(If somone hasn't noticed, this is the second chapter this week. You can read the previous one by clicking the link above.)

Characters

Titles and Abilites

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“Well, that was interesting,” Ace muttered as he looked at his bare wet torso. The horse had drank the rest of the water from yesterday and decided to shake his head so droplets of water flew right at the kid. “Do you really expect me to keep you after this?”

The animal snorted at that, rearing on his hind legs. Ace jumped back involuntarily, afraid of the hooves flailing inches above his head. “That’s dangerous!”

It brought another snort from the horse and Ace just shook his head. The animal was hopeless. “Do you even have a name?” he asked, fastening his shirt. It had dried up and, he was happy to notice, lacked any bloodstains. Unlike his pants and cloak. He would have to wash them before using again.

He put those away and changed into a new pair. This time he took out the lord’s clothes, black was a good colour for a killer. Bloodstains were harder to see on it.

“Are you done?” the man asked coming in. He was freshly shaven and just washed but Ace could see the slowness in his step. The sleepless night hadn’t been kind on him.

“Thanks for taking us in. You were a real life saver.”

“Don’t mention it. Come have some breakfast with me. I believe you should be hungry by now.”

Ace checked his hunger bar and it was on the low side. “You’re too kind,” he said to the man, joining him on his way to the house. The horse followed them to the entrance, deciding to graze on the small grass while they entered.

The inside was scarcely furnished, a bed, table and one chair occupying most of the space in the single room. There was a hearth on the side in which a pot boiled. Mouth watering aroma was wafting from it.

“Sorry, I don’t have guests often so there’s nothing much I can give you,” the man said with a sheepish smile. Ace returned him a genuine one sitting down on the bed. “No worries, I’m a horrible cook so I live on dried meat. Anything that’s right out of the pot is like a feast to me.”

The man chuckled at that, taking a bowl and pouring a generous portion to Ace. The kid blew over it, not really ready to eat it boiling hot. Instead he stirred the porridge wondering how many ingredients he could recognise.

The yellow thing was a potato for sure and the orange one a carrot but then things got a little harder. What was that yellowish thing? The small cube like things had to be beans. And the green thing a what? He tasted it but his mind was empty.

Well, he still knew some of the ingredients. That was something.

In that time the brew had cooled down enough for him to eat and he got to enjoy one of the tastiest meals in his game time. The only thing that could compare were the taverns which he had visited only a couple of times and Aurora’s cooking. But she usually had to work with products at hand and in somewhat of a hurry, also quantity over quality.

“This is great. You’re an amazing cook!” he praised the man with his mouth full. It rewarded him with a wide smile from the man that was now sitting next to the table. “Slow down. No one’s going to steal it from you. And I had aspired to be a cook in my youth. Yet no restaurant wanted to hire a street urchin so here I am.”

“They don’t know what they had missed out on,” Ace said instantly. “But their loss, my treasure. Thanks for the meal, really.” He stood up, putting the bowl down. It was as clean as new. “And letting me to stay the night, you saved me there.”

“Are you in a hurry? You can stay here for a while and rest.” There was a shadow in the man’s eyes, a fall to his grey head.

“Yeah, I need to be somewhere. I wish I could stay.. But no, duty calls. I have an important task given to me.” He said and looked over his bag. There were many great things players would buy for large amounts of gold but nothing good for the man. And he wanted to reward the person. “Do you have children or some family?”

The man shook his head. “I never found the one.” It wasn’t what Ace had wanted to hear so he took a better look at his bag. There had to be something. Knives, swords, armour, pendants, parchment, elixirs...

That last one took his attention. What if? “I don’t have much but please take this. It should help you in your time of need.”

The man took the elixir with his eyebrows furrowed. “What is it? And you don’t really have to give me anything. I didn’t do this to receive a reward.”

Ace smiled at that. “I know. That’s why I’m giving one. It’s a potion that restores one’s youth for three hours. Hope it serves you well and don’t worry. Until I need it myself, the world might be a very different place.”

The bottle quickly was lost in the man’s coat as he winked at Ace. “I think I can watch over it then. Best of lucks in your journey.”

“Thanks, live long old man!”

The farewell done, Ace walked outside in the cold morning air. Mist was still swirling around and a majestic stallion waited for him nearby. It looked to be all black but the colour was shifting, bending as if the skin itself was moving. “What are you really?” Ace asked, stroking the animal’s neck.

