They say that revenge is a dish best served cold, but I think they're wrong. In my opinion, revenge is a dish best served broken.

That way you can pick up the shards and stab the bastard with 'em.

-Delmir the Bottomless

....

The sword's tip took me in the back of the shoulder with a hard thrust. One, which had probably been meant for my heart. Luckily, I had already been twisting into a dive, and I left the attack behind, sword not quite finding a way to permanently wedge into me, as I tumbled down the hill.

Well, probably not all that lucky, on account of how awful it felt- but if the blade had stayed in, I would have surely lost my arm during the fall.

It was far from comfortable.

Rolling in a screaming, bloody, freefall: the terrain flashed past me. Wooden stakes planted in the ground whirled and blurred. There were roots, and stones, and broken things that had been lost to gravity along the slope. My arms wrapped around my head, bag absorbing some heavy hits on my back. On several occasions, I felt the wind beaten out of my chest, but I found my footing at last, and stuck the landing. Coming out and into a run, I pushed myself harder, sprinting towards the forest trail.

I had to get away.

Behind me, Solas howled in rage, but she was immediately drowned out by the booming of thunderous impacts: explosions that blasted the fort behind us.

No longer was it just arrows and abilities in play: there was Magic afoot. Powerful Magic, at that. The kind that toppled walls and sent bricks scattering about like deadly hail. From the flaming wreckage of the town, I could see soldiers pointing from the road. Their armor very different from the Baron's Peace Keepers, but no less familiar.

Some of them looked and pointed in our direction.

Then, the underbrush closed in around me.

I dove through it, arms sweeping in front of me like I was swimming, legs moving as quickly as they could. Foliage whipped at my face, twigs and leaves cut my skin, but I pressed on, breaking through to hit the trail, and rushing at full tilt.

Another fight wasn't an option. I'd barely survived the first one, and that was a close thing. Plus,I'd been here before, and I remembered it well enough. I was certain there would be a chance to duck off the path, ahead. From there, I could try to rely on hide presence to escape.

Or so I thought.

Cold and quiet, a sword flashed out ahead of me, as Solas carved her way onto the trail. With disturbing agility, her boots cut a soft skid into the dirt, as she stilled. Her eyes stared at me, lip curled in anger.

Then, she was charging.

Unlike Roggar, she didn't flaunt her clear advantage, or take time to mock me. There would be no "playing with her food," or second thoughts in concern for what I might do. Those concepts weren't even on her radar.

She simply moved.

Struck.

I tried to go for my dagger, but the pain in my shoulder slowed me down. In a clumsy draw, I managed to get it free- redirecting the first piercing strike for my belly, but the following swing came up and spun to a whip-like cut that caught the narrow guard it possessed, to send the weapon flying off into the brush.

"I saw what you did." Solas growled, upper hand now completely assured. "You filthy, back-stabbing, traitor."

"I defended myself." I yanked Gregory's knife free, slinging my bag in front of my wounded arm as a makeshift shield. "Roggar attacked me, I didn't have a choice."

I felt for my mana.

Mana: 22/100

It wouldn't be nearly enough.

"You expect me to believe that, liar? With that knife in your hand?" She didn't wait, rushing into another stab. One, which I barely blocked. My bag was almost ripped free as the sword sunk into it, slicing free as it whirled through another form.

Up, spin, down towards my shoulder.

I backstepped as quickly as I physically could, then found myself diving to the side as her blade glowed. Abandoning any dignity, I threw myself, painfully, off the trail.

A flash of wind let out a sudden, violent, force. Behind where I'd just been standing, a tree toppled, diagonal slice bringing it crashing into the path, as if cutting off my escape.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Fuck.

There was no blocking something like that. Not with a shield, and certainly not with my bag, now hanging on just a single strap.

I considered my mana again, as Solas turned to me, not waiting even a second to ready another strike.

Mana: 23/100

No, I truly didn't have enough for a real attack. If I tried, I'd be in even worse shape than I already was, but there was still enough to improvise.

"Back off." I shouted, dropping my bag to grab a handful of dry leaves and dirt raising my palm to let the Magic form in a hungry torrent of unorganized fire and smoke. The airborne debris erupted: kindling for the burst of magical flames that easily doubling the original effect.

Solas backstepped, buffering the impressive plume of heat and smoke enveloping her as she swung down- clearly expecting to intercept a second attack.

But there was no such thing.

I was already off the trail, ducking low as I brought [Hide Presence] up to full burn.

Crouching forward, I broke free of the bushes and rolled low to the side. Tucking over large roots, I set my back to a tree's trunk, pulling my bloody shirt up above my mouth and nose in an effort to further muffle any noise from my ragged breathing.

Quickly, I felt myself slipping into cover.

"You fucking COWARD!" She howled, as my ploy was realized, and I heard another rushing cut of wind rip apart the underbrush I'd just been in. Dirt and leaves sprayed through the air, scattering to violent effect.

