Broad-Spectrum Assassin

Memory 21: Our New Purpose

WarWolf turns to me. "Don't say a word, Weech. This could just be another test."

StarBorne approaches her and smiles. "I can assure you that he is indeed speaking the truth."

"How long have you known?" I ask.

"After our first exam he felt he owed me an explanation."

WarWolf steps up to him. "Everyone was after you. If you were killed, then what would he do?"

Guru turns to her. "StarBorne would have been brought to Tempera if mortally wounded. There were doubts among the other RiftRippers if I had been compromised and my rescue of StarBorne put me in good favor with the other department heads."

WarWolf glares at me. "My father was captured just so you could get the heat off you. What kind of leader are you?"

"SparkuPine volunteered for the mission."

"I...killed him." WarWolf clenches her fist till it bleeds.

"Yes and now it is your decision if you will take up his cause."

I pull at Guru's cloak. "What about Teacher? He wasn't a traitor, was he? You made him confess and then...you killed him."

I'm suddenly lifted up by a tentacled embrace.

"With my apparent death, the search for the ringleader of the Red Guild came to an end. Things are going splendidly!" Teacher spins around with me.

He's really alive.

"You have to tell BunBun that you're okay!" I exclaim.

Teacher sets me down. "BunBun is lost. Revealing myself to her now is too risky."

"What if she ends up killing herself? You'll always regret not telling her the truth."

Guru looks to me. "I can request OniGiri to test her as I did you."

"Yes! Please do! I'm sure she'd join our cause if she just understood it."

I don't even understand it yet, but showing doubt could be dangerous at this point.

"I trust your judgement."

"Wait, there's something I didn't tell you about. OniGiri and I were spotted by an enemy RiftRipper." I lower my head in shame.

Teacher raises his tentacles. "All part of the test and you passed with flying daggers!"

WarWolf steps up directly in front of Virtue Vice and stands tall. "No more secrets from now on. That's my condition. I want to know everything you know."

Teacher pats her. "You must have faith that Guru will lead us to victory. He tells us only what we need to know."

Guru removes Teacher's tentacle. "She's absolutely entitled to the truth. You all are."

WarWolf nods. "My mother, after she cut off my legs and I stabbed her...she said they never should have taken me in. What did she mean by that?"

Guru lowers his head. "Our parents, the one's who raised us into great warriors, they aren't our actual parents."

Teacher looks at Guru nervously. "Are you sure you should say that?"

"The Black Guild sends RiftRippers out to acquire special children. Every assassin student is an indigo child, seen from the coloration of their eyes. You were then assigned parents based on your archetype, determined by our resident Arvhivos, Libras Historium. Weech needed parents who would nurture with love above all else while WarWolf required parents who would help her become independent."