The horse lowered its head, putting in on the boy’s shoulder with a soft neigh. “But really, you need a name. How long am I going to call you horse?” The animal snorted, nuzzling against Ace’s forehead. “Don’t you have one?” The horse shook the head, its mane flying around wildly.

“What do you want to be called then? Something to do with the time of day I met you? Night, spirit, moon?” There was one big snort to all of the three suggestions. The animal even took a couple of steps back.

Ace laughed at that. “What about simply Black then. Would that suit you?” Silence lasted for a couple of moments before there was a shake of head with a definite neigh. “No, then. So what do you want to be called?”

The answer of course was not coming as the horse moved a bit farther away, closer to trees. It put him in the mists that didn’t hide his form, they weren’t that thick but blurred things and enhanced others.

Only now Ace took a better look at him for the first time. When they first had met, it was night and the barn didn’t have much light in it either.

The horse was lean and strong muscled, built for speed rather than strength with an average height. This meant he towered over Ace, but most horses did.

His flowing mane was over twenty centimetres, reaching past the animal’s shoulders. The tail was also overly long, close to the ground. Had it ever been cut? Near the hooves there were patches of hair. It looked pretty but Ace had no idea what it was meant for. Was it even useful?

When he raised his head back up again to look at the horse’s face, he was met by two black orbs. They were ringed by the sharpest electric blue Ace had ever seen. He was taken aback by the intelligence he could glimpse hidden beneath that glaring colour.

This was no stupid animal, whatever his first impression might have been the night before.

“He looks like a ghost in the mists, something barely there...” Ace murmured, watching the creature before himself. This was an animal worthy to be paraded for everyone to see, to make them jealous. And he knew just the right place to do that.

“You’re Mirage then,” he said to the horse, coming closer to pet him. “It fits you quite well if I say so myself.” The animal neighed, lowering his head to Ace’s height without protest. Apparently, this name was okay or he feared what worse Ace could come up with.

Whichever the case was, the name had been chosen and they could be on their way. Mirage bent his front legs so Ace could sit up and let him choose the direction they went.

“Can you sense any water nearby?” the kid asked instead. The horse sniffed for a moment, shifting his head right and left before nodding. “Let’s go then.”

Mirage moved from the village’s perimeter in a slow walk. They were in no hurry so there was no point to gallop and the footing was treacherous. Ground was slippery from rain water and mud holes were all around, hidden by bowed grass from the rider’s and his mount’s eyes.

It would have been nice to have some path but they were closing o a forest and there were no roads leading to it. Mirage had to plough through tall grass that didn’t seem to have been cut for the last few ages. It dirtied Ace’s breeches, wetting the boots.

Ace fought against that with [Excessive Heat]. The skill warmed him up and tried drying his clothes though it was in vain.

When they reached the forest it got even worse. There was no way for Ace to evade all the branches which then released torrents of water over his head. Mere minutes after entering he was wholly soaked.

Mirage didn’t seem in a any better condition, it’s mane falling limp at his side, but he didn’t seem to mind much. He was trotting forward and that was all that mattered to the horse.

It took them a good half an hour to reach the pond. The place was more a swamp than anything else but somewhere ahead Ace could see clear water. “Go there.”

The horse did as told, its hooves getting sucked in to the ground. There was water somewhere underneath and mud which was a dangerous combination. Yet they still needed to get to the water.

Ace’s best plan was to get off Mirage and walk beside him, hoping that lower weight would let them reach the other side without sinking in. Himself he could walk on fields and he did exactly that to not fall in or destroy his boots for good, but the same didn’t work for Mirage.

The animal was still unknown to his tricks and Ace wasn’t sure if he could ever trust his master enough to step on thin air. Though, they had known each other for a whole single day so it was probably a bit too early to judge.

Finally, in long twenty minutes they reached the water. It was greenish and putrid smelling but Ace could see his reflection. Kind of. The thing was twisted and out of shape but he hoped it would work.

And that the animal could pass alongside him. The skill explicitly said that no person could pass with him but there was no mentioning of an animal being unable to do that.

Mirror Walk[Active]

Any surface that reflects what is before it can be used as a door to other places. The picture in your mind determines where you will go. You don't need to have visited the place before.

Warning! You can't take other people with you! Also make sure your mind image is clear or you will be transported to any place having similarities to your destination!

