50%

In the sewers underneath Venzerain. A lot of steps can be heard, nervous steps and murmurs but if you pay attention there is something else, slow and calm steps.

Argh... Sewers smell like sewers, better if I wrap this up and return to the surface.

I run toward the guys im hunting, they are pretty slow so I get to them in no time. 3 guys are running scared. 

Kicking one on his ribs making him go flying into the wall on the left side, he splashes and a crack on the wall appears alongside blood.

I swiftly ran toward another guy and put my foot on his way making him trip. He falls with his face on the ground and I kick his head making his neck crack and break.

Appearing behind the other one I grab his neck and break it, making a crack noise echo in the sewer.

This is, well, boring. Cant expect much either they are just normal guys. Yura will stay waiting for a signal that never will happen, what was this plan anyway? Putting bombs on the sewers underneath the east side? This guy has no self-control it would be a disaster.

Out of the sewer, the moon shines in the night sky. 

The good thing about killing without Penance is that my clothes have no danger of getting dirty with blood. Right now Zen is going toward his house, I will intercept him.

.....

On the alley from before, I sit on a few barrels and grab a book to wait for Zen to pass.

A few moments later he appears turning on the alley and getting scared, but he recomposes himself in seconds. He leans on the wall oposite to me and I put away my book.

"Yura's plan is taken care of, tomorrow a few items will arrive to you, distribute them slowly" I say apathetically

"I have another thing to ask" Says Zen seriously

This guy abuses my patience. I stay silent waiting to hear what he will say.

"You mentioned that you are the same age as my daughter, correct?" Zen says casually

I shake my head in approval and he proceeds.

"Elize is somewhat talented with mana, even more than me, and I want her to go into the academy, im sure she can pass by taking the tests what worries me is the prejudice she will suffer inside" Zen says frustrated

Mama and Papa used to think the same but there was a time when I was about to unlock my whole arm at the age of 13 they just saw that no kid could bully me.

So he is thinking that I might go to the academy next year too when I complete 16 years and protect his daughter. I dont know, Mama said that an academy diploma is universally used throughout Venfall, basically if you have one you are almost guaranteed to have a stable future.

"Im not sure if I will go there" I say casually

Could be good to infiltrate deeper into society, maybe learn more about various things, and acquire more experience too. Still, I cant say for sure that I will.

"All I ask is that if you go next year, protect my daughter, and of course dont tell her that I asked you to do it" Zen says casually while walking away

So if I go or not dont matter then, I dont mind really.

I walk away going toward Claire's mansion.

Things are going well, with this part of the plan gone it is a matter of time until the duke's daughter talks. Even if the second prince gets involved he will not find any evidence.

Sigh... im tired, has been a few days since I had a good night of sleep. I have to keep my eyes on a bunch of people at the same time.

Arriving at the mansion, I walk a hallway until Adrian stops in my way.

His face is serious and he looks at me with a hint of disgust but tries to not let that show. We lock eyes, im unfazed and he starts to talk.

"Me and Kovan wish to speak with you privately" Adrian says formally

So they are desperate, interesting.

I had no reason to refuse, so I accepted and he brought me to Kovan's office. Seems like a normal office, with a desk and a chair, two sofas, and bookshelves too.

I sit down and Kovan stares at me for a few seconds before proceeding.

"What Claire is offering you?" Says Kovan with a serious tone

Straight to the point huh, they are truly desperate.

"Not much" I say bluntly

It is true, she just buys me everything I want but all I want is just good food, clothes, a good bed to sleep and things to make me stronger.

"Then why are you doing so much for her?" Says Kovan with a hint of aggressiveness

"If you are trying to convince me to leave Claire's side, dont waste your saliva, I murder, butcher, spy, and a lot of worse things but im not a traitor" I say with a hint of annoyance

Going around betraying people who treat me well is something I will never do, no matter how twisted I get or what happens. No one can do everything alone, betraying the people at your side is poison taking out everyone around you until you are bound to be alone forever, just like these two here. Where is the one backing them up when they are about to lose?

Kovan and Adrian are frustrated, they got abandoned after all. Claire said that they would anyway, pieces are pieces, and some are made to be discarded.

