Lord of Mysteries: The Assassin's Dark Path

At night, Varina sat quietly at his desk without lighting a lamp.

If everything were normal, this would be the time he studied borrowed books under the dim glow of a whale oil lamp. These books were a hard-won opportunity, thanks to his cousin, who was studying grammar at Backlund University. Varina cherished them deeply.

But reality had no room for "if."

During the day, after being reminded by his colleague John, Varina discovered unusual changes in himself: his body was more coordinated, he could see clearly in the dark, and he seemed almost impossible for others to notice.

There was no doubt about it—these were extraordinary traits.

Unexpectedly, before he could verify anything himself, extraordinary powers had already found their way to him. This made the memories from his dreams feel all the more real and credible.

But why had these extraordinary traits manifested in him?

Varina pondered for a long time and finally arrived at a possible explanation—his parents.

They had both passed away when he was very young. If they had been Beyonders, it was indeed possible that he had inherited some of their traits.

In this light, his dream memories could even be seen as a guide left by his parents to help him step into the extraordinary.

His thoughts then advanced further—what pathway did his traits belong to?

"Enhanced physical coordination," "dark vision," and "shadow concealment."

Combining these traits, he came to a conclusion that was hard for him to accept—the Assassin Pathway.

This was not a favorable pathway.

Having read the Lord of the Mysteries, he knew that the Assassin Pathway was also known as the Witch Pathway. At Sequence 7, the potion was called "Witch," and consuming it would transform a man into a woman.

And he did not want to become a woman!

That problem could be solved, though. As long as he stopped advancing after becoming a Sequence 8 Beyonder, he wouldn't have to face the transformation or the shortened lifespan brought by staying a non-Beyonder.

But this choice posed another problem.

If extraordinary powers were real, then the apocalypse prophesied to arrive in a decade or so was likely true as well. Although Varina couldn't recall the exact cause of the apocalypse, he knew it was a disaster even true gods couldn't resist.

Could he really remain a weak Sequence 8 and entrust his fate to others?

"No, I can't!"

His inner voice rang clear and firm.

This left him with only one option: to advance along the Witch Pathway and, upon reaching Sequence 4, switch to the Hunter Pathway and reclaim his masculinity.

He comforted himself with a sense of humor:

"Just treat it as a cosplay game. Besides, in another lifetime of memories, I played plenty of games with female protagonists."

"The Assassin Pathway is still better than those dead-end paths with no advancement."

After a long and complex internal struggle, Varina's thoughts had reached some preliminary conclusions:

1. Learn Ancient Feysac and Hermes languages to lay the foundation for mastering Giant and Ancient Hermes—both essential for serious mysticism studies.

2. Seek out Beyonder circles to find the formula and materials for the Assassin potion—though this would require a significant amount of gold pounds. Given his current circumstances, he might have to resort to some illegal means.

With these goals in mind, Varina felt much lighter. He turned to gaze out the window. Under the moonlight, the Tussock River shimmered faintly. The night concealed its murky waters, leaving only a beautiful interplay of light and shadow.

The night was half over. It was time to sleep.

---

The next morning, Varina left home earlier than usual, heading in the opposite direction from the previous day.

Today was his day off, and he planned to visit Backlund University to meet his cousin.

This was a year-long arrangement that had given him access to borrowed books for self-study.

He packed the books he needed to return and his only set of formal clothes into a cloth bag, then began the long walk. Over an hour later, he finally crossed the boundary of the East Borough.

Next, he made his way to the subway station near the East Borough-Backlund Bridge intersection and boarded a train to the West Borough before transferring to a public carriage.

This cross-city journey took a significant amount of time and money—both a heavy burden for Varina.

By midday, he finally reached his destination: the castle-like buildings and imposing gates of Backlund University.

Wearing a black vest, matching formal jacket, neatly pressed dark trousers, and a clean semi-high top hat, Varina transformed into a strikingly handsome figure.

Dressed like this, he looked every bit the part of a university student.

After treating himself to an unusually lavish lunch at a nearby restaurant, he made his way to the student dormitories and knocked on his cousin's door.

The door opened a crack, revealing a handsome face that brightened with a smile upon seeing Varina.

"Cousin, you're here! Come in and sit."

The young man pulled the door open wider, revealing his taller stature. With a welcoming gesture, he guided Varina to the sitting area before turning to fuss about.

"Reyes, no need to go to so much trouble. I'm not a guest."

Reyes chuckled but didn't stop. Soon, he set a cup of coffee in front of Varina.

"A cup of coffee to ease the fatigue of your journey."

"I've also prepared three textbooks for you from the business school—mostly related to accounting. Let me grab them."

Before Reyes could leave, Varina stopped him with an apologetic tone.

"Wait."

"This time, I want to borrow introductory texts for Ancient Feysac and Hermes. If possible, I'd also like you to copy a page of Roselle's cryptic notes for me."

"I know it's a lot to ask, but this is very important to me. Please help me."

Reyes sat down, curiosity evident on his face.

"What made you suddenly interested in these obscure languages? Are you giving up on becoming an accountant?"

After a brief pause, he continued, "Borrowing the books shouldn't be a problem, but when do you need them? As for Roselle's notes, I can't guarantee anything."

"Tomorrow. Can I come by again tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? That urgent?" Reyes frowned. "Did something happen?"

"Something did, but I can handle it," Varina replied, placing two books on the table and pushing them forward. "Here are the ones I'm returning."

Reyes glanced at the books but didn't see any notes or questions, deepening his confusion.

"No questions for me to consult the professors on this time?"

"I had some, but I've already resolved them."

"Alright then." Reyes stood, nodding. "I'll do my best to help."

"Have you eaten yet, Cousin? We could eat together."

Varina shook his head politely.

"No need. I've already eaten."

"Then leave it to me. I'll see you tomorrow."

Reyes sighed. "Ah, you're always like this."

"Let me walk you out."

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