It was dark. No sound in the room but the breathing of a boy. He was sitting cross-legged before a white cabin with hands against his temples. His eyes were locked on the cabin as if it was a monster going to jump at him any moment.

“What to do?” he whispered but there was no one else in the room. No answer came and he ran fingers through his hair. “How should I know?”

He fell on his back, staring at the white ceiling. It was hard to discern in the dark but he followed the ornamental lines with a finger, knowing them from memory. “If there was a good answer...”

“I wouldn’t be acting like an idiot now!” he screamed out jumping up. His hands twitched to grab something and throw it at the wall but he resisted the impulse. He would have to clean up afterwards and that would be a pain.

Instead he paced the room. One circle, two, ten. Soon the count was lost and he was just going back and forth mumbling to himself. “Can’t believe... Nonsense... Idiot... Wish it... Dream on... Life...”

Car stopped below and he rushed to the window, glancing below. It was Mr. Rekham from opposite street. He stepped out of his car with a puff. The houses doors flew open as Caithlyn, his daughter rushed out to meet him. He smiled and picked her up, flying her a few circles.

Their laughed reached the boy’s ears as faint echoes. “Damn it, you know they’re not coming for a few weeks still.” He forced himself to close the curtains and take a step back, away from the window.

It was clear to him he was procrastinating. Decision had to be made and his subconsciousness was doing everything to save him from that. But there was no escaping. Whatever he did now would shape his future. Or what’s left of it.

There was no one who could tell if he won’t stop functioning the next moment without any reason. It was what he got for living in uncharted territory, surviving longer than he should have.

“I’m doing it again...” he groaned catching himself. His thoughts went everywhere but the question at hand. Should he enter the damn cabin or not.

How could such a simple decision be so complicated?

And yet it was. Everything depended on this one choice. It shouldn’t be made lightly yet whenever he tried to weight pros and cons, he found himself deliberating on whether he preferred hotdogs to hamburgers. Irrelevant to the situation but saying more than Kirin wanted to know about himself.

It was easier to pretend. Imagine he was a strong person. One who could never be hurt. Some being that had seen everything, lived through it and survived, here to tell the tale. Whole world was nothing but a play to him. One badly written at that.

Problem was Kirin like he’d misplaced that personality somewhere. No matter how hard he tried his mind wouldn’t calm. Rational thought was as close as the moon on barefoot.

“How to choose, how to choose... Why should I choose?” he asked stopping in the middle of the room. “I can just show up and see how it goes, can’t I? No decision needs to be made now. Right?”

Neither the room nor the night outside answered his questions. It was silent. The usual state of his house. Kirin dropped to the ground and stared into the wall of the cabin. It looked ghostly in the dark room.

“What will I do for the remaining time if I don’t play the game?” he asked himself. “No camps are available at the moment even if I felt like putting myself through that torture again. There’s no choice here.”

He stood up but his hand wasn’t stable as he reached for the handle. “It’s going to be okay,” he whispered to himself, pushing the cabin open. It took a moment to light up and he squinted at the brightness.

But it was too late. Decision made he strapped himself and put the headgear on. It was time to see what was going on inside the game.

Bright sunlight and croaking welcomed him. All of the vultures pushed towards him, poking him with their beaks to make sure he was alive, okay. “I’m fine,” he muttered pushing them off himself. In that moment of freedom he stood up and looked around.

This was the tower room which L had previously occupied. It was empty of human life now. A look outside showed people back in their usually habitats. Hammer falls could be heard from the smithies, young boys and girls were running as messengers while teenagers trained in the courtyard.

Many older soldiers joined in their activities, following forms or swinging at the training dummies until the hands could lift no longer. There were woman around, carrying water or washing clothes. A few were chatting near a well.

None were familiar faces.

He jumped out the window and activated [Void Step] right before hitting the ground. It carried him to the nearest roof where he started to jog.

The path took him to the poorer parts of the city. One of the houses there stood out. It was like any other but Ace could have recognised its owner anywhere. Old man was the only one that paid so much attention to making his place look run down but not too much.

He jumped down and passed through the doors. They were barely holding on the hinges, threatening to fall from the merest of touches.

Inside was empty. Ace snuffed around but there were no signs. Some rags in the corner, broken pieces of furniture near a fireplace. Ashes lay within it, still warm. Nearby a half-empty pot stood with poisonous looking brew.

