Ch 40: Assassin

Puzzling questions arise as everyone finds out that Conwell is supposedly still alive. As everyone settles in, Grey takes a look around the castle, only to wind up defending the King from an assassin.

            Rising from the throne, the King said, “Well then, I guess it’s settled. We’ll be counting on you young lady.” Turning to the King, Amy bowed her head and stammered, “Y-yes sir, I mean Your Majesty!” Coming up before the table, the King said, “As I said before, please be at ease. Now why don’t I get some rooms prepared for you all? Although it is still a bit early.” Having been lost in thought, as the others started rising to go, Richter suddenly said, “Excuse me Your Majesty, there’s something else I’d like to discuss.” Looking over at Richter, the King said, “Ah, Colonel Jack Richter, the Energist of Prisms. Please, go ahead.” The others settling back into their seats, Richter looked serious as he replied, “Thank you. Forgive me but something you said back at the landing spine has been troubling me. I have not wanted to interrupt the discussion, and I could be wrong, but when you were talking about Emperor Magni and Conwell, you spoke as if you have not heard that Conwell was killed at Castrum Prison during the breakout.” Looking greatly surprised, the King said, “What? I’m afraid that’s not possible. Just a short while ago, Magni sent Conwell here to the palace as a representative to discuss some matters. I saw him alive and well myself.” Both Grey and Richter looked absolutely shocked. Turning to them, Alexander said, “This is a strange turn of events… Are you certain he could not have escaped somehow?” Richter shook his head as he said with certainty, “I saw it all on the prison surveillance system! Conwell was completely annihilated!” Crossing her arms with a disbelieving look, Catherine said, “Father is strange, but he’s not one to lie about something like this.” Suddenly raising her hand in the air, Amy said, “Oh, oh, I have an idea!” Laughing at her as she was waving her hand about, Scott said, “This isn’t school you know!” With an embarrassed expression, Amy muttered, “I-I know that! Anyway, could he have a twin or something?” With a big grin, Schmitt said, “I heard of twins who look the same, but twins with the same name and occupation? Kinda a stretch…” Mythra looked over at Alexander and said, “Could it be… that?” With a nod, Alexander replied, “Most likely.” Worried by Alexander’s expression, Grey said, “What is it?” Hesitantly, Alexander said, “Under different circumstances I might have considered Amy’s idea, but if Altera Veritas is working behind the scenes within the Guild… I can’t be certain, but I would assume Conwell is a shade.”

            Except for Mythra and surprisingly the King, everyone looked completely lost at Alexander’s conclusion, and Grey said, “A what?” With a nonchalant tone, the King said, “Something like a ghost if I recall. There were creatures called shades in the stories I used to read to Catherine before bed when she was little. Ah, memories…” Hearing this Amy turned pale, and in a squeaky voice she murmured, “G-g-ghost?!” Watching Amy panic and feeling slightly embarrassed for her, Grey said, “Who reads their kids bedtime stories about ghosts?” Catherine simply sighed. Speaking like a teacher reading a textbook aloud in class, Mythra said, “A shade. Unlike an anomaly, shades are created from the just the essence of the dead. Created through the use of complex and time consuming spells, they retain their physical appearance. They are beings that in the general sense do not exist in the physical world, and therefore usually cannot interact with it. Some are capable of physical interaction, but only for a brief period of time.” During her entire description, Richter was jotting down her words eagerly in a small notepad he’d pulled from his pocket. Watching him, Scott thought, “This really isn’t school… Right?” Remembering the kick he’d given Conwell, Grey exclaimed, “I struck him back at the prison though!” Taking this into account, Alexander slowly said, “Yes that’s true. Even restrained, your movement there was quite fast. He couldn’t have reacted in time to make it look like he’d taken the blow like any other person. However, suppose he knew you might strike out at him. It’s rare, but made well enough, some shades can give themselves physical form for several minutes. More than long enough to wait for your strike.” Running through his memory, Grey said, “He pulled out chairs for us all, he even sat in one…” Thinking back to the events that day as well, Alexander said, “Yes, but he did not lay a hand on his suitcase or the documents clearing us. Hmm…”