I get up while they look down in frustration biting their lips and clenching their fists.

Making my way into the hallway, I saw Claire's mother. She is walking with a maid by her side, we look eyes for an instant while I pass by them and I continue to go toward Claire's room.

When I arrive at Claire's room, she is reading on the sofa while drinking tea. After seeing me she stops and asks me to sit by her side. Like always she comes strangely close to me.

"How things played in your side baby?" Asks Claire casually

I said it was all good, I told her about encountering her brothers too.

"So Kovan and Adrian are out of the game, I can deal with them later on" Says Claire

She kisses me and proceeds to talk.

"Dear there is a confraternization for heirs in two days, keep it in mind, we will be going after all. It happens every once in a few years when another generation rises to lead their families" Says Claire casually

Interesting, so a party to know each other before starting to lead.

Claire continues to pass her hands lustfully into my body.

"Baby... Come on... give me some love" Says Claire whispering lustfully while kissing my neck

I was thinking of sleeping but, sigh... Claire knows how to get my mood going.

We start to kiss each other and I go on top of Claire's thighs to kiss her while she gropes my body everywhere.

We did a lot after that.

...

Two days later.

Me and Claire are inside the carriage going toward the party.

We are wearing what we used at the party from some time ago in her house. 

It seems like this will be another boring party, Papa and Mama could do better for my birthday.

We arrive and the place is beautiful, our carriage stops I open the door leaving first right outside there is a red carpet leading inside the building.

It is a palace-like place shining in a dark golden color with Venfall flags and a lot of guards around protecting the place.

I stand my hand to help Claire leave the carriage, she takes gracefully and we walk the red carpet.

At the entrance, there is a butler Claire gives our invitations and he opens the door.

Inside the hall is beautiful, a band of violinists is smoothly playing a melody, a lot of tables to sit and various maids going here and there with trays in their hands delivering drinks and food.

There are only a handful of people for now, Claire wanted to arrive early it gives a good impression on people. The ones who are here early are mostly Claire's acquaintances from her time in the academy.

As soon as we enter the hall, a woman waves her hand at Claire and comes walking toward us.

She has smooth long red hair, and white skin, is about the same height as Claire, and is wearing a ball gown dark blue dress with a few white stars detailing the fabric.

Claire seems happy to see her, and they greet each other.

"Claire! Has been quite some time since we spoke face to face, how have you been?" Says the woman joyfully

"Elizabeth! Quite some time indeed, should I call you duchess now?" Says Claire joyfully but with a hint of humor

Oh, so this is the duke's daughter.

"Only if I can call you Marchioness haha. By the way, Claire who is your little friend here?" Elizabeth says joyfully and curiously

Argh... this will be embarrassing.

Claire puts her hand on my shoulder pulling me closer to her.

"This is Nyxia Faeson, she is my wife" Says Claire happily

Elizabeth put on a very surprised face.

"You didnt call me to your marriage ceremony?! But haha, gosh Claire, a kid your screws just get looser by the time" Elizabeth says surprised with a hint of humor

Pretty normal reaction actually. So Claire has been crazy ever since she was in the academy, she is a natural-born crazy then.

Claire laughs a little.

"There was no ceremony, for now at least, when I make one you will be the first to be invited Elizabeth dont worry" Says Claire casually

I hope there is never one, why she would even do one to begin with? It would be too embarrassing.

"So let me introduce myself, Im Elizabeth Tarker, it's a pleasure to meet you Nyxia Faeson" Says Elizabeth formally but joyfully

I greet her back formally and we all sit down at a table. Some drinks arrive while Claire and Elizabeth talk about various things.

Elizabeth is a nice person, she dont look at me with disgust and things like that. Claire keeps talking about embarrassing things about me sigh...

After some time, everyone arrived. There are about 13 guests in the hall, all heirs of the 13 most influential families in Venfall. Elizabeth is called to give a speech on stage.

Elizabeth is the most influential one here as she is the daughter of the Duke, right behind comes Claire, there are three other marquesses but the Faeson family is well-known for being in the top 1.

Elizabeth speaks gracefully, her voice echoes through the hall.

