2 Shocking News

After reaching the orphanage I quickly put away all my gear in its hiding spots and head inside to finish the dishes that were left over from that nights dinner. By this time the sun is about to set and sky is darkening. Heading up stairs he quietly knocks on the Sister May's door and calmly waits for a reply. Almost a full minute passes by before May answers the door letting him in. She look very pale and you can hear her coughing lightly into her hand.

"come in my child, I'm not as strong as I used to be help an old lady back to her bed" I gently hold her up and walk her to the side of the bed. "Now I know you didn't just come over to see how I'm doing. Whats on your mind child."

I lower my head and try to sort out my words. "Sister May I know you are wise beyond your years, your timely advice has always helped me in my times of need. But this time I may not becoming back to the Orphanage for a long time."

"I'm worried about my future and what will come of it and I was given an opportunity to learn under someone. But I don't know him well, I want to head out of this city one day and he has given me the opportunity to do just that. But I want your advice. He game me a token and a task to complete. If I manage it I can leave." Knox pulls out the token and hand it to the sister.

She takes the coin and gently rubs the top and the bottom before handing the coin back. The coin depicts daggers crossed on one side and a symbol on the back. "I knew the the path you were following would eventually lead you to these people. But I never knew it would be so soon." She sighs and gently holds my face with her hands. "My dear I urge you to follow these men, I know why you truly wish to leave this town and these men can help you in that pursuit. I know this because I too was a member" She pulls out a coin of her own, one side has two daggers crossed over each other and the other side has a symbol different from the one on the other coin.

"What do you mean Sister May?" Baffled by the sudden change in events "I don't understand"

"Just listen, this was a many years ago. Back when I was raising your mother as her wet nurse" She sighs "Love my dear can blind even the strongest of men. Your grandmother hated your mother, she was a constant reminder of her sins. So as time passed by I adopted her into my heart and held her dear. But your grandmother wouldn't have it and tried on countless occasions to 'accidentally' kill your mother." Coughing hard I hand her a glass of water and sit back down patiently.

"I faked her death and ran off to raise her as my own. That's when the organization contacted me. They must have been watching me for a while, so when they offered to protect Selena in exchange for my cooperation I couldn't refuse it was better than living in fear that the Royal family would figure out the death was fake."

"The organization is actually made of hundreds of sub groups each head is a leader of a small batch of trainees and when the trainees master their skills they too can become masters themselves and earn a silver token. My master was a teacher of poisons and healing plants. She was old like most masters. Its so hard to find a proper apprentice that it can take one decades to pass on their knowledge." she pauses for a moment before shaking her head.

"I'm sorry dear I was rambling on again, its the old age I tell you. Go open that drawer over their with this key it has all the information you need and take my journal I may not live long enough to teach you when you get back home. Let that be a helping hand on your journey." She clears her throat "As I was says the Organization has no name and its is like leaves on a tree scattered everywhere. But there is one thing we all have in common, we hate the current nobles and the Royal families and our goal was to eradicate the noble lineage but now a days we are just a glorified group of masters and apprentices." I nod in understanding.

The organization was once a powerful group or was supposed to be with the intention of training a large group of people but somewhere down the line communication failed and each master took it upon themselves to pass on their knowledge so it wouldn't be forgotten. Turning a once fearsome beast into a claw-less kitten in the eyes of the nobles. The nobles might even have something to do with its current situation. As all this runs through my mind I speak my questions.

"So what you mean to say Sister May that if I want to know more about my family it wouldn't hurt to learn under William?"

"Yes that's right the only obligation you need to make is that you will take his teaching seriously and that you will pass on this knowledge to a predecessor. Oh and don't forget to tell Reynold that your leaving." She laughs "Don't give me that look, I've known exactly what you've been up to over the last few years and while I don't entirely approve of your methods I am deeply proud of you" She pulls out a small box. "Here child this was your mothers Heirloom, she should have been the one to give this to you but I believe the honor falls to me this time"

Taking the box I take a look at the designs. Beautiful curves and swirls in the form of golden leaves and silver rain. A large opal stand out in its center and the corners of the box are reinforced with steel. The smell from the box gives off a ceder scent. Opening the box a pitch black mantle or cloak is folded neatly.