            Scratching his head as he thought hard about it, Scott said, “This is really out there, but I guess that’s just par for the course for us.” Putting away his notepad, Richter frowned and said, “We seem to have come up with more questions than answers. For now let’s assume that he is a shade. If Conwell is able to be intangible, what happened to him back in Castrum? I saw him disappear from Grey’s attack.” Removing his shades and rubbing his eyes, Alexander said, “It’s most likely that he purposely disappeared. At any rate, I’m more interested in what he was trying to accomplish. Had he merely exercised his authority, he could have had us all in the palm of Alastor’s hand. Since it does seem we’re getting nowhere though, I think it is best we focus on the task at hand for now. The smart thing to do is to see if His Majesty can acquire the prison security footage. Aside from that, we can simply worry about Conwell when the time comes.” Clapping his hands together, the King said, “Very well then, I shall have your rooms prepared at once! If you need anywhere to train or what not, I’m sure I can find somewhere private for you.” Rising to go, they all followed the King out of the throne room. No one had noticed the hooded figure that had been hanging suspended from the ceiling, watching them the entire time. Quietly, the figure said, “Target acquired…”

            Having shown them to their rooms and received a list of needed items from Alexander, the King left them to themselves as he hurried off to an important appointment. Laughing, he’d said to them, “Forgive me, but I won’t have time to set up a place for you to train right away as I originally promised. Do feel free to look around though. And with that, I’m off on my next grand adventure!” He had brought them to four two person guest rooms. Catherine was staying in her own room, so with a simple number guessing game it was decided Schmitt would be the lucky one to have a room by himself. Entering the guest room they would be sharing, Grey and Alexander carried in what little luggage they brought, just a change of clothes, which had been brought up by the palace staff. There was a large hexagonal table in the center of the room surrounded by chairs, a closet by the right side of the door, and against the left wall as they entered were two beds, each with a window and nightstand. Looking out a window, Grey could see the sun just about to set over the vast city. Placing his clothes on one of the beds, Alexander said, “Well, I know the King did not assign us a place to train, but there should be no harm in getting Amy started on her training. What are you thinking of doing for now?” For a moment, Grey considered whether he might just rest. Then remembering what the King said, he replied, “Well, there’s not a whole lot to do, but the King did say we could look around.” They left the room together, and parting ways with Grey, Alexander said, “Don’t get lost now.” Waving a hand in the air as he walked away, Grey said, “Yeah, yeah…” Making his way through the wide hall, lined with marble pillars and decorated in the royal colors of red and gold, Grey reached the elevator they had used coming up to the guest rooms. Stepping through the doors as they opened, Grey picked a floor button at random and pressed it.

            Wandering through a hallway with windows along it that showed the city beyond, Grey looked for someplace interesting. Coming upon a large door, Grey pushed it open and stepped into the royal library. Books upon books lining the shelves on the walls and the bookcases throughout the room, Grey could see there was an upper balcony along the walls with even more books. Making his way through the shelves, he came upon a bunch of desks at the center of the room where a few people he assumed were scholars or such were reading quietly. Then someone called out from the balcony, “Grey? I’m somewhat surprised.” Looking up at the balcony, Grey saw Richter standing there with a stack of books in his arms. As the scholars looked up from their books, Grey motioned to Richter to be quiet, as it was a library after all. Climbing the stairs up to the balcony, as Grey reached him, Richter said, “That must have been embarrassing, I apologize…” Shaking his head, Grey said, “Don’t worry about it. What’re you doing here though? I know Mythra cleared you, but you almost died from that poison y’know.” Setting the books on a nearby table, Richter said, “I’ll be fine. As for what I’m doing here, I could ask the same question. Not to offend, but you never did strike me as the scholarly type.” Narrowing his eyes, Grey said, “Thanks. Anyways, I’m just having a look around.” Slightly disappointed, Richter said, “I see. Well, I’m merely here to see if I can find anything on the entities we were discussing earlier, shades. I doubt I’ll find much, but it will be a rare opportunity to comb the royal library for information like this.” Looking at the stack of books, Grey said, “Yeah well, don’t wear yourself out…” Richter started laughing to himself quietly. Confused, Grey said, “What? What did I say?” With a sad smile, Richter said, “I know what I said at Mythra’s home, but it still feels strange to be talking to you like this. Just a short while ago I hated you more than anyone in the world…” Grey, unsure what else he could say, said, “I guess it is kinda strange when you look at it that way, but even after everything that’s happened between you and me, you still chose to believe in me. You didn’t make that choice lightly. You said it yourself, you’re doing what you think is right. If you ask me, that’s reason enough.” Richter simply stared at him for a moment, and then he smiled reluctantly and said, “I’m amazed. I don’t think I could have found a book in this entire library with a better answer to my lingering doubts…”

