Rainen looked down upon the two dead bodies. He did not show any visible reaction to the sight before him, Nack was dead and he had completed his mission. He should be happy, but strange feeling surged through his body. He had killed a serial killer, someone who nobody would miss, a person much like a monster. Yet, the scene of a dying man reaching out for his dog had caused a mix of emotions to well up within him. Rainen knew that Nack would've never reached the dog, so instead of finishing the dying man, he had lifted the dead dog and brought it within arms reach of Nack.

"The noise was coming from over here!" Someone yelled.

Rainen slowly took a few steps back, for some reason, unable to take his eyes off the two bodies. As soon as the light of torches could be seen, Rainen turned and quietly ran back to where his horse was. Instead of getting immediately out of the village, he stood before the horse and gently caressed it's head. The horse did nothing but close its eyes. After a solid minute, he climbed on top of the horse and gradually went back to the city.

"Mission Completed."

He said to the three people inside the warehouse. Garret nodded, Anne smiled, but Henry looked on with concerned eyes.

Henry walked up to Rainen.

"You okay?" He whispered.

"Yeah, just fine." Rainen responded.

A smile could be assumed for the mask moved and his eyes crinkled. Rainen turned and left, his head tilted downwards, looking at his right hand.

"Hey El." Iris tapped me on the shoulder. "How much do you know about Rainen?"

Elis is sleeping next to us with her head down in her hands.

"He and I don't talk much. All I know is that he has a sister he hasn't seen in eight years." I say.

"Really?" She sounds interested.

"Yeah, but I don't know why."

"Humu. I'll have him talk to me eventually!"

"Do you need to talk to him? Or is it because he ignored your questions last time?"

"A little bit of both! I want to gather as much information on interesting people as I can."

"And why is that? Are you looking to become some sort of information broker or are you just bored?"

"Heh. I'm learning of possible important people because of my sister. She's the oldest so I want to help her when she becomes head of the house."

So Iris IS a noble! I thought as much, she's quite graceful except when it comes to gathering information.

"I also want to learn of the interesting up and coming youths such as yourself El." She beams at me.

I could only give her a wry smile as a reply.

"Is Elis a noble too?" I ask.

"Yeah, she's the third child. We've been friends since we could walk."

Iris strokes Elis's head.

"Mmmmm." Elis mumbles.

The door opens and Rainen walks in. He looks tired. Did he even sleep last night?

"Rainen seems tired today."

"I thought so too." I say.

Well, as a student he shouldn't be hanging out too late. Maybe he just couldn't sleep. I shouldn't criticize.

"Everyone, to your seats!"

Miss Ein immediately goes to the podium while giving us her usual greeting.

Three hours pass by.

"Hey, El." Iris whispers to me. "Rainen's been acting weird. During the break period today all he did was sit there. He looks like he's also just staring into space right now.

"Really? Maybe he's just tired Iris."

"Sure that could be it, but he didn't even put his head down during the break. Something might be wrong so be careful during the sparring session today."

I nod.

"Please go to your partners and we'll head outside."

I walk to black hair. He sits there like a statue, both hands on the table, with unblinking eyes staring into space.

"Uh, y-you there?"

He blinks a few times.

"Hmm? Oh yeah, sorry. Lets go."

He standing up and walks to the door.

I follow behind. Normally I walk beside him and have my eyes wander, but this time I'm just staring at him, observing him. He still seems like before, unfocused eyes, he's thinking about something. I hope that he's up for the practice today.

"We'll be learning another intermediate spell today. It'll be a spell called [Fire Burst]."

I hear a breath being cut short next to me, black hair is standing there a little bit stiff.

"You okay?" I whisper.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Miss Ein finished her explanation of the spell and ushered us to test it out.

"Can I go first today?" I ask.

"Sure."

He's a little dejected today.

I have trouble using fire spells so I usually don't hold back but for today I will. I get into a comfortable position and I put my left hand over my wrist.

"[Fire Burst]!"

The flames spread from my palm.

"..."

This is bad, he isn't reacting. He's in some kind of daze.

The fire that was once going straight suddenly spread out forming a dome shape in the air. The ground is slightly charred, Miss Ein looking at black hair with both arms crossed, on her face is a frown.

