‘I am one with the night.’

I swiftly made my way through the bustling streets, hidden from the public eye. It was even more lively than it was in the morning. I carefully chose paths where the lights didn’t touch, moving along the shadows. 

I was dressed in black from head to toe, with only a small opening for my eyes to see. For some reason, I felt like I could do anything. My heart was beating faster than ever.

Back on Earth, I read stories about the men in black. Ninjas and assassins. Tonight, I was one of them.

Rene was on my shoulders as I moved. She was also wearing a black outfit, as she turned her head side to side, keeping her eyes alert. I could tell she was ready for any situation.

“Bahahahaaha Uh uh uh woa-“

A drunk man tumbled in my direction, and I avoided him like a snake.

Thud!

“Owowow…”

“Hahahahah you’re drunk!”

Men and women were drinking and laughing with flushed faces. In the midst of all the excitement, I was the only one with a stern expression…although no one could see right now.

No matter. I had a mission to accomplish. 

When I got to the house, I jumped over the side wall with Faye’s help. The front was still guarded. 

I waited behind the bushes until a maid came out of the house, and I slipped in the opened door. No one could stop me.

’Muahahahaha’ 

Once I got in, I made Rene go inside my shirt. I told her to stay inside no matter what happens. 

She looked at me with grateful eyes, thinking I was worried that she would get hurt.

’I’m more worried that you’ll hurt someone…’

The lights inside were already turned off, making it easier for me to sneak upstairs. Just in case, I had Faye cast a silence spell. Now I was sure no one would hear me.

‘I’ll go in, grab the papers quickly, and sneak right back out.’

My plan was to steal the rights to the land. Without it, the administration would have no reason to help Mr. Bozzelli. 

‘Faye, when we go in, cast a spell to locate the pape-‘

CLANG!

I quickly turned around to see a figure with a sword as he swung it straight at me. From the silhouette I could tell he was a man, but that was all I could see. 

CLANG! CLANG!

He swung his sword again. Down and back up diagonally. 

‘If Faye hadn’t put up a shield in front of me in time… I would have been cut down!

I felt a shiver run down my spine, and a drop of sweat forming on my forehead.

’Faye, we need to attack!’

It was my first time since coming to this world, where I felt my life was in danger. 

Faye cast another spell that summoned a white sword floating in front of me.

The man in front of me flinched from the sudden appearance of the sword. I was also frozen, but for a different reason. The light shining from the sword cleared the darkness for a moment and I could see what the man was wearing. 

He was completely covered in black from head to toe. There was only a small opening for his eyes to see through.

“…”

”…”

I quickly grabbed the sword, and pointed it towards the man. 

My face felt hot for some reason. 

‘There can’t be two men in black.’

I swung my sword down at him, in a diagonal motion.

I had never held a sword before in my life, and it was clearly noticeable. My sword wobbled slightly, as it moved toward the opponent. If the sword granted me anything, it made time feel like it was moving slower. 

‘Why did Faye summon a sword…’

I couldn’t understand. Casting an attack spell would have been much easier. 

‘Hm..?’

In front of me, I could see that the man’s eyes had changed. They looked deeper and colder than before. I saw him as he held up his sword to block my attack. I could see a faint red glow forming around the edges. 

‘Sword aura?!’

I couldn’t believe my eyes. 

In this world, both mages and swordsmen had different ranks to their strength.

Mages were split into Apprentice, Magi, Master, Grand Master and Arch Mage. 

Apprentice was the level students were expected to reach by the end of their first year of magic school. They could cast spells that used the 1st and 2nd circles.

Once these students entered their fourth and last year, they would be pressured to be at the Magi level. Magi could cast spells that used the 3rd and 4th circles. Most mages would stay at this level for their whole lives. 

If a thousand children were born and all of them became mages, only one would have the potential to become a Master. They could cast spells with the 5th, 6th, and 7th circles. 7th circle spells were powerful enough to destroy armies. Many kingdoms used their master mages to gain an upper hand in political agreements. 

Only one Grand Master was ever mentioned in the story. He could cast 8 circle spells which was something people only ever heard in legends. He lived in solitude, away from the public eye.

‘Until he meets Ellan at least…’

Arch Mage was a title that had never found an owner. Mages spent years in their towers, studying the possibilities of 9th circle spells. In the end it was proven by the current headmaster of Acadia. The title ‘Arch Mage’ would be given to whoever reached that level. It was a goal every mage held deep in their hearts.

As complicated as the ranks of a mage was, it was much simpler for swordsmen. 

Mastering one sword skill made you a Novice Swordsman and mastering two made you an Elite Swordsman. Most swordsmen stay at the Elite rank, unable to reach the next which was the Master rank. It didn’t matter how many sword skills you mastered, you just had to be able to do one thing. 

‘To think I would see it here of all places!’

CLANG! 

Wooooooooooosh

CRASH!

“…!”

After the two swords collided, time started flowing normally again. At the exact moment our swords touched, I could see it clearly.

My sword dispersed the red sword aura in an instant, and sent the man flying across the hall. He crashed into the wall so hard it shook the building.

“AHH!”

“What’s going on?!” 

“Is it an earthquake?!”

I could hear yelling and panic around me as the lights came on. The impact had dispelled the silence magic that Faye had cast.

“Shi*…”

“…?”

The man was walking back towards me. Considering the power of the impact, I expected him to lose his consciousness, or at the least be unable to move. However, the man was completely fine. 

I had no time to think about that though… I was too shocked when I heard his voice.

‘Could it be…?’

“Kale?!”