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

The city of Velderith loomed before me, its towering walls standing like silent sentinels against the night sky. The scent of damp stone and burning oil filled the air as I approached the massive iron gates. A pair of guards stood at their posts, clad in worn leather armor, their hands resting lazily on their weapons.

I pulled my hood lower, shadowing my face.

Cities like this thrived on order—at least on the surface. But beneath the thin veil of law, the underworld ruled.

And I was here to carve out my place in it.

The guards barely spared me a glance as I slipped through the gates with the last wave of evening travelers. My footsteps echoed softly against the cobbled streets, the distant hum of voices and laughter mingling with the clatter of horse-drawn carts.

I ignored the lively taverns, the merchants haggling under torchlight, and the street performers drawing small crowds. My path was set.

I was here for one reason.

The Assassin’s Guild.

Navigating the city was easy. I’d studied its layout long before arriving. The guild wouldn’t be found on any map, nor would it have a sign welcoming newcomers. But I knew where to look.

I turned down a dimly lit alley, stepping over puddles that reflected the moonlight. The deeper I went, the quieter it became. The smell of ale and roasted meat faded, replaced by something sharper—metal, oil, and a faint hint of blood.

At the alley’s end, a narrow staircase descended into darkness.

I took a slow breath, then stepped down.

The moment I reached the bottom, a dagger pressed against my throat.

“State your business.”

The voice was calm, controlled. The owner—a man dressed in dark leather, a hood concealing most of his face—stood close enough that I could feel his breath against my skin.

I didn’t move.

Instead, I smirked. “You know my business.”

Silence. A long, measured pause.

Then, the dagger withdrew.

“Follow me.”

The man turned sharply, slipping through a wooden door that blended into the stone wall. I followed without hesitation.

The Assassin’s Guild wasn’t a single building but a network hidden beneath the city. Dimly lit corridors twisted in every direction, branching into various rooms. Some were training halls where masked figures sparred in eerie silence. Others housed shadowy figures seated around tables, exchanging documents, coin, and whispered information.

The air was thick with secrecy.

I was led into a chamber where a single desk stood at its center. Behind it sat a woman with piercing gray eyes, her silver hair pulled back in a tight braid.

She regarded me with interest.

“Name?”

“Seraphis.”

She jotted something down. “Experience?”

I held her gaze. “More than enough.”

She smiled. It wasn’t friendly. “Is that so? Then you won’t mind a test.”

A door opened to my right.

Beyond it, a dimly lit arena.

A man stood inside, twirling a dagger between his fingers. His expression was amused, but his eyes held something darker.

My lips curved slightly.

Good. I was in the mood for a warm-up.