An Assassin's Anthem

Riley woke to the sound of the bell ringing. Rolling out of bed, she stretched and looked at her notifications.

[Assassin (C) has advanced: 122 → 124!]

[Bard (C) has advanced: 122 → 124!]

[Ranger (C) has advanced: 122 → 124!]

[Spell Thief (C) has advanced: 122 → 124!]

[Noble (D) has advanced: 208 → 209!]

[Maid (F) has advanced: 21 → 24!]

[Infiltrator (F) has advanced: 10 → 14!]

[Poisoner (F) has advanced: 1 → 10!]

She cleared them and looked in the mirror, pausing to study her reflection. A female elf with long blonde hair and soft features looked back. Is this me? She studied her reflection. What if I tried a boy?

Even as she thought about it, her body shifted. She looked into the mirror and jerked away, looking at the wall instead.

Shaking her head, she triggered Assume Disguise and reverted to the blue-haired girl. Grabbing a towel and robe, she changed and walked to the bath, sliding in and scrubbing away the sweat and dirt.

Classmates filed in. Riley didn’t think much of it, dunking into the water to wash off anything from last night’s activities.

Walking out of the bath, she toweled herself dry, put on her robe, and stepped out from the changing stall.

“Riley? What happened with you and the prince?” a girl asked.

“The king gave me orders not to get involved. I’m spending my time helping the seekers instead,” Riley said, walking around the bath.

“Are they done fighting?”

Riley turned and shrugged. “Who knows? Those two both want the throne.”

“I heard that’s why we’re finally going to attack,” Lin volunteered.

“Maybe,” Riley lied.

“Where’d you go last night?” Lin asked, rinsing her hair.

“A run and then some studies. I’m so behind because I was helping the prince instead of learning. And I want to learn alchemy,” Riley said, heading for the door with a wave.

“Were you out assassinating people?” another girl asked, giggling.

Riley chuckled and turned. “Yes. I met with the Assassin’s Guild Headmaster; we chatted, ate dinner, killed rats, and assassinated the king of Shorove.” She erupted into laughter, and several girls joined her.

Wiping at her eyes, Riley chuckled. “I studied. Want to join me tonight? You can.” She walked out the door and entered her room.

Pulling down a worn blue dress, she quickly changed and looked at her reflection. Saving herself the trouble of doing her hair, she used Pretty to speed things along. That skill is getting more use than I thought.

[You’re welcome! ~Beauty]

Chuckling softly, she walked to the closet and lifted the board, revealing her stashed crystals. Gently counting the small hoard, her eyes bulged, and her mouth dropped. That’s enough for C-tier. She smiled and debated. Do I use them, or will that upset their majesties?

Sighing, she looked at her level. I can afford some advancements. She pulled four D-tier crystals to her chest and willed them inward.

[Your base level has advanced: 201 → 205!]

Carefully placing the board back, Riley stood and straightened her dress. She looked at her hiding place. I need Dad to keep some of these. Maybe Althea. This is risky. Ensuring the board looked normal, she walked out of the room and up the hall, pausing in front of an open door.

Lin turned. “You missed dinner.” She smirked. “And it was eventful.”

“What happened?” Riley asked, quirking her brow.

“The prince and princess got in a fight. The magus broke it up after they set a table on fire.”

Riley laughed. “That bad?”

“Yes,” Emma said, chuckling. “They were fighting about dungeon runs. Then fire flew, and the magus intervened. We got another lecture about unity.”

Riley chuckled softly. Emma walked out, and the three walked down the hall and paused at the door.

Riley looked out at a blanket of white. Snowflakes spun and fell, piling up on everything. Opening the door, she moved quickly across the snow-covered walk, entering the academy and walking to the dining room.

Taking a seat, she looked around the room and watched five others file over and take a seat.

A boy smiled. “Hello, ladies. Mind if we sit, Lady Riley?”

Riley shook her head. “Order what you want.” She smiled at the approaching servant girl. “Double omelet.”

The servant smiled back and turned to the others. They began ordering. Students filed in and took seats. The prince and princess joined. Riley started eating, and the palace bells tolled repeatedly, echoing through the room.

“What does that mean?” Lin asked, looking around the table.

Riley looked around the confused room. “I have no idea.” She looked back at the group. They shrugged and looked at each other.

Seeker Holt walked to the front of the room and cleared his throat. “Students, it is with great sorrow I announce the passing of Duke Stanford, Baron Morgan, and Baroness Morgan. Based on all reports, cowardly elven spies sought to sabotage our war by slaying them along with several travelers and townsfolk.”

Gasps spread through the room. Riley mirrored the shocked expression, covering her mouth and forcing thoughts of surprise into her mind.

“Indeed. It’s a great travesty. Rest assured that seekers will find and kill these foreign operatives.” The seeker paced on the polished floor, his feet thumping on the polished stone. “This is why we must be united. We are at war. It is so easy to forget that fact, and it is so easy to let enemies slip among us. That is why you, future leaders, must acquire the skills to find and locate such individuals. Spies, saboteurs, and assassins can cause devastating damage to infrastructure, leadership, and your populace. You must be vigilant.”