After she ends her speech the violins start to play again. Elizabeth came back to our table to continue her talk with Claire, and a few other men and women passed by to trade a few words and greetings.

Most of the time I just sit there apathetically, pretty boring, Claire seems to be having fun though with her friend. I thought the night would just stay calm like this until I got a glimpse of something.

I stop Claire's conversations abruptly. Claire and Elizabeth look at me puzzled.

"You two go under the table now!" I yell seriously

Claire goes immediately, Elizabeth takes a few seconds but still goes down.

In a blink, about two dozen people get down from the windows on the ceiling. Glass falls everywhere in the room while figures wearing orange cloaks fall from the ceiling. They all wear crests on their backs and use swords.

They start to make hostages everywhere in the room, a few nobles here are strong and are trying to fight back but they are not strong enough.

Damn! I got careless, I should have put Penance to look around before going inside, how did I commit such a dumb mistake? No matter now, I need to do something.

I take Penance out from its scabbard slowly while looking at my surroundings. Nobles are being taken hostage everywhere, these intruders are strong and coordinated, they are acting like soldiers, not assassins.

A soldier runs in my direction to try to get me hostage. When he stopped in front of me his torso got detached from his body. His blood spills on me while everyone in the hall falls silent to look in shock at me.

"Start the music again, the real party begins now" I say with a cold tone but with a hint of humor

Soon a bunch of soldiers comes running at me from every side. When they are close enough I jump and do a hand sign appearing behind one of them cutting his head off in an instant.

They came to strike I blocked a few swords and backed off. I put Penance on a reverse grip and ran toward them.

Swords are coming from everywhere but im fast, I evade and deflect multiple hits. I appear in a soldier's shadow and slice his abdomen in half.

I kick another in the guts sending him flying but before he hits the wall a shadow clone appears behind him and kicks him toward me again, I cut his head in the air and run toward the next.

I clash swords with another one, I do a hand sign and chains appear in his shadow going at high speed through his skull and attaching him to the ceiling. He dies standing because of this.

I run to another and kick him above me, a shadow clone appears going out of me hitting the soldier with a flying kick making him fly away.

They try to corner me but a clone appears in the shadow of a soldier, I trade places with the clone, and it gets sliced, they all think that it is over until it disappears and another scream is heard in the crowd.

I slice and slice and slice and slice until there is only me and a few soldiers with swords on the throat of a few nobles who couldnt fight back.

My body is completely dirty with blood, my expression is unfazed and my eyes are wide open while blood drips from my jaw.

"Claire, Elizabeth, you two can get out now" I say casually

They get out of under the table and Elizabeth is completely shocked at my sight. There is blood, guts, heads, torsos, arms, and legs everywhere around the hall.

Something to say for the people who are not vomiting now I guess. 

Though Claire seems joyful after seeing me.

"Baby! You are the best" Yells Claire joyfully

Even in moments like this, she manages to embarrass me sigh... whatever I guess.

"Claire, can I just walk and kill the soldiers without caring about hostages?" I ask apathetically

Some soldiers yell about going to kill them or whatever after I say this. They lost already anyway, most of them are dead and even if I stop here for them to get out of the capital would be a miracle.

Claire consults Elizabeth too and then proceeds.

"Preferably save what you can baby!" Claire yells cheerfully

Let me see, there are 4 hostages, most nobles could run away while I was keeping them busy, cowards. 

2 hostages at my left and 2 at my right. While I thought of what to do an arrow made of flames hit a soldier in the head making him fall and the hostage was liberated.

Oh, so Elizabeth is not like Claire, she can fight.

I take the opening Elizabeth gave me and I run toward my left where there are two hostages.

I throw my sword toward a soldier but I miss or so he thought. I appear in his shadow and I take the sword in the air cutting his head off.

After that, other hostages got killed and I just rushed to kill the two last soldiers.

Well, 50% is not that bad.

I sheath Penance and walk toward Claire.

"Nicely done Dear! I wish I could hug you, but you need a bath first" Says Claire joyfully

Elizabeth is still trying to process what happened.

"Sigh... this was tiresome let's get going already" I say with a tired tone

Things will probably get loud from now on.