Free Zectas Volume V: The Sequestered Seminary of Sawtorn by John Nest, You The Reader, Overus Page A

interjected Smoke.

"Yeah, yeah, I was going to say a Terra Magi since his strength closely resembled the power of Ayert," added Jack quickly, slowly getting up on his feet.

"Hm. Such bold claims," said Cynar. "Let me see it, let me see your power."

Cynar then walked towards the direction where they came from.

"Ayert was a good friend of mine," suddenly said Cynar as they walked towards the cave's exit. "But I could honestly say that he was powerful enough to become a Prime Wizard of a city."

Smoke gulped. 'Am I supposed to come up with a power comparable to Ouragan's?' he asked himself.

The walk towards the exit was quicker than Smoke expected. All of the OrkElf guards they met along the way joined them.

When they reached outside, more than two-hundred OrkElves were assembled. Together with Cynar and Jack, they watched Smoke, waiting to see what he would do.

Standing by himself, Smoke was twenty meters farther away from all of them.

"Well, show me," ordered Cynar. He was taller than any of the OrkElves, but clearly more slender.

"Come on, Faux, show him," said Jack, next to the masked Cynar.

Smoke took out his Digger's Wand and took in a deep breath. "I can do this," he muttered to himself.

With a wave of his wand, he targeted Cynar, Jack, and all of the OrkElves, dropping them into a trench he freshly dug.

Then, he used his Earth Manipulation to create earth-bars over the trench, trapping all of them inside it.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

Smoke then heard the distinct sound of slow clapping from behind him, and he instinctively turned around and saw Cynar.

'Just what kind of Assassin is he?' wondered Smoke to himself.

"That was impressive," said Cynar, continuing his dramatic clap. "You even trapped all of the guards. Oh, and even young Jack as well."

"Hahaha," Cynar laughed loudly.

"You know, if I was not waiting to see you make a move, you might have caught me as well," Cynar said to Smoke.

Suddenly, Smoke felt a knife against his throat.

"Did you come here to kill me, or did you really come to work for me?" Cynar questioned Smoke.

A casting circle suddenly appeared around them. It looked similar to Baldaquin's casting circle of truth. Despite having a knife pointed at his neck, Smoke still easily recognized the slight differences in the casting circle.

He closed his eyes and focused on what to say. Gambling on his determination, Smoke answered. "I've come to work for you, but if I don't like your terms, I will kill you."

Then, the casting circle of truth gave out a green light.

"Hm. That's very bold of you to say," said Cynar. The Assassin retracted his knife from Smoke's windpipe. "Release Jack and my men. Then, we will discuss business."

 
    * * * * * * 
    Smoke sat on a small wooden stool across Cynar. The supposedly King of Thieves sat in a same stool as him. The two of them were alone in a confined room in one of the inner chambers of Diebe Den. The room was illuminated by seven light stones lined around the walls. Aside from the two stools, the room only had a small desk on the corner with four books on top of it.

"First, remove your mask, and then we'll talk," ordered Cynar.

"I don't suppose you'll do the same, now, will you?" Smoke asked Cynar.

Cynar guffed and shook his head.

Seeing no one else there, Smoke casually removed his earth-mask.

"Oh, so, you really are a DarkElf," said Cynar. "I expected a big scar on your face. Or a big ugly nose at least. I don't see why you need a mask."

"Well, I have my reasons, but what about you? Are you a HighElf? A Lioumerean? I can't tell from all your clothes," replied Smoke.

"It doesn't matter what I am," answered Cynar. "All that matters is you have the abilities that will fit perfectly for the job."

"What job?" asked Smoke.

Cynar did not answer, but asked another question instead. "Tell me, what do you know about Orks?"

"Not much really," replied Smoke. "Just that they travel in hordes and that they like to