Caution! There is no way to take your body parts back if you pushed them through the surface so make sure you are able to go yourself too. Otherwise, they'll be pulled off!

Mana cost: 1000

Cooldown: 3 hours

He checked the skill again and it was still the same. People, not beings. “Here goes nothing. Mirror Walk!” he said activating the skill and walking in with one of his hands on the horse’s side.

The animal balked at that. Mirage was fine with stepping into stinky rotting grass, having fish and who knows what swimming around his legs, but he didn’t want to drown yet. It had been dangerous enough walking through the front of the swamp but this was different. If he took a step inside the pond itself, he was sure to be sucked inside without a chance to fight back.

This was no opponent he could bite or kick. No matter how much he would struggle the grass would ensnare him and water wash over his head. He would never see the light again.

“Come on, just a few step,” the boy encouraged stepping in himself. He was sinking in but it was different. Mud and water stayed away from him. It was like his body refused to be engulfed by such lowlife things.

That interested Mirage. How could that be possible? He raised his own leg and tested the ground with it, lowering it slowly. It went in but there was a warm feeling instead of wetness that surrounded it.

He tried putting another leg in and the same happened. It was so strange he jumped in whole, moving forward, turning round and round to see how he was not sinking in.

Ace chuckled at Mirage’s antics. The horse had went in up to his shoulder’s and was now jumping back and forth, glancing at his hooves and sides with eyes wide. There was childish glee in them and Ace felt himself experiencing some of that merriment.

He let the animal play for a bit before using fields to get on his back and petting his neck. “Time to move on. I don’t know when the spell will expire and I wouldn’t want to be here when it does.”

Mirage neighed at that, his disappointment obvious but stopped his turning, moving forward in a simple walk. They reached the centre in moments then and white light washed over them, the world of mirrors passing their eyesight for a second and they were out.

It was a lake Ace had visited once upon a time. He remembered coming to it and watching his reflection under the moon’s silvery light. The crimson shadow looking back at him.

Mirage snorted under him and he shook his head with a hint of a smile. It was daytime now and he wasn’t alone. “What do you say about making a grand entrance?” The animal turned to give him a puzzled look. “Oh, don’t worry. All you’ll have to do is look proud and menacing.”

There was another snort at that with a turned away head. Ace took it as an agreement when he noticed the slower pace they moved in and the way Mirage’s head was held higher.

“Thanks,” he whispered, petting the animal’s neck. “But give me a moment. I need to change myself a bit too.” He jumped down then and made his way behind the trees.

There was no one around but he no longer trusted the open skies. They could have those cameras too. That’s why he hid under the trees and took out the wig he’d used near Monthu.

It had bright red hair. They were too bright for Ace’s liking but he didn’t want to use an illusion. There might be some that could see through it in the city.

After putting the wig on he took out the mask and made sure it was fine. No cracks or bloodstains could be seen so he put it on.

All his trademarks were collected now but the cloak. However, that one was spotted with blood. He considered leaving it out but he wanted to come out in a grand way. That no one would have any question as to who he was.

The cloak was necessary then. ‘Well, a few drops of blood never hurt anyone. They might even add to my image.’ That decided he surrounded himself in it and took out the silver wing necklace to the front. People needed to see it.

He glanced at himself in the lake and liking the view jumped on Mirage. Those fields were getting more and more useful by the day. “Let’s go now. It’s time to have some fun.”

There was an agreeing neigh from the animal as it stood up on its hind legs, almost throwing Ace off. He barely managed to grab onto the mane to keep himself in place. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” he shouted out with a laugh.

A snort came from his companion and they were off. Mirage felt like galloping for a bit. At leas until the city was in their sights.

When they reached the road, he slowed into a trot and Ace watched the people moving around them. There were players walking in groups and riding to do quests a bit further away.

Some merchant was sitting on his wagon and whipping the air to hurry his two tired donkeys. The animals looked exhausted but the sound and memory of pain was enough to keep them plodding forward.

No one paid Ace any attention, too lazy to raise their eyes and see who was sitting on the black stallion. He was thankful for that. There was no point on creating a ruse before entering the city.

If it happened, he might not even be let in and that would be disastrous. His master plan could come to naught!

Though, truth be told, it wasn’t much of a plan. He just wanted to show off his animal and prove to the world that he feared nothing. Silver Wing was much more than just a secret killer. He had pride too.

