"No...this can't be!" I gasped.

The head guard was dead. Killed in cold blood.

Mucurys, in a meeting room, had all of us there. It was just shy from time to go to the party, as Murcurys was partially ready. His pause in getting dress made him look informal and scrambled, as I'm sure at heart he is. Murcurys, with an empty look of grief, as well as 5 guard on his side, this time, from the royal military, stood by him, as well as a mage, he looked like a court magician.

Like a Throne room with a king, everyone ended up bowing and I followed in suit as Murcurys ended up announcing.

"My head guard, dead, was found with an assassins knife tipped with poison. It was one of you, I'm sure. Any confessions?"

There was a sense of silence. It seemed that was answer enough.

"Of course there wasn't a confession." He grumbled. "Anyways, regardless of his death, I still must attend the ball as per tradition. Since one of you or maybe more of you are the culprit, I have decided to change the agreement as the contract has been broken, and hence, a new contract made."

"That is only fair." The Flamboyant one said, his flamboyance, was dimmed down as to show humility. "But from the perspective of an assassin, might I make a few suggestions that should constraint us."

Murcurys glanced at the court mage, to which the court mage nodded, ot which Murcurys replied "you have the floor."

"Well, first of, based on the poison, it seemed to be masterfully done. Among our members, we have only 2 people who are that skilled with potions as well as poisons. To prevent any further usage of such poison."

"I agree with that" The court mage said "due to someone associated with the royal family being killed on such a day, we have decided to increase all forms of security for the ball, including royal mages who can detect poison. Any assassins proficient in making poison will be taking out.

The flamboyant man ended up speaking up. "Among our two parties, it would be, that girl and that man" They ended up pointing at the girl who worked on her make-up last time I saw her, as well as finlif

I gritted my teeth. Sierra told me that he was suspicious and was perhaps in on it, but after seeing the court mage to, it seems the both are controlling Mercury's actions. Anyone spoke up from will more than likely seem guilty. I'm sure this is angering Sierra right now.

"I would also like to add something."

The court mage seemed indifferent to my speaking. It seemed he was ready to snipe any idea out the window. I'm sure risking this would only make me look guilty.

"As we are from two different parties, we must hold each another more accountable. As we were classified as being evenly matched, we will set up a communication with one another, as well as split ourselves in groups of 2, from each assassin party?"

The court magician skeptically ended up intervening his comment. "However, communication would only assist with the enemy assassin, as they know all of our plans, as well as how things our operating, would it not?"

He's trying to reverse this via logic. Like any battle, even the battle of words, I must counter-attack. "I agree with you, that it could assist with enemy assassin, but it also could allow for everyone to be aware of what is going on, that way, we are able to respond to the enemy."

"Baron?" The court mage, asked, awaiting a response.

Mercurys ended up thinking on this. "I will have to decline that decision of a communicational enchantment being used. However, two man parties would only affect the insides placement of other workers, which would greatly hinder the ball. So, I am only allowing groups and parties from the opposite teams work outside. Since there are 2 man team outside, which would make it four, this time, let's have 4. 2 man party on the west, and north, to be able to respond to front or back entrance. As for interior, everything will remain the same."

"That-that works." The court mages agrees.

"Anything else? If not, then the contract will increase. Now, if I die, you will not get paid, as that terminates the agreement. However, as I additionally desire no deaths, any dealth during this will dock from your pay. Including if it is one of you."

The flamboyant assassin ended up asking the following "does that include the killer?" to which he said, looking at us, as if we were the ones at fault. But it wasn't convincing."

"No, if the killer, dies, that will be also include. However, if you capture them, I will throw in bonus pay. Let's say.....twice the amount you are already getting paid."

"What about the communication between members? Shall we limit that? " the Flamboyant one asked again. Whatever's he said so far, it is only holding us on a tighter leash.

"Your actions will one another will be monitored, yes. You will have a guard with you at moment." He ended up looking at his court mage, to which nodded, before using a magic spell, before speaking to himself. After he did, people ended up coming out. Before walking behind us. "These guys must check in with us every hour, while you aren't working. If they die, or do not meet with us, you will be tried as the villain who killed my head knight. Additionally, their soul and magic signature has already being marked. So, you can't replicate it,"

It seemed that this concluded with that, to which we ended up signing documents an agreed to those terms. And then everyone went their separate ways; no talking to one another or anything. I'm sure if we did so, that would only raise suspicion upon us. I still had my guard with me as I walked back to my room that I was in. Walking back was pretty silent, only making the chaotic brain cloud in my head storming on.

