The Deceiver's Path - Chapter 95 - The Guild Master (Patreon)

Piper fought down the sense of surging panic as the guild master gripped the sword’s hilt. She could sense an enormous power welling up in the blade, rivalling or even surpassing Gorebark. No matter what, she couldn’t let him draw the weapon in the cramped room.

Her mind spun as she tried to think of the different spells she could use to stop the guild master in case he attacked. She had several new spells from her Shadowflame Tempter class, but she hadn’t had a chance to test them yet.

I guess there’s no time like the present.

But first, she wanted to attempt to talk her way out of the situation. And that started with denying everything. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Now, now,” Niko said. “If you wish to join my guild, I wouldn’t recommend lying. Such things are not tolerated here.”

“I’m Anna,” she said through gritted teeth. “And you can see my real classes.” Though she realized she hadn’t felt a prickling sensation on her skin. The man must have used a higher rank of [Identify] on her, since she hadn’t even felt it.

Niko rose to his feet, looming over her with his massive frame. He kept a tight grip on the sword but didn’t draw it from its sheath. “I have to admit your class illusion is nearly perfect. Probably the most perfect false class I’ve seen in my 80 years. Nevertheless, there was the slightest delay when I used [Greater Identify] on you. Most people wouldn’t have noticed a single thing amiss about it. However, I’m not most people.”

Piper noticed Eleni squirming in her chair next to her. Most likely, the young woman thought she was going to be punished for bringing Piper into the guildhall. Once again, Piper was going to hurt someone simply by being a demon.

“My classes are my own,” Piper said stiffly. “I don’t want to share.”

“May I ask their rarity?”

Piper exhaled. “I’d rather not say.”

“Really now.” Niko drew a sliver of steel from the sheath. The blade burned with a holy light and made Piper flinch away as pain seared her exposed flesh. “I should have known. An infernal class.”

Crap, crap, crap.

“A heretic?” Eleni cried out. “I swear I knew nothing about that. I never would have—”

Niko raised his hand to stop the young woman from talking. “Please remain silent for the rest of this interview.”

“I have heard rumors of a powerful infernal caster in the city,” he continued. “Yet I never expected her to stroll into my office.”

Eleni let out a strangled noise as she obviously put two and two together. She must have realized Piper was the demon from the street. Hopefully, she’d remembered that Piper had also been the one to save her—from the situation that she’d created.

Now that she thought about it, she couldn’t expect much gratitude from the young woman.

Piper’s claws tightened on the armrests of the chair, ready to spring into action. When the time came, she’d lead with [Umbral Terror] and follow it up with a few of her new spells. At least one of them should be effective against the guild master. After all, the fear spell had worked against a powerful vampire.

“How are you hiding your classes?” Niko returned to his seat and sheathed the blade. “Skill or spell?”

Piper looked at the man in confusion. She’d expected him to attack her, not resume their conversation. What was his game?

“Spell,” she finally whispered. “I truly am an illusionist.”

“What a wonderful class.” He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. “May I ask the rarity again? Anything you say in this room will be kept in the utmost confidence. You have my word.”

Piper raised a claw to her mouth and chewed on the tip. She had no idea whether she should lie about her class or not. In the end, she decided to tell him the truth. She believed he wanted her for something, and making herself appear weaker might make him change his mind.

“I have an epic and legendary class.”

Niko guffawed and shook his head. “If you wish to lie, at least make it believable. A legendary class? There haven’t been more than half a dozen people with legendary classes in the empire over the last century.”

“I do have one,” she said, raising her chin slightly.

“If you do, then stop me.”

The world slowed as Niko ripped the sword free from the sheath and launched himself over the desk. At the same time, Eleni surged to her feet, and the wind whipped around the room.

Piper simply reacted. She cast [Void Silence] and the wind immediately died. Even the blazing longsword held by the guild master dulled until it was nothing more than a steel blade. As the magic settled around the room like an oppressive cloud, Niko’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

Ding! Your spell, Void Silence has reached level 2.

“What have you done to me?” Eleni cried out, stumbling away. “Why can’t I use my magic?”

Piper retreated, knocking over the chair onto the floor with a crash. She had already followed up her first spell with another. She’d been given a brief reprieve, and she wasn’t going to waste it.

She cast [Pit Chains] and black, barbed chains erupted out of the floor. The chains snaked around Eleni and Niko before snapping taut and dragging them down to their knees.

A look of panic passed over Eleni’s face , and Piper felt a surge of regret. After everything the young woman had been through over the past few days, she hadn’t wanted to make her endure anything else.

Piper glanced over at the door, wondering what to do. If she tried to run, then she had no way through the front gates. She could always jump off the wall, but she didn’t know if she could survive a ten-metre drop.

Plus, what if the adventurers outside had felt her casting? At any second, they might burst into the room and attack. She needed to cast more spells, and fast. A demon would be helpful, and she chewed on her lower lip as she considered which one to call with her new skill.

As she racked her brain for a plan, the sound of laughter made her pause. She turned slowly to witness a strange sight; Niko was chuckling from his position on the floor. Even though the chains had ensnared him, he looked delighted.

“What a wonderful display of power,” he said. “I assume you can summon demons as well? Or was that an illusion in the city?”