            Following Richter’s suggestion of a place to visit, as Grey entered the elevator, he pressed the button marked, “Upper Spire Viewing Platform.” With a jolt the elevator zoomed upwards, and as it at last came to a halt, Grey stepped out onto an open air platform upon the top of the palace’s highest spire. Walking up to the railing, he looked out at the wondrous view of the city. Watching the sun set on the city for awhile, Grey found himself dwelling on Gisette’s words, and with a sour look he muttered, “Power to change the future huh? I said I’d make my own future, but what is the future anyway? Is it really something you can predict, can you actually change it?” With a sigh, he stared off into space for a while. Suddenly laughing, he said quietly, “Listen to me… I spent all that time worrying about the past, now I’m worrying about the future. Seems like no matter what I do I’m worried about something.” Looking down at the hover cars moving around like ants, he thought, “There’s nothing to do but keep moving. Whatever the future holds, we won’t know until it happens. Besides, isn’t it more like me to charge on ahead no matter what?” Turning, he started back towards the elevator. Hearing the humming of machinery, he stopped to look for the source of the noise, and realized it was the elevator itself. Then elevator doors opened and out stepped the King. Both seeing each other, they said in surprise, “Ah…” Looking around, the King said, “Grey, what are you doing up here?” Nervously, Grey said, “Uh sorry, you said we could look around and all.” Then remembering what else the King said, he continued, “Not to be rude, but what are you doing here Your Majesty? I thought you said you had some appointments to go to.” Still looking around, the King replied, “Yes well, I received a message from Catherine to meet her here as soon as possible. It sounded rather urgent, so I postponed my current business. Have you not seen her?” Shaking his head, Grey said, “No I-” Suddenly Grey sensed a nearby aura, and as he quickly turned around, he saw over by the railing of the viewing platform a figure cloaked in tan robes with a hood over his head, casting a shadow upon the platform as the sun set behind him. The hood the figure wore had strange protruding patches on the top as though it had been altered to accommodate a set of horns. Certain this person was not a friend, Grey said, “And just who are you?” Reaching a cloth wrapped hand into his robes, the figure withdrew a small one handed sickle, a silver, crescent shaped blade attached to a padded handgrip. In a gruff voice the figure replied, “Claus. Assassin for hire…”

            Forming his swords, Grey said to the King, “Take the elevator and get out of here Your Majesty!” With a hesitant look, the King replied, “But what about you?” Grinning confidently, Grey said, “I’ll be fine, it’s me he’s after anyways. Just go let everyone know what’s going on.” Nodding, the King headed for the elevator as Grey turned to face Claus. Calling out to the assassin, Grey said, “So what’s your story? Is Altera Veritas running low on Revenants already?” Silent for a moment, Claus finally said, “I believe you misunderstand young man.” As Grey pondered what he meant, the King called out behind him, “Grey, something is wrong with the elevator!” Not taking his eyes off Claus, Grey said, “What?! But it was working just fine a… Wait a minute…” Gritting his teeth as started to realize what was going on, Grey said, “First the King receives a message from Catherine to meet here, then she doesn’t show up, and now the elevator that was working just fine stops running right after he gets here… You’re not after me, you’re after the King!” Starting to walk slowly towards them, Claus said, “Yes. I have no business with you young man. Stand aside and you won’t get hurt.” Preparing to defend the King, Grey raised his swords and took his battle stance. Stopping, Claus said, “So you intend to interfere?” With a smirk, Grey replied, “You obviously don’t have a clue who you’re talking to!” The two stood staring silently at one another, and then after a minute Claus said, “You have great courage, but you lack confidence in yourself. You will be no match for someone like me.” Staring at him, Grey said, “Confidence?” Nodding, Claus said, “Without confidence in oneself, one cannot fight to the best of one’s abilities.” Gripping his swords angrily, Grey shouted, “I don’t know what the point of all this is, but you don’t know anything about me! Now are you gonna shut up and fight or what?!”

