The Map of Ethrain

Kaizel, a child of a sick commoner woman and without father. Her story is well, exhausting. Her mother got sick when she was four and she had to do everything by herself. She did every unthinkable job unfit for a young child to have food on her table. Because of that, she did not develop the feelings a child should have for their mother and didn't really feel anything when her mom died.

She ran away from her village a week later because the villagers wanted their house. She moved on and continued to do any job she could grab but a young child much less a girl alone would have never been safe. She almost became a slave at six and a half if not for Eldrine.

She knew who he was. Eldrine, the guild leader of the assassin guild Elvoira and the best assassin in Ethrain, the whole continent. She begged him to save her. She was too desperate to care who he was. He rejected her of course and left but changed his mind soon after because of a succession problem in his guild.

He tracked her down to the Islands of Udom which was infested by orcs until now. However, he forgot his money so he shipped her in a crate like fruits to Isenmyrd because it was cheaper. She stayed in that crate for months.

Eldrine borrowed money from someone in Isenmyrd and brought her to Zyhes Village. He raised her there and trained her to be on par with him. He taught her everything from magic to swordsmanship and arithmetic. She worked hard to live up to his expectations. He sometimes would bring her to the Barren Lands to test her and she always came back alive. She was also adopted by Eldrine and now have a very close relationship.

At eleven, she joined Elvoira and became a top ranker and made a name for herself, "Elvoira's Knight of Death." She didn't hate the name nor Elvoira. Elvoira was actually a guild where you can request anything. It has immunity from the empire so the assassinations won't be stopped sooner or later.

She thought she could get a little rest after becoming a top ranker in the guild but then she got hired by the big shots. Merchants, annoying and obnoxious nobles.

She shortened her name soon after to Kai and put a short brown wig over her black hair. She wore contacts to hide her verdant eyes and wore a full face mask for anonymity. Only Eldrine could see her face.

She was finally getting used to that life, her fifteenth birthday came. How happy must she be? Not at all. Probably because Eldrine summoned her suddenly.

"What's up? I thought today's my day off?" Kai asked Eldrine.

"I know but this can't wait. Take a seat Kaizel." He was the only one who called her that.

"This better not be another surprise like you did last year," she said reminiscing his attempt at baking a birthday cake. "It tasted unique."

"Don't mention it. This is serious." He shook his head and motioned her to just take a seat.

"Alright, alright. What are you so serious about?"

"Remember our talks about your real father?" Eldrine asked.

"Obviously. Why?"

"I found him," he said rubbing his neck in nervousness.

"Seriously? Where?" At this point, she couldn't stay still.

"He's our client. I just noticed it now but he was our client fifteen years ago. He was looking for his wife, your mom," he showed her a file.

"Oh. That's sad," she pouted as she took the file.

"And now he needs a temporary escort and he requested for you."

"Pardon?"

"Pardon?"

"He asked for you. I don't really know if he knows about you but it depends on you to whether to accept it or not."

"I'll do it but I won't reveal myself. Who is he anyways?"

"Duke Alaric Kaizi Esthmira." He grinned waiting for a reaction.

"You're joking." She stood up from her seat and paced across the room. "You are definitely joking."

"No. I'm not. I'm serious."

She looked at him. Trying to find a sign that it was a joke. Unfortunately, she knew it is true.

Duke Alaric was the Duke of the cold north, Esthmira. Like his territory, he was cold and told to be heartless. Not much information is known about him, not even Elvoira.

"Let me get this straight, not only am I the adopted daughter of the best assassin in the world, I am also the daughter of a very strong noble?" she said in disbelief.

"And a witch."

"Excuse me?" Her eyes widened at the statement.

"Your mom is a witch. She was very famous but she disappeared one day. Now we know where she is. Or where she was," he chuckled. "Actually, I already had suspicions you were there child but I didn't find any connections between the duke and the witch."

Kai looked at him in confusion. What does he mean suspicions? Like what the hell?

"Kaizel, you features are unique. Black hair is only in the family Esthmira and your green eyes were only seen on your mom. Of course nobody wanted to believe it and instead ignored it because it is impossible," he explained to her slowly to let her absorb the information first.

"You could've started with that you know?" she glared.

"I know but I thought it would be easier to absorb information this way." He laughed knowing he was actually just messing with her.

"Either way would be unbelievable anyways. When do I meet up with him?"

"Tomorrow."

"Of all the times I wanted to kill you, this is the worst." She was really trying to hold back killing Eldrine.

"He said he'll pick you up but I know you are better than that. He's staying in Efiliya City. He has a villa there." He couldn't stop himself from smiling anymore. He was super thrilled.

"Eldrine. Dad. You are impossible. I can see you hiding your smirk. I am leaving. For tomorrow. However-"

"This conversation is not finished," he cut her off.

She slammed the door shut and prepared her stuff for the next day. She sat down on her bed and contemplated everything she's done up until this point. What will he think of her? Will she even have the courage to tell him who she is? Or does she know already?

She left her house at midnight after a nap to travel to Efiliya. She barely caught the ferry on route to the city. When she got there, she put on her disguise. She kept her clothes casual and inexpensive. She kept her mask on the whole journey.