Right before the gates he heard a shout. “Wing! Wing!”

He didn’t glance that way. It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done in his life but he pushed through. The city deserved to see a criminal master mind, not some wonder filled child.

And he delivered the picture.

Coal black stallion built for speed and power with a long flowing mane, its head raised high, eyes glaring at anyone that moved too close. There was a certain air of viciousness to it as if he was going to bite someone’s head off at any moment.

And on top of him sat a man. No, it was a boy that looked like one. It was hard to call him a kid though. He had poppy bright red hair up to his shoulders which framed a wooden fox mask that covered half of the face. A disdainful smile could be seen on the lower half.

He was dressed in a worn dark blue cloak spotted with black dots at the front. Observers needed little time to figure what they were as the person rode past them. They watched his straight back, relaxed manner...

...and shied away. They whispered running to their homes and staring through the curtains. In moments the whole street was empty.

It reminded Ace of the way he had walked with the guild. Everyone watched them back then too, expressing their emotions. This time, however, it was fear instead of excitement. It spread before him like a carpet welcoming him in, leading to the castle.

/You home?/ he wrote to L, just now remembering to check. He should have really done that before but where else the guy would be? He was stuck to his study, sending letters and thinking of ways to protect his land.

/I’m listening to the complains of the nobles now. Something important?/ came a reply when Ace was already nearing the castle. He hoped to reach it without incident when a group of twenty people blocked his path.

They were all knights in full plate armour with lances aimed at him. Their horses were hidden beneath colourful swats of chain armour meant to protect against swords and spears.

Ace had to say it was a marvellous idea to keep the animals uninjured. One from middle ages but he hadn’t seen in implemented before. However, it was a horrible choice against him. Because of the armour the animals were burdened and much slower.

If there was a race or chase, Ace would instantly win.

But this was not it. He had to make them allow him through without fighting, or maybe just a little bloodshed would be fine. He was a notorious murderer after all. It would look bad on him to act friendly and compassionate.

“What a welcome,” he said with mockery in his tone. It was meant to annoy them, enrage. Unsurprisingly it succeeded.

“Who do you think you are coming here like this? Do you believe we’ll let you pass?” one of the knights shouted out, riding to the front with his weapon held in a defensive position.

Ace laughed at him. The guy kept more than five horse lengths away. “And how are you going to stop me? With that group of newborns?” He chuckled again as one of the lances wavered after meeting his eye. “They can’t even hold their weapons.”

“Order!” the leader screamed at his ranks, trying to intimidate them into courage. It wasn’t helping. Ace could see another guy shaking like a leaf. What were these people? So afraid... “Silence, monster! You have no rights here! Prepare to be caught and sentenced to execution!”

“Is that all?” Ace asked with a raised eyebrow, the same mocking smile on his lips. “You’re going to release me so easily?”

“We will hunt you down like a rat to level one! Like you deserve!” someone from the back shouted out and Ace shifted his eyes there.

The man tried to look insignificant, like it hadn’t been him who talked but Ace wasn’t fooled. The more the man in green armour tried to hide, the more obvious he was.

Ace pretended to listen to what the leader was saying but his eyes kept straying to the brave guy. Otherwise known as the fool. He felt like killing him and looking around he saw no reason not to do it.

That was what stopped him for a moment. He couldn’t believe he could just stand up and kill a man that annoyed him in broad daylight. That everyone knew who he was. It was strange, wrong somehow.

Too easy.

But he still wanted the guy dead. Without wasting any more time he stood up on Mirage’s back. The horse didn’t even glance back as if he was used to it. Ace could have kissed him for that. His image was getting better and better by each moment.

[Shadow Step] activated and he was behind the green armour, his cloak billowing behind him. It freed his hands and he stabbed with graceful ease. The dagger passed armour, having been enhanced with [Magma Blade].

Ace, or Silver Wing, used a couple more abilities before [Heart-seeker] with [Curse of the Hungry]. Everyone was so stunned by the events that Ace had enough time to take all the man’s belongings, leaving him the armour he wore and reappearing on his horse.

“What were you saying?” he asked the leader man, a faint smile on his lips as he plopped down on Mirage. The horse neighed softly and Ace stroked his neck in a silent thanks.

