Chapter 63: Rebecca
Raven peered through the small carriage window. The Southward Borough loomed ahead—time to make his move before anyone traced him.
"I should leave stealthily," he muttered.
From his inventory, he pulled out a pair of boots, noticing faint bloodstains on the tips. He grabbed his monocle, scanning the carriage interior. A ragged cloth lay on the seat across from him. Carefully, he wiped the boots clean, slipped them on, then wrapped three silver coins in the blood-stained cloth, leaving them neatly on the seat.
[The coachman will freak out when he sees this,] Zera commented dryly.
"I have no choice," Raven muttered.
He eased the carriage door open, pausing to ensure no other vehicles were nearby. Once the coast was clear, he activated Shadow Stealth and leapt onto the cobblestones with a silent thud. The carriage jolted slightly, but the coachman dismissed it as a bump in the road.
Raven melted into the shadows, emerging seconds later to blend seamlessly with the bustling crowd. His senses, honed to near-photographic precision, picked out every detail of his surroundings.
First, dispose of Thomas's body… he thought. Then gather information and make preparations.
He wandered the streets, purchasing a shovel from a weapons shop and a flower garland from a florist. Everything went into his inventory along with the Gladstone bag. Hours of observation passed as he surveyed potential carriages. Finally, a suitable one appeared—a dark wood carriage of elegant simplicity, its driver a grizzled man with a salt-and-pepper beard.
A young lady stood beside the carriage door, conversing with him. She looked about his age, with cascading blonde curls and amber eyes that glimmered in the afternoon light.
"Excuse me," Raven called softly, approaching the man. "Are you two heading toward Claw Ville?"
The driver squinted. "Aye, I am. Need a ride?"
"If it's no trouble," Raven said, smiling. "I can pay handsomely."
The driver shrugged. "Coin's always welcome. Hop in."
"And your passenger?" Raven asked.
"She's not a customer," the driver replied.
"I'm Rebecca," the girl said, her face lightly flushed. "I don't mind traveling with you."
"Don't fall for her fake blushing, lad. That one's a vixen, just like her mother," the driver teased.
"Dad!" Rebecca shot him an exasperated glare.
Raven stepped inside, settling on a worn leather seat opposite her. The coachman started the horses, and Rebecca's curiosity came alive.
"So, Raven," she began, "what brings you to Claw Ville? It's a tiny village."
"I'm scouting for land outside the city," Raven replied smoothly. "A noble employer of mine wants a retreat—a resort or something near a river or a high vantage point."
Rebecca's eyes sparkled. "Frostvale River might suit you. Surrounded by Ashenvale forests, flowers bloom in every color come spring. Legends say water spirits guard its beauty. But it's isolated—even the villa guards avoid it at night. Crocodiles and giant pythons roam the area."
"That's fine," Raven said. "I'll visit and see for myself."
Curious, he asked about her. "And you? Do you work?"
"I'm a seamstress," Rebecca said. "I quit knight training for lack of funds. I buy unshaped garments, design them, and sew with guidance from my neighborhood aunt. I earn about 20–30 silver coins a month, but with my father's income and taxes, our twelve-member family barely survives."
Raven absorbed the details quietly, impressed.
"My employer is also hiring servants. You could try," he offered.
Rebecca's eyes widened. "Really? But I'm not educated or trained in noble etiquette."
"You can start as an apprentice maid," Raven suggested. "Learn on the job. I'll inform my employer and recommend you."
Her eyes shimmered with gratitude. "You're so generous, even though we just met."
Raven smiled. "I'll talk to my employer; you decide after that."
The carriage clattered along, the city fading behind them. As Claw Ville approached, Raven asked the driver to stop.
"I'll walk from here," he said, handing three silver coins for the ride. "If you need help, come to 21A Bristol Street—ask for Thomas."
Rebecca nodded politely. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Raven. Safe travels."
The carriage disappeared down the tree-lined path, leaving Raven staring at the stars overhead.
[Find Frostvale River and dispose of Thomas's body. Crocodiles will ensure no traces remain.]
"I'd rather bury him properly," Raven murmured.
[That risks leaving evidence. Your best bet is the deepest Ashenvale woods.]
After speaking with Rebecca, Raven knew the area well enough to plan his next steps.
[That girl… extraordinary potential. A future Dark Wizard.]
Raven frowned. "Dark Wizard? And how rare is a Genius-rank affinity?"
[Dark Wizards specialize in curses, shadows, and summoning. Most humans have Low or Intermediate affinities—Intermediate appears in one of a hundred. High-rank: one in ten thousand. Extraordinary: one in a million. Genius rank? Only one in ten million.]
Raven processed the numbers. So few… and Rebecca might be one of them.
[Exactly. Before anyone notices her potential, make her your subordinate.]
Raven smiled, thinking of the address he'd given her. "She'll come."
[She will. Desperate to find work, she'll seek you out.]
Raven set off toward Ashenvale, ready to begin the next stage of his plan.