Being face to face with the man responsible for so many lives lost, including my mother’s, makes my blood boil. If hatred was a currency, I would have enough to buy the whole world. How could these people come here and worship him? How can they turn a blind eye to his wrongdoings? I will never understand them and I don’t plan to. Coming here was a mistake. I should’ve never let myself fall for this world of pretend. Nice dresses, a comfortable bed, and all of the other things that come with this life. Here I was enjoying all of this when there’s other people who don’t have anything to eat all day? I’m not staying in this place a minute longer.

I make my way to the exit, trying to get through the sea of people, when I hear someone call my name. I turn around and I see Leo waving at me. I stop. I should at least say goodbye to him, given that he did save my life.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“I’m leaving. I can’t stay here any longer. Thank you for saving me, I will be eternally grateful for that, but now I have to go.” I turn to leave but he grabs my hand.

“What do you mean you’re leaving?” He seems confused and upset.

“I can’t stay in a place where the person who brings misery to my people is here. This is not my world and it never will be.”

“But Evan-.” Leo is interrupted by two girls who come over.

“Leo, there you are. We’ve been looking all over for you.”

“Come with us. We’ve just returned from a trip and want you to hear all about it.”

They glare at me and continue talking to him and I take that as my opening to leave.

“Evanna!” Leo’s calls out to me but I keep walking. I have to leave.

I need to find my way back to the bedroom so I can gather my belongings. I should’ve payed attention when going to the ball and memorized the way because this place is a maze and I would need a map to get around. I wonder around the hallways and when I think I’ve got the right path, I’m proven wrong. I’m just about to give up when I notice a presence beside me. I let out a shriek and then I laugh. This sneaky bastard.

“Why hello, Lucius. You gave me quite a fright there.” I pet his head and I crouch down to his level. “Do you by any chance know how I can go back to the bedroom?” He barks and starts making his way down the hallway. Having no better options, I follow him and we make a few turns and then he stops in front of a door at the end of the hallway.

“Lucius, I don’t think this is it.” My fault for trusting a dog for directions. I try to open the door but it’s locked. “See? It’s locked so it can’t be my room. Let’s go find another way.” I turn to leave but he barks and nudges me towards the door. I’m puzzled but I’m guessing I won’t leave here until I satisfy him. “Lucius, I’m telling you that the door is lock-.” I try opening the door again and it opens. I’m taken aback. I could’ve sworn that it was locked just a moment ago. I go in and it’s dark and musty. This room only has one window and luckily, it’s in the direction of the moon and it makes it a bit easier to see. There seems to be a lot of furniture, chests, books. I can also make out paintings in the corner of the room. I notice that there’s a book on top of a desk. What makes this book stand out more than the other is its bright red cover. I read the title of it.

“The Kroastho Civilization.” I’ve never heard of them, given that low-tiers would rather spend their money on food than on books. I’m about to open the book when I hear a rustle from form the other side of the room.

“Hello?” No one answers. “Is anybody there? Lucius?”

I call out for him and he appears.

“There you are. I was getting worried!”

Since it’s dark, it took me a while to notice that behind Lucius, stood a dark figure.