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

Inside the elegant yet subtly worn office of Roland, the Merchant Guild Master, the air was thick with the scent of parchment and old wood. A fireplace crackled quietly in the background, lending a warm glow to the dimly lit room. The heavy wooden desk between Roland and Seraphis bore signs of years of deals and documents—its edges worn, but polished with care.

Roland leaned back in his high-backed chair, fingers steepled together under his chin as he fixed his eyes on Seraphis. The Echo of Eternity still sat near the edge of the desk, pulsing faintly with that soft, ethereal light.

“Well,” he said, his voice low and curious. “Now that you’ve got my full attention, tell me about this town of yours.”

Seraphis crossed one leg over the other, completely relaxed as if this was all going exactly as planned. “The town’s name is Moonlight Town.”

He raised a brow. “Moonlight Town? Sounds like a poetic name. Is it because of those games you mentioned earlier?”

“Partly,” she said with a knowing smile. “But there’s more to it. When it’s nighttime, the moon rises high and shines brilliantly over the entire town. The silver light bathes the rooftops, the trees, the streets—it’s quiet, calming, and beautiful. It’s quite a sight to behold. That serene, glowing atmosphere will be part of its charm, which will make the town even more popular over time.”

“I see…” Roland’s gaze drifted briefly toward the window. “Sounds like a tourist’s dream. Who else is going to be trading with your town?”

Seraphis tilted her head. “That’s up to you. You’re the first person I’ve offered this to. That means you get to decide who else gets in on it—or if anyone else does at all.”

Roland leaned forward now, his tone sharpening. “Alright, then. What are the rules of the town?”

Seraphis didn’t hesitate. “The norms are similar to most places—but with a few key differences. First, no one can kill anyone in Moonlight Town. You can die of old age or natural causes, but not by murder. The town itself will reject any attempt on someone’s life.”

“That’s… impressive. Protective magic?” he asked.

She gave a slight nod but didn’t elaborate. “Second, if you want to set up stalls for selling, it costs one gold coin.”

“Only one?” he asked, clearly surprised.

“Not a normal gold coin,” she said, reaching into her space bag. With a subtle motion, she laid three coins onto the desk.

The first was a bronze coin with an engraving of a remote island surrounded by waves.
The second, silver, gleamed with the image of a grand ship sailing across stormy waters.
The last was gold—deep, luminous, and heavy with enchantment. It bore the mark of a white raven in mid-flight, its wings outstretched proudly.

“This is our currency,” she explained. “The bronze is used for basic goods and services. The silver is for travel, transport, and trades between vendors. The gold,” she tapped the White Raven coin, “is used for major contracts, stall rights, relic deals, and anything of national importance.”

Roland narrowed his eyes. “Currency? You’re not using the regional coinage? What are you running here—a kingdom?”

Seraphis gave a small chuckle. “Oh right—yes. I am. I forgot to tell you that.” She shrugged casually. “The Raven Kingdom. That’s its name.”

He blinked. “Never heard of it.”

“Exactly,” she said, with a gleam in her eye. “No one has—yet.”

He folded his arms. “Alright. You’re calling this a kingdom. So what’s the structure of it? How does it actually run?”

Now Seraphis leaned in, voice calm but deliberate. “The structure will feel familiar, but it has some unique rules. There will be a noble appointed to act as the Lord of the town. But—there must also be one commoner elected by the people to speak on their behalf.”

She continued, “If that noble becomes corrupt or acts out of line, the commoners—through a town vote—can dethrone him. In that case, the elected commoner takes their place as the new Lord. The same applies in reverse. If the commoner abuses their power or neglects their duty, they too can be removed.”

“It creates a system of mutual accountability,” she added. “Balance. Both nobles and commoners have power—and responsibility.”

Roland looked impressed. “That’s… an unusual balance of power. And the racism issue?”

“Zero tolerance,” she said firmly. “I know I can’t erase it completely, but anyone found guilty of discriminating against someone based on race, bloodline, or heritage will be immediately imprisoned. No exceptions.”

He nodded slowly. “Sounds like a town with some teeth. I like it.”

“So?” she asked, raising a brow.

“I like it,” he said with a grin. “Deal.”

Without a word, Seraphis snapped her fingers. A scroll of parchment burst into the air, hovering gently above the desk before unrolling with a quiet whisper. Text glowed faintly on its surface in an ancient script that adjusted into a modern language before their eyes.

“You’re a merchant,” she said. “You know what these are.”

“Contract magic,” he muttered. “Binding. Unbreakable once signed in blood.”

She reached down and pulled her ritual dagger from her side—an elegant, black-bladed knife adorned with a silver raven emblem on its hilt. With a calm motion, she pricked her finger, a droplet of blood welling up.

She wrote her name in glowing red ink, and then handed him the dagger.

He did the same, grimacing slightly at the cut. Once his name was etched beside hers, the scroll floated higher, then suddenly ignited with blue fire—burning silently until nothing was left but a wisp of smoke.

Seraphis stood. “The contract has been made.”

Roland rose to his feet as well. “Welcome to the Raven Kingdom, huh?”

She smiled. “Welcome to the new kingdom.”

The Echo of Eternity pulsed again on the desk, as if acknowledging the moment. The deal had been struck—trade routes would soon form, whispers would spread, and the Moonlight Town would begin its rise.

The game was no longer just a game. The kingdom had been born.