The Shadow of shadows or just the Black Assassin's were a syndicate of highly skilled individual's (who were all of the Crepusvir species) in the art of knife diplomacy. The group had originally started to kill government radicals who had wanted to surrender with humans, or give up land to them. When the War of Kinds began the Black Assassin's had become legend, throughout the nations of Nondnol and Servist. With their natural pitch black skin, and unnatural athletic ability many wondered what their true goal was; as they had began randomly targeting people, rather than helping with war efforts. The Black Assassin's eventually crumpled on itself, it's members being corrupt or too old to carry out duty. They would go on as an icon of myth, and mystery. What was the most wondered thing was how they trained. There was no room to train as witnesses had seen, or even a study room to perhaps amplify magic. No one knows to this day how they were trained, maybe no one will.
- Seth Burman's, Folk Myth and Legends.
I awoke with a start, and breathed out. It had been a long, and horrifying experience the other day; an experience I hope I never have to go through again. I rose out of the bed's sheets; looked around, then pulled out on the drawer. There was one more Nerve syringe left. Oh, I had forgot to mention. About two months ago I had somehow ended up in another world. It contained just all sorts of sentient and magic using beings. Of course I nearly went insane. Luckily before giving myself away as a "despicable human", Gord a new friend of mine had given me a drug called Nerve syringe. It was like morphine, except it dulled my anxiety, and those thoughts that convinced me I was going insane. Many of these Darklings as they call themselves have never seen a human, most think I'm the nearly extinct vampire species.
That aside, I slipped on the jet black St.Barkenson Arcane studies uniform, while changing I nearly cried out. On my wrist was a odd cross mark; staring at it gave me that odd feeling of what I had experienced out in the swamp yesterday. I quickly covered it up with a cuff, and ran out of my dorm. Today was a free-day meaning we had no classes, I was almost relieved, classes would have stressed me out beyond belief. I took a left down the long corridors, and started to head to the courtyard, when suddenly.
"Yo Farskon!" Called a gravelly voice. I hid a sigh, it was Vincent. He was a troll, seven feet tall, big chest, large lower fangs, and rock formations forming on his dark blue skin. Vincent ran up to me, I knew he was about to hug me, and I, well, wasn't in the mood for a hug. So I passed, and sidestepped as best as I could. It didn't work. "Farsk we were really worried abou' you chap!" He gasped, and squeezed me tighter."Rumor was you had help from some professional Arcanist, but we all know you went in alone." I hate to admit it, but that was probably what most people thought. You see being human I wasn't exactly the best at magic, and also being human well we are at the bottom of the athletic scale as well. Though they don't know that; they think I'm a weak vampire.
"I'm fine Vince, and um let go of me," I replied."Look whatever you do know never speak of it again, ever."
"There was a bright light," Vincent mused, and grinned."And the swamp's canopy split way from it." I paled, alright, so you want to know what happened yesterday?Fine. A peer of mine lost something, and had put a high price on it. Well me being the smart person I was, went to the most dangerous place outside of Nodnol City. I didn't find the stupid item, but I barely escaped with my life, the swamp's monster, was the swamp itself, I had casted some kind of spell, to keep it at bay. But it wasn't arcane.
"Oh well, It's probably some vampire secret right?" Vincent asked, and cocked his head.
"Ummmm?Sure," I nodded, and asked."Gord's outside waiting for me isn't he?"
Vincent nodded a little agitated. I knew Vince didn't like Gord too much. They are actually total opposites. Vince is basically a big softie, but he's not the toughest guy on campus mostly because the tough guys are actually the ones with the highest marks. So yes, being a bookworm can make you really feared. Vince was tough, but a bit emotional, and he got C's in his classes snoozing it off. As for Gord, well you'll see.
"Eeeeh 'ow ya doin' moopets!" Gord called, waving us over. He was a Crepusvir; they look like humans in a negative photo, except his hair is orange, and his teeth are white. His species skin is black, and I mean pure pitch black, like the night sky. They also have droopy and round ears, but it's not noticeable. Gord has bright neon orange hair, spiked, he really like's to spike his hair. Don't ask me why, but it looks ridiculous on him.
