"Phantom Rebirth: The Last White Raven’s Path to the Ultimate Assassin"

A New Investment Begins

The bustling streets of Velmora were alive with merchants calling out their wares, travelers bartering, and the distant clang of a blacksmith forging weapons. It had been some time since Seraphis had taken a moment to simply walk through the city, absorbing the energy of its people.

But today, she had a mission—one that had nothing to do with assassinations or magic.

She was here to buy land.

Her footsteps echoed as she approached a towering granite building with a gold-plated sign that read:

“Velmora Land & Property Holdings.”

A place where only the wealthy, ambitious, or reckless ventured.

Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, Seraphis stepped inside.

Negotiations Begin

The interior was luxurious yet professional. Walls adorned with fine paintings of the city’s skyline and lush countrysides, shelves lined with scrolls detailing land ownership across the kingdom, and a large crystal chandelier that bathed the room in warm light.

At the front desk sat a well-dressed woman, middle-aged, with sharp hazel eyes that scanned Seraphis the moment she entered.

"Welcome to Velmora Land & Property Holdings. How may I assist you today?" the woman asked, her voice crisp and businesslike.

Seraphis approached the counter, placing a small pouch of gold on the polished mahogany surface.

"I need land," she said simply.

The woman’s gaze flickered to the gold pouch before she folded her hands. "You’ve come to the right place. Are you looking for farmland, estates, or something more… specialized?"

Seraphis smirked. "Something with potential. A good-sized plot, preferably near town but with enough privacy."

The woman nodded and reached beneath the counter, retrieving two parchment maps

"These are two of our best options currently available," she explained.

The Two Choices

Seraphis examined the maps.

• The first plot was a sprawling green field, surrounded by a few scattered trees and within walking distance of the city gates. Safe, reliable, normal.

• The second plot was deep within a misty forest, on the outskirts of town. Its land was twisted with gnarled trees, the ground uneven, and faint ruins could be seen in the distance.

"This one," the woman said, tapping the forested land, "has history. Some say it’s cursed, but it’s been empty for years. No one’s been brave enough to purchase it."

Seraphis didn’t hesitate. "I’ll take them both."

The woman’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "Both?"

"Yes," Seraphis confirmed. "I want the normal land for business. The eerie one… I’ll figure something out."

Sealing the Deal

The price was steep—3,000 gold pieces, a fortune for most.

Seraphis didn’t even flinch as she counted out the coins, the sound of gold clinking filling the room.

"A pleasure doing business," the woman said smoothly, handing Seraphis the contracts.

Seraphis sat at a polished wooden table, dipping a quill into ink. She read through every clause carefully before signing her name in bold, confident strokes.

The deal was sealed.

She was now the owner of two very different

But before celebrating, there was one more thing to do.

She had to visit the creepy land.

Into the Land of Shadows

The journey to the forest plot was a short ride, but the air felt different the closer Seraphis got.

The path twisted through thick, ancient trees that loomed like watchful sentinels, their bark scarred with age.

Mist curled around her horse’s hooves, swirling unnaturally, as though whispering secrets from long-forgotten times.

She dismounted.

Silence.

Not a single bird, not a single insect—just a heavy, eerie stillness.

Seraphis stepped forward, her boots crunching over brittle leaves.

Ahead, nestled among the trees, was the ruined stone foundation of what might have once been a manor. Its walls were crumbling, vines twisting around its remains like grasping fingers.

A faint energy pulsed through the air—old magic, lingering from something long gone.

She walked through what was left of the entranceway, her fingers brushing against the stone. The texture was oddly warm, as though the ruins still held the echoes of long-departed inhabitants.

Then—

A sudden gust of wind swept through the trees, carrying with it a whispering voice.

Seraphis froze.

She narrowed her eyes, her assassin instincts kicking in. Was something here?

Or was the land itself… alive?

Claiming the Land

Seraphis had fought beasts, assassins, mages, and warriors—but this?

This was different.

There was no enemy, no battle, just a heavy presence that watched and waited.

A test.

Seraphis reached into her belt pouch, pulling out a small vial of enchanted ink.

If this land wanted an owner, then she would make it known who it belonged to.

She knelt, dipping her finger into the ink and pressing it against the stone foundation, drawing a symbol of ownership and control.

A pulse of power rippled outward, and for the first time—

The whispers ceased.

The mist settled.

The land… acknowledged her.

Seraphis stood, smirking.

"This place is mine now."

And whatever secrets it held, she would unravel them in time.