The pattering of footsteps quietly echoed off the stairs and walls. The dimly lit passageway added an eerie feel.
The walls were narrow, small enough that I couldn't fully extend my arms out at full length. Spreading about halfway up before the back of my hands brushed along the stone.
Despite Lord Elgin's tall and broad stature, his footsteps were completely inaudible. If I trailed too far behind, losing sight of him behind the spiral of steps, I'd have no idea he was even there.
The descent of the stairs took nearly two minutes. When reaching the bottom, it pulled out into a similarly lit hallway. A pair of simple wooden doors at the end, on the left.
"What I'm about to tell you is a closely guarded secret only a few Elites in the Kingdom know. Most servants in this estate aren't even aware." Elgin spoke softly, without looking back.
Without waiting for a response, he continued, "The image of this family is a façade, a simple deception to trick the masses."
"What do you–are you talking about your family's role in training the Royal Guard?"
'That is correct."
Reaching for the door, Lord Elgin grabs the handles of the double doors and pushes them open, smoothly sliding them to their respective sides.
The antechamber opens to reveal a large room, bathing in bright light from powerful artifacts on the ceiling. "While we do train Royal Guards, that is not the main purpose of our family to the Elites. In states of emergency, when discretion is necessary, we specialize in espionage and targeted exterminations."
I walked through the double doors, my eyes quickly adjusting, and looked around the bright room.
The door we just exited from was in the center of the wall. The wall itself was lined with a soft cushioning, with padded wooden statues and hanging punching bags. The wall to the left of us was made of glass, with the room on the other side full of workout equipment. The wall directly ahead was lined with a rack of weapons: sharp and blunt, long and short, one and two-handed. With a single door at the far-right end. The wall to the right had another pair of doors, though without a handle.
Stumbling over my words, "Like a real family of assassins? L-like Oston's Boogeymen?!"
Fully turning in my direction, Lord Elgin spoke with no change to his tone, "That name is quite… vexatious. We have no quarrels with the citizens of the Kingdom. Only dealing with grave agitators. Ones who decide to push a belief not in agreement with the Kingdom. Of course, we are only contracted as a final resort. However, most of our work is done outside the walls of the Kingdom. We only recently began our services again."
"Contracted? You're mercenaries."
Lord Elgin turned back around, walking deeper into the room. "Call us whatever you'd like. All that matters is that I am willing to make you one of us. That is my catch, Rin. For you to work under the Grimwald name."
"You want me to be a professional killer?"
"Yes, under cooperation."
"Is that your only offer?" I ask bluntly.
Without missing a beat, Lord Elgin responds, "It is."
Is there even a point in asking what would happen if I refused? I'm either dead, or I lose my Will. If I lose my Will, things will go back to how they were. Long weeks of working for little zen, going nowhere in life. My sister still has a bright future, but it's not enough. I've worked so long to support myself and my family. This is a chance to go somewhere and bring them along with me. In exchange for talking to customers and taking orders, I'll be fighting, bleeding, breaking bones, and killing…
I look right at Lord Elgin, just as he's doing to me. "On one condition…"
…
After a scary conversation with Lord Elgin, we came to an agreement.
I'm surprised he actually agreed.
I will train to be an assassin in exchange for my family to be moved into the Middle District, my mother given a job in the Service District, and my sister enrolled in a good school. All they would need is the funds to apply for a Middle District house, a Resident Permit, a Work Permit, and schooling. After that, everything would have to be paid for by them.
Even though it seems like I'm the only one gaining anything, something tells me that's not entirely true.
After our conversation, Lord Elgin said that he had to retrieve someone and would be back in a few minutes.
In his absence, I went over to the far wall and admired the weapons.
I wonder which one I'll be trained to use?
All the weapons had simple black handles, with well-polished blades. In the center of the wall were various sword types, most of them smaller and easy to swing around by the looks of it. To the right of that were daggers, fist weapons, and shields. To the left were spears, polearms, maces, axes, and blunts.
I've seen Gate Guards with all types of weapons. Most here were recognizable to me by name. They were all basic-looking and bland, like you wouldn't use them in a fight, not to mention dull.
While they resembled the ones I've seen used by the guards, none had the same craftsmanship. The weapons seemed to be made with quality and accuracy in mind, however.
I went to the largest and heaviest weapon I could see, which was an unnecessarily long and wide sword, and picked it up, straining all the muscles in my arms just to keep it off the ground.
Not that I had many muscles to begin with.
I attempted to swing it a few times but was stuck dragging it across the floor between each swing. You would need massive guts and muscles to fight efficiently with it.
I looked at the weapon with reverence and put it back on the rack. "A weapon for a true monster, or a monster hunter."
Stepping back from the weapon rack, a door quietly opened in the corner of my eye. I looked over to see Lord Elgin, Leo, and the same suited man who brought me here, walk out the handleless doors.
The room behind, now in full view, was a small box, with no other entrance or exit.
How could they have appeared out of that box? It leads nowhere.
They stepped out of the box and through the double doors, which automatically closed behind them.
"Leo?" I called out curiously.
"Hello again, Rin. I've come to beat you senseless." He lightheartedly exclaimed, with that usual smile on his face.
I could only furrow my brow in response.
Surely, he's joking.
"What my son means to say is that I wish to see your starting point and capabilities. I know you are not a fighter. This is simply to witness your intuition." Lord Elgin jumped in after Leo's comment.
"Riiight? And he's here to what? Watch?" Pointing at the man behind them.
Lord Elgin speaks again, "Yes. Allow me to give you a proper introduction. This is the estate's steward, head servant, and trainer. Assistant Chiron. He is here to ensure there is no… permanent damage."
I gave a proper look at the servant for the first time.
He gives a deep bow, making his large head of hair fall in front of his face. His many grey hairs blanketed the few black strands on the front of his head.
His bow was very… elegant, just like his demeanor. His suit was well-kept and tailored, and there wasn't a single hair out of place with his comb-over style. He looked a little strained performing the bow, with wrinkles exemplifying his older age. With no facial hair, the deep lines across his face were in full view.
Swallowing hard, I reciprocate his bow, mentally preparing myself for what's looking to be a painful thrashing. "O-okay. So, how do we do this?" Isay, upon rising from my hunched position.
Leo begins walking towards the center of the room, where dueling mats are placed to soften the ground.
Lord Elgin gestures for me to do the same. Assistant Chiron walks to stand just off the mat, ready to jump in if needed. Lord Elgin stays where he is, already having a good view for the 'spar'.
Standing three meters from Leo, I wait for more instructions.
Lord Elgin speaks, "Some simple rules for the spar." Looking towards Leo. "Leo, you will be handicapped. I am limiting you to defence only and counter-attacks when you see fit, letting Rin do all the direct attacking." Shifting his view, focusing on a point between us. "This shall be Basic Sparring rules: No weapons or Will usage, first to three points. Points can be earned by hitting the opponent's stomach, chest, or back, as well as pinning them to the ground or knocking them out of the arena. A Critical Win, in which case three points are not accumulated, takes place when a challenger can no longer continue."
"Any questions?" Lord Elgin looks at me.
"N-no. I understand." I responded nervously.
Locking eyes with Leo, unsure of what I should be doing, I do my best to get into a ready stance. Seeing Leo in a comfortable position with his legs wide apart and arms up, protecting his chest in defence, I loosely copy him. His smile grew wider from my shifting.
He enjoys this, doesn't he?
Assistant Chiron speaks, "Ready! Begin!"