Jack felt something shift in his mind and soul; instinctual class knowledge took root. For a fleeting instant, he felt eyes on him. He turned, catching the vague outline of figures standing among the deeper shadows between the pillars.

  “Were they watching me?” Jack wondered aloud.

  They lingered only for a moment before fading back into the dark, leaving him uncertain whether they had ever been there.

  Jack sat on one of the pews, and opened his system interface and concentrated on his new class.

  [Class Screen-Internal View]

  Class: Novice Assassin (0)

  Compatibility: 57%

  Novice Primary Skills

  - Assassinate (0)

  - Backstab (0)

  - Dagger Proficiency (0)

  - Shadow Veil (0)

  - Assassin’s Mark (0)

  - Silent Step (0)

  - Assassin’s Intuition (0)

  He offered a wan smile as he noted the 57% Class Compatibility score. The percentage unsettled him. Considering he was an unfit bookworm, that was a good score for a combat class. The realisation hit hard. Damn! This meant the assassin class was a good fit for him. Though, good news, he wasn’t anticipating it. He shook his head. No! I’m not a killer… I’m still a scribe.

  As he studied the interface, the temple’s parishioners continued to pray. An old man offered a prayer to Hermes to help his son’s failing tailoring business. A young mother prayed for the safe return of her husband, whose caravan’s arrival in Lundun was overdue.

  I could’ve had some useful librarian skills or become a mage. Jack sighed at having to prioritise killing Greaves. He’d given up short-term personal gains to protect his family. In four years’ time, I can choose librarian and a mage class… Or even Journeyman Scribe. He recalled the new class offered. Or maybe I’ll be the first goblin warrior. He chuckled.

  What’s done is done. Jack considered the seven Novice Assassin Primary Skills. Their descriptions were recorded in many books he’d read, so he was already aware of what each skill offered. He went through the new skills one by one in his mind.

  [Assassinate] was a core assassin skill. It worked best on unaware or weakened targets, a single devastating strike for an instant kill. I can’t believe I’m an assassin now. He continued to analyse the skills.

  He lifted his gaze and picked a merchant seated several pews away. When he activated [Assassin’s Mark], an awareness slipped over him. Threads of information settled into his senses: the man’s steady pulse, his even breathing, the way his weight rested on one leg. Healthy, content, no protections. The data would become more detailed and intimate as the skill levelled.

  A thought slipped into his mind, how simple it would be to sneak across the aisle, to strike his unsuspecting victim from behind with [Backstab], to feel the accuracy granted by [Dagger Proficiency]. His hand moved instinctively towards his dagger before he caught himself.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  He dismissed the thought with a sigh, though the impulse to act still pulsed beneath his calm. He broke the mark from his target; the glow around the merchant vanished. Hmm, [Silent Step] and [Shadow Veil] are good passive skills. The former skill allowed the assassin to move without making a noise, while the latter allowed the assassin to blend into dim light or shadows. That would’ve been useful in the alleyway.

  He was imagining hiding in the shadows, waiting for Greaves to pass by. [Assassin’s Intuition] might have helped as well. The passive skill allowed the assassin to sense when they were being watched by someone with negative feelings towards them; it was an alertness just shy of paranoia. He shook his head. Too late now.

  The final skill was [Dagger Proficiency], which, as the name suggested, increased accuracy and damage with daggers. Jack gripped the rough handle of his blade and felt even more comfortable than before; he felt ready to draw his dagger and strike. The urge to test the blade came with the same quiet certainty he felt before opening a new tome. Curiosity, not cruelty, but even curiosity could be a dangerous thing. He shook his head, feeling uncomfortable at how natural it all felt; it was like he was always meant to be an assassin of the Gods.

  Now, I have to train my archery and assassin skills to kill Greaves. Jack began to adapt his plans in his mind. I need to spend at least one hour a day training in archery and another hour on my assassination skills. He had no intention of killing innocent people, but he could train his stealth skills by following unsuspecting strangers.

  If I can gain a few levels in [True Aim], [Piercing Arrow], [Shadow Veil], [Silent Step]… He paused his train of thought as he watched the bloody-nosed mage walk by; he no longer had a bloody nose. Where was I? Oh yeah. And maybe train [Assassin’s Mark] and [Assassin’s Intuition] as well, those will give me the skills to kill Greaves and stay safe.

  Jack’s adapted plan was to concentrate on two core archery skills, [True Aim] and [Piercing Arrow], and two core stealth assassin skills, [Shadow Veil] and [Silent Step]. This would allow him, with the aid of rune-enchanted arrows and poison, to kill the Baron from a distance while remaining hidden. If his plan failed, he’d use his assassin skills to escape capture so he could try again.

  Having chosen his new class and analysed his skills, he prepared to leave. Jack once again stood before the statue of Hermes and closed his eyes. “Thank you for this second chance.” He frowned. Or should it be the third chance?

  A single bronze coin rolled across the floor behind him, clinking once before settling against his boot. When he looked, no one else was near. The air smelled of parchment and smoke. He bent, picked it up, and found the sigil of Hermes stamped upon it, the God’s knowing smile engraved in bronze.

  Pocketing the coin with a bow to Hermes, Jack headed towards the exit, already sensing his new skills. [Silent Step] murmured through his muscles, softening the weight of his heels as he stepped on the marble flooring of the temple. [Shadow Veil] prickled against his skin as he passed a dark alcove; it was as if the shadows themselves leaned closer, drawing him in.

  ***

  Back home, he had a quick snack, slung his quiver and white oak bow across his shoulder, and set out towards the Adventurers Guild to train his archery skills. With so many skills to train and master, he couldn’t afford idleness.