I killed them. I’m a murderer. I’m a monster. I can’t believe I did that! These thoughts and more spiral through my mind for hours as I huddle against a corner and sob with my legs clutched tightly against my chest.

  What right did I have as a monster, cursed with such an awful class, to take the lives of five innocent souls? I could have just lived with the pain. I could have turned myself in. I could have …. I could have killed myself. I should have killed myself, I’m The Villain! I would spare people so much heart ache if I did. But I don’t think I can. The very thought causes cold despair to clutch at my heart and terrifies me so much my hands start to shake. That’s what a good person would do, right? If they were chosen by START to become a villain and kill thousands of innocent lives, wouldn't they do everything they could to prevent that from happening? I have a dagger; I should just gut myself right here and prevent any of that from happening. But … But I can’t! I can’t even hold onto the knife well enough to do such a thing. Just the thought alone turns me into a crying, shaking mess. I just can’t bring myself to go that far!

  But as much as I want to wallow in misery and sorrow, I know I don’t deserve it. As the skeleton said, I made my choice; and now I have to live with it. I’m not brave enough to end my own life so I will just have to do the best I can. I will live with my failings and I will do everything I can to make up for them. All I can do is move forward and stick to my promise. I can’t let myself be broken by this. I will remember their names, and I will keep moving forward. If I just gave up now then that would mean that I killed five people for no reason.

  Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I check my information for the first time in a while. I am relieved to see the quest area completely empty for once. I was sort of expecting to see Darrick’s quest still here but I guess it disappeared when he … passed. The stark jump in level should excite me but considering what caused this to happen, I can only feel sick.

  It seems START gifted me with a lovely new trait for completing that quest.

  What a joke.

  The most interesting thing I notice is my twelve available trait points. I was told five were earned every ten levels but it seems like this class gets double trait points. Oh well, regardless, I’ll hold on for a while before spending anything. I’m really not in the mood.

  I get ready to leave, but before I can exit the room, I hear that dreadful voice speak up again. “A word of warning before thy departure, Villain. Hast thou heard of ‘guild investigations’?”

  I really didn’t want to deal with this monster again. “Yea, what about them?” I sigh, remembering that group I had previously seen at the guild.

  “Shoudst thou return to thy home, you will most assuredly find yourself coming under suspicion as the only one returning from a group of six; and with such a large level difference as well.”

  Dammit, I didn’t think of that. Of course they would think I did something bad. I was level one when I left. There’s no way I would ever survive over someone like Sasha. I could probably lie and say they left me behind but then they’ll come looking and find stab wounds on a Rogue’s back. You can’t find much better evidence of backstabbing than a metaphor made literal.

  “Well, what am I supposed to do?” I glare at the skeleton. “Investigation is the least of what I deserve.”

  “Mother hast gifted thee a new beginning, free from thy familiar constraints. Shouldst thou return home, nothing but incarceration awaits. However, shouldst thou flee thy home, and seek a new beginning, the knowledge of what happened this day will vanish along with me. Thou wouldst be presumed dead along with thy companions. Do not spurn this gift.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “Gift?! You call running away from home a gift? My own mother is going to think I’m dead and I’m supposed to be happy?!” I snap back.

  “Better happy than caged,” the skeleton puts simply.

  I clutch at my hair and groan. Of course he was right, he’s never been anything but right! No matter what happens, I’ll never get to see my mom again. So if I actually want to uphold the promise to myself, I can’t ever go home. Or at least, not for a long time. Maybe once I’m as strong as The Hero, then I can just waltz through town, unbothered so I can tell my Mom the truth while she’s having a mental breakdown at the realization that her daughter has become a monster.

  It’s so ridiculous how one adventure into some random crypt completely flipped my life upside-down! I could have been a priest! I could have been normal! Now, I’m the monster that lives in children’s nightmares! “This is all your fault!” I shout at the skeleton. “Why did I have to accept that damn quest?!”

  “I am no blade, Villain. Blame not the torch for illuminating the darkness. Wherest thou walks is thy choice alone. For it is not the fault of the light for revealing a perfectly good victim for which to sink thy metal,” the hollow eyes of the skeleton did not look in my direction but I could almost feel its penetrating stare boring into me regardless.

  “Just because you can speak with fucking analogies doesn’t mean you’re anymore right,” I glared.

  “Ahh, maybe so. It does, however, make me…” Its head instantly shifts in my direction. There is no sign of movement or motion. One moment its head is facing forward, and the next it’s looking straight at me. Slowly it raises its right hand while opening its mouth as if to take a deep breath. “Left.” And with a snap of its bony fingers, the skeleton disappears in a puff of smoke followed by distant, cackling laughter.

  “Stupid Skeleton,” I huff, leaving the room.

  I spare a glance for each of the bodies laying in the next room. I had also placed Sasha in here and arranged them side by side in a respectful manner. It’s not a burial but it’s better than nothing.

