Ril walked casually away from the Glotsk estate. Careful not to arouse suspicion in any of the guards that walked the streets. After a few streets the mana drain of Vanish and Awakened Mirror Form began to exhaust him. He ducked into an alleyway, and summoned his clone. The reversed mana cost of the clone disappearing the moment the clone appeared.

At times, it had looked almost translucent. As if the light knew that it wasn’t real. Now, the clone looked like real flesh and blood. Ril reached out and shook the clone's hand. It’s hand was warm. It’s grip weak. But that wasn’t surprising, Ril’s grip was also weak. They released the handshake. Then with an almost morbid curiosity, Ril lifted his fist, and slugged the clone in the face. The clone fell onto his back, looking at the real Ril expectantly. Ril massaged his hand which was throbbing from the impact against the clones teeth.

He watched as a bruise blossomed on the clone's face, a small cut dripping silver blood from where his lip split against the clone’s teeth. Ril swapped with the clone, feeling the split lip more fiercely, as the pain in his knuckles faded slightly. An odd feeling to be sure. Having a split lip, but at the same time not having one. Deep inside, Ril felt the power of the Awakened ability thrum. He knew that if he willed it, he could dismiss the injury to one of his bodies, recreate the clone in his less damaged image. Recreate the clone in his image.

Perhaps calling it a clone is disingenuous. It is practically me at this point. A second me. Ril thought idly. Ril’s mana thrummed as he healed the clone, replacing the split lip and bruised face with a hurt knuckle. Then he made it Vanish.

He left the alleyway, returning to the street with the clone walking, invisible, at his side. It was night by now. After the sun had set, leaving the land dark, but before the silence of true dark arrived. An odd time to be sure. As Ril left the inner city, people became more common. Most were revelers. Hopping between bars, and pubs at the end of their long workday. They wore plain clothes, common people. There were plenty of professions represented but they were Farmers mostly. No nobles. Nobles wouldn’t be caught dead partying in this part of the city. Nobles had their own pubs that they attended.

The party goers held large wooden mugs of beer in their hands, stumbling through the streets with oblivious happiness. Uncaring, intentionally or not, about the problems that tomorrow would bring.

Ril walked among, and through them. Carefully navigating such that his invisible clone wouldn’t surprise anyone. Soon it became clear that he wouldn’t have to work very hard to avoid detection of his clone.

“...his eyes.”

“...power does he have?”

“Careful, idiot.

“...fights on the frontlines.”

“...get him mad.”

They watched him. Some had fear in their eyes, others were curious. They turned to their friends and fellow drunks about what he was. Any you saw him approach backed off, giving him plenty of space. A bubble of empty space formed around him, proliferating forward as rumors of his coming spread among the party goers.

They distanced themselves, like sheep in the presence of a wolf.

Ril watched this happen, filled with helpless horror as he remembered Elkshire. It reminded him of the hate directed his way. For being different. For being cursed.

Calmly, and with sure steps, Ril passed through the crowd and disappeared down an alleyway. Alone at last. Ril found the pair of sunglasses that Eren had given him nearly a week ago, and with trembling hands put them on. His eyes - which had begun to glow upon surpassing ten percent warp - were now hidden.

The already dark alleyway was cloaked in shadows through the dark lens. However, with Darkvision, the inky blackness was not as inscrutable as it otherwise should be.

Eyes successfully covered, he returned to the semi-crowded streets. The passersby didn’t move out of his way as he walked among them. It made navigation with an invisible clone much more difficult, but Ril relished the challenge.

A pair of particularly drunk men stumbled out of a tavern laughing uproariously. Behind them the form of a large bouncer could be seen slamming the door after them.

“I told’jou ‘hic’ you shouldn'ta done it.” said the first man.

“Nah, you know she ‘hic’ loves it.” replied the second man stumbling over to a nearby street lamp.

“I dunno man. Betty keeps asking Carl to kick you out. They won’t let us in again if you keep bothering her.”