I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to escape.

If she could keep going like there, it was only a few moments at best until she narrowed in on me.

Besides that, even if I wasn't wounded and exhausted: Solas was faster, stronger, and better equipped. I could face her a dozen times in a row and still never come away with a decisive victory.

I let myself sink deeper, [Hide Presence] growing stronger. Willing it to be as strong as it had ever been, I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing.

One chance, at best.

This was the only option I had left.

"Come out you coward!" Not five paces off, another scream of anger cut the air, as a sword swung through the underbrush. The tree next to mine was blasted apart at the seams, splinters spraying out as a glowing blade whipped through.

Carefully, she followed through after it. Stance flowing, sword ready. Her forms shifted, as her steps moved with martial efficiency. Yet another tree fell, as she settled into a methodical dance, carving up the forest.

I waited.

Slowly, she was calming. Stance shifting from aggression, towards defense. Her eyes were keen, sweeping out for any movement, while she listening for any sound. Not simply prepared for a coming attack: but primed to retaliate.

I let myself sink deeper.

The cloak of [Hide Presence] had wrapped me up tightly. As if I were submerged within it, I was apart from the world as I readied my knife.

Carefully, quietly, my free hand pried the contents of my pockets, searching blindly, one after the next. My bag was gone, but in my hurry to clean out my room, I knew I'd taken...

I stilled, as I felt my fingers settled on something smooth and polished. Warm to the touch.

The familiar pattern of a single, Silver, coin.

Would this work?

Was this too much of a gamble?

I let myself sink deeper still.

I didn't have a choice. Thoughts like those weren't needed. Neither was no emotion, or concern.

Life or death had no place in my mind.

I was hidden.

I was waiting.

I was ready.

She was only a few steps away.

Solas moved.

Somewhere, a twig snapped, and her sword flashed out, striking at the sound.

It was then, that I willed myself forward.

Not quickly, as she did.

Not graceful, as I'd seen the Guildmaster, or powerful as I'd seen the Baron.

I simply stepped forward.

One step, then two, then three. With my palm up, I lofted the coin up into the air, letting it soar gently overhead, reflecting the light leaking in from the open canopy, as it passed into her line of vision.

She reacted immediately, dropping from one form directly into the next. As if instinctively aware of anything within her range, her sword cut with perfect form, rising up in a blow that would have ripped me from my waist to my neck. With a precise angle, she cutting the coin in two perfect pieces-

But I wasn't there.

No, I was on my fourth step.

The one which brought me close enough to reach outside the deep blanket of [Hide Presence] and plunge Gregory's knife into the side of her neck.

To sink it deep, and true.

Just one, calculated, blow.

Solas spun, then.

I was too close for her sword, but her arm and grip of the weapon met my ribs. Those, together with her enhanced Strength sent me flying, to land in a crumpled heap against a tree. Gasping in pain, lungs emptied.

In horror, I watched as she readied another swing. Her blade taking on a raging, definitive, glow, as she raised it above her head, ready to bring it down in a killing strike.

But then, she slowed.

The brilliant light of the metal faded.

Her eyes, still on me, seemed to be looking far, far away.

The flood of ruby pulsed free, soaking her clothes and armor, and without a word, she collapsed. Falling to the side, as if her strings had been cut.

She was dead.

Barely on my knees, bloody knife in my hand, it was then that I felt it.

The whole world seemed to grow still.

Right in that second, settled in the shadows of the forest, settled into my soul: there was a primordial shifting of currents and power. Made of something greater than any man could ever hope to be. Of something ancient and horrible. I felt the decisions as they were weighed upon scales that rose above the heavens and below the hells, and I saw them align.

[Criteria Met]

"No." I tried to claw it back, sinking my hands into the dirt as the message erupted into my vision.

I knew what it meant.

[Class Granted]

"No!" Digging my knife into the soil, I shouted and begged in vain. As best I could, I tried to fight it. Even as it came crashing down.

I'd worked so hard! With my Magic, with my writing! I'd tried so hard! I had fought tooth and nail, and I'd survived so much! They couldn't take this from me! Not this!

With all I had left, I willed against it. I couldn't allow it, I wouldn't!

But I knew it was too late.

As those forces beyond my understanding stilled, they locked into place. Falling, heavy as a mountain, to settle within me.

One word that formed from the depths. Text that read like a dagger's edge in the dark, and cut with a stench of blood and death, sinking deep into my soul.

[ASSASSIN]

It was done.

I can't remember how long I sat there for, waiting as the message faded, and the changes rippled through. As Skills began to sprout up, and my Attributes molded beneath the weight. Strange abilities, which suddenly became familiar... that is lost to me.

All I truly remember is the broken twig: as it was placed gently into my hands.

I remember that, and the arms. Those warm arms, which wrapped around me, blanketing me in silence and nothingness, as the Guildmaster whispered in my ear.

"I knew you had it in you."