The man spluttered and Ace shook his head, squeezing his hips for Mirage to start on walking. He was absolutely sure it was the wrong signal as he was no rider, but the horse seemed to know what he wanted.

Smart fellow.

The knights were too shocked to do anything. Their horses shied away and they let them, making a path for Ace to pass into the castle. His smile turned wry.

Those people were players, they cared about their equipment and experience. No true native would have let him pass, their honour and pride wouldn’t have allowed them to act that way.

But this sorry lot had no honour.

Their main concern were their own lives. It was a strange concept since these were people that couldn’t die. They were immortal and yet natives were braver, less risk averse even with their mortality.

Mirage strode in the castle in a confident trot, his head held high. Ace watched as nobles ran from his path, kissing the walls, hiding behind empty armour. They were truly pathetic.

Or Silver Wing’s legend was more renowned when he had thought.

Silver Wing’s... It was still hard for Ace to think of that murderer as himself. Yeah, he had acted him but in his every day life he had been just a simple kid. He had travelled around the world with his friends and had had no problems.

But there was a different kind of freedom to his existence now. He could kill anyone he wanted without a second thought, there was no one to judge him. Yet now there was such a thing as an image. He had to keep to it if he wanted to be someone.

For that was all he was. The way he presented himself.

The halls were wide and high as rich people standards dictated and it was easy for Mirage to pass. Servants dodged of his way and soon they were at the doors to the throne room. They were closed at the moment, listening in session.

People who needed to be there had already been allowed in and the place closed. Only a surly looking herald sat nearby with a distracted look on his face. When Ace approached, he just waved his hand. “Get out. Too late.”

“Don’t think so,” Ace said in a low tone, his dagger leaving his side. The herald fully opened his eyes then and after seeing the newcomer prepared to bolt. “Stop,” Ace hissed and Mirage blocked the man’s escape path. “You’re going to open the doors now and let me in. You hear me?”

The man shivered in his ornamented clothing, a trickle of sweat running down his brow. “I-I ca-can-can’t do it! Th-the the se-se-session has alrea-already started!”

“You can call the guards and open those doors now nicely or...” Ace gave him a moment to take in what he was telling. “Or you can refuse me and die a brave but pointless death. I’ll be entering either way. So, please, choose wisely.”

The lordling glanced around, his eyes wildly moving from place to place. Ace followed his every move with a hunter’s care. There was no way he was letting this prey escape.

His dagger flew instantly as the man tried to dart away. The blade skewered the boot, sparing the foot by luck only. “Is that your choice?”

L tried not to fall asleep. Some player was droning on for an hour already about how he was cheated by the noble and it didn’t seem like it was going to end. And the noble was yet to state his case. L doubted he was going to do any work today.

He tried concentrating on the man’s words, the way he described the situation, but his mind kept returning to the kid. What was he planning? The message he had sent had been very cryptic and could be interpreted in many ways.

The doors groaned. It was unnoticed by the speaker at first but L heard it and saw them opening little by little. The giant things were more for sight than use. He’d never opened them before, there was a small side door on the side.

He raised his hand for silence. Koravol took his time in quieting but managed before the giant doors were open. The groaning was loud enough to wake people from winter’s slumber so everyone’s eyes turned in that direction.

A small man in white and gold livery went out. L recognised him as his herald. What was he thinking coming out here like this? And opening the royal doors none the less. Did he want to be fired so badly?

“Your Lordship, I present you a traveller from the far lands. He has requested an audience with you and it is my honour to present him to you.” A murmur rose in the crowd. This was unprecedented. Even L was intrigued. Who could have come and impressed his herald so much?

A black stallion entered. It was a magnificent animal, L was sure, but his attention was taken by the man sitting on him. He had straight bright red hair that fell in waves past his shoulders in stark contrast to the otherwise dark outlook.

There was a wooden fox mask of minimal design, few lines going upwards and some more around the eyes. Those were also the thing that caught attention the most.

Instead of blood-red, the orbs were crystal clear. They were so bright and blue that one felt dirty just by looking at them. And weak. Useless. There was power in them that demanded respect and authority.

It was hard for L to remember this was a child. One he had met a couple of times. One that loved to play around and smile. One that cared about what people thought of him, wanted to keep the good guy’s image.

He couldn’t see that kid at all.

“I present you Silver Wing, the Ghost of Mora, Night’s Friend of Lasran, Crimson Shadow of Ro’s caravan and Death Angel of Garius city!”

