18 Story of Alathia (Part 4), Beginning of the Rise.

Flinn left and they started to think about what they should do, "We should look for a place to stay, we can't stay on the streets can we?" Ewwin said. The others nodded their head. Brock thought about it for a bit and said, "If you don't mind, you can stay here". They all looked at him. Ella asked, "You have enough place for us to stay in? And more importantly, you won't try anything funny won't you?" her voice contained a hint of doubt. Brock shrugged his shoulders and said, "Please don't see me like an enemy, I'm just a guard that's willing to lay down his life for her Highness and nothing else, so you can trust me". "Still, do you really have enough place for all of us?" Edith asked. He had already let go of the matter as he saw that this man is of no danger to their princess.

Brock smiled and said, "The shop's in the front and my house is in the back, its big enough to accommodate at least ten people, you guys don't have to worry about anything as there will be enough places for you to sleep though it won't be high class like Nobles, it will be enough for a commoner like me" the group looked at him weirdly. He noticed their gaze and said, "What!? I am a commoner blacksmith in this city!".

They just shook their head and Trunk asked, "What about the security? I heard that there are thieves and burglars and thugs all over, so what about the safety of this place?". Brock just smiled and said, "don't worry about it, I'll look after the security details, anything else?" he asked. They thought for a while and shook their heads.

Brock then nodded his head and said, "If that's all, then you should go to the dinning room behind this place, I'll get food for you and you can go to sleep" he then left without saying anything. The group did as he said and had dinner at the dinning hall. After having dinner, they left for sleep. The place looked small but it was really big enough to accommodate them all. Trunk and Ewwin slept together while Ella and Lavender slept together, where else Edith stood guard for Alathia, outside her room.

Five hours went by. Edith was still awake and standing guard for Alathia's room. Suddenly, he heard someone walking towards him. He immediately got his guard up and stared at the approaching figure with a sharp gaze. He was about to draw his sword but calmed down when he saw that figure was Brock. He wore a black cloak with a hood and a bandana covering the lower half of his face.

Brock came near him and asked, "Is her Highness fine?". Edith said, "She's sound asleep". Brock then let out a *sigh* and said, "Good, now get inside the room and guard her, we have some uninvited guests so I'm going to receive them". Edith knew that trouble was coming so he asked, "Who is it?". Brock said in a cold tone, "Assassins, probably sent by the first princess if my guess is correct"

Edith was confused so he asked, "Why would she send Assassins? Did she find out that she is the lost princess!?" he drew his sword. Brock shook his head and said, "That's probably not the case here". Edith asked, "Then why!?". Brock let out another *sigh* and said, "Probably because she should have heard about her Highness's beauty, the first princess is known to be the beautiful women in the whole country and she's here today, so she must have heard that there's another beauty in the city and should have sent Assassins out of jealousy, it's common amongst Royalty nowadays". He said it so casually but Edith is burning because that sorry ass excuse for a princess sent Assassins after their little Thia just because she was beautiful? Is being beautiful a sin? Then he is also a sinner for being a handsome guy!

He was about to get out and go on a rampage, but was stopped by Brock, "Don't, I'll take care of them while you go guard her Highness". Edith gritted his teeth and nodded his head. He returned his sword into its sheath and went inside Alathia's room to stand guard while Brock disappeared into the shadows.

........

Outside the house, 15 Assassins were hiding while surrounding the building, waiting to attack. They heard that there is a beautiful women in the city and the first princess didn't like the attraction she caused, so she sent them to take care of her and her companions. The leader of this group heard that they got weapons and could probably use them, so they had to be quick and quiet.

They slowly closed in on the house and got ready to attack, but they suddenly stopped when they saw a figure appear on the roof out of nowhere. The figure stood there with his hands folded and eyes closed. They didn't move and kept their guard up.

The Brock spoke in a low voice that only those Assassins could hear, "You all can come out now, if you don't want to, I'll personally decapitate every single one of you bastards!" the Assassins laughed silently, almost everyone.

One by one, they came out of the shadow and climbed onto the roof. Everyone covered their lower face and wore a hooded cloak. Brock eyed them once and lost interest in them. He shook his head in disappointment and said in a low voice, "Amateurs". They heard his remark and was really enraged by it.

Brock looked at them once again and said, "I'll give you an offer, I'm the fourth leader of the Shadow cause and I'm willing to let you all leave alive only if you don't speak of the events that occurred today and leave peacefully". His warning received a round of laughter, only this time, it was loud.

All the 14 Assassins laughed, except one. It was the leader of this group because he is the most experienced one among them all and of course, he is the most knowledgeable among them all. His face went pale when he heard that the man in front of him, who is standing on top of a roof, is the fourth leader of the Shadow cause!? How could he not have heard of the Great Shadow cause! Every single rogue that has experience knows about them and they are well known and respected in the Assassins Union. Its more like a guild for Assassins and thieves.

The Great Shadow cause has helped many thieves and Assassins in many missions just because they were also rouges. This action of theirs had caught the hearts of all the Assassins and made them respect them. Whenever an Assassin or a thief asks for help, they never said never. When Dorgan fell, the Assassinnation, a country for rogues and bandits, offered help to Shadow cause and safely got their soldiers to a safe place and then the Shadow cause disappeared after saying their thank you.

It's been 21 years since the word Shadow cause was even spoke and yet the man before him said that he is the fourth leader of the Shadow cause. He immediately went on his knee. Brock smiled in amusement that someone even remembers him. He said, "You seem to know who I am". The Assassin replied, "Yes my lord! I'm sorry for going against you! I really didn't know that our target was under your protection! If I had known, I would have refused it right away!". Brock's smile broadened after hearing it, he said, "Rise, what's your name brother?". He then rose and looked at Brock with complicated emotions and said, "Duran my lord, My name is Duran".

Brock then asked, "Why did you take the request? Is it because its from the royalty or the reward?". Duran looked down and said, "None of them my lord, its because of my daughter". Brock raised his eye brow and asked, "What happened?". Duran then said, "She's very sick and I really need money to cure her and that's when this request was put forth, I took it because the reward money cover half of the money required for her treatment, I couldn't refuse...... I live for her after her mother died.... I don't have the heart to lose her too!" he started crying. The rest of the Assassins didn't know what to say, they didn't know that their leader for this mission would have such a background story and it really touched their heart or at least it did for 3 of them. Brock closed his eyes a bit and opened them, he said, "Bring your daughter here tomorrow before sunrise, I'll do something to cure her with everything I have, now leave. Duran's eyes teared up, he know that if anyone from Shadow cause gives their word, they would move mountains to make it come true. He then nodded his head and turned around and said to his friends, "If you value your life, let's go" he then jumped off and disappeared.

Brock looked at them and saw three more jump off while the rest stand there. He *sighed* and said, "Looks like you made your choice" he then disappeared into the dark. He appeared again behind an Assassin and beheaded him and disappeared again, two more heads fell.

He appeared in the spot he stood previously and stared at them and said, "Now you can't escape even if you want to!" all of their heads then fell. Eleven Assassins emerged from the shadow and stood as they surrounded him. A smile took place on Brock's face and he said, "Its time brothers".

The Shadow cause got its purpose once again!