After observing the ork scouting parties for a while, I decided to take the slow approach. They were, for some inexplicable reason, sifting through every part of the valley instead of just checking the mountain flanks for deep caves. I did not understand what they were actually searching for with this method. Did they not want to take out the goblins? Maybe I had jumped the gun. Better safe than sorry.

I noted their progress for the rest of the night, finding the brutes progressing barely a few metres. Nobody even checked the mountains. Once the sun was out, the went a bit faster. And were slowed down again by going through what was missed in the night. I could only shake my head at their stupidity. I guessed I would have at least a week before they reached the tunnel leading up to the village. And after that, I might have another two or three days where they prepared to mount an attack. It would not come to that. The thaumaturge was going to die before my friends were threatened.

I rested for the rest of the day and most of the night. Regaining my strength and mental awareness was absolutely necessary for the task ahead. Only a few hours before sunrise, I finally took to the air.

The approach was the same as last time. I came in from above, hiding my essence behind [Mingling] to preclude the golem’s notice. The ones sitting on the roof were still active or had been replaced. I wondered how they had been brought there. A scan with my magical senses told me. There was a heavily warded trapdoor right above the workshop. The thaumaturge had to be using it to get up and down or send his golems through. It would be a possible point of entry, though I would prefer to get him while sleeping rather than in his lab.

I stood on the edge of the atrium and looked closely at the workshop windows. They were warded just the same as the trapdoor. These were the only windows accessible from the courtyard with such defences, the only other place being the door. I had to get a closer look and see if I could pass the wards without triggering them. My best bet for that was checking from the inside, so I dropped into the courtyard and shifted into the building.

The laboratory looked the same as I left it a few days ago. The missing furnace, jars and golems seemingly unnoticed. I was not very surprised since the main entrance was on the other side of the building and without the runic matrix, everything here was nearly useless to the thaumaturge. He might even have another crucible up in his laboratory.

I listened carefully for a few minutes but only heard the even steps of the golems above. Then, I approached the door. From inside, the wards were just as active as from outside. There was a lot of magic moving through the wood and nearby air. It took me at least half an hour just to get a basic understanding of what it was doing.

The most prominent aspect was energy. It sort of just floated around everything. I expected it to be directed at any transgressor to harm them. Through the undulating strands of power, I soon spotted sensus. It was obvious to have in an active ward. How else would it recognize a target? Around the sensor, some familiar energies were set in minor quantities. There was life, beast, human and motion, the last one slightly removed. I surmised the door would react to living beings of any form opening it or moving past without proper procedure. That gave a good chance for my shadows to slip past. Which was why I further investigated the movement sensor. It was separate enough to not react to any and every little shake. That would mean even someone knocking would be struck by the trap. Instead, it was further specified using air, empty and body. It took me a moment to connect the lines in my mind. The ward did not sense any and every move but it did notice any body, dead or alive, that made it into the gap between door and frame. My confidence was boosted even further. This would not stop my shadows from passing. But this was only the door leading to the atrium. I would expect it to have the weakest security of all. The ones above and in front might very well look for other aspects.

I decided to forgo those thoughts for the time being and look for the actual trap. It was even more difficult to spot since the wood itself was in the way. The trap was positioned on the outside and the edges. It held a combination of fire, air and order. The traditional lightning. What else would a thaumaturge use? It was quick, efficient and deadly without any major collateral damage. The perfect offensive tool. The ward around the edges, however, was much weaker than the one in front. I only realized its purpose when a tiny lightning bolt incinerated some insect trying to crawl inside. A smart option. I should consider pest control for my own workshop as well.

There was one more part to the ward which I spotted last. It was positioned around the handle and held a very specific combination of aspects. Human, movement, tool and magic were combined into a complicated interaction that almost looked like a keyhole. I could easily see how someone with a specifically crafted ring could simply open the door while simultaneously disabling the ward. It was incredibly smart and absolutely nothing I could abuse. In the first place, tool and human were complicated aspects I had no real access to at this point. At least not without spending a week in the lab. That was off the table. I wanted to kill the thaumaturge and observe the orks reaction before they got too close to the goblin village.

