(Word Count: 2575)

Within the Kingdom of Graft I have lived my life as a soldier. They captured me when I was merely four seasons old from my parents, and was always told to always obey commands from the commander.

The kingdom itself was posing the title of Assassin to not only protect the king, but to also keep the vicious werewolves beyond our borders. They took pride in all kinds of training including survival and all forms of combat. However as I was growing up I started to realize I have heightened sense of hearing, smell, and can outrun all the other soldiers, like the beasts we're trying to keep out. For years we built up the skills for combat and simulations where we were invaded by rouge werewolves, but the whole time wondering to myself if this was my reality. Soldiers would always keep tabs on one another, and when they would witness me in action they knew I was their true competition. At times during the night I would overhear the soldiers in the nearby barracks talking about training.

"That Bren kid will knock us all out of the race for Assassin. Figures the one who's practically one of them will prevent them from coming and killing us all!"

"That's true. Unless we do something about it."

"Yeah we could, but we can't even catch him in the five mile run. Besides he'd know something was up if we started hanging around him, remember though he's stronger than all of us despite his wiry frame."

"So we don't catch him and instead we ambush him. Catch him off his guard. Easier prey than facing it head on right?"

That night was hard for me because now I realized that just flying under the radar isn't working anymore, so from then on I made myself a pact to work up to my fullest even when my fullest had been spent. It was then that I truly understood how powerful I really am.

⚔ ⚔ ⚔ ⚔ ⚔

The next day we had survival training where the Commander blindly leads us into the nearby woods. Mind you they blindfolded all of us so we couldn't follow prints or paths back. When he lead us far enough away he leaves us to either find our way back or be discharged. Some of us think even the Commander is part werewolf but we never question him about it and we simply follow his orders, simply because if we did ask it was considered sacrilege. By the time he stopped it was dark out so we all set up for the night, except for me. I stick it out for the night and try to put some distance between them and me. Before I started to doubt myself and turn back I caught the artificial cedar scent of the Commander's cologne and decided to follow it back to camp.

By daylight I had come back to camp and was greeted by the Commander sitting at a table in front of my barrack eating what smells like a scrumptious breakfast. He almost stood up when he glanced over at me, instead he got out his wireless touchpad and sent a quick message then replaced it on the table and gave me his full attention.

"Where's the rest of the men?"

"Sir, I left them behind to fend for themselves sir!"

"You mean to tell me they're still out there?"

"Sir yes sir!" I promptly replied.

After a moment of silence he told me to get some food. He grumbled to himself and went back to his touchpad. Later that day I was taken by the commander to the castle to meet King Marel. This was a rare chance because King Marel keeps to himself and stays within the castle for protection. The Commander led me through so many passageways I imagine trying to get out of this place. Soon enough we encountered a few guards around what I assumed was the king's throne room. The guards crack open the door and whisper something to guards on the other side, then the doors open and we enter this massive throne room. Then King Marel appears from thin air.

"This is the soldier you messaged me about?" Marel's voice floats in the expansive room. "He doesn't look like Assassin material to me Randel."

I stand silently listening to Commander Randel sing my praises. "He's exemplary at hand to hand combat and with a variety of weapons. This man even found his way back within a day after I took him thirty miles into the woods. For him only being sixteen and having the skills that he possesses makes him more that qualified to me. My King I wish you would consider him as the best candidate we have to protect us from the beasts beyond our borders."

The King turns to me. "I want to hear what you have to say about your training." Commander nods to me and I rattle through what I could possibly say to him.

"My King I may not look qualified to become Assassin but all that Commander has said is true. I do consider myself satisfactory in all forms of combat and I have found that I am extremely persistent when placed in survival situations. The soldiers back at the compound know me very well and they all fear me and wish they could beat me so they can take the position for themselves. I would like you consider me for the position of Assassin."

King Marel was definitely startled by my short speech, and I could tell he was really deciding his next move carefully. After the silence had elongated for a while he turned to Commander Randel to me. "You really are the best person for the position. I'll have a commemorating ceremony and at which point I'll announce that you will be the first Assassin." Then he did something I never expected. He bowed to me, as if I was a visiting monarch.

⚔ ⚔ ⚔ ⚔ ⚔

Days after my induction ceremony I was approached by just about all the friars and bards within the boundaries of Graft. Mostly about my past and what kinds of skills I believe will serve me the best against the beasts. I got new armor and a whole wing to myself in the castle, but I tend to spend most of my time in the woods. When I go out there it just feels like I was meant to be here, among the whipping winds and untamed vegetation. Whenever I'm needed by the King it's to work along the borderline and kill any beasts who try to breach our society. That is until one day.

I was called to the throne room like every other call before but this one felt more ominous than just a simple border protection call. I kneel at the base of Marel's throne and I wait for him to let me get back up. Once he lets me look at him he gives me a look that brings all the air down into a dense, almost suffocating fog.

"Assassin Bren, I call upon you for a special mission. Your mission is to eliminate the baker Silas Kilmer for actions against the laws and rulings of Graft."

"Is he a human or a beast?"

He pauses as if this bit of information is not required, then reluctantly responded. "Silas is a human."

I was for a very brief moment taken aback because I only assumed I was only to control the beasts and protect all humans. I wanted to refute the mission but to refuse was sacrilege to the point where I could get put under. I nodded and agreed to carry out the King's demands.