Ace smiled at it. This was the old man’s place for sure. Only he could make such concoctions and say it was food. Familiar scent taunted him into pouring himself a bowl and finishing the soup.

It filled his stomach to the brim. Sleep beckoned but a loud neigh caught his attention. The sound came from below and he went to investigate. No obvious path down was present but Ace knew better.

Moving everything in sight he soon stumbled upon a lever. Planks slid beneath a pile of rags and they fell inside. Ace went after on light feet, listening with [Echo]. With the ability’s help he could see the general form of the dungeon.

It was eerily similar to the old man’s other one. Identical even. Neighing was also growing louder. It was coming from a locked black door that was being assaulted from the inside.

They shivered and groaned from the force but held. Ace approached with caution, reaching for the lock. It had a key inserted which wasn’t unusual since Sedgart had to know no one else would come here. This was his hidden lair.

Ace wondered why he had never created one. What kind of an assassin was he? No home, no secret base. All he had he carried himself or kept in a bank. Quite simple but in a way cold. Why did he never make a place for himself? Was he a nomad?

Interesting question but one he didn’t have time to ponder. At the turn of they key the doors flew open and a large shape burst free. It came straight at Ace, falling him in the process.

But instead of sharp claws or shiny blades a wet nose brushed his face. He half opened one of his eyes to stare right back into a black orb. “Mirage,” he whispered with an exhale and the horse answered with a neigh.

It tried to give Ace more wet kisses but he pushed the face off himself. “Let me stand up,” he told the horse getting up. “What are you doing here?”

At the question Mirage stood up on back legs, its front missing Ace by luck only. ‘Ahhaha, I think he might be somewhat pissed.’ He couldn’t really blame the animal. It was him who left it with his old master and never came back.

If Ace was to admit it to himself, he’d all but forgotten about Mirage.

Did that make him a bad person? Probably. But he had never asked for a pet. The horse had appeared out of nowhere and just decided to follow along. Ace had never asked for it.

“How have you been? I missed you,” he said to the animal, gently brushing its nostrils once it had come down. Mirage was still breathing hard, its sides lifting up but the soft tone calmed. It shifted its head to stare better, question in its eyes.

Ace came closer, not losing the skin contact. “I’m sorry for being away for so long. I would have returned sooner if I could have. You know that, right?”

Mirage whinnied, pushing against him softly. Ace took it as an acceptance and murmured some more silly things. He did like the horse. It was simple and truthful. Required only little lying.

It’s just that he had no idea what to do with him. Not like he could take Mirage anywhere with him. His paths rarely lead him on hard ground. Roofs and air, mirrors or lakes were his usual travelling methods.

Neither fit for a horse.

“What are you doing here?” asked a cold voice. Ace whirled around to face his old mentor. The man looked younger than the last time he’d seen him. The shine in his eyes had brightened and there was a big smile on his lips despite the previous tone.

“Wondering what you’ve done with my little pet. Why would you ever lock it up?”

Sedgart glared at the horse. “It nearly went mad after you were gone for a week. I had to either lock it up or let loose.”

“Thanks,” Ace murmured, brushing Mirage’s head. “So what are you up to now?” he asked, shifting his own head to face his master.

“A friend of yours, the city’s lord approached me.”

“L?” Ace asked in wonder. The guy seemed to have some unsettling connections. First he learnt Wing’s identity ages before anyone else, now found his mentor. How did he manage when being so busy running the city? Even now when on the verge of being destroyed.

“That one. He came to my place and demanded I aid him,” Sedgart said in a wonder filled voice. “I could see why you might associate himself with him.”

“Could you?” Ace asked with a raised eyebrow. “I think you were just enticed by the idea of being back in business.”

The man shifted in his position, laughing wryly. “Might be, might be. Anyway, I have work. Came here just to check what was the commotion.”

He turned to leave but Ace caught him by the hand. “Is L in his castle?”

“Away. There’s a conference or something of all the world’s lords. It’s been a week since the monster’s birth been announced and everyone’s worried.” He shook his head. “I would be too if I wasn’t counting days on fingers already.”

“Don’t say stupid things,” Ace ordered, punching him lightly on the shoulder. “You’ll outlive me by the way you’re going.”

There was a chuckled from his mentor but without turning back he left the dungeon. Ace waited a bit before taking Mirage after.