Now, for the test of truth. I decided to use two tendrils of darkness. The first moved to a nearby window, ready to move me outside if necessary. The second was positioned just right to slide through the gap underneath the door. I activated [Mingling] once more turning my shadows outwardly into pure earth. They would appear as such to any mystical observer. Then, I pushed through. Nothing happened. The ward completely ignored my darkness. I took two deep breaths and moved my shadow further. I made sure to connect the two tendrils outside so I could shift back in even if the first got severed and activated [Eldritch Shift] once more. With a tiny moment of observing the ward in all its supernatural glory, I was outside once more.

I let out a sigh as nothing happened. It worked. I had everything I needed. Now, to do the deed.

I shifted back inside, enough magic for four more still within my core. The increased attributes had increased my reserves by enough to let me shift one more time without getting below what I needed to turn back to my original body.

Getting upstairs was as easy as before. I stopped in front of the bedroom door, once again taking a few minutes to look over the ward. It was very similar to the one down below, only I now stood on the side that would harm a trespasser. There were also some additions to what would be scanned. Darkness and magic the most prominent ones. I wondered if activating the ward would have it see its own magic and reactivate it, rapidly draining the reserves in the process. That was a stupid idea, though. The noise would surely wake up my target.

I was a little concerned about what I might find inside, so I scanned the walls for any signs of additional magic. Nothing came up. I was stalling long enough. If I waited any longer, the thaumaturge might wake up. It was time to get to it.

I had to wait for the golems to turn away and then made my shadows appear as earth once more and carefully slipped a tendril through the tiny gap. Quickly, I shifted inside, pulling the magic left behind to me. My head swivelled around, quickly taking in the features of the room. The most important thing, my target, was sleeping soundly on a large bed on the opposite wall. I barely could not look above the mattress. To the left of the entrance was a closet, to the right stood a small table with some dried meat and water. I was surprised at the simple fare but orks were likely not specialized in culinary development.

A night table was on either side of the bed, each of them with a closed lamp standing on top. I could see tiny flickers of light through the blends. It was most likely nitor. I would have to make some for myself, soon. It was a great option for lighting my cave.

Next, I scanned for magic. Behind me, the wards of the door glowed imperiously. Both lamps had a small shine as well. The biggest problem was the energy coming off the ork. I had expected as much but he really wore some defensive items.

I made my way to one of the night tables and jumped up with a flap of my wings. [Sneak] and [Sgiathan Dorcha] were making sure there was no chance for the thaumaturge to wake up.

When I looked at my target, I saw him breathe slowly. His face was turned towards me and his eyes closed. He forwent a blanket in favour of keeping his robes on which exuded a slight aura. It was nothing special and I was not worried his clothing would impede my mission. The real problem would be whatever was on his hand. Most likely, he wore a ring to protect himself. Another one was to open his warded doors. And the third one I could not place. It had no actual magical signature which confused me. Still, this could not be more difficult than the idiot.

Just before I jumped at the thaumaturge’s throat, I had a better idea. I kept my eyes on where his hand was and jumped off the night table. A few steps brought me in position and I opened my beak. With a thought, [Owl Stomach] opened a gate into the ever consuming Empty of my soul. It was just where the rings should be. The next instant, the ork only had his thumb left and I felt his magical protection dissolve into vis for me to use. The wave of flux washing over me staggered me for a second, enough for my target to realize what was going on. When I found my bearing again, he was holding his bleeding hand, gazing at it unbelieving. Slowly, his eyes found my metal form standing before him. I pushed the steel back to show the purple of thaumium. That was just enough to make him stumble back onto his bed and for me to jump up and beat my wings one. Two feathers of pure void shot out and pierced the ork’s head and torso. Blood sprouted as he tipped over into his sheets. The deed was done. For a second, I waited for the notification. When nothing came, I realized, I had not yet escaped. It was not guaranteed I would be unnoticed.

I made my way back outside, regretting for a moment that I ate the rings instead of storing them. Still, I was scared they would react somehow to being removed from their creator. My escape was just as easy as my entrance. When I shifted outside the bedroom with my body disguised as earth to the golems’ sight, a few of them turned and tried to inspect the strange occurrence. Turning myself back into air and shifting out the window did the trick. After the town was far behind me, it finally appeared.

~ding~ You have taken out your chosen target. Experience awarded.

~ding~ [Assassin] reached level 63. 3 Attribute Points awarded.

Levels! I quickly scanned my status but found no changes to any Skills. The three points went into Wisdom and Intelligence, bringing both up to 46. Only eight more levels and I would have them at half a hundred. How far I had come since the day I hatched. How far would I go?