— Aster —

I stared at the parchment that seemed to go on forever, “Contract?”

He placed the paper down on the desk he gestured to me to come over. “As you know the Shadow Cat class is disliked due to our work.”

Nodding. “Makes sense.”

“Just so you understand.” Instructor pointed at me. “We teach the same things as other Rogue guilds. The difference is we specialize in ‘Shadow’ work, this includes killing, recovering things, sending messages, and other discrete work.” Instructor gestured down towards the contract on the desk. “Now what this contract states, is that you are declaring yourself a criminal.”

“Criminal? Being a Rogue doesn’t mean you’re a criminal!” I blurted out

“Yes criminal, but not in the way you're thinking.” Instructor paused considering his next words. “More like a voluntary bounty system, they just like to call us criminals. You see all of us have a bounty on our heads due to our work. It's also considered part of the training. As you are never allowed to be caught in the act. If you're caught the rules change a bit, but you’ll cross that bridge if it happens.”

“Wait. That’s just during jobs right?”

“The bounty only applies if you get caught on the job. But if someone knows all they have to do is wait for you to take a job.” I stared at him horrified, seeing this he explained, “We are ghosts. A rumor. Yes everyone knows we exist, but no one knows what we can do, and we want to keep it that way.”

“But what about those who don’t join? I mean you’ve told me a lot.”

Instructor's smile grew wider, his eyes darkened. “We have our ways.” My stomach bundled up in knots as he stared me down. Breaking the silence he began to read the contract aloud to me. It was a lot of confusing legal talk, but he did sum it up at the end. “To make it easier here what’s going to happen once you sign the contract. First, you will receive a mark that will declare you a Rogue. This mark cannot be healed, erased, or destroyed. If you lose a limb with it on it. It will grow back or appear somewhere else.” Seeing the dazed look in my eyes from all the legal talk Instructor asked me a question. “Now do you know why this job is actually legal to have?”

My mind wasn’t working after all the legalese, so I answered simply, “No Idea.”

“Simply put. Money.” He pinched his fingers together in the universal sign of money. “See this contract allows the government to gain taxes on our jobs; no matter what they are. Of course, if you get caught you lose everything. Not to say you can’t gain favor by pulling off an amazing job; maybe even a little fame.”

“Lose everything if caught?” The way Instructor said it made me think that it might not just be my money.

“Yes. There is a constant bounty on all of us. So if we are caught on Shadow Cat missions then you forfeit all your belongings.” He smiled and leaned in, “If they can find them.”

“So if I screw up. I lose everything?” I may have sounded calm but I was freaking out. What did I get myself into?

“Yes, well ten percent of the total goes to whoever finds the loot, but otherwise yes. This is the entire reason we are allowed to exist.”

I think Instructor saw me freaking out a little because he padded my shoulder saying, “It’s not all bad, the punishment for new Cats is nothing as you tend to have nothing and there is no bounty for the first year. After that, you can only be proven a Shadow once. If that happens you’ll pretty much just be considered a normal Cat.”

“That’s not too bad.” This did make me feel a little better but something was eating at me about what he was saying. Things weren’t quite adding up.

“Now the benefits. You will have access to the Road, I.E. the roofs and sewer paths. You will learn to enter places that no one else can find, see what others can’t, and never be fooled by illusion. You will be invaluable to a party as a Rogue. You will learn to manipulate the energy inside and outside your body.” This made me more at ease with my decision. I could still be of help and be fine when they leave me behind. I let a long sigh feeling that I had made the right decision.

Seeing Instructors entire demeanor changed. He appeared larger and more dangerous as he towered over me, “After hearing all this. Do you understand the penalties and benefits of joining this guild?”

I found myself taking a step back, “Yes?”

“Do you wish to join this Guild? You will always be hunted; those who know your job may even turn aggressive towards you.”

Everyone hates me anyway. This time I said louder, “Yes.”

“One last time. After hearing all this and knowing once you gain the mark you can’t learn from other guilds?”

“Ye...Wait. What? What was that about the other guilds?”

The instructor’s presence seemed to shrink back as he explained, “Yes. This is standard. You can only choose a single combat job.”

“Well… I really wanted to learn magic.” Magic always fascinated me and I wanted to learn more about it.

“We have our own magic.” Something in the way he said that caught my imagination.

Hopeful, I answered simply. “Yes.”

“Now. Before you sign you will need to pass a test and pay the guild fee.”

“Test?” Then what was with all the cloak and dagger shit? Didn’t I already pass by getting here?

“Yes, a test all guilds have it, but we like to keep it a surprise.”

“Well, that’s convenient for you.” I was starting to get irritated. Why did they put me through all these shenanigans? “What was with all the shenanigans.”