"RAINEN!"

His look changes from their stunned state and turn into one of realization, he gradually lowers his head.

"Thanks for saving me Miss Ein...I'm going to take a break."

He walks off and I just watch him go.

.

.

.

.

*DING*

The last period just ended. Iris gets up from her seat, her back is straight the whole time. Elis groggily gets up and smacks both her cheeks, it makes a loud *Smack!*

"I'm going to the library today guys." I say.

"O~kay."

"See you later El."

They wave as they walk out the classroom door.

I pretend to stretch, I'm trying to buy time for black hair to leave before me. He was acting really out of it today, so I plan on following him. I also want to ask him to help me with my letter. I've already asked Iris about what I should write but she said that I should think of it myself because that's what they would want to hear. She's right but I could still use some ideas.

Black hair finally gets up, I've started to actually feel like I need to stretch.

After waiting for a few seconds I open the door and go outside.

The light from the sun allows me only to see his outline, his hands are in his pockets, pushing the lower half of the robe to his sides. He slowly shrinks into the ground as he descends the steps, his feet fall in a rhythmic fashion. He doesn't miss a single beat.

Instead of that head up one hundred yard stare thing, like before, his head is hung slightly. I can tell that he's like this because of the incident earlier today. Still, where is he heading? Will he just go to his room and sleep it off? He did seem tired this morning but I know now that it's more than a sleeping problem.

He walks in a line, the people walk around him as if he were a dead body. Thanks to the large number of people always on the street he never notices me, not that he would have in that state anyways.

Going to eat something huh. He's moving towards the direction of the market, eating certainly is a way to occupy yourself. After following him for another minute, he stops in front of a shop. An ice cream shop. My eyes light up a little, Iris, Elis, and I still haven't gone here together yet, I've always heard of how good it was. I return my attention to black hair, he's groping around his person like a blind man.

"I forgot my purse..."

He puts his hand over his face and groans.

He shakes his head and turns in my direction, whoops.

Our eyes meet, we hold each other's gazes like a predator and it's prey.

*Whoosh*

I'm the first to turn away.

He walks up to me.

"Hey."

"H-hey." I answer back.

"Were you following me? Ah, no, sorry. You were probably just drifting around too."

Drifting around he says, he knew where he was going.

"Did you forget your coin purse?" I ask.

"You saw that too eh?"

"I was going to buy some, I could buy one for you too."

"Is that so...I don't want you to feel like you need to do that for me."

"I insist, it's better to eat with someone else after all. Iris and Elis aren't here right now."

"Oh, in that case, I'll take you up on that offer." He gives a lopsided smile.

We go into the store, it's freezing inside.

My teeth are already chattering, I sound like an undead trying to scare off adventurers. Black hair seems totally unaffected by the change in temperature. The staff members are in heavy fur coats and smile brightly at us, cheaters.

The heat from the outside instantly surrounds my body, warming it. It's a wonderful feeling, unlike the feeling of an empty purse. That's the only thing I wouldn't mind being a bit heavy. The ice cream was, as I expected, expensive. I paid out two silver coins and five copper coins each. I didn't feel too bad about it though, I'm simply investing in my partner black hair here. Black hair got vanilla and I got a one with chocolate chips.

"Mmmmmm, yummy."

I hold my cheek as it melts in my mouth, I guess the population inside of my purse will be decreasing even more from now on.

"You've got a piece of chocolate on your cheek." He says.

"Hmm? Where?" I try reaching it with my tongue.

"I'll get it."

I feel a light brush against my cheek. Black hair opens his mouth and puts his finger in.

"Not bad." He grins at me.

I feel the blood rushing to my face, it's suddenly getting real hot here.

I turn my face away from him, embarrassed.

"Hehe. Thanks for the treat."

"N-no problem."

"Do you want me to pay you back?" He asks.

"No. Like you said, it's my treat. I would actually like to ask you to..." I pause for a bit.

"Give you my body? I guess it's one way to pay you back."

"N-n-no. I-I didn't mean that..." I shout while stammering.

He chuckles, "Hehehe, I was just kidding. So, what do you want to ask? I'll listen."

He's messing with me. But I'm glad he looks a little better now.

"I'd like your advice on my letter now." I say.