Will leapt over the buildings and on top trying to ensure correct footing to not mistake his step falling through the barely thatched roof landing on the lap of a resident probably having brunch. He jumped barely gripping on the balcony of a building and leapt back on his feet. He could hear the chanting and applause of the crowd underneath him. The reason he did this..., the reason he was climbing the Taith tower the highest infrastructure in the city of Spades. He knew very well what it meant to miss a step. Will tried his best not to look down, he could see another roof thatching above his head. He was close to the top, at this point he could tell this section was isolated and from all the parkouring he had seen, Noone had ever reached this farther usually fall to their demise or get paralyzed by fear and scream for help. Will knew what was to gain, the amount of money on the line but he also knew what a false grip will imply. He could his breath intensifying and getting painful. He pulled himself the last balcony almost slipping. He could hear the loud gasp made by the crowd, he used all physical ability he had in him grasping for a hold. A strange object was seen directed at him, it missed his head just by an inch, but it was enough to make him lose his grip. At that moment, Will could feel his whole body descending with a great force, he tried to grab a holding rail of one of the balconies, but it was futile as it broke with a CRACK!, He cursed the king of Spades, the mastermind behind the construction of the Thaith tower. Will was a reaper member oof the Blacks. His parents were victims of an assassination, Will's life was barely spared, it was either the assassin had an ounce of pity, or the dagger thrown at him straight for his chest inches away from his heart was just.... Luck. He was just seven at the time of the assassination was at that time, A member of the Blacks took him in, patched up his injuries and nursed him back. He is eternally grateful to the Blacks for saving him, well not exactly, the Blacks is an organization of bandits and street nicks, who did all they could to survive and attain little riches. Which led ill to a life of running, hiding and stealing. As the only reaper in the group, he could extend his knowledge of Reapers. He was now falling to his own death and could do nothing about it. Just then someone caught him, the man was quite tall but not enough to be called a giant. His skin was ...rough. He had long blue hair or was it cyan. Will and the man landed hard on the ground, with him clinging hard on the back of the man. That's when it hit him, A KANDEHER!!! but the Kandehers were rare beings only found at the outskirts of the city of Ace. The Kandeher grunted as Will stomped on his back as he fell to the ground. Now that Will stood with the Kandeher he could clearly see the difference in height. If the Kandeher wanted trouble, he would not survive the encounter. The Kandeher sized down Will before he spoke. "Sorry, that knife almost hit you" "Oh, that" Will said trying to sound less terrified than he actually was.The Kandeher looked left and right and then down back at Will. "It was an assassin" The Kandeher said. Will's hands paralyzed at the mention of that word, his reaction was quite evident to the Kandeher who tried to change the topic. "He was after I and my companions" "Companions?!", Where are they now? "The Kandeher sniffed loudly and shook his head in a weird way "There they are..." The Kandeher said pointing behind Will. Will turned to know the Kandeher's so called companions. A man wearing a black poncho, He wore an eye patch and wore a bandana covering his mouth. Will could see the twin blades attached at his back, pretty much of the man was covered but he still looked menacing and on his right was a girl, her long blonde hair made a tremendous impact on her beauty, she wore a loose tunic and black pants with a pair of boots. Will could not take his eyes of her."I'm Thorn, that scary dude is Ceril and that lady over there is Jade"The Kandeher said Ceril came closer, and his face looked younger than Will thought. His voice too."Enough Thorn..." he said sounding serious. "Grim Reaper was after us but all of shot a dagger at you." Will had not caught up to what Ceil was saying. "Grim Reaper" that name sure sounded creepy as hell. Ceril then pointed at Will saying, "Grim Reaper never switches his targets unless he has taken them down, but he shot at you. "Why" Will asked inquisitively, Ceril looked at Thorn then Jade then back to Will."Because you