They were alone in the room. Sedgart had been true to his word and left. It was weird to see the old man moving about but it was good for him, Ace decided. He looked much more lively than the time in Mora they’d last met.

“So what should we do now?” he asked turning towards Mirage. The animal neighed and pointed at his back. “Riding? I suppose it’s been a while since we did that. Sure.”

The horse went down on his knees and Ace got himself on, enjoying how high he was. It was such a simple thing yet brought a certain kind of joy. Like he was no longer a small child. Those were never let on horses or anywhere high for fear of them falling down and getting hurt.

Doors were open and they were out. Mirage’s hooves beat a simple tune against the paved road as they went past the houses, out of the street and into another, larger one.

People made way for them, knowing better than to intercept a galloping horse. And Mirage was doing just that. Streets went in a blur in Ace’s vision as he held onto for dear life.

Wind tousled his hair and he raised his head at the sky, eyes closed.

“Kirin?”

Single word that made his good mood go crashing down. Mirage felt his stiffening and slowed, turning to look back at him with a whine. “It’s okay,” Ace murmured to him, straining his neck to see who had called.

More than ten meters back there were two people coming his way. Monthu and Par. No, wait. Should he think of them now as Aiden and Tristain? That were their names, right?

Mirage whinnied again and Ace put a reassuring hand on his neck. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine,” he murmured. And then wondered whether those words were to the horse or himself.

Both of them stood still until the newcomers approached. All four stared at each other with questioning looks, neither wanting to break the uncomfortable silence.

Ace took that time to re-evaluate the kid, his kind of friend.

Par stood at his brother’s side, holding onto his hand. A step behind him. It was as if he was afraid. ‘Am I so scary?’ Ace wondered, seeing distrust in the boy’s eyes. It seemed like he had learnt at least something from their interactions.

His brother, on the other hand, looked tired and exhausted. Not even the game could hide the shadows in his eyes, the way his shoulders slumped as if he could no longer hold them up.

“You okay?” Ace asked, sliding down from Mirage. He landed on his feet with a cat’s grace. A look of concern on his face.

Monthu’s eyes widened for a second before he let a small smile form on his lips. “Fine. Just overloaded with work at home. Some of the investors are giving me hell.”

“You’re a businessman?”

“Yeah. Worst idea ever,” he said with a shake of his head. “Please, let’s talk about anything but that. I don’t wish to remember about it a moment sooner than I have to.”

Ace lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “Sure. So what are you doing here?”

“Looking for you, actually. I was hoping you would help me with ensuring the city’s defence.”

It was Ace’s turn now to be taken aback. “Me? Help with the defences? You know I’m an assassin, right?”

He shook his head in disbelief. Just what was the guy thinking? It made zero sense. Ace wasn’t the defender type. He was a monster, a killer!

“You could always find weak spots of the wall, secret entrances or some weird ways we could be defeated in that no one else would even think of. You have a great mind which could be used for something greater.”

Before Ace could reply, Par peeked his head out, raising it just a centimetre up. “Are you still angry with me?” His voice was barely a whisper and he hid behind his brother as the words left his mouth.

“Angry?” Ace repeated mindlessly. Was he angry? Had he been in the first place? He supposed he had been. The kid was just too damn innocent. It made him jealous in a way. It reminded him of the days past and when everything was crumbling around him, it had been too much

Did he owe the kid an apology?

It hadn’t been exactly the boy’s fault that he was innocent, childish and silly. He should be envied, that others managed to keep him away from the horrors of the world, but not in the way Ace had done.

Cruelty was a last resort and should be used against those that deserved. Like most of the world but still. The kid had been a friend to him, or as close as Ace had had in years. It was pitiful of him to repay this way.

He walked forward, rounding Monthu to face Par. “What do you think? Do I look angry?” he asked with a tilt to his head.

“I-I do-don’t know,” the boy stuttered. He backed to hide behind Monthu’s front side now, peeking at Ace from the corner.

‘Had I scared him so much?’ Ace wondered. He pushed Monthu out of the way. “Do you mind? I’m trying to have a conversation here.” His voice was gruff as he said that and the man gave him a long look.

Millions of questions resided in his eyes but Ace didn’t say anything, just stared back. It was either going to work or not. The man either trusted him or not.

Monthu turned away and squatted down before his brother. “Do you trust me?” he asked the kid and he nodded with vigour. Relieved the man continued. “Then give him a chance. I’ll go welcome the caravan that was scheduled to arrive soon but I won’t be far. If anything happens, I’ll be just around the corner. Okay?”

