The Unknowable Assassin
The last class finally ends at a longer time than is normal. The reason for this extended period had to do with an ending speech made by the teacher.
It was a very odd explanation of odd events and attempted assaults. So far there have been no confirmed deaths but the school has seen this as a real threat and warned people to be more conscious than normal.
I swear one or two people looked at me during the teacher's explanation but it must have been my imagination.
While what she said was interesting it's something that I don't need to hear. If anything I catch myself thinking if Ren or I if we have done anything odd lately but I can't recall anything. I might need to put some time aside to talk to Ren…
"Akari, did you even pay any attention to that?" A girl asks as I try not to pay attention to her.
It's a possibility Jade doesn't understand but I get a max of 4 hours of sleep during the week. Why does she insist on making the time I'm half awake impossible to have some quiet?
"Not much. What I did hear seemed interesting but that's where my thoughts stop," I tell her.
"Ahh well, I guess that makes sense."
Fidgeting, sweating, and avoiding eye contact all tell Jade is giving off right now. Which would indicate she is scared about something. Given the topic at hand, I would be dumb not to know what it is.
Even as we leave the class she continues these visual tells.
"We won't be training today, will we? In that case, you should hurry up to your dorm instead of following me."
"Hmm?" She says with a smug look.
"What's that look for?"
"Well if I didn't know any better I would have thought you were worried for my safety."
What an interesting observation Jade. The school recommends you go to your dorm as soon as possible but when I reinforce that she thinks of something obscene.
Not that it matters.
"Then allow me to rephrase that. Please stay out as long as you wish." I say
Jade lets out a giggle, "What's so wrong with you being nice?"
"Jade if you wish we can schedule a time when you can pay me hourly to be nice."
We continue to walk but Jade doesn't stop following me for a startling amount of time.
"You know I was actually worried something might happen to you. I'm not sure what is going on but I did hear things and I have a hint of what might be going on." Jade finally says.
"Do you expect me to be the next victim?"
Jade nods her head yes.
"Well in that case I thank you for the information and will make sure I am more than ready. However, just because I may be a prime individual does not mean you are not at risk either. I advise we both hurry up."
"Hmm? Are you in a rush? Are you actually worried?"
"Me? No, you however should be."
"Then what are you in a rush for? Going to meet somebody?"
"You are the only one I know to be thinking I might be seeing somebody during such a serious situation."
"Well just before I take off I was just trying to remember. What was her name… Kira was it? I don't know why but I can't seem to shake her off my mind. You seem to act differently around her. You seemed so… nice."
For the first time since I started inhabiting Akaris's body, this is the first time I have been actually disoriented by what somebody did or said for that matter.
Jade shakes her head "Well whatever don't die I need you to stay alive to teach me" She says and then waves running down the hall in the opposite direction.
I will put it into my schedule to appraise her as soon as I can. I think I might need to check something.
Appraising things is normally a regular occurrence for me but after the third or fourth time I did it to Jade she seemed to catch what I was doing and asked. When I explained to her she really didn't like the idea of so much information being shown.
She explains it as feeling an odd sensation. This isn't off from the mark honestly as someone who has been appraised many times it's not the best feeling.
Speaking of opening the door to my room doesn't feel normal. I look around and see nothing out of place in the room I left the illusion spell working in. A spell to disguise what I was doing in here from any eavesdropping.
With now only me in my room, again another weird thing. I deactivated the spell to reveal many foreign objects not normally allowed at a school. I only stand there looking at everything internally appraising every object.
In my eyes, many windows open up describing individually the items in my room. Nothing seems to be out of place…
Slowly I undress from the uniform into my cloak. It's an odd feeling to undress when you think you are being watched but I prepare it anyway. I do not want to be caught in a fight with some school uniform.
Once it's on I take notice of two things. One, Kira has yet to make herself known. Meaning she isn't here or she's hiding for some reason. Two the window is wide open.
I walk over to the window to try and see if I can see anything outside. I lean my head outside of it looking down I then look up-
"Got you, " a mysterious voice says.
My vision changed from looking out on the outside landscape to a terrifying sight. I was staring directly right at the ground and for some reason It was getting bigger fast. Ah yes, I must be falling.
By whom and why? I hope those questions can wait as I think saving myself from imminent death may be slightly more important.
Reaching above me I grabbed onto the person that had been on top of me forcing me down. With my grasp on them, I pull them off, spinning them around until finally launching them onto the ground.
For myself, I create a slide that graciously helps me slide to the ground. For myself, I dust my shoulders. The little dirt that had gotten onto it fell to the ground.
As for the attacker I watch for the dust to dissipate to where they had fallen. Slowly the dust disappears to reveal a standing outline of the attacker. Their outfit was cut and torn a bit. The legs part of their outfit seems the most dirty.
They hold a weapon in my direction as they speak to me "Your reaction speed and strength are admirable, sadly though you won't be able to truly utilize your potential."
They take a step forward.
"Because tonight you die" They finish saying
Hmm.
Well, I can't say in any of my past lives have I been assassinated from falling out a window. So this is a new experience for me at least.
Though it is a bit odd. It was something I was thinking about since they attacked me but just to make sure I might as well ask.
"Are you a girl by chance?"
"Hah in your final moments that's all that you can think of? Well sadly for you I will never reveal anything about who I am."
I see indeed.
Strength 40
Speed 80 + 20
Defense 40
Intelligence 35
Going into more detail in her name her gender does indeed reveal itself as female. It does make sense her voice might have been disguised by something but the stats panel tells all.
I decided to take the time to indulge in the descriptions of her skills. It's very important to be well-informed before fighting an opponent you see. Also, it's comedic.
"What's wrong, too scared to even face me? Is all you can do is stand there in fear." She says annoyed.
"Pink," I say plainly.
"Huh?" She asks.
"Panties," I finished saying.
"HUH?!?!"