"We're ok Gord."Vince muttered, as we strolled up to him. I was already imagining what he would say; probably something unconcerned and amazed like "Oi 'ow the 'ell did ya do that?!" or even "Did you ever find what you were lookin' for moopet!?"
"Mate, ya gotta tell me- what's that tattoo on your wrist?" Gord asked, losing his train of thought. My thoughts grew cold, I didn't know myself, and something told me not to get it examined.
"Nothing, something from one of your parties, must have forgotten a night eh?" I said nervously. Gord was rich, his family anyway, he was a party guy from Servist, which would be located in what we call Dublin Ireland. He's a slacker, but he buys his good marks. He's also a very accepting person, and the only other person at the moment who know's I'm human.
Gord broke out into a toothy grin, and Vincent suddenly spoke up. "So are we gonna do anything today, or what?" I smiled, me and Vincent were thinking the same thing: Gord buys us stuff. Gord muttered, and casted a spell. In the air a pamphlet appeared, and it was pretty decked out. Now you're wondering do they use technology? Well no, they use magic, but they are modern, personality wise, and they do have a simple yet cool culture. Everything has a Victorian look to it, but it looks like it's been built with modern materials, same goes with clothes. Basically magic to them is the only solution you need, why waste time altering resources when you can simply just conjure something? That's why there are no environmental problems as far as I've seen.
Vince yanked the pamphlet, and then laughed. "Oh, very funny." I looked at the pamphlet, and nearly bust a gut. It was a fake pamphlet, but it was an image of Vince, and I as an attraction to a freak show. Then, my morning got ruined, a robed man walked in and bowed. "Student Farskon, Headmaster Barkenson would like to see you," He recited, and motioned me to follow. Now, from all the schools I've been in I know there's only two reasons the top dog at the school would want to see you. One you're an outstanding student- and um no I'm not. Or two, you're in major trouble.
Probably number two, but I don't know what. Maybe for shifting the swamp?
"See ya in an hour!" Gord shouted hopefully, and trudged off with Vince.
I wished. For all I know I could be packing my bags, and I'll be stuck in a strange world with no shelter. I swallowed hard. My escort walked me up into the administration manor, we walked up a billion spiral stair cases, I swear, and the guy didn't slow down. After what seemed an eternity we reached the door. My escort knocked on the big double doors, and I dare you not to cower before a huge door, where a guy could possibly chew you out on the other side. "Come in," A hoarse voice called.
I shivered, and walked in."You wanted me Headmaster?" I pondered aloud, more to myself. The Headmaster had a pretty well made study, lots of books, a big desk and a big chair, the place could have been a hosting area for one of Gord's "parties". The head master looked up he was a goblin, rabbit structured legs, two feet tall, grey skin, and a rat like tail.
This guy was really old, his eyes were sunken, and his grey hair was barely clinging to his head.
"Let me see it," The Headmaster snapped at me.
"See what?"
"Your mark...," He grumbled a little more agitated.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I replied as calm as I could. This guy was giving me a very, very unpleasant, gaze. I wanted to squirm away, and hide. Or even just run out of the building, but I knew I wouldn't be able to escape.
"Damn it!" Bark, as I now will call him; shouted."Don't you lie to me...human!" I didn't bother to hide a gasp, all went still, I didn't know what to say, I forgot my name, I just wanted to be somewhere else. I was going to be killed, no doubt about it if Bark knew. He was not going to spare me he had said human as if it was a horrible disease. I gasped in fear once more.
After a time, Bark broke the silence."Let me see it." I did so not really wondering how it could get any worse. I pulled back my sleeves, and showed it to his face. His eyes widened, and he sighed out; a smile forming on his mouth. "Finally after this time we have what we need," Bark said to himself. I had no idea what he was talking about. "Sir?" I asked meekly. He turned his sunken eyes to me to meet my face. "That's right Silver Heart you'll be answering to me from now on...", Bark croaked.
I had no clue what he was talking about.
"Silver Heart?" I repeated unsure, my heart pounding in my gut.
