Vase of Souls

A man wearing all-black clothing that covered everything, but his eyes hastily dashed across the treetops.

'What the h**l was that!?!' Julius almost blurted out. 'The task sheet never told me that someone so powerful would be here, damn it!'

Julius squinted his eyes as another whistle sounded. Years of thieving and killing had given the man a premonition. A feeling that could only come with experience and quick-wittedness; he would die right now if he kept running! The man half bent his legs, shifting weight onto a tree branch and bending it down to slingshot him in the air. Using the momentum, he acrobatically turned his back, manoeuvring a half-flip and looking behind him.

There, he saw it. It seemed almost immaterial, and no average person would see it without high mana enhancements to the eye. A needle was cutting the air at the speed of sound, precisely manipulated by mana in a shape that could pierce a human skull.

Without a second wasted, Julius grabbed a small crystal hung across his neck by a string and shoved it between his teeth. With the needle a moment away from his head, he crushed the crystal with his jaw, sending a massive mana pulse into the air swaying the trees and leaving a gaping hole in the clouds.

Julius had vanished, leaving the needle unperturbed without a head.

"Tsk, another Second Realm artifact," the king said.

A figure slowly appeared from thin air behind the king, distorting the space around it. It was covered head to toe in black armour and held a white sceptre.

"Julius Xander, a powerful class S assassin and thief currently in the top 56th in the kingdom's bounty list, would you like me to increase his rank, King Aurelius," the figure spoke in a low tone.

"No need, Caesar. The oracles have spoken, dark times are beginning, and we have better things to worry about; with the end of the season of the Sun, this current masquerade of peace is only the inside turmoil of politics and malice; a ticking time bomb that will explode at any moment. Our only hope is the second realm and its unexplored land. You saw it there and then, a crystal that transports you; such a thing can only be found within the second realm, then who knows what miracles could be found within the third realm. What we need right now are manpower and strong people. Deliver the letter to begin the mass testing of magic power and affinity to the royal court," Aurelius said and then looked back towards the soldier.

"Rivett, those artifacts could be detrimental to the kingdom, keep them safe in the boxes and make sure no one touches them before they are returned to the kingdom."

"With my life, my king," Rivett responded before saluting.

—

First Realm, North Origin Continent.

Outskirts of the Kingdom of Aurelius.

In a small cabin hidden in the woods, Julius' head spun; one moment, he was about to get his head pierced through, the next, he was lying on the hard wooden floor of his remote cabin base. Julius stood up and dusted himself off. He slightly pulled down his dark mouth cover to reveal his lips and spat blood onto the ground in front of him.

"Bah, looks like that month break will be happening sooner than expected," Julius mumbled.

Julius brought out a talisman from his sleeves; engraved on it was a small hare. He rolled his hands in a fist with his thumb out and rested the talisman on the side of his index finger. Using his thumb, he then tapped on it twice.

The engraved lines of the hare began to glow aqua slightly, and the talisman released a smooth hum before fading away and turning normal again.

The sound of footsteps could be heard nearing the cabin as the door was opened, and an Elf walked in; it had sharp pointy ears, defined eyebrows and long blonde dreads reaching the shoulders.

It was sporting a white long-sleeve button-up shirt, long black pants, and brown leather short boots, a fashion sense where you would always get a good impression no matter what.

"Did you get the vase?" the Elf asked, walking up to Julius.

Julian removed a ring from his index finger and placed it on his palm. The ring began to glow, slowly turning into a vase with a sealed lid. The vase looked degraded, its patterns and markings barely visible, and its original material starting to decay, perhaps due to time.

Though its ancient look, three symbols could clearly be seen on it.

The Elf raised his eyebrows and moved his hands to touch it, but Julian quickly moved his palm back.

"..." the Elf blankly stared at him.

"I'll do double, but that's i-," the Elf was cut off.

"Triple," Julian interrupted.

"..." silence ensued again as the Elf and Julian stared each other down.

"Fine, I'll do triple but let me hold it," the Elf gave up.

With that, Julian smiled underneath his mask.

Julian passed it to the Elf, who raised it to examine its authenticity.

"Are you not afraid I'll steal it?" the Elf said as he continued examining it.

Julian laughed at the question.

"The only person who would steal from me is someone who doesn't know who I am."