'Johnny's taking too long,' thought Igor, as he paced along the railed pathway. It had been five minutes now, and Johnny hadn't come back. Igor knew the latter thought with his dick, so it wouldn't be surprising if he were doing something else out in those shrubs. 'Why do I have to work with these fools...'
He would just have to sort the situation out himself.
The gang was in a precarious situation, Grimes was out of the warehouse, and just the five of them secured their precious merchandise. He shouted to the remaining gangsters, "Oi! You three! No horsing around, Johnny's taking too long. I'm gonna drag his ass back inside. All hands on deck."
"I wonder what he's doing out there. Hahaha!" Replied one of the gangsters, as he jeered.
"Idiot"
Dismissing the three below, Igor trudged toward the exit that Johnny used. He shoved the door open and barked, "Get back inside Johnny!"
"..." Silence.
"Johnny?"
His voice dipped—softer now. A whisper. He stepped out farther, peering into the dark.
"What the hell..."
He couldn't see his comrade anywhere. He focused his eyes, searching for a familiar silhouette.
When Igor's eyes adjusted to the ambient lighting, he saw a distinct marked trail on the dirt, leading to the edge of the outcrop.
He crouched down and rubbed his finger on the markings.
'Blood...shit.'
He instantly pulled his sword out of its sheath. He was cool and collected, a long shot from the other goons. Igor was Grimes' right hand, and he climbed to that position with conviction and cunning.
It wasn't uncommon for beasts from the forest to amble into the area looking for a quick meal. Whatever it was, it probably caught Johnny off guard. He would alert the other gangsters if it got serious, but for now...he would just take a look. He would save Johnny and slay that beast.
Drawn by the scent of accomplishment, the bold little mouse crept along the trail of cheese, blind to the trap that was lying in its path. Despite the evident danger, it wallowed in feelings of superiority. The vermin was self-assured because it was slightly smarter, slightly tougher than its predecessor.
The mouse, oblivious in its courage, could not understand that an apex predator didn't care for capability. Speed, cunning, strength—it was all meaningless. The predator didn't challenge; it devoured. And this one waited, coiled in silence, watching with cold eyes for the perfect moment to strike.
Lucian tracked his prey calmly. Igor was following the blood and slowly approached the assassin's position.
'Good. He took the bait.'
The former was hiding in a bush next to the edge of the outcrop, a perfect spot when combined with his Shadow Concealment spell.
Every mage was aligned to a type of mana. Some could wield the power of elements like fire and water, while others had unique affinities passed through lineage. The number of elements was not definitive, and there were doubts as to how new initiates were granted their attribute. Bloodline and experiences had the biggest impact, but the rest was unknown.
Although the affinity of a mage was important, their worth was assessed by just one metric. In the magic world, it determined everything.
Circles.
The prosperity of a mage, and by extension their lineage, was bound to the rank they earned. Each Circle they acquired marked a deeper mastery of the arcane.
Lucian had the shadow affinity. It was a unique element, of which there were no documented users in the history of the world. As a First Circle mage, an initiate, his ability with magic was minimal. Shadow Concealment was one of the few spells he could use. It let him blend into the shadows, perfect for remaining unseen.
Grimes, a Third Circle, was far too powerful to fall for such tricks, but the spell's effectiveness against the uninitiated—those who couldn't use mana—was undeniable. Igor, the mouse, stepped closer and closer, scurrying to his demise.
"The trail of blood ends here," muttered Igor, peering over the edge.
His heart dropped.
"FUCK!" He swore unintentionally.
He saw it. At the bottom of the cliff, he saw a corpse. He knew that corpse all too well. They were at the bar together earlier today...they were chatting just 5 minutes ago.
He was shocked and scared but he had to stay quiet. 'Calm down, Igor, if you make a noise, the animal takes you out next.'
But...why would an animal knock its food off a cliff?
Oh.
Igor was not bird-brained like his colleagues. If he could not come to a simple conclusion, he would have been stomped out long ago.
'We're being hunted. Not by an animal...'
The grim reality set in. The heart that had just calmed down began thumping more violently than before. His legs seized, and the grip on his sword tightened. His hand turned deathly white from the force.
'...but by a person.'
Only an experienced assassin could dispatch a gangster and leave no trace...Igor looked down. At the blood. It was a trace.
*THWACK*
Igor felt a strong impact on his back.
'Huh?'
One moment, he was standing.
The next moment, he was falling to his death.
For a few moments, he was silent. It was as if he had accepted his death. This was far from the truth. It was not resignation, but shock. Brutal and honest, it was the body's temporary shutdown before inevitable death.
But then, Igor let out a shrill scream. As with all humans, he was not ready to depart. He had so much left to experience, and so many mountains to climb. "AHHH!"
Alas, it was too late for regrets. The mouse now realized a primordial truth. No matter what it did or how fast it scurried, it was just prey. It was a weak, helpless offering to the powerful predators that roamed the realm.
*SPLAT*
The predator, feeling no joy in the successful hunt, revealed himself. Lucian's silver eyes gleamed with indifference. For now, he was just a slightly stronger chess piece. He was like a pawn that had been promoted, having the ability to move anywhere it likes within the board. For some, like Johnny and Igor, that was enough. Lucian thought of this position as a burden. He was stuck in a limbo, forced to do the bidding of others; enacting the orchestra of the powerful.
Eyes narrowed, he mulled over what was to transpire in the next few days.
'I'll be a pawn for as long as I need to be. It doesn't matter how impossible the challenges are ahead, I will succeed. My revenge will be realized. Mother, father, and Lily, watch me. I'm going to crush whoever was responsible. Watch me from above and let nirvana wash over your souls.'
Soon, his ascension would begin. His sights were set beyond the confines of the board.
He would transcend from pawn to player.
But for now, he had a job to do.
'Two down.'