            Raising his sickle, Claus charged at Grey. Grey lashed out with a thrust as he drew near, but with fluid motion the assassin jumped up on the blade of his sword. Jumping again, he sailed over Grey’s head, and flipping upside down in the air he flung his sickle at the King as he said, “This is over.” Yet as Claus came down to land behind Grey, he heard the clang of steel against steel, and looking over at his target he saw that the King had drawn a sword from beneath his robes. Having deflected Claus’ sickle, the King grinned and said, “I’m afraid it’s not over yet. I may be the King, but first and foremost I am a friend of the people! Grey will not fight alone!” Claus leaped into the air again as Grey turned and swung at him. Planting his feet against the wall above the elevator entrance, Claus stood upon it as though the pull of gravity simply did not apply to him. Glancing briefly at the King, Grey said, “Nice Your Majesty, but please stay back!” Channeling EDE into his blade, Grey fired off spheres of light energy at Claus. Drawing from his robes a second sickle blade, Claus began to run up the side of the spire, dodging the exploding energy attacks. Leaping off, in his free hand Claus formed a swirling mass of darkness and held at before him as he sailed down at Grey. Aiming right back up at him, Grey had already started chanting, “Pluvia Eversio, Vultus Lux!” Shining arrows of light shot from the tip of Grey’s sword upwards at Claus, yet making contact with the swirling mass of darkness they seemed to be absorbed into it. Seeing this, Grey jumped back as the assassin came down on him with his sickle blade. Quickly after landing, Claus raised the hand in which he held the swirling mass of darkness at Grey, and out of the swirling darkness shot Grey’s own arrows of light. A look of disbelief on his face, Grey raised his sword and unleashed his EDE Dissipation to dispel his own attack.

            Giving him no time to rest, Claus rushed at Grey and struck out with his sickle. Blocking the swing, Grey was knocked off balance, and the assassin followed quickly with a powerful kick. Sent flying across the platform, Grey was saved by the railing, as the force would have carried him off the edge. Slowly moving towards Grey, Claus said, “You have a curious Anima Weapon there. It seems apparent to me that it is an incomplete Anima Weapon.” With a bewildered look as he slowly stood, Grey said, “Incomplete…?” Claus replied, “Yes, an Anima Weapon is given form by the characteristics of one’s essence. Often incomplete Anima Weapons are something created by energist children who have yet to control their powers, but anyone lacking control can wind up with them.” Becoming more and more irritated, Grey chanted, “Ego Voco Vos, Lux Acies!” His light enchantment shining upon his blades, Grey rushed at Claus and struck out in anger, but once more Claus leaped upon his sword and up over his head as he said to Grey, “Keep cool in battle if you want to live…” Channeling EDE into his blade, Grey turned to unleash a light energy wave, but was surprised to find him gone. Then from behind him, Claus’ voice said, “Over here.” Realizing they stood back to back, Grey was starting to become unnerved, and said, “How…?” Turning with a powerful slash, Grey’s sword met only with air as Claus ducked and with a sweeping kick toppled Grey to his back. Crossing both his swords before him to block the sickle blade as Claus brought it down on him, as Grey struggled with the blade, Claus raised his free hand and channeled EDE into it as he said, “Ready to give up?”

            Grey fired a powerful kick into Claus’ stomach, knocking him back. Jumping to his feet, Grey said, “I won’t lose to someone like you!” Stumbling back, Claus said, “Humph. I applaud your reckless courage…” Channeling EDE into a sword, Grey flung a wave of light energy at Claus. Yet once again, in his free hand Claus created an absorption field and absorbed the wave, and Grey quickly moved to avoid his own energy wave as it shot back at him. Claus rushed in to attack Grey, who quickly dodged his initial strike and began to fight back. Their blades clashing, Grey finally parried a strike and knocked the sickle from Claus’ hand. With his opponent’s weapon disarmed, Grey swung at Claus with his swords, but Claus evaded in a fluid motion, ducking the blades and lunging forth to slam his elbow into Grey’s gut before he even realized what happened. Grey buckled over as Claus jumped back and gathered EDE as he said, “Don’t let your guard down because your opponent is unarmed…” As Claus channeled EDE into his hands, they seemed to glow with a dark hue, and with great speed Claus moved in to attack again while Grey struggled to recover. Getting up and ducking and dodging as Claus unleashed a barrage of punches, Grey finally found an opening to strike with his light swords, yet Claus quickly grabbed hold of the shining blade with a glowing hand and slammed the other into Grey’s chest. Feeling as though he’d been impaled, Grey staggered back and coughed, a trickle of blood dripping from his mouth. Taking a few steps back as well, as Grey spat up blood, Claus said, “You should really give up before I use that on you again. Continued strikes from my Blackhand will cause severe internal injury.” Then Claus looked at the hand he had held Grey’s blade with, and seeing it no longer had the Blackhand effect he’d put on it, he thought, “That’s twice now. First his arrows, now my Blackhand… Is this EDE Dissipation?” Suddenly realizing he’d let his guard down, Claus turned his attention back to Grey just as he’d fired a wave of shining light energy at him. Unable to gather his absorption field in time, Claus raised his remaining Blackhand to block it.