Shiver passed the little kid’s body but he straightened and nodded. Monthu hugged him tight and Ace felt a pang of disgust wash through him. Why was he always alone? Why did no one ever hold him or whisper that everything was going to be okay even if that was a lie?

Why did he have to grow up too fast?

Counting of every coin, catching discounts, overworking, never being home. He remembered everything his parents did for him. They were the best people on this earth, sacrificing themselves for him, so that he could have a future.

Why when was he still such an ungrateful bastard? Envying others their share of happiness?

By the time his mind returned to the present, he was alone with the kid. He was staring at him reproachfully, a tremble in his lips.

‘Terrified, that’s how he feels when being alone with me. It says a lot for my character,’ Ace thought to himself, smiling wryly.

Par opened his mouth first. “What should I call you?” he asked in a shaky voice, hands wrapped tight around himself.

“Call me?” Ace asked unsure. What was the problem here?

“You made me promise... If I wanted to save others... That I - I should never call you by your name again,” he said with his head down. “Should I call you Wing th-”

“No!” Ace shouted out before he had even formed a thought. “No,” he then said more calmly. “No, Wing is a creature you don’t want to associate... “ After a moment’s hesitation he added. “Kirin, you can call me Kirin.”

It was his true name but he wondered if it was right to tell him that. No, not because he felt like hiding but that it was another persona. Kirin had been his main act for so long, he wasn’t sure he knew the real person behind.

Would he know his own face if he saw it? Doubtful.

The boy didn’t seem to have heard the hesitation in his voice and smiled bright. “You can call me Tristain then. I heard it’s your real name!”

“It is,” Ace agreed with a shrug. So Monthu wasn’t good at keeping secrets. Did that mean his parents knew also? But why would he tell them? It was a knowledge hard won, he wouldn’t share it with people he didn’t think deserved. Ace had a feeling neither Aurora, nor Hawk would know his name.

“Will you stay with us now?”

“Stay?” Ace gaped. He noticed he was doing a lot of that in this conversation. But not a thought like this had crossed his mind. To stay with the group...

Stay?

Was he capable of that? Even now he was itching to just turn around and ride off on Mirage. Or even better to find a mirror and visit a place he’d never been before. Be away before anyone could stop him.

But no one was trying to stop him. It was just him and his mind. Did he want a place to return to? A supposed safe haven? It sounded great but could there really exist a place like that for him? He was a monster, an enemy of mankind.

The boy shifted on his feet. “You don’t want to?” There was hurt in his voice. Betrayal.

“It’s not that,” Ace answered truthfully with a large sigh. “I just wouldn’t know what to do staying with you.”

“What do you mean?” the boy asked. “You would travel with us so we can all be together forever!”

It took all Ace’s willpower not to start laughing like a maniac. Forever? Such a thing didn’t exist. He was sure he was going to snap one of these days and end this misery called life.

Forever. He shook his head in disbelief, hair getting in his eyes. Mindlessly he pushed them off, catching a glimpse of his pale flesh. It brought a scowl to his face. What was he even doing here?

This was madness!

He didn’t belong with these people. Loneliness was his only companion. It had always been like this. What were they trying to do? Change him? He, the way he was, wasn’t good enough? Could such people even be called friends?

“Please!”

The word caught Ace’s ears. He turned to face the boy who had tears in his eyes. “Please,” he whispered again. It was very soft and barely audible, a prayer as much as plea.

“Why do you want me to return so badly?” Ace asked with a huff. The boy was crazy. What did he want now? Did he thought sympathy was his triumph card?

“Aren’t we friends?” he asked, his voice breaking midway and he started sobbing. “I just want to be friends with you.”

Ace stared at his sniffling pathetic show for a long while. A side of him wished to go and comfort the little kid but... But the other wanted him to suffer. He wanted him to learn what the world was truly like. It never happened as you wanted to.

All stories ended with a tragedy, no matter how hard-working and deserving the heroes were.

A memory of Monthu standing before him, sharing his secrets came into sharp focus. What was Ace doing hurting his brother?

He rushed to the kid and took his hands. “I’ll see what I can do about it.”

“Wha-?”

“I need to take care of something first,” he said in a conspirational manner, giving a secretive glance behind his back. Par turned there in a pretty obvious manner, noting the restless horse. It was giant by their childish standards and black as the devil. “You will wait for me, okay?”