“I fink shez ‘hic’ purty.” The second man replied.

“Everyone thinks she’s pretty, Dave. You gotta learn to piss with the-- ‘Hic’,” A particularly aggressive hiccup interrupted the sentence. Dazed the man reoriented. His gaze resting on Ril. “...you got... hey wait, what’s that kid doing with sunglasses in the middle of the night.”

“What kid?”

“Look. That kid. The bald one.”

“Dunno. Maybe it’sh mornin’ already.”

“Can’t be morning. Look no sun. And I'm not nearly drunk enough.”

Ril ignored the two. He dodged around the two stumbling drunks and disappeared into the crowd. Their voices faded away into the distance as Ril passed out of the street and entered the Academy proper. Here it was much calmer. Most of the residents either kept their activities more discrete, or had left the area already.

Ril raced to Reluke Hall. He took the steps two at a time and knocked on Evelyn’s door.

“Come in?” Came Evelyn’s soft voice through the door.

Ril entered. Inside, Evelyn was working in front of a mountain of paperwork. A small candle illuminated her work with a soft glow. At Ril’s entrance, the candle flickered, then returned to its steady illumination.

“Hi Eve.” Ril said.

“Hello Ril. What happened? Why are you wearing sunglasses, it’s the middle of the night.”

“You won’t believe where I just was.” Ril started breathlessly.

“Where were you?” Evelyn responded, leaning her chin against a raised fist. A small smile on her face.

“You know how you said that you thought that the Glotsk family was part of the assassination attempt? Well so I went over to their estate in the inner district and snuck in.”

“Wait.” Evelyn said, leaning back in her chair. “You what. When did I say that I thought that the Glotsk family orchestrated the assassination attempt?”

“When we had dinner the other day. You said that the Peregrine or the Glotsk family are the two families that are most likely to have hired the assassins.” Ril said.

“I never said that. I said that those two families are the most favored by the people to become the next royal family.” Evelyn said.

Ril shrugged. “What’s the difference? If they have the chance for the throne, they are incentivized to kill you so they can ascend faster.”

Evelyn shook her head, but didn’t contradict him. “Not important right now. You said you snuck in? What did you mean by that?”

“You know...snuck in. I entered through a servant window, and snuck around the house. They are in debt by the way. Like deep debt. And it's due soon. Sometime after the Silver Spire Tournament. Anyway, I was about to leave when I saw a butler leading this suspicious looking noble down into the basement. I followed them, and heard that the Glotsk family is planning on smuggling something illegal through a tunnel underneath the Academy.”

“You...broke into a noble's house.” Evelyn said, incredulous. “That’s a crime. You realize that. You are going to spend time in jail at the very least. At worst they are going to hang you.”

“Yeah, but you won’t tell anyone. And now you have the proof you need to apprehend the Glotsks. Or at the very least investigate them further.”

Evelyn didn’t say anything for a moment. She just stared at Ril in amazement.

“Ril,” she let out a disbelieving laugh. “I am the princess of the realm. It is my duty to uphold the law. We talked about this. Without law there is anarchy.” Evelyn said, dropping her head into her hands, “Why would you do this, Ril?”

“I did it for you! I got you information. The Glotsk family is working with another noble family to smuggle something bad into the Academy. You can use this to get back at them. Solidify your position.”

“Ril...” Evelyn said, a pained expression on her face. “There is no smuggler tunnel in the Academy. If there was one, the guard would know about it. But that doesn’t matter, Ril. What you learned can’t be used to achieve anything. You have a conversation heard by you - and only you - that talks about two houses potentially working together. That is not illegal. Even if they were actually planning on smuggling something, it’s their word against yours. This is not the type of evidence that would hold water in court.”

Evelyn shook her head. “But even that doesn’t matter. We have bigger problems than a noble family trying to smuggle some resources past the gate guards. Ril. You didn’t find a noble family plotting to assassinate me. You found a desperate noble family willing to bend the law to try and stay afloat. And for the low price of becoming a criminal. Why did you do this, Ril?”

