningly disguised as merchants, made their way through the city gates. The guards, diligent but unsuspecting, waved them through without a second glance. But the keen eyes of the street children, who had learned to notice the unusual in their daily struggle for survival, immediately sensed something amiss.Eli, one of the children who had recently started training under Malachi, narrowed his eyes as he watched the carriage trundle through the streets. “Something’s not right about them,” he muttered to his companions. The group of children, their curiosity piqued, decided to follow the disguised bandits at a safe distance.The carriage, instead of heading towards the bustling market square as one would expect from merchants, stopped at a restaurant near the military barracks. The bandits chose a table outside, ostensibly to enj
The following day dawned with a new challenge for the children under Malachi’s tutelage. As the sun rose, casting its golden rays over the barracks, Malachi led them into the dense forest where the soldiers were already engaged in a hunt. The soldiers, formidable and seasoned, moved with precision and confidence, hunting giant bears, wolves, and other fearsome beasts.“Watch closely,” Malachi instructed the children. “Observe their tactics, their coordination. There is much to learn from them.”The soldiers, aware of their young audience, seemed to take pride in their prowess. They displayed extravagant moves, working in pairs to efficiently track and take down their targets. Each move was a blend of strength and strategy, a dance between predator and prey.The children, wide-eyed with amazement, whispered among themselves, pointing out the soldiers’ techniques and the fluidity of their actions. They were particularly impressed by how even in the face of danger, the soldiers maintaine
After the refreshing bath in the lake, Malachi's demeanor shifted from nurturing to demanding. "Now, we run," he announced, his tone leaving no room for debate. The children, still catching their breath from the earlier exercise, exchanged weary glances but dutifully followed as Malachi set off at a steady pace.The run was grueling. Malachi led them over several kilometers of undulating hills, each ascent more challenging than the last. Then, without warning, he veered off towards a mountainous terrain. The children's legs burned with fatigue, their breaths shallow and rapid. The sun, now high in the sky, beat down mercilessly, adding to their exhaustion.Some of the children began to falter, their steps slowing, bodies slumping towards the ground. Voices of protest rose among them, pleading for a respite. Malachi, however, was unyielding. "Keep going," he commanded. "True warriors find strength even in their weakest moments. This training is not for the faint-hearted."His words, t