Chapter 71 - Struggles and Consequences

[262 Days Remaining]

Most of the panic about the fire last night had calmed down a little, and it was now early morning. The news of the fire had spread like wildfire. Sections of the city of Avea had seen messengers of the Council of Merchants who announced the message that Merchant Zafer and other noteworthy people had perished in the fire.

The details of the cause of the fire, however, had not been announced. After all, it would not have been wise to panic the people with unfounded suspicions—the council themselves did not know who had dared killed one of its seat members.

Inside the expensive room of the inn, I sat on the high straight back chair, one arm resting against the seat's arm, and the other arm holding a glass goblet high up against my mouth. The black wine, surprisingly called Dragon's Fire, tasted sour and was like fire poured down my throat. Although it still lacked the heat similar to a real dragon's fire breath. I should know.

The inn had sold them at five gold coins a bottle, and I had bought it to try it out. I had wanted to try it out since I only had memories of my counterpart drinking alcohol; I did not have the experience of truly tasting it for myself.

I put the half-drained goblet on the black, trestle table, letting it sit beside the bottle, before looking at the three assassins who stood in front of me. Their figures looked stoic, silently and patiently waiting for me to speak.

“I want each of you to kill a member of the Council of Merchants, so that only one will remain. Do this by midnight tonight, and it shall prove your usefulness and your lives. If you fail, do not bother coming back, as I will personally kill you. I do not wish for useless slaves, especially since I have already memorized the things you have told me about Malice. That is, if you were telling the truth about them, though I have confirmed a few facts.”

“You want it done by tonight?” Ilana asked. “Do you also want us to bring you a fallen star?”

I ignored her sarcastic remarks, giving only a small, indifferent shrug. “Your only alternative is to die. And this shall prove to me that you are in fact the elite assassins you three make yourselves out to be.”

Gwen pursed her lips, a small frown showing. “The mansions of the four seat members will have increased guards and everything. They shall be wary, especially since it has only been one night after you killed Zafer.” She took a deep breath, before continuing. “It is barely doable, however.”

“I shall show you what it is to be called the elite of the elite assassins!” Kal declared boldly, the task before him somehow giving him courage. He had a strange personality.

“You can leave now,” I said. “That is all.”

The three assassins quietly went out my inn's room, leaving me alone with my thoughts while I sipped at the Dragon's Fire.

Already, I could feel my counterpart struggling against the chains of darkness. And as each hour passed, I could feel the barest slivers of his personality influencing me. Had I was fully myself, I would have never cared for such a measly thing as trying out the wine. I would also not have spared the three assassins.

It was strange, some of the new emotions I was feeling—I did not know what they were. The only things I could feel prior to this unexpected “merging” was self-preservation, indifference, and dark vengeance.

My counterpart's struggles for the moment, however, was still weak. I still had some time before he would break free, perhaps six days at the most.

I concluded.

I did not like the new emotions I was feeling. They felt too weak, too sentimental.

Putting these thoughts aside, I had more things to contend with. Based on the information supplied by the three assassins and what Veena's father had said, I knew there were shadowy plans in motion. They were plans which would affect the kingdom on the whole.

I came to a likely assumption: the organization Malice wanted to rule the kingdom and bring its shadowy power to light.

The four Guardians of Shail Kingdom, the barons of the eastern, western, southern, and northern regions were most likely riddled with spies, assassins, and other people working for Malice. The north, I thought, would most likely be the focal point where their plans would begin.

The unrest of the belligerent and greedy nobles there would be a good place to start, looking at it from the organization's perspective. The northern region was like dry grass waiting to be sparked by a rebellious fire, its lesser nobles not content being under Baron Serle.

Meanwhile though, I would cause unrest of my own to offset their probable plans. The Council of Merchants was a good place to start. It would make the eastern Baron more wary, making it easier for my plans to rid Malice and kill Veena's father come into fruition.

And though my counterpart and I did not see eye to eye, he would most likely take up the reigns after breaking free. It was the most practical thing to do. For that, I could count on him.

I did not like it, though. I was sure that I was better than my counterpart in all aspects. It would have been much easier to take control had he fully embraced death and indifference. But now, I had not expected his personality to seep into mine.

I knew, however, that we would not fully integrate with each other just yet, if we could even. The next time my counterpart was at death's door though, I could not guess as to what would happen. Perhaps we would merge with each other.

Or perhaps I would take control.

It would not go like last time when my counterpart had been almost killed by the lich. When I could only take control for a mere moment to preserve our life.