  “Darrick. Urthor. Witney. Troy. Sasha. Rest in peace.”

  My exit through the crypt is a quiet one. Most of the torches have burnt out, forcing me to stumble through the dark. Despite walking through a crypt previously full of undead, my pace is unhurried.

  The moment my feet find regular cave floor; I feel a change behind me. When I investigate, I find nothing but a stone wall. Unsure how to feel about the sudden change and too exhausted to think too much about it, I simply move on.

  I step out into the night air and find myself lost. Not in the physical sense, I know where I am, but more in a broad sense. Apparently I can’t go back home so that means I need to find another town to travel to but I’m not exactly prepared for travel. I guess my first step is to get some water and forage for food? I’m also now remembering that I’m still covered in zombie sludge so the creek is my first stop.

  Wet clothes hanging on a nearby tree, I settle down in the grass and idly stare up at the stars. It may be pretty late but I don’t feel the slightest bit tired. Mentally exhausted–absolutely, but not tired. I also don’t just want to lay here and let my mind wander so I guess I should really look at my profile after all. I’m also going to be traveling alone so it would certainly help if I get attacked.

  I have more attributes right now than I’ve ever had but I feel like I should probably check my traits first. My choice here could affect how I would decide to spend my attributes so this seems like the best place to start.

  Oh, looks like a new exclusive trait was added to the list:

  Finally, an exclusive trait that isn’t inherently evil sounding. Well, sort of. Poisoning people is obviously quite immoral because it's a slow and painful way of killing someone but I could certainly use it on monsters. The poison resistance is also really nice. I don’t know how I feel about the “consuming poisons” part but I guess I could just … not drink poison. I suppose I could at least try eating something slightly poisonous and see what happens…

  Before I take this trait, I should at least read through the other ten and see if there is anything I would rather have. The moment I take one exclusive trait, the rest of them disappear; so it’s important to take ones I like early before another good one shows up later and forces me to pick between the two.

  Let’s see … I’ve seen Death Breaker, that’s a no. Reborn Wrath .. this one just makes me really powerful if someone wakes me up early? The bonuses are crazy but I don’t think I want to rely on sleep deprivation as a weapon. I saw the angel one already. Lord of Night … that one makes me stronger at night but weaker during the day, no thanks–I’ve always been a morning person. Mind Master … let’s me fiddle with people’s heads, no thanks. Maybe if it’d work on The Hero but oh well. False Justice … “Warning: significantly worsens your affinity with all Paladins” no thanks, I like my sister. Plague born … “Your body constantly oozes with...” Gross, no! Hunter killer …. Helps me track down and kill weakened enemies … eh. Dark Mystic … more messing with people’s heads. Lastly life thief which is the only trait I’ve seen that lets me restore health but it only works when I kill something so that’s another no. Good for fighting an army by yourself, not so much for fighting defending myself against The Hero. Before this might have been what I would have gone with but not anymore.

  Toxophile it is, I guess. I wonder what color it’ll change my eyes to? Currently they’re blue which is fine I guess but personally, I’ve always enjoyed the color green more. I love the color of the grass and trees during the summer.

  I use five trait points and take the trait, immediately feeling a slight tingle in my head, chest, and eyes. It’s not exactly painful but it is definitely uncomfortable. Checking my profile, I notice something next to my conditions.

  Hopefully it won’t take too long. It feels a bit uncomfortable in more ways than one; letting START modify my body like this considering what Council told me about The Mother. I mean, she’s a god, who am I to question her motivations? But even if she controls the entire system that doesn’t mean I’ll just become what she wants me to be. That might make me a heretic in the eyes of the church but I’ve kind of been one since I turned eighteen. All things considered; Council said Mother values choice so I hope she’ll respect my choices. However, if I get anymore quests with brutal punishments for failure, I may have to rethink this.

  I turn my attention back to my traits. With that last trait purchased, I have seven more. The exclusive list is completely empty now so I decide to look through the regular list with one eye closed due to the uncomfortable tingling. Before I can search for too long, I realize I am an idiot and there is one trait here I should really grab before I get in trouble.

  With this trait and Toxophile, I feel like I’m actually becoming an evil villain who lures people into traps filled with deadly poison. I suppose it’s only naturally that I slowly become more villain-like, considering my trait options; but again, a knife is still just a knife until someone picks it up. Mine will certainly remain there for as long as I can allow it.

  I now have three points left and so I look around and see if I can find anything useful. It takes me a bit, but I do manage to find one that I originally avoided at first due to the name.

  Fairly normal trait for this class but definitely a useful one, especially with Toxophile should I stumble across something that I can extract poison from.

  I take the trait and feel the tingle in my head intensify from the tickle it was to an actual headache due to the numerous modifications. I feel exhaustion finally overtaking me and I fall into sleep.