            Blown to the other side of the platform near the elevator entrance, as Claus got to his feet he called out, “I will admit you’re doing far better than I expected, despite relying so much on little more than brute strength and basic rune swordsmanship.” Then he began gathering a mass of EDE in each hand. The masses crystallized, and in each hand Claus now held between each of his fingers large throwing knives. Grey thought he could see red eyes glowing faintly underneath Claus’ hood as the assassin said, “However… playtime is over…” Claus threw the throwing knives at Grey, and the moment they left his hands new knives appeared in his grip and he threw those as well. They replicated again and again, and Claus unleashed them in a storm. Charging through the waves of knives, Grey struggled to reach his opponent, deflecting and dodging knives, many grazing him time and again. As he got close, Grey lunged at where Claus stood, yet the assassin simply leaped up onto the wall above the elevator entrance. Leaping off as Grey chased after him, Claus stopped in the air and floated there as he began spinning quickly like a top, raining knives at Grey all the while. Pushing off from the wall Grey jumped after him, deflecting even more knives. Taking a knife to his left arm, the shooting pain forced Grey to drop his left sword, and as he reached Claus he swung his remaining light blade at him with all he had left. Yet Claus simply floated to the side, and as Grey descended back towards the ground Claus flung more knives after him. Turning in the air, Grey chanted, “Rutilus Astrum Contego!” A shield of light energy shaped like a six pointed star appeared from a white rune circle, remaining where it had been summoned as Grey fell away from it, the knives battering against it as he landed hard on his back. Grey struggled to his feet, finding it difficult to use his left arm at all, and as he stood he saw that Claus had vanished once again. Quickly he turned as more knives came at him from behind, and struggling to deflect them with only one sword, Grey did his best but was struck in the left shoulder and right leg. Dropping to one knee, Grey panted in exhaustion as Claus said, “I see you’re at your limit.” Suddenly Claus disappeared, and to Grey’s astonishment two of him appeared standing a short ways away on either side of him. Eyes wide, Grey stammered, “Wh-what the hell?!” Both the Claus clones readied their knives and said, “Endgame Rain!” With that they both unleashed a rain of knives from both sides of Grey, who closed his eyes and thought, “D****t, it’s over…”

Reviews

[Ryan Henderson]

Great chapter! The dialogue in this book flows very nicely as I've mentioned before and I love it. The book is set up in an easy to read manor as well. I didn't catch any spelling errors in this chapter, so great work on that!

Also adding in the part that Conwell was still alive was a nice touch! Although the prison scene with Conwell is a little fuzzy in my memory and to ensure that I get the full impact of Conwell's return to the story (which I assume will happen) could you give me the chapters that have Conwell in them? I'd appreciate it!

Grey defending The King from the assassin was a very nice touch. The battle was described vividly as is per usual with you. I also like Grey's cocky attitude. He's like the 'I can handle anything' guy. The ending of this chapter is looking very, very dismal for Grey indeed! Very looking forward to the next chapter!

[KeithKVH]

Do look forward to the next one, there's a big event in it.

Also, the chapters with Conwell are Ch 12 and Ch 13. He's quite an important factor in upcoming events, you can actually find something of a hint/foreshadowing in something Alastor says to himself in Ch 12.

[Ryan Henderson]

Thanks! I look forward to it!