"Oh they were an order of freakish humans, like you, that used the power of their soul, and belief in foolish religion to kill and massacre everything." Bark mused absent minded.
I shook my head, and said trembling."I never have taken a life."
"But you would have, such a shame I really had hoped you would have died from the use of black magic last month," Bark cruelly said. I paled, it was no secret that there was a secondary group of magic users who worked with black magic. It was easier to use then arcane, but it has potential to do terrible things, especially to yourself. I had joined for a bit, and liked it, but as a human my uses were limited on how much I can use it. The other black magic users left me to die as if they expected those weird veins to grow on me, and nearly drive me insane to happen. Luckily I was rescued, and those veins were pulled out of me. I shuddered, black magic was addictive, but I was done with it.
"I don't bloody care," I growled, gritting my teeth."Fine then my life is over, leave me alone." I got up, when he casted a spell that sat me, and binded me down. "Now, now boy," Bark coughed."I have uses for you."
"Uses for me." I repeated stupidly. I had no idea what he meant, and then he continued."Yes, Silver Heart, I want you to become a weapon for the Darklings." He proposed, without giving me chance to respond he said."The reason I do this is that one weapon thrown away one day, can be at your throat by tomorrow. You're that weapon, I hate humans, and I hate you, but I know exactly what to do."
Bark snapped his fingers, and I winced, I swore, by the end of the day I'll be scared shitless. Two men veiled in black, unitards, and masks came forward they appeared in a wisp of smoke.
"Don't worry they aren't alive, just my special conjuration," The Headmaster grinned."We are going to train you, and every day of the week, you will come to this study, and be escorted for training."
"And if I refuse?"
I probably shouldn't have asked that, but there was silence no answer, and we both knew what he would do if I refused, there was no way out, but to accept his instructions. Before I could agree, the veiled men put a bag over my head, and I heard a wall being scraped. Maybe a secret passage? I don't know but I was escorted through a bunch of hidden passages until I heard the whirring of something loud."What is that?!" I asked, to Bark, but he wasn't there I forgot. Just me and two conjured body guards escorting me. They pulled the bag off my head, and I had no idea what I saw.
It was a machine, the first I saw in a while, It had all these pipes, and pumps to push them, in the middle was a pod, with water inside. The whole machine was covered in bulbs filled with arcane, it's purple blue glow lit up the bathroom sized room.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
I nearly had a heart attack, I looked around who said that.
It was the second conjuration it's black mask hiding it's expressionless...expression. The voice was low, like a slowed down video footage. "Uuuuh?!" I worded smartly.
"It is I the Headmaster, human, I am using the conjuration as communication between us." The conjured bodyguard replied."As you would obviously not know how to work this thing."
"I thought I'd be studying magic or something." I breathed out.
"Ah but silver hearts, used both they were admiral warriors."
I wanted to scoff right then, and there. I couldn't be a paladin, as you may already know I'm not athletic at all. Back when life made sense to me, I could never climb a rope, or run too fast. Push ups were torture to me, and chin ups, well forget about it. "I'm not exactly warrior material." I admitted to the conjuration. "I think you've got the wrong guy."
"Don't you think I know that?" The conjuration snapped in mean Bark's tone."Tell me boy, have you ever heard of the Black Assassins? No of course you don't; well they were assassin's fabled in stealth, and flexibility, but no one knows how they trained, well almost no one."
"So this thing...um trains them..." I said unsure."Blimey."
"Ah I modified it, you will learn to fight against just about anything." Bark said over the machines whirring and humming."Press the switch and step inside the pod with your arms crossed." I didn't want to go near the machine, but I knew I had no choice. "This won't have any side effects will it?"
"Oh by the time we finish training you, you'll lose five years off your unworthy life, now go!" Bark grumbled bitterly through the conjured bodyguard.
I hesitated for a moment, and then just saw there was no way out, I could either get killed, or something worse, unless I listened to him. I pulled off my uniform, and put on the gray jumpsuit hung on the wall. I swallowed my fear, and stepped up to the machine. I then, found myself praying to god, for the first time in years, then I flipped the switch and entered the water filled pod.
((End of Part 1 to be continued))
