The Reaper's Shadow [3]

The cold, sterile atmosphere of the government office greeted Kain as he stepped into the building. It was late at night, and the once-bustling halls had quieted into a hushed silence. Only a few flickering lanterns illuminated the darkened corridors, casting long shadows across the polished stone floors.

As Kain made his way through the labyrinth of hallways, the sound of his boots echoed in the empty space. He wasn't here for anything ordinary—this was a place of power, a place where deals were made and fates were sealed. And tonight, he had a purpose.

He was almost halfway down the hall when an officer, clearly surprised by the late visitor, spotted him. "Kain, what are you doing here this late at night?" the officer asked, his voice curious but respectful.

Kain paused, meeting the officer's gaze with his usual calm. "I just wanted to meet Master Vikar. Do you know where he might be?"

The officer thought for a moment, his eyes flicking toward the darker end of the hallway. "Hmm, he should be in his office or perhaps in the corridor on the west side, looking out over the city. He often does that when he's not buried in work."

Kain nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you."

With a slight bow, he continued on his way, the officer's eyes following him as he walked. Kain knew Vikar well enough to trust that he'd be in one of those two places, most likely by the west side, where he could look out over the sprawling city beneath the starless sky.

When Kain arrived at the office door, he gave it a soft but firm knock. His voice, low and measured, followed shortly after. "Kain is here."

A brief silence followed, then a voice, calm and knowing, called from within. "Enter."

The door creaked open, and Kain stepped inside.

Kain stepped into the dimly lit office, the smell of ink and parchment filling the air. Master Vikar sat at his desk, his back to Kain as he meticulously reviewed a stack of papers. The flickering light from the lantern on the desk cast shadows across his features, making him appear almost ghostly in the quiet room.

Without lifting his gaze from the paperwork, Vikar's voice cut through the silence. "Is the mission completed, Kain? Or should I say... Reaper?" His tone was more casual than Kain had expected, a slight chuckle at the end of his question.

"Yes, the mission is completed," Kain replied, his voice steady and without emotion.

Vikar paused for a moment, his pen hovering over the document in his hand. "Good. Then if you complete two more missions, you'll have enough to cover all three years at the academy. Your hard work is finally paying off."

Kain's lips twitched in a barely noticeable smile. "Actually, no. I encountered Aliyak during the mission..." He then gave Vikar a detailed report of what had happened. Of course, he left out the part where he'd taken the Viscount's money from the assassins for himself. It wasn't relevant, and Kain preferred to keep that detail to himself for the time being.

Vikar listened intently, his expression unchanged, though a small nod of approval indicated that he was satisfied with the report. "So, with Aliyak's bounty in your hand, I take it you don't need to take any more tasks for a while?" Vikar mused, tapping his pen on the desk.

"Exactly," Kain replied, his eyes narrowing slightly in focus. "With this bounty, I've earned enough to cover my expenses. No need for more work at the moment."

"Well, that's fair enough," Vikar said thoughtfully, placing the pen down and leaning back in his chair. "You've certainly earned it, considering the work you've done over the last two years."

Kain gave a small nod, waiting for Vikar to continue.

Vikar's voice took on a more serious tone as he looked up from his papers, his eyes narrowing with concern. "When are you leaving for the academy?"

"Maybe in the next three days," Kain answered. "I've got everything ready, just waiting on the right moment."

Vikar sighed, his expression turning somber. "Be careful, Kain. I don't know why you're so fixated on going to that academy, but I'll give you a piece of advice. There will be many geniuses like you, but unlike you, they'll have backgrounds. Even though the academy claims it doesn't support hierarchy, there are still power struggles. The princess is joining this year, and you'll likely run into some people who will look down on you, just because of your lack of connections. Be careful and do not reveal that you are Reaper to anyone—it's for your own safety."

Kain's gaze remained steady, though the warning weighed on his mind. He knew well enough that strength and ability often came second to status and influence. But he wasn't one to back down from a challenge.

"I'll be fine," Kain said calmly, his tone firm, but there was an edge to it that spoke of his resolve.

Vikar gave a knowing nod, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "I hope so, Kain. You've done well so far, but that academy... it's different."

"If nothing else, you can leave. I will send the money from this mission and Aliyak's bounty to your account after the proceedings," Vikar said, his voice a mix of business and finality.

"Alright, Master Vikar. I will take my leave now," Kain replied, offering a respectful bow before stepping out of the office.

Kain moved with purpose through the busy corridors of the government building, his mind already shifting toward his next steps. He walked silently to his apartment, the cool night air brushing against his face. Reaching the building, he leapt with effortless grace, using wind magic to propel himself to the fourth floor. In a fluid motion, he landed softly on his balcony and entered his room.

The quiet was almost overwhelming as he shut the door behind him. He went to the bathroom to freshen up, running water over his face, his thoughts briefly drifting to the academy and the challenges that awaited him. He was ready to sleep, his body and mind finally beginning to unwind.

But just as his eyelids grew heavy, the door suddenly burst open. Voices rang out in his room.

"Happy birthday, Kain!"

"Happy birthday, Uncle!"

Kain's lips twisted in a wry smile as he groaned inwardly. 'I was just about to sleep,' he thought, rolling his eyes. His sister and niece had other plans. They always did.

Morning arrived, and Kain stretched out, feeling the weight of the passing years. 'I can't believe it's already been four years since I was transmigrated into this world,' he thought, staring out the window at the rising sun.

On this day, four years ago, his body and his parents had perished in an accident. A rift had opened, unleashing monsters that wreaked havoc in their town. His body owner had died, but due to his soul entering the body of 14-year-old Kain, he had miraculously survived.

His sister, who was 12 years older than him, had found him alive amidst the destruction. She had gotten him treated and had been a constant support, especially after their brother-in-law, her husband, had also perished in the rift incident. The tragedy had shaken their family to its core, but his sister had taken on the responsibility of raising him, despite her own grief.

At first, Kain had thought he'd been reincarnated into a fantasy world, much like the stories he'd read. But as the months passed and he pieced together fragments of his new life, he came to realize the truth: he was not in a random fantasy world. No, he was inside a novel—a story he had read once, "Journey of the Magic Swordsman."

The world he now inhabited was filled with the same characters, the same events, and the same struggles from the novel or so he thought.