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
The trees blurred away from view as the carriage sped through the forest. Malachi sat by the window, his elbow resting on the wooden frame while he looked at the ever-changing scenery outside the carriage. The sky was clear today, bright blue, almost reaching afternoon. Tall grasses swayed in the gentle breeze, their golden tips shimmering in the sunlight. In the distance, a river meandered lazily, reflecting the vibrant blue of the sky. Malachi looked ahead, his gaze fixed upon the mesmerizing scene unfolding before him. The rhythmic sound of hooves thumping against the earth filled the air, creating a soothing and almost hypnotic melody. Two majestic Crystalhooves, their antlers shimmering with iridescent colors, were harnessed to the carriage, their powerful forms pulling it forward effortlessly. Their steps left behind fleeting trails of magical light, casting an enchanting glow on the forest path. Malachi could feel the tranquil aura of the Crystalhooves as they moved with gra
The carriage moved further into the academy grounds, and Malachi noticed that the architecture within was as mesmerizing as the exterior. The corridors and chambers were grand and luxurious. The structure as a whole exuded an aura of mystique and grandeur, making those who visited it feel a sense of anticipation.The carriage came to a stop at an empty square. A man with sharp blue eyes and a scar across his left cheek was waiting at the center. Feeling the carriage stopping, Jobba stepped out, and Malachi followed him.“What is this? Where are the other children?”“I will bring them here at another time. For now, take care of this one.”“Jobba, you should know that my time is precious. How can you waste my time for only taking care of one child? Bring the others here.”“They haven't done the test yet. It will take some time, so take this one first, Mascarino.”Mascarino frowned and glanced at the boy who looked young and innocent. He even noticed the smooth hands without any calluse