Crap, so the Heisel guy is a weasel! Without a doubt, he ended up realizing that we were onto him. But I don't know how that was the case? Or maybe he's just having some precautions with us, or wanted to whittle down Mercury's defense to make it far easier to take him out. After all, although that guard didn't look like it, he was quite powerful.

This was all so much. I don't know why but everything seemed more intense.

Calm down, calm down. Although you may not be able to talk to Sierra, you are going to have to consider what she would do. "What would she do?"

Well, for starters, I have to think about how this restricts us, and whose our enemies. Yes. I'll go with that. Now, first thing first, we have the rule in which cutted out Finlif and their medicine maker. Now, there's a possibility Finlif is evil, and the same goes for the medicine maker. However, after Finlif not slipping anything bad in my potion, as well Sierra giving him the approval, I trust him. So, I'm guessing that Hiesel wanted the potion brewers out of the picture so he can perhaps poison everyone. Also, he made it to where the medicine girl in his party was the fall guy, so they seem more fair and reasonable.

Next thing next, it isn't hard to tell that Hiesel is in cahoots with the court mage. It seems that as of now, he's been pulling Murcursys' strings. Maybe Murcursys actually trusts him. I honestly don't know. But one thing for sure is that the mages the Court mage delegated to take poison-check duty, as well as the guards, who are meant to further restrain my team. I'm sure the guards in Hiesel's party aren't going to abide by that rule.

Thankfully, there are some good things. Although the positioning is changed, to which we are in groups with our counterpart party, at least we will still be there on the last day to manage everything. Not to mentioned at well will be able to monitor the counterparts much easier, which will be nice. But that goes for them as well.

Thinking on this matter, I ended entering my to which the guard ended up following.

"Hey! I don't privacy in my room?!?"

"No. That is why they designated a girl to you." The guard ended up informing. I was half expecting them to be silent Npcs, but I guess that isn't the case.

And what she said wasn't wrong. I am actually relieved that it was a girl, for some reason. Which is surprising, giving how I shouldn't be relieved if it is a girl or boy. But, guess, I'm used to it to some extent.

In my room, I ended up looking around. Thankfully, they didn't turn my room inside out as I went in there. But I did find something that wasn't there. It seemed that there were 3 potions that were brewed. I knew right away who those were made for.

Finlif, you mad genius. He must of already been informed that he would be cut out from the assassin party, so beforehand, he create some potions.

"Poison? So, Finlif must of been supplying you with poison. I knew you were suspicious. Especially with that white cloak. I'm sure that cloak, almost angelic hides your demoness. Now, before I turn you in for execution, what says you in defense."

"Oh. Well guess I have too sacrificing myself." I said before taking one of the potions, and drinking it.

"No!" She yelled, rushing towards me before reaching me. However, by that point I drank all of it. Nevertheless, she ended up practically throwing me onto the ground before looking at me, her eyes were shaking. "Ok, calm down, you can do this, all you need to do and get her to throw up the poison."

"What are you talking about? I am perfectly fine. I said it wasn't poison." I replied.

It seemed that her shock took her a bit to register that I wasn't dead, to which she ended up glaring at me. "Note to self, they have poison immunity."

"No, it's just that was wasn't poison."

"So, you lied about it being a poison."

"I never said it was poison."

"Then what is it?" She ended up continuing to be suspicious.

I ended up thinking on the matter. If I tell her, they she very well might just tell it to her superiors. "Not telling you."

"Then's its poison." This was less of a retort and more of a bias.

"Gosh! What do you think assassins are anyways?" I asked.

She refrained form answering. But if she did, I'm sure it would be something stupid.

She's definitely a newbie. That would honestly make sense. After all, they are impressionable, and can be molded under the right conditions. And are a basically fodder.

It seemed that she was my guard on night watch. Not only did it cross the line of privacy, as I was hoping to brush up on some books that I checked out at capital's guild library. But I don't think I do well reading when someone is staring at me intently. It just automatically turns on my instincts to be wary. Speaking of which, even as I went to sleep, I couldn't help but feel her eyes on me.

"Sing me a song."

"I beg your pardon?" She asked.

"I can't sleep. Your hear. I can sense your breathing, the subtle wooden creeks, from the shift of your weight, the ruffling of your clothes as well as the gentle clink as grab your sword slightly, from every shift of your weight." Perk of humans are their sensory deprivation. However, learning about rhythm as only sharped my ears further. Probably less than my elven ears, but still powerful all the same.

"Fine." She began to sing. It seemed like a lullaby. I didn't end up getting to ask her what song it is before fall asleep. It seemed that this day too quite a lot out of me. And the upcoming days, I'm sure wouldn't be any better.