Finally, she got to the villa and introduced herself and showed them a gold card that indicated she was expected.

"I thought we were supposed to pick you up?" Duke Alaric said as he walked down the stairs.

She looked at him. Black hair, broad shoulders, toned muscles and tanned skin. She looked exactly like him. He even had the same taste for perfume.

"And I was told you had a big day today so I came instead. Letting a customer pick me up is not something I do. Ah- Greetings Duke Esthmira," she said smiling under her mask.

"You're not boring. That is good to know. You will sit next to the coachman. Let's go."

He dismissed her and she sat next to the coachman who looked like he was about to pee his pants. Either because of the Duke or her but either should be feared anyways.

They went to a meeting first which went on for hours. It was so annoying for her. The room was filled with the smell of tobacco and the counts were loud. They kept repeating the same point. None with originality. After the meeting, the duke looked so disappointed in his subjects.

"Your name is Kai right? Eldrine's best?" He stopped to look at her, to observe her full face mask and her brown hair.

"Yes Duke."

"Let's go shopping for my daughter."

Daughter? What daughter? Good for her she was trained to stay calm and contained at all times.

"I know Eldrine knows where my daughter is. And as his loyal subject, you probably know too. I can pay you ten times more than he pays you-"

"And as his loyal subject, I cannot disclose information about her," she cut him off.

"Hmmm. I'd pay more to get a loyal subject like you." He responded.

"However, you said you are shopping for her. He pays me a billion each month and that is without added bonuses. If you can pay me the amount you said earlier, I can give you her measurements," she negotiated. No one should pass up easy money.

"Fifty percent of what I said."

"Seventy five-"

"Sixty five."

"Alright. Done deal. Give me the check and I'll write down her measurements." The Duke gave her the money. It didn't matter to him if it was a scam. It sounded fun. She wrote down all her measurements on paper even the hair length.

"I thought you were a loyal subject," he laughed.

"Even Eldrine knows business is business Duke. I need to get by somehow with my lifestyle," she laughed too. It's nice to see she can get along with her biological father.

"Coachman, to the restaurant next. We'll get to the shops later."

She went home late but with a full grin under her mask. She changed her clothes and went to Eldrine to report. She opened the door to his office and it smelled like blood. The walls were stained red.

'Nothing new,' she thought.

"You're back. Finally." He let out a sigh of relief.

"Were you that worried? I should be the one worried about you getting attacked every night. You're becoming delicate," she laughed.

"I'm still the best assassin in Ethrain." He stated and picked up his dagger.

"Not for long old man. I'm taking that title." She sat at his table and showed him the check she got.

"Six hundred fifty million dosos? Did you sell him anything?" He said as he took a closer look at the check.

"My information," she grinned.

"What?! I don't oppose it but you just said earlier that you didn't want to reveal yourself." His eyes widened. "For only six hundred fifty no less.

"Chill out. I only told him my measurements. He was going to shop for me in case he finds me. And oh my goodness, this man's pocket money is like a void. Nobody knows how deep it is," she looked onto the empty space wondering how much more she can sell to him.

"But seriously, we need to talk about this. When will you let him know?" He was obviously worried.

"I'll reveal it when he says something that can convince me otherwise. And you need not worry, even if I choose to spend time with him, I will never forget to spend time with you," she said holding his hands.

"I know that but it is the Duke. We never know what he wants from you. He probably thinks of you as an asset. Also-"

"Stop overthinking everything. I can take care of myself. And if he shows even the slightest bit of bad aura, I'll come running back to you," she cut him off and smiled as sweetly as he can.

"Come here!" Eldrine pulled her into a hug and they stayed like that for hours. Kai may be fifteen but she will always be his little girl. They cuddled until Kai finally slept.

He tucked her into her bed and watched her sleep for a while looking out for nightmares. He always made sure she felt safe even in her sleep.

The next morning, Kai woke up with Eldrine sitting beside her, asleep.

'See? This is why I don't have a boyfriend. You made my standards so high,' she thought.

"What are you staring at?" He said as soon as he opened his eyes.

"My father. Anything wrong with it?" She smiled.

"Nothing," he smiled and kissed her forehead. "Good morning princess. I'll go get ready for breakfast. You should too."

"I know. Good morning too."

She got up and worked out a little at the training grounds. She went straight to the dining room after.

"You should've taken a bath first," Eldrine scrunched his nose.

"I will. What did you cook for breakfast?" she asked.

Eldrine cooks for both of them since they didn't hire any houseworkers. Instead, they used magic for everything.

Kai has an evolved wind attribute, Gale which lets her manipulate anything in gas form and an evolved attribute of water, Aqueous which lets her manipulate anything liquid. Eldrine has Void, basically turning anything to nothing and time.

"Chicken soup. We will eat out for lunch later," he said. He kept staring at the newspaper.

"What's in the papers this time?" She asked him wiping her hair.

"It's about Duke Alaric's purchase of clothes. The result of your six hundred fifty million dosos," he shook his head.

"Haha. People gossip about anything these days-"

"Put on your disguise. Someone is coming," he said as he watched a carriage park outside their house.