Not far from the castle I found a wandering bard and realized I had some bargaining chips to get the information I was searching for. I approached the bard and his face almost smiled at the sight of me. I reached for his shoulder to snatch him up before he disappeared.

"Hello wandering bard. I was hoping you knew where Silas the baker sets up shop. Could you lead me to Silas or his shop?"

"Sure I could, but would I get in return? You should know I never do business for free." He queries.

"I'll give you a story unknown by any other story tellers around. My childhood."

When I look back his eyes bug out of his head. I always was known for keeping my past concealed to any and everyone. He doesn't take too long to make a decision and he leads me to the bakery. Along the way I make up a story for him about a past that never happened. I thank him when we get there and he wanders off to reveal his newfound story. Meanwhile I've started towards the threshold of the bakery when a man comes up to me with a bread loaf on a tray. He places in it's place on the shelf and then turns back to me.

"Hello there, I'm looking for a man named Silas Kilmer." The man's body starts to shake and I know this guy is Silas so I advance so he can't elude me. "By order of the King of Graft you are to be killed for your actions against His Majesty."

His tremors become more like seizures but that's his way of getting away from the situation. I reveal my sword from it's sheath against my hip and stand unwavering at the man, showing no mercy. "Any last words Silas Kilmer?"

"Whatever I've been accused of is false. My only business is to make treats for the villagers of Graft. Search my shop and house if you must but I'm being completely honest with you, Assassin." Then his shudders stopped and he appeared to be bracing for the strike to end him. Seeing his reaction shocked me and prompted me to take his word and check both his shop and home for paraphernelia tying his accusations to the King's. I replaced my sword back into the sheath then made Silas close the shop. Searching around I couldn't find anything incriminating so I took him back to his house and searched there as well. Once again nothing to do with the King's claim that he was conspiring with anyone.

"Either your very good at hiding your calling or you're telling me the truth." In a fury I took my sword and struck the blade straight through Silas's stomach. He choked on his own blood and slid off the blade to the floor, curling into himself before his body went limp. I stood still for a moment taking in the hefty weight of what I'd done. In that moment I realized that being the Assassin was not a honorable title but rather a sentence to become a pawn for the King.

⚔ ⚔ ⚔ ⚔ ⚔

I did eventually return to the castle and reported to the King that Silas was killed and would be found in his home. For the rest of the night I was on border patrol, which was more comfortable job. Walking the border I had a long time to mull over the events of the day, until a bush rustled nearby shook me out of my trance. The creature popped up out of the bush and put their hands in the air, looking like a frightened deer before you gut them. Yet this person felt familiar, almost like family.

Then the person gasped. A look of knowing flashing against it's face. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

Upon further looks this thing looked human. Long hair and delicate eyes that caught the moonlight. "I don't know you, but you're definitely familiar to me."

The woman tried to take my hand and without realizing it I was being led away from the border into the dense forest. Following this winding path she led me to a small woodland village. Unlike Graft however is this village is full of werewolves.

"Where are you taking me?" I commanded.

"To one of the elders. Only they can tell us how we know one another."

We entered this large cottage in the center and into a room where five older people sit. Each one looking at this woman first before their eyes landed on me. The one in the middle was the one who spoke first.

"Darci, who is this man you've brought with you?" Her voice gentle but not without a little rasp.

The woman, Darci replied confidently. "I have reason to believe that this man is my lost son Havert. I was hoping one of you could tell me if this is really him." She pushed me forward into the center of the space. A man on the edge of the five came forward with a bowl full of this tonic. He asked for me to drink it and to lay down. I got to the floor and took the tonic. I lost my grip on consciousness not long after I took the tonic.

The next morning the older woman who spoke to me last night and Darci were patiently waiting for me to wake up. Once I sat up they asked me what I saw and I told them about the forest. That I was with my mom when someone came and took me away from her. They asked me for details about my mom.

"She was fair skinned and had bright green eyes. Her hair was colored like dark oak." They looked at one another then back to me with an understanding look. Finally Darci spoke up.

"I may have changed a little over the time you've been gone but I remember that day. It was a man who looked as if he was part werewolf but wasn't strong enough to take you without a struggle. I scratched him on his back before I lost you that day." She perfectly described Commander Randel, even down to his lack of strength. I was awestruck at not only the fact that I could remember that day, but also that my mother was sitting right beside me and had never given up on me.

"I should tell you something." Looking at Darci. The elder beside me got up and headed for the door. "The man that took me must've taken me to make me a weapon. He trained me to protect Graft and to kill any invaders, to be an Assassin."

"Why would he do that?! You were just a boy!" Darci shouted

"I know. I believe he took me for my werewolf abilities and saw the value they are going to be later." I said calmly.

After calming down a little Darci spoke up. "So what are you going to do now?"

And it was a hefty question to answer. I go back and I may have to survive all the days with all kinds of Silas, or stay here and finally have a family. Someone who will actually love me and protect me from harm. "I'm not going back; I'm staying with you, mommy."

We both burst into tears that day and we embraced each other like either one of us would be lost again. I left my armor and my sword at the boundary, to show even an Assassin could disappear. The group gathered their things a few days later and moved far away from the nightmares that lay within the Kingdom of Graft.