were his target before" "His target before" Will thought. How possible was that theory? and how true was it?Ceril turned to his attention to the kandeher."We need to move and quick"as he marched forward. Thorn looked at Will, he had faced Grim Reaper once, he knew how evil he was and relentless to kill his targets. He also knew if Will was alone, he won't survive "What's your name?"Thorn asked "Will..." he said almost biting his tongue "Come with us" Thorn said as he walked with Jade. He looked perplexed as he picked up the pace following Jade at her back. The walk was long and too quiet for Will's liking, He noticed Jade staring at him, he got confused and staggered and tripped on the ground. All she did was smile and gave him a helping hand. Now that Will was closer to Jade, he never realized the physical features of a woman could be so enticing. Her chest was pumped with a slim belly. He had not been close to girls at the Blacks and now he saw why everyone always talked like perverts. "Are you Okay "She finally asked. Her voice was sweet and somewhat melodious. "Yes, I'm fine "Will stammered back trying to evade her eyes. Ceril who had stopped walking for a while stood transfixed looking at something, Thorn too stood transfixed. Will wondered what made them like that, he needed not to get too close because he had a hint...probably from the number of flies circling that area. Will's eyes widened to the horrific sight; the corpse was headless and looked somewhat fresh. He noticed the calmness in everyone, but he wasn't. Ceril crouched near the body, "Looks like a citizen "Will knew that already but his question was how the heck and who did this?. Jade knelt before the body she closed her eyes and recited a mantra. "May thy Goddess, Receive thy soul "She recited it a couple of times then to Will's Suprise, the body faded with a shimmering dust. ASKAR!!!, Jade was an Askar. Askars were people supposedly blessed by the Goddess of Life. Jade stood up cleaning her knees. "Nice one, Jade" Thorn said but it sounded like he screamed it. She simply nodded her head. That's when Will remembered one of the rules of the Blacks "Stranger Danger", it wasn't advisory following a bunch of strangers, but Will felt so secure staying beside this trio. "Ceril, what could..."Thorn tried to say, "These are the outskirts of the city of Spades, these prairies are literally almost abandoned, just a few citizens. "Ceril fired back quickly drawing out his twin blades looking alarmed. It was probably out of years of togetherness as Thorn understood entering an attacking stance. Before Will could react, something hit him hard lifting him off his feet to the land. A tall slender figure stood before them; its gender was uncertain with its long finger and toenails. Its skin was blue with its edges black. What was more peculiar was its horns that was Huge and curly. Ceril launched himself at it swiveling his blade at it, but it retaliated using its fingernails. Will was still recuperating as Jane was using her powers to heal him. His vision was a bit blurry, but he could see Ceril and Thorn in a battle with that creature. Will squeezed his eyes tighter as his visions cleared. "DRAITH!!!". Will sprung up on his feet, he had never seen a demon before, and he tried his best to hide his fear he knew what a Draith was capable of. Thorn threw his huge hands at it, but the Draith evaded them and used it its nails to scratch his arm. The warm flow of blood gave the battle a fiercer turnaround. Ceril came from behind piercing one of his blades on its shoulders, it screamed in anger as he implanted the second blade on its back. Thorn gave it a befitting punch that sent it crashing down on a fence. Ceril sighed relief but was still on guard. "What was that, anyways "Thorn asked as Jade healed his arm. "A Draith..."Will spoke as he marched forward "A what? "Ceril asked confused "Demon family" Will responded, "Is it dead?" Jane asked, "Probably my slash wasn't deep enough for certainty "Ceril said as he walked towards it cautiously. WATCH OUT!!! Will screamed as the Draith sprung up and a clash was made between Ceril's blade and its fingernails. Thorn jumped towards the Draith pinning it down as Ceril hefted up his twin blades and down it went piercing it on its chest. It growled angrily before all movements ceased and a dead silence followed. "Well, that is that" Thorn said dusting his hands. Ceril looked at a barn far ahead and gave a smile no, actually a smirk.... over his Bandana.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.