Pulling the cloak out of the box it feels extremely light almost as if it was made out of air. While it is also very thin no light passes through and it almost feels like it absorbs the light as none is reflected back. Putting on the cloak it wraps around perfectly and it just barely reaches the floor as if it was hand tailored for me. Putting up the hood I notice it has a spot that can be pulled up to form a half face mask in the front. It is the most extravagant item he has ever seen before. Not flashy like the nobles but a perfect fit for him.

"Now I have to tell you that this cloak has a feint bit of magic in beaded into its every fiber. This was your mothers greatest master piece. It will adjust to your size so it will always fit you and when ripped it will slowly mend itself and it does so faster when put in the light. Now give me your finger." She pulls out a pin and pokes the tip of my finger and drips it on the opal on the box. Before it vanishes, a small black stone appears at the tip of the hood and when I put my hood up its exactly between my eyes.

"That stone is what binds you to your cloak so that only you can wear it otherwise no matter what someone does it like trying to grab water. It'll just slip through their fingers every time. This also protects any small items you put in its pouches."

"Over all this cloak took your mother almost fourteen years to make just for you. It has fail safes so that you never lose it but just in case never let this leave your sight. That box is also connected to you and the cloak if you miss place the cloak just drip a drop of your blood here where the opal was and in an instant it should be back in the box but any item will be left where the cloak was left."

"Now I think that is everything I can give you other than my blessing and my prayer. I love you child"

Tears stain my cheeks as I hug May, I stay like that for a long while before I get up and leave. Bowing at the door I say my farewells and head to my room. Grabbing a cloth pack and filling my back with the essentials I make my way through the orphanage to bid my fare wells.

"KNOX! Are you leaving?" Yells Sister Isabelle. She grabs me by my shirt and just as I'm about to explain I'm wrapped in a bear hug and lifted off my feet. I can hear her trying to hold back her tears "I knew this day would come you little rascal. Remember this will always be your home. So do come back and visit. I know I was hard an you but it was only because I love you." She sets me down and kisses my for head. "My how the years fly, 17 already." She pats herself down "I can guess by that cloak that you have already spoken to Sister May so before you go please follow me I have something for you too."

I follow her as she walks off and we head back up the stairs to Sister Isabelle's room. She goes into her closet and unlocks a wooden chest and out she pulls a set of hardened leather armor and a long bow. Both looking brand new and freshly polished. "A few years ago I found your bow and Arrows in the tree when the young'ins and I were playing hide and seek and while at first I was going to scold you I know that wouldn't have changed anything. So instead here." She hands me the armor and bow. I can tell the armor was polished recently, the pieces are sewn together by hand and the bow has a fresh bow string attacked to it. I realize that the Sister probably made these herself and it warms my heart.

"The world is dangerous outside the walls and that bow you have now wouldn't have lasted you long. Think of this as a token of good faith and my blessing for you to have safe travels" She holds me in another bear hug. "Now hurry up and get out of here before I'm forced to tie you down so I don't have to see you leave." As her eyes begin to water and she turns around facing the ceiling. I head out of the building passing through all the places that before seemed so familiar yet as of now feels so distant. I try to paint the images into my memories so that I may never forget my home.

Heading out of the orphanage I grab my things, reattaching my knives to my belt. Looking over the garden tears start to fall down my face. Memorizes of my childhood resurface, times where I was scolded and put through torturous labor around the place or how I would come home covered in bruises because I got in a fight with the children down in the commons area. I can still see the worry in May's eyes when I shown up covered in blood and dirt. As memories flood my mind my vision of the garden becomes to blurry to see clearly. Turning around I face back down towards the slums I take a deep breath and take my first step into the unknown and into my adventure.