Assassin's League

On the steep mountain cliffs near Durnholde Keep, two human figures struggled onward, appearing and disappearing in the mist.

"Antoine, your base is really well hidden." Roderick looked toward the end of the difficult mountain path.

"Lord Roderick, it is all for survival," Antoine replied softly.

"I never expected Ravenholdt Manor to teach you how to reflect on life in addition to training assassins and thieves." Roderick laughed to himself.

The mountain path twisted and turned. Though the manor was clearly at the mountaintop, the route sometimes forced them to head downhill for a long stretch first. Many turns lacked any obvious markers. Even if outsiders knew Ravenholdt Manor was somewhere here, they would still be unable to enter it smoothly on their first visit.

They walked for a full six hours, and it was already noon. After winding around another peak, the road to Ravenholdt Manor suddenly opened up. A gravel road, clearly maintained by human hands, led toward the summit.

"We are almost there, my lord." Antoine spoke somewhat breathlessly beside a man-made lamppost.

"Your stamina is not much to speak of, Antoine." Roderick's breathing remained steady. This amount of exertion posed no difficulty for him at all.

Antoine had no intention of competing with the Raven Guard captain's monstrous strength and exceptional physique. A whistle that sounded almost like a song, yet lacked any melody, echoed through the quiet cliffs. Roderick looked up. Ordinary wild animals could hardly reach this place, and all he saw was a giant eagle with an exaggerated wingspan gliding across the sky. Setting aside the difficult road, the scenery here was truly quite beautiful.

Before long, someone in the silent valley answered Antoine's signal with a similar whistle, using the same strange intonation. Upon hearing it, Antoine led Roderick onward toward the