“Have to prove you really want it. The test is decided here. Now let’s figure out your guild fee.” Finally something normal. Every guild has a fee, but it was different for each guild. I’ve heard it could range from two silver to a single gold.

“So how much is it?” This was either going to be super cheap or really expensive.

Instructor pulled out a large box, placing it on the desk. The box was made of plain unstained wood with a small hole the size of a hand in the center. “Please draw out an orb. This will determine your fee.”

No wonder the fee could vary as much as it did. I had thought it was based on skill but turns out it's luck. I put my hand inside the box hoping to get something I can afford. My hand brushed again hundreds of small glass marbles, all of the various sizes. Does size determine the fee?

My hand searched the box for the smallest marble I could find, that was until I looked up at Instructor who looked positively gleeful. That’s when I realized it was a trap, a trick of the mind. The smallest must be the cheapest, and then the realization so then the big ones are also a trick. Think like a shadow. You want to be the most nondescript, unseen, and what would be that be for a marble. I found one I thought was right and pulled out the most average-sized marble I could find. It was small white and shiny, “I got a white ball.”

“Yes, you did. Now place the orb in the cat’s paw.” Gesturing towards the lucky cat statue, whose paw was now facing up. As if asking for the orb. When did that happen?

Looking closer at the paw I found a small round divot in it that was the exact size of the orb in my hand. Magic. I appeared to have habit magic was a thing now. I placed the orb into the cat’s paw, expecting something to happen. Nothing did. We just stood there staring at the cat until I asked. “Soooooo…..What do I owe?” The orb began to glow as though that was what it was waiting on. Slowly an image of a small cartoon-ish cat appeared in the orb. “Is that my fee?”

“That’s your test. The fee will be determined after.” Pointing towards the orb. “That is a hatpin, you have one week to recover one.”

“Recover? And why is the test before the fee?”

“Recover, liberate, take, make not there, steal, use whichever term you like. The only rule is that you cannot purchase it. And to answer your other question the results determine the fee.” Making circular gestures with his hands as Instructor described it.

I looked at him annoyed, “So do I get any information? Like where it is.”

“Of course!” Instructor said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s in the hat shop a few blocks away, the one shaped like a magician's hat. You know the blue one.”

I knew the building. It had stuck out to me during my hunt for the guild with its odd shape. Its roof literally looked like a giant blue hat.

“Now for the rest of the details. One you cannot purchase the item. Two the sooner you return the cheaper your fee. Three if you fail you can attempt again, but it will cost one gold per try?”

“A whole gold!?!” A gold! That's almost three months’ worth of earnings, for someone doing well. For someone like me, it was probably six months to a year of work.

“Plus the Fee.” Emphasizing his point. The instructor had a huge smile on his face. I got the feeling he was enjoying this.

Something wasn’t adding up. “Why do I get a week?”

“That’s due to the magic.”

“What magic?” My mind raced with questions. Will there be magic cast on me? Will that determine the fee? Probably not.

“It’s the store's security system. You have to figure out how to bypass it. That’s why you get a week.” Instructor placed his hand on my shoulder and gestured towards a large red wooden door at the opposite end of the hall as the entrance. “This way.”

I knew that door wasn’t there before. My heart began to pound out of my chest. My breathing seemed to quicken, I could feel my hand shaking at the appearance of another mysterious red door. Instructor seemed not to notice my dilemma as he pushed the door open and gestured for me to go through.

My body wouldn't move, I was barely able to breathe. Only able to see the door from the temple. It’s not the temple, it’s just an exit. I spoke the words in my head over and over. Slowly my body began to move until I made it all the way to the threshold. I honestly don't know if I would have made it through the door myself if Instructor didn’t give me a little push right next to the threshold. I stumbled into an alleyway somewhere in the city.

“You have one week.” The door closed and disappeared with no trace. It had blended in perfectly with the wall.

I stood in an alley, feeling lost. Wondering, how I ended up here, the entire experience felt like a strange mad dream. I found, well more led, to a rumor of a guild, entered it and tried to join, now I’m about to do their test.

I couldn’t believe it all happened so fast. Just yesterday we were all graduating. A shiver shot through me at a memory of that day, I wasn’t ready to confront it. With all that happened, it felt more like a month, not a day.

At the end of the alley, I felt I had a choice. Either go left. Leave this whole Shadow nonsense behind. I could become a master of the sword, a master of the arcane, one with nature, a healer, or even become a singer. Yeah, I could have...Maybe… not sure about that last one. But I could live a life open never lying or hiding. Who would even believe I was a shadow? No one believes I can even fight. Blight, I may not even be able to pass this test. I just know I’ll regret this if I don’t even try.

It was this that had me decide to turn right, ‘This will be interesting.’