‘When had he gotten those titles?’ was the first thought in L’s head. He couldn’t remember any of them having been used previously, not often at least.

The Wing walked forward then, his animal taking leisure steps. Right before the throne they stopped, the horse and boy looking him straight in the eyes. It made a shiver run down L’s back.

He was wondering if he had gotten more than he had bargained for. “Welcome to my halls. Your coming is a bit sudden so nothing was prepared but I think arrangements can be done.”

Wing smiled at that, a small sly thing. “Sudden? You called and I came.”

L gulped. This wasn’t doing anything good for his reputation. “Right... Though I expected a different kind of visit.”

“Do you want me to visit at the dead of the night?” Wing asked in a way that sounded everything but reassuring. L had a feeling he wouldn’t have liked that meeting.

“No, no! It is fine like this.” L stood up from his throne. “Let’s go to my study. We’d want a more private chat.”

Wing nodded at that, raising from his horse and stepping down on invisible steps. The ease with the way he did it, the familiarity... It was eerie. One wasn’t supposed to walk on air.

He said no words as he walked towards L, the same half-smile playing on his lips. L turned his back to him and moved behind the throne. There was a small gold encrusted door specially for him. It led to his personal chambers and study.

The room had little furniture, one huge chair and a bookcase. But even though the place wasn’t small, it would be hard for one see it. Maps, letters, contracts, treaties and notes were lying all around.

One had no place to put his foot without stepping on some scroll or falling over a stack of books.

L moved easily to his chair, not noticing the mess. Everything was in place as far as he was concerned. He knew the position of every single page. “Make yourself comfortable.”

As he sat he looked towards the Wing and the guy was looking around, his mouth set in a line. It made L smile. This was much more like the kid he had known, not the creepy killer. Though both of them wore the same smiles, on the kid they had looked only teasing, not openly mocking.

“It’s my private study. You’re the first to enter it.”

Wing sat on a steadier looking stack of books before turning to him and replying. “Should I feel honoured?”

“Not really. Now tell me, why did you come in like that? I didn’t ask to make a show.” His voice was hard but he felt a chill enter the room as he finished. The eyes that met his were mere slits. He shifted in his seat, escaping the stare down.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something,” Wing said in a calm voice, standing up and moving closer. His steps were slow and calculated, eyes the same frozen blueish white.

L gulped. “What do you mean?” His voice shook. He tried to straighten in his chair, he wasn’t afraid of this child. Yet that only made him feel more insecure, like a rat noticing it attracted the snake’s attention.

He still looked into the emotionless eyes when they disappeared. Surprised he blinked a few times and was about to look around when cold metal touched his neck. “You’re not the one in power,” came a whisper from his side. “I am.”

“What do you want?” L answered in a whisper too. Cold sweat was pooling on his brow as he tried to breathe calmly. This was just a game. Even if he died, nothing would change.

Yet death wasn’t a familiar thing to him as he rarely went out. In his opinion, it was much more interesting to work with people, npcs, and raise in the ranks of society rather than monster killing.

The blade moved, stopping with the flat of it before his eyes, blocking his sight. “I want blood. Death. Killings.” The dagger shifted so he was staring right at the sharp edge. It was getting hard to breathe. “I’m a monster. We both know it.”

He could feel breath on his left ear. “You can use me. I don’t care.” The blade moved slightly closer, L didn’t dare to blink for losing his eyesight. “But if for a moment, the barest of milliseconds you think of controlling me, owning me...”

The sentence wasn’t finished but the blade flashed before L’s eyes. He closed them on instinct, unable to stop the reaction. And waited.

He couldn’t have said himself what he was expecting but not the silence that descended. There was his breathing and that’s all. No sound of papers being stepped on, clothes brushing against skin or another set of lungs working.

Was he dead? He had heard that one couldn’t play for a couple of hours after dying but maybe it wasn’t the whole truth? Maybe the player was transported to absolute darkness and logged off himself out of boredom?

It calmed his heart down. He could hear its rapid beats slowing down, returning to normal. That was nice and he opened his eyes.

And was welcomed by the sight of his study and a masked guy with bright red hair sitting before him.

Light blue eyes caught his attention, but there was less coldness in them. He could almost feel there was someone alive behind them, a soul even.

“Where can I find those students of yours?”