The boy managed something close to a nod and Ace threw him a smile before jumping on Mirage with [Radiant Step]’s help. “See you around!”

He rode off, leaving the puzzled kid behind. Behind the corner he stopped Mirage and told him to go and wait somewhere. There was something he needed to do real quick.

Before Monthu could reunite with his brother.

/Can we talk?/ he wrote, not wanting to waste time searching. /Alone./

/The tower./

Ten seconds and Ace was there. It was so easy to move with his skills, not needing to pretend to be anyone.

In the tower room he’d woken up, Monthu was having a conversation with some high ranking officer. He was all red, eyes close to popping out but nowhere near surrender.

Until he saw Ace land on the windowsill. One look was enough for all colour to drain from his face and he was gone. Echo of doors pushed in a hurry only reminder of his presence.

“That was quick,” Ace said with a smile, settling on the windowsill with his legs hanging inside the room. “You have more of his kind?”

“Plenty,” Monthu said like it was a curse. He was sitting next to the large table, having rolled the map up and placed dozens of papers instead. “I can’t imagine why L would want something like this in a game.”

Ace lifted his shoulders. “Who knows, we all create lives here that we can’t have outside.”

A disagreeing shift of the man’s lips was his whole answer and for a long while silence reigned in the room. Sound of pen scratching on paper only thing to break it.

“Aren’t you afraid to leave your brother alone for so long?” Ace asked, finally.

“I sent Aurora to pick him up.”

Another silence. This time it lasted over ten minutes. In the end Ace stood up and walked to see what had caught the man’s attention so thoroughly. Calculations of provisions, incoming caravans and metal deliveries, craftsmen prices. Lack of funds.

From one glance, Ace knew Lasran was bankrupt. All payments were being done on loans and few accepted words from a city on verge of destruction.

“Are you not interested in what I wanted to talk about?”

Monthu rested the pen, eyes meeting his. “You’re leaving.”

It took Ace a moment to catch his fleeing composure. “How did you?”

“It’s your solution to everything. Whenever you get worried, you run away.” He gave a wry smile. “At least this time you’re warning me. I have to say that’s an improvement. Thanks.”

Ace wasn’t sure whether he should be affronted or... What else could he feel? That he was understood? Glad someone knew him well enough? It didn’t sound right. Somehow it was as if he had lost this round.

“Do you need help?” he asked, moving to run his fingers over the lines of zeroes. “This doesn’t look promising.”

“Unless you have a secret stash with hundreds of gold coins, there’s nothing you can do.”

Ace gave him his most charming smile. “Oh, but I do. Though, it’s tens of thousands of gold coins. I hope you don’t mind?” He laughed at the shocked expression on the man’s face. “Don’t you remember my other profession?”

“I heard successful assassinations paid a lot but...”

“You forget,” Ace said with a grin. “You’re not talking to a normal assassin.” He couldn’t hide the pride from his voice. It was one of his greatest achievements. “Wing didn’t become so feared because of his secretive nature, though that helped.”

“Everything, you left the players bare of any items or gold...”

There was a look of approval on Ace’s face. “Exactly. Ten kills and I had more than a thousand coins. And you know I never stopped at such numbers. There was a caravan once, another time a raiding party with best equipment. Some lord parties couple of times.”

He shrugged as if he couldn’t remember everything. “I could probably buy a smaller kingdom or two if I wished.”

Monthu rested his head on a hand. “Where did you hide this treasure mountain?”

“A bank,” Ace answered with a laugh. ‘Wizard’s bank to be precise. Safest place in the game.”

Shadow of a smile crept onto the man’s face. “Of course. Where hide better but under everyone’s nose. And no one minded that you’re bringing much more than a kid ever should have?”

“I established myself as a rich man’s son, acted the part and no one had any questions. So you want it? Being funded by the exploits of the worst criminal on the continent?”

“I’m sure L wouldn’t refuse the Satan’s help if that meant his city had a chance.”

“Great!” Ace said running towards the window and stopping on the sill. He turned to a key at Monthu. “Take everything if you want, I don’t care. In the meantime I’ll try to stop Marion from the inside.”

“What about working together?”

Ace laughed, wind tousling his blonde hair as he stood balancing on the heels of his feet on the edge. “That’s me working together!”

And he fell into the embrace of warm mid-afternoon air.