“Honest. Eve. I did it for you--”

“Stop!” Evelyn slammed her hand onto the table. “You didn’t do this for me. You did this for yourself. Take off those sunglasses Ril. Look me in the eye. Tell me the truth. We’ve known each other for less than a month.”

“No! You’re wrong. I did it for you. You saved me. You and Gemma. You accepted me when no one else would. Of course I would want to repay and help you.”

“I don’t understand.” Evelyn said, shaking her head.

“I don’t expect you to understand. But everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you. You were my friend when the whole world abandoned me. I just did what you want me to do.”

“I don’t understand, Ril.”

“I--” Ril started, but Evelyn cut him off.

“Ril do you remember what I asked you to do? How I said you could help? I asked you to stay safe. Heal up in bed, and when you are whole continue battling in the arena until you can join the Academy. Do you remember that? When did I ask you to help me by going out and risking your life breaking into a noble house and spying on them? Ril? I don’t remember ever saying that. Do you?”

“No...” Ril muttered looking down.

“Take off the glasses Ril. Look me in the eye.” Evelyn said, iron in her voice.

“Ok, but don’t freak out.” Slowly, Ril took off the sunglasses. His eyes faintly glowing in the dimly lit room.

Evelyn gasped, horror in her eyes. “What...You broke ten percent...How? What did you do?”

“Don’t freak out. It’s not a big deal. It helped me get in and out of the house. And it looks kind of cool, don’t you think?” Ril replied with a weak grin, while lifting his hands to try and placate her.

“What? Ril, you are destroying yourself.” Evelyn’s eye looked at him in horror.

“No, I am stronger now. Now I can get into the academy more easily. Don’t you understand? This is a good thing.” Ril replied, frantically.

“No Ril, I don’t understand.” A flash of determination appeared in her eyes, replaced quickly by anger. “Get out, Ril. Leave this place. Our relationship is officially over.”

Ril froze. “Wait a minute? You’re throwing me out?”

“Yes,” Evelyn replied simply.

“Why?”

“I will not watch you destroy yourself for some stupid ideals of blindly repaying me. Leave Ril. You are no longer welcome here.”

Ril’s thoughts were in turmoil.

After everything we’ve been through...

“No! You can’t do this.” Ril shouted, “I saved you. Remember? I helped you at Gemma’s and when we were injured in the dungeon I dragged you back. I saved you! You owe me.”

Evelyn paused, looking carefully at Ril. The anger that had filled her eyes was drained. Replaced entirely by sadness. She stood from her desk, and walked to the door. With a hand on the doorknob, she turned back to Ril.

“You’re right. I do owe you.” She said, looking down at the doorknob. “And to repay that debt, I am going to end this relationship. For both of us.”

“Wait!” Ril cried.

“You know? I had hoped that you would treat me differently. Not like a princess, but just a regular person. Goodbye, Ril.” Evelyn said softly, closing the door behind her with a click.

Ril looked soulessly at the closed door.

“Wait...” he said softly.

* * *

Evelyn carefully closed the door behind her, the click of the latch audible in the silent corridor. Slowly she leaned up against the door, and hid her face with her hands. She stood like that for a few moments until her vigil was disturbed by Eren arriving.

“I heard shouting, is everything alright?” Eren said, as she walked up to the princess.

Evelyn raised her head, and sniffed softly. “Yes, everything is alright. Ril is leaving Anduin.”

Eren hesitated. “May I ask why?”

Evelyn shook her head, “This place is not good for him.” She replied with a soft voice. In an even softer voice she continued to herself. “I need to hire someone to watch him.”

Eren hesitated once more. Before she seemed to martial her courage. “May I...I would like to go with him.”

“You’ll take Hauke?” Evelyn asked after a moment of consideration.

“Yes.”

Evelyn nodded. “Even better. Keep him safe. He means a lot to me.”