When Piper only stared at him in disbelief, he continued. “I received word of those foolish nuns rounding up members of my guild a short time ago. A scout I sent to monitor the situation described the battle at length to me through a communication scroll. It was quite impressive that you managed to keep the killing to a minimum. I wish the nuns could say the same. Now, let’s talk signing bonus.”

Piper blinked slowly. “You… still want me in your guild?”

“Do I want the most powerful caster I’ve met in over a quarter century in my guild? What do you think? No person chooses what realm they’re sent to when they awaken. So, what do you want?”

Eleni struggled against the chains. “She’s a heretic!”

Niko frowned, his forehead creasing. “I’ve heard from your instructors you’re one of the smartest wayfarers in the guild. Now act like it. She could have easily killed you a dozen times over if she had wished to. As I hear it, she summoned a knight to protect you from a demon.”

The young woman stiffened at his words before pressing her lips together and staring at Piper. Her face softened as she seemed to consider what the guild master was saying.

“I want a void bag,” Piper said. “And some gold. And… a pony.” Since she’d been a little girl, she’d always wanted a pony. The idea had just popped into her head while she was making demands. But she might as well throw everything at the wall and see what stuck.

“Done.” He looked meaningfully down at the chains. “If you’d be so kind as to release me? I’d rather not waste the defenses in my office. They’re quite expensive to replace.”

“Do you promise not to attack me?”

“You have my word as guild master. Regardless, if I did, I’m sure you have more tricks up your sleeve. Am I correct in thinking that?”

Piper nodded slowly. She canceled [Pit Chains] and then [Void Silence]. As she did, the black chains wormed their way back into the ground, and the oppressive cloud of power seeped out of the room.

She winced slightly at seeing the damage the chains had done to the stone floor. She hoped the guild master didn’t expect her to pay for it before getting her signing bonus. Because she didn’t have a copper to her name; her money purse had disappeared with Ophelia.

Niko rose to his feet and rubbed his wrists. “Most impressive. I see great things in your future if you join our ranks. I will, of course, provide you with everything you requested.” He rounded on Eleni. “I expect you to take an oath to reveal nothing of what you witnessed today. Is that understood?”

The young woman crossed her arms. “I swear upon the guild that I will never reveal anything that happened within these four walls today.”

“Excellent.” He walked around his desk and settled back in his chair. “I have to admit that is one of the most impressive displays of power I’ve ever seen. And you used it with great restraint, which is rare for someone so young.”

Niko shuffled some papers on his desk before looking up. “I would like you to stay here until things in the city are resolved. Of course, we will provide you with a room. Is that acceptable?”

“I… have something to do first.”

Niko placed the papers down and raised an eyebrow. “And what would that be after I met your offer to join my guild?”

“My friend was kidnapped,” she said, deciding to tell the truth. “I need to get her back.”

“Do not worry about such trite things. I will send a group of adventurers to retrieve her immediately. Do you know her kidnapper?”

“The sons of Ares,” she said quietly. “She was taken yesterday, I think.”

“As in the sons of the first citizen, Ares? You really have made some impressive enemies.”

Niko exhaled and tapped his fingers on the desk. “I grant you leave to get her back,” he continued. “But when you return, I expect you to give your life over to the guild.”

“Will my friend be able to join?”

Niko frowned. “I suppose she can earn her keep as a servant if it means you’ll join.”

Piper almost laughed at the thought of Ophelia as a serving girl. The first time someone asked her to fetch some food, she’d probably brain them with a club. No, she was not cut out to be a servant.

“That would be wonderful.” Her friend should be awakening either today or tomorrow, and after everything the young woman had been through, she should receive a mythic class at the very least. Once she had a class like that, it should be easy for her to get recruited by the guild.

Niko thrust a meaty finger in Eleni’s direction. “I want you to escort Piper to Are’s manor. Make sure she returns alive.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” Eleni exclaimed. “I’m only a wayfarer and they’re all adventurers!”

“Think of this as a test for Piper as well. I want both of you to look after each other.” He looked meaningfully at Piper. “I expect my wayfarer to be returned to me alive and unharmed. Is that understood?”

“I understand.”

Niko lifted another paper and scanned it. When neither of them moved, he placed it back down on the desk. “Is there something else? I’m very busy.”

Piper could only shake her head. He seemed incredibly unbothered by the fact that she was an infernal caster. Most of the time when people learned the truth about her, they either attacked or fled. It would take her a while to get used to someone who wanted to befriend her instead.

Eleni walked over to the door and opened it. Then she turned to glower at Piper. “I’ll show you your quarters.”

“Could I please have something to eat first?”

“Please forgive me,” the young woman said with mock sincerity. “I completely forgot, and I imagine being a heretic is hungry work.”

Piper’s stomach had not forgotten. And her throat felt so parched, she could barely swallow.

“One more thing,” Niko said, looking up. “Please try not to destroy too much of the city. Also, it would be best if the infernal caster died a public and spectacular death at Are’s manor. That would solve the majority of our problems.

Piper blinked, not understanding at first. After a moment, she realized what he was asking; he wanted her to use an illusion to fake her own death.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Once she’d eaten and had something to drink, she would work on a plan to free Ophelia. Even if she had to tear the manor down brick by brick to reach her friend, she wouldn’t hesitate.