Riley continued to look sad while sneaking a glance around the room. Several had drifted off, staring at the wall. Lily was fuming; she glared at her brother.

What’s that about? Riley turned away. Whatever. One will kill the other at some point. That much is obvious. She looked at the seeker.

Seeker Holt continued pacing. “If anyone here was involved, we will know.” He spun and looked at the group, his eyes flickering rapidly and locking onto Riley.

Riley felt the skill hit, slamming into her mind and disguise. Wasn’t me. She shrugged apologetically and looked around the room before looking back.

The seeker frowned, his gaze flickering to the prince. Riley studied the seeker’s expression. What is he seeing? I didn’t do it. No idea who would dare commit such treason.

“Rest assured that we will not tolerate these actions,” Holt continued. “I expect you all to do your best because we will visit the front before the year ends. And we will crush our enemies beneath us.” He walked over to a table and took a seat.

“I heard there was a traitor here,” Randalf said loudly. “That they orchestrated the whole thing.”

“No one here is guilty,” Seeker Holt stated firmly. “And we must ensure that it doesn’t happen again…”

Riley’s thoughts drifted. Not another one. Gods, Randalf, just keep quiet. Leaning back, she studied the servants, trying to see anything on their emotionless faces. Gods, they’re good at this.

“…It is with that in mind that we will be making some changes here,” Seeker Holt stated.

Riley jerked up and looked at him.

“Crystal distribution from places of power will be altered away from attunement. Instead, it will be based on the needs of the kingdom. Groups will be assigned, and the run schedule may be altered. In addition, a curfew will be enforced for everyone’s safety.”

A murmur of chatter rippled through the room. Riley nodded. So, the princess gets an extra run, and I’m forced upward. She paused. I need to steal crystals from now on. She looked at her dress. I’ll add a few pockets to my armor.

A student raised a hand.

“What is it?” Holt asked.

“Is the system based on position?” a student asked.

“And need,” Holt stated. “We have troops to advance and a war to win; some of you have clearly forgotten that fact. Shorove is massing troops. Assassins have killed a duke. A duke! Let that sink in. Do you think you are safe? Do you think that our troops can afford…”

Riley sighed. “Beauty, can you help me?

I’ll need to hide some things.

Help me then with my guise.

I need to stash the bling.”

She chuckled inwardly. That was terrible.

[It wasn’t your finest work. ~Beauty]

“Sorry.” Riley turned back to the droning seeker and half-listened to his ongoing lecture.

Riley Milvsky

Level: 205

Bard (C)

Level: 124

Dominating Presence D Enemies within sixty meters of you lose 10 strength, 10 dexterity, and 10 speed. You may use inspiration to boost the range and the effect temporarily.

Spirit Blade D Manifest an ethereal blade or imbue a blade with psychic energy. The blade lasts five minutes and will return to you after it is thrown. Costs 5 mana.

Restoring Presence D Subjects regain 1 stamina and 1 mana every half hour; their healing is augmented by 10%. Allies within 50 meters count as subjects. You may use mana to send out a burst of healing. You may use inspiration to expand and increase the effect.

Empowering Presence E Your subjects gain +3 strength, +3 dexterity, and +3 movement speed; allies within 20 meters count as subjects. You may use Bardic Inspiration to temporarily boost the range and the effect.

Assassin (C)

Level: 124 + 12

Assume Disguise S +30 charisma. Enhance your current disguise by altering your displayed information and taking on the disguised form. Grants +5 levels to the assigned class. Perception and Insight suffer -250 levels against your disguise and -50 levels against your deception or stealth. Penalty applied: Gods’ Oversight.

Dancer's Form B +10 speed. +2 levels to assigned class. You may use a charge of inspiration to boost your movement speed by an additional 5 for a minute.

Death's Cloak A Slain enemies will grant experience to your base level and active classes. +3 levels to the assigned class. Perception and insight suffer -25 levels against you. Penalty applied: Covenant.

Ambush B +10 speed. +2 levels to the assigned class. Costs one stamina to use. On use, you teleport to a shadow within 20 meters. Penalty applied: Covenant.

Ranger (C)

Level: 124

Predatory Sight D Your perception and insight are boosted by 25. This boost is not reduced by low light or no light. You may use 1 stamina to double this effect for 10 seconds.

Control Water E Manipulate the water around you. Cost varies based on amount.

Pretty D Your appearance is nice, but it could be so grand. Use a mana to get Beauty’s help! She may provide it anyway. Oh, and you’ll stand out in a crowd! After all, everyone knows a Beauty.

Music's Lute - You may summon this lute from the heavens. It will return to the heavens when you will it away.

Spell Thief (C) Level: 124 Inactive.

Noble (D)

Level: 209 Inactive.

Maid (F)

Level: 24 Inactive.

Poisoner (F)

Level: 10 Inactive.

Infiltrator (F)

Level: 14 Inactive.

- -

Conjure Storm D Manipulate or conjure up a storm. Mana cost varies.

Conjure Poison D Create a poison. Cost varies based on the poison type and requirements.

Dexterity 794

Strength 410

Speed 280

Intelligence 410

Charisma 564

Stamina 670

Mana 782

Inspiration 329