Recollecting our lengthy shopping excursions when I had money proved to be an effective distraction. I ntally revisited the afternoon when we playfully traded nicknas, striving to be cute enough to nauseate the other. I was on the brink of turning nostalgic and tearful when Opal interjected, "They're departing, boss."
"Alright. Return here."
He returned to my shoulder. I peered around the corner. The light spilling from the inn barely illuminated the dark, but I could discern them. My target was unmistakably present, walking directly towards . As I retreated behind the building, my heart pounded once, my stomach dropped, and I felt a montary surge of sweat. Then calm and relaxation prevailed, my mind alert and lucid. I drew the stiletto from its sheath at my side.
"Go, Opal. Be cautious."
He left my shoulder. I altered my grip on the weapon to overhand, considering that Imperions are taller than us. Lynn's eye level was slightly above my head. No issue there.
Then I heard, "What theGet that thing away from !" Laughter followed. It seed Lynn found his friend's interaction with a Vorgan amusing. I stepped out from the corner. My gaze remained fixated on my target, paying no heed to what Opal was doing to Lynn's friend. My target's back was towards , but he spun around quickly as I erged from the alley.
His eyes t the blade, but both the knife and my sleeve were camouflaged in the darkness. Thus, his eyes locked with mine in that frozen instant when everything around seed to decelerate. He appeared mildly startled.
Not that I hesitated. The movent of my knife was automated, exact, and unstoppable. He barely had ti to perceive the danger before the stiletto penetrated his left eye. He twitched and gasped as I twisted the knife once for assurance. Leaving it embedded, I retreated back into the alley as I heard his body slump. I hid behind two trash cans and waited.
Then, I heard swearing from around the corner.
"I'm hidden, boss, and he's found the body."
"Alright, Opal. Hold on."
I watched the man erge around the corner, sword drawn, searching. I had another knife ready by this ti. But I was counting on his disinterest in hunting for the assassin, knowing one was lurking. My assumption proved correct. He cast a cursory glance up the alley, then likely concluded that I'd teleported away.
He dashed off, presumably to report to his boss. Once Opal assured it was safe, I continued through the alley and briskly walked back to my flat without running. By the ti I reached my flat, my tremors had subsided. Opal caught up with before I arrived. I stripped off all my clothes and checked for bloodstains. My jerkin was stained, so I incinerated it in the kitchen stove. Then I took a bath, mulling over how to spend my earnings.
* * * *
Our acquaintance from the gatethe Dragonlord with the flat foreheadrejoined us. He shot a glare at , which I returned with a smirk. Opal growled at him, which seed to slightly unsettle him. We narrowly won the verbal skirmish. He turned to Drevolan, who appeared slightly uncomfortable.
Drevolan began to say, "My comrade"
"Hush. Don't ntion it," the other interrupted.
"Alright."
"Follow us."
Drevolan shot one final, icy stare before we trailed behind him. The region was devoid of any prominent structures, trees, or boulders. Occasionally, we'd spot distant figures moving around. As I strained my eyes to see better, avoiding gazing at the sky, it felt like the environnt subtly changed with each step we took, distorting the relative position of landmarks. I reminded myself not to be surprised, focusing instead on our guide's back.
Soon, another figure approached usa woman adorned in a strikingly purple robe. Our guide halted, exchanged a few hushed words with her, and she turned to retreat.
"Boss, did you notice her eyes?" Opal asked.
"No, what was peculiar about them?" I responded.
"They were vacant, boss. Like she had no consciousness."
"Intriguing."
The landscape started shifting, but not in a way that made sense with our movent. It was like a series of short teleports, yet without any discomfort. Cedar groves appeared and disappeared; a huge, dark grey boulder obstructed our path only to vanish as we manoeuvred around it. It seed as if we strolled through a jungle, then found ourselves beside an ocean. These irregularities were more unsettling than any assault we'd faced earlier.
Rain began to pour just as I started to dry from our previous drenching journey. I despise being wet.
The brief rain was enough to irk before our surroundings morphed again into jagged rocks. We seed to follow a path carved through the stones, suggesting we were inside a mountain.
Suddenly, a dragon materialized in front of us.
* * * *
The next day, I encountered Thorne. He coughed, avoiding eye contact, and casually ntioned, "There's talk that one of Moros's henchn went missing last night."
"Is that so?" I responded.
Thorne continued, "Apparently, no one saw the culprit, but rumours suggest that a Vorgan was used to distract his companion."
"Really?"
Thorne, with a sly smile, said, "I'd associate you with such a sche, Viktor. But you are infamous for your pet Vorgan, and I don't believe you're foolish enough to make it that blatant."
A wave of nausea hit . Opal echoed, "Pet?"
I snapped at Opal, "Quiet," and assured Thorne, "You're correct."
Thorne nodded, "It's a fascinating story."
"I bet."
Later, my boss summoned . He said, "Viktor, it'd be best if you skipped town for a while. Perhaps a month. Do you have anywhere to go?"
I replied, "No."
He handed a bag filled with gold. "Find a place you'd enjoy. It's on . Relax and stay low."
I thanked him, "Okay. Appreciate it."
I exited the place, quickly found a mage not affiliated with any Vorgan, and requested a teleportation to Torchtown, an eastern coastal town famous for its food and fun. I didn't even bother stopping at my place first. It seed the wisest choice.
* * * *
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