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Chapter 2
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Rogues guildhouse, outskirts 3:30 PM
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"Yes, you'll get to keep every piece of loot you find and 75% of the pay will be split between you and anyone in your party. We have rooms that you can stay in for free as long as you complete three jobs a week." Marcel said as he wrote what seemed to be a contract, soon he finishes writing and slides the paper over to Ace "look over it" Marcel said
Ace's eyes scanned the contract looking for anything out of place. "What does the guild mark do?" Ace asked. "A serpent binding mark that prevents guild members from attacking each other" Marcel answered calmly. "Okay, how do I sign?" Ace asked, looking at Marcel "Cut your hand and use the blood to activate the binding mark," Marcel said bluntly.
"Wait, before I do this, show me what you look like," Ace said. "Very well" Marcel slowly raised his hands to his face and hesitantly took off his mask. Hidden underneath were glowing dark orange orbs floating where eyes should be and the unmistakable face of an undead.
Ace jumped up out of his seat, his face filled with shock "you an undead?!". "A conscious one, I am an elf of old. I died around 46 years ago but I was brought back due to my ability" Marcel said before placing his mask back on his face "Why did you die?" Ace asked. "A war that started during the first ten years of the new world… that's all I remember, most of my old memories are gone." Marcel answered bleakly, "now, the contract".
"Oh, right" Ace drew his dagger and placed the palm of his hand above the contract before slicing his palm. Ace winced in pain as the blood from his hand dripped onto the contract paper and soon the paper lit up in a black flame. The flame raised up into the air and shot towards Ace, burning a black serpent mark around his forearm.
"Welcome to the Rogues Guild, Ace" Marcel said. "I'll let you get accustomed to your guild member, in an hour or so i'll call you back in here to explain how you will contribute to the guild, alright?" Marcel said. "Yeah, alright" Ace got up looking at the serpent mark on his forearm. It started from his elbows and wrapped around his forearm like a coil. Its eyes were a ruby red color and the whole thing seemed to be glowing purple.
Soon Ace stood outside of Marcel's office, the rogues guild was around 30 or 40 feet below ground. He was standing in a hallway, there were four doors in the hallway and a main center room at the opposite side from where Ace stood. Ace slowly walked to the center room, when he first entered there was no one in there but now he could hear two voices talking to each other.
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Chapter three
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Ace took slow paced steps as he entered the main room. The room was large in the middle was a grand circle table that had 20 seats evenly spread out, four of them were filled out. In the first set was what looked to be a 5 '6 male demi-human, he had blue eyes and night black wolf ears that stood out against his blonde hair, leaning against his set was a wooden staff or maybe a large tree branch he had picked up on his way here. In the second set was a tall, about 6 '3 Drow with brown eyes and black hair, he was holding onto a spear while barking something at the goblin in the third seat. The goblin was short, about 4 '11 with blue eyes and black hair she seemed unbothered by the Drow and looked towards Ace. In the fourth, and last seat was an Ahjin, Ace could tell by his black horns and dark red eyes. The Ahjin was staring at Ace questioningly, on the table in front of the Ahjin was a glowing red mace with ancient words engraved on it.
The Ahjin's voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority, silencing the Drow mid-sentence. The moment the Drow's gaze landed on Ace, his expression darkened—'human', "You must be Ace, Marcel spoke of you joining us soon. Please sit down and introduce yourself" The Ahjin stated, his voice echoed with the screams of a thousand dead. Ace slowly walks to the table unsure of how this interaction will play out, as he takes a seat the female goblin smiles at him. "Hi! My name is Inches, what's it like to assassinate people? How many people have you killed? How much-" The Ahjin cuts Inches of "let the boy breathe, Inches." the Ahjin pauses, "Marcel said nothing about him being human..." The Drow said his voice was laced with spite. Ace knew why the Drow acted like this towards him, in the years 130-140 there was a ten-year war. One in which the Drow was almost wiped out by Humans and Elfs alike, the reason for the Drow purge was because they feared the goddess almost all Drow followed, Vexacion or the "Lord of Sin". She was a powerful deity but the killing of her followers during the purge prevented her from becoming a world ending threat. Ever since Drow have hated Humans and Elfs alike.
"It does not matter what he is, Mnementh." The Ahjin stares down the Drow, his eyes seeming to burn into the Drow soul as if he were a judge "It matters what he can do." The Ahjin's voice was loud and commanding; he was in control here, and everyone knew it.. 'Typical of an Ahjin.' The Ahjins eyes catches onto Aces Amulet around his neck, "where did you get that?" The Ahjin asked but his tone left no room for Ace to not answer his question.
"My grandmother gave it to me before she died." Ace said bleakly trying not to remember that night again. The Ahjin nodded his head and changed the subject "My name is Hokima and I am second in command and will also be your leader." the Ahjin now known as Hokima pointed at the Goblin, Drow, and Demi-human "these three disorganized idiots are your party members, I expect all of you to get along" Hokima said as a wicked smile crossed his face for a split second, "Im sure you know what could happen if you don't." As these word left Hokima's mouth the room got colder, and a shiver went dont everyone's spine.
"No need to get all serious Hokima, I'm sure everyone gets your point" the demi-human who looked to be about 13 said, the tension in the air dissipates. "Yo Ace, Im Teja" Teja then points towards the goblin " her there is Inches, the grumpy Drow dude is Mnemeth, and as you already know that is Hokima our leader." Teja said, stretching his arms and yawning. " When do we start our next job?" Teja asked Hokima "When Marcel finishes explaining how guilds work to Ace, Until then get some rest, train, or eat. No fights" Hokima answered before calmly walking away.
"Well, I guess I'll go take a nap" Teja said as he got up and headed for one of the many rooms. "It is time for prayer" Mnemeth said, gritting his teeth as he took one last look at Ace before heading towards the exit. "Sooo… it's just you and me now" Inches said with a goofy smile "Don't worry about them I'm sure they'll get used to you" Inches added. Ace merely nodded while thinking "Are there any other guild members?" Ace said out loud. "Yes, but most of them are across the kingdom" Inches said as she got up "want me to show you around?" Just then Marcel's voice could be heard calling out for Ace. "Looks like that's a no," Inches said, a fake frown tugging at her lips. "Welp you better get going, I'll go bother Teja" Inches said before running off, she was fast.. Maybe it was because of her height.